Method and apparatus for binding paper sheets and similar materials

Abstract

A method of assembling and permanently binding a plurality of sheet-like materials includes assembling the sheets to be bound on a guide member by passing aligning pins on the guide member through aligned openings formed in the sheets, so that the adhesive on one sheet bonds to the inner edge of another adjacent sheet.

1 . A method for assembling a plurality of sheet-like articles in a permanently bound collection, said method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing on at least one surface of the articles to be bound an adhesive strip along an inner edge thereof,    b) providing a plurality of spaced alignment openings adjacent said inner edge;    c) placing one at a time the articles on a guide member that includes a plurality of aligning elements located and spaced in correspondence with the location and spacing of said alignment openings, said placing step including passing said openings in the article over said aligning elements, whereby the adhesive strip of the article arranged on the guide member contacts and adheres to the inner edge of an underlying article previously arranged on said guide member; and    d) repeating steps a) to c) for additional sheet-like articles that are to be bound, thereby to form a bound collection of such articles.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , in which said guide member includes a base and said aligning elements include a plurality of aligning pins projecting upwardly from said base.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of, prior to step a), of removing a protective strip previously removably secured to the sheet-like article over said adhesive strip.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , in which said alignment openings are formed through said adhesive strip and the underlying edge portion of the sheet.