GB2218043A

GB2218043A - Thermal binding

Info

Publication number: GB2218043A
Application number: GB8810740A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hugh Raymond Webb
Original assignee: EXECUTIVE PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: EXECUTIVE PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 1988-05-06
Filing date: 1988-05-06
Publication date: 1989-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 2008-05-06
Also published as: GB8810740D0; GB2218043B

Abstract

A thermal binding comprises a cover (20, 21), with meltable adhesive (30) in its spine. Sheets (40) to be bound are put into the cover, and the adhesive melted by a heater (50) and then allowed to cool to fix the sheets (40) in the cover. To prevent the spine creasing or cracking and sheets loosening in a large document, a further support member (10) is provided. The member is preferably of metal and may be rigid or flexible, perforated or solid. <IMAGE>

Description

Thermal Binding The present invention relates to thermal binding.

A variety of methods are known for fixing sheets of e.g. paper together. Such known methods include mechanical fasteners, such as staples, which pass through the sheets.

Another known method is thermal binding.

Thermal binding involves placing the sheets to be bound together in a cover which contains, along the spine of the cover, meltable adhesive. The cover with the sheets in it is placed in a thermal binding machine which contains an electrically heated plate which contacts the outside of the cover adjacent the spine and melts the adhesive. The sheets become attached to the adhesive along their spine edges and, once the adhesive has cooled, are secured to the adhesive and thus to the cover. Covers are provided with different spine widths for binding different quantities of sheets.

In order for heat to transfer through the cover to melt the adhesive, at least the spine or base of the cover (or the whole cover) is of relatively thin flexible material such as paper, board (thick paper) or plastic.

Furthermore, the sheets are secured and supported not just by the adhesive but also by the cover.

It has been found that when a large number of sheets need to be secured the base or spine of the cover may not provide enough support. Opening a large document several times can crease or crack the base and the adhesive, weakening the document to the extent that sheets can become free.

In one aspect of the present invention a further support member is provided for interposition between the sheets and the base.

Another aspect of the present invention includes a rigid support member and meltable adhesive for securing the sheets to the rigid member.

A further aspect of the invention includes a flexible support member of metal and meltable adhesive for securing sheets to the member.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a schematic view, in cross-section, of a thermal binding in accordance with the invention after the meltable adhesive has been remelted and cooled; and Figure 2 is a schematic view, in cross-section, of another thermal binding in accordance with the invention after the meltable adhesive has been remelted and cooled.

Referring to Figure 1, the thermal binding comprises a cover 21, 20 having a base or spine region 20 containing meltable adhesive 30. Sheets 40 of, e.g., paper to be bound are inserted into the cover with one edge thereof in contact with the adhesive. The cover with the sheets in it is brought into contact with an electrically heated plate 50 which causes the adhesive to melt and thus, when cool, secure the sheets 40 to the adhesive and to the cover.

The arrangement as so far described is known, and as discussed hereinbefore when a large quantity of sheets are bound to form a large document opening the document several times may result in the spine becoming creased or cracked and sheets may become loose.

In accordance with the invention, a further support member 10 is provided in the spine. As shown in the illustrative embodiment of Figure 1, the member 10 is embedded within the adhesive 30. It may alternatively be under the adhesive or on the adhesive.

The member 10 shown in the embodiment of Figure 1 may be rigid or flexible. It may be solid or perforated.

It is preferably of strong material which is a good conductor of heat, e.g., metal. Examples of the member 10 include: metal, e.g., stainless steel mesh; a solid rigid metal strip; and a metal strip with holes in it or otherwise perforated. Mesh or metal strip with holes or other perforations in it allows the adhesive to melt into the holes which increases the adherence of the sheets 40, member 10 and cover 20, 21 to each other.

Whilst the member 10 is shown as flat in Figure 1 it may be of other suitable cross-sectional shape:- e.g., curved in cross-section; angular; or of channel section, the edges of the channel extending away from the base of the cover.

The member 10 need not extend across the whole width of the base. It may also extend over the whole length of the cover, or over only part of the length. It could protrude outside the length of the cover or width of the spine.

The cover is shown in Figure 1 as comprising a spine or base 20 and sides 21. The sides 21 could be omitted.

The cover 20, 21 maybe supplied complete with the adhesive 30 and the support member 10 in its base or spine.

Alternatively, the member 10 may be supplied separately from the cover 20, 21, the adhesive being in the cover.

Furthermore, the cover 20, 21, the adhesive 30, and the member 10 may be supplied as separate items. Yet further, the adhesive 30 may be provided on the member 10 and supplied as a separate item to the cover.

The member 10 prevents the base of the cover from creasing or cracking. The member 10 allows large documents to be bound without the base of the cover weakening and without sheets becoming loose.

The heating plate 50 is part of a thermal binding machine. Such a machine is known, e.g., the Paperwelder (Trade Mark) Binding Machine available from Executive Products Limited, The Showrooms, 2 Park Hall Road, London SE21 8EN.

Referring to Figure 2, an alternative embodiment of the invention is shown. This embodiment comprises a rigid metal plate 60 which is solid and adhesive 30 thereon.

Sheets 40 to be bound are brought into contact with the adhesive 30 and supported in place whilst the adhesive 30 is melted by the heated plate 50 and subsequently allowed to cool. The resulting binding is very strong although the absence of the cover may result in an unattractive document.

The plate 60 and adhesive 30 may be supplied as a unit, or separately. The plate may be flat, as shown in Figure 2, or be curved in cross-section, or be of channel section, or of other suitable cross-sectional shape. It may extend over the whole or part of the length of the sheets 40.

In another embodiment, instead of a rigid member 60, the member 60 is flexible, e.g., of metal mesh, preferably stainless steel. The member can then be bent around the outer sides of the sheets. The result of using stainless steel mesh and meltable adhesive is an extremely strongly bound document.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use with a thermal binding machine to bind sheets, comprising at least a portion of a cover for defining a spine region of the sheets when bound, thermally meltable adhesive for securing the sheets in the cover portion, and a support member for interposition between the cover portion and the said edges of the sheets.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support member is solid.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support member is perforated.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the support member is flexible.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the support member is rigid.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the support member comprises material which is a good conductor of heat.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the support member is of metal.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the adhesive is fixed to the cover portion.

9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the adhesive is fixed to the support member.

10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the adhesive, the support member and the cover portion are fixed together.

11. Aapparatus according to claim 10, wherein the support member is between the cover portion and the adhesive.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the support member is within the adhesive.

13. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the adhesive is between the support member and the cover portion.

14. A bound set of sheets, comprising at least a cover portion defining a spine region of the bound sheets, thermally melted adhesive fixing the sheets in the cover portion, and a support member interposed between the sheets and the cover portion.

15. Apparatus for use with a thermal binding machine to bind sheets, comprising a rigid support member, and thermally meltable adhesive for fixing edges of the sheets to the rigid support member.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the member comprises material which is a good conductor of heat.

17. Apparatus according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the member comprises metal.

18. Apparatus according to claim 15, 16 or 17, wherein the member is solid.

19. Apparatus for use with a thermal binding machine to bind sheets including a flexible support member of a material, such as metal, which is strong and a good thermal conductor, and thermally meltable adhesive for fixing the sheets to the flexible member.

20. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.