1. A book binding machine for processing book blocks (3), having a frame (10) supporting a transport system (2) that includes a plurality of book block clamps (40) coupled to a traction mechanism (63) that continuously moves along a closed, horizontal circulation path having curved and straight sections while engaged with a revolving driving wheel (55) within one curved section and a deflection wheel (87) within the other curved section and is maintained in tension by a tensioning device, and processing stations (70, 80, P) arranged along the straight sections, wherein the improvement comprises that the driving wheel (55) is driven by a gearless, rotative electric direct drive (50) having a first, rotating component (53) directly rigidly connected to the driving wheel (55).
2. The book binding machine according to claim 1, wherein the driving wheel (55) and rotating component (53) coaxially rigidly rotate and the driving wheel (55) is supported in a bearing block (20) of the tensioning device, which can be displaced and fixed relative to the frame (10).
3. The book binding machine according to claim 1, wherein the rotative direct drive (50) is arranged above the driving wheel (55).
4. The book binding machine according to claim 2, wherein the driving wheel (55) has an axle (56) which is fixed within the bearing bock (20).
5. The book binding machine according to claim 4, wherein the bearing block (20) forms a rigid receptacle including upper and lower end plates (22, 24) containing the rotative direct drive (50) and the axle (56) of the driving wheel (55).
6. The book binding machine according to claim 2, wherein the bearing block (20) forms a rigid receptacle having a top defined by at least one of an upper plate (22) and a cover (28) and the rotative direct drive (50) is attached to and extends below said top.
7. The book binding machine according to claim 6, wherein the rotative direct drive (50) is arranged between the driving wheel (55) and said top.
8. The book binding machine according to claim 6, wherein a second, stationary component (51) of the rotative direct drive (50) is rigidly supported by said top.
9. The book binding machine according to claim 6, wherein at least some of the top is detachable in order to form an access opening in the axial direction of the direct drive (50) for removing the first (51) and second (53) components of the direct drive (50).
10. The book binding machine according to claim 4, wherein the driving wheel (55) is rotatably supported on a non-rotative axle (56).
11. The book binding machine according to claim 1, wherein the first rotating component (53) of the rotative direct drive (50) is fitted with permanent magnets (54).
12. The book binding machine according to claim 1, wherein at least one processing station (70, 80, P) is driven by the driving wheel (55).
13. The book binding machine according to claim 12, wherein a main shaft (85) is operatively connected to the driving wheel (55) by an articulated shaft (83) and a plurality processing stations (80) are driven by the main shaft.
14. The book binding machine according claim 1, wherein the machine includes a cover feeding and pressing device (70) and the driving wheel (55) is arranged adjacent to the cover feeding and pressing device (70).
15. A book binding machine for processing book blocks (3), comprising: (a) a frame (10); (b) a transport system (2) supported by the frame, including a plurality of book block clamps (40) coupled to a traction mechanism (63) that continuously moves along a closed, horizontal circulation path having curved and straight sections; (c) a driving wheel (55) horizontally revolving about a vertical axis and engaging the traction mechanism (63) within one curved section and a non-driven deflection wheel engaging the traction mechanism within another other curved section; (d) a plurality of processing stations (70, 80, P) arranged along the straight sections; (e) a bearing block fixed in horizontally adjustable positions relative to the frame; and (f) an electric direct drive (50) fixed within the bearing block and having a rotating component (53) directly connected to and coaxial with the driving wheel (55); whereby adjustment of the bearing block relative to the frame horizontally shifts the coaxial axes of the rotating component and the driving wheel and thereby adjusts the tension of the traction mechanism.
16. The book binding machine according to claim 15, wherein the bearing block (20) forms a receptacle having a top (22) and a bottom (24), the electric drive is fixed within the receptacle above the bottom (24), the driving wheel (55) is situated at least in part within the receptacle between the electric drive (50) and the bottom (24) around an axle (56) in the receptacle, and the rotating component (53) of the direct drive (50) is rigidly connected to the driving wheel (55) radially outward from the axle (56).
17. The book binding machine according to claim 16, wherein the axle (56) rigidly extends vertically between the electric drive and the bottom of the receptacle and the driving wheel closely conforms to and rotates around the axle.
18. The book binding machine of claim 16, wherein the traction mechanism is a chain and the driving wheel (55) extends horizontally outside the bearing block to engage the chain.
19. The book binding machine of claim 16, wherein the direct drive has a stationary component (51) fixed with respect to the bearing block and magnetically coupled to the rotating component (53) which is rigidly connected to the driving wheel (55), and the axle rigidly extends from the stationary component.
20. The book binding machine according to claim 1, wherein at least one processing station (70, 80) is driven by an articulated shaft rotated by a toothed wheel (62) rigidly connected to the drive wheel (55) in the bearing block.
