JP6664668B2 - Bookbinding device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a bookbinding apparatus, and more particularly to a bookbinding apparatus that performs perfect binding.

As a bookbinding apparatus for performing perfect binding, there is, for example, an apparatus described in Patent Document 1.
The bookbinding device described in Patent Literature 1 includes a clamper that clamps a book body in an upright state and that can move along a preset path, and a series of processing units (along the path that perform perfect binding bookbinding processing along the path). A milling unit, a gluing unit, and a cover attaching unit), and a body supply unit that supplies the body to the clamper at a body supply position upstream of a series of processing units on the path.

  The clamper has a pair of clamp plates that assume an open position for receiving the main body and a closed position that sandwiches both sides of the main body. In the main body supply position, the clamp body is located between the pair of clamp plates that assume the open position of the clamper. After the main body is supplied by the supply unit, the pair of clamp plates take a closed position, and thereafter, while the clamper leaves the main body supply position and sequentially passes through a series of processing units, the main body is bound in a perfect binding manner.

The main body supply unit is disposed at the subsequent stage of the paper stacking unit, and the paper stacking unit sequentially and horizontally stacks sheets discharged from a printing machine or a copying machine to form a main body.
The main body supply unit has a horizontal conveyance unit that receives the main body from the paper stacking unit and conveys the main body horizontally, and a turning unit that turns the main body received from the horizontal conveyance unit by 90 ° and sets the main body to the main body supply position in an upright state. are doing.

  The horizontal transport unit of the main body supply unit includes a horizontal transfer table provided with a slot extending in the main body transport direction, and a pair of vertically extending transport directions arranged at intervals below the transport table below the transfer table. The vehicle includes a roller, an endless belt stretched between a pair of rollers, a drive mechanism for rotating the pair of rollers, and a plurality of dogs fixed to the endless belt and protruding from slots of the transfer table.

  Then, the dog moves in the conveying direction on the transfer table with the rotation of the endless belt, and the main body is conveyed horizontally toward the revolving part by pushing the fore edge side by the dog with the main body lying down. Is done.

  The swivel part of the body supply unit is disposed at an open position for receiving the body and a closed position for holding the body, at a right angle to the pair of grasping plates, and opposed to a gap between the pair of grasping plates. The abutting plate, the pair of gripping plates and the abutting plate are integrally moved around a horizontal pivot axis which is located below the main body supply position and extends at a right angle to the transport direction by the horizontal transport unit. (A position at which the pair of gripping plates become horizontal) and a rotation mechanism for rotating between a vertical position rotated by 90 ° from the horizontal position.

  Then, when the pair of grip plates and the contact plate of the revolving unit are in the horizontal position and the pair of grip plates are in the open position, the main body contacts the contact plate between the horizontal transport unit and the pair of grip plates. The pair of gripping plates assume the closed position, and then the pair of gripping plates and the abutment plate assume the vertical position, whereby the body is set to the body supply position.

Next, the clamper enters the main body supply position with the pair of clamp plates in the open position and stops. At this time, a portion of the main body between the pair of holding plates and the contact plate of the main body supply unit is inserted between the pair of clamp plates.
Thereafter, the pair of clamp plates of the clamper take the closed position, and then the pair of gripping plates of the turning part of the main body supply unit take the open position. Thereby, the supply of the main body to the pair of clamp plates of the clamper by the main body supply unit is completed, the clamper holding the main body is separated from the main body supply position, and the pair of gripping plates and the contact plate of the main body supply unit are horizontally moved. Take position.

  However, according to this configuration, the main body formed by the paper stacking unit is horizontally conveyed by the horizontal conveying unit, and then is turned upright by 90 ° by the turning unit, so that it takes time to supply the main body to the clamper. There is a problem in that the efficiency is poor, and furthermore, the body supply unit becomes large and complicated, the size of the bookbinding apparatus cannot be reduced, and the manufacturing cost increases.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,587

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a bookbinding apparatus having a simple and low-cost mechanism capable of smoothly supplying a body to a clamper.

