Binding machine and method

1. A machine for binding a sheath of punched sheets together by means of a spine binder, said binding machine having a closing assembly for closing said spine binder over said sheath of punched sheets, said closing assembly comprising;

(a) a rail, and

(b) a closing tool carried by and movable along said rail, and adapted to engage said spine binder for closing said spine binder over said sheath as said closing tool is moved along said rail,

wherein said spine binder has a plurality of sets of opposed ribs spaced apart from each other and connected by a distal central area, and said closing tool has a bearing member carried by and movable along said rail, and operable to engage said spine binder for moving opposed ribs of each set of opposed ribs against one another over said sheath as said bearing member is moved along said spine binder.

2. In the binding machine recited in claim 1 , wherein said machine has a body for receiving said sheath of sheets aligned for punching, and said closing assembly is mounted on said body.

3. In the binding machine recited in claim 2 , wherein said binding machine has an opening tool mounted on said body.

4. In the binding machine recited in claim 3 , wherein said opening tool comprises a tapered finger adapted to engage a closed spine and spread it open.

5. In the binding machine recited in claim 1 , wherein said closing tool is biased away from said rail and adaptable to close said spine binder when said closing tool is moved against said spine binder.

6. In the binding machine recited in claim 2 , wherein said closing assembly is pivotally secured on said body.

7. In the binding machine recited in claim 2 , wherein a platen is arranged on said body in alignment with said closing assembly.

8. In the binding machine recited in claim 1 , wherein said closing assembly has a series of spaced apart fingers arranged in a pattern corresponding to the plurality of sets of opposed ribs of said spine binder.

9. In the binding machine recited in claim 8 , wherein said fingers are arranged to bear against said spine binder distal central area when said closing tool is moved along said rail.

10. In the binding machine recited in claim 9 , wherein a hammer is formed on the free end of some of said fingers corresponding to said spine binder distal central area.

11. In the binding machine recited in claim 7 , wherein said platen is adapted to receive said spine binder distal central area during closing and has a channel formed in said platen in alignment with said closing assembly.

12. In the binding machine recited in claim 11 , wherein said body is structurally reinforced beneath said platen.

13. In the binding machine recited in claim 11 , wherein said platen has hooks for receiving said spine binder during closing.

14. In the binding machine recited in claim 1 , wherein said closing tool comprises a pair of wings coupled to said rail, said wings being normally spread apart.

15. In the binding machine recited in claim 14 , wherein said wings are spring mounted on an axle and movable when said wings are pinched together to close said spine binder.

16. In the binding machine recited in claim 1 , wherein said machine has

(a) a body for receiving a stack of sheets to be bound, and

(b) a punch for forming holes in said sheets.

17. In a method for binding a sheath of sheets together using a spine binder having a plurality of sets of opposed ribs spaced apart from each other and extending from a central distal area, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) engaging an open spine binder with said sheath of sheets, and

(b) pressing on said central distal area of said spine binder between two adjacent sets of ribs with fingers of a closing assembly so that opposed ribs of each set of opposed ribs are moved exclusively toward one another;

wherein said closing assembly includes a closing tool, and wherein the method further comprises closing said opposed ribs by moving said closing tool along said plurality of sets of opposed ribs in a zipper-like manner.

18. In the method recited in claim 17 , with the additional step of punching apertures corresponding to said ribs in said sheets prior to engaging said open spine binder with said sheath.

19. In the method recited in claim 17 , further comprising pivoting said closing assembly into engagement with said spine binder.

20. In the method recited in claim 17 , wherein said closing tool includes wings that are normally spread apart, and wherein closing said opposed ribs by moving said closing tool along said opposed ribs in a zipper-like manner includes pressing together said wings to contact said plurality of sets of opposed ribs.

21. In a method for binding a sheath of sheets together using a spine binder having a plurality of sets of opposed ribs spaced apart from each other and extending from a central distal area, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) engaging an open spine binder with said sheath of sheets, and

(b) closing each of said sets of opposed ribs by moving a closing tool along a rail of a closing assembly and, thereby, along said plurality of sets of opposed ribs in a zipper-like manner.

22. In the method recited in claim 21 , with the additional step of punching apertures corresponding to said ribs in said sheets prior to engaging said open spine binder with said sheath.

23. In the method recited in claim 21 , further comprising pressing on said central distal area of said spine binder with said closing assembly so that said plurality of sets of opposed ribs are moved toward one another.

24. In the method recited in claim 21 , further comprising pivoting said closing assembly into engagement with said spine binder.

25. In the method recited in claim 21 , wherein said closing tool includes wings that are normally spread apart, and wherein closing said opposed ribs by moving the closing tool along said rail includes pressing together said wings to contact said plurality of sets of opposed ribs.