Top-gluing hot glue binding machines and methods for treating spine edge of sheet stack with hot melt adhesive

Abstract

For improving the quality of a book to be bound by a top-gluing hot glue binding machine, the hot glue binding machine comprises: - at least one press (102, 105, 112) for compressing a sheet stack (120) to be bound at a distance from its spine edge (124) such that the spine edge (124) of the sheet stack (120) remains in a gluing position; - at least one linear guide (113); - an adhesive application unit (111) movable along the linear guide (113), which includes: (a) an adhesive container (22) and a substantially longitudinally grooved adhesive application roller (7) installed below the adhesive container (22), which roller is configured to take hot melt adhesive from the adhesive container (22) and, at the same time, to prevent hot melt adhesive from flowing out of the adhesive container (22), and / or (b) a receiving unit (26) of an adhesive cartridge for receiving such an adhesive cartridge (20) which comprises an adhesive container (22) and a substantially longitudinally grooved adhesive application roller (7) installed below the adhesive container (22), which roller is configured to take hot melt adhesive from the adhesive container (22) and, at the same time, to prevent hot melt adhesive from flowing out of the adhesive container (22); and additionally a number of mechanisms for controlling the quantity of adhesive to be applied on the spine edge of a book to be bound. The patent application includes a number of independent claims applying to different embodiments and methods of the hot glue binding machine.

Description

[0001] Top-gluing hot glue binding machine and methods for treating spine edge of sheet stack with hot melt adhesive , and container with scraper and method for emptying adhesive container of top-gluing hot glue binding machine

[0002] Field of invention

[0003] The invention relates to the field of bookbinding , particularly to hot glue binding machines .

[0004] Technical background

[0005] In bookbinding , hot glue binding ( sometimes called perfect binding) is increasingly used for binding especially short runs ( such as single copies or at most a few hundred copies to be bound) . In hot glue binding , hot melt adhesive is appl ied on the spine of a stack of printed sheets , with EVA ( ethylene -vinyl acetate ) melt or PUR (polyurethane ) adhesive being the most commonly used . After this , the stack of sheets is attached to a binding cover and possibly finished e . g . by cutting . Thus , the hot glue bound book is fini shed .

[0006] A particularly good end- result is achieved with the so - called top gluing e . g . because gravity helps the adhesive to penetrate between the sheets . In a top -gluing hot glue binding machine , the sheet stack to be bound is fastened to a press which supports the sheet stack at a distance from the spine edge and, simultaneously, holds the spine edge of the sheet stack being bound in an adhesive application position . Hot melt adhesive is taken from a container by means of a grooved adhesive application roller . The adhesive application roller i s grooved in the direction of its longitudinal axi s . Whi le the grooves of the adhesive appl ication roller bring hot melt from the container , the adhesive application rol ler blocks the opening in the container , preventing hot melt adhesive from flowing out of the container . Hot melt adhesive remains in the grooves of the adhesive application roller such that it can be transferred from the adhesive application roller to the spine of the sheet stack when the adhesive application roller is rotated along the spine of the sheet stack . The adhesion of hot melt adhesive to the spine of the sheet stack while simultaneously releasing from the adhesive application roller requires that the hot melt adhesive in the adhesive appl ication roller is in contact with the spine of the sheet stack being bound ( see FIG 1 ) . In other words , hot melt adhesive does not detach from the adhesive application roller when the adhesive application roller is not in contact with the spine of the sheet stack .

[0007] The adhesive application method and the hot glue binding machine described in the above paragraph are inventions made by Lauri Huotari , the founder of the applicant of the present patent , the former of which i s described in the German utility model publication DE8114728U1 (Rollennummer G8114728 . 7 ) and the latter in the German utility model DE8311676U1 (Rollennummer G8311676 . 1 ) . The company has manufactured hot glue binding machines since the 1980s , and its trade name has changed from Maping Kommandi ittiyhtid L . Huotari to Fastbind Maping Oy .

[0008] At the time of writing , one of the most popular models of hot glue binding machines produced on the market i s described in the applicant ' s German printed publication DES 0320638T2 . It presents how , in a top-gluing hot glue binding machine , a sheet stack is placed in a press , a spine edge of the sheet stack is levelled against a plane , after which , the press is tightened (whereby the press compresses the sheet stack at a distance from the spine edge ) , and a turn table is turned so that the spine edge of the sheet stack being bound turns to an adhesive application position (upwards ) . Then , the sheet stack is held in place in the adhesive appl ication position . After this , hot melt adhesive is applied to the spine edge of the sheet stack in a manner described above . When hot melt adhesive has been appl ied to the edge of the sheet stack being bound, the sheet stack i s turned to such a position that the sheet stack adheres to the binding cover by means of the hot melt adhesive . To understand these measures , the following publications should be considered :

[0009] - FIG 1 of the printed publication DE 603 20 638 T2 shows a sheet stack to be bound in a closed press its spine edge in the adhesive appl ication position .

[0010] - FIG 19 of the European patent EP 2 832 556 Bl shows a sheet stack to be bound in a closed press before turning it into the adhesive appl ication position or after the sheet stack has been turned against the book cover fol lowing the application of hot melt adhesive . The applicant ' s European patents 2 809 452 Bl and 2 832 556 Bl describe improvements that enable PUR gluing in a top-gluing hot glue binding machine . Due to the curing of the melted PUR adhesive , a replaceable adhesive cartridge that includes an adhesive application roller has proven to be popular .

[0011] All of the applicant ' s previously presented types of hot glue binding machines have a number of guides along which an adhesive tank is conveyed (generally manually by moving a knob , but the applicant has also implemented a top-gluing hot glue binding machine equipped with motorized movement ) . FIG 1 in the utility model publication DE 83 11676 U1 shows guides 20 , 21 and an adhesive tank 24 . FIG 13 of the European patent 2 809 452 Bl shows a guide 1320 along which a gluing unit 50 is moved .

[0012] Except for the first friction-driven model , all of the above topgluing hot glue binding machines are arranged with a toothed chain parallel with the guide in question , which causes a gear being in rotation connection with a shaft of an adhesive application roller ( see e . g . the gear shown in the lower part of FIG 14a in the European patent 2 809 452 Bl ) or a gear fastened to the adhesive application roller to rotate , thereby rotating the adhesive application roller via the shaft . By means of a form- closed rotation mechanism, it has been possible to ensure that additional hot melt adhesive always enters the grooves of the adhesive application roller when the roller moves relative to the guide so that hot melt adhesive is rel iably applied to every part of the spine of the sheet stack .

[0013] Collection devices of hot melt adhesive developed for emptying a detachable adhesive cartridge in order to wash the tank and clean the adhesive application roller are described in the applicant ' s German patent specification DE 10 2013 215305 B4 and German patent application publication DE 10 2012 201655 Al .

[0014] Obj ect of the invention

[0015] The obj ect of the invention is to enable the improvement of the quality of books bound by a top-gluing hot glue binding machine . On a general level , this obj ect is achievable by implementing the top- gluing hot glue binding machine such that it includes a number of mechani sms for controlling the quantity of adhesive applied by the hot glue binding machine on the spine edge of the book being bound . In prior-art top-gluing hot glue binding machines known by inventors , this has not been possible because , in prior-art devices , the adhesive application roller rotates forced by a form- closed mechanism (gear and chain) when the adhesive application unit moves and, on the other hand, also because the adhesive application roller always takes a constant quantity of adhesive from the container into between its grooves , whereby the adhesive quantity divided by the adhesive application roller per its distance of movement also remains constant . This obj ect is achievable by the top-gluing hot glue binding machine according to independent claim 1 .

