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: In the case of an inner book conveying channel having mutually adjustable lateral guides and having a height-adjustable inner book support, on which inner books are fed in an upright position while being laterally supported, for operationally reliable conveying of very thin inner books an inner book support (2) is provided with bottom lateral guides (9), which are preferably arranged on either side and height-adjustable jointly with the inner book support (2), and with middle lateral guides (12), which are positioned between the bottom lateral guides (9) and top lateral guides (11). Said middle lateral guides are freely displaceable along vertical guides and by virtue of height adjustment of the inner book support (2) are liftable by the bottom lateral guides (9) into a vertically offset position.

Abstract: In the case of an inner book conveying channel having mutually adjustable lateral guides and having a height-adjustable inner book support, on which inner books are fed in an upright position while being laterally supported, for operationally reliable conveying of very thin inner books an inner book support (2) is provided with bottom lateral guides (9), which are preferably arranged on either side and height-adjustable jointly with the inner book support (2), and with middle lateral guides (12), which are positioned between the bottom lateral guides (9) and top lateral guides (11). Said middle lateral guides are freely displaceable along vertical guides and by virtue of height adjustment of the inner book support (2) are liftable by the bottom lateral guides (9) into a vertically offset position.

Abstract: The application of protective jackets comprised of paper to a book is facilitated by minimizing bending stresses in the jacket paper in the fold areas where the jacket is wrapped around the opposed longitudinal edges of the book cover in the course of defining jacket retention flaps. The stresses are relieved by the metered, uniform moistening of the fold areas of the jacket to thereby diminish the flexual strength of the paper fibers in these areas.