Hanging machine

Abstract

Case-in machine with a block feed station, a block alignment (A), a case feed station, a case preforming station (V), a full-surface gluing of the block, a case-in device (E) and a book delivery (F), wherein the feed of block (BIII) and case (DIII) takes place horizontally and the movement for joining takes place vertically, characterized in that the block (BII) is transported by transport means which do not engage in the interior of the block, preferably by a lifting rake (7) carrying the block (BII) at the front cut, in a vertical direction for the full-surface gluing of the outer sides through glue rollers (16), that suspension rails (40) take over the block, clamp it together with the case (DII) in the folding area and bring it into a final position with folded case boards (P), that the assembled book (BI + DI) is conveyed out of the case-in area (E) by pressure rollers (45a, 45b), that the blocks belonging to each other (BI,BII, BIII) and covers (DI, DII, DIII) are simultaneously automatically fed to the forced flow within the machine and that the fed block (BIII) is transported in a horizontal direction by a belt drive (6) which grips the block (BIII) along a line close to the back of the block (BIII) and is placed in a final position with the front cut on the lifting rake (7) and that the block (BII) is guided laterally in this position by guides (12) and held flat.

Description

[0001] To produce a finished book, a book block, which has already undergone processes such as three-sided trimming and, if necessary, rounding and capitalizing, is combined with a book case. The outer endpapers of the book block are glued to the inside of the case. The resulting book is then pressed in a further process, both over its entire surface and in the fold area.

[0002] During the case-in process, the book block is usually opened in the middle with the spine facing upwards and transferred to a sword-shaped saddle plate, which moves the block upwards in a vertical direction. The block passes glue rollers on both sides and is coated with glue on the outer surfaces. On its further path upwards, the block spine meets the schrenz area of a case lying horizontally with the inside facing down and receives this centrally. On its further path upwards, the case sides are folded against the glued block and rolled on if necessary. A solution of this type was already proposed in Imperial Patent 289477. In this proposal, the saddle plates are guided on a continuously running chain and swing around on the lower and upper chain deflections, making it difficult to transfer the finished book to the delivery.In a proposal according to US 3009180, the chain has a downtime during which the blocks are fed and the inserted books are laid out.

[0003] Further proposals, such as those in DE 3805114 or DE 1950185, show two offset chain tracks that guide the saddle plates like a paternoster and keep the block always in the same direction. Fig. 2 of both proposals clearly demonstrates the enormous space requirements and mechanical complexity of these solutions. This design has become standard in industrial book production.

[0004] To avoid the large space requirements and effort, a solution was presented in DE 19639575, in which the chain guide of the saddle plates is not aligned with the saddle plates, but at right angles to them. The space requirement is reduced because the saddle plates no longer have to be guided around each other at their corner dimensions, but can pass relatively close to each other.

[0005] A solution according to EP 2508352 attempts to avoid the space required by the revolving chain guide by applying glue to the block during an upward movement, picking up the case, folding it in, and rolling it in. Then, after a brief stop, the inserted book is conveyed back along the same track. Transport is achieved by a saddle plate that engages the center of the block. During the downward return stroke with the inserted block, the particular problem arises that the front edge of the book can encounter a narrow shaft into which the saddle plate dips. It is assumed that the two halves of the block spread far enough. However, this cannot be guaranteed with thin or slightly curved paper.

[0006] All machines that use saddle plates have a few serious drawbacks. The blocks, which hang split in the middle on the upwardly pointed saddle plates, can sag at the sides and lose their shape, especially if the paper and binding are soft.

[0007] On delicate papers, there may be marks from the upper edges of the saddle plates and also friction marks from the surfaces of the saddle plates on the block.

[0008] When the divider plunges into the center of the block, the edges of the blades can be damaged. This is especially critical when the blades in the block are very thick, as this increases the risk of the divider tip pushing against the blade edge. With very thin blades, however, there is a risk that the frictional force exerted by the penetrating divider could crumple the blades backward.

[0009] To prevent the saddle-mounted blocks from sagging, DD 47118 suggests processing the blocks with the back facing down and guiding them from top to bottom through the gluing device and joining them to the deck. However, this solution also requires divider plates and support plates, so the marking problem and the problem of sheet edge damage still exist with this solution.