[0016] I : Aspects 1 and 2

[0017] In order to obtain a sufficient quantity of adhesive , present topgluing hot glue binding machines move the adhesive application rol ler back and forth on the spine edge of a sheet stack fastened to a press and supported in a gluing position for several adhesive applications , whereby the adhesive application roller takes hot melt adhesive from the container and applies it each time on the spine edge of the sheet stack . In practice , to obtain a sufficient quantity of adhesive , it has been proven that it is necessary to perform the adhesive application four times ( i . e . two back-and- forth movements ) when binding a paperback book and six times ( i . e . three back-and- forth movements ) when binding a hardbound book . After the first adhesive application , it easily happens that , on each reapplication , the adhesive application roller pushes part of the already applied adhesive in front of it . Thi s is i llustrated in a series of figures in FIG 2 and 3 when an adhesive application roller 7 moves at the point of a spine edge 124 when coming over an end 120A, 12 OB of a sheet stack .

[0018] This is a problem particularly for both ends of the spine edge of the sheet stack ( i . e . the upper and lower spine edge of the future book) , because it quite often happens that extra adhesive drips over the end of the spine edge . This requires cutting the sheet stack smeared by the dripping adhesive after the adhesive has dried .

[0019] An obj ect of the invention i s to improve the adhesive application characteristic of the top-gluing hot glue binding machine . The solution is a top-gluing hot glue binding machine according to independent claim 1 and / or parallel independent claim 3 , 20 and / or 34 .

[0020] A second obj ect of the invention i s to improve the quality of the binding of a book bound by using hot melt adhesive . The solution i s a method for treating the spine edge of a sheet stack by hot melt adhesive according to parallel independent claim 18 and / or parallel independent claim 19 and / or 30 .

[0021] A third obj ect of the invention is to facilitate bookbinding performed with hot melt adhesive . The solution is a method for treating the spine edge of a sheet stack by hot melt adhesive according to parallel independent claim 19 .

[0022] Dependent claims 2 , 4 - 17 , 21 - 29 , 35 - 43 describe preferred embodiments of the hot glue binding machine . Dependent claims 31-33 describe preferred embodiments of the method for treating the spine edge of a sheet stack by hot melt adhesive .

[0023] II : Aspect 3

[0024] The emptying solution of an adhesive container described in the German patent application publication DE 10 2012 201655 Al and the emptying solution of an adhesive container described in the German patent DE 10 2013 215305 B4 are good and practical , and they have been necessary this far because PUR adhesive , when curing , spoi ls the adhesive container and the adhesive application rol ler .

[0025] The obj ect of the invention is to facilitate the cleaning of the adhesive container . The solution i s a top-gluing hot glue binding machine according to dependent claim 34 , a container with a scraper according to parallel dependent claim 44 and a method according to parallel independent claim 48 .

[0026] Dependent claims describe preferred embodiments of the hot glue binding machine , the container equipped with a scraper and the method . Advantages of the invention

[0027] The top -gluing hot glue binding machine compri ses at least one press for supporting a sheet stack to be bound at a di stance from its spine edge such that the spine edge of the sheet stack remains in a gluing position , at least one linear guide and an adhesive application unit movable along the linear guide , including :

[0028] (a) an adhesive container and a substantially longitudinally grooved adhesive application roller instal led below the adhesive container , which roller i s conf igured to take hot melt adhesive from the adhesive container and , at the same time , to prevent hot melt adhesive from flowing out of the adhesive container , and / or

[0029] (b) a receiving unit of an adhesive cartridge for receiving such an adhesive cartridge which comprises an adhesive container and a substantially longitudinally grooved adhesive application roller installed below the adhesive container , which roller i s conf igured to take hot melt adhesive from the adhesive container and , at the same time , to prevent hot melt adhesive from flowing out of the adhesive container .

[0030] When the different implementations of the invention are reviewed as a whole , the most preferred option can be considered a hot glue binding machine which additionally comprises a number of mechanisms for control ling the quantity of adhesive to be applied on the spine edge of a book to be bound .

[0031] Most preferably, the number of mechanisms for controll ing the quantity of adhesive to be applied on the spine edge of a book to be bound comprises :

[0032] ( i ) a mechanism for adj usting the relative height position of the adhesive application unit such that a distance between the adhesive application unit and the press is controllable - most preferably automatically - for applying more than one layer of adhesive on the spine edge of a book to be bound with successive applications ; and / or (ii) a mechanism for adjusting the peripheral speed of the adhesive application roller (7) in relation to the moving speed of the adhesive application unit (111) for controlling the quantity of adhesive to be applied on the spine edge of a book to be bound; and / or

[0033] (iii) a mechanism for rotating the adhesive application roller (7) when the adhesive application unit (111) remains in place for taking the adhesive from the adhesive container also laterally along the spine edge of a book being bound when the movable adhesive application unit remains in place.

[0034] According to the first aspect: The top-gluing hot glue binding machine described above in "Advantages of the invention" comprises, in addition to the above characteristics (a) and (b) , a mechanism for adjusting the relative height position of the adhesive application unit such that a distance between the adhesive application unit and a support surface is controllable, most preferably automatically.

[0035] By means of the relative height position adjusting mechanism, the adhesive application characteristic of the hot glue binding machine is better than that of prior art, because the controlling (most preferably automatic controlling) of the distance between the adhesive application unit and the support surface enables adjustment during the treating of one sheet stack.

[0036] In the prior art top-gluing hot glue binding machine, the height position of the adhesive application has naturally been fine- adjustable, but the adjustment has required the turning of two hanging bolts arranged inside a device housing in the adhesive application unit. The turning of two hanging bolts is slow and further causes the cooling of adhesive already applied on the spine edge of the sheet stack between adhesive applications and, therefore, weakens the quality of the created binding. In addition, this kind of adjustment is not possible e.g. when an adhesive application head moves.

[0037] The (most preferably automatic) controlling of the distance between the adhesive application unit and the support surface enables the treatment of the spine edge of the sheet stack by applying hot melt adhesive by means of the adhesive application roller of the top-gluing hot glue binding machine as successive adhesive applications such that the distance of the adhesive application roller from the spine edge of the sheet stack is increased (most preferably automatically) between the successive adhesive appl ications . This , on the one hand, enables the application of more adhesive on the spine edge of the sheet stack which improves the strength of the binding and, on the other hand, the reduction of the pushing of the adhesive application roller of the already applied hot melt adhesive in front of it and, therefore , decreases the need for the secondary treatment of the sheet stack after the binding .

[0038] The (most preferably automatic ) controlling of the distance between the adhesive application unit and the support surface additionally enables the treatment of the spine edge of the sheet stack by applying hot melt adhesive by means of the adhesive application roller of the top-gluing hot glue binding machine as successive adhesive applications such that the distance of the adhesive application roller from the spine edge of the sheet stack i s increased (most preferably automatically) between the successive adhesive applications . This facilitates bookbinding by hot melt adhesive by decreasing the amount of already applied hot melt adhesive pushed by the adhesive application roller in front of it and, thus , prevents the dripping of hot melt adhesive from the spine edge over the end of the sheet stack because , in this way, the need for secondary treatment of the sheet stack after the binding is reduced when there is necessarily no need for removing the adhesive having f lown over the end of the sheet stack .

[0039] When the mechanism i s configured to adj ust the relative height position of the adhesive application unit by adj usting the height of the linear guide , the mechanism can be implemented in a simple manner . At the same time , the height adj ustment of other working means , such as a roughener , possibly fastened to the linear guide is enabled . The height adj ustment of the roughener affects mostly the vigour with which the binding spine of the sheet stack is roughened .

[0040] When the mechanism in this case comprises a rotatable shaft and a spiral fastened to the shaft , the rotation of which spiral adj usts the height position , it i s possible to adj ust the linear change in the height position in a simple manner by adj usting the angle of the rotation .

