Abstract: An adhesive applicator is disclosed for the application of a hot melt adhesive to the spine of a book block so as to adhesively bind the book block to its respective cover so as to form a perfect bound book. The applicator has a heated head in which a small quantity of a hot melt adhesive sufficient to bind at least one book block to its cover is quickly heated to a temperature such that it may be applied to the spine. The head is brought into operative engagement with the spine and is moved with respect to the spine so that the melted adhesive forced (dispensed) out of the head onto the spine. This applicator is particularly well suited for use with print on demand book printing and binding apparatus. A method of applying the adhesive to the spine of a book block is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding sheets of paper printed by a printer to a sheet processing device is disclosed where the printer has a sheet discharge outlet and the processing device has a sheet inlet at a different location (e.g., a different height) than the discharge outlet. A sheet conveyor is provided for conveying the sheets from the sheet discharge outlet to the sheet inlet. The apparatus blows air to cool on each sheet as it is conveyed from the discharge outlet to the sheet inlet, and the apparatus at least partially eliminates static electricity from the sheets as they are conveyed.

Abstract: A printing and binding apparatus (1) is disclosed which can print on demand, bind, and trim a perfect bound book. The apparatus includes one or more text page printers (110, 200) and a color cover printer (114). The text page printers print the text pages of a book and form the text pages into a book block (BB). The color cover printer (114) prints a cover for the book. The book block and the cover are delivered to a binding station at which the spine (S) of the book block is adhesively bound to the cover. The bound book is then delivered to a trimming station (TS) at which excess margins (are trimmed from the book. A method of printing and binding a perfect bound book on demand is also disclosed.

Abstract: A printing and binding apparatus (1) is disclosed which can print on demand, bind, and trim a perfect bound book. The apparatus includes one or more text page printers (110, 200) and a color cover printer (114). The text page printers print the text pages of a book and form the text pages into a book block (BB). The color cover printer (114) prints a cover for the book. The book block and the cover are delivered to a binding station at which the spine (S) of the book block is adhesively bound to the cover. The bound book is then delivered to a trimming station (TS) at which excess margins (are trimmed from the book. A method of printing and binding a perfect bound book on demand is also disclosed.

Abstract: An adhesive applicator is disclosed for the application of a hot melt adhesive to the spine of a book block so as to adhesively bind the book block to its respective cover so as to form a perfect bound book. The applicator has a heated head in which a small quantity of a hot melt adhesive sufficient to bind at least one book block to its cover is quickly heated to a temperature such that it may be applied to the spine. The head is brought into operative engagement with the spine and is moved with respect to the spine so that the melted adhesive forced (dispensed) out of the head onto the spine. This applicator is particularly well suited for use with print on demand book printing and binding apparatus. A method of applying the adhesive to the spine of a book block is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for binding perfect bound books of different thickness is disclosed where the amount of adhesive applied to the spine of the book block may be varied in relation to the thickness of the book block. An adhesive application station is provided which has a rotary driven adhesive application wheel partially immersed in a bath of a liquefied adhesive such that as a portion of the wheel rotates up out of the adhesive, the periphery of the wheel is coated with a layer of adhesive. An area of increased thickness of the adhesive if formed adjacent the top of the wheel so that upon effecting relative movement of the book block and the adhesive application station, adhesive is applied to the spine of the book block.

Abstract: Apparatus for trimming perfect bound books is disclosed including a clamping assembly and a shearing assembly, preferably powered by electric motors. The clamping assembly includes a fixed anvil and a clamp member movable along a clamp track toward and away from the anvil. The shear assembly includes a shear blade movable along a shear track toward and away from the anvil. Load members are mounted on the clamp track and on the shear track. The clamp assembly and the shear assembly each has an electric motor driving a linear actuator (e.g., a drive screw) which is operatively coupled to its respective load member. A spring or a pair of springs is interposed between the clamp load member and the clamp member and another spring or a pair of springs is interposed between the shear blade and the shear load member. Thus, as the clamp member engages the book and as the shear blade shears through the book and engages the anvil, further movement of the clamp member and the shear blade is prevented.

Abstract: A printing and binding apparatus (1) is disclosed which can print on demand, bind, and trim a perfect bound book. The apparatus includes one or more text page printers (110, 200) and a color cover printer (114). The text page printers print the text pages of a book and form the text pages into a book block (BB). The color cover printer (114) prints a cover for the book. The book block and the cover are delivered to a binding station at which the spine (S) of the book block is adhesively bound to the cover. The bound book is then delivered to a trimming station (TS) at which excess margins (are trimmed from the book. A method of printing and binding a perfect bound book on demand is also disclosed.

Abstract: A printing and binding apparatus (1) is disclosed which can print on demand, bind, and trim a perfect bound book. The apparatus includes one or more text page printers (110, 200) and a color cover printer (114). The text page printers print the text pages of a book and form the text pages into a book block (BB). The color cover printer (114) prints a cover for the book. The book block and the cover are delivered to a binding station at which the spine (S) of the book block is adhesively bound to the cover. The bound book is then delivered to a trimming station (TS) at which excess margins (are trimmed from the book. A method of printing and binding a perfect bound book on demand is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for binding perfect bound books of different thickness is disclosed where the amount of adhesive applied to the spine of the book block may be varied in relation to the thickness of the book block. An adhesive application station is provided which has a rotary driven adhesive application wheel partially immersed in a bath of a liquefied adhesive such that as a portion of the wheel rotates up out of the adhesive, the periphery of the wheel is coated with a layer of adhesive. An area of increased thickness of the adhesive if formed adjacent the top of the wheel so that upon effecting relative movement of the book block and the adhesive application station, adhesive is applied to the spine of the book block.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method is disclosed for duplex printing of a document or a book block in which two printers operating in a simplex printing mode are used on both faces of a plurality of sheets forming a document or book block. The first printer prints an image on a first side or face of a sheet, where a number of sheets are stored in an queue between the first and second printers such that as sheets are printed by the first printer, they are delivered in sequence to the queue, where sheets are fed from the queue to the second printer without the first printer having to delay printing until the second printer is ready for the next sheet, and where the second printer may have a sheet delivered to it without the second printer having to await for the first printer to print a sheet thereby to allow both the first and the second printers to print at substantially their maximum simplex printing speeds.