Cassette for Bookbinding Strips

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a cassette for packaging bookbinding strips of the type shown in FIG. 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,369,013. The cassette may be used in equipment for binding books wherein the binding strips are mechanically fed into the equipment preparatory to binding by means of equipment such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,811,146. However strips may be removed from the cassette hereinafter described manually for manual insertion into such equipment.

2. Description of Related Art

The cassette hereinafter described is constructed so as to package a plurality of strips such as those heretofore described, such strips being a well-known means for binding books and documents. Heretofore such strips have been commercially packaged in boxes but have not been so packaged that they may be automatically fed into proper position for assembly of a book or a document preparatory to binding same. The present invention provides a cassette wherein the strips are arranged in side-by-side relationship and discharged from one end of the cassette into receiving means for transfer into a position whereby they may be assembled with punched sheets of paper so that the completed document or book may be bound.

Cartridge packaging of said strips is shown in FIGS. 6-10A of said U.S. Pat. No. 4,369,013, but in an entirely different manner from the present invention.

Binding strips of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,369,013 comprise a set of two strips. The first strip is formed of narrow thermoplastic material and has integral studs projecting therefrom at spaced intervals. The length of the strips are varied to accommodate different widths of paper and the stud lengths are variable to accommodate different thicknesses of books or documents. The second strip of the set is flat and narrow and has holes spaced at the same intervals as the studs. Again, the length of the strip is variable and the hole spacing is variable to accommodate the studs of the first strip. Such strips are well known in the binding industry. Heretofore such strips have been molded and transported in boxes. At the time of use, the strips have been removed from the boxes one at a time and inserted in bookbinding means of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,811,146 as well as other binding machines produced by the assignee of this application. The present invention is a means for packaging said strips so that they are more conveniently available for insertion in the bookbinding machine and, indeed, may be automatically discharged from the cassette and transported into proper position for assembly of a book or document prior to the binding thereof.

One of the features of the invention is that it accommodates both the first strips and the second strips heretofore mentioned and accommodates strips of different lengths and also first strips of different stud heights. Merely by adding spacers to the cassette assembly used for the second or flat strips, first strips may be accommodated and the lengths of the spacers make it possible to accommodate first strips of different stud lengths. Thus considerable economy in the manufacture of the cassettes is achieved.

Furthermore, since strips of different lengths are used, the cassette hereinafter described may be fabricated in such a way that it can be assembled to accommodate strips of different lengths.

When male strips are being packaged, the cassette protects the studs from being bent out of alignment.

The cassette is intended for use in equipment which automatically advances strips longitudinally of the cassette. The structure of the cassette is such that it provides no obstructions to the portion of such equipment which engages the strips to so advance the same.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a cassette in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view thereof showing additionally in dot and dash lines a second cassette upon which the first is stacked.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the structure of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of FIG. 2 with the spacers eliminated so that flat female strips are packaged.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to FIG. 5 showing spacers in place to accommodate male strips.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 7--7 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing a detent which is removed at the time strips are discharged from the cassette.

The cassette hereinafter described in detail is used to package bookbinding strips. First strips 21 have a base 22 which is a thin narrow elongated strip of thermoplastic material from which project integral studs 23. The length of the base 22 and the heights of the studs 23 vary and the cassette hereinafter described accommodates different lengths of strips and heights of studs. The ends 24 of base 22 of commercially available strips 21 extend outward of the outermost stud 23, and this projecting end 24 is a feature which is taken advantage of in the construction of the cassette. With each first strip 21 there is used a second strip 26 which has holes at intervals spaced the same distances as the studs 23 and the strip 26 preferably has the same length as the base 22.