21. A book binding machine for processing book blocks (3), comprising: (a) a frame (10); (b) a transport system (2) supported by the frame, including a plurality of book block clamps (40) coupled to a traction mechanism (63) that has an effective mass continuously moving along a closed, horizontal circulation path which has curved and straight sections; (c) a driving wheel (55) horizontally revolving about a vertical axis and engaging the traction mechanism (63) within one curved section and a non-driven deflection wheel engaging the traction mechanism within another other curved section; (d) a plurality of processing stations (70, 80, P) arranged along the straight sections; (e) a bearing block (20) fixed in horizontally adjustable positions relative to the frame; and (f) an electric direct drive motor (50) fixed within the bearing block and having a rotating component (53) rigidly connected to and coaxial with the driving wheel (55); wherein at each of said horizontally adjustable positions of the bearing block, the driving wheel (55) and rotating component (53) coaxially rigidly rotate, thereby providing a rigid connection between the direct drive motor (50) and the mass of the traction mechanism (63).
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An endoscope deflection frame member comprising a one-piece ring having front and rear sides adapted to be connected to adjacent rings to form a deflection section at an end of an endoscope shaft, wherein at least one of the sides comprises slots extending into the at least one side, wherein the slots extend entirely through a wall of the ring between an interior of the wall at a central interior channel of the ring and an opposite exterior of the wall, and wherein the slots are sized and shaped to matingly receive opposite ends of a leaf spring therein to attach the ring to one of the adjacent rings.
2. An endoscope deflection frame member as in claim 1 wherein the slots have an elongate shape extending generally straight into the at least one side.
3. An endoscope deflection frame member as in claim 1 wherein the slots comprise two slots located at opposite lateral sides of the front side, and wherein the front side tapers from the slots to top and bottom sides of the front side.
4. An endoscope deflection frame member as in claim 1 wherein the slots comprise two slots located at opposite lateral sides of the rear side, and wherein the rear side tapers from the slots to top and bottom sides of the rear side.
5. An endoscope deflection frame member as in claim 4 wherein the slots comprise two slots located at opposite lateral sides of the front side, and wherein the front side tapers from the slots to top and bottom sides of the front side.
6. An endoscope deflection section frame comprising:
a deflection frame member as in claim 1;
a second ring connected to the deflection frame member by two of the leaf springs, wherein the second ring forms one of the adjacent rings, wherein the leaf springs each comprise a first end located in a respective one of the slots, and wherein the first ends of the leaf springs are stationarily attached to the deflection frame member at the slots by at least one connection.
7. An endoscope deflection section frame as in claim 6 wherein the connection comprises a weld of the first end of the leaf spring to the deflection frame member.
8. An endoscope frame deflection section as in claim 7 wherein the weld comprises a plurality of spot welds.
9. An endoscope deflection section frame as in claim 6 wherein the leaf springs comprise a general flat elongate shape.
10. An endoscope deflection section frame as in claim 6 wherein the leaf springs comprise a general square or rectangular cross sectional shape.
11. An endoscope deflection section frame comprising:
a plurality of rings, wherein each ring comprises front and rear ends with slots, wherein the slots extend into front and rear sides of the rings entirely through a wall of the ring between an interior of the wall at a central channel of the ring and an opposite exterior of the wall; and
leaf springs connecting the rings to one another, wherein the leaf springs each have opposite ends located in the slots of respective adjacent ones of the rings.
12. An endoscope deflection section frame as in claim 11 wherein a connection of the leaf springs to the rings comprises welds of the leaf springs to the rings at the slots.
13. An endoscope deflection section frame as in claim 12 wherein the welds comprise a plurality of spot welds.
14. An endoscope deflection section frame as in claim 11 wherein the leaf springs comprise a general flat elongate shape.
15. An endoscope deflection section frame as in claim 11 wherein the leaf springs comprise a general square or rectangular cross sectional shape.
16. A method comprising:
positioning a leaf spring between two rings, wherein the rings comprise opposing faces each having a slot, wherein the slots extend entirely through a wall of each respective ring between an interior of the wall at a central channel of the respective ring and an opposite exterior of the wall, wherein the leaf spring comprises opposite ends positioned in the respective slots; and
fixedly attaching the leaf spring to the rings at the slots.
17. A method as in claim 16 wherein fixedly attaching the leaf spring to the rings at the slots comprises welding the leaf spring to the rings.
18. A method as in claim 17 wherein fixedly attaching the leaf spring to the rings at the slots comprises spot welding the leaf spring to the rings at a plurality of locations for each ring.
19. A method as in claim 16 wherein positioning the leaf spring between the two rings comprises sliding the leaf spring into the slots from open exterior lateral sides of the slots.
20. A method as in claim 16 further comprising:
positioning a second leaf spring between the two rings, wherein the opposing faces of the rings each having a second slot, wherein the second slots extend entirely through the wall of each respective ring between the interior of the wall at the central channel of the respective ring and the opposite exterior of the wall, wherein the second leaf spring comprises opposite ends positioned in the respective slots; and
fixedly attaching the second leaf spring to the rings at the second slots, wherein the leaf springs connect the rings to each other an allow the rings to pivot relative to each other at the leaf springs at the opposing faces.