Abstract: A measurement unit (6) is provided with a fixed body (19) which is fixed on a base (17) and has a reference surface (19a). A movable body (21) slides in the base along a guide rail, and a measurement body (22) having a measuring surface (22b) slides in the movable body along the guide rail. The measurement body is always pressed against a first side wall (21a) of the movable body by a coil spring (24). A first sensor (27) to detect the time when a book body is located on the front side of the reference surface, and a second sensor (28) to detect the time when the measurement body is separated from the first side wall of the movable body by a predetermined distance, are provided.

Abstract: A book binding machine includes a collating machine, a perfect binder and a transfer device disposed between the collating machine and the perfect binder. The collating machine and the perfect binder are actuated by a common control device. In each case, one transport segment is assigned to a respective book block clamp by the control device. The control device also has a program which, if a defective or missing book block clamp is detected, actuates the collating machine in such a way that no book block is collated for that book block clamp. A method for operating a book binding machine is also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments relating to verifying a printed work comprises a correct number of pages. Associated with a stack comprising one or more pages is an identifier that may be used to obtain an expected thickness of the pages in the stack. A sensor may then measure an actual thickness of the pages in the stack. Before binding the pages in the stack, the expected thickness of the stack may be compared to the actual thickness of the stack in order to verify the stack comprises the correct number of pages.

Abstract: There is provided a decoloring device including a decoloring unit, a first sheet conveying unit, a first sheet feed unit, a thickness detecting unit, a decolorability determining unit, and a second sheet feed unit. The first sheet conveying unit conveys the sheet to the decoloring unit. The first sheet feed unit feeds the sheet to the first sheet conveying unit. The decolorability determining unit determines whether or not the sheet which is subject to thickness detecting is decolorable by the decoloring unit based on a detection result in the thickness detecting unit. A second sheet feed unit is disposed at a downstream side in relation to the thickness detecting unit and at an upstream side in relation to the decoloring unit in a sheet conveying path by the first sheet conveying unit and feeds the sheet to the first sheet conveying unit.

Abstract: It, as shown in FIG. 11, is provided with a feed roller 31 that is movable, rotates the spiral coil 11 passing through punched holes 3a of the bundle of paper-sheets 3, and guides the spiral coil 11 to feed it toward a coil advance direction, a screw guide 49 at a movable and adjustable side that guides and conducts a forward end of the spiral coil 11 fed by the feed roller 31 toward the coil advance direction into the punched holes 3a thereof, and a control part that receives diameter-of-coil-setting information for setting a diameter of a coil of the spiral coil 11 and controls positions of the feed roller 31 and the screw guide 49 based on the diameter-of-coil-setting information. Such a configuration enables the feed roller 31 and the screw guide 49 to move to the guided positions of the spiral coil 11 indicated by the diameter-of-coil-setting information. Accordingly, it is possible to pass the spiral coils having the different diameters thereof through the holes of the bundle of paper-sheets stably.

Abstract: Disclosed is a compressive album manufacturing apparatus in that independent areas for performing an aligning process, a heat providing process, a compressing process, and a cooling process respectively are formed in the multistage compressive album manufacturing apparatus, so that each process, which is done by hand, is merged into one, thereby rapidly manufacturing the bulk of compressive albums.

Abstract: Method and device for manufacturing adhesively bound printed products composed of a book block and a cover, in which the book block is conducted past processing stations of the adhesive binding device for processing and applying glue to its back. A cover is supplied to the back to which glue has been applied in a synchronously timed controlled manner. After merging of the cover with the book block, a measuring procedure for measuring a mutual actual position of cover relative to book block. Subsequently, this actual position is compared to a predetermined desired position, and, in the case of deviations, a correction value is determined and stored. Prior to the renewed occurrence of the pairing of drive member and clamp, an appropriate change of the mutual positions of clamp and drive member is carried out.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying adhesive to a book block spine has an application nozzle, a nozzle opening of the application nozzle being variable and able to be adapted to the thickness of a book block to be processed. The application nozzle has a first chamber for providing adhesive and a second chamber. A first slide is provided in the region of the first chamber for changing a width of the first chamber. A second slide is provided in the region of the second chamber for changing the volume of the second chamber. The changing takes place in such a way that, when there is a change in the width of the first chamber, the sum of the volume of the first chamber and the second chamber remains constant. The apparatus allows a strictly defined application of adhesive possible even when there is a changeover to a narrower book block spine.

