A book block comprising a plurality of sheets, sheet and a method of binding the book block

Abstract

The present invention relates to book block (7) comprising a plurality of sheets (5), each sheet (5) consisting of two or four printed paper pages (1) of equal size, wherein the four printed paper pages (1) include two first printed pages (1a) and two second printed pages (1b); four sheets of double-sided adhesive material (2), wherein the four adhesive sheets (2) include two first adhesive sheets (2a) and two second adhesive sheets (2b); and a layer of flexible material (3) positioned between the two first printed pages (1a) and the two second printed pages (1b). The two first printed pages (1a) and the two second printed pages (1b) are affixed to both sides of the flexible material (3) by means of the adhesive sheets (2a, 2b), such that a gap (8) is present between the two first printed pages (1a) and the two second printed pages (1b).

Description

[0001] A book block comprising a plurality of sheets, sheet and a method of binding the book block

[0002] Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a sheet, method of binding a book block comprising a plurality of said sheets, and the book block comprising the plurality of sheets.

[0004] Technical Problem

[0005] The invention relates to a sheet and a method of binding sheets into a book block, whereby high-quality colour reproduction and high-resolution image and text rendering are achieved, while preventing damage to the sheet and ensuring its long-term dimensional stability.

[0006] The technical problem to be solved arises from the use of sheets such as metallic giclee paper or similar materials, which must not be bent or folded. The invention therefore seeks to provide a sheet suitable for binding into a book block without bending or folding during the binding process.

[0007] A further aspect of the invention is to enable a turning of sheets within a book block in such a manner that the sheets are not subject to flexing or curvature during the turning, and two sheets remain substantially flat when the book block is opened.

[0008] Background Art

[0009] Binding of books with rigid pages or pages that must not be bent often involves bulky binding components, such as binding rings, which interfere with the book’s ability to open fully.

[0010] U.S. Patent No. 5,340,155 discloses a hardbound book. The book block (paper sheets) is mounted to the book cover such that the spine edge of the block is adhered to an adhesive strip located on the spine. The solution proposed in US 5,340,155 essentially addresses the technical problem of providing a binding system that can be implemented in a typical office environment.

[0011] Document US 2014 / 0068978 A 1 discloses a greeting card made of a flexible material that can be folded and stitched, to which an additional greeting element is adhered.

[0012] GB2484985A discloses a photograph album 1 that includes at least one leaf 3 and mounting means for mounting a photograph on the leaf 3. In particular, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the GB2484985A is a cross section of a double-sided adhesive film mounted on a leaf from the photograph album illustrating adhesive sheet 5 consisting of a first adhesive 13 spread across a first side 11a of the sheet material, layer of a second adhesive 15 spread across a second side 11b of the sheet material 11, a textured filmic release liner 19 that covers the secondadhesive 15. The liner 19 protects the second adhesive 15 until it is ready for use. The liner 19 includes an embossed pattern 21 which is imparted to the second adhesive 15. The liner 19 is provided with a tab 19a to assist user to remove the liner 19 and for mounting the photograph on the second adhesive 15. Technical problem solved by the invention disclosed in GB2484985A is providing a photograph album, including at least one leaf and mounting means for mounting a photograph on the leaf.

[0013] Summary of the Invention

[0014] According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a book block as defined in claim 1. The present invention relates to a book block comprising a plurality of sheets, each sheet comprising two or four printed paper pages of equal dimensions.

[0015] According to one embodiment, two printed paper pages comprising two first printed paper pages.

[0016] According to another embodiment, four printed pages comprising two first printed paper pages and two second printed paper pages.

[0017] According to embodiments of the present invention, a binding a plurality of sheets into a book block is performed by gluing or sewing, in particular in the embodiment with two printed paper pages said binding is performed by gluing, and in the embodiment with four printed paper pages said binding is performed by sewing.

[0018] Each of the plurality of sheets comprises a layer of flexible material, wherein the two first printed paper pages are positioned to an upper surface of the layer of flexible material, or when each of the plurality of sheets comprising four printed paper pages the layer of flexible material is arranged between the two first printed paper pages and the two second printed paper pages. The two first printed paper pages are positioned in parallel and adjacent to each other on an upper surface of the layer of flexible material and when each of the plurality of sheets comprising four printed paper pages the two first printed paper pages are positioned in parallel and adjacent to each other on the upper surface of the layer of flexible material and the two second printed paper pages are positioned in parallel and adjacent to each other on an lower surface of the layer of flexible material, the first and second printed paper pages are positioned to the upper and lower layer of flexible material such that a gap is present on the upper surface of the layer of flexible material between the two first printed paper pages and on the lower surface of the layer of flexible material between the two second printed paper pages.According to embodiments of the present invention, during binding of a plurality of sheets into a book block only a layer of flexible material of each of the plurality of sheets is folded along a gap, wherein an overall size of two paper pages when positioned on the layer of flexible material and the layer of flexible material, including the gap between said two paper pages, is larger than a size of the book block itself, wherein after binding the plurality of sheets into the book block, the book block is cut to an exact size.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a size of a layer of flexible material is such that it at least encompasses a size of two printed paper pages when arranged parallel and adjacent to each other, including a gap between said two pages.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the present invention, each of the plurality of sheets comprising two printed paper pages, the two first printed paper pages are glued to an upper surface of a layer of flexible material. When gluing, a restoration, PH neutral adhesive (glue) is used that will not negatively affect a structure of the printed paper page and layer of flexible material, while being elastic and ensuring good adhesion of the printed paper pages and layer of flexible material.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the present invention, each of the plurality of sheets comprising two printed paper pages, after a layer of flexible material is folded along a gap forming an equal left sided lower surface of the layer of flexible material and right sided lower surface of the layer of flexible material, a binding of a plurality of sheets into a book block is performed in a way that each left sided lower surface of the layer of flexible material of one sheet is glued with each right sided lower surface of the layer of flexible material of a subsequent sheet thus forming the book block.

