Method and compositions for binding loose sheets

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application No. 09/201,977, filed Dec. 1, 1998, now abandoned, which claims priority to Italian Patent Applications Nos. RM97-U/000262 and RM97-U/000263, both filed Dec. 1, 1997. This application incorporates herein the entirety of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/201,977 by reference.

The present invention relates to a sheet prepared for the binding.

More specifically, the invention relates to a sheet providing a lateral or upper strip, that allows to bind the same coupling with other sheets and/or a binding cover.

The invention further relates to an adhesive band for binding loose sheets.

As it is well known, in the office working it often occurs to have to or to wish to bind different sheets, printed by the computer, written by typewriter or containing drawings and graphical representations, in order to confer to the work a more proper format.

Obviously, except for particular cases, it is not always possible to refer to an bookbinder outside the office, involving remarkable costs and not negligible time to end the work.

Therefore, in many offices binding machines are provided, said machines being specifically studied and realised to this aim.

Sheets are placed within a cover, prepared along its back portion with a heat activated glue or both sides adhesive tape strip.

Sheets and cover are than placed into a binding machine, provided with a heating system, by electrical resistance or other system, dissolving the glue or both sides adhesive tape provided in the cover within which the sheets are provided.

At the end of this operation, it is necessary to wait for the solidification of the glue or both sides adhesive tape, until when the binding has been finished.

It is well evident that said solution, even if more advantageous than the one providing the sending of the text to be bound at the bookbinder, has many drawbacks.

First of all, reference must be made to the initial expenses to buy the binding machine, expense that even if not so high, cannot be completely negligible.

However, most relevant problem is undoubtedly that of time necessary to make and complete the binding.

Furthermore, it must be taken into consideration that it is impossible to make many bindings at the same time, so that in some cases time is even longer.

Also other systems exists requiring the drilling of the sheets, the use of plastic rings or spiral and suitable machines for drilling and applying the same. They are systems having all the above problems.

In this situation, it can be introduced the solution according to the present invention allowing to obtain perfectly bound documents.

Main object of the present invention is that of providing a solution allowing the bonding of loose sheets in a very quick and reliable way.

Another object of the present invention is that of providing a solution for binding loose sheet extremely cheap.

These and other objects are obtained according to the present invention suggesting a sheet having along one edge and adhesive strip, protected by a silicone band, realised in such a way to be grasped for its removal during the binding.

Furthermore, the solution according to the present invention proposes a band prepared with a glue layer in order to make it adhering to a paper sheet to be bound with other sheets by the same glue.

It is therefore specific object of the present invention a sheet prepared beforehand for the binding, characterised in that it provides a glue or both sides adhesive tape strip along at least one of its edges, or close to the same edge, and a silicone material band, releasably placed on said glue or both sides adhesive tape strip and having at least a portion not coupled to said glue or both sides adhesive tape strip to grasp the silicone band during its removal and the binding.

Furthermore, according to the invention, said sheet can provide said glue or both sides adhesive tape strip, and the relevant silicone band on both sides, on opposite surfaces.

The glue or both sides adhesive tape strip on the sheets according to the invention can be provided on a lateral edge or on an upper or lower edge.

Still according to the invention, said sheets are realised as a continuous snap out, provided with lateral dragging bands, said grasping portion of the silicone band being coupled by weakening lines with the band of the following sheet.

Always according to the invention, said silicone band is larger than said glue or both sides adhesive tape strip, and can be folded outwardly during the bonding, said portion of the silicone band larger than the glue or both sides adhesive tape strip being the grasping portion.

In a preferred embodiment of the sheet according to the invention, to make its binding, it is superimposed to other sheets to be bound, being them prepared or not according to the invention, and thus the different projecting grasping portion are grasped and drawn at the same time to uncover the various glue or both sides adhesive tape strips.

The present invention further provides a device for packaging and binding sheets, providing at least two 90° projecting sides upon which resting the sheets to be bound.

Preferably, said device provides a silicone zone in correspondence of the glue or both sides adhesive tape strip of the sheets to avoid that a sheet attaches to the same device during the binding.

It is furthermore within the scope of the present invention an adhesive band to bind loose sheets comprising a silicone material support, having a substantially elongated shape, slightly attachable by the glue, alternatively providing on one side portions provided with cold activated glue and shorter portions without glue.

Preferably, according to the invention, said band is continuous, at the end of each section the support providing a cut facilitation or breaking lines and/or an optical or mechanical signal to indicate the cutting point to suitable apparatuses to automatically apply it on sheets.

The function of portions without glue is that of being out of the sheet to provide the opportunity of an easy removal of the silicone support which after the application of the glue on the sheet has the function of protecting from eventual gluing not wished before the binding.

Preferably, according to the invention, said band is wound, the outer surface of the support band being preferably refactory to the glue.

