The present apparatus is provided with a placement tray (processing tray) to place sheets to undergo binding processing, and a bind unit that is able to shift along an end edge of sheets on the placement tray and that binds a plurality of sheets as a single bunch, where in the bind unit, a needle bind unit for performing binding processing on a bunch of sheets with a needle and a needleless bind unit for performing binding processing without a needle are provided together in a shift direction of the bind unit, and a length of the needleless bind unit is configured to be shorter than a length of the needle bind unit in the shift direction of the bind unit. By this means, provided is the apparatus capable of miniaturizing the entire apparatus, with the needle bind unit and needleless bind unit provided together.

The present apparatus is provided with a placement tray (processing tray) to place sheets to undergo binding processing, and a bind unit that is able to shift along an end edge of sheets on the placement tray and that binds a plurality of sheets as a single bunch, where in the bind unit, a needle bind unit for performing binding processing on a bunch of sheets with a needle and a needleless bind unit for performing binding processing without a needle are provided together in a shift direction of the bind unit, and a length of the needleless bind unit is configured to be shorter than a length of the needle bind unit in the shift direction of the bind unit. By this means, provided is the apparatus capable of miniaturizing the entire apparatus, with the needle bind unit and needleless bind unit provided together.

A solution is proposed for sewing blocks of signatures (115) in a bookbinding sewing machine (100). A corresponding method comprises, for each block of signatures (115), forming one or more stitchings (220, 225) between the signatures (115) of the block by corresponding sewing threads (215), each stitching (220, 225) comprising one or more plain stitches (220) and one or more looped stitches (225) concatenated to each other and ending with a free loop (240) on a last one (115N) of the signatures (115) of the block, bringing each sewing thread (215), downstream the corresponding plain stitches (220) along a formation direction thereof, to an intermediate position aligned with the corresponding free loop (240) along an advancement direction (235) of the blocks of signatures (115) during the sewing thereof, bringing a closing portion of each sewing thread (215) from the intermediate position through the corresponding free loop (240) along the advancement direction (235), the closing portion consisting of a portion of the sewing thread (215) downstream the corresponding plain stitches (220) along the formation direction thereof, blocking each sewing thread (215) at a gripping point comprised in the closing portion thereof by actuating a corresponding gripping device (250), cutting each sewing thread (215) downstream the gripping point thereof along the formation direction of the plain stitches (220), pulling each sewing thread (215) being cut by moving the corresponding gripping device (250), which blocks the sewing thread (215) being brought through the corresponding free loop (240), away from the corresponding free loop (240) thereby tightening the free loop (240) around the sewing thread (215) being cut, and releasing each sewing thread (215) being pulled by ceasing the actuation of the corresponding gripping device (250).

A printing apparatus capable of producing a product having the optimum image layout dependent on a discharge destination even when saddle-stitching is canceled due to input of image data for sheets in excess of a limit of a saddle-stitchable number of sheets. The number of output sheets per one copy is calculated based on image data. When the number of output sheets per one copy exceeds a saddle-stitchable number of sheets, it is selected whether to perform the center folding processing on the sheets on which images are printed without performing the saddle stitching processing thereon or to perform neither the saddle stitching processing nor the center folding processing on the sheets on which images are printed.

A printing apparatus capable of producing a product having the optimum image layout dependent on a discharge destination even when saddle-stitching is canceled due to input of image data for sheets in excess of a limit of a saddle-stitchable number of sheets. The number of output sheets per one copy is calculated based on image data. When the number of output sheets per one copy exceeds a saddle-stitchable number of sheets, it is selected whether to perform the center folding processing on the sheets on which images are printed without performing the saddle stitching processing thereon or to perform neither the saddle stitching processing nor the center folding processing on the sheets on which images are printed.

A method for operating a thread sewing machine to process printed sheets to form book blocks includes transporting the printed sheets lying astride a first transport section of a transport system. The first transport section is operated by a conveying mechanism. The conveying mechanism is operated with a speed change that depends on a direct sequence of different sheet lengths of the printed sheets. The printed sheets are fed from the first transport section to a second transport section of the transport system. The second transport section is operated by a conveying device having at least one of a controller and an operative connection to a stop so as to ensure an individual positioning of a sub-format printed sheet relative to a standard-format printed sheet. The printed sheets are fed from the second transport system to a downstream sewing station.

A method for operating a thread sewing machine to process printed sheets to form book blocks includes transporting the printed sheets lying astride a first transport section of a transport system. The first transport section is operated by a conveying mechanism. The conveying mechanism is operated with a speed change that depends on a direct sequence of different sheet lengths of the printed sheets. The printed sheets are fed from the first transport section to a second transport section of the transport system. The second transport section is operated by a conveying device having at least one of a controller and an operative connection to a stop so as to ensure an individual positioning of a sub-format printed sheet relative to a standard-format printed sheet. The printed sheets are fed from the second transport system to a downstream sewing station.

A method and an apparatus for the thread-stitching of folded signatures, for which individual folded signatures which are successively lined up along their flat sides are sewn together with at least one sewing needle and at least one hook needle to form a book block. Prior to penetrating the fold of the signature to be sewn from the inside to the outside and before penetrating the eyelet of the previously sewn signature, the hook needle is rotated in such a way around its longitudinal axis that its hook is positioned in a vertical symmetry axis of the eyelet, on a side of the hook needle that faces the previously sewn signature. The hook needle can be rotated for this at an optional angle (a) around its longitudinal axis and the hook can be positioned at an optional rotational position.

A method and an apparatus for the thread-stitching of folded signatures, for which individual folded signatures which are successively lined up along their flat sides are sewn together with at least one sewing needle and at least one hook needle to form a book block. Prior to penetrating the fold of the signature to be sewn from the inside to the outside and before penetrating the eyelet of the previously sewn signature, the hook needle is rotated in such a way around its longitudinal axis that its hook is positioned in a vertical symmetry axis of the eyelet, on a side of the hook needle that faces the previously sewn signature. The hook needle can be rotated for this at an optional angle (a) around its longitudinal axis and the hook can be positioned at an optional rotational position.

A printing apparatus capable of producing a product having the optimum image layout dependent on a discharge destination even when saddle-stitching is canceled due to input of image data for sheets in excess of a limit of a saddle-stitchable number of sheets. The number of output sheets per one copy is calculated based on image data. When the number of output sheets per one copy exceeds a saddle-stitchable number of sheets, it is selected whether to perform the center folding processing on the sheets on which images are printed without performing the saddle stitching processing thereon or to perform neither the saddle stitching processing nor the center folding processing on the sheets on which images are printed.