[0022] According to another embodiment with four printed paper pages, a book block comprises four sheets of double-sided adhesive material intended for gluing said four printed paper pages to the layer of flexible material, including two first double-sided adhesive sheets and two second double-sided adhesive sheets, and a layer of flexible material positioned between the two first printed paper pages and the two second printed paper pages. The two first printed paper pages and the two second printed paper pages are affixed to opposite sides of the flexible material by means of said double-sided adhesive sheets, such that a gap is formed between the first printed paper pages and the second printed paper pages. In this embodiment the sheets of double-sided adhesive material are being of the same size as the four printed paper pages. According to another embodiment with four printed paper pages, two first printed paper pages and two second printed paper pages are glued to opposite sides of a layer of flexible materialby means of by PH neutral adhesive, such that a gap is formed between the first printed paper pages and the second printed paper pages.

[0023] According to another embodiment with four printed paper pages, a size of a gap is such as to allow punching holes in a layer of flexible material to permit a passage of a needle with thread for sewing a plurality of sheets together without causing damage to a two first and second printed paper pages and two first and second sheets of double-sided adhesive material, wherein a plurality of sheets are joined together by sewing along the gap and by means of multiple tapes sewn transversely across the plurality of sheets.

[0024] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of binding a book block comprising a plurality of sheets according to claim 12.

[0025] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet according to claim 24.

[0026] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0027] The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0028] Figure 1 is a perspective view of components of a sheet according to one embodiment of the present invention,

[0029] Figure 2 is a is a cross section of a view of a sheet according to one embodiment of the present invention,

[0030] Figure 3 is a perspective view of components of a book block according to one embodiment of the present invention,

[0031] Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views of a book block according to one embodiment of the present invention

[0032] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the components of a sheet according to another embodiment of the present invention,

[0033] Figure 7 is a cross-section view of a of a sheet according to another embodiment of the present invention, and

[0034] Figure 8 is a perspective view of a book block according to another embodiment of the present invention.Detailed Description of the Invention

[0035] The objective of the present invention is to preserve an integrity of a sheet 5, in particular to preserve the integrity of a printed paper page 1, in such a manner that binding a plurality of sheets 5 into a book block 7 does not compromise or damage in any way a surface structure of the printed paper page 1. One of the most critical areas requiring accurate colour reproduction lies in the field of fine art reproduction, particularly images and artworks, commonly referred to as "giclee" digital printing. This method is widely used for reproducing artworks on specialty papers. In particular, the printed paper page 1 may consist of metallic giclee paper with a coating that must not be bent, folded and / or otherwise modified (e.g., by punching holes for stitching), in order to prevent cracking or damage to the printed colour layer, i.e. the printed paper page 1.

[0036] The term "sheet" or "print sheet", as used herein, refers to a trimmed sheet of paper of a specific format, or a sheet printed as a whole from which a book sheet, book section, or book block is formed.

[0037] In the context of this application, the terms "lower" and "upper" refer to one or another side or surface of a layer of flexible material.

[0038] In the context of this application, the terms "left sided lower surface" and "right sided lower surface" refer to sides of a sheet, or a book block when set or in position for reading.

[0039] Throughout the specification and claims, the terms “same” or “equal” are used interchangeably, said terms meaning having a size that is substantially a same or equal and configured to be at least same or equal to an exact size of the sheet of a book block.

[0040] The invention, illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, relates to the sheet 5, the book block 7, a method of manufacturing each of the plurality of sheets 5, and a method of binding the plurality of sheets 5 into the book block 7 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The invention, illustrated in Figures 6 to 8, relates to the sheet 5, the book block 7, the method of manufacturing the sheet 5, and the method of binding the book block 7 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] The term "book block" is used herein to refer to items such as books, picture books, publications, booklets, brochures, and similar printed products.

[0042] According to embodiments of the present invention, a layer of flexible material 3 is selected from one or more materials including, but not limited to, paper, cardboard, corrugatedfibreboard, plastic, seed paper, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), resin, polyethylene fibers (such as Tyvek®), and similar materials.

[0043] According to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in figures 1 to 5, the book block 7 comprising the plurality of sheets 5 comprises two printed paper pages 1 , wherein the two printed paper pages 1 comprising two first printed paper pages 1a and a layer of flexible material 3, wherein the two first printed paper pages 1a are positioned to an upper surface of the layer of flexible material 3 (illustrated in detail in figures 1 and 2). The two first printed paper pages 1 a are positioned in parallel and adjacent to each other on the upper surface of the layer of flexible material 3 such that a gap 8 between the two first printed paper pages 1a is present on the upper surface of the layer of flexible material 3. During binding of the plurality of sheets 5 into the book block 7 only the layer of flexible material 3 of each of the plurality of sheets 5 is folded along the gap 8, wherein an overall size of said paper pages 1a when positioned on the layer of flexible material 3 and the layer of flexible material 3 including the gap 8 is larger than a size of the book block 7 itself, wherein after binding the plurality of sheets 5 into the book block 7, the book block 7 is cut to an exact size. The two first printed paper pages 1a are glued to the upper surface of the layer of flexible material 3. For gluing two first printed paper pages 1a to the upper surface of the layer of flexible material 3 a restoration, PH neutral adhesive (glue) is used that will not negatively affect a structure of the printed paper page and layer of flexible material, while being elastic and ensuring good adhesion of the printed paper pages and layer of flexible material.

