Abstract: An adhesive dispensing apparatus and image forming apparatus include a support device for supporting a sheet bundle, a dispensing device for dispensing an adhesive to an edge of the sheet bundle supported by the support device, and a transport device for transporting the sheet bundle with the edge having the adhesive dispensed by the dispensing device as a leading edge. A cover can be securely attached to the sheet bundle.

Abstract: A dual-module hole-punching and binding machine includes a housing, a first hole-punching unit, a second hole-punching unit, a pressing unit, a measurement unit, an adjustment unit and a coil piece affixing unit. The first hole-punching unit and second hole-punching unit have a first cutting unit and a second cutting unit, respectively. Either cutting unit has a plurality of cutting members, which are aligned and equally spaced and may be used to punch holes in a stack of paper. The pressing unit has an adjustment member, which may move along an adjustment rod and may be used to adjust the pressing displacement of the pressing member. The measurement unit has a plurality of notches, which are equally spaced and parallel to each other. A user may use the widths of these notches to measure the thickness of a stack of paper. The adjustment unit may be used to adjust the depth that the paper stack is placed into the machine.

Abstract: A book binding system for a saddle-stitched bound booklet comprises a sheet feeding section (1) feeding sheets or sets of sheets (P) one by one, a sheet folding section (3) sequentially receiving a sheet or a set of sheets (P) from the sheet feeding section (1) and folding the sheet or the set of sheets (P) along the center line thereof, a sheet stacking section (4) stacking the sheet or the set of sheets (P) folded by the sheet folding section (3) in such a manner that the folded sheets or the folded sets of sheets are aligned with each other with respect to the fold lines thereof, a sheet stitching section (5) receiving a stack of the sheets or the sets of sheets (P?) from the sheet stacking section (4) each time the predetermined number of the sheets or the sets of sheets (P) are stacked in the sheet stacking section, and stitching the stack of the sheets or the sets of sheets (P?) at the fold line thereof, and a control section (46) controlling operation of the sheet feeding section (1), the sheet folding

Abstract: A stack of pages is bound along a first edge to form a book using an elongated resistive strip having an adhesive in contact with at least a portion of a first side. The strip has two opposed ends and is dimensioned to substantially cover the first edge of the stack, with the first side against the first edge of the stack. Preferably the strip has a series of alternating finely scribed, spaced-apart cuts extending through the foil. An electrical current is introduced to pass along the strip between the ends. The current should be sufficient to create enough heat in the strip to achieve a temperature at least as great as the adhesive's melting temperature, enabling the melted adhesive to bind the stack of pages together along the first edge.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for binding a stack of sheets which can be carried out using a conventional perfect binding machine. A stack to be bound is positioned between a pair of end leafs. Molten hot melt adhesive is then applied to the edge of the stack and to the first and second end leafs, preferably using the perfect binding machine. An elongated spine member is then applied to the edge of the stack and is secured by the hot melt adhesive. The elongated spine member is preferably part of a configuration having a form factor that generally matches that of the conventional cover so that configuration, including the spine member, can be applied using the traditional perfect binder machine. The respective edges of the spine member are secured to the outer sheets of the end leafs by way of pressure sensitive adhesives. In one embodiment, the pressure sensitive adhesive is disposed on the edges of the spine member and covered by release sheets.

Abstract: A tape feeder and a method of controlling the same are disclosed, in which an automatic feeding tape and a manual feeding tape are selectively fed to a binding device.

Abstract: A bookbinding machine for processing inner books includes a transport system with a multiplicity of inner-book clamps continually movable in a closed continuous track. Each of the inner book clamps is articulated to a circulating roller chain and has a rear-edge stop for aligning the inner books. The bookbinding machine includes workstations that perform positionally accurate operations on the inner books including the application of glue, the application of reinforcement or gauze sections, the application of jackets, binding with wire stitches, the introduction of utilisation features (e.g. punched holes, tear-off perforations, etc.) and the like. The transport system of the inner-book clamps and at least one workstation are driven independently of one another. A measuring system for positional detection of the inner-book clamps or of the inner books is provided in proximity to the independently driven workstation.