On either side of the cassette are inward facing side rails 31 which are of a length to accommodate a plurality of strips 21 or 26. At locations spaced inward but adjacent to the ends of rails 31 are upward projecting connector members 32. Extending the entire length of each rail 31 are upper and lower longitudinal guides 33, 34 between which is a channel 36 having the width of the thickness of base 22 or strip 26 and deep enough to receive the ends 24 of strips 21 or the ends of strips 26. At intervals along the length of rail 31 are downward projections 37 which are rectangular in shape. Three such projections are shown in FIG. 3 but the number of such projections is subject to variation. A gusset 38 interconnects the bottom of lower guide 34 and the projection 37 to reinforce the same. To either side of connector members 32 are locators 39 for the spacer legs hereinafter described and projecting inward of each such connector member 32 is a horizontally disposed pin 41 to effect connection with such leg. When female strips 26 are packaged, no vertical spacer legs 46 are required. However when packaging male strips 21, a plurality of legs 46 are used. The lengths of the legs 46 depend upon the lengths of the studs 23. Hence the legs 46 are an interchangeable parts for the completed cassette. Spacer leg 46 has a base 47 which extends longitudinally outwardly and at the lower corners of the base 47 are sockets 48 which receive the pins 41 in a snap in arrangement. Thus the base 47 is positioned between the spacers 39. Vertical reinforcement ribs 52 rigidify the legs 46. On the upper ends of legs 46 are vertically disposed connector pins 53 which fit into sockets 62 on bars 56 when legs 46 are used. As shown in FIG. 5, when packaging strips 26 (when no legs 46 are used) pins 71 on rails 31 fit into sockets 62. When legs 46 are used, pins 71 fit into grooves 73 on the outside of leg 46, there being bosses 74 on the inside to define said grooves. To further stabilize the assembled cassettes, inverted U-shaped rib receptors 64 are formed at the bottom of the central reinforcement 52 and projection 51 on the top of rails 31 slides into said receptors when pins 41 slide into sockets 48. Further, the upper edge of central reinforcing rib 52 fits into groove 76 on the underside of interconnecting bar 56 (see FIG. 6).

Extending transversely of the cassette adjacent but spaced inward of either end of rail 13 is a horizontal interconnector bar 56. Such bar 56 has a base 57 having a central longitudinally upwardly extending reinforcing rib 58 and the rib 58 at either end has an upward extension 59. The upper edge of each extension 59 is formed with notches 61 and to either side of extension 59 are sockets 62. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, on the left side of each bar 56 there is a single notch 61 and to either side thereof is a single socket 62. On the right-hand side of each bar 56 are three notches 61 and to either side of each notch is a socket 62. This arrangement makes it possible to fabricate the cassette so that a single size bar 56 will accommodate strips 21 or 26 of different lengths. Thus the innermost sockets 62 on the right-hand side may accommodate strips which are 81/2 inches in length, the middle sockets 62 strips which are 11 inches in length and the outermost sockets 62 strips which are 14 inches in length. Of course the number and spacing of the sockets 62 is subject to variation. The connector pins 53 for the legs 46 fit into the sockets 62 and are positioned in the selected socket 62 so that the cassette formed will accommodate the desired length of strip. As best shown in FIG. 2, the notches 61 receive the bottom projections 37 so that a plurality of cassettes may be stacked on top of each other and aligned by reason of the projections 37 fitting into the notches 61. Notches 63 are formed on the bottom edges of projections 37. When stacked as in FIG. 3, the upper extension 59 of the undermost cassette fits into notch 63 to promote stacking stability.

As best shown in FIG. 8, as an optional feature, a slot 66 is formed in the end of each side rail 31 and a retainer detent 67 prevents strips from being forced out of the channels 36. Such detent 67 closes off the end of channel 36. A lever 68 connected to the rail 31 below the slot 66 may be bent from the solid line position of FIG. 8 to the dot and dash line position, thereby bending the detent 67 out of the way of channel 36 and permitting the strips to be discharged from the channels 36. It will be understood that when the cassettes are used in automatic machinery, when the cassette is inserted into the machine, an abutment (not shown) contacts the lever 68 and bends it down to the dot and dash line position of FIG. 8 so that the strips may be fed out of the cassette for assembly with perforated sheets to be bound.

The end of each channel 36 opposite detent is blocked by a permanent stop 69 which prevents removal of strips 21 or 26 until detents 67 are bent down.

To load the cassette, opposed rails 31 are sprung apart sufficiently for strips to be loaded. Alternatively, the strips may be loaded before all elements of the cassette are snapped together. When the rails are released they move together, holding the strips therebetween. FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate that by connecting the rails 31 directly to the interconnecting bars 56 flat female strips 26 may be supported in the cassette. For such purpose, connector pins 71 which are formed on the rails 31 are received directly in the sockets 62 on the transverse bars 56. By inserting pins 71 in the appropriate sockets 62, the effective width of the cassette may be changed to accommodate strips 21 or 26 of different lengths.

In order to accommodate male strips 21, a leg 46 of appropriate height is used. For such purpose, the pins 41 of the rail 31 are inserted in the appropriate sockets 48 in the legs 46. The pins 53 on the upper ends of the legs 46 are inserted in the appropriate socket 62 in the connecting bar 56 depending on the length of strip 21 being packaged and projections 51 slide into receptor 64. The foregoing arrangement makes it possible to use a set of rails 31 and a set of bars 56 to package female strips 26 of any length as well as male strips of any length and the height of the studs 23 of the male strip is accommodated simply be selecting spacer legs 46 of appropriate height.