[0044] Figure 2 illustrates a cross-section of the sheet 5. For better illustration of binding of the plurality of sheets 5 into the book block 7, the lower surface of the layer of the flexible material 3 is symmetrically and equally divided along the gap 8 into two lower surfaces, i.e. to an equal left sided lower surface 3b and to equal right sided lower surface 3c. After the layer of flexible material 3 is folded along the gap 8 forming the equal left sided lower surface 3b and equal right sided lower surface 3c of the layer of flexible material 3, the binding of the plurality of sheets 5 into the book block 7 is performed in a way that each right sided lower surface 3c of the layer of flexible material 3 of one sheet 5 is glued with each left sided lower surface 3b of the layer of flexible material 3 of a subsequent sheet 5. Said lower surfaces 3b and 3c may be also mutually glued by the restoration, PH neutral adhesive (glue).

[0045] The size of the gap 8 is selected so as to allow leafing of the book block, without causing cracking or damage to the printed colour layer of the first printed paper pages 1 a and ensuring its long-term dimensional stability.

[0046] The gap 8, for example in a range from 0.5 mm to 1 mm, or equal to or greater than 1 mm.According to another embodiment of the present invention, the sheet 5 configured for binding into the book block 7 comprises four printed paper pages 1 of equal size, including two first printed paper pages 1a and two second printed paper pages 1b.

[0047] According to one embodiment of the present invention, each of the plurality of sheets 5 having the four printed paper pages 1. Figures 6 and 7 illustrate embodiment with four printed pages 1 , in particular figure 7 is a cross-section of the sheet 5 comprising the four printed paper pages 1. The four printed paper pages 1 are glued to the layer of flexible material 3 by means of four sheets of double-sided adhesive material 2. The four sheets of adhesive material 2 consisting of two first sheets of double-sided adhesive material 2a and two second sheets of doublesided adhesive material 2b, the two first sheets of double-sided adhesive material 2a are positioned between the two first printed paper pages 1a and the layer of flexible material 3, and the two second sheets of double-sided adhesive material 2b are positioned between the two second printed paper pages 1b and the layer of flexible material 3.

[0048] The two first printed paper pages 1a are affixed, using the two first sheets of double-sided adhesive material 2a, in a parallel arrangement side-by-side on the upper surface of the layer of flexible material 3. Similarly, the two second printed paper pages 1b are affixed, also using the second sheets of double-sided adhesive material 2b, in a parallel side-by-side arrangement on the lower surface of the layer of flexible material 3.

[0049] The two first printed paper pages 1a are positioned in parallel and adjacent to each other and glued to the upper surface of the layer of flexible material 3, while the two second printed paper pages 1b are likewise positioned in parallel and adjacent to each other and glued to the lower surface of the flexible material layer 3, such that the gap 8 is arranged on each upper and lower surface of the layer of flexible material 3 between the two first printed paper pages 1a and between the two second printed paper pages 1b.

[0050] The dimensions of the layer of flexible material 3 are such that they encompass at least the area of the two first printed paper pages 1a or two second printed paper pages 1b, laid side-by-side, together with the gap 8 between said pages.

[0051] The combined dimensions of the two first printed paper pages 1a, two second printed paper pages 1b, the two first adhesive sheets 2a, the two second adhesive sheets 2b, and the layer of flexible material 3 are greater than the final size of two printed paper pages 1 arranged in parallel and adjacent to each other within the finished book block 7, as the book block 7 is trimmed to its final dimensions after sewing.The size of the gap 8 is selected so as to allow holes to be punched through the layer of flexible material 3 for passage of a sewing needle and thread 4 used for stitching multiple sheets 5, without causing damage to the first and second printed paper pages 1.

[0052] The gap 8, for example in a range from 0.5 mm to 1 mm, or equal to or greater than 1 mm, is provided to enable the stitching of multiple sheets 5 together. This gap 8 is necessary to allow the formation of holes through which the needle and thread 4 may pass during sewing, without damaging the printed paper pages 1.

[0053] The layer of flexible material 3 currently used for this technique is Tyvek®, which is typically white in colour. Tyvek® accepts acrylic and water-based paints well, and may be coloured along the central area either before or after the paper sheets are adhered, in order to eliminate the appearance of a white line between the printed pages in certain cases.

[0054] The present invention relates to a method of binding a book block 7 comprising a plurality of sheets 5 wherein each sheet 5 is manufactured by the following steps.

[0055] According to the present method, two or four printed paper pages 1, four sheets of doublesided adhesive material 2 (e.g., double-sided tape), and one layer of flexible material 3 (e.g., Tyvek®) are first cut to a slightly bigger dimension than the dimension of the book block 7. The layer of flexible material 3 must be slightly larger than the area covered by two printed paper pages 1 arranged side-by-side, with a gap 8 between them, said gap being required to allow for stitching and binding the plurality sheets 5.

