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: An adhesive dispensing apparatus and image forming apparatus include a support device for supporting a sheet bundle, a dispensing device for dispensing an adhesive to an edge of the sheet bundle supported by the support device, and a transport device for transporting the sheet bundle with the edge having the adhesive dispensed by the dispensing device as a leading edge. A cover can be securely attached to the sheet bundle.

Abstract: An adhesive applicator forms adhesive to a smooth surface at a predetermined thickness when applied to a sheet bundle edge. An adhesive storing container is disposed at an adhesive application position, and is equipped with an applicator roller device and a scraper blade that adjusts the thickness of the adhesive layer applied. A moving device drives the applicator roller device or the sheet bundle holding device so that the applicator roller device and scraper blade move relative to the sheet bundle. The scraper blade is configured to push or sweep away excess adhesive from one end of the sheet bundle to the other end thereof across the backside, removing excess adhesive while forming a smoothly finished surface of adequately softened and flow-able adhesive.

Abstract: A bookmaking apparatus joins sheets together to creating a booklet by securely and uniformly adhering a cover sheet to a backside edge of a sheet bundle. The apparatus includes a sheet support device for holding the sheet bundle in a substantially vertical posture, and an adhesive application device to apply adhesive to a bottom edge of the sheet bundle held by the sheet support device. The bookmaking apparatus further includes a first conveyance device for conveying at least one of the sheet support device and the adhesive application device in a direction relative to the bottom edge of the sheet bundle, and a second conveyance device for moving at least one of the sheet support device and the adhesive application device in a substantially vertical direction, in order to change a gap distance between the bottom edge of the sheet bundle and the adhesive application member.

Abstract: An adhesive dispensing apparatus for dispensing an adhesive on a sheet bundle includes a support device for supporting the sheet bundle, a dispensing device disposed adjacent to the support device for dispensing the adhesive on an edge of the sheet bundle supported by the support device, and a transport device disposed adjacent to the support device for transporting the sheet bundle from the edge, to which the adhesive is applied, as a leading edge in a transport direction. A refilling device is provided for refilling the adhesive to the dispensing device, and a moving device moves the dispensing device between a dispending position where the adhesive is dispensed to the edge of the sheet bundle and a refilling position where the adhesive is supplied to the dispensing device from the refilling device.

Abstract: A sheet bundle conveyance apparatus includes a tray arranged substantially horizontally below a discharge outlet of an image forming apparatus. The tray, including a drive device for lowering the tray to a sheet configuration position, is configured to rise and lower a predetermined distance between a sheet stacking position and a sheet conveyance position below the sheet stacking position. The apparatus further includes a gripping conveyance device configured to convey a sheet bundle received from the tray to a finishing device at a substantially vertical posture and turned a predetermined angle.

Abstract: An adhesive dispensing apparatus and image forming apparatus include a support device for supporting a sheet bundle, a dispensing device for dispensing an adhesive to an edge of the sheet bundle supported by the support device, and a transport device for transporting the sheet bundle with the edge having the adhesive dispensed by the dispensing device as a leading edge. A cover can be securely attached to the sheet bundle.

Abstract: In disposable diaper, an absorbent product is composed of fluffed pulp, synthetic fibers, a super absorbent material, and the like, and includes elastic means disposed adjacent to both sides of the absorbent core so as to longitudinally traverse the absorbent core extending from the back to the stomach through the crotch when the disposable diaper is applied to the human body. Thus, when urine, feces, body fluids, and the like are discharged, even if the weight of the absorbent core is increased by absorbing the substances, the leakage of the substances can be prevented because the shape retention property of the disposable diaper can be maintained by the tension of the elastic materials longitudinally traversing the absorbent core.

Abstract: A device for the collection of bodily excretion having an expandable storage member in the form of bellows. The bellows having a minimum size prior to excretion, but increase in volume with the increase of waste liquid or solid passed from the body, thereby assuring that such waste liquid or solid is contained in the expandable storage without leakage no matter how much excretion may be discharged. The device has a guide strip for directing the flow of the excretion toward the expandable storage member at its rear part. The guide strip is made of a mass of spongy material compressed in the form of a thin sheet. It is effective to absorb and collect the excretion quickly by enlarging and restoring to its initial stress-free volume.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing sanitary articles having a body contact layer of a body fluid permeable sheet, an absorptive pad and a cover layer of a body fluid impermeable sheet are disclosed. The apparatus includes a drum having a stationary flange and a rotatable drum portion. A plurality of dies are mounted on the circumferential surface of the rotable drum in a side-by-side relationship. A strip of fluid impermeable sheet is wound around about half of the circumference of the rotary drum. As the rotary drum rotates, the fluid impermeable sheet is forced by fluid pressure into the cavities of the dies, deforming the sheet to form pockets therein for receiving the absorptive pads. The fluid permeable sheet is brought into contact with the fluid impermeable sheet near the bottom of the drum while introducing absorptive members into the formed pockets. The superposed sheets are thermally fused together by means of a heat seal roller.