Each of the sheets is conveyed by a horizontal conveyance unit in a state of being overlapped with a next sheet from above. Each of the sheets is conveyed out of the horizontal conveyance unit in a state of being folded along a fold line with the fold line oriented upward, the fold line extending in a conveyance direction of the horizontal conveyance unit. An oblique conveyance unit receives the sheet from the horizontal conveyance unit and successively conveys the sheets in an oblique downward direction. A sensor is arranged to detect passage of the sheets at a position where steps pass. Each of the steps is formed by two sheets adjacent to each other diverted to the oblique downward direction by the oblique conveyance unit.

Provided is a book block feed device capable of feeding a book block always in an aligned state to a bookbinding machine. The book block feed device comprises an alignment unit and a press unit that are adjacently arranged in order along a conveying path of the book block from an inlet to an outlet of the conveying path. The alignment unit comprises a vibrator that vibrates the book block. The press unit includes a press surface that forms a part of a conveying surface of the conveying path, and a press plate that sandwiches and presses the book block between the press plate and the press surface.

Provided is a book block feed device capable of feeding a book block always in an aligned state to a bookbinding machine. The book block feed device comprises an alignment unit and a press unit that are adjacently arranged in order along a conveying path of the book block from an inlet to an outlet of the conveying path. The alignment unit comprises a vibrator that vibrates the book block. The press unit includes a press surface that forms a part of a conveying surface of the conveying path, and a press plate that sandwiches and presses the book block between the press plate and the press surface.

A novel method for strengthening and reinforcing ancient books is provided. Such treatment method comprises: first placing the ancient books to be treated in a closed strengthening and reinforcing device; after sealing, performing dehumidification operation and vacuumizing operation on system in sequence to maintain the system dry; and after the system is stable under negative pressure, turning on a fan set, directly delivering a strengthening and reinforcing powder to the strengthening and reinforcing device via a gas pipe, or atomizing a strengthening and reinforcing solution through a ultrasonic atomizer and then delivering the atomized solution to the strengthening and reinforcing device via the gas pipe, so that the ancient books to be treated absorb the strengthening and reinforcing agent sufficiently and evenly; and meanwhile monitoring pH value and humidity of the ancient books, thereby implementing strengthening and reinforcement of the ancient books.

A novel method for strengthening and reinforcing ancient books is provided. Such treatment method comprises: first placing the ancient books to be treated in a closed strengthening and reinforcing device; after sealing, performing dehumidification operation and vacuumizing operation on system in sequence to maintain the system dry; and after the system is stable under negative pressure, turning on a fan set, directly delivering a strengthening and reinforcing powder to the strengthening and reinforcing device via a gas pipe, or atomizing a strengthening and reinforcing solution through a ultrasonic atomizer and then delivering the atomized solution to the strengthening and reinforcing device via the gas pipe, so that the ancient books to be treated absorb the strengthening and reinforcing agent sufficiently and evenly; and meanwhile monitoring pH value and humidity of the ancient books, thereby implementing strengthening and reinforcement of the ancient books.

Provided is a cutting apparatus including: a rotary table; a pressing unit; a cutting unit; a drive unit that rotates and moves the rotary table; a transport unit that transports a cut book in a transport direction to a stacking position; and a control unit that controls the drive unit and the transport unit, and the control unit performs, in a switchable manner, a first transport mode to transport a book having edges cut by the cutting unit in the transport direction in a state where the spine was rotated to be arranged in a predetermined direction about a rotation center of the rotary table and a second transport mode to transport a book having edges cut by the cutting unit in the transport direction in a state where the spine was rotated to be arranged in a direction different from the predetermined direction about the rotation center.

A method and apparatus for controlling a post-print processing system for producing printed products. The system comprises a plurality of replaceable individual devices which are arranged one after another in a row and/or parallel and are connected to a joint control unit for adapting the system to successively following different production orders. The method includes supplying the joint control unit with information relating to the type and position of the individual devices in the post-print processing system and activating the individual devices based on the information. The information relating to the position of the individual devices is determined in the post-print processing system based on the position of the individual devices in a first data processing network comprising a ring circuit. The individual devices send out a data telegram corresponding to the position of the respective individual devices via a second data processing network to the joint control unit.

A sheet processing device includes: an adhesive-binding unit that applies an adhesive onto sheets stored in a stacker section one by one and adhesive-binds the sheets; a staple-binding unit that staple-binds sheets accumulated in the stacker section by means of staples; and a folding mechanism section having a folding roller that folds the adhesive-bound or staple-bound sheet bundle in two at a binding position of the adhesive-binding unit or staple-binding unit and a folding blade that pushes the bound sheet bundle into the folding roller. A folding speed of the folding mechanism section for the sheet bundle bound by the adhesive-binding unit is lower than a folding speed for the sheet bundle bound by the staple-binding unit; thereby, productivity of the folding processing is improved and occurrence of the peeling-off or break during the folding processing is reduced.

A sheet processing device includes: an adhesive-binding unit that applies an adhesive onto sheets stored in a stacker section one by one and adhesive-binds the sheets; a staple-binding unit that staple-binds sheets accumulated in the stacker section by means of staples; and a folding mechanism section having a folding roller that folds the adhesive-bound or staple-bound sheet bundle in two at a binding position of the adhesive-binding unit or staple-binding unit and a folding blade that pushes the bound sheet bundle into the folding roller. A folding speed of the folding mechanism section for the sheet bundle bound by the adhesive-binding unit is lower than a folding speed for the sheet bundle bound by the staple-binding unit; thereby, productivity of the folding processing is improved and occurrence of the peeling-off or break during the folding processing is reduced.

Processing units 4 to 6 aligned along the transport path for a sheet bundle S are accommodated in a housing together with transport units 2 and 3. Windows 10a to 10c are provided in the housing front face, and variable-color lighting units 17 are arranged inside the housing. Light emitting surfaces (projection plates 18) of the variable-color lighting units are arranged facing the windows. Sensor units 13, 15a, and 15b that detect an anomaly of an operation of the transport unit and sensor units 14 and 16 that detect an anomaly of the operation of respective processing units are provided. A binding processing unit stops when an anomaly is detected by the sensor unit, when a system error occurs, or when an emergency stop instruction is input. The color of emission light from a light emitting surface changes to indicate the operation status of the binding processing system.