Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
238 words
Apparatus for applying a piece of adhesive strip to a stack of sheets having a thickness within one of several thickness ranges, the width of the adhesive strip to be applied being dependent on the thickness range to which the thickness of the stack of sheets corresponds, comprising: a. a pair of strip guides; b. means, responsive to the thickness of the stack of sheets, for moving the strip guides to initial positions, said means including linkage means; c. bipartite clamping means; d. means, coupled to the linkage means, for moving the clamping means into engagement with the stack of sheets and for stressing play out of said linkage means, thereby moving the strip guides into one of a set of several sets of positions, each set corresponding to one of the thickness ranges, said one of a set of positions being suitable for supporting an adhesive strip having a width which is suitable for binding the engaged stack of sheets; e. an arrangement of platens; f. means for rotating the clamping means, thereby moving an edge of the clamped stack of sheets into abutment with one side of the adhesive strip and for moving the other side of the adhesive strip into abutment with at least one of the platens; and g. means for biasing the platens against the other side of the strip to fix the strip to the stack of sheets, thereby forming a book.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
238 words
Apparatus for applying a piece of adhesive strip to a stack of sheets having a thickness within one of several thickness ranges, the width of the adhesive strip to be applied being dependent on the thickness range to which the thickness of the stack of sheets corresponds, comprising: a. a pair of strip guides; b. means, responsive to the thickness of the stack of sheets, for moving the strip guides to initial positions, said means including linkage means; c. bipartite clamping means; d. means, coupled to the linkage means, for moving the clamping means into engagement with the stack of sheets and for stressing play out of said linkage means, thereby moving the strip guides into one of a set of several sets of positions, each set corresponding to one of the thickness ranges, said one of a set of positions being suitable for supporting an adhesive strip having a width which is suitable for binding the engaged stack of sheets; e. an arrangement of platens; f. means for rotating the clamping means, thereby moving an edge of the clamped stack of sheets into abutment with one side of the adhesive strip and for moving the other side of the adhesive strip into abutment with at least one of the platens; and g. means for biasing the platens against the other side of the strip to fix the strip to the stack of sheets, thereby forming a book.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for moving the strip guides to initial positions includes: a clutch arrangement; and means, responsive to the thickness of the stack of sheets, for causing the clutch arrangement to engage, the linkage means being responsive to the engagement of the clutch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the clutch arrangement includes a pawl and ratchet; and wherein the means for causing the clutch arrangement to engage cause the pawl to engage one of a plurality of teeth on the ratchet, each of the thickness ranges corresponding to a different one of the teeth.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the linkage means are slidably coupled to the strip guides.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for moving the clamping means include a motor and a cam arrangement coupling the motor to the linkage means, said linkage being stressed by the motor when the clamping means engage the stack of sheets.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the clutch arrangement includes a pawl and ratchet; and wherein the means for causing the clutch arrangement to engage cause the pawl to engage one of a plurality of teeth on the ratchet, each thickness range corresponding to a different one of the teeth.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6 the ratchet is coupled to the linkage by a turnbuckle for setting the actual distance between the strip guides when they are in said one of several sets of positions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said pawl is pivotally coupled to a frame; wherein the pawl is biased into engagement with the ratchet by a spring; and wherein the ratchet is driven by a slip clutch.