  According to the present invention, there is provided, in accordance with the present invention, one or more clampers which hold a body in an upright state and can move along a preset path, wherein the clamper is in an open position for receiving the body. And a pair of clamp plates that take a closed position that sandwiches both sides of the book body, and a series of processing units that are arranged along the path and perform perfect binding processing, and the series of processing units of the path. A body supply unit for supplying the body between the pair of clamp plates of the clamper at a body supply position provided on the upstream side of the processing unit, wherein the opening is performed when the clamper is at the body supply position. After the main body is supplied by the main body supply unit between the pair of clamp plates taking a position, the pair of clamp plates take the closed position, and then, the clamper In a bookbinding apparatus in which a booklet is bound in a booklet while leaving the body supply position and sequentially passing through the series of processing units, the booklet supply unit is disposed on one side of the booklet supply position with respect to the path, and the booklet The supply unit has a main body transfer surface extending at a right angle to the pair of clamp plates and downwardly inclined toward the pair of clamp plates at the main body supply position, and the main body rests on the main body transfer surface. A body supply unit moving mechanism that is configured to be conveyed toward the pair of clamp plates at the top and that can move the body supply unit in a direction to approach and separate from the clamper at the body supply position. A bookbinding apparatus is provided.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the main body supply unit moving mechanism is provided on the one side of the main body supply position with respect to the path, and extends horizontally at a right angle to the pair of clamp plates at the main body supply position. A slide guide, wherein the main body supply unit is slidably mounted on the slide guide, and the main body supply unit moving mechanism is further provided in parallel with the slide guide and is rotatable about an axis. It has a screw, a nut attached to the main body supply unit and engaged with the feed screw, and a feed screw drive mechanism for rotating the feed screw.

  According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the clamper is provided at an upper end of a clamp plate closer to the main body supply unit at the main body supply position of the pair of clamp plates, and the body is supplied by the main body supply unit. A guide that is pivotally mounted about a horizontal pivot axis that extends at right angles to the transport direction, and that has an upright position extending upward from the relevant clamp plate along the clamp plate, and a tilting position that falls outward from the upright position. A plate, and a spring disposed between the guide plate and the turning shaft, the spring always biasing the guide plate from the inclined position toward the upright position, and the bookbinding device further comprises: When the pair of clamp plates are placed in the open position in the body supply position, the clamps are disposed independently of the clamper or on the clamper. The de plate and a guide plate driving mechanism connected to the book block transport surface of the book block supply unit is pivoted to said tilting position from the standing position against the urging force of the spring.

  According to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the guide plate has a lever-shaped extension portion that can rotate around the pivot shaft integrally with the guide plate on at least one end side of the pivot shaft. The extended portion has a first position when the guide plate is at the upright position, and has a second position when the guide plate is at the tilted position, and the guide plate drive mechanism has When the pair of clamp plates are in the open position at the main body supply position, the extended portion of the guide plate can be turned from the first position to the second position.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the guide plate driving mechanism comprises a linear actuator.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the body supply unit comprises a conveyor belt or a shooter.

  According to the present invention, the body supply unit is disposed on one side of the body supply position with respect to the path, and the body transport surface of the body supply unit is perpendicular to the pair of clamp plates of the clamper at the body supply position and downward toward the clamper. The main body supply unit can be moved so as to approach and separate from the pair of clamp plates at the main body supply position.

Thereby, the main body supply unit is moved from the main body supply surface of the main body supply unit to the main body supply unit side clamp plate in the vicinity of the main body supply unit side clamp plate of the pair of clamp plates taking the open position at the main body supply position. Arrange so that a smooth transport path is formed, and transfer the body along this transport path smoothly from the lying position to the upright position, and insert it between the pair of clamp plates. Can be.
Further, the distance between the pair of clamp plates in the open position can be adjusted according to the thickness of the main body, and when the distance between the pair of clamp plates is changed, the position of the main body supply unit is accordingly changed. By adjusting, it is possible to easily cope with such a change.
Further, after the supply of the main body to the clamper is completed, the main body supply unit is separated from the clamper as necessary, so that the main body supply unit can be reliably retreated from the path of the clamper.

  Thus, the body can be smoothly and quickly supplied from the body supply unit to the clamper. Further, the configuration of the body supply unit is simple and compact, and the size and cost of the bookbinding apparatus can be reduced.

1 is a perspective view schematically showing an overall configuration of a bookbinding device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a clamper and a body supply unit at a body supply position of the bookbinding apparatus of FIG. 1. (A) is a side view showing a clamper and a body supply unit at a body supply position at the time of thin body supply of the bookbinding apparatus of FIG. 1, and (B) is a side view of the bookbinding apparatus of FIG. 1 at the time of thick body supply. It is a side view which shows a clamper and a body supply unit in a body supply position. It is a perspective view of a clamper. (A) is a side view of the clamper when the pair of clamp plates are in the open position and the guide plate is in the upright position, and (B) is a pair of clamp plates in the open position and the guide plate is in the open position. FIG. 5 is a side view of the clamper in a tilted position. FIG. 8 is a side view illustrating an operation of supplying the main body from the main body supply unit to the clamper. FIG. 8 is a side view illustrating an operation of supplying the main body from the main body supply unit to the clamper. FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating a bookbinding apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the present invention will be described based on preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an entire configuration of a bookbinding apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 1, according to the present invention, one or more (four in this embodiment) sandwiching body P in an upright state and movably arranged along a preset path 1. Is provided. The clamper 2 has a pair of clamp plates 3 and 4 that assume an open position for receiving the main body P and a closed position for holding both sides of the main body P.
In FIG. 1, only a pair of clamp plates 3 and 4 are illustrated as the clamper 2 for clarity.