[0056] According to the present invention, the method of binding the book block 7 comprising the plurality of sheets 5 wherein each sheet 5 is manufactured by the following steps:

[0057] a. cutting of two or four printed paper pages 1 , wherein the two printed paper pages 1 comprises two first printed paper pages 1a, and the four printed pages 1 comprises the two first printed paper pages 1a and two second printed paper pages 1b,

[0058] b. cutting a single layer of flexible material 3 to a size that it at least encompasses a size of two printed pages 1 and a gap 8, and,

[0059] c. positioning the two first printed paper pages 1a in parallel and adjacent to each other on an upper surface of the layer of flexible material 3 such that the gap 8 is present on an upper surface of the layer of flexible material 3 between the two first printed paper pages 1a, and when each of the plurality of sheets 5 comprising four printed paper pages 1 positioning the two second printed paper pages 1b in parallel and adjacent to each other on an lower surface of the layerof flexible material 3, performing the positioning of the first and second printed paper pages 1a, 1b to the upper and lower layer of flexible material 3 such that the gap 8 is present on the upper surface of the layer of flexible material 3 between the two first printed paper pages 1 and on the lower surface of the layer of flexible material 3 between the two second printed paper pages 1b. Binding of the plurality of sheets 5 into the book block 7 is performed by folding only the layer of flexible material 3 of each of the plurality of sheets 5 along the gap 8 and mutually gluing or sewing the plurality of sheets 5, wherein an overall size of the four printed paper pages 1 when positioned on the layer of flexible material 3 and the layer of flexible material 3 is larger than a size of the book block 7 itself, wherein after binding the plurality of sheets 5 into the book block 7, cutting the book block 7 to an exact size.

[0060] When each of the plurality of sheets 5 comprising two printed paper pages 1 , the method comprises gluing of the two first printed paper pages 1a to the upper surface of the layer of flexible material 3.

[0061] Further, when each of the plurality of sheets 5 comprising two printed paper pages 1, the method comprises folding the layer of flexible material 3 along the gap 8 thus forming a left sided lower surface 3b and equal right sided lower surface 3c of the layer of flexible material 3, and binding of the plurality of sheets 5 into the book block 7 in a way that each right sided lower surface 3c of the layer of flexible material 3 of one sheet 5 is glued with each left sided lower surface 3b of the layer of flexible material 3 of a subsequent sheet 5.

[0062] When each of the plurality of sheets 5 comprises four printed paper pages 1 , the method comprises cutting of four sheets of double-sided adhesive material 2 intended for gluing said four printed paper pages 1 to the layer of flexible material 3, said four sheets of adhesive material 2 comprising two first sheets of double-sided adhesive material 2a and two second sheets of double-sided adhesive material 2b, and positioning the two first sheets of doublesided adhesive material 2a between the two first printed paper pages 1a and the layer of flexible material 3, and positioning of the two second sheets of double-sided adhesive material 2b between the two second printed paper pages 1b and the layer of flexible material 3 such that the layer of flexible material 3 is positioned between two first sheets of double-sided adhesive material 2a and two second sheets of double-sided adhesive material 2b.

[0063] Cutting of each of the sheets of double-sided adhesive material 2 to a size that it at least encompasses the size of one printed paper page 1. Also, cutting the layer of flexible material 3 is such that it at least encompasses the size of two printed paper pages 1 when arranged parallel and adjacent to each other, including the gap 8 between said two pages 1.The method further comprises gluing the two first printed paper pages 1a, by means of the two first sheets of double-sided adhesive material 2a, parallel and adjacent to each other to the upper surface of the layer of flexible material 3, and gluing the two second printed paper pages 1b, by means of the two second sheets of double-sided adhesive material 2b, parallel and adjacent to each other to the lower surface of the layer of flexible material 3.

[0064] According to yet another embodiment, the method further comprises gluing the two first printed paper pages 1a, by means of a restoration PH neutral adhesive, parallel and adjacent to each other to the upper surface of the layer of flexible material 3, and gluing the two second printed paper pages 1b, by means of the restoration PH neutral adhesive, parallel and adjacent to each other to the lower surface of the layer of flexible material 3.

[0065] In another embodiment, the method comprises punching holes in the layer of flexible material 3 along the gap 8 and sewing the plurality of sheets 5 together without causing damage to the two first and second printed paper pages 1a; 1b and said sheets of adhesive material 2a; 2b, wherein the plurality of sheets 5 are mutually sewed along the gap 8 and by means of a plurality of tapes 6 sewn transversely across the plurality of sheets 5.

[0066] When gluing the two first printed paper pages 1a and the two second printed paper pages 1b by means of a restoration PH neutral adhesive, the method comprises punching holes in the layer of flexible material 3 along the gap 8 and sewing the plurality of sheets 5 together without causing damage to the two first and second printed paper pages 1a; 1b, wherein the plurality of sheets 5 are mutually sewed along the gap 8 and by means of the plurality of tapes 6 sewn transversely across the plurality of sheets 5.

[0067] The size of the gap 8 is in a range from 0.5 mm to 1 mm, preferably 1 mm.

