Book Block Insert Sheet Thinned Bending Zone

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing book binding methods, such as sewing and block binding, limit flexibility and increase restoring forces when opening pages, especially with a large number of pages, making it difficult to open and potentially causing stress on the binding.

Innovation Solution

A method involving insert sheets with thinned areas and a separation zone, formed by a bead, which are connected via a crosslinking zone using a potting material to create a book spine, allowing for greater flexibility and reduced restoring forces when opening pages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a large number of pages are bound together using conventional sewing or block binding methods, then the book block can accommodate more pages, but the restoring forces increase making it difficult to open the pages

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of pagesVSAvoidrestoring forces
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the binding structure into distinct functional zones: a bending zone with reduced thickness that allows page separation, and a cross-linking zone that provides structural support. This segmentation enables the book block to accommodate many pages while the bending zone reduces restoring forces by creating a flexible separation area between pages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different structural properties to different regions of the book block. The bending zone has reduced thickness and different mechanical properties compared to the cross-linking zone, allowing local flexibility where needed while maintaining overall structural integrity. This local quality differentiation enables easy page opening without compromising the binding strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If conventional binding methods are used to join a large number of pages, then the book block maintains structural integrity, but flexibility is reduced making it hard to open individual pages

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidflexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The binding is segmented into a bending zone for flexibility and a cross-linking zone for structural integrity. The bending zone allows individual page separation and flexibility, while the cross-linking zone maintains the overall stability and composition of the book block structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different structural qualities are applied locally: the bending zone has reduced thickness for flexibility, while the cross-linking zone has full thickness and stronger bonding for structural integrity. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between overall stability and local adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If pages are bound with uniform thickness throughout, then manufacturing is simplified, but restoring forces increase when opening pages

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidrestoring forces
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality variation by creating a bending zone with reduced thickness adjacent to the separation zone, while maintaining uniform thickness in the cross-linking zone. This can be achieved through localized compression or selective material application, balancing manufacturing simplicity with the need to reduce restoring forces in specific areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The uniform structure is segmented into zones with different thickness characteristics. The bending zone has reduced thickness to lower restoring forces, while the cross-linking zone maintains uniform thickness for structural support. This segmentation allows selective modification of mechanical properties without completely redesigning the manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If a groove is introduced to create a separation zone, then flexibility and ease of opening pages is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of opening pagesVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The groove forming operation is performed as a preliminary step during the binding process itself, rather than as a separate post-processing step. The compression tool that applies pressure to create the thinned area simultaneously forms the groove, integrating multiple functions into one operation and reducing overall manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The groove formation is merged with the compression process that creates the thinned area. The same compression tool and process that reduces the thickness to create the bending zone also forms the separation groove, combining two structural modifications into a single manufacturing operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method enables easy opening of pages with low restoring forces, even with a large number of pages, by creating a flexible joint through the bending and separation zones, while maintaining the structural integrity of the book block.

Implementation Method 1

the insert sheet consists of a single page which is compressed in a marginal area adjacent to a side edge of the single page using a compression tool, thus creating the thinned area

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

A potting compound is applied to the cross-linking zone of the insert sheets, which are then positioned one on top of the other in a mold, so that the insert sheets are joined together in the mold by a spine to form a book block

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesive bonding: Adhesive

Implementation Method 3

A separation zone, in the form of a groove, is incorporated into the thinned area of the insert sheet, dividing this area into a bending zone and a cross-linking zone

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGeometric separation: Geometry

Data Source

PatentEP3297844B1Process for manufacturing book blocks, in particular for a booklike document as well as an interleaf and a book block
Publication Date: 2019.02.27 BUNDESDRUCKEREI GMBH
  • EP3297844B1 patent drawingFigure 1~5
  • EP3297844B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7
  • EP3297844B1 patent drawingFigure 8

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for producing a book block (16), in particular for a book-like document (11) and to an insert sheet (15) which has an individual page (27) with an individual page (27) region (35) that has not been thinned and with a thinned region (34) extending up to the region (35) that has not been thinned along a lateral edge (26), wherein a separating zone (46) is introduced into the thinned region such that a crosslinking zone (47) is formed between the separating zone (46) and the lateral edge (26) for connecting to additional insert sheets (15), and a bending zone (48) is formed in the thinned region (34) between the separating zone (46) and the region (35) that has not been thinned.