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Title:
CLAMPING SPINE AND CLAMPING FOLDER FOR CLAMPING A BUNDLE OF LEAVES AND CLAMPING ELEMENT THEREBY APPLIED
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2017/177286
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
Clamping spine for clamping a bundle of leaves, whereby this clamping spine comprises a spine in the form of a U-shaped profile with a base and two arms and at least one clamping element that is fastened in the spine, and which is composed, on the one hand, of a U-shaped basic element with arms that are fastened in the spine and with two clamping fingers that are movable towards one another in the transverse direction of the spine and, on the other hand, pressing means to press the clamping fingers towards one another, whereby these pressing means are formed by a slider with at least one rib that can be driven as a wedge between an arm of the basic element and a clamping finger and by a drive of the slider to control the position of the slider with respect to the clamping fingers in order to push the clamping fingers towards one another to a greater or lesser extent.

Inventors:
HENNISSEN MAARTEN LUC C (BE)
Application Number:
PCT/BE2017/000018
Publication Date:
October 19, 2017
Filing Date:
March 21, 2017
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
PELEMAN IND NV (BE)
International Classes:
B42F9/00
Domestic Patent References:
WO2012166219A22012-12-06
Foreign References:
US0911287A1909-02-02
GB2384749A2003-08-06
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
VAN VARENBERG, Patrick et al. (BE)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Claims.

1. - Clamping spine for clamping a bundle of leaves (25), whereby this clamping spine (8) comprises a spine (2) in the form of a U-shaped profile with a base (3) and two arms (4) and at least one clamping element (7) that is fastened in the spine (2), and which is composed, on the one hand, of a U-shaped basic element (9) with arms (10) that are fastened in the spine (2) and with two clamping fingers (23) that are movable towards one another in the transverse direction of the spine {2} and, on the other hand, pressing means (30) to press the clamping fingers (23) towards one another, whereby these pressing means {23) are formed by a slider (12) with at least one rib (31} that can be driven as a wedge between an arm (10) of the basic element (9) and a clamping finger (23) and by a drive (13) of the slider (12) to control the position of the slider (12) with respect to the clamping fingers (23) in order tc push the clamping fingers (23) towards one another to a greater or lesser extent .

2. - Clamping spine according to claim 1, characterised in that the slider {23} comprises two ribs (31) that can be driven between the clamping fingers {23} and the arms (10) of trie basic element (9) .

3. - Clamping spine according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that at least one of the clamping fingers {23} and/or at least one arm {10} of the basic element (9) is or are provided with a wedge-shaped section {27, 33). A . - Clamping spine according to claim 3, characterised in that at least one clamping finger (23) and at least one rib {31} engaging therewith are provided with a wedge-shaped section (27, 33} of which the oblique sides are oriented towards one another.

5.- Clamping spine according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the U-shaped basic element (9) is provided with a transverse connection (11? that connects the arms (10) cf the basic element to one another and which extends transversely to the arms (4) of the spine (2) . 6.- Clamping spine according to claim 4, characterised in that the slider (12) is movable in the longitudinal direction (X-X' } of the spine (2) and that the drive {13) for controlling the position of the slider (12) is formed by a screw (14) that extends in the longitudinal direction (Χ-Χ') of the spine {2} through a passage (16) in the transverse connection {11) of the basic element (9), and which engages in a threaded hole (17) of. the sliding piece (12), such that the position of the slider {12) can foe controlled by turning the screw (14) .

7.- Clamping spine according to claim 6, characterised in that the screw {14} is provided with a head {18) that is at least partially sunk in a recess {19) in the transverse connection {11) of the basic element {9} .

8. - Clamping spine according to any one of the claims 7, characterised in that the head (18) of the screw {14) is provided with a shear weakening (21) that is such that at least a section (20) of the head (18) breaks off or is deformed when a certain tightening torque is reached.

9. ~ Clamping spine according to any one of the claims 5 to 8, characterised in that the basic element (9} is affixed in the spine (2) in such a way that the transverse connection (11) of the basic element (9) forms a type of closure for an open end of the spine (2) .

10. - Clamping spine according to claim 9, characterised in that the basic element (9) is fastened suitably in the spine (2) and is provided with an endstop-forming collar Ul' ) .

11. - Clamping spine according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that at least one clamping finger (23) is eiastically connected to the basic element (9) .