[0068] In the embodiment wherein each sheet 5 has four printed paper pages 1 , the two first printed paper pages 1a are affixed to one upper surface of the layer of flexible material 3 using the two first sheets of double-sided adhesive material 2a or the restoration PH neutral adhesive, in the following manner: first, one of the first adhesive sheets 2a is applied to the first printed paper page 1a. This assembly is then adhered to the layer of flexible material 3. Subsequently, the second of the first printed paper pages 1a, which has been previously joined to the remaining first adhesive sheet 2a, is placed and adhered to the same surface of the layer of flexible material 3, parallel and adjacent to the first printed paper page 1a. Care is taken to ensure that the two first printed paper pages 1a are arranged side-by-side in parallel, with the gap 8 between them. The same process is then repeated on the opposite surface of the layer of flexible material 3, whereby the remaining two second printed paper pages 1b and the two second adhesive sheets 2b are applied in the same manner, thereby forming a single sheet 5.The layer of flexible material 3 is cut to a size that at least encompasses the combined area of two printed paper pages 1 arranged side-by-side in parallel, including the gap 8 between the two pages 1.

[0069] Furthermore, the overall size of the two first printed paper pages 1a, the two second printed paper pages 1b, the two first adhesive sheets 2a, the two second adhesive sheets 2b, and the layer of flexible material 3 is larger than the size of the two printed paper pages 1 within the finished book block 7.

[0070] The size of the gap 8 is such that it allows holes to be punched through the layer of flexible material 3 to enable the passage of the sewing needle and thread 4 for stitching the plurality of sheets 5 together, without causing damage to the first and second printed paper pages 1a, 1b.

[0071] The finished sheet 5 is trimmed or cut to the final exact size of the book block 7.

[0072] Depending on the number of printed paper pages in the book or book block 7, the remaining sheets 5 are produced. Along the gap 8, where only the layer of flexible material 3 is present, each sheet 5 is folded, folding only the layer of flexible material 3. Thus, obtained sheets 5 are sewn together by standard bookbinding sewing techniques using tapes 6. Cotton tapes 6 and linen thread 4 are employed, consistent with restoration bookbinding standards.

[0073] The gap 8 serves to facilitate the stitching of the sheets 5 together without damaging the four printed paper pages 1.

[0074] In the embodiment wherein each sheet 5 has two printed paper pages 1, the two first printed paper pages 1a are affixed to one upper surface of the layer of flexible material 3 using the restoration PH neutral adhesive, in the following manner: first, the restauration PH neutral glue is applied to the first printed paper page 1a and then adhered to the layer of flexible material 3. Subsequently, the second of the first printed paper pages 1a is glued and adhered to the same surface of the layer of flexible material 3, parallel and adjacent to the first printed paper page 1a. Care is taken to ensure that the two first printed paper pages 1a are arranged side-by-side in parallel, with the gap 8 between them.

[0075] The layer of flexible material 3 is cut to the size that at least encompasses the combined area of two first printed paper pages 1a arranged side-by-side in parallel, including the gap 8 between the two first printed paper pages 1a.

[0076] Furthermore, the overall size of the two first printed paper pages 1a and the layer of flexible material 3 is larger than the size of the two first printed paper pages 1a within the finished book block 7.The finished sheet 5 is trimmed or cut to the final exact size of the book block 7. Depending on the number of printed paper pages in the book or book block 7, the remaining sheets 5 are produced. Along the gap 8, where only the layer of flexible material 3 is present, each sheet 5 is folded, folding only the layer of flexible material 3. Thus, obtained sheets 5 are glued together into the book block 7 in the following way: each right sided lower surface 3c of the layer of flexible material 3 of one sheet 5 is glued with each left sided lower surface 3b of the layer of flexible material 3 of a subsequent sheet 5.

[0077] The present invention further relates to the sheet 5 (illustrated in detail figs 1 to 2 and 6 and 7) configured for binding into the book block 7 comprising a plurality of sheets 5. The sheet 5 consists of two or four printed paper pages 1, wherein the two printed paper pages 1 comprising two first printed paper pages 1a, and the four printed pages 1 comprising two first printed paper pages 1a and two second printed paper pages 1b, a layer of flexible material 3, wherein the two first printed paper pages 1a are positioned to an upper surface of the layer of flexible material 3, or when each of the plurality of sheets 5 comprising four printed paper pages 1 the layer of flexible material 3 is arranged between the two first printed paper pages 1a and the two second printed paper pages 1b, and a gap 8 arranged between said printed paper pages 1, wherein only the layer of flexible material 3 of each of the plurality of sheets 5 is folded along the gap 8.

[0078] The two first printed paper pages 1a are positioned in parallel and adjacent to each other on the upper surface of the layer of flexible material 3 and when each of the plurality of sheets 5 comprising four printed paper pages 1 the two first printed paper pages 1a are positioned in parallel and adjacent to each other on the upper surface of the layer of flexible material 3 and the two second printed paper pages 1b are positioned in parallel and adjacent to each other on an lower surface of the layer of flexible material 3, the first and second printed paper pages 1a, 1b are positioned to the upper and lower surfaces of the layer of flexible material 3 such that the gap 8 is arranged between the two first printed paper pages 1a and between the two second printed paper pages 1b.