[0041] Alternatively, the mechanism can comprise spiral s fastened on the shaft at a distance from each other , the rotation of which adj usts the height position , the linear guide can be lifted from its both ends . This is a preferable way of working especially when the hot glue binding machine is of large size ( e . g . dimensioned for size A3 sheets ) .

[0042] Particularly when using the spiral , the shaft can be configured to be rotatable in a form- closed manner . This assists in keeping the tolerance of the hot glue binding machine . It is particularly preferable that a gear is fastened to the shaft . The gear then operates as a torque converter . The gear and e . g . a chain fitted to it are able to rotate even a relatively rigid shaft with a relatively low-performance motor .

[0043] In accordance with a preferable aspect , a motor is configured to rotate the shaft . The motor is most preferably an electric motor .

[0044] The hot glue binding machine most preferably also comprises an electric control unit which is configured to control the electric motor such that , between the successive adhesive applications , the electric motor increases the relative height position of the adhesive application unit such that the distance between the adhesive application unit and the support surface increases . This is a preferable way to automatize the control of the relative height position .

[0045] The electric control unit can then be configured to restore the original distance between the adhesive application unit and the support surface after adhesive applications . This faci litates series production when the original relative height position can be restored (most preferably automatical ly) .

[0046] Most preferably, the hot glue binding machine also comprises an electric control unit which has location data of the adhesive application unit on the linear guide and which i s conf igured to control the electric motor for adj usting the height position of the adhesive application unit based on the location data . This i s a preferable way to automatize the control of the relative height position .

[0047] Most preferably, the electric control unit also has measurement data of the sheet stack and the electric control unit is then most preferably configured to compare the location data with the measurement data and to control the relative height position of the adhesive application unit based on the compari son result , e . g . to lower the height position when the location data show that the adhesive application unit i s in an area between the ends of the sheet stack or to raise the relative height position when the location data show that the adhesive application unit i s nearby the end of the sheet stack . This decreases the dripping of hot melt adhesive over the end of the sheet stack when the adhesive appl ication roller is lifted farther away from the spine edge .

[0048] According to the second aspect : The top-gluing hot glue binding machine described above in "Advantages of the invention" comprises , in addition to the above characteristics (a ) and (b) , a mechani sm for rotating the adhesive application roller . The mechanism for rotating the adhesive application rol ler comprises an electric motor movable along with the adhesive application unit . The hot glue binding machine comprises an electric control unit which is configured to control the electric motor for adj usting the peripheral speed of the adhesive application roller .

[0049] In prior art top-gluing hot glue binding machines , the peripheral speed of the adhesive application roller equal s the propagation speed of the adhesive appl ication roller . In accordance with the present invention , the fact that the peripheral speed is adj ustable by control ling the electric motor movable along with the adhesive application unit enables the adj ustment of the quantity of adhesive of the top -gluing hot glue binding machine . In other words , if one prefers applying more adhesive , a speed higher than the propagation speed of the adhesive application roller is chosen as the peripheral speed of the adhesive application roller and, if one prefers applying less adhesive , a speed lower than the propagation speed of the adhesive application roller is chosen as the peripheral speed of the adhesive application roller .

[0050] Equivalently, in the method for treating the spine edge of a sheet stack by hot melt adhesive , the application quantity of hot melt adhesive to be applied on the spine edge of the sheet stack by the adhesive application roller of the top-gluing hot glue binding machine is adj usted by adj usting the ratio between the peripheral speed and the propagation speed of the adhesive application roller .

[0051] The adj ustment of peripheral speed is required in accordance with a preferable aspect in order for adhesive not to drip uncontrollably to a book being bound and possibly spoil it . This is not necessary in bottom-gluing hot glue binding machines because , in them, the extra adhesive flows to an adhesive container below the book being bound from the effect of gravitation .

[0052] When the peripheral speed of the adhesive appl ication roller is chosen higher than the propagation speed, more hot melt adhesive can be applied per the unit of length of the spine edge of the sheet stack . When the peripheral speed of the adhesive appl ication roller is chosen lower than the propagation speed, less hot melt adhesive can be applied per the unit of length of the spine edge of the sheet stack . When the peripheral speed of the adhesive appl ication roller is chosen opposite to the propagation speed, it is possible to shape the hot melt adhesive applied to the spine edge better .

[0053] In accordance with a preferable aspect , the electric control unit is thus configured to control the electric motor to adj ust the ratio of the peripheral speed of the adhesive appl ication roller to the moving speed of the adhesive application unit .

[0054] If one prefers to decrease the quantity of adhesive to be applied, the electric control unit is configured to control the electric motor to adj ust the peripheral speed lower than the moving speed of the adhesive application unit .

[0055] If one prefers to increase the quantity of adhesive to be applied, the electric control unit is configured to control the electric motor to adj ust the peripheral speed higher than the moving speed of the adhesive application unit . If one prefers to leave some part of the spine edge of the sheet stack to be bound unglued, the electric control unit is conf igured to control the electric motor to adj ust the peripheral speed to zero when the adhesive application unit moves in relation to the linear guide . By leaving e . g . a strip of the spine edge on the upper and lower edge of the sheet stack unglued, the above -described dripping of adhesive over the end of the spine edge can be decreased .

[0056] If the electric control unit is configured to control the electric motor to keep the peripheral speed different from zero when the adhesive application unit remains in place in relation to the linear guide , it is possible to apply a great quantity of adhesive into some point . On the other hand, this functional ity enables a novel kind of method to empty adhesive out of the adhesive container .

[0057] In accordance with a preferable aspect , the control unit has the location data of the adhesive appl ication unit on the linear guide and the control unit is configured to control the electric motor to adj ust the peripheral speed of the adhesive appl ication roller based on the location data . Such an arrangement enables more versatile control of the adhesive application rol ler .

[0058] The electric control unit can have the location data of the adhesive application unit on the linear guide and the measurement data of the sheet stack , and the electric control unit can be conf igured to compare the location data with the measurement data and to control the electric motor to adj ust the peripheral speed of the adhesive application roller based on the comparison result . Thi s enables the adj ustment of the quantity of hot melt adhesive applied on the spine edge of the sheet stack and the localized adj ustment of the quantity of hot melt adhesive applied .

[0059] The electric control unit can additional ly be configured to control the height position of the adhesive appl ication unit based on the location data or the comparison result . Together with the adj ustment of the rotation of the adhesive application roller , this facilitates decreasing the above - described dripping of adhesive over the end of the spine edge . The electric control unit can be configured to control the electric motor for time - scheduled rotation of the adhesive appl ication roller . This enables keeping the temperature of the adhesive application roller more even when the hot glue binding machine is not in use . This is because the adhesive appl ication roller cools unevenly . The top side of the adhesive application roller being in contact with the hot melt adhesive in the container remains hot , whereas the bottom side of the adhesive application rol ler being in contact with air starts to cool when the hot glue binding machine is not in use . When the use of the hot glue binding machine is continued after a break , the adhesive application roller having more even temperature enables better quality of binding .

[0060] According to the third aspect : The top-gluing hot glue binding machine described above in "Advantages of the invention" comprises , in addition to the above characteristics (a ) and (b) , a mechani sm for rotating the adhesive application roller . The mechanism for rotating the adhesive application rol ler comprises an electric motor movable along with the adhesive application unit . The hot glue binding machine comprises an electric control unit which is configured to control the electric motor for rotating the adhesive application roller when the adhesive application unit remains in place in relation to the linear guide .

[0061] Compared with the solutions of the German patent speci fication DE 10 2013 215305 B4 and the German patent appl ication publication DE 10 2012 201655 Al , when emptying the adhesive container of the hot glue binding machine , there is no need to remove the hot adhesive cartridge , but the adhesive cartridge is emptied by means of the same electric motor which rotates the adhesive application roller . This simplif ies both the construction of the hot glue binding machine and makes using the hot glue binding machine safer , because there is no need to take the hot adhesive cartridge out of the hot glue binding machine for emptying .

