Abstract: In order to provide a sturdy yet inexpensive rotary corrugated box, the box includes a corrugated base having an upstanding corrugated side wall, each having an inner surface and an outer surface to define a box-like enclosure. A rigid insert is disposed within the box-like enclosure substantially co-extensive with the inner surface of the corrugated base. The rigid insert is substantially planar and has a flat surface in engagement with substantially the entire inner surface of the corrugated base. A rotary base assembly is provided which includes a first portion in engagement with the outer surface of the corrugated base and a second portion to be disposed on a supporting surface. The first and second portions cooperate so as to facilitate relative rotational movement therebetween.

Abstract: A machine for attaching a book cover to endsheets within an adhesive is set forth. The adhesive is applied while it is within a predetermined temperature range. The machine includes a housing, an application roller journalled within the housing, and a metering roller journalled within the housing. The metering roll is axially parallel to the application roller and nearly contacts the application roller at a nip. The region above the nip defined by the application and metering rollers, and two internal seals with the housing is an adhesive reservoir. The adhesive remains in this reservoir before it is applied by the application roller. The machine also includes a level detector which detects the level of the adhesive in the adhesive reservoir. The level detector is coupled to a controller and produces a low level signal when the level of the adhesive is below a predetermined level threshold.

Abstract: In a method of imposing selected pages defined in a sequence of page descriptions included in a PostScript.RTM. file, the selected pages are interpreted by an interpreter and may be transmitted to a raster memory for rendering on a flat by an output device. If the current page is a selected page to be rendered on the flat, a virtual device is defined as the output device for the selected page such that the virtual device specifies an area in a raster memory for positioning the selected page on the flat, and the selected page is interpreted. If the current page is not a selected page, a next page is determined as selected page to be rendered on the flat, the virtual device is defined for the next selected page as the output device for the non-selected page, and the non-selected page is interpreted.

Abstract: A puzzle book having a front cover, a back cover, a plurality of pages disposed between the front and back covers, and a puzzle disposed on the exterior side of the front cover. The puzzle is composed of a plurality of interlocking puzzle pieces which are disposed in a cavity formed in the exterior side of the front cover. Each of the puzzle pieces has a portion of a printed image formed thereon and a plurality of interlocking portions. The cavity in which the puzzle pieces are disposed may have a shape defined by an internal perimeter of a border area, and the border area may have a plurality of interlocking portions which mate with the interlocking portions of the puzzle pieces to help hold the puzzle pieces within the cavity when the front cover of the puzzle book is opened. The puzzle book may also be provided with a single sheet of transparent material which covers at least a portion of the puzzle and which is removable from the front cover.

Abstract: In a method of imposing selected pages defined in a sequence of page descriptions included in a PostScript.RTM. file, the selected pages are interpreted by an interpreter and may be transmitted to a raster memory for rendering on a flat by an output device. If the current page is a selected page to be rendered on the flat, a virtual device is defined as the output device for the selected page such that the virtual device specifies an area in a raster memory for positioning the selected page on the flat, and the selected page is interpreted. If the current page is not a selected page, a next page is determined as a selected page to be rendered on the flat, the virtual device is defined for the next selected page as the output device for the non-selected page, and the non-selected page is interpreted. A PostScript.RTM. save operator is redefined in order to save a definition of the virtual device. A PostScript.RTM.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a compact disc product having a compact disc and a package which encloses the compact disc which includes the steps of providing a first web of material and a second web of material, positioning a compact disc at a predetermined point relative to one of the webs of material, bonding the webs of material together in a predetermined positional relationship with the compact disc disposed between the webs of material to form a product web, and cutting the product web at a first point adjacent a first side of the compact disc and at a second point adjacent a second side of the compact disc to form the compact disc product.

