Bookbinding machine with device for feeding book blocks upward from an inclined position

Abstract

A bookbinding machine (100) for processing book blocks (210) is provided. The bookbinding machine (100) includes a feeder (200) for feeding the book blocks (210) to a loading station (105a). The feeder (200) includes an inclined support (205) for supporting the front or rear of each book block (210) in a staging position below the loading station (105a). A lifting system (225) lifts the book blocks (210) from the staging position to a loading position within the loading station (105a), which includes moving the book blocks (210) laterally relative to their spines (210s) to place the book blocks (210) in a vertical position. A bookbinding machine (100) and a feeder (200) for use in a bookbinding plant including one or more of these bookbinding machines (100) are also provided. Further provided are corresponding methods for feeding a bookbinding machine (100), computer programs for carrying out the methods and computer program products.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to the field of bookbinding, and more particularly to the feeding of book blocks in bookbinding machines. [Background technology]

[0002] The bookbinding machine of the present disclosure is introduced below with a discussion of the technology relevant to the context of the bookbinding machine, but this discussion's reference to documents, operations, artifacts, and the like does not imply or indicate that the technology being discussed is part of the prior art or common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure.

[0003] Different types of bookbinding machines are commonly used in bookbinding plants for producing books on an industrial level. For example, perfect-binding machines are used to apply soft covers and / or fastening rings to the corresponding book blocks. In particular, small-sized perfect-binding machines have become very popular for the production of digitally printed books. In fact, these perfect-binding machines can produce books of different formats (e.g., width, height, and / or thickness) sequentially. Thus, books can be produced on demand (e.g., in the case of personal photo books, self-published books, small series, etc.), which can eliminate the need for book warehouses.

[0004] Generally speaking, each perfect binding machine has several processing stations that are used to perform different operations on the book blocks. To this end, a transport system transports the book blocks sequentially across the processing stations. Typically, the transport system drives clamps that transport the book blocks individually, and in particular, each clamp includes two jaws that clamp the corresponding book vertically near its spine.

[0005] The book blocks to be processed are typically fed manually into the perfect binding machine by its operator. For this purpose, the operator picks up each book block and inserts it into a stopped and open clamp at the corresponding loading (processing) station; the book block is inserted vertically from above into the clamp, with its spine pointing downwards resting on a support plate arranged below the clamp. Alternatively, the operator inserts each book block (again vertically, with its spine pointing downwards) into a feed channel that feeds the book blocks (moving along its spine) into the loading station. For example, the feed channel transports each (vertically extending) book block horizontally below the loading station, where it is stopped and raised vertically into the open clamp. Alternatively, each (vertically extending) book block is raised obliquely without stopping into the (open) clamp that passes through the loading station. For example, for this purpose, EP-A-1688269 discloses an inclined ramp on which the spine of a book block rests.

[0006] However, manual feeding of book blocks is physically demanding, monotonous, skill-dependent, and prone to error, especially for large and / or heavy book blocks. Furthermore, this movement is slow, creating a bottleneck in the motion of the perfect binding machine that significantly limits its production output. This is further exacerbated by safety measures commonly implemented to reduce the risk of injury to operators (e.g., light curtains that prevent access to the clamps until they are fully open).

[0007] Feeder devices may also be used to automatically feed book blocks to the perfect binding machine, each receiving book blocks arranged horizontally on a conveyor and feeding them sequentially to the clamps.

[0008] For example, in the feeding device, each book block can fall into a clamp or feeding channel, which rotates it from a horizontal to a vertical orientation. However, the feeding device is arranged in several positions that are used to manually feed the book blocks. Therefore, it is not possible to manually feed several book blocks (e.g., to meet an unexpected need) without time-consuming changeovers.

[0009] As a further example, the feeding device includes a manipulator with grippers that move each book block laterally, rotate the book block vertically, and insert the book block into the clamp from above. However, the manipulator is relatively complex and expensive. Because the sequence of operations applied to the book blocks is relatively slow (especially for large and / or heavy book blocks), the resulting increase in production volume of the perfect binding machine is minimal in many practical situations. Furthermore, the book blocks arrive on the conveyor with their fronts facing downward. This allows the grippers to rotate each book block and load it into the clamp with its front facing outward from the perfect binding machine, so that the transported (processed) book blocks are delivered by the perfect binding machine with their fronts facing upward (indicating the title of the corresponding book), allowing for visual inspection. However, this inhibits visual inspection of the book blocks fed to the perfect binding machine and may cause damage / staining of the fronts of the book blocks by the conveyor.

[0010] As another further example, the feeding device may include a rotating channel having walls passing from horizontal to vertical to rotate each book block (so that it moves horizontally along its spine) upon its subsequent insertion into the feeding channel. However, the rotating channel significantly increases the size of the perfect binding machine. In particular, this is a rotating channel that is not suitable for small-sized perfect binding machines.

[0011] In either case, the use of a feed channel inhibits the fully automatic and continuous operation of the perfect binding machine as the book block format changes. In fact, even when the thickness of the book block changes, the feed channel is emptied before it can be adjusted accordingly. This involves a corresponding stop of the perfect binding machine, with detrimental effects on its production. Summary of the Invention

[0012] A simplified summary of the disclosure is presented in the specification in order to provide a basic understanding thereof; however, the sole purpose of this summary is to introduce some concepts of the disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description, and it should not be construed as identifying key elements or delineating the scope thereof.

[0013] Generally speaking, the present disclosure is based on the idea to feed book blocks upwards from an inclined position.

[0014] In particular, aspects provide a binding machine for processing book blocks. The binding machine includes a feeding device for feeding the book blocks to a loading station. The feeding device includes an angled support for supporting the front or rear of each of the book blocks in a staging position below the loading station. A lifting system lifts the book blocks from the staging position to a loading position within the loading station. This includes moving the book blocks laterally relative to their spines to place the book blocks in a vertical position.

[0015] A further aspect provides a feeding device for use in a bookbinding machine.

[0016] A further aspect provides a bookbinding plant comprising one or more instances of a bookbinding machine.

[0017] A further aspect provides a method for addressing the supply of a bookbinding machine.

[0018] A further aspect provides a computer program for controlling a bookbinding machine to carry out the method.

[0019] A further aspect provides a corresponding computer program product.

[0020] More specifically, one or more aspects of the present disclosure are set forth in independent claims, and advantageous features thereof are set forth in dependent claims, all of which claim language is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety (advantageous features provided with reference to a particular aspect apply mutatis mutandis to all other aspects).

[0021] The solutions of the present disclosure, as well as further features and advantages thereof, will be best understood with reference to the following detailed description, given purely as a non-limiting indication, and read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, for the sake of brevity, corresponding elements are designated by identical or similar reference numerals, their description will not be repeated, and the name of each entity is used to indicate both its type and its attributes, such as value, content, and expression. In this respect, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale (some details may be exaggerated and / or simplified) and, unless otherwise stated, are expressly intended to be used to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described in the specification. In addition, any orientation or relative position (e.g., top, bottom, lateral, etc.) is understood to be related to the state of use of the corresponding entity. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a bookbinding machine, to which the solution according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can be applied. [Figure 2A] FIG. 2A illustrates the general principle of a feeding machine of a bookbinding machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2B] FIG. 2B illustrates the general principle of a feeding machine of a bookbinding machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2C] FIG. 2C illustrates the general principle of a feeding mechanism of a bookbinding machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 shows an implementation diagram of a feeding device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4A] FIG. 4A illustrates the movement of a portion of a delivery device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4B] FIG. 4B illustrates the movement of a portion of a delivery device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4C] FIG. 4C illustrates the movement of a portion of a delivery device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4D] FIG. 4D illustrates the movement of a portion of a delivery device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4E] FIG. 4E illustrates the movement of a portion of a delivery device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4F] FIG. 4F illustrates the movement of a portion of a delivery device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] (Background to this disclosure) Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic diagram shows a bookbinding machine 100, in which the solution according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is applied.

[0024] In particular, this is a perfect binding machine 100 (of a bookbinding machine), which is used for the production of books in a bookbinding plant, in particular for applying (soft) covers and / or fastening rings to corresponding book blocks (not shown). Each book block is formed by a block of sheets that are stacked, bound (such as by thread fastening or gluing), or unbound. The layers of the book block define the corresponding pages of the book block, from the front page to the rear page, in reading order. The front page typically contains non-essential information about the book, such as text format (title, author, etc.) and / or barcode format (indicating its format, movement, cover type, etc.). The book block has two major sides, a front side corresponding to the front page and a rear side corresponding to the rear page. The four minor sides of the book block are located between the front and rear. In particular, the side to which the cover is applied defines the spine, the opposite side defines the lip, and the sides connecting the lip and spine in the reading state define respectively the head, which is the upper part, and the foot, which is the lower part. The book block has a form defined by its width (between the lip and the spine), its height (between the head and the foot) and its thickness (between the front and the rear).