In this embodiment, the path 1 of the clamper 2 is composed of horizontal upper and lower linear path sections 1a, 1b spaced apart in a vertical plane and upper and lower linear path sections 1a, 1b. It has a loop shape composed of arcuate path portions 1c and 1d connecting the ends.
Although not shown, an appropriate guide is provided along the path 1. The clamper 2 is slidably attached to the guide, and can move along the path 1 while being guided by the guide.
The clamper 2 can be moved in one direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 1) along the path 1 by a known appropriate driving mechanism (not shown).

According to the present invention, a series of processing units (the milling unit B, the gluing unit C, and the cover attaching unit D) which are arranged along the lower straight path portion 1b and perform the perfect binding process are provided. In FIG. 1, E denotes a cover sheet supply unit that supplies a cover sheet g to the cover sheet attaching unit D.
Further, a main body supply position A is provided upstream of the series of processing units B to E in the lower straight path portion 1b. A body supply unit 5 that supplies the body P between the pair of clamp plates 3 and 4 of the clamper 2 is disposed on one side of the body supply position A with respect to the lower straight path portion 1b.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the clamper and the body supply unit at the body supply position, and FIG. 3A is a side view showing the clamper and the body supply unit at the body supply position at the time of thin body supply of the bookbinding apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3B is a side view showing the clamper and the body supply unit at the body supply position when the thick body is supplied in the bookbinding apparatus of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the body supply unit 5 in this embodiment comprises a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt 5 is disposed diagonally above the main body supply position A and extends in parallel with the lower linear path portion 1b. The first rotary shaft 6a is located near the main body supply position A and has a first rotational shaft. A second rotating shaft 6b which is arranged at a position lower than the first rotating shaft 6a and extends parallel to the first rotating shaft 6a; and a second rotating shaft 6b which is located directly below the first rotating shaft 6a and higher than the second rotating shaft 6b. It has a third rotating shaft 6c arranged and extending parallel to the first rotating shaft 6a.
Although not shown, each of the first to third rotating shafts 6a to 6c is rotatable around its axis with both ends supported by a conveyor belt frame.

  A plurality of first roller elements 7a to 7d are attached to the first rotating shaft 6a at intervals in the axial direction, and are rotatable integrally with the first rotating shaft 6a. A plurality of second roller elements 8a to 8d are attached to the second rotating shaft 6b at intervals in the axial direction, and are rotatable integrally with the second rotating shaft 6b. A plurality of third roller elements 9a to 9d are attached to the third rotating shaft 6c at an interval in the axial direction, and are rotatable integrally with the third rotating shaft 6c.

  Endless belts 10a to 10d extend between the corresponding roller elements 7a, 8a, 9a; 7b, 8b, 9b; 7c, 8c, 9c; 7d, 8d, 9d of the first to third rotating shafts 6a to 6c. Have been. The lower surfaces of the endless belts 10a to 10d extending between the first roller elements 7a to 7d and the second roller elements 8a to 8d are supported by support plates (not shown).

On the upper surface of each of the endless belts 10a to 10d, plate-shaped projections 11 with which the back of the main body P contacts are provided at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction of the related endless belts 10a to 10d. The protrusion 11 is provided as needed.
A pulley 12a is fixed to one end of the first rotating shaft 6a. The motor 12b is mounted on a conveyor belt frame (not shown). Although not shown, the drive shaft of the motor 12b extends parallel to the first rotating shaft 6a. A drive belt 12c is stretched between a pulley (not shown) fixed to the drive shaft and the pulley 12a.