[0062] The rotation of the adhesive application roller in the top-gluing hot glue binding machine when the adhesive application unit remains in place i s against intuition because , contrary to bottom-gluing hot glue binding machines , adhesive drips in the top-gluing hot glue binding machine from the adhesive application rol ler when it rotates easily more than the spine edge of the book being bound can receive . In principle , thi s would lead to the dripping of adhesive onto the covers of the book being bound and, through thi s , to the spoi ling of the book being bound . There is no such a problem in the bottom-gluing hot glue binding machine because the extra adhesive in them flows due to gravitation downwards to the adhesive container located below the book being bound .

[0063] Furthermore , the hot glue binding machine preferably comprises a container equipped with a scraper or scrapers for collecting hot melt adhesive to the container . The container can be instal led to the hot glue binding machine .

[0064] The scraper or scrapers are in contact with the adhesive application roller when the hot glue binding machine is in a cleaning mode . This ensures that the scraper or scrapers remove adhesive from the substantially longitudinally grooved adhesive application roller which again removes adhesive from the adhesive container .

[0065] The scraper or scrapers are also most preferably configured to wipe the grooves of the adhesive application roller .

[0066] The scraper can be a partition wal l of adj acent container parts .

[0067] The electric control unit can be configured to control the electric motor for rotating the adhesive application roller when the adhesive application unit remains in place in relation to the l inear guide first into a f irst direction and then into a second direction .

[0068] The electric control unit is most preferably configured to control the moving motor of the adhesive application unit for moving the adhesive application unit to a cleaning location position .

[0069] The electric control unit can also be configured to control the rotation motor of height adj ustment for lowering the adhesive application unit .

[0070] The hot glue binding machine preferably comprises an air control system which i s conf igured to suction harmful gases at the point of the adhesive application unit also when the adhesive application unit is in the cleaning location position . In this case , compared with the solutions described in the German patent specification DE102013215305B4 and the German patent application publication DE102012201655A1 , the air control system can be implemented in a simpler way .

[0071] The container with a scraper for receiving hot melt adhesive can be implemented such that the scraper or scrapers are a partition wall of adj acent container parts . The container with a scraper can be manufactured of board or cardboard .

[0072] In the method for emptying the adhesive container of the top -gluing hot glue binding machine , the adhesive container containing PUR adhesive of the hot glue binding machine is emptied in a hot glue binding machine according to the f irst aspect of the invention to a container with a scraper such that the scraper i s in direct contact with the adhesive application roller and takes from the adhesive application roller the hot melt adhesive having adhered to the adhesive application roller to the container .

[0073] After having emptied PUR adhesive , either EVA melt or cleaning agent is put to the container , after which , the emptying of the adhesive container is continued .

[0074] The above -described first aspect , second aspect and third aspect can be implemented in the same top-gluing hot glue binding machine such that , of these , one , two or all three are implemented in the same hot glue binding machine .

[0075] List of drawings

[0076] The top -gluing hot glue binding machine , the container with a scraper and the methods are next described in more detai l by way of illustrative embodiments shown in the attached drawings FIG 4-19 . Of the drawings :

[0077] FIG 1-2 show application of hot melt adhesive onto a spine edge of a sheet stack according to prior art , FIG 1 shows the starting of application of hot melt adhesive ( application into a first direction) and FIG 2 the continuation of application (application into a direction opposite to the first direction) ; FIG 3 shows dripping of hot melt adhesive over the end of a spine edge ;

[0078] FIG 4 shows a hot glue binding machine ;

[0079] FIG 5 shows a receiving unit of an adhesive cartridge ;

[0080] FIG 6 shows an adhesive cartridge and the receiving unit of an adhesive cartridge of FIG 5 ;

[0081] FIG 7 shows an adhesive cartridge installed to the receiving unit of an adhesive cartridge , an appl icator detached;

[0082] FIG 8-12 show a height adj ustment mechanism of an adhesive application roller ;

[0083] FIG 13-14 show application of hot melt adhesive by a height - adj ustable adhesive application roller , FIG 13 shows the starting of application of hot melt adhesive ( application into a first direction) and FIG 14 the continuation of application (application into a direction opposite to the first direction) ;

[0084] FIG 15 shows a rotation mechanism of the adhesive application roller of the hot glue binding machine and a moving mechanism of an adhesive application head;

[0085] FIG 16 - 19 show containers with a scraper for emptying the adhesive container ( for collecting hot melt adhesive ) ; and

[0086] FIG 20 shows emptying the adhesive container .

[0087] The same designations refer to the same technical characteri stics in all figures .

[0088] Detailed description

[0089] I Hot glue binding machine construction

[0090] FIG 4 shows a hot glue binding machine 100 .

[0091] The construction and operating principle of the hot glue binding machine 100 according to the invention are most preferably similar to the one described in the applicant ' s European patent 2832556B1 , apart from changes that wi ll be dealt with in the following .

[0092] However , the hot glue binding machine 100 is possible to implement with a fixed adhesive container , whereby there i s no need for a replaceable adhesive cartridge 26 . The construction and operating principle of such a hot glue binding machine are most preferably similar to the one described in translation publication DE60320638T2 . An adhesive container 22 is then f ixed .

[0093] FIG 5 shows a receiving unit 26 of an adhesive cartridge described in the European patent 2832556B1 . The receiving unit 26 of the adhesive cartridge is located in an adhesive application unit 111 . An adhesive cartridge 20 i s installed to the receiving unit 26 and removed from the receiving unit 26 by an applicator 21 in a way shown in FIG 6 and 7 . After this , the applicator 21 can be detachable .

[0094] As in known top-gluing hot glue binding machines , the hot glue binding machine 100 comprises at least one press for compressing a sheet stack 120 to be bound at a distance from its spine edge 124 such that the spine edge 124 of the sheet stack 120 remains in a gluing position . The press can be implemented in a simple manner e . g . such that a movable pressing bar 102 is lockable with an operating lever 105 . Then , the sheet stack 120 to be bound can be compressed between the pressing bar 102 and a support surface 112 , most preferably not unti l one has made sure that the sheets forming the spine edge 124 of the sheet stack 120 are levelled . This is implemented most cleverly by levelling the spine edge 124 in a way shown in FIG 4 by knocking the sheet stack 120 against the support surface 116 and, only after that , tightening the press . After this , the sheet stack is rotated such that the spine edge 124 turns to the gluing position ( substantially upwards ) and remains there supported .

[0095] Like known top -gluing hot glue binding machines , the hot glue binding machine 100 comprises at least one linear guide 113 and an adhesive application unit 111 movable along the linear guide 113 , which unit includes :

[0096] (a) an adhesive container 22 and a substantial ly longitudinally grooved adhesive application roller 7 installed below the adhesive container 22 , which roller is configured to take hot melt adhesive from the adhesive container 22 and, at the same time , to prevent hot melt adhesive from flowing out of the adhesive container 22 , and / or

[0097] (b) a receiving unit 26 of an adhesive cartridge for receiving such an adhesive cartridge 20 which comprises an adhesive container 22 and a substantially longitudinal ly grooved adhesive application roller 7 installed below the adhesive container 22 , which roller is configured to take hot melt adhesive from the adhesive container 22 and , at the same time , to prevent hot melt adhesive from flowing out of the adhesive container (22 ) ;

[0098] The hot glue binding machine 1 includes a mechanism for rotating the adhesive application roller 7 . The mechani sm for rotating the adhesive application roller 7 can comprise an electric motor 70 movable along with the adhesive application unit 111 . Additionally, the hot glue binding machine 100 comprises an electric control unit which is configured to control the electric motor 70 for adj usting the peripheral speed of the adhesive application rol ler 7 . Alternatively , the mechanism for rotating the adhesive application roller 7 can be implemented in a manner known from prior art ( e . g . form- closed forced rotation always when the adhesive application unit 111 moves ) .