[0025] The perfect binding machine 100 comprises the following components: A plurality of processing stations, for example four processing stations in this issue designated by the reference numerals 105a, 105b, 105c, 105d, are arranged along the internal closing path of the perfect binding machine 100 for processing book blocks. At least some of the processing stations 105a-105d process the book blocks while they are held there, for example these (holding) processing stations include a loading station 105a (for sequentially loading the processed book blocks), a cover applying station 105c (for applying covers to the book blocks), and a delivering station 105d (for transporting the processed blocks). Optionally, one or more processing stations 105a-105e (processing station 105b in the illustrated example) process the book blocks while they are moving across them; for example, (moving) processing station 105b mills the book blocks and applies adhesive thereto. Multiple clamps are used to individually transport the book blocks in the perfect binding machine 100. The binding machine 100 has relatively small clamps (e.g., 1-4) defined by corresponding relatively small numbers, which is particularly suitable for the on-demand production of digitally printed books (of different formats). For example, as shown in the figure, the binding machine 100 has three clamps, designated 110a, 110b, and 110c. Generally, each of the clamps 110a-110c is a device capable of firmly holding each of the book blocks by two jaws formed by corresponding elements that are movable relative to one another. In the example issue, clamps 110a, 110b, 110c each have a (large) jaw 115a, 115b, 115c and, below jaws 115a-115c, a (small) jaw 120a, 120b, 120c, respectively, oriented horizontally relative to one another.In each of the clamps 110a-110c, the jaws 120a-120c can be moved horizontally relative to the jaws 115a-115c (e.g., by a pneumatic actuator) between an open state of the clamp 110a-110c (with the jaws 120a-120c moved away from the jaws 115a-115c) and a closed state of the clamp 110a-110c (with the jaws 120a-120c moved toward the jaws 115a-115c). The clamps 110a-110c hold each book block vertically, slightly above the spine (a holding element, not shown, is positioned above the jaws 120a-120c to prevent the book block from tilting).

[0026] A transport system 125 (partially shown in the figure) driven by a motor 130 transports the clamps 110a-110c, and also the corresponding book blocks, on endless guides (which have an oval shape in the example of the issue) through the processing stations 105a-105d, passing them intermittently in turn from the loading station 105a to the delivering station 105d. The transport system 125 operates intermittently (in start-stop mode) to stop the clamps 110a-110c at the stagnant processing stations 105a, 105c, 105d for the time required to perform the corresponding movements (as disclosed, for example, in WO-A-2021 / 130363 or WO-A-2022 / 268734).

[0027] The control unit 135 (e.g., an industrial PC) controls the operation of the perfect binding machine 100. In particular, the control unit 135 comprises one or more microprocessors (not shown) (which provide the logical functions of the control unit 135), non-volatile memory (such as a ROM that stores basic code for bootstopping the control unit 135), volatile memory (such as a RAM that is used by the microprocessor as working memory), mass memory (such as an SSD for storing programs and data), and controllers for the binding machine's peripherals (including, in addition to the above, a touch screen for inputting commands / data and displaying the top, a drive for reading / writing to a removable storage unit such as a USB key, etc.).

[0028] When the perfect binding machine 100 is in operation, the following actions are performed intermittently on each of the clamps 110a-110c during successive operating cycles of the binding machine 100 (where necessary, different actions performed together are performed on all of the clamps 110a-110c at corresponding positions within the perfect binding machine 100): These actions are performed under the control of a control program running on the control unit 135, which is stored in mass memory and loaded (at least in part) into the working memory of the control unit 135 as the control program is executed.

[0029] In a given operating cycle, the (current) clamps 110a-110c are stopped at the loading station 105a and opened. In the next operating cycle, the (current) book block to be processed is loaded into the clamps 110a-110c with its spine facing downwards at the processing height required for processing the book block in another processing station 105b-105d. The clamps 110a-110c are closed (thereby holding the book block). During the corresponding next operating cycle, the loaded clamps 110a-110c are transported through the subsequent processing stations 105b-105c (by stopping at the cover application station 105c for the time required to apply the corresponding cover to the book block) to perform the corresponding movement, if necessary (if the movement differs between book blocks). In the next operating cycle, the clamps 110a-110c are stopped at the delivering station 105d. The book block to be processed is gripped around its spine, the clamps 110a-110c are opened, and the book block is lowered and transported outside the perfect binding machine 100 (to continue to a binding machine not shown in the figures, such as a case-in machine or a three-blade trimming machine, to complete the production of the corresponding book). In the next operating cycle, the clamps 110a-110c are closed and the book block is transported to the loading station 105a, repeating the same movements intermittently.

[0030] 2A-2C, the general principle of a feeding device of a bookbinding machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0031] Starting with FIG. 2A, a feeding device, designated 200, is used to automatically feed book blocks sequentially (from a preceding bookbinding machine, not shown in the figure, which provides the book blocks, such as a sewing machine) to the loading station 105a. For this purpose, an inclined support 205 (e.g., a plate) is used to support each (current) book block as it is fed to the loading station 105a, designated 210. The inclined support 205 extends below the loading station 105a along an inclined direction Di relative to the vertical direction Dv. This means that the inclined direction Di is neither parallel nor perpendicular to the vertical direction Dv; for example, the inclined direction Di and the vertical direction Dv form a (downward) angle α of 25-55°, preferably 30-50°, more preferably 35-45°, for example 40°. The tilted support 205 supports the book block 210 in a staging position, and one of the main faces of the book block 210, i.e. its front or rear, in particular indicated by 210f and 210r, preferably the rear 210r shown in the figure, rests on the tilted support 205. The book block 210 rests on the tilted support 205 by gravity in its format.

[0032] 2B, a lifting system 225 (e.g., having one or more pushers) is used to lift the book block 210 towards the loading station 105a. This involves moving the book block 210 from a staging position (of FIG. 2A) to a vertical position, with the front 210f and rear 210r of the book block 210 extending along the vertical direction Dv. To this end, the book block 210 is moved transversely relative to the longitudinal axis As of the spine, indicated by the symbol 210s (e.g., by lifting the book block along the inclined support 205 towards the vertical support).

[0033] 2C, finally, book block 210 reaches the loading position, where book block 210 is inserted into (current) clamp, generally designated 110, which is opened at loading station 105a, i.e., the jaws of (current) clamp, generally designated 115 and 120, are spaced apart. Book block 210 (which again extends vertically) is prepared to be held as clamp 110 closes (jaw 120 moves towards jaw 115).

[0034] The above solution works independently of the book block format in a relatively simple and fast way.

[0035] This solution allows different types of book blocks to be fed seamlessly and sequentially, thus making use of the full speed of the perfect binding machine, which has a beneficial effect on production (thereby making it particularly suitable for on-demand book production).

[0036] Referring to FIG. 3, an implementation of a feeding device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated.

[0037] The supply device, designated by the reference numeral 300, includes the supply components.

[0038] The entry transport system, or simply entry conveyor 303, extends horizontally in a plane. Along their transport direction (forward in the figure), the entry conveyor 303 has a stacking segment 303a and a delivering segment 303d. The stacking segment 303a arrives and stacks the book blocks 210 coming from a previous binding machine (not shown); for this purpose, the stacking segment 303a may be coupled to an input along the transport direction of the entry conveyor 303, which includes a corresponding conveyor (not shown) that automatically transports the book blocks 210 from the previous binding machine to the feeding device 300. The stacking segment 303a has a width greater than the maximum height of the book blocks 210 and a length greater than the maximum width of the book blocks 210 (e.g., 2-4 times its length). For example, the stacking segment 303a is implemented by a line of friction rollers 306. Thus, any obstacle along the stacking segment 303a (together with the idle rotating friction rollers 306) will stop the book blocks 210. The delivering segment 303d separates and individually carries the book blocks 210 coming from the stacking segment 303a. The delivering segment 303d has the same width as the stacking segment 303a and a length greater than the maximum width of the book blocks 210. For example, the delivering segment 303d is carried by a series of conveyor belts 309 (for example, four in the figure) arranged parallel and spaced apart from one another. A blocking device, for example, a chute 312, separates the stacking segment 303a and the delivering segment 303d, extending transversely to the conveying direction of the entry conveyor 303. The chute 312 can be moved (e.g., by a pneumatic actuator, not shown) between an active position (in which it extends above the delivering segment 303d, along the conveying direction of the entry conveyor 303, to retrieve its inputs, etc.) and a passive position (in which it retracts below the delivering segment 303d, etc., to clear its inputs).A presence detector 315 (eg, photocell-based) is placed at the input of the delivering segment 303 d to detect the presence of the book block 210 .