12. - Clamping spine according to claim 11, characterised in that at least one clamping finger (23) is connected via an elastic section (23' } to a free end of an arm (10) of the basic element {9} and that this clamping finger (23) extends from this end in the longitudinal direction (X-X' ) of the spine (2) between the arms (10) of the basic element (9) . 13,- Clamping spine according to claim 12, characterised in that the elastic; section (23' ) is such that in the unused situation of: the clamping spine (8) the clamping fingers (23) are held at a distance from one another to be able to introduce a bundle of leaves (25) between them. 14.- Clamping spine according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the slider (12) is formed by a base (32) with one or two aforementioned ribs (31) thereon that extend along the height of the spine (2) between a clamping finger (£3) and an arm (10) of the basic element (9}, whereby the base {32}, viewed along the height of the spine, is slidably affixed between the clamping fingers (23) and the base (3) of the spine (2) .

15. ~ Clamping, spine according to claim 14, characterised in that the height (H) of the arms (10) of the basic element

($>} is approximately as large as the depth (0) of the spine (2} and that the height (H' } of the clamping fingers {23} is less than the aforementioned height (H) of the arms {10} in order to leave a space (29) with a free height {H") for the movement of the base (32) of the slider (12) between the clamping fingers (23) and the base (3) of the spine (2) .

16. - Clamping spine according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that two clamping elements (7) are provided in the spine (2), each at an end of the spine (2).

17. - Clamping spine according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that at least one basic element (9) is integrated in the spine (2), whereby the arms (10) of the basic element (9) are formed by the arms ( A ) of the spine (2) .

18. - Clamping spine according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the basic element (9) with the clamping fingers (23) is formed as one injection moulded part.

19. - Clamping spine according to claim 18, characterised in that the basic element (9) with the clamping fingers (235 together with the spine i 2 ) is formed as one injection moulded part.

20. - Clamping folder for clamping a bundle of leaves, characterised in that the clamping folder (1) comprises a clamping spine {8} according to any one of the previous claims with one or two endpapers (5) that are connected to the spine (2) . 21.- Clamping element for use in a clamping spine according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the clamping element (7) is composed of, on the one hand, an essentially U-shaped basic element (9) with arms (10) and two clamping fingers (23) that are movable towards one another between the arms (10), and, on the other hand, of pressing means {30} in order to press the clamping fingers (23} towards one another, whereby these pressing means (30) are formed by a slider {12} with at least one rib (315 that can be driven as a wedge between an arm (10) of the basic element (9} and a clamping finger (23) and by a drive (13) of the slider (12) for controlling the position of the slider (12) with respect to the clamping fingers {23}.

Description:
Clamping spine and clamping folder for clamping a bundle of leaves and clamping element thereby applied.

The present invention relates to a clamping spine for clamping a bundle of leaves.

Clamping spines are already known that are formed by a Li- shaped profile of an elastic pliable material with a base and two arms between which a bundle of leaves can be clamped.

For binding it is sufficient to slide an edge of the bundle in the clamping spine in order to c!amp this edge between the free edges of the aforementioned arms that are pushed apart, when inserting the bundle and which clamp the bundle thanks to the elasticity of the clamping spine.

A disadvantage is that the clamping force for holding the bundle varies with the thickness of the bound bundle, whereby a thin bundle is less strongly bound than a thicker bundle.

Moreover, it is known that the clamping force of such a clamping spine decreases over time due to the known problem of creep of materials that are continuously under stress.

There is thus the risk that, in the event of a weak clamping force, the bundle can shift or even fall out of the clamping spine. There are already solutions to counteract the shifting, whereby a layer of adhesive is provided on an appendage of the arms of the clamping spine in order to bond the bundle of leaves.

This adhesive layer impedes the insertion of the bundle, as care must be taken to ensure that the adhesive layer does not make contact with the leaves until it has been slid into the right place .

An additional disadvantage of such a clamping spine is that the insertion of a thin bundle of leaves, with only a limited number of leaves/ is difficult because not enough force can be exerted by the bundle of leaves to push the arms of the clamping spine open due to a lack of rigidity of such a thin bundle.

For such a reason the clamping force of the clamping spine is often kept relatively limited, with the known problem of the shifting bundle of leaves.