[0010] According to DE 19955993, the block is gripped by a clamping plate on each side after the endpapers have been spread apart and are outside the clamping plates. During an upward stroke, the free endpapers are sucked onto the gluing devices and glued via a flying gluing process through adhesive contact with the glue rollers.

[0011] The clamps engage within an endpaper in standard hardcover books. The actual block is protected by the inner endpaper, and the outer endpaper can probably withstand the stresses of flying gluing. A large portion of single-book production is photo books or similar, which don't necessarily have endpapers. This solution presents problems with both printing marks on printed surfaces and gluing issues.

[0012] On its further journey upwards, the case is picked up and folded down. The inserted book is then picked up and laid out by rails that engage with the fold of the book. The clamping plates move back down for the next cycle. This solution avoids the aforementioned disadvantages of saddle plate machines. However, the intended gluing is disadvantageous. Gluing via adhesive contact requires initial pressure contact between the glue rollers and the block directly at the spine. The adhesive contact of flying gluing is difficult to maintain if a very thin glue application is used. There is a risk of glue dropouts. Avoiding glue film tear requires a truly homogeneous gluing over the entire surface. Diamond patterns to reduce glue consumption, as is usual, are not possible. A thicker glue layer, however, means disadvantages during drying.

[0013] In most proposals, the block is transported with the spine facing up. In patent application DE 102011101851, the block is transported lying flat. The gluing is not applied to the block itself, but to the inside of the case. As it passes through the machine, the block is first laid flat on the first side of the case. The second side of the case is then folded onto the top of the block.

[0014] The accuracy of the binding depends on the stable shape of the cover and the block. This limits its application to the processing of thin blocks with straight spines. The system is not suitable for wavy papers and rounded spines. This solution was originally marketed for the production of children's books, which are thin, stiff, and straight. The cover was glued using a glue roller with a die adapted to the format. Due to the die changeover time, this solution is only economical for larger print runs.

[0015] In the modified solution according to DE 102011101851, the glue is applied with a hot melt adhesive to the inside of the ceiling through a glue nozzle that moves back and forth at right angles to the transport.

[0016] Due to the limited size of the nozzle, the glue is applied in multiple stripes, each with a width corresponding to the nozzle width. This requires numerous transport steps, alternating with the nozzle's working movements. Glue application is therefore time-consuming and limits the machine's performance.

[0017] A major disadvantage of the gluing process is that the first strip of glue is applied well before the last. This requires a hot-melt adhesive with a long open time (re-glue), and a relatively thick layer of glue must be applied to ensure a secure bond when the second side of the ceiling is folded in.

[0018] DE 19540213 discloses a case-in machine in which a book block standing on its spine is joined to a horizontally stretched-out book cover in a vertical downward movement. Glue application rollers apply glue to endpapers attached to both sides of the book block. The glue application rollers also serve as a transport device for the book block during an initial transport section until the leading spine of the book block hits the book cover. Transporting the book block with the glue rollers can have a negative impact on even glue application. As soon as the spine of the book block hits the book cover, transport resistance increases and the book block is slowed down, which compromises even glue application due to spinning glue rollers.

[0019] After the spine and book cover meet, the book is clamped in the folding area by pivoting flaps, which transport the book vertically downward through a second transport section. The flaps press the covers of the book cover against the book block. The closed book is then fed to a third transport section, where the book is transported by pressure rollers.

[0020] The object of the present invention is to design a case-in machine which avoids the disadvantages of transport via glue rollers or saddle plates with regard to markings and damage to the paper, is suitable for the production of individual products and, on the other hand, fulfils a thin-layer, full-surface homogeneous gluing of the outer sides of the book block.

[0021] The problem is solved by a device according to patent claims 1 to 10.

[0022] Book blocks and hardcover cases are fed manually or automatically and assembled into a finished book. Both parts of the book pass through various stations. It is important that the paths of the case and book block through the machine are the same length, so that in the event of a mismatch, the machine can be stopped without generating waste or even ejecting the mismatched parts. The block and case are fed into the machine at the same machine cycle after they have been previously identified.

[0023] For efficient production, especially of individual books, it is important to automatically ensure the matching of the cover and block and avoid waste. To achieve this, the block and cover are conveniently labeled with barcodes, which not only ensure the identity of the parts but also simultaneously control the machine's format settings. For the economical production of individual books, format adjustment time must be minimal.

[0024] The book block is placed spine-up in the starting position by hand or by automatic feeder. Here, the block is scanned to determine its identity and detect its format.