[0099] The hot glue binding machine 1 includes a mechanism for moving the adhesive application unit 111 along the linear guide 113 , whereby the adhesive application roller 7 moves in the lateral direction . Most preferably, the moving mechanism of the adhesive application unit 111 comprises an electric motor 80 and a rotation device 81 for moving a belt 82 . The moving direction of the adhesive application unit 111 can be changed by changing the rotation direction of the electric motor 80 . The belt 82 is most preferably a toothed belt .

[0100] The hot glue binding machine 100 can also preferably comprise a mechani sm for adj usting a relative height position of the adhesive application unit 111 such that a distance between the adhesive application unit 111 and the press is (most preferably automatically) control lable . FIG 8 - 12 show the height adj ustment mechanism of the adhesive application roller . The control unit is connected to control the moving motor of the adhesive application unit 111 (electric motor 80) , the heightadjustment motor of the adhesive application unit 111 (electric motor 54) and the rotation motor moving along the adhesive application unit 111 (electric motor 70) . For this, the control unit includes e.g. a micro controller or processor which sends a separate control signal for controlling each electric motor 80, 54, 70. The control signal determines the rotation direction and speed of the electric motor. The micro controller or processor also monitors pulses given by an encoder of the moving motor (electric motor 80) and controls a brake of the height -adjustment open / closed. Furthermore, the micro controller or processor monitors a signal given by a height sensor (e.g. Hall sensor) .

[0101] The moving motor of the adhesive application unit 111 (electric motor 80) is most preferably a DC motor with an encoder in its shaft.

[0102] The control of the electric motor 80 is most preferably implemented as follows: the control unit controls the electric motor 80 to rotate into a preferred direction with a preferred speed.

[0103] The control unit monitors pulses given by the encoder and knows based on their number the location of the adhesive application unit 111 on the linear guide 113.

[0104] The height-adjustment motor of the adhesive application unit 111 (electric motor 54) is most preferably a step motor. The heightadjustment preferably includes a brake. The most preferable type of the brake is a normally closed brake which can be opened by an electric signal. The brake is opened before driving the electric motor 54 and closed after the driving of the electric motor 54. A spiral 50 preferably includes a magnet, and a Hall sensor is configured to identify the reference level of the height adjustment based on the magnet. The micro controller or processor monitors the signal of the Hall sensor.

[0105] The control of the electric motor 54 is most preferably implemented as follows: the control unit opens the brake, controls the electric motor 54 into a preferred direction (number of steps) and closes the brake. The brake affects most preferably a shaft 55 or a sprocket 56 of the electric motor .

[0106] The control unit records the steps of the step motor and knows based on their number the height position of the adhesive application unit 111 or , in other words , also the height position of the adhesive application roller 7 .

[0107] The control of the rotation motor moving along the adhesive application unit 111 ( electric motor 70 ) is most preferably implemented as follows : the control unit control s the electric motor 70 to rotate into a preferred direction with a preferred speed .

[0108] By means of the programming of the control unit , the top-gluing hot glue binding machine 100 can be automatized .

[0109] Most important items to be automatized are :

[0110] A : Automatic adhesive application wherein the adhesive application unit 111 is moved along the linear guide 113 into a first direction for the travel of the spine edge 124 of the sheet stack 120 being bound and possibly a little more than that . When one layer of adhesive has been applied on the spine edge 124 , the relative height of the adhesive application unit is increased from the spine edge 124 e . g . by lifting the adhesive application unit 111 or by lifting the adhesive application roller 7 (by controlling the brake and the electric motor 54 ) in a way described above , after which , the adhesive application unit 111 is moved along the linear guide 113 into a second direction for the travel of the spine edge 124 of the sheet stack 120 being bound and possibly a little more than that .

[0111] - - The control unit control s the rotation motor ( electric motor 70 ) such that normally the peripheral speed of the adhesive appl ication roller 7 equal s the moving speed of the adhesive application roller 7 on the linear guide 113 . In order to prevent hot melt adhesive 8 from dripping over the ends of the spine edge 124 of the sheet stack 120 , the control unit can ( i ) increase the relative height of the adhesive application unit from the spine edge in the environment of the ends of the spine edge 124 and / or ( i i ) adj ust the rotation motor moving along the adhesive application unit 111 ( electric motor 70 ) to apply less hot melt adhesive by decreasing the peripheral speed of the adhesive application roller 7 in relation to the propagation speed of the adhesive application roller .

[0112] - - By means of the control unit , it is al so sometimes possible to apply more hot melt adhesive by increasing the peripheral speed of the adhesive application roller 7 in relation to the propagation speed of the adhesive application rol ler , that is , by "spinning" the adhesive application roller 7 on the spine edge 124 .

[0113] B : Automatic emptying of adhesive container ( this is described in more detail in IV) .

[0114] II Rotation mechanism of adhesive application roller

[0115] The electric control unit is configured to control the electric motor 70 for adj usting the ratio of the peripheral speed of the adhesive application roller 7 to the moving speed of the adhesive application unit 111 .

[0116] The electric control unit can be configured to control the electric motor 70 for adj usting the peripheral speed lower than the moving speed of the adhesive application unit 111 .

[0117] The electric control unit can be configured to control the electric motor 70 for adj usting the peripheral speed higher than the moving speed of the adhesive application unit 111 .

[0118] The electric control unit can be configured to control the electric motor 70 for adj usting the peripheral speed as zero when the adhesive application unit 111 moves in relation to the linear guide 113 .

[0119] The electric control unit can be configured to control the electric motor 70 for keeping the peripheral speed different from zero when the adhesive application unit 111 remains in place in relation to the linear guide 113 .

[0120] The electric control unit can be configured to control the electric motor 70 for time - scheduled rotation of the adhesive application roller 7 . The control unit can have location data of the adhesive application unit 111 on the linear guide 113 , and the control unit is configured to control the electric motor 70 to adj ust the peripheral speed of the adhesive application roller 7 based on the location data .

[0121] The electric control unit can have location data of the adhesive application unit 111 on the linear guide 113 and measurement data of the sheet stack 120 , and the electric control unit is additionally configured to compare the location data with the measurement data and to control the electric motor 70 to adj ust the peripheral speed of the adhesive application roller 7 based on the comparison result .

[0122] The measurement data of the sheet stack 120 is preferably obtained from a measuring device fitted into connection with the press . On the surface 112 or in a pressing bar 102 , it is possible to fit a linear resistive membrane sensor . The sensor is installed in a recess in the surface 112 at the point of the clamping bar 102 . The sensor is covered in the area of the recess by elastic material , e . g . rubber tape such that the rubber surface is roughly on the same level as the surface 112 . When the sheet stack 120 is compressed between the pressing bar 102 and the support surface 112 , the linear resistive membrane sensor presses for the width of the sheet stack 120 and the sensor gives the electric control unit data on the width of the pressing area (and / or point ) which equal s the measurement data of the sheet stack 120 . Alternatively, the measurement data of the sheet stack 120 can be stored in the electric control unit manually from a user interface , preferably a touch screen , connectable to the device .

[0123] III Height adjustment mechanism

[0124] The hot glue binding machine 100 preferably includes a mechani sm which is conf igured to adj ust the relative height position of the adhesive application unit 111 by adj usting the height of the linear guide 113 .