Alternatively, according to the invention, said support can provide, instead of the glue portions, both sides adhesive portions, i.e. a second support comprised of any suitable material providing glue on both sides, one of which is destined to adhere to the sheet to be bound, the second one being destined to adhere to the sheet that during the binding will be coupled to the sheet providing the band.

Always according to the invention, said band can be applied on both sides of a sheet.

Furthermore according to the invention, said band can be applied manually, or by a suitable device, provided along the path within the printer.

The present invention will be now described, for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, with particular reference to the figures of the enclosed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1

is a first front view of a sheet according to the invention;

FIG. 2

is a second front view of the sheet of

FIG. 1

;

FIG. 3

shows the sheet of

FIG. 2

with the protection partially removed;

FIG. 4

is a first front view of a second sheet according to the invention;

FIG. 5

is a second front view of the sheet of

FIG. 4

;

FIG. 6

shows the sheet of

FIG. 4

with the protection partially removed;

FIG. 7

is a first front view of a third sheet according to the invention;

FIG. 8

is a second front view of the sheet of

FIG. 7

;

FIG. 9

shows the sheet of

FIG. 7

with the grasping portion laterally provided;

FIG. 10

shows a group of sheets according to

FIG. 7

ready for binding;

FIG. 11

shows the sheets of

FIG. 7

on the device of

FIG. 19

;

FIG. 12

is a front view of a fourth sheet according to the invention;

FIG. 13

shows the sheet of

FIG. 12

with the protection partially removed;

FIG. 14

is a front view of a further sheet according to the invention, for the continuous feeding;

FIG. 15

is a front view of the sheet of

FIG. 14

with the protection partially removed;

FIG. 16

is a perspective view of the sheet of

FIG. 14

;

FIG. 17

is a front view of a fifth sheet according to the invention, also for the continuous feeding;

FIG. 18

shows the sheet of

FIG. 17

with the protection partially removed;

FIG. 19

shows a device for a proper positioning of the sheets according to the invention;

FIG. 20

shows a group of sheets according to

FIG. 1

ready for binding;

FIG. 21

shows the sheets of

FIG. 20

on the device of

FIG. 19

FIG. 22

is a section view of a first embodiment of a band according to the invention;

FIG. 23

is a section view of a second embodiment of a band according to the invention;

FIG. 24

shows a portion of a band according to the invention;

FIG. 25

shows a sheet having the band according to the invention;

FIG. 26

shows a plurality of sheets prepared beforehand with the band according to the invention;

FIG. 27

shows a device for the proper positioning of sheets provided with bands according to the invention; and

FIG. 28

shows the sheets of

FIG. 26

into the device of

FIG. 27

ready for binding.

Observing first

FIGS. 1-3

, it is shown a first kind of sheet

1

according to the invention, providing a glue or both sides adhesive tape strip

2

along an edge, covered by a silicone band

3

having a portion projecting beyond the sheet (see FIGS.

1

and

2

).

FIG. 3

shows how it is possible to remove the silicone band

3

to expose the glue or both sides adhesive tape strip

2

.

The sheet

11

of

FIGS. 4

,

5

and

6

provides the same kind of features of sheet

1

of the preceding figures, but in this case the glue or both sides adhesive tape strip

12

is provided on both sides of the sheet

11

, with two silicone bands

13

, one for each glue or both sides adhesive tape strip and the relevant grasping portions

14

projecting from the sheet

11

.

The double glue or both sides adhesive tape strip

12

is provided in order to be able to bind together with the sheet

11

also sheets not prepared according to the present invention.

In

FIG. 19

, a device

100

is shown useful to align the different sheets

1

or

11

during the binding, but that can also be used to package and selling sheets according to the invention.

Said device

100

provides sides

101

,

102

,

103

placed at 90° each other for the proper positioning of the various sheets to be bound, as shown in FIG.

21

. Furthermore, device

100

provides a silicone portion

104

avoiding the adhesion of a sheet

1

or

11

if erroneously positioned on the device with the glue or both sides adhesive tape strip uncovered.

When all sheets

1

have been placed side by side, with the grasping portions

4

of the strip

3

provided on the same side, it will be sufficient to keep the sheets still and pulling the strips

3

grasping the portions

4

, in order to remove the strips

3

all together, freeing the glue or both sides adhesive tape strip

2

on all sheets and thus obtaining the binding quickly and immediately.

Also a cover (not shown) can be obviously provided on the sheets bound with the sheets

1

or

11

since it is prepared beforehand according to the invention, or by employing a sheet

1

.

Coming now to observe FIGS. from

7

to

11

, it is shown a further embodiment of the sheet according to the invention.

As in the preceding cases, the sheet

21

provides a glue or both sides adhesive tape strip

22

, on which a releasable silicone band

23

is provided.

In this case, the silicone band

23

does not project from the sheet

21

, but is wider than the glue or both sides adhesive tape strip

22

and the grasping portion

24

is comprised of the part of the band

23

wider than the strip

22

.