[0025] When the block is aligned with the corresponding cover, it is pushed horizontally, e.g., by a slider, into a belt conveyor until it reaches an alignment position. The block is placed in a shaft and can be aligned on all sides before being clamped by the belts. The belt conveyor consists of two belts on the left and right, which clamp the block close to the spine and can transport it lengthwise along the spine.

[0026] If the block does not fit the ceiling, it will not be pushed into the conveyor belts and can be ejected by suitable means.

[0027] In the next machine cycle, the block is moved to a corner position by the conveyor belts. The belts open there and place the block with its front cut onto a lifting rake. The blocks are supported laterally and held straight. The supporting bars of the rake are usually straight. They then fit a block with a straight back: For rounded blocks, the block center must be supported to stabilize the spine curve. For this purpose, a forming rail is provided at the center of the block thickness, which can be adjusted from below. This is preferably adjusted by automatic format adjustment so that its upper edge protrudes from the supporting web surfaces of the rake according to the arch height of the curve, thus supporting the block at its center.

[0028] The block is now ready for the vertical lift for gluing and joining.

[0029] At the same time, the blanket is automatically moved into the starting position by a conveyor belt or manually, lying flat. Here, the blanket is scanned (e.g., barcode). If it matches the block that is simultaneously in the block starting position, it is picked up by a conveyor (e.g., reciprocating blanket transport rails with integrated suction cups) and transported to the preforming station.

[0030] If the blanket does not fit the block, it will not be transported and may be rejected.

[0031] In the preforming station, the cover is aligned horizontally and, if necessary, pre-rounded in the back area. During back preforming, the middle cover section (Schrenz) is adapted to the curve of the block back. For this purpose, a shaped piece consisting of lamellas, as known from EP 1350634, is preferably used at the bottom. This piece can be continuously adjusted to the curve radius and creates the pre-forming by an upward stroke. Rails on the top serve as counter-support, engaging in the fold area of the cover. These counter-rails are automatically adjusted to the Schrenz width of the cover, which essentially corresponds to the block thickness. The preforming element is advantageously heated.

[0032] In books with straight spines, the sash area is raised from below by bars, and the counter bars press directly next to the sash into the fold area of the case, creating a sharp, small bevel in the case covering material that later allows for a beautifully squared spine. The sash area forms a hat profile with the case boards, into which the block spine slides during assembly.

[0033] In the next machine cycle, the ceiling is moved into the assembly position by the ceiling transport rails. It is held precisely centered in this position by lateral guides and transferred from the ceiling transport rails to the suspension rails equipped with suction cups. The ceiling is ready for blocking.

[0034] Instead of ceiling transport rails with suction cups, transport can also be carried out using traction devices with conveyors.

[0035] The binding process begins with the block being transported through the lifting rake between glue rollers. Their peripheral speed corresponds to the lifting speed of the rake and they support the transport through the rake. The glue rollers press lightly against the book block and apply glue over its entire surface. Towards the end of the block, the glue rollers are slightly aired off to prevent glue smearing. To prevent glue smearing at the head and foot edges of the block, the glue application rollers can be scraped free in a narrow strip near the head and foot edges of the block. These narrow scrapers are automatically adjusted to the block height.

[0036] To prevent the block spine from pushing against the glue rollers, the rollers should preferably be allowed to ventilate slightly as the block spine edge passes through. This is important for products with a build-up spine.

[0037] Gluing can be done with hot melt or cold glue. Conventional solutions are used for gluing systems, where the glue is either stored in a housing, picked up by a roller, and transferred to the application roller, or the glue is fed between two rollers in the middle and transferred from one of these rollers to the block.

[0038] The special feature of this proposal is that the glue application roller is positioned as far above the glue pickup roller as possible, both to provide space for the ceiling transport rails and for folding the ceiling boards onto the block. The glue application roller, as the contact roller for the block, is positioned as close as possible to the ceiling feed level. This allows for the maximum stroke of the lifting rake, and the glue application roller can support vertical transport for as long as possible.

[0039] The block then hits the spine of the case, which is already being accelerated vertically by the case rails at the moment of contact. With the case rails and book block running at synchronous vertical speed, the case rails close, clamping the block and case together in the case's fold area, tightly against the spine. To a limited extent, they also function as fold-forming rails. The transport is now carried out by the case rails with the aid of the glue roller.

