Book trimmer with laser scorer
View Patent ↗A trimmer for trimming a book has a support for supporting a book, at least one laser for scoring an edge of the book so as to produce a score, and a trimming station for trimming the book at the score.
1. A trimmer for trimming a book comprising:
a support for supporting a book;
at least one laser for scoring an edge of the book so as to produce a score; and
a trimming station for trimming the book at the score.
2. The trimmer as recited in claim 1 wherein the laser scores a spine of the book, the edge being the spine.
3. The trimmer as recited in claim 1 wherein the support includes a conveyor and the at least one laser is stationary.
4. The trimmer as recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one laser includes a first laser for scoring a head of the book and a second laser for scoring a foot of the book, the trimming station being a head and foot trimming station with two trimming blades.
5. The trimmer as recited in claim 1 wherein the laser emits a laser beam contacting the edge at an acute angle.
6. The trimmer as recited in claim 1 further comprising a face trimming station for trimming a face of the book prior to the laser scoring.
7. The trimmer as recited in claim 1 wherein a total pulse duration of the laser on the edge is a function of a thickness of the book.
8. A method for trimming a book comprising the steps of:
scoring an edge of the book using a laser so as to create a score, and
trimming the book at the score.
9. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the edge is a spine of the book.
10. The method as recited in claim 8 further comprising scoring an edge of the book with a second laser to create a second score and trimming the book at the second score.
11. The method as recited in claim 8 further comprising transporting the book with a conveyor after scoring to a trimming station.
12. The method as recited in claim 8 further comprising trimming a face of the book with a first trimming unit prior to scoring step.
13. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the scoring step includes scoring the book through an entirety of the spine.
14. The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising altering a characteristic of the laser or a speed of the conveyor as a function of a review of finished books for chipout.
15. The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising altering a characteristic of the laser or a speed of the conveyor as a function of a depth of the score.
16. The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising altering a characteristic of the laser or a speed of the conveyor as a function of a thickness of the book.