Abstract: The present invention relates to novel collating equipment used in the printing of booklets, magazines, pamphlets or similar multi-page matter. The collating equipment includes a collator and a cooperating combined storage and feeding cart. The collating operation is performed in a collator containing a series of substantially identical work stations. A roll of preprinted material having two web sections or ribbons wound on a common core is placed in the cart and engaged in each collating station. The collator places each ribbon in superposed relationship to the corresponding ribbon at each location. The pairs of ribbons are then directed to the next location in the collator where the first pair of ribbons is placed in superposed relation to a next pair of ribbons. This operation is repeated until the entire printed matter is collated into a continuous stack of collated ribbons.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of printing, collating and binding booklets, magazines, pamphlets and similar printed material in one, two or four colors utilizing a novel procedure for assuring precise printing and collating registration. In the printing operation, the present method provides great flexibility whereas the same printing equipment can be used for two-sided printing with full four-color printing on each side and variations thereof. In the collating operation, the present method provides for precise collation of multiple printed pages. In particular, the printing and collating operation utilizes a series of punched holes for orienting the pages during processing which punched holes are removed in a final trimming operation, allowing on-line printing, collation and binding at high production rates and with decreased waste.