[0040] The suspension rails contain pivoting suction bars that suction the two ceiling boards and pivot them continuously and in a controlled manner against the block during the vertical lift. In their lower position, these suction bars pick up the ceiling from the ceiling transport rails with a positive overlap of the suction effect.

[0041] The pivot point of the suction bars is located at the contact point between the suspension rails and the block. The bearings for the pivoting movement are located at the head and foot ends, outside the largest format.

[0042] On their way up, the suspension rails and the spine edge of the book block pass the position of a pair of lower pressure rollers. The lower pressure rollers rotate at a peripheral speed corresponding to the lifting speed and, upon contact, close the book block, with the cover now fully folded, and transport it further upward to a stop position directly above the lower pressure rollers, where the suspension rails are released and their lifting movement stops.

[0043] The lower pair of pressure rollers now conveys the block further, whereby it runs into an upper pair of pressure rollers, which are arranged at the distance of the smallest format above the lower pair of pressure rollers, and brings the block synchronously to an upper end position.

[0044] The block runs spine-first into an open clamp. The clamp closes and opens the upper pair of pressure rollers. The clamp then pivots around a pivot axis located to the side, preferably by 90° to 120°, thereby clamping the block into a horizontal or inclined position. The section of the book closest to the spine is then placed on an outfeed belt.

[0045] The conveyor belt takes over the book at a standstill when the clamp opens, or it is pushed out by suitable means.

[0046] The book can be removed from the outfeed conveyor belt or transported to a folding press.

[0047] The folding press, in its conventional design, serves to reshape the book's fold area. Fold-forming rails press the book in the fold area after any cold glue used for the full-surface gluing of the block has set slightly, ensuring a durable bond between the block's endpapers and the fold area of the cover. The rails are conveniently heated. The heat ensures that the cold glue finally sets during the contact time of the fold-forming rails.

[0048] When using hot melt glue for gluing, there's no need to heat the folding guides. The pressure of the folding guides alone is sufficient for a permanent bond when the books are freshly mounted and the glue is still warm.

[0049] An advantage of the overall arrangement proposed here is that the suspension rails already provide pressure when the block and cover are joined, whereby the rebate area of the cover is also wetted with glue by transferring the glue from the block. In the rebate pressing device, instead of pressing an unglued surface (the rebate area of the cover) against a glued, half-dried or half-cooled surface (the block), both bonding partners are already wetted with still-sticky glue layers, which bond together under pressure.

[0050] An advantageous embodiment is shown and described below. Fig. 1 shows a section through the vertical material transport before the start of the suspension stroke Fig. 2 shows a section through the vertical material transport at the contact of the ceiling and block Fig. 3 shows a side view corresponding to Fig. 1 Fig. 4a, b and c show the support of the block front cut for straight and rounded books Fig. 5a and b show the effect of the suspension rail and suction bar on the block Fig. 6a and b show in detail the pivot bearing of the suction rail on the suspension rail

[0051] As in Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the machine consists of a block feeding device with orientation A, a vertical transport B, gluing units C, a case feeding transport with case pre-forming V, a suspension device E and an output device F.

[0052] Not shown is a folding press device arranged in the block output. Block transport:

[0053] Blocks are placed with their backs facing upwards on the height-constant plate 1. They are supported by the side guide 2. The block is scanned in this position (feed position).

[0054] According to barcode information, the side guide 2 is set to block thickness.

[0055] A slider (not shown) now pushes the block into alignment position A, provided the block fits the ceiling. There, the block is pushed upwards by the rake 3 along the guide 4 to the block width, so that it is pressed against the alignment plate 5. The block is then tensioned by the belt conveyor 6 near the spine, with the belts automatically adjusting to the block thickness.

[0056] The belt conveyor 6 brings the block into corner position B. The lifting rake 7 is lowered far enough that the incoming block does not hit anything. Once the block has reached the corner position, the rake 7 lifts it exactly to the block format width determined from the barcode. The lifting movement of the rake is achieved by chains 8, which are guided vertically by guide pieces 9 on a guide rod 10. The rakes 7 are connected to the guides 9 by a support 11. Once the lifting rake has finished adjusting its format to the block width, the belts 6 open to a maximum size, regardless of the block thickness. The block is now carried solely by the lifting rake and laterally supported by the support guides 12.The lifting rake then lifts the block upwards, supported laterally by the support guides 12 and the guides 13. The upper edge of the rake elements 7 is above the support 11 so that the rake elements can slide between the open belts 6 to enable maximum lifting of the lifting rake.