Indeed when a large elastic clamping force is exerted, it is difficult to slide a bundle of leaves into the clamping spine without additional measures to pull open the arras of the clamping spine, as is known from WO 2012/166219 whereby the clamping spine is affixed in the spine of a folder with endpapers that are fastened to the spine and whereby a "tension sheet" of flexible, but non-elastic, material is fastened in the clamping spine, and which is fastened to the inside of the aforementioned endpapers by its ends. In this way it is sufficient to completely open the endpapers of the folder to pull open the arms of the clamping spine, for example to add additional leaves or remove them.

A disadvantage is that when the folder is closed, the tension sheet is not pulled tight, which is not so attractive. Another disadvantage is that this solution can only be used in combination with a folder with a spine with endpapers and that the hinge with which the endpapers are fastened to the spine is a weak point in view of. the tensile forces that are exerted thereon when completely turning over the endpapers to take out or insert leaves.

Another disadvantage is that when the folder is unintentionally opened too far, the bound bundle can fail out of the clamping spine.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a solution to the aforementioned and other disadvantages.

The object of the present invention is a clamping spine for clamping a bundle of leaves/ whereby this clamping spine comprises a spine in the form of a U-shaped profile with a base and two arms and at least one clamping element that is fastened in the spine, and which is composed, on the one hand, of a ϋ-shaped basic element with arms that are fastened in the spine and with two clamping fingers that are movable towards one another in che transverse direction of the spine and, on the other hand, pressing means to press the clamping fingers towards one another, whereby these pressing means are formed by a slider with at Isast one rib that car. be driven as a wedge between an arm and a clamping finger and by a drive of the slider to control the position of the slider with respect to the clamping fingers in order to push the clamping fingers towards one another to a greater or lesser extent. An advantage is that the clamping force that can be exerted on a bundle of leaves between the clamping fingers is controllable by adjusting the position of the slider, for example it can be increased by driving the rib of the slider more deeply between the arms of the basic element and the clamping fingers in order to push the clamping fingers closer together.

The clamping element enables an increasingly large clamping force to be established in this respect, irrespective of the thickness of the bundle of leaves, so that the leaves cannot detach from the clamping spine unintentionally.

In the same way a very weak clamping force or no clamping force can be set to make the insertion of a bundle easier, even in the case of thin bundles.

Preferably it can be ensured that the clamping fingers are open in the unused condition of the clamping spine so that a thin bundle or even only one leaf can be introduced and clamped without difficulty or damage. The clamping force is obtained by a wedge effect of the ribs between the arms of the basic element and the clamping fingers, and not or only to a limited extent by an elastic clamping force. As a result, the clamping force is as good as unaffected by the phenomenon of creep.

Should the clamping force nevertheless change for one or another reason, then the clamping force can be easily adjusted.

Preferably the aforementioned slider with ribs is slidable in the longitudinal direction of the spine and the drive for the adjustment of the axial position of this slider is formed by a screw that extends through a passage in a transverse connection that connects the arms of the basic element together and which engages with a screw thread of the sliding piece, so that the position of the slider can be adjusted by simply tightening or loosening this screw. Preferably the head of the screw is provided with a shear weakening that is such that at least a part of the head breaks off or is deformed when a certain tightening torque is reached. A practical embodiment of such a shear weakening can be realised in the form of sideways protruding wings, for example, with which the screw can be tightened by hand and which are provided at their base with a weakening along which the wings can break off at a certain torque. In this way the clamping element cannot toe overloaded or damaged and is assured of a constant clamping force/ irrespective of the thickness of the bundle of leaves. According to a preferred characteristic of the invention, the basic element is affixed in the spine in such a way that the transverse connection of the basic element forms a type of cover for an open end of the spine, such that the clamped section of the leaves is hidden from view.

Preferably two clamping elements are provided in the spine, each at an end of the spine, so that the clamped edge of the bundle is clamped at both ends. According to a particular aspect of the invention at least one basic element is integrated in the spine, whereby the arms of the basic element are formed by the arms of the spine. In this way the spine with integrated basic element can be made narrower because the thickness of the arms of the basic element can be economised on .

Preferably the basic element with the clamping fingers is formed as one injection moulded part, or toy extension the spine with at least one integrated basic element with clamping fingers is formed as one injected injection moulded part.

The invention also relates to a clamping folder that comprises a clamping spine according to any one of the previous claims, with one or two endpapers that are connected to the spine. At the same time the invention also relates to a clamping element as described above for use in a clamping spine according to the invention.