Abstract: A binding system for binding a plurality of text bodies in a continuous manner includes an adhesive strip applier, a heating device, and a cooling device. A transporting system transports a plurality of text bodies to the adhesive strip applier which applies a preformed adhesive strip to the moving text body. The heating device heats the adhesive strip and melts the adhesive strip into contact with the text body and the cooling device cools the adhesive to form a bound text body.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming and applying a wrap sheet to a hardcover for a bound book, including a planar guide having a width and length selected such that the planar guide can be uses as a template for cutting the wrap sheet. A reticule is disposed on the planar guide, with the guide being preferably transparent in at least the region of the reticule, for aligning the guide over the uncut wrap sheet. Anti-skid members are disposed on one side of the planar guide so that the guide will not tend to move during the cutting. A lip member is disposed on a surface of the guide, opposite the anti-skid members, which is used to assist in aligning the guide over the hardcover so that the guide can also be used for positioning and securing the cut wrap sheet onto the hardcover.

Abstract: A stapling device for binding an article having a hole structure with a stapling medium having a loop structure corresponding to the hole structure is provided. The stapling device includes a supporting portion, a movable portion and a transmission portion. The supporting portion is used for holding the stapling medium. The movable portion is disposed adjacent to the supporting portion and moved in a first direction to sustain against the loop structure and in a second direction to prop open the loop structure after the stapling medium is held by the supporting portion, thereby allowing the open loop structure to hook in the hole structure of the article. The transmission portion is coupled to the movable portion, and transmits the movable portion to move in the first direction and the second direction in response to a force exerted thereon.

Abstract: A book pressing machine (1) comprises a pressing station for pressing the book cover (2b) on to the book block (2a), which pressing station includes a pressing table (4) and a pressing plate (5) movable perpendicularly to the pressing table (4) for all-over pressing of the book (2) with the book (2) lying flat, and comprises means (15a,b) for aligning the book (2) in the pressing station and an endless conveyor belt (6) which conveys the book (2) in and out, the upper belt section of which rests on the upper face of the pressing table (4) as a support for the book (2).

Abstract: A ring presser for stapling papers comprises a chassis and a clipping device. The clipping device is composed of lateral plates, a handle, an axial rod having gears on its both ends, a fixed pressing rod, a movable base, a clipping plate, and a cover. A fixed pressing rod is locked on the lateral plates. A guiding plate of the movable base is inserted into one set of slideways formed on the inner surfaces of the lateral plates. Gear racks are formed on the backside of the movable base. A connection plate is transversely mounted over the guiding plate to connect with the clipping plate. A guiding plate of the clipping plate is inserted into the other set of slideways. A bolt is applied to couple the movable base with the clipping plate. The gear racks are meshed with the axial rod that connects with the handle.

Abstract: A dual sided integral composite image product and method of make same. The image product includes a first support substrate having a separate image layer thereon and a second support substrate having separate image layer thereon. The second support substrate being secured to the first support substrate so as to form the dual sided integral composite image product. A fold line is provided on said image product about which the integral composite image product may be folded.

Abstract: A booklet maker, including a pivotable collecting device including two supporting sides formed as a saddle shape, and a rotatable transferring device including a displaceable clamping component, where the transferring device delivers a folded sheet material to the collecting device along a non-linear path, and where the collecting device pivots to receive the folded sheet material from the transferring device such that different portions of the folded sheet material are supported by different sides of the two supporting sides of the collecting device.

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 perfect bound book construction is disclosed in which the book has a book block comprising a plurality of text pages, and a soft paper cover. The inner and outer faces of the cover are laminated with a plastic film so as to form a double laminated cover. The center portion of the inner lamination of the double laminated cover is conditioned or roughened, as by scarifying, so that an adhesive will adhere to the inner lamination and bind the spine of the book block to the double laminated cover. Apparatus for and a method of printing books on demand with such double laminated covers is also disclosed.

Abstract: A pivotable collecting device for handling a folded sheet material, including a supporting edge for supporting a fold of the folded sheet material, two supporting sides opposing one another, and means for pivoting the supporting edge and supporting sides about a first axis to receive the folded sheet material such that each supporting side receives a different portion of the folded sheet material, where the supporting sides converge at the supporting edge, and where the first axis is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the supporting edge.