[0057] The rake elements 7 provide a flat support surface for the front cut of the block. This is good for blocks with a straight back.

[0058] Blocks with rounded backs must be supported in the middle of the block to ensure that the curve remains stable.

[0059] For this there is Fig. Figure 4b shows a bar 14 extending the entire height of the block and acting in the center of the block with a rounded upper edge. Its height is adjustable relative to the rake elements 7 in slots 7a in the rake elements 7 via an adjustment 15.

[0060] In the case of round blocks, the bar 14 is extended by a dimension x relative to the upper edge of the rake elements and supports the center of the block.

[0061] For even books, the bar is retracted, as Fig. 4a shows.

[0062] The lifting rake transports the block between the glue application rollers 16. These are driven by a drive (not shown) at a peripheral speed corresponding to the lifting speed of the lifting rake. The transport is now carried out by the lifting rake, assisted by the glue roller, until it reaches the rendezvous position, where the block spine moves into the spine area of the ceiling.

[0063] The glue application rollers 16 are mounted together with the glue pickup rollers 17 in a housing 18. The scraper 19 applies a film of glue to the glue pickup roller 17, which it then transfers to the glue application roller 16.

[0064] As the block passes through the glue application rollers, these are lightly pressed against the block surface, for example by pneumatic cylinders (not shown).

[0065] When the block spine edge runs into the area of the glue application rollers, the glue units on both sides are opened slightly, for example by pneumatic cylinders, so that blocks with spine construction do not protrude in front of the glue rollers.

[0066] As the block end passes through the application rollers 16, the gluing units 20 are slightly lifted via pneumatic cylinders (not shown) to prevent glue squashing at the front edge of the block. Glue squashing at the head and tail can be prevented by narrow scrapers (not shown) on the glue application roller. The scrapers are automatically adjusted to the block height.

[0067] The glue application rollers 16 are arranged as high as possible and the glue pick-up rollers 17 as low as possible in order to have a free space that allows the ceiling to be folded onto the block as early as possible and creates space for ceiling guide rails.

[0068] The gluing unit is covered with the panels 21, the upper edge of which serves as a support for the ceiling DII.

[0069] The gluing units are automatically adjusted centrally to the block thickness by known adjustment elements (not shown). Ceiling transport:

[0070] The cases are fed manually or automatically, lying flat with the outside facing up, to the case guide rails 30 in an infeed position. There, the case is identified, for example, using a barcode, and the format is recognized. If the case matches the block in the infeed position, the case is transported by a case transport (not shown), which can consist, for example, of reciprocating suction rails or a belt transport with conveyors, to the case preforming and alignment station V. There, the case is precisely aligned laterally and preformed. For rounded books, the curvature area S of the case D is preformed by the heated forming piece 31.

[0071] The shaped piece 31, as a package of adjacent slats 31a, presses from below against the soffit area S of the ceiling, for example, actuated by a pneumatic cylinder. Two counter rails 32, which engage in the soffit areas of the ceiling, support the ceiling upwards. The shaped piece 31 with its slats 31a is continuously adjustable to the block thickness or curvature radius in a known manner. See Fig. 6a and b The lamellae 31a form a surface structure by vertical adjustment relative to each other, which has a peak at the center of the block with height a and radius r at the apex. With different block thicknesses, the height a and apex radius r change.

[0072] For books with straight spines, two support strips 33 are adjusted to the block thickness so that they rest on the frame 31b of the shaped piece 31 with the slats 31a adjusted to the minimum radius rmin and that their upper edges support the sash area S of the cover close to the left and right edges, as shown in Fig. 6a can be seen.

[0073] The support rails are then carried along by the stroke h11 of the shaped piece and lift the Schrenz area S of the ceiling, so that the counter rails 32, which are set at a distance corresponding to the block thickness or Schrenz width b, fold over the covering material Ü of the ceiling at the outer edges of the Schrenz strip S. See Fig. 6b.

[0074] This shortens the dimension of the opened ceiling. Accordingly, the ceiling guide rails 30 are retracted by the stroke h10 via pneumatic cylinders 34, so that the ceiling and its side boards P are guided precisely again.