Conveyor belt frame (not shown), first to third rotating shafts 6a to 6c, first to third roller elements 7a to 7d; 8a to 8d; 9a to 9d; endless belts 10a to 10d; Not shown), the projection 11, the pulley 12a, the motor 12b, the pulley (not shown), and the drive belt 12c constitute the conveyor belt 5.
The upper surface of the portion of the conveyor belt 5 extending between the roller elements 7a to 7d and the second roller elements 8a to 8d forms a body transport surface 13. The body transport surface 13 extends at right angles to the pair of clamp plates 3 and 4 at the body supply position A and inclines downward toward the pair of clamp plates 3 and 4.

  In this way, the first rotating shaft 6a is driven to rotate by the motor (not shown), and the endless belts 10a to 10d rotate, whereby the main body P has its back on the main body transport surface 13 and the protrusions of the endless belts 10a to 10d. In a state in which it is brought into contact with 11, it is conveyed toward a pair of clamp plates 3 and 4.

According to the present invention, there is further provided a conveyor belt moving mechanism 31 capable of moving the conveyor belt 5 in a direction to move toward and away from the clamper 2 at the body supply position A.
In this embodiment, the conveyor belt moving mechanism 31 is attached to a frame (not shown) of the bookbinding apparatus on the side of the conveyor belt 5 with respect to the lower straight path portion 1b, and a pair of clamp plates 3, 4 at the main body supply position A. Has a horizontal slide guide 32 extending at a right angle to the horizontal direction. A conveyor belt frame (not shown) is slidably attached to the slide guide 32.

The conveyor belt moving mechanism 31 further includes a feed screw 33 extending parallel to the slide guide 32 above the slide guide 32 and rotatably mounted on a frame (not shown) of the bookbinding apparatus around an axis, and a conveyor belt frame. A nut 34 is provided at a lower portion of the bookbinding device (not shown) and engages with the feed screw 33, and a feed screw driving mechanism 35 attached to a frame (not shown) of the bookbinding apparatus.
In this embodiment, a conveyor belt frame (not shown) is slidably attached to the slide guide 32 via a nut 34.

  The feed screw drive mechanism 35 has a pulley 35a coaxially fixed to one end of the feed screw 33, and a motor 35b attached to a frame (not shown) of the bookbinding device below the feed screw 33. The drive shaft of the motor 35b extends parallel to the feed screw 33, and a drive belt 35d is stretched between a pulley 35c and a pulley 35a fixed to the end of the drive shaft.

  Thus, the feed belt 33 can be moved in the direction of approaching and separating from the clamper 2 at the main body supply position A by rotating the feed screw 33 forward and backward by the motor 35b.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the clamper, FIG. 5A is a side view of the clamper when the pair of clamp plates are in the open position and the guide plate is in the upright position, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a side view of the clamper when the guide plate is in an open position and the guide plate is in an inclined position.
With reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, a pair of clamp plates 3, 4 of the clamper 2 are composed of a vertical fixed clamp plate 3 and a vertical movable clamp plate 4 which can approach and separate from the fixed clamp plate 3. Is done.
The fixed clamp plate 3 is arranged parallel to the lower straight path portion 1b, and has sleeves 14a and 14b at both ends in the movement direction. The sleeves 14a, 14b extend horizontally through the fixed clamp plate 3. The rods 15a, 15b are inserted through the sleeves 14a, 14b, and are slidable in the axial direction.

  A support member 16 is attached to one end of the rods 15a and 15b (that is, the end closer to the conveyor belt 5 at the body supply position A), and connects the one ends of the rods 15a and 15b. A contact plate 17 is attached to the other ends of the rods 15a and 15b (that is, the end farther from the conveyor belt 5 at the main body supply position A) to connect the other ends of the rods 15a and 15b to each other. I have.

Further, a movable clamp plate 4 is attached to a portion of the rods 15a and 15b extending between the fixed clamp plate 3 and the support member 16 so as to be slidable parallel to the fixed clamp plate 3 and along the rods 15a and 15b.
A screw shaft 16a is attached to one end of the support member 16 in the moving direction so as to be rotatable around the axis. The screw shaft 16a extends through the support member 16 in parallel with the rods 15a and 15b, and a screw hole (not shown) is provided in the movable clamp plate 4, and the screw shaft 16a is screwed into the screw hole. A gear 16b is coaxially fixed to an end of the screw shaft 16a opposite to the movable clamp plate 4.
By rotating the gear 16b in the forward and reverse directions, the interval between the support member 16 and the movable clamp plate 4, that is, the interval between the clamp plates 3 and 4 when the pair of clamp plates 3 and 4 assumes the open position is reduced. It can be adjusted.