[0125] FIG 8 shows such a mechanism . The height adj ustment mechanism comprises a rotatable shaft and a spiral 50 connected to the shaft 51 , the rotation of which spiral adj usts the relative height position . In fact , the mechanism can comprise a second spiral 50 fastened to the shaft 51 at a distance from the first spiral 50 , whereby the rotation of both spiral s 50 adj usts the relative height position from both ends of the linear guide 113 . When viewing the hot glue binding machine 100 from the front , the right - side spiral 50 is vi sible in the detail of FIG 7 and the left -hand spiral 50 is visible in FIG 11 . The shaft 51 is preferably arranged rotatable in a form- closed manner . Similarly, the spiral ( s ) 50 are arranged on the shaft most preferably in a formclosed manner such that the rotation of the shaft 51 rotates the spiral or spirals 50 .

[0126] The spiral ( s ) 50 are most preferably conf igured to lift the linear guide 113 along with the arrangement of FIG 8 . The spiral is rotated by controlling the control unit to rotate the electric motor 54 , whereby the shaft 51 rotates with the rotation direction of the motor 54 . FIG 11 shows a possible drive manner of the shaft 51 : the motor 54 rotates a gear 56 via the shaft 55 , which gear rotates a chain 57 , which rotates a gear 58 to which an end 59 of the shaft 51 i s fastened . The combination of the gear and chain enables , by the gear ratio of the gears , an operation range with suitable torque for the electric motor 54 .

[0127] The spiral 50 turns against a roller stand (a counter wheel 53 in a support 52 ) and, as the radius of the spiral increases , lifts a back plate 61 fastened to it and the linear guide 60 along a bearing carriage 64 . Then , the back plate 61 lifts upwards thus lifting the linear guide 113 and the adhesive application head 111 supported to it upwards . The adhesive application head 111 thus lifts upwards in relation to a side support 63 .

[0128] When the spiral is rotated into a second direction ( that is , as the radius of the spiral decreases ) , gravitation presses the adhesive application head 111 and the linear guide 113 as well as the back plate 61 downwards . The adhesive application head 111 then lowers downwards in relation to the side support 63 .

[0129] The electric control unit can be configured to control the electric motor 54 such that , between the successive adhesive applications , the electric motor 54 increases the relative height position of the adhesive application unit 111 such that the di stance between the adhesive application unit 111 and the support surface 116 increases . The electric control unit can be configured to restore the original distance between the adhesive appl ication unit 111 and the support surface 116 after adhesive applications .

[0130] The electric control unit can have location data of the adhesive application unit 111 on the linear guide 113 and it can be configured to control the electric motor for adj usting the height position of the adhesive application unit 111 based on the location data .

[0131] The electric control unit can have measurement data of the sheet stack 120 and the electric control unit can be configured to compare the location data with the measurement data and to control the relative heigh position of the adhesive application unit based on the compari son result .

[0132] The electric control unit can be configured to lower the relative heigh position when the location data shows that the adhesive application unit is in an area between ends 120A, 120B of the sheet stack 120 .

[0133] The electric control unit can be configured to raise the relative heigh position when the location data shows that the adhesive application unit is nearby the ends 120A , 120B of the sheet stack 120 .

[0134] FIG 13 shows the application of hot melt adhesive on the spine edge 124 of the sheet stack 120 being bound . The rotation shaft of the adhesive application roller 7 is during the first appl ication at a distance hl from the spine edge 124 and applies a layer of hot melt adhesive 8 by the above -described contact principle such that the thickness of the layer after stabi lizing becomes tl . After the adhesive application , the adhesive application roller 7 is lifted to an upper position for the next application e . g . such that the rotation shaft of the adhesive application roller 7 is during the second application at a distance h2 from the spine edge 124 and applies a layer of hot melt adhesive 8 by the above -described contact principle . Preferably, the height adj ustment is implemented such that h2 ≤ hl + tl . IV Automatic emptying of adhesive container

[0135] As stated above , the mechani sm of the hot glue binding machine 100 for rotating the adhesive application roller 7 comprises the electric motor 70 movable along with the adhesive application unit 111 . For automatic emptying , the hot glue binding machine 100 comprises the electric control unit which is configured to control the electric motor 70 for rotating the adhesive application roller 7 when the adhesive application unit 111 remains in place in relation to the linear guide 113 . Thi s enables the automatic emptying of the adhesive container 22 .

[0136] Furthermore , the hot glue binding machine 100 preferably comprises a container 200 equipped with a scraper or scrapers 202 for collecting hot melt adhesive to the container 200 . The container 200 can be installed to the hot glue binding machine 100 .

[0137] The scraper or scrapers 202 are in contact with the adhesive application roller 7 when the hot glue binding machine 100 is in the cleaning mode . The scraper or scrapers 202 are configured to wipe adhesive from the grooves of the adhesive appl ication roller 7 ( see FIG 19 and 20 for il lustration of the automatic emptying of the adhesive container) .

[0138] The scraper or scrapers 202 can be most preferably implemented as a partition wall or partition walls of adj acent container parts 201 .

[0139] The electric control unit can be configured to control the electric motor 70 for rotating the adhesive application roller 7 when the adhesive application unit 111 remains in place in relation to the linear guide 113 first into a first direction and then into a second direction .

[0140] The electric control unit can also be configured to control the electric motor 80 for moving the adhesive appl ication unit 111 to a cleaning location position .

[0141] The electric control unit can be configured to control the rotation motor 54 for lowering the adhesive application unit 111 .

[0142] Additionally, the hot glue binding machine 100 comprises an air control system not shown in the figures , which system is configured to suction harmful gases at the point of the adhesive application unit 111 also when the adhesive application unit 111 is in the cleaning location position.

[0143] FIG 16 shows a container 200 equipped with a scraper for receiving hot melt adhesive. The container 200 is made of board or cardboard e.g. by folding. The scraper 292 is a partition wall of adjacent container parts 201.

[0144] Particularly then, it can be preferable to arranged a support 200B for the container 200, which support can be e.g. of plastic or metal. The invention is not limited only to the attached claims but it includes all their legal equivalents and combinations of presented embodiments. Particularly, the characteristics described above as automatically implementable can be implemented applying the "on demand" principle or manually.

[0145] List of used designations

[0146] 1 adhesive head

[0147] 2 adhesive tank

[0148] 12 adhesive channel

[0149] 7 adhesive application rol ler

[0150] 8 hot melt adhesive

[0151] 20 adhesive cartridge

[0152] 21 appl icator

[0153] 22 adhesive container

[0154] 26 adhesive cartridge receiving unit

[0155] 32 torque converter

[0156] 50 spiral

[0157] 51 support shaft

[0158] 52 support

[0159] 53 counter wheel

[0160] 54 rotation motor

[0161] 55 motor rotation shaft

[0162] 56 sprocket

[0163] 57 chain

[0164] 58 sprocket

[0165] 59 support shaft end

[0166] 60 linear guide

[0167] 61 back plate

[0168] 62 fastening piece

[0169] 63 side support

[0170] 64 bearing carriage

[0171] 70 electric motor

[0172] 71 chain

[0173] 72 gear

[0174] 73 shaft

[0175] 80 electric motor

[0176] 81 rotating device

[0177] 82 belt

[0178] 100 top-gluing hot glue binding machine

[0179] 102 pressing bar

[0180] 103 operating lever

[0181] 105 operating lever 28

[0182] 112 turntable

[0183] 107 cable

[0184] 108 control panel

[0185] 109 levelling stop

[0186] 5 110 drip tray

[0187] 111 adhesive application unit

[0188] 112 support surface

[0189] 113 linear guide

[0190] 114 knob

[0191] 10 115 protective cover

[0192] 116 support surface

[0193] 120 sheet stack being bound

[0194] 120A, 120B sheet stack end

[0195] 121 book cover

[0196] 15 124 spine edge

[0197] 200 container with scrape

[0198] 200B support

[0199] 201 container part

[0200] 202 scraper

[0201] 20

Claims

Claims :