[0039] The descending conveying system, or simply descending conveyor 318, overlaps the entry conveyor 303 along its conveying direction and is presented next. The descending conveyor 318 has the same width as the entry conveyor 303. The descending conveyor 318 has a horizontal segment 318h extending horizontally and an inclined segment 318i extending downward (particularly, forward and downward in the figure) to convey the book blocks 210 along the conveying direction of the descending conveyor 318. The horizontal segment 318h is intermingled with and slightly below the output portion of the delivering segment 303d of the entry conveyor 303 (which extends rearward from their output along the conveying direction of the entry conveyor 303). The inclined segment 318i extends downward from the horizontal segment 318h along the same inclined direction of the inclined support (described in detail below). For example, the descending conveyor 318 has a descending support (for supporting the book blocks 210) implemented by a series of (endless) chains 321 (interdigitated with the conveyor belts 309 and arranged parallel to one another at a distance from one another), and a series of idle roller lines 324 (arranged between the chains 321, which are in the same plane as the chains 321, from the entry conveyor 303 arranged slightly above the corresponding conveyor belts 309 and chains 321, to a position along the inclined segment 318i). Each of the chains 321 carries a number of paddles (six in the example of the issue) uniformly distributed along it, and the corresponding paddle of the chain 321 is arranged transversely to the conveyor 318 and defines a corresponding driver 327. The drivers 327 are positioned along the descending conveyor 318 at a pitch greater than the maximum width of the book blocks 210 to ensure that when a driver 327 passes through an inclined segment 318i, another driver 327 is at the horizontal segment 318h corresponding to the entry conveyor 303. Width gauges 330 are positioned along the descending conveyor 318 to measure the width of each of the book blocks 210.For example, width gauge 330 may be performed by a presence detector (such as a photocell) arranged on horizontal segment 318h to provide greater precision (alternatively, the same function would be performed by presence detector 315). Stopping elements, such as barriers 333, are projected vertically above inclined segment 318i at their lower ends to stop each of the book blocks 210 transported by descending conveyor 318. For example, barriers 333 may be implemented by a series of pegs arranged between chains 321 (not shown in the currency of driver 327).

[0040] The horizontal transport system, or simply horizontal conveyor 336, is provided on the side of the descending conveyor 318, overlapping it (laterally to them). The horizontal conveyor 336 has a width greater than the maximum width of the book blocks 210. The horizontal conveyor 336 includes horizontal supports (for supporting the book blocks 210), which extend horizontally and are inclined laterally along the same inclination direction of the inclined supports (arranged thereon). For example, the horizontal supports are implemented by the low positions of the inclined segments 318i (extending rearward from the barrier 333 along the transport direction of the descending conveyor 318) and the plate 339 extending horizontally in the same plane as them. Support elements, such as the barrier 342, project vertically at their lower ends above the plate 339 arranged along the barrier 333. For example, the barrier 342 is implemented by a series of pegs on the barrier 333. Barriers 333 and 334 define support elements for supporting book blocks 210 along horizontal supports 318i, 339 during their transport. A number of (horizontal) pushers, three of which in the example issue are designated 345a, 345b and 345c, are used to individually push book blocks 210 along the transport direction (towards the right in the figure) of horizontal conveyor 336, away from descending conveyor 318. Pushers 345a-345c are supported by bar 348, which is arranged parallel to it on a (linear) axis 351. Axis 351 extends horizontally above, and along horizontal supports 318i, 339, at a distance greater than the maximum thickness of book blocks 210. The pushers 345a-345c are uniformly spaced along the bar 348 at a pitch greater than the maximum height of the book block 210, and the bar 348 is shorter than the shaft 351, the difference between which corresponds to the pitch of the pushers 345a-345c. The bar 348 is moved relative to the shaft 351 (for example, by a mechanism driven by a motor in the bookbinding machine, not shown).In particular, the bar 348 can be rotated about the axis 351 between an active position (in which the bar 348 faces the horizontal supports 318i, 339 and the pushers 345a-345c extend towards the horizontal supports 318i, 339 at a distance most equal to the maximum thickness of the book block 210) and a passive position (in which the bar 348 and the pushers 345a-345c face away from the horizontal supports 318i, 339). Furthermore, the bar 348 can be transported along the axis 351 between a retracted position (the left end of the figure, in which the bar 348 extends from the input of the horizontal supports 318i, 339 along the conveying direction of the horizontal conveyor 336) and an advanced position (the right end of the figure, in which the bar 348 extends along the conveying direction of the horizontal conveyor 336 to the output of the horizontal supports 318i, 339). The pushers 345a-345c define a first segment 336a (at the low position of the inclined segment 318i), a second segment 336b (at the beginning of the plate 339 proximal to the inclined segment 318i), and a third segment 336c (at the end of the plate 339 distal to the inclined segment 318i) of the horizontal conveyor 336 along the conveying direction of the horizontal conveyor 336, the segments 336a-336c corresponding to the stopping positions of the book blocks 210 on the horizontal conveyor 336. The (second) segment 336b is provided with a height gauge 354 for measuring the height of each of the book blocks 210. For example, the height gauge 354 is implemented by a presence detector (such as a photocell) located at the beginning of the segment 336b (the left end in the figure) along the conveying direction of the horizontal conveyor 336. The (third) segment 336c is provided with a thickness gauge 357 for measuring the thickness of each of the book blocks 210. For example, the thickness gauge 357 is implemented by a position sensor placed above the plate 339 (at a distance greater than the maximum thickness of the book blocks). Furthermore, the segment 336c is provided with a barcode reader 360 for reading a (readable) barcode printed on the front of each of the book blocks 210.For example, the barcode reader 360 is implemented by a camera placed above the plate 339 (at a distance greater than the maximum thickness of the book block 210).

[0041] A loading system, or simply loader 363, is provided on the side of the horizontal conveyor 336 opposite (transversely relative to) the descending conveyor 318. The loader 363 implements the above-mentioned inclined support and lifting system. For example, for this purpose, the loader 363 includes the following components: a plate 366 having a width greater than the maximum height of the book block 210; the plate 366 is curved, moving from bottom to top, from an inclined segment (defining the above-mentioned inclined support and designated by the same reference numeral 205), a round segment 366r, and a vertical segment (defining the above-mentioned vertical support and designated by the same reference numeral 230). The inclined segment 205 (extending along the inclined direction) is flush with the plate 339 and has a length equal to its width. The vertical segment 230 (extending vertically below the loading station 105a) has a length greater than the maximum width of the book block 210, and when the book block 210 stops at the loading station 105a, the vertical segment 230 is aligned with each jaw 115 of the clamp 110 (the conveyor side of the plate 366 faces the jaw 120 of the clamp 110). A horizontal reference element, e.g., a flap 366h, is provided in the vertical segment 230. The flap 366h projects vertically from the vertical segment 230 toward the conveyor side of the plate 366, which is vertically aligned with the pusher 345c when the bar 348 is in the advance position. The rounded segment 366r links the inclined segment 205 and the vertical segment 230 (the radius of curvature and length provide this result in a relatively smooth manner). The support element 205, for example a barrier 369, projects vertically above the inclined segment 205 at its lower end aligned with the barrier 342 to support each of the book blocks 210 that rest on the inclined segment 205 (in the staging position). The barrier 369 is, for example, implemented by a series of pegs extending one of the barriers 342. A guide support, or simply a guide 372, faces the vertical segment 230 on the conveyor side of the plate 366 (to guide each of the book blocks 210 when extending vertically).The guides 372 can be moved horizontally (e.g., by a mechanism driven by a motor in the binder, not shown) to adjust the spacing of the guides from the vertical segments 230 at least between the minimum and maximum thickness of the book blocks 210. For example, the guides 372 can be implemented with a series of vertical flaps (parallel to one another) that are configured to define a lower leading profile for each of the book blocks 210.

[0042] The lifting system is implemented by a (first lifting) pusher and a (second lifting) pusher, the latter partially visible in the figure and identified by the reference numerals 225d and 225u, respectively. The pushers 225d and 225u are used to push each of the book blocks 210 upward along the conveying direction of the loader 363. In particular, the pusher 225d moves on the inclined segment 205 (on the conveyor side of the plate 366) and on the round segment 366r along the inclined direction of the stroke between the low position of the barrier 369 (corresponding to the staging position of the book block 210) and the high position at the bottom of the vertical segment 230 (corresponding to the vertical position of the book block 210). The pusher 225u is implemented (on the conveyor side of the plate 366) through the round segment 366r and on the vertical segment 230 to move along the vertical direction of a stroke between a low position below the vertical segment 230 (corresponding to the vertical position of the book block 210) and a high position at the corresponding height of the book block 210 (corresponding to the loading position of the book block 210). The pusher 225d is implemented by a similar rack combined with the barrier 369 and the pusher 225u (so that there is no interference between each pair of them), and the round segment 366r has corresponding slots for the passage of the pushers 225d, 225u. The pusher 225u is provided with a jogger (not shown) for actuating each of the book blocks 210 towards the flap 336h (towards the left in the figure).

[0043] The above structure is relatively compact so that it can be used in small size perfect binding machines as well.

[0044] In motion, book blocks 210 coming from the previous bindery are positioned on the stacking segment 303a of the entry conveyor 303, with their rears resting on the stacking segment 303a, with the spines of the book blocks 210 facing forward and the heads of the book blocks 210 facing away from the loader 363 (towards the left in the figure). The book blocks 210 therefore have their fronts facing upwards, so that they can be visually inspected during their delivery to the feeder 300, and this also avoids the risk of damage / staining of the fronts of the book blocks 210 by the conveyor 303. Normally, the shooter 312 is in its active position (extending above the delivering segment 303d). Book blocks 210 that reach the shooter 312 are therefore stopped and aligned with their spines perpendicular to the transport direction of the entry conveyor 303. Further book blocks 210 (not shown) reaching this (stopped / placed) book block are stopped and placed by the same means etc., and the book blocks 210 are stacked on the stacking segment 303a in front of the delivering segment 303d. Thus, the perfect binding machine can be seamlessly coupled with a previous binding machine, and furthermore, book blocks 210 can be delivered from the previous binding machine in any arrangement and pitch.