  On the other hand, below the lower straight path portion 1b at the main body supply position A, a drive gear 30b which can be screwed with the gear 16b of the clamper 2 when the pair of clamp plates 3, 4 of the clamper 2 assumes the open position. And a clamp plate interval adjusting unit 30 provided with a motor 30a for rotating the drive gear 30b. The clamp plate interval adjusting unit 30 can move up and down between a lowered position retracted below the clamper 2 and a raised position which ascends from the retracted position and engages the drive gear 30b with the gear 16b of the clamper 2.

  Springs 18a, 18b are fitted into portions of the guide rods 15a, 15b extending between the sleeves 14a, 14b and the contact plate 17, and the contact plate 17 is always separated from the fixed clamp plate 3, that is, movable. The clamp plate 4 elastically urges in a direction in which the clamp plate 4 contacts the fixed clamp plate 3. Thereby, the pair of clamp plates 3 and 4 always take the closed position.

On the other hand, although not shown, the clamper 2 is retracted from the contact plate 17 of the clamper 2 when the clamper 2 is at the main body supply position A on the side opposite to the conveyor belt 5 with respect to the lower straight path portion 1a at the main body supply position A. Between the retracted position and the operating position where the contact plate 17 of the clamper 2 is pushed toward the fixed clamp plate 3 against the urging force of the springs 18a and 18b to separate the movable clamp plate 4 from the fixed clamp plate 3. The clamper opening mechanism which can move by the is provided.
When the clamper 2 is at the main body supply position A, the clamper release mechanism moves from the retracted position to the operating position, so that the pair of clamp plates 3 and 4 of the clamper 2 assume the open position.

  Support plates 19a and 19b are provided on both ends of the movable clamp plate 4 in the moving direction, and project from the upper end of the movable clamp plate 4. A horizontal rotating shaft 20 is supported between the support plates 19a and 19b, and extends at right angles to the direction of transport of the body P by the conveyor belt 5.

A guide plate 21 is attached to the rotating shaft 20 so as to be pivotable integrally with the rotating shaft 20.
In this embodiment, the guide plate 21 has a slender plate-shaped base 21a extending along the rotary shaft 20 and a plurality of guide plates 21 arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the base 21a, and extending from the base 21a in the radial direction of the rotary shaft 20. And a plate-like arm portion 21b. The arm portion 21b is provided at a position that does not overlap with the endless belts 10a to 10d of the conveyor belt 5.

The guide plate 21 can have an upright position (see FIG. 5A) extending upward from the movable clamp plate 4 along the movable clamp plate 4, and a tilt position (see FIG. 5B) that falls outward from the upright position.
In this case, when the guide plate 21 assumes the inclined position, the tip bent outward of the arm portion 21b of the guide plate 21 contacts the surface of a support plate (not shown) supporting the endless belts 10a to 10d of the conveyor belt 5. Thereby, the guide plate 21 is smoothly connected to the main body conveying surface 13 of the conveyor belt 5.

The guide plate 21 further has, on one end side of the rotary shaft 20, a lever-shaped extension portion 22 that can be turned around the rotary shaft 20 integrally with the guide plate 21.
In this embodiment, the extension portion 22 extends in the radial direction of the rotating shaft 20 in a direction opposite to the turning arm portion 21b, and at a right angle from the first portion 22a in the turning plane of the first portion 22a. And a second portion 22b extending therefrom.
The extension portion 22 assumes a first position when the guide plate 21 is in the upright position as shown in FIG. 5A, and assumes a second position when the guide plate 21 is in the inclined position as shown in FIG. 5B. .

  A spring 23 that constantly urges the guide plate 21 from the tilted position toward the upright position is disposed between the guide plate 21 and the rotating shaft 20. In this case, when the guide plate 21 assumes the upright position, the distal end of the first portion 22a of the extension portion 22 comes into contact with the stop pin 24 protruding from the movable clamp plate 4, whereby the guide plate 21 rises. Turning from the position to the fixed clamp plate 3 side is prohibited.

  According to the present invention, further, it is disposed on the same side as the conveyor belt 5 with respect to the lower straight path portion 1b of the body supply position A, and is attached to a frame (not shown) of the bookbinding device independently of the clamper 2. A linear actuator 25 is provided. When the clamper 2 is at the main body supply position A and the pair of clamp plates 3 and 4 are in the open position, the linear actuator 25 pushes the extended portion 22 of the guide plate 21 against the urging force of the spring 23 to the first position. It functions as a guide plate drive mechanism for turning from the position to the second position.

