Handling of sheet material

Abstract

Apparatus for handling sheet material comprising an array of punches ( 1 ) all in side-by-side relationship, an a corresponding array of dies ( 4 ) arranged opposite the array of punches ( 1 ). The arrays of punches and dies are operable to punch a row of holes in a marginal portion of a wad of sheets, card or the like, typically for subsequent binding on a comb, wire or spiral type binder or the like. During operation to punch apertures through the wad of sheets ( 6 ) the dies ( 4 ) are initiated to perform a forward stroke toward the ( fixed ) punches ( 1 ), thereby pinching the wad of paper between the tip ( 2 ) of punches ( 1 ) and the dial . . . of dies ( 4 ) therefor punching apertures through a wad of sheets ( 6 ). Following the forward stroke, the stroke direction of dies ( 4 ) is reversed, and dies ( 4 ) are pulled away from punches ( 2 ) towards their original retracted position in which the tips ( 2 ) of punches ( 1 ) are spaced from die apertures ( 3 )). When the reverse stroke of dies ( 4 ) is completed, the wad of punched sheets ( 6 ) remains in position on the punches ( 1 ), such that punches ( 2 ) extend through the newly punched apertures and the wad of sheets ( 6 ), so that successive wads of sheets ( 6 ) can be introduced into the receiving zone between the tips ( 2 ) of punches ( 1 ) and the respective die apertures ( 3 ) of dies ( 4 ), permitting a number of successive wads of sheets ( 6 ) to be effectively lowered punches ( 1 ).

1 . Apparatus for handling a wad of sheet material, the apparatus having a punch arrangement including 
 i) an elongate punch element;    ii) a die element having a die opening alignable with the punch element, the die element and punch element being movable relative to one another between a retracted position, in which the tip of the punch element is spaced from the die opening, and an advanced position in which the tip of the punch element is passed into the die opening; and    iii) a stripper element movable relative to the punch element independently of relative movement of the die element and punch element between the retracted and advanced positions.    
     
     
         2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the marginal portion of a wad of sheet material is introduced into a receiving zone defined in the gap between the tip of the punch element and the die opening (when in the retracted position.  
     
     
         3 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the die element is advanced relative to the punch such that the punch element remains substantially stationary.  
     
     
         4 . Apparatus according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the die element moves relative to the punch element in reciprocating fashion from a start point in the retracted position, to a mid-point in the advanced position, on to an end point in the retracted position.  
     
     
         5 . Apparatus according to  claim 4 , comprising actuation means to enable actuation of the reciprocation cycle.  
     
     
         6 . Apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the actuation means is manual (such as a lever ox handle) operable manually when the wad of sheets is in position in the wad receiving zone.  
     
     
         7 . Apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the actuation means is automatic (such as an electromechanical actuator) either actuated by an appropriate initiation switch or automatically from sensing the positioning of the wad in the wad receiving zone.  
     
     
         8 . Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims including a limit stop (which may be adjustable) arranged to limit the insertion distance of a marginal portion of the wad into the wad receiving zone.  
     
     
         9 . Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the punch element: is arranged to extend in a direction transverse to the vertical.  
     
     
         10 . Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the punch element and die element are configured such that the general plane of the wad of sheets is substantially upright when the wad is inserted into the receiving zone between the tip of the punch element and the die opening of the die element.  
     
     
         11 . Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality, array or multiplicity of punch elements, one or more of which may be retractable or removable, and Corresponding cooperating die elements, preferably arranged side by side relationship so as to permit punching of a corresponding plurality, array or multiplicity of apertures through the marginal portion of the wad of sheets.  
     