[0045] The feeding device 300 performs successive movements during a series of operating cycles of the binding machine for each book block 210 that arrives at the binding machine stopped after the chute 312 (different movements are performed simultaneously for any book block 210 at a corresponding position in the feeding device 300), which movements are likewise performed under the control of a control program running on a control unit (not shown) of the binding machine.

[0046] In the corresponding operation cycle, the chute 312 is lowered to the passive position (reaching below the delivering segment 303d). As a result, the stacking segment 303a transports the book block 210 towards the delivering segment 303d. The delivering segment 303d runs at a speed slightly faster than that of the stacking segment 303a. Thus, when the delivering segment 303d takes over the book block 210, the subsequent process is separated from the following book block 210, which is stopped behind it on the stacking segment 303a. The presence detector 315 detects the book block 210 on the delivering segment 303d. When the presence detector 315 no longer detects the book block 210 for a long period of time, i.e., when it has completely moved away from the stacked segment 303a (or when there are no book blocks on the stacked segment 303a, in which case after a predetermined period of time after the shooter 312 has been moved to the passive position), the shooter 312 is raised to the active position to stop the following book block 210.

[0047] In the next operating cycle, the delivering segment 303d of the entry conveyor 303 transports the book block 210 down the horizontal segment 318h of the descending conveyor 318, which is normally stationary, toward the driver 327. As soon as the book block 210 reaches this driver 327 (e.g., as detected by corresponding pressure applied to the chain 321), the descending conveyor 318 starts moving at the same speed as the delivering segment 303d. The delivering segment 303d continues transporting the book block 210 along the horizontal segment 318h, with the driver 327 moving synchronously with its predecessor. When the book block 210 reaches the inclined segment 318i, gravity on the driver 327 causes the book block to drop, and the driver 327 guides the book block 210 downward along the inclined segment 318i. The book block 210 passes a width gauge 330, which measures its width. For this purpose, the width gauge 330 determines the arrival and departure times of the book block 210 (switching from the absence of the book block 210 to the presence of the book block 210, and vice versa). The transit time of the book block 210 is calculated from the arrival time to the departure time, and the width of the book block 210 is calculated by multiplying the transit time by the known speed of the lowering conveyor 318 (minus the known width of the driver 327). The width of the book block 210 is used in a later step to optimize the supply of the book block 210 to the loading station 105a (as explained below). The same information may also be used for optimal operation of the perfect binding machine. For example, it is possible to calculate the time required by the book block 210 to clear the corresponding clamp 110 at the delivering station (not shown), when it is withdrawn from there and cleared as soon as the clamp is closed. Therefore, the corresponding jaw of the clamp can be moved slower (for the same available time) to reduce mechanism stress and / or the operation can be performed faster for the same speed of the jaw. At the same time, another driver 327 reaches horizontal segment 318h.In the next operating cycle, the book block 210 reaches the lower end of the inclined segment 318i (the bar 348 is in the active position, the pushers 345a-345c are in the retracted position extending towards the horizontal supports 318i, 339, and the pusher 345a is at the (leftmost) input of the horizontal supports 318i, 339). The book block 210 is therefore stopped by the barrier 333 (while the driver 327 passes there). The descending conveyor 318 is stopped. At the same time, another driver 327 reaches the horizontal segment 318h.

[0048] In the next operating cycle, the bar 348 (in its active position) is transported along the axis 351 from the retract position to the advance position (towards the right in the figure). The pusher 345a therefore transports the book block 210 along the horizontal conveyor 336 from segment 336a (at the bottom end of the inclined segment 318i) to segment 336b (at the beginning of the plate 339). The book block 210 passes a height gauge 354 which measures the height of the book block 210. For this purpose, said height gauge 354 determines the arrival and departure times of the book block 210 (switching from the absence of the book block 210 to the presence of the book block 210, and vice versa). The transit time of the book block 210 is calculated from the arrival time to the departure time, and the height of the book block 210 is calculated by multiplying the transit time by the known speed of the bar 348 (minus the known width of the pusher 345a). The height of the book block 210 is used to configure the perfect binding machine (for example, to control the application of glue, the cutting of fastening rings, etc.). The bar 348 is rotated to the passive position (pusher 345a-345c moves away from the horizontal supports 318i, 339), returned to the retract position (transported toward the left) (without interfering with the book block 210 on the horizontal supports 318i, 339), and rotated again to the active position. In the next operating cycle, the bar 348 (in the active position) is transported again from the retract position to the advance position along the axis 351. Thus, the pusher 345b transports the book block 210 from the segment 336b to the segment 336c (at the end of the plate 339). The thickness gauge 357 then measures the thickness of the book block 210 stopped at the segment 336c. The thickness of the book block 210 is used later in the process to configure the loader 363 (described below) and the perfect binding machine (e.g., for controlling pressing, milling, applying glue, applying endpapers, applying fastening rings, applying covers, transport, etc.).At the same time, the bar code reader 360 reads the (readable) bar code of the book block 210 stopped at segment 336c. The bar code of the book block 210 is used later in constructing the perfect binding machine (for example, to enable selection of processing stations, to verify the correctness of the applied cover, etc.). The fact that these movements are performed while the book block 210 is stationary greatly simplifies them and reduces the cost of the thickness gauge 357 and the bar code reader 360. The bar 348 is rotated in the passive position, returned to the retract position, and rotated again to the active position. In the next operating cycle, the bar 348 (in the active position) is again transported from the retract position to the advance position along the axis 351. Thus, pusher 345c transports book block 210 from segment 336c of horizontal conveyor 336 to inclined segment 205 of loader 363 (both pushers 225d and 225u are in their low positions). As a result, book block 210 is perfectly positioned on loader 363. In particular, the spine of book block 210 is at the vertical reference defined (by gravity) by barrier 369, which ensures that the spine of book block 210 is moved by pushers 225d, 225u (depending on their stroke) to the corresponding height of book block 210. At the same time, the head of the book block 210 is at a horizontal reference defined by the pusher 345c, which, when loaded into the clamps 110 for processing it in the binding machine, corresponds to a processing alignment defined by the defined horizontal position of the book block 210, for example, with the head of the book block aligned with the corresponding edge (towards the left in the figure) of the clamps 110. This result is achieved regardless of the format (width and height, respectively) of the book block 210.

[0049] In the next operating cycle, guide 372 is adjusted so that it is spaced from vertical segment 230 slightly greater than the thickness of book block 210 (before being measured by thickness gauge 357). For example, the space exceeds the thickness of book block 210, specifically increasing at book block 210, by a fixed amount (e.g., 15 mm) or by an amount depending on the thickness of book block 210 (e.g., equal to a fixed value, such as 10 mm, plus a percentage of the thickness, such as 10%). This movement can be performed, for example, after clamp 110 has been closed and the previous book block has been placed in clamp 110 (not shown).

[0050] Pusher 225d is raised from its low position (at barrier 369) to its high position (at the bottom end of vertical segment 230) and book block 210 is moved from its staging position to its vertical position (to insert it between vertical segment 230 and guide 372). Meanwhile, clamp 110 (with jaws 115 and 120 closed close to each other) reaches loading station 105a and is stopped. Clamp 110 is opened and for this purpose jaw 120 is moved away from jaw 115 to a distance slightly higher than the thickness of book block 210. At the same time, pusher 225u is raised from its low position (below vertical segment 230) to its high position (at the handling height of book block 210), thereby taking over book block 210 and moving it from the vertical position to the loading position, at which stage the jogger pushes book block 210 towards flap 366h, ensuring that book block 210 is perfectly aligned with the horizontal reference in all circumstances (to which the handling position of book block 210 corresponds), even if book block 210 is slightly overtaken by pusher 345c. Pusher 225d returns to its low position.

[0051] As a result, book block 210 is inserted into clamp 110 (with the spine at a processing height just below clamp 110 and the head at a processing position at the leftmost end of clamp 110). At this point, clamp 110 closes by moving jaw 120 toward jaw 115 until it contacts (and thereby clamps) book block 210. Pusher 225u returns to its low position.

[0052] The above-described structure makes it possible to supply the book blocks 210 to the loading station 105a in a fully automatic manner. In particular, the book blocks 210 are transported to the loader 363 individually according to their type. Thus, book blocks 210 of different types can be present simultaneously in the supply device 300 (as shown), with a positive effect on the production of the book blocks 210. In the loader 363, only the guides 372 are adjusted (if necessary) according to the thickness of the corresponding book blocks 210. In fact, the vertical segment 230 of the plate 366 has the vertical segment 230 aligned with the reference plate of the clamp 110, which is defined by the position of the jaws 115, when the clamp 110 is parked in the loading station 105a. Thus, each book block 210 that is placed on the plate 366 and raised along the plate 366 has its reference plate defining the zero plate of the thickness of the book block 210 (specifically the rear of the book block 210 when it is placed on the plate 366 with its front facing away from it) that is always aligned with the reference plate of the clamp 110. This allows for fully automatic and continuous movement of the perfect binding machine 100 even with changing book block formats.

[0053] If desired, the book block 210 may be manually fed into the perfect binding machine.

[0054] In particular, the binder's operator may manually place the book blocks 210 from above onto the stacking segment 303a of the entry conveyor 303, as described above. The feeder 300 operates in a similar manner, again with all its advantages. For example, if the book blocks come from a previous binder that is offline (i.e., not connected to the feeder 300), the book blocks 210 may be manually fed into the stacking segment 303a.