  The linear actuator 25 is attached to the frame of the bookbinding apparatus, and when the pair of clamp plates 3 and 4 assume the open position at the main body supply position A, above the second portion 22 b of the extension portion 22 of the guide plate 21. A pair of parallel guide rods 26a, 26b extending vertically, and slidably mounted on the guide rods 26a, 26b, move toward and away from the extension 22b in a vertical plane including the turning surface of the extension 22. It has a working head 27 to obtain. A roller 27a capable of engaging with the second portion 22b is attached to the tip of the working head 27.

  The linear actuator 25 further has an air cylinder 28 attached to the frame for causing the working head 27 to slide. In this case, the tip of the piston rod 28 a of the air cylinder 28 is connected to the rear end of the working head 27.

When the piston rod 28a protrudes downward with the working head 27 (the roller 27a) in contact with the second portion 22b of the extension portion 22 at the first position, the extension portion 22 is moved to the first position. From the first position to the second position, whereby the guide plate 21 turns from the upright position to the inclined position. When the piston rod 28b is retracted from this position until the working head 27 (the roller 27a) is separated from the second portion 22b of the extension portion 22, the extension portion 22 returns to the first position by the urging force of the spring 23, Thereby, the guide plate 21 returns to the standing position.
In this case, the linear actuator 25 is retracted from the path 1 of the clamper 2 in a state where the roller 27a of the working head 27 is separated from the second part 22b of the extension part 22.

Next, the operation of the bookbinding apparatus of the present invention will be described.
First, the clamper 2 stops at the main body supply position A, and the main body P is supplied from the conveyor belt 5 between the pair of clamp plates 3 and 4 of the clamper 2. FIGS. 6 and 7 show the operation of supplying the main body from the conveyor belt 5 to the clamper 2.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the clamper 2 stops at the main body supply position A, the clamper release mechanism moves from the retracted position to the operating position, whereby the pair of clamp plates 3, 4 assume the open position.

  Next, the clamp plate interval adjusting unit 30 is raised from the lowered position to the raised position, and the interval between the pair of clamp plates 3 and 4 at the open position is adjusted according to the thickness of the supplied main body P. If the distance between the pair of clamp plates is changed by this adjustment, the distance between the movable clamp plate 4 and the conveyor belt 5 in the open position is also changed, so that the position of the conveyor belt 5 is correspondingly changed. It is adjusted by the belt moving mechanism 31.

That is, when the body P is thin, as shown in FIG. 3A, the interval between the pair of clamp plates 3 and 4 in the open position is narrowed, and the conveyor belt 5 is correspondingly moved in the direction approaching the clamper 2. When the main body P is moved, on the other hand, when the body P is thick, as shown in FIG. 3B, the interval between the pair of clamp plates 3 and 4 in the open position is widened, and the conveyor belt 5 is correspondingly moved from the clamper 2. It is moved in the direction to separate.
Thus, even if the interval between the pair of clamp plates 3 and 4 at the open position is changed, the interval between the movable clamp plate 4 and the conveyor belt 5 is always kept constant.

  Next, the extended portion 22 of the guide plate 21 of the movable clamp plate 4 is turned by the linear actuator 25 from the first position to the second position, and the guide plate 21 is turned from the upright position to the inclined position, and Connected to body transport surface 13. Thereby, a smooth conveyance path is formed from the main body conveyance surface 13 of the conveyor belt 5 to the movable clamp plate 4 via the guide plate 21 of the clamper 2 (see FIG. 6A).

Then, after the main body P is conveyed to the guide plate 21 on the main body conveying surface 13 with the back in contact with the projection 11 of the conveyor belt 5, it falls along the guide plate 21 (see FIG. 6B), It is inserted between the pair of clamp plates 3 and 4 (see FIG. 7A). The lower surface (back) of the main body P inserted between the pair of clamp plates 3 and 4 is supported by a horizontal main body support plate 29 arranged at the main body supply position A.
Thus, the main body P is smoothly transported from the conveyor belt 5 to the clamper 2 while shifting from the lying posture to the standing posture.

Next, the operation head 27 (roller 27c) of the guide plate driving mechanism is separated from the extension portion 22, and the extension portion 22 of the guide plate 21 is pivoted to the first position by the urging force of the spring 23. The plate 21 turns to the standing position (see FIG. 7B).
Further, the clamper opening mechanism takes the retracted position, and the movable clamp plate 4 is pressed against the fixed clamp plate 3 by the springs 18a and 18b, whereby the pair of clamp plates 3 and 4 assume the closed position, and the body P is moved. It is sandwiched between a pair of clamp plates 3 and 4. Thus, the operation of supplying the main body to the clamper 2 is completed.