Abstract: A measurement unit (6) is provided with a fixed body (19) which is fixed on a base (17) and has a reference surface (19a). A movable body (21) slides in the base along a guide rail, and a measurement body (22) having a measuring surface (22b) slides in the movable body along the guide rail. The measurement body is always pressed against a first side wall (21a) of the movable body by a coil spring (24). A first sensor (27) to detect the time when a book body is located on the front side of the reference surface, and a second sensor (28) to detect the time when the measurement body is separated from the first side wall of the movable body by a predetermined distance, are provided.

Abstract: A binding system for binding a stack of sheets with a binding element includes a binding machine having an indicia associated with an operation to be performed in binding the stack of sheets, and at least one binding element having an indicia corresponding to the indicia on the binding machine.

Abstract: A print server checks a job ticket for a print job to be processed. When a method of printing set in the printing attributes of the job ticket is case binding, a first thickness of a bookblock is calculated using the paper type set in the printing attributes. The print server calculates a second thickness of a bookblock using the paper type after a change. The print server changes the paper type set in the job ticket when the difference between the first thickness and the second thickness is within a permissible range.

Abstract: The present invention provides an adhesive application apparatus that forms a uniform application layer when applying an adhesive to a sheet bundle for a various a length or a width of the sheet bundle. The apparatus includes an applying operation controlling device including a reference value storing device for previously setting and storing a preset reference value of an application length and/or an application width of the sheet bundle, a size recognizing device for identifying an application length and/or an application width of the adhesive applied to the sheet bundle, and an application region comparing device for comparing an identified value of the application length and/or the application width of the adhesive applied to the sheet bundle from the size recognizing device with a preset reference value of the application length and/or the application width of the sheet bundle from the reference value storing device.

Abstract: An adhesive applicator forms adhesive to a smooth surface at a predetermined thickness when applied to a sheet bundle edge. An adhesive storing container is disposed at an adhesive application position, and is equipped with an applicator roller device and a scraper blade that adjusts the thickness of the adhesive layer applied. A moving device drives the applicator roller device or the sheet bundle holding device so that the applicator roller device and scraper blade move relative to the sheet bundle. The scraper blade is configured to push or sweep away excess adhesive from one end of the sheet bundle to the other end thereof across the backside, removing excess adhesive while forming a smoothly finished surface of adequately softened and flow-able adhesive.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including: an image input unit to input image data; a chase pattern generating unit to generate a chase pattern in which a plurality of chase pattern dots, each of which has a plurality of print dots, are arranged within a predetermined block; an overlay unit to overlay the chase pattern onto the image data; an image forming unit to form an image on a sheet based on the image data onto which the chase pattern is overlaid; and an overlaid position control unit to control an overlaid position of the chase pattern on the image data so as to shift the overlaid position by a shift amount that is equal to or more than a width of each of the chase pattern dots, when forming images on a plurality of sheets.

Abstract: A sheet finisher which binds a booklet by adhering a cover sheet to a sheet bundle composed of plurality of sheets with adhesive, includes: a coating section which coats adhesive to a spine of the sheet bundle; an adhesive container which stores the adhesive to be supplied to the coating section; a heating section which heats the adhesive stored in the adhesive container to melt the adhesive; and a degradation judging section which judges whether the adhesive stored in the adhesive container is degraded by the heating of the heating section or not.

Abstract: An image forming system including a control section provides control in such a way that, the ring binder of the size determined for the first set of copies is adopted so that ring binding is performed for a second set of copies or copies thereafter in a case of executing a job for ring binding of a plurality of copies. When at least one of a status change in the sheet feed section, a main power source being turned off, or a change in a job ticket is occurred from a suspension to a resumption of the job, since the thickness of a bundle of sheets may change, the thickness measuring section is caused to measure the thickness of the bundle in a first set of copies subsequent to resumption. And the control section judges continuation or suspension of a job.

Abstract: A punching processing unit punches holes in a paper bundle delivered from a preprocessing device. A bookbinding unit includes a cartridge for stocking a plurality of rings, and performs a ring binding by binding the paper bundle with the rings. A detecting unit detects an abnormality of a ring in the cartridge. A control unit exchanges a signal with the preprocessing unit each time when detection information obtained by the detecting unit changes. When any one of the rings is determined as abnormal and an execution of ring binding is set, the control unit inhibits the ring binding.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing hard book cases (covers) can make cases including tucked and folded corners. The apparatus can track the progress of the book case throughout the assembly process and can accurately align the unfinished assembly with the tucking and folding devices of the apparatus. Short runs of different sized book cases may be quickly and efficiently manufactured on a single apparatus.