Abstract: A system for binding books includes a flexible binding material in the form of a stud having top and bottom caps. The stud is inserted into signature staples that protrude from the body of the signature to form stud holes. The binding material can be any material that is extremely flexible, including silicone, metals, etc., as long as it allows the signatures to open in a lay-flat manner either at the signature interfaces or in the body of any signature. The flexible binding material can also be used to temporarily bind pre-punched pages of a book by inserting the flexible binding material into the pre-punched holes to facilitate lay-flat opening of the book.

Abstract: A single sheet publication binding process utilizes media having an adhesive pre-applied to the media before the media is printed or bound within a publication. A publication page, or cover, has an adhesive pre-applied, is printed, and is then aligned in a publication binder. The publication binder aligns the cover and pages of a publication one page at a time and applies a pressure to each page for a period of time that will activate a pressure sensitive co-adhesive on the page with the co-adhesive on another page, or with the co-adhesive on the cover.

Abstract: Sheets of paper are commonly held together with a spiral coil, which coil is inserted by a machine with at least one rotating spindle thereon. The spindle receives a spiral binder in a male to female relationship. As the spindle rotates the spiral binder, the spiral binder feeds into a stack of sheets having the appropriate apertures to receive the spindle and bind the pages together.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for binding documents by individually binding each media sheet to previously bound media sheets using imaging material as the binding material.

Abstract: A bookbinding machine binds a stack of pages along a first edge thereof to form a book using an adhesive having a melting temperature and an elongated resistive strip having an adhesive atop at least a portion of a first side. The strip has two opposed ends and an electrical resistivity between the ends and is dimensioned to substantially cover the first edge of the stack, with the first side against the first edge of the stack. An electrical current is introduced to pass along the strip between the ends. The current should be sufficient to create enough heat in the strip to achieve a temperature at least as great as the melting temperature, enabling the melted adhesive to bind the stack of pages together along the first edge. Apparatus are also provided for supporting, holding, and clamping the page stack prior to and during the binding process.

Abstract: A binding machine and method for spirally binding a sheaf of papers into a book uses an adjustable speed drive to rotate a flexible plastic spiral element into respective holes in the book. The book has a plurality of holes in a row adjacent one edge of the book to receive the leading edge of the spiral bonding elements. A cylindrically shaped mandrel is spaced apart from a glidable block. The plastic pre-formed spiral binding element is fed onto the mandrel from the distal end thereof, with the leading edge of the binding element facing and spaced apart from the book. A pair of leading edge spreaders, one of which has a guidance groove, engages the plastic spiral to spread its coils just enough to permit it to enter the successive holes of a sheaf to be bound. A trailing spreader at the opposite end insures that the last hole is accommodated with a portion of the spiral coil.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for producing bound written material with representative covers, for marketing texts, magazines, construction plans, collections of drawings, contracts, offers and promotional literature (catalogues) as required in small to medium sizes. A heatable ceramic surface with an integrated heating element has several inductive and thermal sensors on its underside, for detecting covers with a metal inlay and for controlling the heat output. Said inductive sensors are partially also supplemented with sensors with microswitches, optical sensors and additionally, a pressure sensor if the device is to be used for binding covers consisting of non metallic materials at the same time. The very short time for heating up the ceramic heating surface made technically possible by the invention and the use of the stored temperature is made optimal use of through an internal flap system which is motor-operated.

Abstract: A book with improved binding includes a front cover page having at least one binding hole extending therethrough, a rear cover page having at least one binding hole extending therethrough and at least one center page having at least one binding hole extending therethrough which is positioned between the front and rear cover pages. Each of the front, rear and center pages are constructed of foam material and the invention includes at least one binding cord which extends through each of the binding holes of the front cover page, rear cover page and center pages for binding the pages to one another in book format.

Abstract: A binding assembly for a printer includes a support chassis that is mountable to a printer, downstream of a printing zone of the printer. The support chassis defines a glue application and binding zone in which printed sheets of media are received in a feed direction. An elongate glue applicator is mounted on the chassis and is positioned substantially at right angles to the feed direction. The applicator is displaceable towards and away from the sheets of media to apply a strip of glue to a transverse edge of each of said consecutive sheets of media.