  Thereafter, the main body support plate 29 is retracted from the main body supply position A, and the clamper 2 leaves the main body supply position A and sequentially passes through the milling unit B, the gluing unit C, and the cover attaching unit D. Is perfect bound. Then, the clamper 2 holding the bound product P 'moves along the upper straight path portion 1a in an upside down position via the arc path portion 1c, and then moves downward again via the arc path portion 1d. It moves along the straight path portion 1b and stops at the body insertion position A. At the body insertion position A, the clamper releasing mechanism moves from the standby position to the operating position, whereby the pair of clamp plates 3 and 4 assume the open position, and the bookbinding product P ′ is moved to the bookbinding discharge unit F below the clamper 2. Is discharged on top. After discharging the book P ', a new body P is supplied to the clamper 2 from the conveyor belt 5.

  Thus, according to the present invention, the main body is smoothly and quickly supplied from the main body supply unit to the clamper, and further, the configuration of the main body supply unit is simplified and compact, and the size and cost of the bookbinding apparatus are reduced. Can be realized.

  In the above embodiment, the guide plate and the guide plate driving mechanism (linear actuator) for rotating the guide plate at the body supply position are provided on the clamp plate (movable clamp plate) on the conveyor belt side. The drive mechanism can be omitted.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment without a guide plate and a guide plate drive mechanism. In FIG. 8, the same components as those shown in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted below.
Referring to FIG. 8, in this embodiment, the height of movable clamp plate 4 ′ (the clamp plate closer to conveyor belt 5) and the inclination angle of body transport surface 13 of conveyor belt 5 are different from each other by a pair of clamp plates 3. In the open position 4 ′, the conveyor belt 5 is set close to the movable clamp plate 4 ′ so that a smooth transport path from the main body transport surface 13 to the movable clamp plate 4 ′ can be formed.

The conveyor path is formed near the movable clamp plate 4 ′ of the pair of clamp plates 3, 4 ′ in the open position, from the main body transport surface 13 of the conveyor belt 5 to the movable clamp plate 4 ′. The main body P is smoothly and quickly conveyed along the conveyance path while shifting from the lying posture to the standing posture, and is inserted between the pair of clamp plates 3 and 4.
In addition, after the supply of the main body P to the clamper 2 is completed, the conveyor belt 5 is separated from the clamper 2 as necessary, and is reliably retracted from the path of the clamper 2.

  Further, also in this embodiment, when the interval between the pair of clamp plates 3 and 4 'in the open position is narrowed corresponding to the thin main body P, the conveyor belt 5 is moved in a direction approaching the clamper 2. On the other hand, if the interval between the pair of clamp plates 3 and 4 ′ in the open position is widened corresponding to the thick body P, the conveyor belt 5 is moved in a direction away from the clamper 2. (FIG. 8B), whereby the position of the conveyor belt 5 can be easily adjusted in response to a change between the pair of clamp plates 3, 4 'in the open position.

As described above, the configuration of the present invention has been described based on the preferred embodiment. However, the configuration of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications may be made within the scope of the configuration described in the claims. can do.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the path of the clamper is formed in a loop shape and a plurality of clampers are provided. Instead, the path of the clamper is formed in a straight line, and a single clamper is provided. It is good also as composition which reciprocates along a course.

  In the above embodiment, the main body supply unit is formed of a conveyor belt, but the main body supply unit extends at right angles to the pair of clamp plates at the main body supply position and extends downwardly toward the clamper. Any configuration may be adopted as long as the main body is conveyed toward the clamper in a posture in which the main body lies on its back with the back on top, and the main body supply unit may be a shooter. And the like.

  In the above embodiment, the guide plate has a lever-shaped extension and the guide plate drive mechanism is a linear actuator. However, the guide plate drive mechanism has a pair of clamp plates when the clamper is at the main body supply position. When the open position is attained, the guide plate can be turned from the upright position to the inclined position against the urging force of the spring. In this case, the guide plate drive mechanism is operatively connected to the guide plate. The configuration for performing this is not limited to the above embodiment.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the guide plate driving mechanism is disposed independently of the clamper, but the guide plate driving mechanism may be disposed on the clamper. In the above embodiment, the guide plate is provided on the movable clamp plate. However, when the fixed clamp plate is the clamp plate closer to the main body supply unit, the guide plate is provided on the fixed clamp plate.