Abstract: While a book block (P) is nipped between a pair of clamping plates (1a, 1b) and passes through processing units (B to D) in succession, perfect book bind processing is carried out. Two or more of the processing units (B to D) have pairs of members (2b, 2c; 3c, 3d; 4a, 4b) which engage or come into contact with both sides of a back surface of the book block A thickness of the book block is measured by a measuring unit (6) before the book binding processing is started. When a thickness of next book block is measured by a measuring unit during the book bind processing of a previous book block, a control section (7) stores a measured value of the thickness of the next book block in a memory (8). When the previous book block reaches a predetermined position on a conveying path, a gap between the pair of members of the processing unit located upstream of a position of the previous book block is adjusted based on the measured value stored in the memory.

Abstract: A method of producing perfect-bound printed products formed from several printed products, includes feeding printed products, which are gathered to form loose book blocks, are fed by feeders, which are arranged along a conveying line and are driven at least approximately with synchronous timing, to a conveyance device that has receiving devices that follow one another at regular intervals, and are transferred by this conveyance device into a gluing machine. The gluing machine, which is arranged downstream of the conveyance device and also has a conveying function, is run until it is empty in the event of an interruption of a processing operation by discontinuing further feeding of printed products to the receiving devices of the conveyance device and further feeding of loose book blocks to the gluing machine while the gluing machine is emptying.

Abstract: A glue applicator for applying an adhesive to the spine of a book block or to adjacent areas of a book block of stacked printed sheets being conducted past the glue applicator includes a tank holding liquid adhesive, into which at least one glue applicator roll dips to take up the adhesive and to transfer it to the spine of the book block, the roll being driven in the same travel direction as the book block, wherein the glue applicator roll works together with a doctor blade which is installed above the surface of the glue in the tank, and wherein the doctor blade determines the thickness of the adhesive film to be transferred to the spine of the book block through variation of its distance from the glue applicator roll, and where an actuating element for the doctor blade is positively connected to a cam disk, which is driven by a motor.

Abstract: A book binding machine for producing printed products, such as books, magazines or brochures, includes individually driven processing stations, such as a book spine processing station, a glue application station, a cover feeder and a pressing station, which are connected by a transport system that has a multiplicity of clamps for clamping-in book blocks. The clamps are driven individually, in particular by linear motors or servomotors, and are guided on a guide track.

Abstract: A bookbinding apparatus includes a collecting device, a bookbinding path, a bundle conveying device for transferring the sheet bundle to a paste applying position and then to a cover binding position, a paste applying device for applying an adhesive to a spine part of the sheet bundle, and a cover feeding path. A cover binding device binds the sheet bundle with the adhesive to the cover sheet, and a cover binding control device controls the cover binding device. The cover binding device includes a back folding press member and a back abutting plate member. The cover sheet is sandwiched between the back abutting plate member and the spine part of the sheet bundle with a small gap between the back abutting plate member and the spine part. The cover binding control device adjusts a size of the gap depending on a thickness of the cover sheet when folded back.

Abstract: A bookbinding apparatus comprises, a stacking unit on which sheets are stacked; a folding portion which folds the sheets stacked on the stacking unit; a humidifying unit which humidifies portions of the sheets to be fold lines of a booklet before folding by the folding portion; and a controller which controls a humidifying condition at the time of the humidifying by the humidifying unit, wherein the humidifying condition is variable according to the sheets composing the booklet.

Abstract: A bookbinding device includes a collecting device for collecting sheets into a bundle and a bookbinding path that includes a sheet bundle conveying device, an adhesive applying device, a cover binding device, and a cover sheet feeding path. The cover binding device includes a back folding press member for the cover sheet and a back rest plate member to back up the cover sheet. A control device allows the back folding press member to execute a back folding process with a small gap formed between the back rest plate member and a back of the sheet bundle. The control device further allows the back of the sheet bundle to abut against the back rest plate member to forcibly cool the adhesive. The control device varies the time required for the cooling depending on the thickness of the sheet bundle.