Abstract: An improved vacuum exposure frame for use in making exposed aluminum printing or lithographic plates permits the use of unworked glass, preferably tempered glass, rather than polycarbonate plexiglass (which is easily scratched) of the prior art replacement of the transparent image-exposure-window material. The frame is routed on the lower aperture-facing portion of the exposure window, preferably by a 90.degree. routing having a horizontal face and a vertical face surrounding and defining the aperture underside. A preferred embodiment has a reverse depression preferably routed out of the horizontal face and a sealant-adhesive is inserted into the reverse depression and along the vertical face so as to secure the unworked glass to the frame. Separate ID windows with long lasting polycarbonate inserts are also in the frame where the main image exposure window aperture is shaped to contain preferably only the book pages to be exposed onto the aluminum plate.

Abstract: A gathering chain pusher member for use in a gathering conveyor system is configured in a manner to allow high speed binding to occur without deformation of signatures collected by the system.

Abstract: A system controls a package assembly line. The package assembly line has a piece feeder and a component feeder. The piece feeder is arranged to feed pieces to a transport of the package assembly line. The component feeder is arranged to feed components to the transport of the package assembly line so that the components and the pieces are combined into packages. The components have corresponding component identifiers thereon. The system includes a memory for storing a piece data file having piece identifiers corresponding to pieces fed by the piece feeder, a detector for detecting a component identifier from a component being fed by the component feeder toward the transport, a comparator for comparing the detected component identifier to a corresponding piece identifier, and a data list re-sequencer for re-sequencing the piece data file if the detected component identifier fails to match the corresponding piece identifier.

Abstract: A method for using a heretofore industrial waste material for the utilitarian purpose of controlling and containing a liquid on a hard surface. The method includes the steps of accumulating an industrial waste material in the form of paper dust in a bindery for use as a loose filler for a container, forming a container from a fabric having a porosity sufficient for passage of the liquid therethrough, substantially entirely filling the container with the paper dust as accumulated at the bindery, and thereafter closing the container after it has been substantially filled with the accumulated paper dust from the bindery. Additionally, the method includes placing the container on the surface after closing in order to control and contain the liquid on the hard surface thereby.

Abstract: A method of make-ready of a bindery apparatus includes the steps of providing indicia relating to the size of the signature on the apparatus to locate inner and outer ends of pocket guides for pocket machines to obtain a proper bow of the signatures and a proper location of the signatures for feeding to a rotary gripper mechanism. Indicia are provided on the rotary gripper mechanism relating to the drop of the signature onto a saddle. Information from a previous run of the same signature is used to set the rotary gripper mechanism to time the signature drop. Indicia are also provided for locating a first gathering conveyor to allow setting of signature pushing lugs to a position related to the length of the signature, while the gathering conveyor is at a predetermined reference position. Similarly, indicia related to the length of the signature are used to position pushing lugs on a second conveyor.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for high resolution sensing of engraving stylus movement for dynamic control of an engraving machine while engraving, improved calibration and as a tool used to assist in selecting acceptable gravure cylinders and improving the manufacturing process of making gravure cylinders is described. A variety of sensors are described in conjunction with measuring engraving stylus movement, specifically, sensors that measure small changes in capacitance, resistance, impedance, optical reflections, optical interference patterns, induced eddy currents and voltages induced in a two-material piezoelectric rod which corresponding to positional changes of the engraving stylus.

Abstract: In order to releasably retain compact discs in an orderly fashion, a compact disc holder includes a single thickness panel having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface has a first retention assembly for releasably retaining a compact disc and the second surface has a second retention assembly for releasably retaining a compact disc. With this arrangement, the retention assemblies are disposed on the respective surfaces of the single thickness panel to support compact discs in generally superposed relation.