1. A top-gluing hot glue binding machine (100) - most preferably a hot glue binding machine according to any one of claims 3-17 and / or 20-29 and / or 34-43 - which comprises:- at least one press (102, 105, 112) for compressing a sheet stack (120) to be bound at a distance from its spine edge (124) such that the spine edge (124) of the sheet stack (120) remains in a gluing position;- at least one linear guide (113) ,-- an adhesive application unit (111) movable along the linear guide (113) , which includes:(a) an adhesive container (22) and a substantially longitudinally grooved adhesive application roller (7) installed below the adhesive container (22) , which roller is configured to take hot melt adhesive from the adhesive container (22) and, at the same time, to prevent hot melt adhesive from flowing out of the adhesive container (22) , and / or(b) a receiving unit (26) of an adhesive cartridge for receiving such an adhesive cartridge (20) which comprises an adhesive container (22) and a substantially longitudinally grooved adhesive application roller (7) installed below the adhesive container (22) , which roller is configured to take hot melt adhesive from the adhesive container (22) and, at the same time, to prevent hot melt adhesive from flowing out of the adhesive container (22) ; and which additionally comprises: a number of mechanisms for controlling the quantity of adhesive to be applied on the spine edge of a book to be bound.

2. A hot glue binding machine (100) according to claim 1, wherein the number of mechanisms for controlling the quantity of adhesive to be applied on the spine edge of a book to be bound comprises:(i) a mechanism for adjusting the relative height position of the adhesive application unit (111) such that a distancebetween the adhesive application unit (111) and the press (102, 112, 105) is controllable - most preferably automatically - for applying more than one layer of adhesive on the spine edge of a book to be bound with successive applications ,- and / or(ii) a mechanism for adjusting the peripheral speed of the adhesive application roller (7) in relation to the moving speed of the adhesive application unit (111) for controlling the quantity of adhesive to be applied on the spine edge of a book to be bound; and / or(iii) a mechanism for rotating the adhesive application roller (7) when the adhesive application unit (111) remains in place for taking the adhesive from the adhesive container also laterally along the spine edge of a book being bound when the movable adhesive application unit remains in place.

3. A top-gluing hot glue binding machine (100) preferably according to claim 1 or 2 - most preferably a hot glue binding machine according to any one of claims 20-29 and / or 34-43 - which comprises:- at least one press (102, 105, 112) for compressing a sheet stack (120) to be bound at a distance from its spine edge (124) such that the spine edge (124) of the sheet stack (120) remains in a gluing position;- at least one linear guide (113) ,-- an adhesive application unit (111) movable along the linear guide (113) , which includes:(a) an adhesive container (22) and a substantially longitudinally grooved adhesive application roller (7) installed below the adhesive container (22) , which roller is configured to take hot melt adhesive from the adhesive container (22) and, at the same time, to prevent hot melt adhesive from flowing out of the adhesive container (22) , and / or(b) a receiving unit (26) of an adhesive cartridge for receiving such an adhesive cartridge (20) which comprises an adhesive container (22) and a substantially longitudinally grooved adhesive application roller (7) installed below the adhesive container (22) , which roller is configured to take hot melt adhesive from the adhesive container (22) and, at the same time, to prevent hot melt adhesive from flowing out of the adhesive container (22) ; characterized in that the hot glue binding machine (100) also comprises a mechanism for adjusting the relative height position of the adhesive application unit (111) such that a distance between the adhesive application unit (111) and the press (102, 112, 105) is controllable, most preferably automatically.

4. A hot glue binding machine (100) according to claim 3, wherein: the mechanism is configured to adjust the relative height position of the adhesive application unit (111) by adjusting the height of the linear guide (113) .

5. A hot glue binding machine (100) according to claim 3 or 4 , wherein: the mechanism comprises a rotatable shaft (51) and a spiral (50) fastened to the shaft (51) , the rotation of which spiral adjusts the relative height position.

6. A hot glue binding machine (100) according to claim 5, wherein: the mechanism comprises spirals (50) fastened to the shaft (51) at a distance from each other, the rotation of which spirals adjusts the relative height position.

7. A hot glue binding machine (100) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein: the shaft (51) is configured to be rotated in a form-closed manner .

8. A hot glue binding machine (100) according to any one of claims 5-7, wherein: a gear is fastened to the shaft (51) .

9. A hot glue binding machine (100) according to any one of claims 5-8, wherein: a motor is configured to rotate the shaft (51) .

10. A hot glue binding machine (100) according to claim 9, wherein: the motor is an electric motor.

11. A hot glue binding machine (100) according to any one of claims 3- 10, which includes: an electric control unit which is configured to control the electric motor such that the electric motor increases between the successive adhesive applications the relative height position of the adhesive application unit (111) such that a distance between the adhesive application unit (11) and a support surface (116) increases .

12. A hot glue binding machine (100) according to claim 11, wherein: the electric control unit is configured to restore the original distance between the adhesive application unit (111) and the support surface (116) after adhesive applications.

13. A hot glue binding machine (100) according to any one of claims 3- 12, which includes: an electric control unit which has location data of the adhesive application unit (111) on the linear guide (113) and which is configured to control the electric motor for adjusting the height position of the adhesive application unit based on the location data .

14. A hot glue binding machine (100) according to claim 13, wherein: the electric control unit has measurement data of the sheet stack (120) and the electric control unit is configured to compare the location data with the measurement data and to control the relative heigh position of the adhesive application unit based on the comparison result.

15. A hot glue binding machine (100) according to claim 14, wherein: the electric control unit is configured to lower the height position when the location data shows that the adhesive application unit is in an area between ends (120A, 120B) of the sheet stack (120) .

16. A hot glue binding machine (100) according to claim 14 or 15, wherein: the electric control unit is configured to raise the relative height position when the location data shows that the adhesive application unit is nearby the end (120A, 120B) of the sheet stack (120) .

17. A hot glue binding machine (100) according to any one of preceding claims 3-16, wherein: the mechanism for adjusting the relative heightposition comprises a brake and a step motor and is configured to open the brake for the driving of the step motor.

18. A method for treating a spine edge (124) of a sheet stack (120) with hot melt adhesive, characterized by: applying hot melt adhesive on the spine edge (124) of the sheet stack (120) by means of an adhesive application roller (7) of a top-gluing hot glue binding machine (100) as successive adhesive applications such that a distance of the adhesive application roller (7) from the spine edge (124) of the sheet stack (120) is increased - most preferably automatically - between the successive adhesive applications.

19. A method for treating a spine edge (124) of a sheet stack (120) with hot melt adhesive, characterized by: applying hot melt adhesive on the spine edge (124) of the sheet stack (120) by means of an adhesive application roller (7) of a top-gluing hot glue binding machine (100) as successive adhesive applications such that the distance of the adhesive application roller (7) from the spine edge (124) of the sheet stack (120) is increased as the adhesive application roller moving on top of the spine edge (124) approaches an end (120A, 120B) of the sheet stack (120) .