  Further, the configuration for moving the pair of clamp plates between the open position and the closed position is not limited to the above embodiment, and the pair of clamp plates is constituted by a pair of parallel movable clamp plates that can approach and separate from each other. You can also.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Path 1a Upper linear path part 1b Lower linear path part 1c, 1d Arc path part 2 Clamper 3 Fixed clamp plate 4, 4 'Movable clamp plate 5 Conveyor belt (body supply unit)
6a to 6c First to third rotating shafts 7a to 7d First roller elements 8a to 8d Second roller elements 9a to 9d Third roller elements 10a to 10d Endless belt 11 Projection 12a Pulley 12b Motor 12c Drive belt 13 Body transport surfaces 14a, 14b Sleeves 15a, 15b Rod 16 Support member 16a Screw shaft 16b Gear 17 Contact plate 18a, 18b Spring 19a, 19b Support plate 20 Rotary shaft 21 Guide plate 21a Base 21b Arm 22 Extension 22a First Part 22b Second part 23 Spring 24 Stop pin 25 Linear actuator (guide plate drive mechanism)
26a, 26b Guide rod 27 Working head 27a Roller 28 Air cylinder 28a Piston rod 29 Body support plate 30 Clamp plate spacing adjustment unit 30a Motor 30b Drive gear 31 Conveyor belt moving mechanism 32 Slide guide 33 Feed screw 34 Nut 35 Feed screw drive mechanism 35a Pulley 35b Motor 35c Pulley 35d Drive belt A Body supply position B Milling unit C Glue unit D Covering unit E Cover supply unit F Book discharge unit g Cover P Body P 'book

Claims (7)

The body includes one or more clampers that can hold the body in an upright state and move along a preset path, and the clamper has an open position for receiving the body and a closed position for holding both sides of the body. It has a pair of clamp plates,
A series of processing units arranged along the path, performing a perfect binding process,
A body supply unit that supplies a body between the pair of clamp plates of the clamper at a body supply position provided on the upstream side of the series of processing units in the path,
When the clamper is at the main body supply position, after the main body is supplied by the main body supply unit between the pair of clamp plates at the open position, the pair of clamp plates takes the closed position, and then, In the bookbinding apparatus in which the main body is bound by perfect binding while the clamper leaves the main body supply position and sequentially passes through the series of processing units,
The body supply unit is disposed on one side of the body supply position with respect to the path, and the body supply unit is inclined at right angles to the pair of clamp plates and downward toward the pair of clamp plates at the body supply position. It has a body transport surface that extends and, on the body transport surface, the body is to be transported toward the pair of clamp plates with the back first.
A bookbinding apparatus comprising a body supply unit moving mechanism that can move the body supply unit in a direction to approach and separate from the clamper at the body supply position. The body supply unit moving mechanism,
A horizontal slide guide provided at the one side of the body supply position with respect to the path and extending at right angles to the pair of clamp plates at the body supply position, wherein the body supply unit is slidable with respect to the slide guide; Attached to
The body supply unit moving mechanism further includes:
A feed screw provided in parallel with the slide guide and rotatable about an axis;
A nut attached to the body supply unit and engaging the feed screw;
The bookbinding device according to claim 1, further comprising a feed screw driving mechanism for rotating the feed screw. The clamper is
At the upper end of the clamp plate closer to the main body supply unit at the main body supply position of the pair of clamp plates, the main body can be turned around a horizontal turning axis extending at right angles to the main body conveyance direction by the main body supply unit. An attached, upright position extending upward along the clamp plate from the relevant clamp plate, and a guide plate taking a tilted position to fall outward from the upright position,
A spring that is disposed between the guide plate and the turning shaft and that constantly biases the guide plate from the tilted position toward the upright position;
Independently of the clamper, or disposed on the clamper, when the pair of clamp plates take the open position at the body supply position, the guide plate is moved from the upright position against the urging force of the spring. The bookbinding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a guide plate driving mechanism that is turned to a tilted position and connected to the body transport surface of the body supply unit. The guide plate has, at at least one end side of the turning shaft, a lever-shaped extension portion that can be turned around the turning shaft integrally with the guide plate. While taking the first position when in the upright position, taking the second position when the guide plate is in the inclined position,
The guide plate drive mechanism is disposed independently of the clamper, and when the pair of clamp plates are in the open position at the main body supply position, the guide plate drive mechanism moves the extended portion of the guide plate to the first position. The bookbinding apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the bookbinding apparatus can be turned from a position to the second position.   5. The bookbinding apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the guide plate driving mechanism comprises a linear actuator.   The bookbinding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the body supply unit comprises a conveyor belt.   The bookbinding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the body supply unit comprises a shooter.

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