[0075] For round books, the support bars are set to a maximum block thickness of 33' and are then located outside the movement range of the shaped piece, thus not being lifted. They then support the covers at the bottom of the cardboard parts P.

[0076] The pre-formed and aligned ceiling is now transported, still guided by the ceiling guide rails 30, into the hanging position E by a ceiling transport. Preferably, the ceiling transport consists of reciprocating rails with suction cups that suck the ceiling onto the two ceiling boards P and bring it into an exact final position with a precise stroke.

[0077] In the final position, the cover is taken over by the suspension rails 40 with the pivoting suction bars 41. The cover is now ready to meet the book block. Hanging:

[0078] The block, moved vertically by the lifting rake 7 and the glue application rollers 16, hits the pocket formed by the preformed sash area from below with its spine. Before the block spine comes into contact with the ceiling, the ceiling is accelerated upward via the suspension rails 40.

[0079] The vertical movement of the suspension rails is generated by the chain transport 42 and a vertical guide with the guide rails 43 and the guide carriages 44 to which the suspension rails 40 are attached.

[0080] Once synchronization between the suspension rail and the block is achieved, the suspension rails close slightly by a stroke of h5 and press the folding area of the cases against the book block on both sides, thus supporting the block transport. This transfers the glue from the glued block surface to the cover material of the case. Fig. 5a shows block and ceiling shortly before contact.

[0081] The suction bars 41 are pivotally mounted on the suspension rails 40 via the bearing levers 41a and pins 41b. The pivot point is located at the tip of the nose 40a of the suspension rails.

[0082] On the way up, the ceiling boards P are continuously folded onto the block. The suction bars 41, which are held horizontally by spring force, are pivoted by rollers 42a on the suction bars, which run against curved rails 42b. See Fig. 5b. Fig. 5b shows the blanket completely folded on the left half and the blanket being folded on the right half.

[0083] The chain conveyor 42 moves the suspension rails to an upper position, where they come to a standstill. The spine of the book passes the open lower pressure rollers 45a. These are then moved together by the stroke h6 via the cylinders 46a until they contact the book, where the cover boards are now fully folded. The suspension rails open by the stroke h5. The lower pressure rollers are now driven and continue to convey the book upwards.

[0084] The upper pressure rollers 45b, positioned in the upper position above the suspension rails, are moved by the pneumatic cylinders 46b with a stroke of h7 until they come into contact with the book as soon as the spine edge passes this position. The upper and lower pressure rollers are driven synchronously and continue to convey the book upwards until just before the upper pressure roller 45b passes the front cut edge (bottom edge) of the book.

[0085] The ceiling is rolled onto the block to ensure a bubble-free bond between the block and the ceiling.

[0086] At the end of the vertical transport, the book is moved into an open clamp 47. This consists of the inner clamp part 47a, the outer clamp part 47b, the pivot arms 47c, and the shaft 47d. The clamp closes with the stroke h8 from maximum opening to book contact and clamps the book. The stroke is preferably achieved by pneumatic cylinders. No adjustment for format thickness is necessary. The upper pressure rollers 45b and the lower pressure rollers 45a open to a dimension that is independent of the format thickness. The lower pressure rollers 45a open so wide that the open suspension rails 40 can pass the lower pressure rollers on their way down to the transfer position, even when set to maximum block thickness.

[0087] The clamp 47, driven by a motor, pivots through 90° to 120° via the shaft 47d and opens at the end of the pivoting movement by the stroke h8. The book is removed from the clamp 47 by means not shown or by gravity alone and placed, for example, on a delivery belt.

[0088] The clamp swings open back into the vertical position to accept the next book. Format adjustment:

[0089] Since the machine is designed primarily for processing single books and short runs, format adjustments and interchangeable parts should be kept to a minimum. Many elements adjust automatically to the block thickness: infeed conveyor 6, lower pressure rollers 45a, upper pressure rollers 45b, and outfeed clamp 47.

[0090] The adjustments, which are preferably made by adjusting spindles, are marked in the illustrations with the letter v and provided with a dashed directional arrow.

[0091] There are 8 adjustment axes: V1 Support rail 14 for round blocks in block alignment V2 block thickness insertion channel 12 V3 Block thickness gluing unit 20 V4 block thickness suspension rails 40 V5 Opened ceiling width, ceiling guide rails 30 V6 block thickness, counter rails 32 in ceiling preforming station V7 block thickness, support strips 33 in ceiling preforming station V8 Adjustment of fitting to rounding radius.