Abstract: A bookbinding apparatus for forming a booklet by coating an adhesive on a spine of a stack of sheets, including: a coating apparatus, which has an adhesive reservoir to store a liquid of the adhesive, and a coating roller to coat on the spine the adhesive scooped up from the adhesive reservoir; a pellet storage section to store pellets of the adhesive; a replenishing section to replenish the pellets of the adhesive into the adhesive reservoir; an adhesive quantity sensor to detect a liquid level in the adhesive reservoir; and a controller to control the replenishing section based on a detection signal of the adhesive quantity sensor, wherein the controller controls a rate of replenishing amount of the pellets by controlling the replenishing section based on information of the stack of sheets.

Abstract: This invention provides a booklet making method including a cutting size setting step of setting a cutting size on the basis of a difference amount between a layout position of an image when a layout interval between images printed on a printing medium is minimum and a layout position of an image when the layout interval between images is maximum; an image printing step of adjusting the layout interval between the images printed on the printing medium in accordance with a position of the printing medium upon binding, and printing an image on the printing medium; a binding step of binding a plurality of printing media bearing images to prepare a printing medium bundle; a folding step of folding the printing medium in half; and a cutting step of cutting an edge of the printing medium bundle on the basis of the cutting size.

Abstract: An image forming system including a binding system section that generates a stack of sheets by accumulating a plurality of sheets and that binds the sheets by wrapping the stack of sheets with a cover sheet in the shape of a horizontal U, the image forming system having: a measurement section to measure the thickness of the stack of sheets; a spine cover width determining section to determine a spine cover width in the cover sheet based on the thickness of the stack of sheets measured by the measurement section; and an image forming section to form on the cover sheet a front cover image and a back cover image separating them by a spacing equal to the spine cover width.

Abstract: A method for producing printed products with an arrangement including at least one printing press to produce book blocks, at least one conveying device to convey the book blocks, at least one processing device to provide each respective book block with a respective cover, and a control unit to control the production of the book blocks. The method includes producing each respective cover in advance of each respective book block production, supplying each cover to at least one storage unit, and following the supplying of each cover to the storage unit, triggering at least one printing press by the control unit to produce the respective book block on the at least one printing press.

Abstract: Provided is a bookbinding device having a thickness measuring unit including a movable piece that moves according to the thickness of a sheet bundle to be bound, a bookbinding processing unit for performing bookbinding processing in a state of being positioned at a prescribed processing position, and a synchronization mechanism for changing the processing position of the bookbinding processing unit in synchronization with the movement of the movable piece.

Abstract: A method of trimming a plurality of sheets bound together, in which each of the plurality of sheets defines a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge that collectively define a fore edge of the closed bound document, comprising selecting a first portion of the plurality of sheets, folding the first portion of the plurality of sheets at a first fold angle and in a first fold direction, and trimming the folded first portion of the plurality of sheets near the first portion edges included in the first portion to partially achieve the desired edge effect for the bound document. The first portion of the plurality of sheets is greater than one sheet of the plurality of sheets. The first fold angle and the first fold direction are configured to achieve a desired fore edge effect.

Abstract: While a book block (P) is nipped between a pair of clamping plates (1a, 1b) and passes through processing Units (B to D) in succession, perfect book bind processing is carried out. Two or more of the processing units (B to D) have pairs of members (2b, 2c; 3c, 3d; 4a, 4b) which engage or come into contact with both sides of a back surface of the book block A thickness of the book block is measured by a measuring unit (6) before the book binding processing is started. When a thickness of next book block is measured by a measuring unit during the book bind processing of a previous book block, a control section (7) stores a measured value of the thickness of the next book block in a memory (8). When the previous book block reaches a predetermined position on a conveying path, a gap between the pair of members of the processing unit located upstream of a position of the previous book block is adjusted based on the measured value stored in the memory.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to an apparatus and method for attaching a cover to an assembly of plural sheets. Exemplary embodiments include first and second clamping components displaceable relative to one another, wherein the first and second clamping components define a first dimension of a sheet receiving volume, and wherein a second dimension of the sheet receiving volume is defined by a sheet stop and a first plane that is orthogonal to the first and second clamping components; and a roller drive for displacing a first roller along the first plane and exerting a force perpendicular to the first plane in a direction toward the sheet receiving volume.

