Abstract: A method for trimming a single book having a front edge and two side edges includes transporting a book in a transport direction so that the front edge is parallel to the transport direction, cutting the front edge of the book using a first reciprocating knife when the front edge is parallel to the transport direction, transporting the book so that the side edges are parallel to the transport direction, and cutting the side edges using second and third reciprocating knives when the side edges are parallel to the transport direction. A single book trimming device is also provided having a conveyor device for conveying a book in a transport direction, a reciprocating front knife for trimming a front edge of the book, the front knife having a first blade edge parallel to the transport direction of the conveyor at the front knife; and at least one reciprocating side knife for trimming side edges of the book, the side knife having a second blade edge parallel to the transport direction at the side knife.

Abstract: A method for trimming a single book having a front edge and two side edges includes transporting a book in a transport direction so that the front edge is parallel to the transport direction, cutting the front edge of the book using a first reciprocating knife when the front edge is parallel to the transport direction, transporting the book so that the side edges are parallel to the transport direction, and cutting the side edges using second and third reciprocating knives when the side edges are parallel to the transport direction. A single book trimming device is also provided having a conveyor device for conveying a book in a transport direction, a reciprocating front knife for trimming a front edge of the book, the front knife having a first blade edge parallel to the transport direction of the conveyor at the front knife; and at least one reciprocating side knife for trimming side edges of the book, the side knife having a second blade edge parallel to the transport direction at the side knife.

Abstract: A device for separating a lowermost flat product from a stack of flat products including at least one sucker cup moveable so as to removably attach along a front edge portion of the lowermost flat product and to separate the lowermost flat product from a next adjacent flat product in the stack of flat products, and a gripper configured for gripping the lowermost flat product along a lateral edge and for transporting the lowermost flat product away from the stack of flat products.

Abstract: A device for separating a lowermost flat product from a stack of flat products including at least one sucker cup moveable so as to removably attach along a front edge portion of the lowermost flat product and to separate the lowermost flat product from a next adjacent flat product in the stack of flat products, and a gripper configured for gripping the lowermost flat product along a lateral edge and for transporting the lowermost flat product away from the stack of flat products.

Abstract: A method for covering a book includes delivering a book into a pocket, delivering an inverted cover for the book into the pocket, the cover having a first side and a second side, the first side of the cover contacting a side of the book in the pocket, and reversing the second side of the cover so as to contact another side of the book. Also disclosed is a book covering device including a plurality of movable pockets for receiving a book and an inverted cover, each pocket having a support wall and a spine stop movable with respect to the support wall, and each pocket including a cover reversing device for reversing the inverted cover.

Abstract: An existing sheet material feeder has a feed tray which holds sheet material in an on-edge orientation in which side surfaces of the sheet material are generally vertical. An apparatus is provided to convert the sheet material feeder to one having a feed tray which holds sheet material in a lying-down orientation in which side surfaces of the sheet material are generally horizontal. The apparatus for converting the on-edge sheet material feeder to the lying-down sheet material feeders includes a frame having a pair of parallel side sections. A single sheet material feed drum is disposed between and is connected with the side sections. The side sections are connected with side sections of the existing collator conveyor sheet material feeder.

Abstract: An improved sheet material handling apparatus includes a pair of saddle conveyors. An extractor drum sequentially grips folded edge portions of signatures in hoppers and moves the signatures along an arcuate path. During rotation of the extractor drum to move the signatures along the arcuate path, a first signature engages a first stop member and is transferred to a first saddle conveyor. The first stop member is then retracted and the next signature moves past the first stop member into engagement with a second stop member. The second signatures is then transferred to a second saddle conveyor. A single stitcher assembly is provided to stitch signatures in first and second spaced apart streams of signatures being conveyed by the two saddle conveyors. In addition, a single trimmer assembly is provided to trim the signatures while maintaining the signatures in the first and second spaced apart streams of signatures.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the controlled accumulating and feeding of piles of magazines from an input conveyor to a trimmer infeed conveyor. A flow director receives magazine piles and directs them to one of three parallel conveyor lanes, each lane including a series of independently driven conveyor sections. The leading pile in each lane is fed by a gate to the trimmer infeed conveyor while a restrictor restrains the succeeding piles from advancing. The procedure is repeated for each succeeding pile on each lane. Each section of each conveyor lane is provided with detectors for detecting stalled magazine piles. When stalled piles are detected at the downstream end of a conveyor section the adjacent downstream conveyor section is shut down. The traffic on the three lanes is compared and the flow director is instructed to not feed piles to a lane having an excessive backup of piles as compared to its neighbors.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the gating of piles of magazines from an input conveyor to a trimmer infeed conveyor. A pile is fed to a gating conveyor and blocked at the entrance thereto by a pair of gating pins. The gating pins and the gating conveyor are then driven together with the pins moving at a higher speed than the conveyor. This releases the pile and moves it toward the trimmer infeed conveyor. A second pair of gating pins behind the first pair and moving at the same speed overtakes the magazine pile from the rear and pushes it from the end of the gating conveyor onto the trimmer infeed conveyor.

Abstract: A tray is adapted to be supported on an elevator mechanism and moves vertically by the elevator mechanism to pick up a shingled array of signatures which are supported on edge in an inclined position adjacent the elevator mechanism. The tray includes a generally horizontally extending support portion adapted to engage the lower edges of the signatures as the tray is raised. A member located at one end of the tray has an inclined surface against which the last signature at one end of the tray rests. A clamp mechanism at the other end of the tray includes a clamp member which is engageable with the last signature in the array to clamp against that last signature.