When the sheet must be printed, for example in a ink jet or laser printer, portion

24

is folded inward, while it is folded outward when it is bound on the device

100

, as shown in FIG.

11

.

Therefore, after having separated the single sheets, a section of silicone band

23

projects from each sheet

21

, acting as grasping element to eliminate the protection of the glue during the binding of the superimposed sheets.

In

FIGS. 12 and 13

a further embodiment of the sheet according to the invention is shown. They are sheets for continuous feeding, e.g. in computer printers.

In this case, sheet

31

, providing a glue or both sides adhesive tape strip

32

along the edge, has a silicone band

33

, the grasping portion

34

of which does not project from the upper edge of sheet

31

, since it is coupled to another sheet

31

of the continuous module, but is on the following sheet (see FIG.

12

), and is coupled with the silicone band

33

of the following sheet by a weakened line

35

.

Therefore, folding the grasping portion

34

outwardly after having detached the sheets, it will be possible to act on all the grasping portions

34

of the various sheets of the continuous module and making the relevant binding, eventually employing the device

110

of FIG.

19

.

In

FIGS. 14

,

15

and

16

and

17

and

18

, it can be seen the sheet

41

for continuous feeding, wherein the glue or both sides adhesive tape strip

42

, along with the silicone band

43

, is provided on the upper side of the alternated sheets, instead of on the lateral edge.

Solution shown in

FIGS. 14

,

15

and

16

provides the grasping portion folded upwardly, in such a way to be able to grasp all the grasping portions together, as in the preceding cases.

Instead, sheet

41

of

FIGS. 17 and 18

provides the grasping portion

44

firmly and permanently coupled to the holed band of the continuous feeding module. When the holed band

46

is torn away (see FIG.

18

), also the grasping portion

44

is dragged, thus removing the silicone band

43

and realising the binding.

According to the invention, the side of the continuous module providing the glue or both sides adhesive tape strip

42

is preferably folded only with respect to the adjacent sheet, while on the opposite side a tearing line is as usual provided (see FIG.

16

).

Sheets according to the present invention can be freely used also on matrix printers, copying machines and in any other printing machine.

The solution proposed according to the present invention allows to bind in an easy, resistant and efficient way files having any thickness. The binding step is extremely fast, well finished and immediate, without dirtying and without the need of employing expensive and bulky machines.

Coming now to observe FIGS. from

22

to

28

, the adhesive band for binding according the invention can be provided to the consumers in any shape, for example as a roll.

Furthermore, it can be applied on single sheets manually or by a suitable device, which is not part of the present invention, for example directly provided along the paper path of the printer connected with the computer by which the sheet has been filled in.

Whichever is its structure, band

201

according to the invention, preferably comprised of protection silicone material releasable by the various glues employed, provides a glue zone

202

to be placed on the sheet

203

(see

FIGS. 22 and 23

and

24

) for coupling with the same in the application zone

204

(see FIG.

25

).

On the continuous band

201

, at the end of the glue zone

202

, a zone

205

without glue is provided, for the subsequent removal of the silicone material band, followed by a zone

206

serving to reveal, by apparatus or visually, the end of a band section and the beginning of the following one to be applied on another sheet

203

.

Obviously, length of each section

201

can be established in function of the dimensions of the sheets to be bound (for example A

3

, A

4

, etc. size).

Between the sections of the band

201

a cut

207

is provided for the manual or machine assisted separation.

On the opposite side of the band

201

according to the invention a layer (not shown) of cold activated glue is provided, dimensionally corresponding to the zone

202

, which will be useful for the binding of the single sheet

203

with other sheets.

In fact, as it can be noted observing

FIGS. 26

,

27

and

28

, binding of sheets

203

prepared beforehand with the band

201

according to the invention can be carried out in a very simple and fast way.

Single sheets

203

, upon which the band section

201

has been placed, with the zone

205

without glue projecting, as shown in

FIG. 24

, are stacked and placed within a squaring device

208

, providing at least two raised sides

209

and

210

, placed at 90° each other.

Sheets

203

are placed as shown in

FIG. 28

, eventually with an outer cover, and thus the section

205

without glue is pulled, removing the protection layer of the binding glue, comprised of the same silicon material.

Band

201

according to the invention can be obviously also provided on both sides of the sheet

203

, in order to bind a sheet not prepared with the band

201

.

In

FIG. 23

a solution is shown providing, instead of the glue sections

202

, both sides adhesive tape sections

211

, providing a second support

212

having the glue on the two sides

213

and

214

, one of which (

214

) must adhere on the sheet

203

to be bound, and the second one (

213

) to be adhered to the sheet

203

that during the binding will be coupled with the sheet

203

having the band

201

.

The present invention has been described for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, but it is to be understood that modifications and/or changes can be introduced by those skilled in the art without departing from the relevant scope as defined in the enclosed claims.