     
         12 . Apparatus for handling a wad of sheet material, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
     
     
         13 . A method of handling a wad of sheets, the method comprising punching the wad of sheets by; 
 i) inserting a marginal portion of the wad into a receiving zone between the tip of a punch-element and a die aperture of a die element;    ii) effecting advance and reverse Strokes of the die element and punch element to punch a hole in the wad of sheets, the wad of sheets remaining positioned on the punch element following completion of the reverse stroke.    
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , in which following completion of the reverse stroke a further wad of sheets is introduced into the receiving zone between the tip of the punch element and a die aperture of a die element, further advance and reverse stroke of the die element and punch element being effected to punch a hole in the further wad of sheets, the first and further wads of sheets remaining positioned on the punch element following completion of the further reverse stroke.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 13  or  claim 14 , in which, following completion of the first or further reverse stroke, the wad of sheets is removed from the punch element (via the tip of the punch element), preferably being transferred to a binder element  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the binder element is provided with at least one retaining element configured to pass through the co-aligned punched apertures in the wad of sheets, said retaining element being, for example, in the nature of a comb, wire or spiral type binder.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wad of sheets is removed from the punch element by a stripper element movable to strip the wad of punched sheets from the punch element.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , whereby the stripper element is carried with, or more preferably carried by, the die element, desirably being movable along the punch element.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 18 , in which the stripper element is movable along the punch element toward the tip element in order to facilitate removal of the wad of sheets from the punch element.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19 , in which the actuation of the stripper element causes the latter to move, and thereby to strip the wad of sheets from the punch element independent of actuation of the hole-punching forward and retraction stroke of the punch and die elements.  
     
     
         21 . A method of handling a wad of sheets substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
     
     
         22 . A radius former comprising level finding means movable substantially perpendicularly relative to the plane of a wad of sheet material; said perpendicular movement being effected by rotational movement of a dial or the like, the dial being linked to gear means to convert rotational movement of said dial into linear movement of said level finding means, the radius former further comprising a resiliently flexible, generally arcuate element, the radius of said arcuate element being alterable by rotational movement of said dial.  
     
     
         23 . A radius former according to  claim 22 , being mounted on the apparatus of  claim 1  (or the apparatus used to perform the method of  claim 13) .  
     
     
         24 . A radius former according to  claim 22  or  claim 23 , wherein the dial includes indicator means for indicating the size of binding element required to bind said wad of sheet material, said size being determined at the point where the level binding means is at least nearly in contact with the wad of sheet material.  
     
     
         25 . A radius former substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
     
     
         26 . A method of displacing respective edges of sheet material in a wad of sheet material relative to each other so that an edge of said wad of sheet material is generally arcuate in profile, the method comprising the steps of providing a radium former as defined above, positioning the wad of sheet material relative to said linearly movable element, rotating said rotary element untils aid linearly movable element is, at least nearly in contact with said wad of sheet material, and pushing the respective edges of said sheet material into said generally arcuate element, so that said edges abut said arcuate element and the wad of sheet material has a corresponding arcuate edge in profile.  
     
     
         27 . A method of binding using a binder comb member, of the type having a transverse spine and curled spaced apart fingers which are arranged to form rings, onto a wad or stack of sheet material, the method comprising: 
 a) providing a wad or stack of sheet material having a series of spaced holes in a marginal edge region thereof;    b) providing a ramp member having a narrower end and a wider end, the wider end being adjacent the end of the marginal edge region having the series of spaced holes;    c) feeding the comb member progressively from said narrower end of said ramp to said wider end thereof, such that said fingers separate from said transverse spine as the comb member progresses along the ramp member;    d) continuing feeding the comb member such that said comb member moves substantially along the marginal edge region; and    e) permitting ends of the curled fingers to penetrate the series of holes such that the fingers resume the curled configuration and bind the stack to the comb member.    
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 27 , wherein the direction of feed of the comb member along the ramp member is substantially co-linear with the direction of feed of the comb member along the marginal edge region.  
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 27  or  claim 28 , wherein the comb member is provided in a magazine which permits successive dispensing of individual ones of the comb members for successive individual binding operations.  
     
     
         30 . A method of binding substantially ark herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.