Loose-leaf binder assembly process and apparatus

摘要

An improved method and apparatus enable automated assembly of loose-leaf books, preferably photo albums from snap-ring binders of the slant D configuration and pages with peel-back overlays on mounting sheets. The apparatus comprises: a binder conveyor adapted to position a binder at an assembly station such that an upstanding segment of each ring in open position extends upward and has a vertical projection smaller than that of the holes in the pages; a page support positioned above the binder conveyor and having openings therein adapted for alignment with the holes in the pages; and a binder lift mechanism adapted to vertically lift a binder such that a segment of each ring is moved through the openings in the page support and the holes in the pages supported thereby. The process is automated and employs two linearly moving conveyors which intersect to enable positioning the binder with open ring elements at the assembly station.