With the intention of better showing the characteristics of the invention, a few preferred embodimenta of a clamping spine and clamping folder according to the invention, as well as a clamping element applied therein, are described .hereinafter by way of an example without any limiting nature, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: figure 1 schematically shows an inside view of an opened clamping folder that is provided with two clamping elements according to the invention;

figures 2 and 3 show a cross-section according to line I!-II and XII-IIJ respectively of figure If

figure 4 shows a perspective view of a clamping element, as indicated by arrow F4 in figure 3, in a rest state on a larger scale}

figure 5 shows an exploded view of the clamping element of figure

figure 6 shows a top view according to arrow F6 of figure 4;

figure 7 shows a cross-section according to line VII- vii of figure 6;

figure 8 shows the clamping element of figure 4, but in a clamped situation;

figure 9 shows a top view according to arrow F9 of figure 3? figure 10 shows a cross-section according to line X-X of figure 9.

The clamping folder 1 shown in figures 1 to 3 essentially consists of a spine 2 in the form of a U-shaped profile with a base 3 and two arms 4 that are provided at their free edges with endpapers 5 that are connected to the arms along a film hinge 6 or similar, whereby in the spine 2 a clamping element 7 according to the invention is fastened at both ends of the U-shaped profile to form a clamping spine 8 that is composed of the spine 2 and the two clamping elements 7.

Figure 4 shows such a clamping element in the unused rest state.

As shown in the exploded situation of figure 5, the clamping element of figure 4 is composed of: - an essentially U-shaped basic element 9 with arms 10 that extend in the longitudinal direction X-X' of the spine 2 and are fastened therein and which are connected together by a transverse connection 11 that extends transversely to the arms 4 of the spine 2 and which as it were closes off the open end of the spine

2 in the aforementioned longitudinal direction X-X' ; - a slider 12 that is slidably guided between the arms 10 of the basic element 9 according to the longitudinal direction X-X' of the spine 2; - an adjustable drive 13 for sliding the slider 12 and blocking the slider 10 in a desired position, which is thus adjustable in this way. In the example shown the drive 13 .is formed by a screw 14 whose shank 1.5 extends in the longitudinal direction X-X' through a passage 16 in the transverse connection 11 that engages in a threaded hole 17 of the sliding piece 12, in such a way that the position of the slider 12 can be adjusted by turning the screw 14.

The screw 14 is provided with a head 18 chat is at least partially sunk in a recess 19 and which extends in the transverse connection 11 of the basic element 5 around the passage 16.

The head 16 of the screw 14 is provided with two sideways protruding wings 20 with which the screw 14 can be loosened or tightened by hand and which are provided at their base with which they are fastened to the head 18 with a shear weakening 21 that is such that the wings 20 break off. as soon as a certain tightening torque is reached, for which the sheer weakening 21 has been calculated. The head 18 is further provided with a slot 22 to be able to loosen or tighten the screw 14 using a screwdriver or similar.

The basic element 9 is suitably fastened by its arms 10 between the arms 4 of the spine, for example by gluing, and has a height H that is practically equal to the depth D of the spine 2.

The transverse connection 11 is provided with an endstop- forming collar 11' for the insertion of the basic element 9 in the spine 2 in the longitudinal direction X~X' ,

The basic element 9 is provided with two ciarcping fingers 23 that extend between the arms 10 of the basic element 9 in the longitudinal direction X-X' and which are each connected by means of an elastically bendable section 23' to an end of the arms 10 of the basic element 9 in such a way that in the rest position of figures 4 to 7 there is a gap 24 between the clamping fingers 23 between which an edge 26 of a bundle of leaves 25 to be clamped in can be inserted in the direction of the arrow P of figure 3.

Xn this way, the clamping fingers 23 are elastically movable towards one another in the transverse direction between the arms 10»

The clamping fingers 23 are provided on the arms 10 of the basic element 10 with a wedge shaped section 27 in the form of a thickening / which seen in the longitudinal direction X~X' is located at a distance A from the attachment points of the clamping fingers 23 on the arms 4 of the basic element 9 so that a slot 28 is present over this distance A between the clamping fingers 23 and the arms 4 of the basic element 9. The pointed end of the wedge-shaped section 27 is oriented away from the transverse connection 11.

The clamping fingers 23 extend from the top of the clamping folder 1 oriented towards the open side over a height H' , which in this case is somewhat less than the half height H of the arms 10, so that viewed along the height there is a space 29 under the clamping fingers 23 with a free height H" between the clamping fingers 23 and the base 3 of the spine 2.