[0079] When each of the plurality of sheets 5 comprising two printed paper pages 1, the two first printed paper pages 1a are glued to the upper surface of the layer of flexible material 3. After the layer of flexible material 3 is folded along the gap 8 forming an equal left sided lower surface 3b and equal right sided lower surface 3c of the layer of flexible material 3, the binding of the plurality of sheets 5 into the book block 7 is performed in a way that each right sided lower surface 3c of the layer of flexible material 3 of one sheet 5 is glued with each left sided lower surface 3b of the layer of flexible material 3 of a subsequent sheet 5. The sheet 5 consistingof the four printed paper pages 1 are glued by means of four sheets of double-sided adhesive material 2 to the layer of flexible material 3. The four sheets of adhesive material 2 consist of two first sheets of double-sided adhesive material 2a and two second sheets of double-sided adhesive material 2b, the two first sheets of double-sided adhesive material 2a are positioned between the two first printed paper pages 1a and the layer of flexible material 3, and the two second sheets of double-sided adhesive material 2b are positioned between the two second printed paper pages 1b and the layer of flexible material 3.

[0080] In another embodiment, the four printed paper pages 1 are glued to the layer of flexible material 3 by a restoration PH neutral adhesive. The four sheets of double-sided adhesive material 2 are being of the same size as the four printed paper pages 1. Further, the two first printed paper pages 1a are glued, by means of the two first sheets of double-sided adhesive material 2a, parallel and adjacent to each other to the upper surface 3d, 3f of the layer of flexible material 3, and the two second printed paper pages 1b are glued, by means of the two second sheets of double-sided adhesive material 2b, parallel and adjacent to each other to the lower surface 3b, 3c of the layer of flexible material 3. The size of the layer of flexible material 3 is such that it at least encompasses the size of two printed paper pages 1 when arranged parallel and adjacent to each other, including the gap 8 between said two paper pages 1.

[0081] The layer of flexible material 3 is selected from one or more materials such as fiberboard, plastic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), resin, or polyethylene fibers.

[0082] The size of the gap (8) is in a range from 0.5 mm to 1 mm.

[0083] The present invention solves the problem of damage to metallic giclee paper, but can also be applied to other types of paper as needed, in order to prevent bending or cracking of the paper surface or the printed colour layer.

[0084] Tyvek® is used as the layer of flexible material because it is sufficiently thin so as not to significantly affect the thickness of the sheet 5 and, consequently, of the final book or book block 7, while at the same time being strong and flexible enough to allow folding and piercing for the purpose of stitching the sheets. Other materials may also be used, provided that they are flexible, thin, yet strong and durable.

[0085] Double-sided adhesive tape is currently the most suitable technique for adhering paper to the Tyvek® material, as it ensures even adhesion without absorption and without causing the paper to warp. It also adds additional support, strength, and flexibility to the pages. Other adhesion or lamination techniques may also be used, provided that they do not cause thepaper to warp or the adhesive to be absorbed in a way that would damage the paper and / or the printed colour layer.

[0086] Reference Signs List:

[0087] 1. Printed paper pages

[0088] la. First printed pages

[0089] lb. Second printed pages

[0090] 2. Adhesive or adhesive material or double-sided adhesive material

[0091] 2a. Two first sheets of double-sided adhesive material

[0092] 2b. Two second sheets of double-sided adhesive material

[0093] 3. layer of flexible material

[0094] 3b, 3c lower surface of the layer of flexible material

[0095] 3d, 3f upper surface of the layer of flexible material

[0096] 4. Thread

[0097] 5. Sheet

[0098] 6. Tape

[0099] 7. Book block

[0100] 8. Gap

Claims

Claims1. A book block (7) comprising a plurality of sheets (5), characterized in that each of the plurality of sheets (5) consisting of:- two or four printed paper pages (1), wherein the two printed paper pages (1) comprising two first printed paper pages (1a), and the four printed pages (1) comprising two first printed paper pages (1a) and two second printed paper pages (1b), and- a layer of flexible material (3), wherein the two first printed paper pages (1a) are positioned to an upper surface of the layer of flexible material (3), or when each of the plurality of sheets (5) comprising four printed paper pages (1) the layer of flexible material (3) is arranged between the two first printed paper pages (1a) and the two second printed paper pages (1b),wherein the two first printed paper pages (1a) are positioned in parallel and adjacent to each other on the upper surface of the layer of flexible material (3) and when each of the plurality of sheets (5) comprising four printed paper pages (1) the two first printed paper pages (1a) are positioned in parallel and adjacent to each other on the upper surface of the layer of flexible material (3) and the two second printed paper pages (1b) are positioned in parallel and adjacent to each other on an lower surface of the layer of flexible material (3), the first and second printed paper pages (1a, 1b) are positioned to the upper and lower surfaces of the layer of flexible material (3) such that a gap (8) is arranged between the two first printed paper pages (1a) and between the two second printed paper pages (1b), andwherein during binding of the plurality of sheets (5) into the book block (7) only the layer of flexible material (3) of each of the plurality of sheets (5) is folded along the gap (8), wherein an overall size of said paper pages (1a, 1b) when positioned on the layer of flexible material (3) and the layer of flexible material (3) including the gap (8) is larger than a size of the book block (7) itself, wherein after binding the plurality of sheets (5) into the book block (7), the book block (7) is cut to an exact size.

2. The book block (7) according to claim 1, wherein when each of the plurality of sheets (5) comprising two printed paper pages (1), the two first printed paper pages (1a) are glued to the upper surface of the layer of flexible material (3).