[0055] Alternatively, the book blocks 210 can be fed manually to the binding machine, as usual. For this purpose, the operator sets the feeder 300 to manual mode (by entering a corresponding command on the touchscreen of the perfect binding machine). In response, the pusher 225u is raised to a support position at the processing height of the book block 210, and the feeder 300 is stopped. In this state, the operator can load the book block 210 from above into each of the stopped and open clamps at the loading station 105a, so that its spine rests on the pusher 225u. For example, if the perfect binding machine is offline (i.e., not coupled to the perfect binding machine), the book block 210 can be fed manually to the loading station 105a.

[0056] In both cases the supply of the Perfect Binding Machine can be switched between automatic and manual mode in a very simple and fast way.

[0057] 4A-4F, some movement of a feeding device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0058] In this specific implementation, the pusher 225d includes the following components: A drive element, e.g., a carriage 405d, implemented by a chain (not shown), moves along an inclination direction Di (a corresponding stroke between a low position and a high position); An active element, e.g., a rack 410d, is driven by the carriage 405d to act on each (spine 210s) of the book block 210; the rack 410d can pivot around the carriage 405d; the rack 410d can be biased to different (angular) positions to change its direction of action on the book block 210; for this purpose, in a specific implementation, the rack 410d is provided with (one or more) followers 415d (e.g., a transverse bar with an idle wheel). In the illustrated state, when the carriage 405d is in the low position of the barrier 369 (corresponding to the staging position of the book block 210), the follower 405d is biased (for example, by gravity) so that the follower 405d operates on the book block 210 along the inclination direction Di (i.e., the rack 410d is perpendicular to the book block 210). Furthermore, the pusher 225u has the following components: A drive element, for example, the other carriage 405u, driven by a chain (not shown), moves along the vertical direction Dv (between the corresponding low and high positions); An active element, for example, the other rack 410u, is driven by the carriage 405u and drives the book block 210 (the spine 210s) along the vertical direction Dv; A biasing element, in the example of an issue, is (one or more) cams 415u, driven by the carriage 405u, and provides a different bias to the follower 415d. The rack 410u is also provided with a jogger, indicated generally at 420.

[0059] Once the book block 210 is placed on the inclined segment 205 (in the staging position) and the distance from the vertical segment 230 to the guide 372 is adjusted according to the thickness of the book block 210, the carriage 405d moves upward along the inclination direction Di from its low position (at the barrier 369) to its high position (at the bottom end of the vertical segment 230), moving the book block 210 from the staging position to the vertical position. At the beginning of the stroke of the carriage 405d, the rack 410d acts on the book block 210 along the inclination direction Di (i.e., on its spine 210s, which is inclined perpendicularly thereto), thereby pushing the book block 210 onto the inclined segment 205, then onto the round segment 366, and then onto the vertical segment 230, so that the book block 210 bends accordingly and begins to be inserted between the vertical segment 230 and the guide 372. When carriage 405d reaches a position corresponding to the low position of carriage 405u (at the bottom of vertical segment 230) and follower 415d is slightly above cam 415u, carriage 405u also begins to move upward along vertical direction Dv from its low position (below vertical segment 230) to its high position (at the processing height of book block 210) at the same velocity (in modulus) of carriage 405d. Because the (full) velocity of carriage 405u along vertical direction Dv is higher than the component of the velocity of carriage 405d along vertical direction Dv, cam 415u moves upward relative to follower 415d. Furthermore, the velocity of carriage 405d (toward carriage 405u, to the left in the figure) has a horizontal component that, instead of the velocity of carriage 405u, causes follower 415d to move laterally (toward cam 415u) relative to cam 415u.

[0060] 4B, as a result, cam 415u reaches follower 415d, thereby engaging it. Cam 415u raises follower 415d vertically relative to carriage 405d, and at the same time, follower 415d slides horizontally along cam 415u, moving away from carriage 405d. This causes follower 415d to rotate (clockwise in the figure) relative to carriage 405d, and the operating direction of rack 410d relative to book block 210 decreases its inclination (relative to vertical direction Dv), and accordingly, the inclination of spine 210s also decreases.

[0061] 4C, the book block 210 bends accordingly until it reaches its vertical position (spine 210s extends horizontally and returns to a straight position, inserted between the vertical segment 230 and the guide 372). At this point, the operating direction of the rack 410d on the book block 210 is reduced to zero inclination, and the follower 415d extends horizontally and reaches the end (left end) of the cam 415u. Thus, in the final part of the stroke of the carriage 405d, the operating direction of the rack 410d on the book block 210 gradually changes from the inclined direction Di to the vertical direction Dv. The rack 410u takes over the book block 210 by operating on the spine 210s of the book block 210 along the vertical direction Dv. The above structure ensures a smooth transfer from the rack 410d to the rack 410u, and recoil on the book block 210 is avoided (or at least significantly reduced).

[0062] 4D, follower 415d passes cam 415u and then disengages, causing follower 415d and rack 410d, together with it, to fall downward (due to gravity), causing follower 415d and rack 410d to rotate (counterclockwise in the figure) relative to carriage 405d, returning to their starting position (perpendicular to tilt direction Di), and away from book block 210.

[0063] Moving to FIG. 4E, the carriage 405d moves downward along the inclined direction Di towards its low position. The carriage 405u continues its upward movement along the vertical direction Dv, and the rack 410u pushes the book block 210 upward until it reaches a waiting position, where its lip, indicated by the reference numeral 210p, corresponds to the lower edge of the clamp 110 at the loading station 105a (e.g., a distance of 5-20 mm below it). The corresponding height of the carriage 405u depends on the width of the book block 210. The carriage 405u is stopped. In this phase, the jogger 420 is activated and jogs the book block 210 towards its head (against the flap of the vertical segment, not shown). The fact that the head of the book block 210 is substantially already precisely aligned greatly simplifies this movement; the jogger 420 only needs to individually realign the signatures / sheets that may have shifted during the transport of the book block 210. Furthermore, by jogging while the book block 210 is being raised, a corresponding time can be saved for loading the book block 210 into the clamp 110, so that the pusher 225u can be moved slower, reducing mechanical stress (particularly important when the book block is heavy) and / or the loading can be performed more quickly for the same speed of the pusher 225d and the pusher 225u.

[0064] Moving to FIG. 4F, once the clamp 110 is opened, the carriage 405u resumes its upward movement along the vertical direction Dv (at the same or a different speed) to its high position, moving the book block 210 from the waiting position to the loading position, where it is inserted into the clamp 110 (at its processing height). The movement is optimized by the fact that the lip 210p of the book block 210 is already below the clamp 110 (regardless of the width of the book block 210). For example, for a book block with a smaller width (for the same available time), the pusher 225u can be moved slower to reduce mechanical stress (particularly important for heavy book blocks), and / or the operation can be performed quickly with the same speed of the pusher 225u. At this point, the clamp 110 is closed (thereby clamping the book block 210) by moving the jaw 120 towards the jaw 115 until it is adjacent to the book block 210. The clamp 110 (including the book block 210) is reactivated and the carriage 405u moves downward along the vertical direction Dv, returning to the state of FIG. 4A.

[0065] <Modification> To meet local and specific requirements, those skilled in the art may apply numerous logical and / or physical modifications and changes to the present disclosure within the scope of the claims. More specifically, although the present disclosure has been described with a certain degree of specificity with reference to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, it should be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes are possible in form and details, as well as in other embodiments. In particular, different embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented without the specific details (such as numerical values) set forth above to enhance understanding, and conversely, well-known features may be omitted or simplified so as not to obscure the description with unnecessary detail. Furthermore, with respect to any embodiment of the present disclosure, it is expressly intended that the described characteristic elements and / or method steps can be incorporated into any other embodiment as a matter of general design choice. Furthermore, items presented in the same group and different embodiments, examples, or alternatives should not be construed as equivalent to each other in nature (but rather, they are separate and independent entities). In all cases, each numerical value should be considered modified according to the tolerance, and unless otherwise specified, words such as "substantially," "about," "approximately," etc. should be understood to mean within 10%, preferably within 5%, and more preferably within 1%. Furthermore, each numerical range is intended to explicitly specify every possible successive numerical value within the range (including its endpoints). Ordinal numbers or other modifiers are used as labels to distinguish between elements of the same name and do not, in themselves, imply a priority, precedence, or sequence. Terms such as include, comprise, have, contain, and involve are intended to be non-inclusive (i.e., not limited to the listed items), terms such as based on, depend on, depending on, and function are intended to be non-exclusive (i.e., additional variables may be included), the term a / an (unless expressly indicated otherwise) contemplates one or more items, and the term means (or any means-plus-function formulation) contemplates any structure adapted or configured to perform the relevant function.

[0066] For example, embodiments provide a bookbinding machine, although the bookbinding machine may be of any type (e.g., perfect binding machine, case-in machine, etc.).

[0067] In an embodiment, the binding machine is for processing book blocks, where the book blocks may be of any type (e.g., formed by signatures, formed by flat sheets, with or without inserts, joined in any manner such as by gluing, threading and stapling, free stacking, etc.), and the book blocks may be processed in any manner (e.g., loading, pressing, milling, gluing, applying endpapers, applying staples, applying covers, transporting, etc.).

