Abstract: Apparatus for feeding sheets of paper printed by a printer to a sheet processing device is disclosed where the printer has a sheet discharge outlet and the processing device has a sheet inlet at a different location (e.g., a different height) than the discharge outlet. A sheet conveyor is provided for conveying the sheets from the sheet discharge outlet to the sheet inlet. The apparatus blows air to cool on each sheet as it is conveyed from the discharge outlet to the sheet inlet, and the apparatus at least partially eliminates static electricity from the sheets as they are conveyed.

Abstract: A replaceable shear blade for a book trimming apparatus, the latter comprising a shear carriage having the replaceable shear blade mounted thereon. The shear blade has a sharp cutting edge for shearing a book between an anvil and the cutting edge. The shear blade is removably mounted with respect to the shear carriage for replacement of the shear blade, where the shear blade is removably secured relative to the shear carriage by a plurality of fasteners accessible from above. A removable sheath encloses the cutting edge. At least one removable handle is secured to the shear blade so that the shear blade and the sheath may be handled as a unit, with this handle being grippable from above for installation of the shear blade on the shear carriage, and with the handle and the sheath being removable from the shear blade upon installation of the shear blade on the shear carriage. A method of installation and removal of the shear blade is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for feeding sheets of paper printed by a printer to a sheet processing device, such as a print on demand (POD) book publishing system. The printer has a sheet discharge through which each sheet printed by the printer is discharged or ejected one sheet at a time. The printer heats the sheets to an elevated temperature as the sheets are printed, and the sheets printed by the printer and discharged from the printer carry a static electricity charge. The sheet processing device has a sheet infeed located at a location (height) different from the printer sheet discharge. The apparatus has a sheet conveyor that has an inlet, an outlet, and a conveyor path between the conveyor inlet and the conveyor outlet for conveying the sheets from the printer sheet discharge to the sheet processing device sheet infeed. The sheets are accumulated in a stack within the sheet processing device.

Abstract: Apparatus for trimming perfect bound books is disclosed including a clamping assembly and a shearing assembly, preferably powered by electric motors. The clamping assembly includes a fixed anvil and a clamp member movable along a clamp track toward and away from the anvil. The shear assembly includes a shear blade movable along a shear track toward and away from the anvil. Load members are mounted on the clamp track and on the shear track. The clamp assembly and the shear assembly each has an electric motor driving a linear actuator (e.g., a drive screw) which is operatively coupled to its respective load member. A spring or a pair of springs is interposed between the clamp load member and the clamp member and another spring or a pair of springs is interposed between the shear blade and the shear load member. Thus, as the clamp member engages the book and as the shear blade shears through the book and engages the anvil, further movement of the clamp member and the shear blade is prevented.