[0092] Up to three blocks (BI to BIII) and three covers (DI to DIII) are being processed in the machine at the same time.

Claims

[1] Case-in machine with a block insertion station, a block alignment (A), a case insertion station, a case preforming station (V), a full-surface gluing of the block, a case-in device (E) and a book delivery (F), whereby the supply of block (BIII) and case (DIII) is horizontal and the movement for joining is vertical, characterized bythat the block (BII) is transported in a vertical direction for the full-surface gluing of the outer sides by means of transport means which do not engage in the interior of the block, preferably by a lifting rake (7) carrying the block (BII) at the front cut, through glue rollers (16), that suspension rails (40) take over the block, clamp it together with the cover (DII) in the folding area and bring it into a final position with the cover boards (P) folded in, that the assembled book (BI + DI) is conveyed out of the suspension area (E) by pressure rollers (45a, 45b), that the corresponding blocks (BI, BII, BIII) and covers (DI, DII, DIII) are simultaneously and automatically fed to the forced flow within the machine, and that the fed block (BIII) is moved in a horizontal direction by a belt drive (6) which grips the block (BIII) along a line close to the spine of the block (BIII),is transported and placed in a final position with the front cut on the lifting rake (7) and that the block (BII) is guided laterally by guides (12) in this position and held flat. [2] Hanging machine according to claim 1, characterized by that a forming rail (14) positioned at the center of the block is arranged in the lifting rake (7), which in the case of rounded books is advanced according to an arch height (x) of the curve and supports the block (BII) along the center. [3] Hanging machine according to claim 1, characterized by that the lifting rake (7) transports the block (BII) vertically through glue application rollers (16) running synchronously with the lifting speed, which produce a full-surface gluing and support the transport by rolling on the block surface [4] Hanging machine according to claim 1 and 3, characterized bythat gluing units (20) consist of glue application rollers (16) and glue take-up rollers (17), wherein the glue application roller (16) is arranged higher than the take-up roller (17) receiving the glue from the container 18 and as close as possible under the ceiling feed level, and that the glue application rollers (16) are applied with the back with a small stroke when the block (BII) enters the line of contact with the glue application roller (16) and are set down again when the front cut runs out. [5] Hanging machine according to claim 1, characterized bythat the vertically transported block (BII) moves into the middle part of the horizontally provided cover (DII), and that suspension rails (40) clamp the block (BII) with the cover (DII) near the spine in the folding area on both sides and transport it further synchronously with the lifting speed of the rake (7) to an end position, whereby the pressure of the suspension rails (40) transfers the glue from the glued block (BII) to the folding area of the cover (DII) over the entire format length. [6] Hanging machine according to claims 1 and 5, characterized by that pivotable suction rails (41) with spring return to the horizontal position are arranged on the suspension rails (40), which continuously pivot the cardboards (P) of the ceiling (DII) towards the block (BII) on the vertical path, the pivoting movement being generated by rollers (42a) fastened to the suction rails (41) and running against curved rails (42b). [7] Hanging machine according to claims 1 and 5, characterized by that the book (BI+DI) assembled from the block and cover is conveyed out of the hanging area (E) by pressure rollers (45a, 45b), whereby the cover (DI) is rolled onto both sides of the block (BI) in order to achieve good glue contact over its entire length [8] Hanging machine according to claim 1, characterized by that the cover feed for processing books with rounded spines contains a continuously adjustable shaped piece (31) which, with the set surface contour having a vertex radius (r) and a height (h), forms the middle part of the cover (DII) during an upward stroke, wherein the cover (DII) is supported by counter rails (32) in the folding area. [9] Hanging machine according to claims 1 and 8, characterized bythat for the processing of books with straight spines, support strips (33, 33') are provided which, when not in use, are moved apart so that they support the cover boards (P), and when in use are moved together according to a block thickness (b) so far that they support the middle part of the cover (DII) and press it between the counter rails (32) via the stroke of the shaped piece (31). [10] Hanging machine according to claim 1, characterized by that the folding areas of the cover (DI) are wetted with glue when leaving the machine, both when using hot melt glue and when using cold glue, due to the pressure of the hanging rails (40), and that a folding post-pressing device with heatable folding press rails is arranged downstream of the hanging machine.

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