3. The book block (7) according to claims 1 and 2, wherein after the layer of flexible material (3) is folded along the gap (8) forming an equal left sided lower surface (3b)and equal right sided lower surface (3c) of the layer of flexible material (3), the binding of the plurality of sheets (5) into the book block (7) is performed in a way that each right sided lower surface (3c) of the layer of flexible material (3) of one sheet (5) is glued with each left sided lower surface (3b) of the layer of flexible material (3) of a subsequent sheet (5).

4. The book block (7) according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of sheets (5) having the four printed paper pages (1), said four printed paper pages (1) are glued by means of four sheets of double-sided adhesive material (2) to the layer of flexible material (3), said four sheets of adhesive material (2) consist of two first sheets of double-sided adhesive material (2a) and two second sheets of double-sided adhesive material (2b), the two first sheets of double-sided adhesive material (2a) are positioned between the two first printed paper pages (1a) and the layer of flexible material (3), and the two second sheets of double-sided adhesive material (2b) are positioned between the two second printed paper pages (1b) and the layer of flexible material (3).

5. The book block (7) according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of sheets (5) having the four printed paper pages (1), said four printed paper pages (1) are glued to the layer of flexible material (3) by a restoration PH neutral adhesive.

6. The book block (7) according to claim 4, wherein the four sheets of double-sided adhesive material (2) are being of the same size as the four printed paper pages (1).

7. The book block (7) according to claim 4, wherein the two first printed paper pages (1a) are glued, by means of the two first sheets of double-sided adhesive material (2a), parallel and adjacent to each other to the upper surface (3d, 3f) of the layer of flexible material (3), and the two second printed paper pages (1b) are glued, by means of the two second sheets of double-sided adhesive material (2b), parallel and adjacent to each other to the lower surface (3b, 3c) of the layer of flexible material (3).

8. The book block (7) according to claim 1 wherein, the size of the layer of flexible material (3) is such that it at least encompasses the size of two printed paper pages (1) when arranged parallel and adjacent to each other, including the gap (8) between said two paper pages (1).

9. The book block (7) according to claim 4, wherein a size of the gap (8) is such as to allow punching holes in the layer of flexible material (3) to permit the passage of a needle with thread (4) for sewing the plurality of sheets (5) together without causing damage to the two first and second printed paper pages (1a, 1b) and said sheets ofadhesive material (2a, 2b), wherein the plurality of sheets (5) are joined together by sewing along the gap (8) and by means of a plurality of tapes (6) sewn transversely across the plurality of sheets (5).

10. The book block (7) according to any of previous clams, wherein the size of the gap (8) is in a range from 0.5 mm to 1 mm.

11. The book block (7) according to any of previous clams, wherein the layer of flexible material (3) is selected from of one or more materials such as fiberboard, plastic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), resin, or polyethylene fibers.

12. A method of binding a book block (7) according to claims 1 to 11, the book block (7) comprising a plurality of sheets (5) wherein each sheet (5) is manufactured by the following steps:a. cutting of two or four printed paper pages (1), wherein the two printed paper pages (1) comprises two first printed paper pages (1a), and the four printed pages (1) comprises the two first printed paper pages (1a) and two second printed paper pages (1 b),b. cutting a single layer of a flexible material (3) to a size that it at least encompasses a size of two printed paper pages (1) and a gap (8), and c. positioning the two first printed paper pages (1a) in parallel and adjacent to each other on an upper surface of the layer of flexible material (3) such that the gap (8) is present on the upper surface of the layer of flexible material (3) between the two first printed paper pages (1a), and when each of the plurality of sheets (5) comprising four printed paper pages (1) positioning the two second printed paper pages (1b) in parallel and adjacent to each other on an lower surface of the layer of flexible material (3), performing the positioning of the first and second printed paper pages (1a, 1 b) to the upper and lower layer of flexible material (3) such that the gap (8) is present on the upper surface of the layer of flexible material (3) between the two first printed paper pages (1a) and on the lower surface of the layer of flexible material (3) between the two second printed paper pages (1b), wherein binding of the plurality of sheets (5) into the book block (7) is performed by folding only the layer of flexible material (3) of each of the plurality of sheets (5) along the gap (8) and mutually gluing or sewing the plurality of sheets (5), wherein an overall size of the four printed paper pages (1) when positioned on the layer offlexible material (3) and the layer of flexible material (3) is larger than a size of the book block (7) itself, wherein after binding the plurality of sheets (5) into the book block (7), cutting the book block (7) to an exact size.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein when each of the plurality of sheets (5) comprising two printed paper pages (1), the method comprises gluing of the two first printed paper pages (1a) to the upper surface of the layer of flexible material (3).

14. The method according to claims 12 and 13, wherein further performing:a. folding the layer of flexible material (3) along the gap (8) thus forming a left sided lower surface (3b) and equal right sided lower surface (3c) of the layer of flexible material (3), andb. binding of the plurality of sheets (5) into the book block (7) in a way that each right sided lower surface (3c) of the layer of flexible material (3) of one sheet (5) is glued with each left sided lower surface (3b) of the layer of flexible material (3) of a subsequent sheet (5).