Furthermore, the clamping element 7 is provided with pressing means 30 in order to be able to move the clamping fingers 23 towards one another.

In the example of the drawings, these pressing means 30 are formed by two parallel ribs 31 that are affixed on a beam- shaped base 32. The beam-shaped base 32 is slidably incorporated in the space 29 under the clamping fingers 23, whereby the ribs 31 extend upwards on this base 32 up to the slots 28 between the clamping fingers 23 and the arms 10. The ribs 31 are provided with a wedge-shaped section 33 of which the pointed end is oriented towards the transverse connection 11, thus in the opposite direction from the wedge-shaped section 27 of the clamping fingers 23, whereby in other words the wedge-shaped sections have their oblique sides oriented towards one another. The use of a clamping folder as described above is simple and as follows.

Starting from a rest situation as shown in figures 1 to 7, whereby the ribs 31 are completely withdrawn in the slots 28 between the clamping fingers 23 and the arms 10 of the basic element 9 and whereby there 13 a gap 24 between the clamping fingers 23, an edge 26 of a bundle of leaves 2¾ to be clamped is introduced between the clamping fingers.

Then the screw .1.4 is tightened in the appropriate direction with the wings 20 in such a way that the slider 3.2 is pulled in the direction of the arrow S in figure 8 towards the transverse connection 11.

As a result the ribs 31 are driven partially 33 and gradually further overlapping with their wedge-shape between the arms 10 of the basic element 9 and the clamping fingers 23, such that the clamping fingers 23 are increasingly pushed further away from the arms 10 by the wedge action and the clamping fingers 23, as shown in figures 8 to 10, are thus pressed closer together with the aforementioned bundle 25 enclosed. Upon further tightening, the bundle 25 is increasingly clamped until the moment that the exerted torque is greater than the torque for which the sheer weakening of the wings 20 has been calculated, corresponding to a certain clamping force that is exerted on the bundle 25, such that the wings 20 break off, as is the case in figures 8 to 10. This is the point at which the bundle 25 is clamped with a known clamping force between the clamping fingers 23, whereby this clamping force is independent of the thickness of the clamped bundle. The clamping force is primarily obtained by the aforementioned wedge action that is not dependent on an elastic clamping force and thus is not subject to the phenomenon of creep, If necessary the clamping elements 23 can be loosened again using a screwdriver or similar, for example to take the clamped bundle 25 out of the clamping folder 1 or to insert additional, leaves therein and clamp them again by tightening the clamping elements 23 with a screwdriver or similar.

Optionally the clamping elements 23 can be slid in a cylindrical profile 34, as illustrated in figure 3, whereby this cylindrical profile 34 is provided on the top with a slot 35 for the insertion of the bundle 25 in the clamping element 23, whereby the cylindrical profile 34 at least partially hides the clamping fingers 23 and the ribs 33 from view. The slot 35 can be finished, as in figure 3, with oblique edges 36 that form a funnel-shaped guide for the insertion of the bundle 25.

It is clear that one of the clamping fingers 23 can be formed by an arm 10 of the basic element, in which case one rib 33 will also be needed to push the other clamping 23 finger 23 in the direction of this arm 10.

It is also clear that in principle a single clamping element 23 can be used instead of two.

It is likewise clear that one or both basic elements can be integrated in the spine, whereby the arms 10 of the basic element 9 are forwsed by or coincide with the arms 4 of the spine 2 ,

For the rest/ the spine 2 can also be a U-shaped profile without endpapers on the arms 4. Preferably, but not necessarily, the basic element 9 is formed together with the clamping fingers 23 as one injection moulded part, and by extension possibly also formed as one injection moulded part with the spine 2 Integrated therein.

Although in the example described there is a case of a screw 14 wings 20 that break off at a certain torque, such wings are not necessary or shear weakenings can be realised in other ways, for example by the irreversible deformation of the slot 22 in the head 18 of the screw when tightening the screw 14 too hard using a screwdriver or similar.

Instead of having a slider 12 that is movable in the longitudinal direction X-X' , it is not excluded to provide a slider that for example is movable vertically and which for example can be moved by means of a screw through the base 3 to obtain a desired clamping force by a wedge action.

The present invention is by no means limited to the embodiments described as an example and shown in the drawings, but a clamping spine and clamping folder according to the invention as well as a clamping element applied therein can be realised in all kinds of forms and dimensions without departing from the scope the invention.