Abstract: A puzzle book having a front cover, a back cover, a plurality of pages disposed between the front and back covers, and a puzzle disposed on the exterior side of the front cover. The puzzle is composed of a plurality of interlocking puzzle pieces which are disposed in a cavity formed in the exterior side of the front cover. Each of the puzzle pieces has a portion of a printed image formed thereon and a plurality of interlocking portions. The cavity in which the puzzle pieces are disposed may have a shape defined by an internal perimeter of a border area, and the border area may have a plurality of interlocking portions which mate with the interlocking portions of the puzzle pieces to help hold the puzzle pieces within the cavity when the front cover of the puzzle book is opened. The puzzle book may also be provided with a single sheet of transparent material which covers at least a portion of the puzzle and which is removable from the front cover.

Abstract: In order to avoid ergonomic problems such as carpet tunnel syndrome while improving productivity, an apparatus for feeding inserts such as order blanks and envelopes to a binding line is disclosed. The apparatus includes an insert support for supporting inserts in a vertically inclined stack together with an insert feeder for feeding inserts along a vertically inclined upward feed path. It also includes a transport extending from the insert feeder for transporting inserts for delivery to an insert receiving point remote therefrom. The apparatus further includes the transport having an insert receiving end positioned adjacent the top of the vertically inclined insert stack, an insert supplying end positioned adjacent the insert receiving point, and an insert conveying section extending from the insert receiving end to the insert supplying end. It also includes an insert separator which is generally operative between the insert feeder and the insert receiving end of the insert transport.

Abstract: A drive control system for a binding line having first and second separate binding-line segments, includes a first motor for driving the first binding-line segment, a second motor independent of the first motor for driving the second binding-line segment, and a controller coupled to the first and second motors. The controller is operable in an independent or asynchronous mode for controlling the first and second motors so that the first and second binding-line segments operate independently, and is also operable in a synchronous mode for controlling the first and second motors so that the first and second binding-line segments operate in synchronism with one another.

Abstract: A method of and system for reducing aliasing effects in a digital reproduction of an original image are disclosed. A first set of pixels extending along a first direction in the digital reproduction and satisfying an edge condition is found and a second set of pixels lying on a first line and extending along the first direction are identified from the first set of pixels and from the sampled values associated with pixels lying in at least one additional line extending along a second direction transverse to the first direction. The sampled values for the pixels lying on the first line are modified toward a first value and the sampled values for pixels defining a second line adjacent the first line are modified toward a second value.

Abstract: A system, which converts a continuous tone value undergoing conversion to an output value, generates first and second errors and an output. The first error is based upon (i) the continuous tone value undergoing conversion, (ii) output values corresponding to previously converted continuous tone values, output values predicted for continuous tone values yet to be converted, and an output value having an assumed first level for the continuous cone value undergoing conversion, and (iii) a matrix value based upon the continuous tone value undergoing conversion. The second error is based upon (i) the continuous tone value undergoing conversion, (ii) the output values corresponding to the previously converted continuous tone values, the output values predicted for the continuous tone values yet to be converted, and an output value having an assumed second level for the continuous tone value undergoing conversion, and (iii) the matrix value based upon the continuous tone value undergoing conversion.

Abstract: An image described in a page description language program is processed by an external image processing module, which may perform screening or color correction on the image. The processed image is then returned to the page description language program to be incorporated into a raster description of an output page. An image operator contained in the page description language program is redefined such the image operator transforms the image for compatibility with the external processing module and then invokes the external module to process the image.

Abstract: A package for a compact disc having a rear panel and a front panel associated with the rear panel. The front and rear panels are substantially parallel to each other and have a space disposed between them in which an insert panel is disposed. The front panel has an aperture formed therein which is adapted to receive the compact disc. The insert panel has a central aperture formed therein which is adapted to accommodate the compact disc therein. The aperture formed in the front panel of the compact disc enclosure may be sized to expose at least a portion of the central hole of the compact disc when the compact disc is disposed in the central aperture of the insert panel. The aperture formed in the front panel may also include a finger slot which exposes a portion of a peripheral edge of the compact disc so that the compact disc can be grasped exclusively by its edges, thus eliminating the need to grasp either face of the disc.