[0068] In an embodiment, the binding machine includes one or more clamps for individually transporting book blocks through the binding machine, although the clamps may be of any number and type (e.g., types including pneumatic / hydraulic controls, types including fixed and movable jaws, types including two movable jaws and types including recoiling and / or rotating jaws, etc.).

[0069] In an embodiment, the bookbinding machine comprises a loading station for loading each current one of the book blocks into each current one of the clamps at the loading station, although the loading station may be of any type (e.g., a type with only automatic loading, a type also allowing manual loading, and a type in which the clamps may or may not be stopped at the loading station for this purpose, etc.).

[0070] In an embodiment, the bookbinding machine comprises a feeding device for feeding the book blocks sequentially to the loading station, although the feeding device may be of any type (e.g., for working online and / or offline, e.g., a type in which the book blocks are fed either laterally or from above via a horizontal and a downward transport system, etc.).

[0071] In an embodiment, the feeding device includes an angled support for supporting the current book block in the staging position, although the angled support may be of any size and type (e.g., segments of feeding supports, stand-alone supports, plate-based types, roller beds, etc.).

[0072] In an embodiment, the angled support extends below the loading station along an angled direction (relative to the vertical) in use, although the angled direction may form any angle with the vertical and the angled support may be positioned any distance below the loading station.

[0073] In an embodiment, the tilted supports are for supporting the current book block in the staging position, with the main face of the current book block (its front or rear) resting on the tilted supports, although the book blocks may be resting on the tilted supports in any manner (e.g., all of their rear, all of their front, part of their rear and part of their front, etc.).

[0074] In an embodiment, the feeding device includes a lifting system for lifting the current book block from the staging position to the loading position, although the lifting system may be of any type (e.g., based on one or more pushers, pliers and lifting the book block from the staging position to the loading position either through or directly from a waiting position, etc.).

[0075] In an embodiment, the current book block in the loading position is inserted into the current open clamps at the loading station, although the clamps may be opened in any manner (e.g., the clamps may be opened in the loading position or at least partially before reaching the loading station, at any speed, depending on the thickness of the current book block, or to a fixed extent, etc.).

[0076] In an embodiment, the step of raising the current book block includes moving the book block transversely to the longitudinal axis of its spine from a staging position to a vertical position, with the front and rear of the current book block extending along the vertical direction, although the vertical direction may be of any type (e.g., below the loading position, either aligned or offset vertically, at the same height as the loading position, aligned with the loading position, etc.), and the vertical position may be reached by any means (e.g., raising the current book block along an angled support and rotating the angled support, etc.).

[0077] Further embodiments provide additional advantageous properties, but may be omitted altogether in the basic implementation.

[0078] In an embodiment, the bookbinding machine is configured to stop the current clamp in the loading station for filling the current book block, although this does not exclude the possibility that the current book block may fill the current clamp when passing the loading position (e.g., the current book block moves diagonally upwards).

[0079] In an embodiment, the lifting system is configured to lift the current book block from a staging position to a vertical position (by moving it along the tilt direction, transverse to the longitudinal axis of the spine), and to lift the book block from the vertical position to a loading position (by moving it along the vertical direction, transverse to the longitudinal axis of the spine). However, the current book block may be lifted from the staging position to the vertical position and then to the loading position by any means (e.g., by means of sequentially corresponding elements, by means of a single element, etc.).

[0080] In an embodiment, the feeding device includes a vertical support to support the current book block while raising the book block from the vertical position to the loading position, although the vertical support may be of any size and type (e.g., a segment of a feeding support, a stand-alone support, a size and type based on a plate and roller bed, etc.) or may not even be present (e.g., if the vertical position is the same as the loading position).

[0081] In an embodiment, the vertical segment is aligned to a rest position at the loading station of the fixed jaw of the current clamp, although the vertical support may be aligned with the current clamp in any manner (e.g., the inner / outer jaw of the clamp, any distance below it, etc.).

[0082] In an embodiment, the feeding device includes a feeding support for supporting the current book block on its concave side, although the feeding device may be of any size and type (e.g., any width, profile, uniform / non-uniform type, plate-based size and type, roller bed, etc.).

[0083] In an embodiment, the feed support includes angled segments that define angled supports, vertical segments that define vertical supports, and rounded segments that link the angled and vertical segments, although the segments may be of any type (e.g., having any length, any radius of curvature for the rounded segments, or no radius of curvature if the vertical and angled segments are directly connected or separate from each other, etc.).

[0084] In an embodiment, the feeding device includes one or more lifting pushers for pushing the current book block from the staging position to the loading position, although the pushers may be of any number or type (e.g., types each mounted by a rack and plate, etc.).

[0085] In an embodiment, the lift pushers include a first lift pusher for pushing the book block from the staging position to the vertical position and a second lift pusher for pushing the book block from the vertical position to the loading position, although the two lift pushers may operate in any manner (e.g., working together to swap the current book block from the first lift pusher to the second lift pusher, the first lift pusher moving the current book block to the vertical position, the book block being taken over by the second lift pusher, etc.).

[0086] In an embodiment, the first lifting pusher has a drive element movable along the inclined direction, although the drive element may be of any type (for example, a carriage, a plate, a piston, etc.).

[0087] In an embodiment, the first lifting pusher has an active element driven by a drive element for acting on the spine of the current book block, although the active element may be of any type (e.g. rack and plate, etc.).

[0088] In an embodiment, the active element is pivotable about the drive element, although this may be achieved by any means (e.g., hinges, joints, etc.).

[0089] In an embodiment, the active element pivots to act on the spine of the current book block along the inclined direction corresponding to moving the current book block from the staging position towards the vertical position, and gradually pivots from the inclined direction to the vertical direction corresponding to the vertical position of the current book block, however, the active element may pivot to change its direction of actuation in any manner (e.g., biased to act along the inclined direction by gravity, springs, etc., biased to act in the vertical direction from the inclined direction by one or more biasing elements moving with the second pusher or in a fixed position, acting on one or both sides of the first lifting pusher, etc.), in any part of the stroke of the first lifting pusher corresponding to the vertical position, whether or not it reaches the end of the corresponding stroke, with any law of motion, with any uniform / non-uniform speed, etc.).

[0090] In an embodiment, the second lifting pusher has a biasing element for biasing the active element from the tilted direction to the vertical direction depending on the current vertical position of the book block, although the biasing element may be of any type for biasing the active element in any way (e.g., a cam for a follower, a slot for a pin, etc.).

[0091] In an embodiment, the binding machine has an input unit for setting the feeding device in manual mode, although the input unit may be of any type (e.g., local / remote, touch screen, keypad, network card, etc.).

[0092] In an embodiment, the manual mode of one of the lifting pushers is supported in a support position below the loading station in order to support each book block that is manually inserted from above into the current clamp to be opened at the loading station in the use state, although this may be achieved by any means (e.g., any one of the pushers and a dedicated element, etc.).

[0093] In an embodiment, the feeding device comprises a horizontal conveying system for, in use, sequentially conveying the book blocks horizontally to the inclined support, although the horizontal conveying system may be of any type (e.g., a type operating intermittently / continuously along any conveying direction, a type based on one or more pushers, a roll conveyor, a belt conveyor, etc.).

[0094] In an embodiment, the horizontal transport system includes a horizontal support that supports one or more book blocks and aligns the inclined supports on which their major surfaces rest, although the horizontal support may be of any type (e.g., of any height, movable or fixed, a plate, separate rollers, belt, etc., which may or may not be part of a downward transport system, etc.).

[0095] In an embodiment, the horizontal transport system includes one or more horizontal pushers for individually pushing the book blocks along the horizontal support and onto the inclined support, although any number and type of horizontal pushers (e.g., slide bar mounted, endless chain, etc.) may be used.

[0096] In an embodiment, the current book block in the staging position is aligned in use with the horizontal reference of the loading station along the conveying direction of the horizontal conveying system by at least one horizontal pusher, although the current book block may be aligned with any horizontal reference (e.g., corresponding to any edge of the current clamp when stopped at the loading station) by any means (e.g., by the last pusher only, by biasing the book block in the opposite direction on an inclined support, additional pushers, friction rollers, etc.).

[0097] In an embodiment, the horizontal pushers are configured to individually push the book blocks along the horizontal support through one or more stop positions, which may be of any number (which may be the same or different relative to the number of horizontal pushers) and of any type (e.g., size, stop time, etc.).

[0098] In an embodiment, the lifting system comprises a jogger for jogging the current book block relative to a horizontal reference, although the jogger may be of any type (for example, provided on any one of the lifting pushers, on an inclined support, an independent element, operating along any direction, etc.).

[0099] In an embodiment, the jogger is for jogging the current book block during lifting of the current book block from the staging position to the loading position, although the book block may be jogged during any phase of lifting of the book block (e.g., when lifting from the staging position to the waiting position, at the waiting position, when lifting from the waiting position to the loading position, etc.).

[0100] In an embodiment, the feeding device comprises a downward transport system for, in use, sequentially transporting the book blocks downwards onto the horizontal transport system, although the downward transport system may be of any type (e.g., intermittent / continuous operation, screwdriver, plow, fork, fryer, etc. based, free fall, etc.).