Abstract: The method and the apparatus of the invention serve to shift at least some sheets of successive stacks of overlapping sheets so that the originally straight holes which are provided along one marginal portion of each stack are converted into arcuate passages adapted to more readily receive the convolutions of spirals serving to pivotably couple the sheets of the stacks to each other. This is accomplished by inserting into one or both ends of some or all of the holes a discrete pin-shaped displacing member which is thereupon pivoted to thus shift at least some of the sheets relative to the neighboring sheets. In order to speed up the shifting of sheets, the displacing member or members is or are pivoted during withdrawal from the respective hole or holes to move its or their tips along arcuate paths at least approximating the curvatures of the convolutions which are to be introduced into the thus converted holes.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking a folded paper sheet includes a collecting device having a first side and a second side, a first sheet drive assembly including a first sheet contacting component, and a second sheet drive assembly including a second sheet contacting component. The first sheet drive assembly is located on the first side of the collecting device and is operable to move between a sheet receiving position and a sheet discharging position. The second sheet drive assembly is located on the second side of the collecting device and the second sheet contacting component translates to pinch the sheet on the second side of the collecting device. The collecting device is stationary with respect to at least one of a paper path, the first sheet drive assembly and the second sheet drive assembly during a sheet collecting operation.

Abstract: A binding apparatus facilitates a convenient, one-stage load-and-close binding system. The apparatus has a base and a pivotable former door movable between open and closed positions. A series of hooks are provided to hold an open binder relative to the base for loading sheets onto the open binder ringlets. The apparatus has three former surfaces or bars, including parallel, opposed first and second former bars, as well as an adjacently-positioned third former bar oriented generally perpendicularly to the first and second former bars. Generally, the binding apparatus operates to squeeze a wire binder between the opposed first and second forming bars to close the wire ringlets. The free ends of the wire ringlets are maintained in proper alignment against the third former bar.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sheet (1; 11; 21; 31) prepared beforehand for the binding, characterised in that it provides a glue or both sides adhesive tape strip (2; 12; 22; 32) along at least one of its edges, or close to the same edge, and a silicone material band (3; 13; 23; 33), realasably placed on said glue or both sides adhesive tape strip (2; 12; 22; 32) and having at least a portion (4; 14; 24; 34) not coupled to said glue or both sides adhesive tape strip (2; 12; 22; 32) to grasp the silicone band (3; 13; 23; 33), during its removal and the binding. The invention further relates to an adhesive band for binding loose sheets.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for binding pages. The apparatus includes a tray having a support surface for supporting a stack of pages. The support surface is inclined towards a lower-most corner with two side walls being provided which define a corner situated at the lower-most corner of the support surface. A vibrator is coupled to the support surface to induce vibration therein to thereby urge sheets towards the lower-most corner. A binding press is also provided which is operable by moving through a stroke length to bear upon the stack of pages to thereby bind the pages. The support surface is adjustable vertically so as to present the top page of the stack at a preset level to limit the stroke length.

Abstract: A spiral coil is used when stacking a plurality of sheets each having a plurality of holes punched at a constant pitch, and binding the sheets by inserting the spiral coil therethrough. The spiral coil has a different pitch from that between the holes of the sheets. The spiral coil may be densely wound or have a different pitch from that of the sheets. A bookbinding device is prepared for inserting the spiral coil through the holes in the sheets. The bookbinding device has the same pitch as that between the holes, and has an engaging portion at an end thereof for engagement with the spiral coil. The bookbinding device is inserted through the holes such that the spiral coil follows it and is plastically deformed, thereby binding the sheet. The spiral coil after the plastic deformation is held at a pitch after the deformation.