Abstract: A bookbinding processing apparatus capable of setting values for each item of post-processing functions on printed sheets and a control method thereof display, on a display unit, an operation screen for inputting setting values for each item of post-processing functions, and an setting value for each item is input using the operation screen. When inputting a setting value for a first item, giving the instruction to display an recommended setting value for the first item and items thereafter causes a display unit to display a list of recommended setting values for the first item input on the operation screen and for the other items, recommended setting values selected on the list are displayed, and setting values for items previously input on that setting screen can be validated and printing is started.

Abstract: A bookbinding system to produce plural booklets includes: a bookbinding apparatus which forms a sheet bundle by stacking plural sheets on each of which an image has been formed by an image forming apparatus, and joins a spine of the sheet bundle and a cover sheet with an adhesive; a coating section which applies the adhesive onto the spine of the sheet bundle; a measuring section which measures a thickness of the sheet bundle; a calculating section which calculates at least an amount of the adhesive applied onto the spine, or charge information corresponding to the amount of the adhesive applied, on the basis of thickness information of the sheet bundle measured; and a first accumulating section which carries out at least an accumulating operation that accumulates the amount of adhesive calculated, or an accumulating operation that accumulates the charge information calculated.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for making hard book cover assemblies. The apparatus may include a cutter for removing a portion of cover material from a hard book cover assembly. Cutting may be performed without releasing the assembly from a conveyor.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus, including: a booklet making section for making a booklet by covering a sheet bundle comprised of a plurality of sheets with a cover in a U-shape; a folding section for forming a fold-line on a coversheet, which covers the booklet made by the book making section; cover sheet conveyance section for conveying the coversheet; a measurement section for measuring a thickness of the sheet bundle; and a control section for controlling operations of the cover sheet conveyance section and the folding section to determine a folding position on the coversheet and form a fold-line on the folding position; wherein the folding position has been determined based on size information of the coversheet, size information of a sheet of the sheet bundle and thickness information of the sheet bundle measured by the measurement section.

Abstract: A bookbinding apparatus includes a collecting device, a bookbinding path, a bundle conveying device for transferring the sheet bundle to a paste applying position and then to a cover binding position, a paste applying device for applying an adhesive to a spine part of the sheet bundle, and a cover feeding path. A cover binding device binds the sheet bundle with the adhesive to the cover sheet, and a cover binding control device controls the cover binding device. The cover binding device includes a back folding press member and a back abutting plate member. The cover sheet is sandwiched between the back abutting plate member and the spine part of the sheet bundle with a small gap between the back abutting plate member and the spine part. The cover binding control device adjusts a size of the gap depending on a thickness of the cover sheet when folded back.

Abstract: A bookbinding apparatus which forms a booklet by coating adhesive onto a spine of a sheet bundle, the bookbinding apparatus comprising: an adhesive tank which stores adhesive; a supplying section which supplies solid adhesive to the adhesive tank; a melting section which melts the solid adhesive supplied to the adhesive tank; a coating section which coats the adhesive onto the spine of the sheet bundle; and a controller which controls the supplying section to supply the solid adhesive from the supplying section to the adhesive tank when an amount of adhesive that has been coated by the coating section reaches equal to or more than a predetermined value.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a sizing guide or gage for selecting a binding device to bind a set of sheets using a binding machine typically referred to as a comb binder. The sizing guide includes a plurality of apertures corresponding to a range of binding devices, each aperture corresponding to a particular size of binding device. The aperture includes a rounded portion and is linked to a slot corresponding to the maximum number of sheets to be bound by the binding device corresponding to the aperture. The sizing guide may be formed as part of the binding machine.

Abstract: An image forming system including an image forming apparatus and a book binding apparatus, the image forming system includes: a first detection section which detects maximum and minimum book-body sheet length in the bundle of the book-body sheets; a second detection section which detects a thickness of the bundle of the book-body sheets; a third detection section which detects a cover sheet length; a selection section to select whether the cover sheet length is determined based on the maximum book-body sheet length or on the minimum book-body sheet length; a calculation section which calculates a cutting amount of the cover sheet according to the selection; a trimming section which cuts the cover sheet based on the calculated cutting amount; and a book binding section which encases the bundle of sheets of the book-body with the U-shaped cover sheet.

