Abstract: Method of gathering signatures wherein signatures lying face to face in a stack and standing on the back edge, are fed to a delivery position with the face engaging an abutment (15). The signature (S1) in the delivery position is pushed up so that it projects from the stack at the opposite edge. Then, it is gripped at said edge so as to be carried by a continuous movement in an unchanged moving direction successively through the steps of being extracted from the stack, turned up-side-down and opened while being deposited upon a conveyor path (11). The invention also relates to a machine for gathering signatures comprising means (16) for feeding the signatures in the manner described above to the delivery position.

Abstract: Apparatus for pasting inserts (13) into publications (11) which are advanced by means of a conveyor (10) for publications in a straddling position. The apparatus comprises a magazine (12) for the inserts, a picker (14) for pulling the inserts one at a time from the magazine, and transfer means (15) for transporting an insert which has been pulled out, to a publication on the conveyor. This transfer means comprises a transfer member which can be driven continuously in a path about a substantially vertical axis (44) and which is arranged to pass at the movement thereof tangentially past the picker and the conveyor, respectively, at diametrically opposite sides of the axis. The suction nozzles are controlled to remove an insert from the picker and deliver said insert to a publication on the conveyor.

Abstract: Method in producing stapled printed matters. Signatures are laid astride one upon the other on a conveyor path (10) in a number of stations (12, 29, 34) distributed along the conveyor path. The signatures are transferred along the conveyor path at a rate which is brought to vary cyclically between a lower value while signatures are being received, and a higher value while signatures are being transferred between the stations.The signatures laid one upon the other are stapled and trimmed by operative movements allowing the signatures to be transferred continuously along the conveyor path while being stapled and trimmed.

Abstract: An apparatus for bundling sheets or fascicles (11) which are supplied one by one and arranged in a regular loose bundle with the flat sides towards one another. The bundle is pushed in the transverse direction thereof from a bundling position in between press plates (26, 27) which are mutually spaced and are relatively movable towards and away from one another in a strapping position. A band (38) or the like is fed in the longitudinal direction thereof and means are provided to guide the band in a loop round the bundle compressed between the press plates. The loop is sealed by sealing means after which the bundle is pushed in its transverse direction from the strapping position.