Abstract: Binding device wherein a support structure (2) houses a pack of sheets provided with through-holes (133) aligned along a rectilinear edge of the pack. The structure moreover carries a binding member comprising a flat sheet-like rectangular member (100) showing, along a side thereof (100a), a plurality of flexible tongues (107) arranged combwise and a closure member (110) extending along the side (100a). The binding device is provided with a bending wall (70) mobile with respect to the pack and adapted to realize the bending of tongues portions projecting from the pack on an end flat member forming a first face of the same pack. A pressing device (90) further realises bending of the closure member (110) to arrange the closure member (110) on bent tongues (107) and on the end flat member (130b) thereby forming a bound fascicle.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a post print finishing device that incorporates a spiral binder module into the post print handling and finishing functions. In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, the binder module binds sheets together by inserting a metal piece that serves as the binder and then bends the metal so as to function as a spiral binder. An accumulator module is included to stack the sheets, present the sheets to the binder for binding and then discharges the bound stack to an output bin.

Abstract: A pivotable collecting device for handling a folded sheet material, including a supporting edge for supporting a fold of the folded sheet material, two supporting sides opposing one another, and means for pivoting the supporting edge and supporting sides about a first axis to receive the folded sheet material such that each supporting side receives a different portion of the folded sheet material, where the supporting sides converge at the supporting edge, and where the first axis is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the supporting edge.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing device includes a placement unit for placing sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus, an offset unit for successively offsetting an edge of each sheet on the placement unit, and a saddle stitching unit for saddle stitching a stack of the sheets with the edge of each sheet shifted by the offset unit. The sheet post-processing device may include a folding unit for folding the stack of the sheets along a line where the sheets are stitched.

Abstract: Flat articles are gathered on stack supports (2) being conveyed past feed points substantially continuously and one after the other. After the gathering operation, bottom edge zones (13) of the gathered articles are exposed for a further processing operation. The corresponding device includes continuously conveyed stack supports (2) each with an inclined supporting surface (3) and a foot element (4) located in the bottom area of the supporting surface (3). The foot elements are actively connected with the supporting surfaces such that they are capable of being pressed against the supporting surface and of being spaced from the supporting surface. In an exposure zone downstream of the gathering zone (1), stack support structure, which are conveyed in synchronism with the stack supports (2) and substantially in the same direction, and a control device are provided.

Abstract: Calendars, posters and the like have slides applied to spaced top and bottom edges in an efficient and cost effective manner without diminishing production output levels nor requiring operator manipulation and involvement. The system includes a first and a second semi-automatic or automatic tinner which are joined together by a conveyor or a similar apparatus for transferring each of the serially processed calendars, posters or the like. Each calendar is processed in the first tinner to have a slide applied to a first or top edge of the calendar or poster. Each one is then serially discharged from the first tinner onto a conveyor in which the leading edge of the calendar includes the slide. The conveyor automatically transfers and reorients each calendar to the second tinner so that upon entering the second tinner, the bottom or opposite edge without the slide is the leading edge. The second tinner applies a slide without operator involvement or manipulation.

Abstract: The invention relates to an adhesive application station provided for bonding stacked printed products using a flowable or liquifiable adhesive. The inventive station comprises an application head which is provided for the adhesive and which has a sliding surface for the printed products. The station also comprises a stop which is arranged on each side of said sliding surface and which is provided for the printed products, and comprises a slotted nozzle which is provided for the adhesive and which extends over the entire width of the sliding surface. The adhesive application station also has an adhesive reservoir that is configured as a pressure chamber and has means for generating pressure in said adhesive reservoir. At least one lateral stop is configured as a lateral guide surface which, within a narrow tolerance zone, automatically compensates for different thicknesses of the stacked printed products that are passing through.

Abstract: In a process for casing a book block or paper-cover block into a cover during the manufacture of adhesively bound books, paper covers or magazines in an adhesive binding machine in which the block is transported, with a hanging-out portion, in a block clamp belonging to a transport system and is connected to the cover by gluing the back and/or the side regions, provision is made, in order to achieve an increase in quality, for the hanging-out portion (1a) of the block (1) to be aligned with the back region (2a), which is preferably predetermined by scoring, of a cover (2) which is fed in, and for the said cover (2) to be pressed against the back and/or the side regions of the block (1).

Abstract: Apparatus for scoring a cover to be applied to a bound stack of sheets to form a book. A base unit is provided having a surface for receiving the cover, an lower die holder disposed below the surface and an upper die holder disposed above the surface. A lower die is supported on an upper surface of the lower die holder and an upper die is supported on the lower surface of the upper die holder. An actuating structure such as a handle, is used to move the upper and lower die between an open position and a closed where the upper and lower die score the cover. The upper die holder is fabrication using a transparent material so that a user can view the upper die and underlying cover to facilitate proper alignment.

