GB890816A - Improvements in or relating to machines for trimming books - Google Patents

Abstract

890,816. Book trimming machines. CAMCO (MACHINERY) Ltd. July 20, 1960 [July 24, 1959], No. 25536/59. Class 31 (1). [Also in Group XXX] In a machine for trimming books in automatically-synchronized relationship to a preceding machine from which the books are successively delivered, comprising at least one reciprocatory edge trimmer knife arranged to cut off an edge region of a book applied thereto, first conveyer means for conveying untrimmed books to the trimmer knife, registering means for positioning each conveyed book for cutting by the knife and second conveyer means for delivering trimmed books away from the trimmer knife, the first and second conveyer means are each arranged to be driven in timed manner from the preceding machine through a positive mechanical drive connection to ensure synchronization, whereas the trimmer knife is operated by an independent hydraulic or pneumatic power source under the control of a valve mechanism which is operated by timing mechanism coupled to and driven by the drive connection to the conveyer means. The machine shown has a central trimmer section which includes a knife 54 for trimming the front edge of each book at a first position and two knives 84 for trimming the top and bottom edges of each book simultaneously at a second position. Each knife comprises a knife holder block 55 carrying a knife blade 56 and a spring-influenced clamp-bar 58 co-operable with an anvil 64, a side edge of which coacts with the knife blade. The block 55 is operable by means of a fluidpressure cylinder 67. The books are fed towards, through and away from the central trimmer by a conveyer system 70 comprising a lower chain loop 71 and upper chain loops 72, 73, each chain loop comprising a pair of endless roller chains passing around sprocket wheels. The chain loop 71 is provided with four groups of transverse gripper-plates and each chain loop 72, 73 with a single group of transverse gripperplates. The chain loops 72, 73 are driven from the chain loop 71 and the timing relationship between the chain loops 71, 72 is adjustable to vary the relative position of the gripper-plates thereon. The chain loops 72, 73 are vertically adjustable relative to the chain loop 71 to accommodate books of different thickness. The books are arrested at each trimming position by means of a pair of cam-operated adjustable retractable stops provided on supports for the chain loop 71. The knives 84 are manually adjustable transversely to the feed path of the books. Each knife 84 has associated therewith a jogging strip 124 for centralizing the book before its top and bottom edges are trimmed, the strip being operable by cam means itself operable by movement of the knife block 55. Untrimmed books are fed stitched edge foremost to the trimmer section by means of a feed-table section comprising endless conveyer chains provided with book-engaging pusher fingers operating through slots in a book-supporting table and at the discharge end of the feed-table section a pair of cam-operated jogger arms 33 are provided for accelerating the movement of each book to the trimmer section. The driving spindle 19 of the conveyer chains is driven from the shaft 77 of the chain loop 71. The feedtable section is provided with adjustable side lays. The trimmed books are delivered to a stacking section which comprises an endless horizontal web driven from the driving-shaft 78 of chain loop 71 through a reduction gear train 150 so that the books are deposited on the web in overlapping relationship. The supply of pressure fluid from a source 160 to the cylinders 67 is controlled by means of valves 159, 163 which are controlled by means of cam discs 154, 155 provided on a driving-shaft 156. The shaft 156 is coupled by chain 165 and sprocket 166 to the immediately preceding machine, e.g. a book stitching machine, from which the books to be trimmed are delivered. The shaft 156 drives through chain-and-sprocket gearing a countershaft 170 which, through further chain- and sprocket gearing, drives the shaft 78.