Abstract: A machine for inserting plastic pre-formed helical coils into aligned holes at an edge of respective collated books for binding the books is adjustable to accommodate different thickness books and respective different diameter and pitch of coil. The machine has a platen having an edge comb at which the edge of the book is presented and a coil drive for rotating the helical coil parallel to the edge of the platen. Two spine formers support the book such that its spine takes up a curved shape in side elevation and a clamp with an edge comb clamps the book on to the platen. Both the edge comb of the platen and of the clamp are provided as insert portions attachable to the respective element for easy replacement of the pitch. The location of the coil drive is automatically adjusted by measuring the coil diameter with a gauge. The clamp moves along an arc which automatically adjusts the clamping location for thickness of the book.

Abstract: A book on demand system for manufacturing a set books. The system includes an order placement system and a book manufacturing system. The order placement system includes a computer and a database for storing books in an electronic form. A customer can operate the computer to access the database and to select a set of books to purchase. In addition, the customer can define the storage space will be used to store the set of books. The computer responds to this customer input by manufacturing the set of books so that the books can be placed physically within the storage space.

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 guide apparatus for applying a cover to a bound stack of sheets, including a base unit which defines a book receiving surface and a first alignment member having a lower cover stop disposed along a reference line, and a first upper cover stop also disposed along the first reference line. A first book stop is included defining a stack engaging surface which is positioned intermediate the cover engaging surfaces of the first upper and lower cover stops and with said stack engaging surface extending a distance past said first reference line towards the book receiving surface. The first upper and lower cover stops are positioned to engage top and bottom cover sections of the cover, with the stack engaging surface being positioned to contact the edge of the stack so as to precisely align the stack with respect to the top and bottom cover sections in one direction.

Abstract: A device for machine backing of rounded book blocks (3), which are clamped in the area close to the spine, by means of a forming block (4) having a concave working face which acts with compressive force on the book block spine (3a), comprises a carriage (5) holding the forming block (4), which carriage (5) is swivellable on arcuate tracks (6a) in a supporting bearing (6) alternately to one side of the book block spine (3a) and the other by means of drive means (18), and comprises means (13-15) for cyclical upward and downward movement of the forming block (4) and a device (16, 17, 19-22) for adjusting the placement height position (HA) of the forming block (4) on the book block spine (3a). A measuring device (36-38, 53) which detects the height position (HRx) of the book block spine (3a) during continuous operation and a device (30, 31, 33, 43-50, 16, 17, 19-22, 51, 52) which positions the book block (3) to be backed and the forming block (4) to be placed thereon with respect to one another are provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods of dispensing adhesive in a bookbinding system are described. Sheets may be bound into bound text bodies having respective spines exposed for adhesive application and characterized by multiple length dimensions and multiple thickness dimensions. In one aspect, a sheet binding system comprises an adhesive dispenser that is configured to dispense across the thickness dimension of a text body spine solid sheet adhesive having one of multiple effective widths that is sized to correspond substantially to the length dimension of the text body spine. In accordance with this approach, books of different lengths (or heights) may be readily bound with solid sheet adhesive that may be contained within a single, replaceable cartridge housing.

Abstract: Systems and methods of managing consumables used in a bookbinding system are described. In one aspect, a bookbinding consumables quantity interrogator is configured to obtain information relating to usage of one or more consumables in a bookbinding system, and a processor is configured to compute usage statistics for the one or more bookbinding consumables based upon usage information obtained by the bookbinding consumables quantity interrogator.

Abstract: A side wire stitching binder includes at least one side wire stitcher for stitching a book through a side of the book, a cover station for applying a cover over a spine of the book, and a clamping device including a clamp for transferring the book from the at least one side wire stitcher to the cover station. Also disclosed is a method for binding a book comprising the steps of clamping an unstitched book with a first clamp, side stitching the book while clamped in the first clamp, and transporting the book to a cover station using the first clamp.

Abstract: On a base (12) are fixed a pair of supporting members (6, 8). A guide rail (3) is supported by the pair of supporting members. A measurement block (2) is guided by the guide rail in a sliding manner. On the base is fixed a reference block (10) abutted by the measurement block when it has reached one end of the guide rail. A moving-distance measuring device is provided which uses as a zero point a position where the measurement block abuts against the reference block, to measure a distance over which the measurement block has moved with respect to the reference block. The moving-distance measuring device has, on the base, a pair of pulleys (5, 7) arranged with a gap therebetween in a direction parallel to the guide rail, a belt (4) engaged over the pair of pulleys and having its part linked with the measurement block, and a rotary encoder (11) linked to a rotary shaft of one of the paired pulleys.