Abstract: A separating unit for book blocks processed in a book binding system and fed at a first travelling speed from a folding or glueing machine in two parallel horizontal stacks in which the blocks are fed one-by-one in an upright position on a first conveying means, comprises second conveying means cooperating with the latter and travelling at a higher speed, a stack support bridging the transfer area between the first and second conveying means and guiding the randomly separated book blocks on the second conveying means. In order to uniformly space apart the separated book blocks, a timing switch is provided at the end portion of the second conveying means and is controlled by two light barriers which during the passage of the leading book blocks arrest the successive book blocks and release the same upon the passage of the leading block past the first light barrier.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying hot melt glue to back surfaces of book blocks, wherein these back surfaces are distributed in fan-like fashion, by means of glueing rollers, two of which are consecutively arranged conically-shaped rollers which are adjustable in their angular setting, whereby the tearing out resistance of the sheet edges is increased. Each glueing roller is supported in an individual glue pan which may be separately pivoted and adjusted in its height. By adjusting of angular setting of the aforementioned two rollers the vertical position of each glue pan may be corrected. This will ensure a uniform and sufficiently large glue layer over the back surfaces of the blocks throughout the entire process of glueing.