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein when each of the plurality of sheets (5) comprises four printed paper pages (1), the method comprises cutting of four sheets of double-sided adhesive material (2) intended for gluing said four printed paper pages (1) to the layer of flexible material (3), said four sheets of adhesive material (2) comprising two first sheets of double-sided adhesive material (2a) and two second sheets of double-sided adhesive material (2b), and positioning the two first sheets of double-sided adhesive material (2a) between the two first printed paper pages (1a) and the layer of flexible material (3), and positioning of the two second sheets of double-sided adhesive material (2b) between the two second printed paper pages (1 b) and the layer of flexible material (3) such that the layer of flexible material (3) is positioned between two first sheets of double-sided adhesive material (2a) and two second sheets of double-sided adhesive material (2b).

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein comprising cutting each of the sheets of double-sided adhesive material (2) to a size that it at least encompasses the size of one printed paper page (1).

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein comprises gluing the two first printed paper pages (1a), by means of the two first sheets of double-sided adhesive material (2a), parallel and adjacent to each other to the upper surface of the layerof flexible material (3), and gluing the two second printed paper pages (1b), by means of the two second sheets of double-sided adhesive material (2b), parallel and adjacent to each other to the lower surface of the layer of flexible material (3).

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein comprises gluing the two first printed paper pages (1a), by means of a restoration PH neutral adhesive, parallel and adjacent to each other to the upper surface of the layer of flexible material (3), and gluing the two second printed paper pages (1b), by means the restoration PH neutral adhesive, parallel and adjacent to each other to the lower surface of the layer of flexible material (3).

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein comprising cutting the layer of flexible material (3) such that it at least encompasses the size of two printed paper pages (1) when arranged parallel and adjacent to each other, including the gap (8) between said two pages (1).

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein comprising punching holes in the layer of flexible material (3) along the gap (8) and sewing the plurality of sheets (5) together without causing damage to the two first and second printed paper pages (1a, 1b) and said sheets of adhesive material (2a, 2b), wherein the plurality of sheets (5) are mutually sewed along the gap (8) and by means of a plurality of tapes (6) sewn transversely across the plurality of sheets (5).

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein comprising punching holes in the layer of flexible material (3) along the gap (8) and sewing the plurality of sheets (5) together without causing damage to the two first and second printed paper pages (1a; 1b), wherein the plurality of sheets (5) are mutually sewed along the gap (8) and by means of the plurality of tapes (6) sewn transversely across the plurality of sheets (5).

22. The method according to any of clams 12 to 21, wherein the size of the gap (8) is in a range from 0.5 mm to 1 mm.

23. The method according to any of clams 12 to 21, wherein the size of the gap (8) is 1 mm.

24. A sheet (5) configured for binding into a book block comprising a plurality of sheets (5) according to claims 1 to 11, characterized by that consists of:- two or four printed paper pages (1), wherein the two printed paper pages (1) comprising two first printed paper pages (1a), and the four printed pages (1)comprising two first printed paper pages (1a) and two second printed paper pages (1b),- a layer of flexible material (3), wherein the two first printed paper pages (1 a) are positioned to an upper surface of the layer of flexible material (3), or when each of the plurality of sheets (5) comprising four printed paper pages (1) the layer of flexible material (3) is arranged between the two first printed paper pages (1a) and the two second printed paper pages (1b), and- a gap (8) arranged between said printed paper pages (1), wherein only the layer of flexible material (3) of each of the plurality of sheets (5) is folded along the gap (8),wherein the two first printed paper pages (1a) are positioned in parallel and adjacent to each other on the upper surface of the layer of flexible material (3) and when each of the plurality of sheets (5) comprising four printed paper pages (1) the two first printed paper pages (1a) are positioned in parallel and adjacent to each other on the upper surface of the layer of flexible material (3) and the two second printed paper pages (1b) are positioned in parallel and adjacent to each other on an lower surface of the layer of flexible material (3), the first and second printed paper pages (1a, 1b) are positioned to the upper and lower surfaces of the layer of flexible material (3) such that the gap (8) is arranged between the two first printed paper pages (1a) and between the two second printed paper pages (1b).

25. The sheet (5) according to claim 24, wherein when each of the plurality of sheets (5) comprising two printed paper pages (1), the two first printed paper pages (1a) are glued to the upper surface of the layer of flexible material (3).

26. The sheet (5) according to claims 24 and 25, wherein after the layer of flexible material (3) is folded along the gap (8) forming an equal left sided lower surface (3b) and equal right sided lower surface (3c) of the layer of flexible material (3), the binding of the plurality of sheets (5) into the book block (7) is performed in a way that each right sided lower surface (3c) of the layer of flexible material (3) of one sheet (5) is glued with each left sided lower surface (3b) of the layer of flexible material (3) of a subsequent sheet (5).

27. The sheet (5) according to claim 24, wherein the four printed paper pages (1) are glued by means of four sheets of double-sided adhesive material (2) to the layer of flexible material (3), said four sheets of adhesive material (2) consist of two firstsheets of double-sided adhesive material (2a) and two second sheets of doublesided adhesive material (2b), the two first sheets of double-sided adhesive material (2a) are positioned between the two first printed paper pages (1a) and the layer of flexible material (3), and the two second sheets of double-sided adhesive material (2b) are positioned between the two second printed paper pages (1b) and the layer of flexible material (3).

28. The sheet (5) according to claim 24, wherein four printed paper pages (1) are glued to the layer of flexible material (3) by a restoration PH neutral adhesive.

29. The sheet (5) according to claim 24, wherein the size of the gap (8) is in a range from 0.5 mm to 1 mm.

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