[0101] In an embodiment, the downward transport system includes downward supports, which in use support one or more book blocks, resting on their main surfaces and extending at least partially downward, although the downward supports may be of any type (e.g., any height, movable or fixed, one or more chains, one or more belts, one or more plates, etc.) and may extend downward in any way (e.g., by horizontal and inclined segments, by inclined segments only, by inclined segments with a uniform slope or an increasing slope as one moves downward, etc.).

[0102] In an embodiment, the downward transport system includes one or more drivers movable along the transport direction of the downward transport system for individually supporting the spines of the book blocks during downward movement of the book blocks, although the drivers may be of any number, pitch and type (e.g., each implemented by any number of paddles, rods, etc.).

[0103] In an embodiment, the feeding system comprises support elements which, in a use state, protrude above the inclined support and are intended to support the spine of the current book block in the staging position, although the support elements may be of any type (e.g. barriers, plates, fences, etc. protruding above the inclined support in any direction, having any height, etc.), and in any case the possibility of using a lifting system (e.g. lifting pushers thereof) for supporting the current book block in the staging position is not excluded.

[0104] In an embodiment, the feeding system comprises further support elements, which in the use state protrude above the horizontal support and are arranged alongside the support elements, for stopping the book block at the lower edge of the lower support and for supporting the book block during its horizontal transport, although the further support elements may be of any type (for example formed by a single component or by individual components, identical or different to the support elements, for stopping and supporting the book block), and in any case the possibility of using respective drivers for stopping the book block corresponding to the lower edge of the lower support is not excluded.

[0105] In an embodiment, the feeding device includes one or more gauges for measuring corresponding characteristics of each of the book blocks, although the gauges may be in any number, at any position and for measuring any characteristic of the book blocks (e.g. width, height, thickness, barcode, NFC tag, tax, etc.), and in any case each of the gauges (maximum of them) may be absent (e.g. corresponding information is received from the bookbinding machine before providing the book blocks, is obtained from corresponding codes read on the book blocks, is unused, etc.).

[0106] In an embodiment, the bookbinding machine comprises a control unit, although the control unit may be of any type (e.g., computer, microphone and controller, etc.).

[0107] In an embodiment, the control unit is for controlling the binding machine in response to the characteristics of the book blocks, although the binding machine may be controlled in any way (e.g. controlling its processing stations and / or feeding devices, configuring and optimizing them in different and additional ways, etc.) in response to the characteristics of the book blocks.

[0108] In an embodiment, the gauge comprises a thickness gauge for measuring the thickness of each of the book blocks, although the thickness gauge may be of any type (e.g., based on a position sensor, laser, etc.) and may be in any position (e.g., in a horizontal conveying system, a downward conveying system, a loading system, etc.).

[0109] In an embodiment, the gauge comprises a height gauge for measuring the height of each of the book blocks, although the height gauge may be of any type (e.g., presence detector, measuring device based, etc.) and in any position (e.g., in a horizontal transport system, a downward transport system, a loading system, etc.).

[0110] In an embodiment, the gauge comprises a width gauge for measuring the width of each of the book blocks, although the width gauge may be of any type (e.g., presence detector, gauge-based, etc.) and in any position (e.g., in a downward transport system, horizontal transport system, loading system, etc.).

[0111] In an embodiment, the lifting system comprises guide elements for guiding the current book block during lifting from the vertical position to the loading position, although the guide elements may be of any type (e.g., a dedicated structure based on a rake formed by vertical supports and guide supports, a plate, with or without a low leading profile, etc.) or no guide elements (e.g., if the vertical position is the same as the loading position).

[0112] In an embodiment, the control unit is configured to set the width of the guide structure depending on the thickness of the current book block, although the width of the guide structure may be set in any manner (e.g., the width of the book block is fixed, or depending on a linear / non-linear law, depending on the thickness of the current book block, exceeding it by any degree before inserting the book block to the bottom, etc.).

[0113] In an embodiment, the height gauges are positioned along the horizontal transport system, although the height gauges may be positioned in any manner along the horizontal transport system (e.g., at any segment, to the side, above, below, etc.).

[0114] In an embodiment, the thickness gauges are positioned along the horizontal transport system, although the thickness gauges may be positioned in any manner along the horizontal transport system (e.g., at any segment, above, on the side, etc.).

[0115] In an embodiment, the thickness gauge is positioned to measure the thickness of each book block that is stopped at one of the stop positions, although the aluminum gauge may measure by any means (e.g., while the book block is stopped at any position or while it is moving, etc.).

[0116] In an embodiment, the width gauges are positioned along the descending conveying system, although the width gauges may be positioned in any manner along the descending conveying system (e.g., horizontal segments, angled segments, sides, above, below, etc.).

[0117] In an embodiment, the lifting system is configured to lift the current book block from the staging position to a waiting position, which in use extends in the loading station along the vertical direction with the front and rear and the lip of the book block corresponding to the lower edge of the current clamp, although the waiting position may be of any type (e.g., lip of any spacing, down to zero, fixed or dependent on the width of the book block from the current clamp, waiting position above or below the vertical position, etc.), and the book blocks may be lifted thereto sequentially by any means (e.g., two or more lifting pushers and one pusher, etc.).

[0118] In an embodiment, the lifting system is configured to lift the current book block from the waiting position to the loading position in response to the opening of the current clamp at the loading station, although this movement may be initiated in any manner (e.g., by detecting the clamp opening with a corresponding sensor and estimating the clamp opening in response to its control, etc.), and the book block may be lifted to the loading position by any means (e.g., by the same lifting pusher used to move the book block to the waiting position, by one or more other lifting pushers that may or may not pass through a vertical position, etc.).

[0119] In an embodiment, the control unit is configured to set the waiting position depending on the width of the current book block, although the waiting position may be set in any manner (e.g., by moving the lip of the current book block to any distance from the current clamp, depending on the width of the current book block, etc.).

[0120] In an embodiment, the binding machine is a perfect binding machine, although the perfect binding machine may be of any type (e.g., a type for applying covers in softcover book products, a type for applying fasteners in hardcover book products, etc.).

[0121] An embodiment provides a feeding apparatus for use in the above-described binding machine, the feeding apparatus including a tilt support and elevation system, although the feeding apparatus may be brought to market either directly integrated into (new) binding machines, or as a stand-alone product for use with existing binding machines, or as an aftermarket kit for adaptation thereto.

[0122] Further embodiments provide a binding plant comprising one or more examples of the binding machines described above, although the binding plant may be of any type (e.g., any number of binding machines and any number and types of other feeding devices and / or subsequent binding machines, e.g., gathering machines, sewing machines, trimming machines, etc., the binding machines operating online or offline, etc.).

[0123] In general, the same considerations apply in the claims whether the binding machine, the feeding device, and the binding plant each have different structures or equivalent components, or whether they have other operational characteristics. In any case, all components in the claims may be divided into multiple elements, or two or more components may be combined into one element, or each component may be duplicated to support corresponding operations in parallel. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the interaction between different components does not generally have to be continuous, but may be either direct or indirect through one or more intermediaries.

[0124] A further embodiment provides a method for processing book blocks in a bookbinding machine. In an embodiment, the method comprises individually transporting book blocks by one or more clamps in the bookbinding machine. In an embodiment, the method comprises loading the book blocks into each one of the current clamps in the loading station. In an embodiment, the method comprises sequentially feeding the book blocks to the loading station. In an embodiment, feeding the book blocks comprises supporting the current book block in a staging position (by an inclined support extending below the loading station along an inclined direction relative to the vertical). In an embodiment, in the staging position, a major surface of the current book block (either the front or the rear of the book block) rests on the inclined support. In an embodiment, feeding the book block comprises raising the book block from the staging position to a loading position (where the current book block is inserted into a current clamp operated in the loading station). In an embodiment, the step of raising the book blocks comprises moving the current book blocks transversely to the longitudinal axis of their spines from a staging position to a vertical position (along which the front and rear extend in the current book block), although the same considerations as pointed out above with respect to the features of the bookbinding machine also apply to the corresponding steps of the method.

[0125] Generally, in the claims, similar considerations apply if the same solution is implemented in an equivalent way (using more steps or similar steps with the same functionality of some of them, by deleting some non-essential steps or by adding further optional steps). Furthermore, steps can be performed together in different orders or in an interleaved manner (at least partially).

[0126] A further embodiment provides a computer program product, which, when executed on a control unit, is configured to control the control unit of the bookbinding machine to perform the above-described method. A further embodiment provides a computer product comprising a computer-readable storage medium embodied with a computer program, the computer program being loadable into the operating memory of the control unit of the bookbinding machine to thereby configure the control unit to perform the same method. However, the program may take any form suitable for use by the control unit (see above), such as external software, resident software, firmware, or in the form of microcode (e.g., compiled or interpretable, object code, or source code). Furthermore, rather than a transitory signal itself, the program may be provided on a tangible computer-readable storage medium (e.g., electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or recoil band type, fixed disk, memory key, etc.) capable of holding and storing instructions for use by the control unit. In any case, solutions according to embodiments of the present disclosure are suitable for implementation in hardware structures (e.g., electronic circuits integrated on one or more semiconductor material chips) or in combination with appropriately programmed or configured software and hardware.