Abstract: A stack of pages is bound along a first edge thereof to form a book using an adhesive having a melting temperature and an elongated strip having an adhesive atop at least a portion of a first side. The strip has two opposed ends and an electrical resistivity between the ends and is dimensioned to substantially cover the first edge of the stack, with the first side against the first edge of the stack. An electrical current is introduced to pass along the strip between the ends. The current should be sufficient to create enough heat in the strip to achieve a temperature at least as great as the melting temperature, enabling the melted adhesive to bind the stack of pages together along the first edge. Apparatus are also provided for supporting, holding, and clamping the page stack prior to and during the binding process.

Abstract: A bookbinding machine for processing inner books includes a transport system with a multiplicity of inner-book clamps continually movable in a closed continuous track. Each of the inner book clamps is articulated to a circulating roller chain and has a rear-edge stop for aligning the inner books. The bookbinding machine includes workstations that perform positionally accurate operations on the inner books including the application of glue, the application of reinforcement or gauze sections, the application of jackets, binding with wire stitches, the introduction of utilisation features (e.g. punched holes, tear-off perforations, etc.) and the like. The transport system of the inner-book clamps and at least one workstation are driven independently of one another. A measuring system for positional detection of the inner-book clamps or of the inner books is provided in proximity to the independently driven workstation.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for increasing the binding strength of a bound text body by increasing the spinal surface area exposed for adhesive penetration greater than an area corresponding to the product of the sheet height dimension, the sheet thickness dimension and the number of sheets. In one aspect, sheet-wise conditioning of the binding area is performed prior to the application of adhesive to increase the bond area between sheets of the text body. In another aspect, the spinal surface area exposed for adhesive penetration is increased as adhesive is applied.

Abstract: An encoded binder strip having an adhesive matrix and an encoded pattern formed on a surface of the matrix to identify the type of binder strip. The encoded pattern includes relatively high reflectivity regions and relatively low reflectivity regions. Preferably, the encoded pattern is read as the binder strip is fed into a binding machine, with the encoded pattern controlling operation of the machine.

Abstract: A reinforced book assembled from a stack of media sheets and a cover. Each media sheet includes at least one binding region located adjacent to a binding edge of that media sheet. The binding region of each sheet is aligned with and faces a binding region of an adjacent media sheet. The cover extends at least partially over a first face of the stack, wraps around the binding edges of the media sheets, and extends at least partially over a second face of the stack. The book also includes activated imaging material on the binding region of each media sheet binding the media sheets together as well as activated imaging material on the cover binding the cover to the binding regions on the first and second faces of the stack.

Abstract: A stapling apparatus for a booklet maker is described which provides a compact and low cost booklet maker for desktop publishing. The stapling apparatus includes a sheet receiving saddle for receiving sheets to be stapled into a booklet. A plurality of staple clinch units are arranged along the spine of the saddle. A single movable stapler head moves along the saddle to the plurality of clinch units to staple a booklet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for binding documents by individually binding each media sheet to previously bound media sheets using imaging material as the binding material.

Abstract: A machine for the continuous binding of books and booklets, includes clamps mounted on a chain for the transport of groups of sheets to be bound along various stations. Each clamp is provided with a manual opening mechanism. A sheet levelling device includes two parallel horizontal plates joined by connecting elements, the lower of which is permanently fixed to the machine, while the upper of which supports a horizontal levelling table provided with vibrators. Trimming millers are also provided. A glue spreading unit with rollers and blades includes two complementary parts. A first one of the parts is hinged to a structure of the machine, can be rotated laterally and supports a second interchangeable one of the parts that in turn supports a glue tank, the rollers and the blades.

Abstract: A device for preparing a book spine includes a plurality of movable pockets, each pocket having an angled back, a packer and a spine stop at a lower end of the pocket for receiving the spine. The spine stop has a first collect position, a second position wherein the spine stop is lower with respect to the packer than in the collect position but still holds the spine, and a third position wherein the spine stop is rotated away from the spine. A method for preparing a spine is also provided.