Spiral binding method and apparatus
US5931623A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 10, 1996 |
| Grant date | Aug 3, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 10, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB42B5/123
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
An apparatus for spiral binding a stack of papers together as a unit. The apparatus includes a coil feeder for feeding a spiral coil into the holes in the stack of papers, a pin extension and retraction mechanism, a coil cutter mechanism, and a paper thickness measuring and sizing mechanism. The spiral binding unit includes an aperture through which a spiral coil is inserted between a feed shaft and a rotatably mounted roller. The roller may be rotated in a pulsed manner. As the coil is inserted, the roller pushes the spiral coil into contact with the feed shaft. As the roller rotates, the coil is guided around a plurality of spiral guides that cause the coil to spiral into the holes in the stack of paper. The guides and any other surfaces which the end of the coil contacts along its path may have chamfered edges. The pin extension and retraction mechanism includes a plurality of curved locator pins that are movable between an extended and a retracted position. In the extended position, the pins extend up through the holes in the stack of papers. The paper thickness and sizing mechanism measures the thickness and width of the stack of papers. This information is used to provide the…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.