Book Block Stacking Adhesive Application for Sheet Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

During the transportation of stacked printed sheets to a binding machine, individual sheets can shift, leading to a loss of precise alignment and compromised binding quality, as existing technologies do not effectively maintain the stacking quality achieved at the stacking station.

Innovation Solution

Applying an adhesive to the side edge of sheets before or when they are stacked, specifically adjacent to the edge that will rest in the spine of the book block, ensures that sheets remain aligned and in position throughout transport, using a device integrated with the stacking station that includes an adhesive application mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If sheets are stacked without adhesive, then the stacking process is simple and fast, but the sheets shift during transport and alignment is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestacking speedVSAvoidalignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive is applied to the sheets before stacking occurs. This preliminary action ensures that when the sheets are stacked and transported, the adhesive already occupies the bonding surfaces, preventing sheet shift during transport while maintaining stacking speed without requiring post-stack adhesive application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The adhesive acts as an intermediary substance between the sheets. It is applied to the edges of sheets before stacking, creating a bonding medium that prevents sheet shift during transport while allowing the stacking process to remain simple and fast. The adhesive mediates between the sheets to maintain alignment without complex mechanical constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If adhesive is applied to all edges of sheets, then sheets remain aligned during transport, but the adhesive affects the quality of the finished book

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidbook quality impact
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive is applied selectively only to the edges of the sheets that will form the spine of the book block, rather than all edges. This local quality approach ensures alignment precision is maintained where needed (at the spine edges) while avoiding unnecessary adhesive on other edges that would affect book quality. The adhesive application is localized to the specific functional areas requiring bonding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If adhesive is applied after stacking, then alignment can be maintained, but the process complexity increases and production time is extended

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive is applied to the sheets before they are stacked, rather than after. This preliminary action simplifies the overall process by eliminating the need for post-stack adhesive application equipment and steps. The adhesive is applied in advance to the sheet edges, and then the stacking process proceeds without requiring additional adhesive application machinery or process steps afterward.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This method maintains the precise alignment and stacking quality of sheets as they are transported to the binding machine, ensuring consistent binding quality without adversely affecting the finished book, as the adhesive is strategically applied to minimize impact on the book's quality.

Implementation Method 1

The individual sheets within a stack forming a book block by means of an adhesive which is applied to the sheets before or when the sheets are stacked

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesive: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP2159070B2Device and method for manufacturing piles of book blocks
Publication Date: 2017.10.11 HUNKELER AG
  • EP2159070B2 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2159070B2 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP2159070B2 patent drawingFigure 7~10

AI summary

To form stacks (15, 15'), each of which constitutes a book block, folded sheets (12') are coated with an adhesive (14) before being stacked. This adhesive (14) is applied adjacent to the fold (13) of the sheets (12') and extends towards this fold (13), which will lie in the spine of the book block. The adhesive can be applied as a continuous or interrupted bead, or in dots. The sheets (12') are joined together in the stack (15, 15') by means of this adhesive (14), so that they maintain their position within the stack (15, 15') as the stack is moved along.