Abstract: Bookbinding unit that in binding an inner-leave sheet bundle together with a cover enables accurate binding of the cover onto the bundle's spine and meanwhile forms folding scores in the cover flaps. Furnished with: a stacking tray unit; a process path for sequentially transporting bundles from the tray unit into adhesive-application and cover-binding locations; an adhesive application unit, disposed in the adhesive-application location, that applies adhesive to bundles from the tray unit; a cover-supply unit that supplies covers to the cover-binding location; and a cover-binding unit, disposed in the cover-binding location, that binds sheet bundles from the adhesive-application location together with covers. The cover-binding unit has a shoulder-pressing unit that forms spine creases in the spine portion of the covers, and a flap-pressing unit that forms folds in the spine-creased sides of the covers.

Abstract: A glue container receiving hot-melt adhesive, an applicator roll, an apparatus casing, and disposed therein, a cooling unit and its control unit, for cooling a post-cover-sheet-processed sheaf, are provided. The control unit is configured to halt the cooling unit when adhesive is being applied to a sheaf with the applicator roll, and to actuate it after adhesive application. The control unit: (1) cools the apparatus casing interior by actuating the cooling unit when a sheaf is conveyed toward a glue application position; (2) halts the cooling unit when adhesive is being applied to a sheaf conveyed into the glue application position; and (3) reactivates the cooling unit after adhesive application. Thus controlling the apparatus-internal temperature appropriately in applying a hot-melt adhesive to a sheaf, and binding the sheaf together with a cover, etc. enables secure binding adhesion in a short time frame, without bookbinding defects such as missing leaves.

Abstract: In replenishing a glue container with hot-melt glue, to enable stable supply of the glue in solid form without it clogging the resupply path from the hopper, provided are: a sheet retaining unit for retaining a sheaf in a glue application position; a glue applier in a hot-melt-glue-receiving container, disposed in the glue application position, for applying glue to an endface of a sheaf there; a heater, disposed in the glue container, for heating/melting the glue inside; a heater temperature controller; a resupply hopper above the glue container for replenishing it with solid glue; a vacuum ducting unit above the container and adjoining the resupply hopper, for suctioning up glue evaporation derivatives; and a control unit configured to run the vacuum ducting unit when the glue container is being replenished with glue, to prevent or mitigate invasion of evaporation derivatives into the resupply hopper.

Abstract: Affords a bookbinding method and bookbinding unit that attach the bookmarker string when binding inner-bound sheets coated with adhesive on the spine portion to the spine portion of the coversheet. Apply adhesive to a spine portion of inner-bound sheets collated and stacked into a bundle, join that sheet bundle to a spine portion of a coversheet, and fold the coversheet over the sheet bundle. At that time, the bookmarker string is attached to the booklet simultaneously by joining the sheet bundle to the coversheet with the bookmarker string placed over the inside spine portion of the coversheet.

Abstract: Bookbinding unit that in binding an inner-leave sheet bundle together with a cover enables accurate binding of the cover onto the bundle's spine and meanwhile forms folding scores in the cover flaps. Furnished with: a stacking tray unit; a process path for sequentially transporting bundles from the tray unit into adhesive-application and cover-binding locations; an adhesive application unit, disposed in the adhesive-application location, that applies adhesive to bundles from the tray unit; a cover-supply unit that supplies covers to the cover-binding location; and a cover-binding unit, disposed in the cover-binding location, that binds sheet bundles from the adhesive-application location together with covers. The cover-binding unit has a shoulder-pressing unit that forms spine creases in the spine portion of the covers, and a flap-pressing unit that forms folds in the spine-creased sides of the covers.

Abstract: Bookbinding unit that, in feeding cover sheets to a predetermined cover-fitting position, is able to feed various sheets/leaves, yet without defacing of or scratch marks in the cover sheets, nor press marks during cover formation, occurring. Provided are an incoming sheet conveyance path for sequentially bringing in printed sheets; a stacking tray unit for stacking and collating into bundles sheets from the conveyance path; a bookbinding process path that transports sheet bundles from the stacking tray unit to a predetermined cover-binding position; and a cover feed path for feeding cover sheets to the cover-binding position. A protective-sheet storage tray for supplying jacketing sheets is annexed to the cover feed path, and a conveyance unit that overlays fed cover sheets with jacketing sheets from their storage tray and transports the jacketed cover sheets to the cover-sheet binding position is disposed in the cover feed path.

Abstract: In replenishing a glue container with hot-melt glue, to enable stable supply of the glue in solid form without it clogging the resupply path from the hopper, provided are: a sheet retaining unit for retaining a sheaf in a glue application position; a glue applier in a hot-melt-glue-receiving container, disposed in the glue application position, for applying glue to an endface of a sheaf there; a heater, disposed in the glue container, for heating/melting the glue inside; a heater temperature controller; a resupply hopper above the glue container for replenishing it with solid glue; a vacuum ducting unit above the container and adjoining the resupply hopper, for suctioning up glue evaporation derivatives; and a control unit configured to run the vacuum ducting unit when the glue container is being replenished with glue, to prevent or mitigate invasion of evaporation derivatives into the resupply hopper.

Abstract: A glue container receiving hot-melt adhesive, an applicator roll, an apparatus casing, and disposed therein, a cooling unit and its control unit, for cooling a post-cover-sheet-processed sheaf, are provided. The control unit is configured to halt the cooling unit when adhesive is being applied to a sheaf with the applicator roll, and to actuate it after adhesive application. The control unit: (1) cools the apparatus casing interior by actuating the cooling unit when a sheaf is conveyed toward a glue application position; (2) halts the cooling unit when adhesive is being applied to a sheaf conveyed into the glue application position; and (3) reactivates the cooling unit after adhesive application. Thus controlling the apparatus-internal temperature appropriately in applying a hot-melt adhesive to a sheaf, and binding the sheaf together with a cover, etc. enables secure binding adhesion in a short time frame, without bookbinding defects such as missing leaves.

Abstract: A hinge device which can be readjusted easily by bringing a rotating member into contact with a friction member. A first fixing member 10 fixed to a copying machine 1 and a second fixing member 11 fixed to an ADF 2 are connected to each other by means of a first shaft member 13 bearing them so as to be free to rotate; the member 10 has a rotating member 7 fixed to a second shaft member 16 arranged in parallel with the shaft member 13. The member 7 is put into contact with a friction member 15 arranged on the shaft member 13 to form a frictional portion. The member 15 is always in contact with the member 7 on its surface. A hole for bearing the shaft member 16 is an oblong hole 14, with its bottom surface which allows the shaft member 16 to take rocking motions for an arbitrary adjustment of a contact pressure to the member 7.