Claims

1. A bookbinding machine (100) for processing book blocks (210), comprising: the bookbinding machine (100) comprises one or more clamps (110a-110c) for individually transporting the book blocks (210); a loading station (105a) for loading each current one of the book blocks (210) into each current one of the clamps (110) therein; and a supply device (200) for sequentially supplying the book blocks (210) to the loading station (105a); The supply device (200) an inclined support (205) extending below the loading station (105a) along an inclined direction (Di) relative to a vertical direction (Dv) in a state of use, for supporting the current book block (210) in a staging position, the current book block (210) being placed on the inclined support (205) so that a main surface of the current book block (210) is a front (210f) or a rear (210r) side; a lifting system (225) for lifting the current book block (210) from the staging position to a loading position so as to insert the current book block (210) into the current clamp (110) that has been opened at the loading station (105a), the lifting system (225) comprising moving the current book block (210) from the staging position to a vertical position in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis (As) of its spine (210s), the front (210f) and the rear (210r) of the current book block (210) extending along the vertical direction (Dv); Including, Bookbinding machine (100).

2. the bookbinding machine (100) is configured to stop the current clamp (110) at the loading station (105a) in order to load the current book block (210); the lifting system (225) is configured to lift the book block (210) from the staging position to the vertical position by moving laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis (As) of the spine (210s) along the inclination direction (Di), and to lift the current book block (210) from the vertical position to the loading position by moving laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis (As) of the spine (210s) along the vertical direction (Dv). The bookbinding machine (100) of claim 1.

3. the feeding device (200) includes a vertical support (230) for supporting the current book block (210) while lifting the current book block (210) from the vertical position to the loading position; the vertical support (230) is aligned with the rest position of the fixed jaw (115) of the current clamp (110) at the loading station (105a); The bookbinding machine (100) of claim 2.

4. The feeding device (200) includes a feeding support (336) for supporting the current book block (210) on its concave side, the feeding support (336) having an inclined segment (205) defining the inclined support (205), a vertical segment (230) defining the vertical support (230), and a round segment (366r) linking the inclined segment (205) and the vertical segment (230). The bookbinding machine (100) of claim 3.

5. the lifting system (225) includes one or more lifting pushers (225d, 225u) for pushing the current book block (210) from the staging position to the loading position; A bookbinding machine (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The lifting pushers (225d, 225u) include a first lifting pusher (225d) for pushing the current book block (210) from the staging position to the vertical position, and a second lifting pusher (225u) for pushing the current book block (210) from the vertical position to the loading position. The bookbinding machine (100) according to claim 5.

7. the first lifting pusher (225d) has a drive element (405d) movable along the inclination direction (Di) and an active element (410d) driven by the drive element (405d) to act on the spine (210s) of the current book block (210); the active element (410d) is pivotable about the drive element (405d) for actuating the spine (210s) of the current book block (210) along the tilt direction (Di) corresponding to move the current book block (210) from the staging position to the vertical position and gradually move it from the tilt direction (Di) to the vertical direction (Dv) depending on the vertical position of the current book block (210); 7. A bookbinding machine (100) according to claim 6.

8. the second lifting pusher (225u) has a biasing element (415u) for gradually biasing the active element (410d) from the inclined direction (Di) to the vertical direction (Dv) depending on the vertical position of the current book block (210); The bookbinding machine (100) of claim 7.

9. an input unit (135) for setting the feeding device (300) in a manual mode, one of the lifting pushers (225u) being supported in a support position below the loading station (105a) in a use state to support each of the book blocks (210) to be manually inserted from above into the current clamp (110) opened at the loading station (105a); A bookbinding machine (100) according to any one of claims 6 to 8.

10. the supply device (300) includes a horizontal transport system (336) for transporting the book blocks (210) successively in a horizontal direction relative to the inclined support (205) in a state of use; The horizontal transport system (336) horizontal supports (318i, 339) arranged alongside the inclined supports (205), supporting one or more of the book blocks (210), and on which the major surfaces (210r) rest; one or more horizontal pushers (345a-345c) for individually pushing the book blocks (210) along the horizontal supports (318i, 339) and onto the inclined supports (205); and the current book block (210) in the staging position is aligned with a horizontal reference of the loading station (105a) along the conveying direction of the horizontal conveying system (336) by the last one (345c) of the horizontal pushers (345a-345c) in a use state; A bookbinding machine (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. the horizontal pushers (345a-345c) are configured to individually push the book blocks (210) along the horizontal supports (318i, 339) through one or more rest positions; The bookbinding machine (100) according to claim 10.

12. the lifting system (265) includes a jogger (420) for jogging the current book block (210) relative to the horizontal reference while lifting the current book block (210) from the staging position to the loading position; A bookbinding machine (100) according to claim 10 or 11.

13. the supply device (300) includes a downward conveying system (318) for conveying the book blocks (210) downwardly onto the horizontal conveying system (336) in a state of use; The downward transport system (318) a lowering support (321) that extends at least partially downward in a state of use, supports one or more of the book blocks (210), and on which the main surface (210r) rests; one or more drivers (327) movable along the conveying direction of the downward conveying system (318) for individually supporting the spines (210s) of the book blocks (210) while conveying the book blocks (210) downward; having A bookbinding machine (100) according to any one of claims 10 to 12.

14. The supply system (300) comprises: a support element (369) that, in use, projects above the tilted support (205) and supports the spine (210s) of the current book block (210) in the staging position; further support elements (333, 342) which, in use, project above the horizontal supports (318i, 339) and serve to stop each of the book blocks (210) at the lower end of the lower support (321) and to support the book blocks (210) while they are being transported horizontally; Equipped with The further support elements (333, 342) are arranged alongside the support element (369).

14. A bookbinding machine (100) according to claim 13.

15. The supply device (300) one or more gauges (330, 354, 357, 360) for measuring corresponding characteristics of each of said book blocks (210); the bookbinding machine (100) comprises a control unit (135) for controlling the bookbinding machine (100) in accordance with the characteristics of the book block (210); A bookbinding machine (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

16. The gauges (330, 354, 357, 360) include a thickness gauge (357) for measuring the thickness of each of the book blocks (210), a height gauge (354) for measuring the height of each of the book blocks (210), and / or a width gauge for measuring the width of each of the book blocks (210).

16. A bookbinding machine (100) according to claim 15.

17. the lifting system (225) includes a guide element (230, 372) for guiding the current book block (210) while lifting the current book block (210) from the vertical position to the loading position; the control unit (135) is configured to set the width of the guide element (230, 372) depending on the thickness of the current book block (210); 17. A bookbinding machine (100) according to claim 16, depending directly or indirectly on claim 2.

18. the height gauge (354) and / or the thickness gauge (357) are disposed along the horizontal transport system (336); 18. A bookbinding machine (100) according to claim 16 or 17, depending directly or indirectly on claim 10.

19. the thickness gauge (357) is positioned to measure the thickness of each of the book blocks (210) when it stops at one of the stop positions; 19. A bookbinding machine (100) according to claim 18, depending directly or indirectly on claim 11.

20. The width gauge (330) is positioned along the downward conveying system (318). A bookbinding machine (100) according to any one of claims 16 to 19, which is directly or indirectly dependent on claim 13.

21. the lifting system (225) is configured to lift the current book block (210) from the staging position to a waiting position, and in a state of use, the current book block (210) has the front and rear extending along the vertical direction (Dv) and its lip (210p) corresponding to the lower end of the current clamp (110), and the lifting system (225) is configured to lift the current book block (210) from the waiting position to the loading position in response to the current clamp (110) being opened at the loading station (105a). A bookbinding machine (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 20.

22. the control unit (135) is configured to set the waiting position according to the width of the current book block (210); 22. A bookbinding machine (100) according to claim 21, depending directly or indirectly on claim 16.

23. The bookbinding machine is a Perfect-binding machine (100). A bookbinding machine (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 22.

24. A feeding device (200) for use in the bookbinding machine (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 23, comprising: said tilt support (205) and said lifting system (225), Feeding device (200).

25. 24. A bookbinding machine comprising one or more binding machines (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 23, Bookbinding plant.

26. A method for processing book blocks (210) in a bookbinding machine (100), comprising: transporting the book blocks (210) individually through the binding machine by one or more clamps (110a-110c); loading each current one of said book blocks (210) into each current one of said clamps (110) at a loading station (105a); sequentially supplying the book blocks (210) to the loading station (105a); Equipped with The step of providing the book block includes: supporting the current book block (210) in a staging position by an inclined support (205) extending downward from the loading station (105a) along an inclined direction (Di) relative to a vertical direction (Dv), wherein the current book block (210) is placed on the inclined support (205) with a main surface of the current book block (210) facing the front (210f) or rear (210r); lifting the current book block (210) from the staging position to a loading position so as to insert the current book block (210) into the current clamp (110) that has been opened at the loading station (105a), comprising moving the current book block (210) laterally relative to the longitudinal axis (As) of its spine (210s) from the staging position to a vertical position, lifting the current book block (210) so that the front (210f) and the rear (210r) of the current book block (210) extend along the vertical direction (Dv); Including, method.

27. A computer program comprising: When the computer program is executed on a control unit (135), the control unit (135) of a bookbinding machine (100) is configured to control the bookbinding machine (100) to perform the method of claim 26. Computer program.

28. a computer-readable storage medium embodying a computer program; The computer program is loadable into a working memory of a control unit of a bookbinding machine and configures the control unit to carry out the method of claim 26. Computer program products.

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