20. A top-gluing hot glue binding machine (100) preferably according to claim 1 or 2 - most preferably a hot glue binding machine according to any one of claims 3-17 and / or 34-43 - which comprises:- at least one press (102, 105, 112) for compressing a sheet stack (120) to be bound at a distance from its spine edge (124) such that the spine edge (124) of the sheet stack (120) remains in a gluing position;- at least one linear guide (113) ,-- an adhesive application unit (111) movable along the linear guide (113) , which includes:(a) an adhesive container (22) and a substantially longitudinally grooved adhesive application roller (7) installed below the adhesive container (22) , which roller is configured to take hot melt adhesive from the adhesive container (22) and, at the same time, to prevent hot meltadhesive from flowing out of the adhesive container (22) , and / or(b) a receiving unit (26) of an adhesive cartridge for receiving such an adhesive cartridge (20) which comprises an adhesive container (22) and a substantially longitudinally grooved adhesive application roller (7) installed below the adhesive container (22) , which roller is configured to take hot melt adhesive from the adhesive container (22) and, at the same time, to prevent hot melt adhesive from flowing out of the adhesive container (22) ;- a mechanism for rotating the adhesive application roller (7) ; characterised in that:- the mechanism for rotating the adhesive application roller (7) comprises an electric motor (70) movable along with the adhesive application unit (111) and- the hot glue binding machine comprises an electric control unit which is configured to control the electric motor (70) for adjusting the peripheral speed of the adhesive application roller (7) .

21. A hot glue binding machine (100) according to claim 20, wherein: the electric control unit is configured to control the electric motor (70) to adjust the ratio of the peripheral speed of the adhesive application roller (7) to the moving speed of the adhesive application unit (111) in relation to the linear guide (113) .

22. A hot glue binding machine (100) according to claim 20 or 21, wherein: the electric control unit is configured to control the electric motor (70) to adjust the peripheral speed of the adhesive application roller (7) lower than the moving speed of the adhesive application unit (111) in relation to the linear guide (113) .

23. A hot glue binding machine (100) according to any one of preceding claims 20-22, wherein: the electric control unit is configured to control the electric motor (70) to adjust the peripheral speed of the adhesive application roller (7) higher than the moving speed of the adhesive application unit (111) in relation to the linear guide (113) .

24. A hot glue binding machine (100) according to any one of preceding claims 20-23, wherein: the electric control unit is configured to control the electric motor (70) to adjust the peripheral speed as zero when the adhesive application unit (111) moves in relation to the linear guide (113) .

25. A hot glue binding machine (100) according to any one of preceding claims 20-24, wherein: the electric control unit is configured to control the electric motor (70) to keep the peripheral speed different from zero when the adhesive application unit (111) remains in place in relation to the linear guide (113) .

26. A hot glue binding machine (100) according to any one of preceding claims 20-25, wherein: the electric control unit has location data of the adhesive application unit (111) on the linear guide (113) and the control unit is configured to control the electric motor (70) to adjust the peripheral speed of the adhesive application unit (111) based on the location data.

27. A hot glue binding machine (100) of any one of the preceding claims 20-26, wherein: the electric control unit has location data of the adhesive application unit (111) on the linear guide (113) and measurement data of the sheet stack (120) , and the electric control unit is additionally configured to compare the location data with the measurement data and to control the electric motor (70) to adjust the peripheral speed of the adhesive application roller (7) based on the comparison result.

28. A hot glue binding machine (100) according to claim 26 or 27, wherein the electric control unit is additionally configured to control the heigh position of the adhesive application unit (111) based on the location data or the comparison result.

29. A hot glue binding machine (100) according to any one of preceding claims 20-28, wherein: the electric control unit is configured to control the electric motor (70) for time- scheduled rotation of the adhesive application roller (7) .

30. A method for treating the spine edge of a sheet stack by hot melt adhesive, characterized by: adjusting the application quantity of hot melt adhesive to be applied on the spine edge (124) of the sheet stack(120) by an adhesive application roller (7) of a top-gluing hot glue binding machine (100) by adjusting the ratio between the peripheral speed and the propagation speed of the adhesive application roller (7) .

31. A method according to claim 30, wherein: the peripheral speed of the adhesive application roller (7) is chosen higher than the propagation speed.

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein the peripheral speed of the adhesive application roller (7) is chosen lower than the propagation speed.

33. A method according to claim 30, wherein the peripheral speed of the adhesive application roller (7) is chosen opposite to the propagation speed.

34. A top-gluing hot glue binding machine (100) preferably according to claim 1 or 2 - most preferably a hot glue binding machine according to any one of claims 3-17 and / or 20-29 - which comprises:- at least one linear guide (113) ,-- an adhesive application unit (111) movable along the linear guide (113) , which includes:(a) an adhesive container (22) and a substantially longitudinally grooved adhesive application roller (7) installed below the adhesive container (22) , which roller is configured to take hot melt adhesive from the adhesive container (22) and, at the same time, to prevent hot melt adhesive from flowing out of the adhesive container (22) , and / or(b) a receiving unit (26) of an adhesive cartridge for receiving such an adhesive cartridge (20) which comprises an adhesive container (22) and a substantially longitudinally grooved adhesive application roller (7) installed below the adhesive container (22) , which roller is configured to take hot melt adhesive from the adhesive container (22) and, at the same time, to prevent hot melt adhesive from flowing out of the adhesive container (22) ;- a mechanism for rotating the adhesive application roller (7) ; characterised in that:- the mechanism for rotating the adhesive application roller (7) comprises an electric motor (70) movable along with the adhesive application unit (111) and- the hot glue binding machine comprises an electric control unit which is configured to control the electric motor (70) for rotating the adhesive application roller (7) when the adhesive application unit (111) remains in place in relation to the linear guide (113) .

35. A hot glue binding machine (100) according to claim 34, which additionally comprises a container (200) equipped with a scraper or scrapers (202) for collecting hot melt adhesive to the container.

36. A hot glue binding machine (100) according to claim 35, wherein: the container (200) is installed in the hot glue binding machine (100) .

37. A hot glue binding machine (100) according to claim 34 or 35, wherein: the scraper or scrapers (202) are in contact with the adhesive application roller (7) when the hot glue binding machine (100) is in a cleaning mode.

38. A hot glue binding machine (100) according to claim 37, wherein: the scraper or scrapers (202) are also configured to wipe the grooves of the adhesive application roller (7) .

39. A hot glue binding machine (100) according to any one of claims 34-38, wherein the scraper (202) is a partition wall of adjacent container parts (201) .

40. A hot glue binding machine according to any one of the preceding claims 34-39, wherein: the electric control unit is configured to control the electric motor (70) for rotating the adhesive application roller (7) when the adhesive application unit (111) remains in place in relation to the linear guide (113) first into a first direction and then into a second direction.

41. A hot glue binding machine (100) according to any one of preceding claims 34-40, wherein: the electric control unit is configured to control an electric motor (80) for moving the adhesive application unit (111) to a cleaning location position.

42. A hot glue binding machine (100) according to any one of preceding claims 34-41, wherein: the electric control unit is configured to control a rotation motor (54) for lowering the adhesive application unit (111) .

43. A hot glue binding machine (100) according to any one of preceding claims 34-42, which additionally comprises an air control system which is configured to suction harmful gases at the point of the adhesive application unit (111) also when the adhesive application unit (111) is in the cleaning location position.

44. A container (200) with a scraper for receiving hot melt adhesive.

45. A container (200) according to claim 44, wherein the scraper (202) is a partition wall of adjacent container parts (201) .

46. A container (200) according to any one of claims 44 or 45, which is made of board or cardboard or comprises them.

47. A container (200) according to any one of claims 44-46, which includes several scrapers (202) .

48. A method for emptying an adhesive container (22) of a top-gluing hot glue binding machine, characterized by: emptying the container of the hot glue binding machine containing PUR adhesive by a hot glue binding machine (100) according to any one of preceding claims 34-43 to a container (200) equipped with a scraper according to any one of preceding claims 44-47 such that the scraper (201) is in direct contact with an adhesive application roller (7) and takes from the adhesive application roller (7) hot melt adhesive (8) having adhered to the adhesive application roller (7) to a container (201) .

49. A method according to claim 48, wherein: after having emptied PUR adhesive, putting either EVA melt or cleaning agent to the container, after which, continuing the emptying of the adhesive container.

Images