A process for the production of books (22) with digital printing from signatures, in which the book comprises signature groups (33), each formed with basic sheets (34), are parts of respective signature sheets (42). The process employs a manufacturing system (21) which includes a transversal cutting equipment (41) for cutting transversally the signatures sheets, and transversal and longitudinal folding equipment (46) for the formation of respective signatures (48). For a book with at least a sheet section devoid of text and/or figures in a last signature group, the method provides: a) identify a reduced signature group (59) including a number of sheet sections having at least a page with text and/or figures; b) cut the paper strip (23) to separate the reduced signature group as reduced signature group; c) actuate the transversal folding equipment (46) limited to the sheet sections having at least a page with text and/or figures and skipping the actuation of the transversal folding equipment (46) for a single sheet section; and d) actuate the longitudinal folding equipment (47) for folding longitudinally the reduced signature group.

A sheet processing device that bonds sheets to one another and then folds a resultant sheet bundle. The sheet processing device includes a stacker section that sequentially stores sheets moved thereto, an adhesive-binding unit that applies an adhesive onto sheets sequentially stored in the stacker section one by one in a sheet moving direction to bond the sheets to one another, a moving member that moves the sheets to an application position of the adhesive-binding unit, and a folding processing section that folds a sheet bundle formed by the bonded sheets at a predetermined folding position. When the number of sheets to be bonded by the adhesive-binding unit applying the adhesive onto the sheets exceeds a predetermined number, the adhesive is applied at two positions separated from each other across the folding position.

A conveyance roller conveys a plurality of sheet groups, each to which a bonding agent has been applied. A sheet holder holds the plurality of sheet groups by stacking a subsequent sheet group on a preceding sheet group. A thermocompression bonding unit produces a booklet by applying heat and pressure to the plurality of sheet groups held in the sheet holder. A controller obtains sheet information indicating a type of sheet or a conveyance duration of a preceding sheet group among a plurality of sheet groups, and controls a thermocompression bonding parameter to be applied to at least one subsequent sheet group of the preceding sheet group among the plurality of sheet groups in the thermocompression bonding unit based on the sheet information.

De-collatable bindings and methods of producing the same are disclosed. A disclosed includes a cover defining a spine and signatures disposed within the cover. The disclosed also includes a low tack adhesive disposed between the spine of the cover and the signatures to facilitate removal of the signatures from the cover.

A control portion of an image forming apparatus creates an image list for performing the perfect-binding imposition of the images of the pages on the sheets so that the scores formed on the sheets are on the external surface of the center-folded sheets, for the sheets each having a size twice the size specified as each of the sheets on which the images of the book body are to be formed, when a book-body stacking portion accommodates the sheets center-folded by a folding portion along scores formed for every sheet from a predetermined direction by a scoring portion for each of the sheets having the images formed thereon by the image forming portion, and a bookbinding portion uses a glue-on cover to perform case binding of a bundle of the sheets glued to the side of the spine.

De-collatable bindings and methods of producing the same are disclosed. A disclosed apparatus includes a cover defining a spine and signatures disposed within the cover. The disclosed apparatus also includes a low tack adhesive disposed between the spine of the cover and the signatures to facilitate removal of the signatures from the cover.

A process for the production of books (22) with digital printing from signatures, in which the book comprises signature groups (33), each formed with basic sheets (34), are parts of respective signature sheets (42). The process employs a manufacturing system (21) which includes a transversal cutting equipment (41) for cutting transversally the signatures sheets, and transversal and longitudinal folding equipment (46) for the formation of respective signatures (48). For a book with at least a sheet section devoid of text and/or figures in a last signature group, the method provides: a) identify a reduced signature group (59) including a number of sheet sections having at least a page with text and/or figures; b) cut the paper strip (23) to separate the reduced signature group as reduced signature group; c) actuate the transversal folding equipment (46) limited to the sheet sections having at least a page with text and/or figures and skipping the actuation of the transversal folding equipment (46) for a single sheet section; and d) actuate the longitudinal folding equipment (47) for folding longitudinally the reduced signature group.

A high-speed automated assembly system for printed products, especially suited, for example, for printing books on demand. More particularly, at least one robotic processing station, and separate book assembly processing sub-stations, replace a standard bindery equipment in order to improve system flexibility, speed and efficiency.

A bookbinding apparatus includes an application roller that applies glue onto a back edge face of a sheet bundle and a bookbinding control unit that positions the application roller onto the back edge face and causes the roller to execute glue application. The bookbinding apparatus applies a required amount of glue determined by a sheet bundle thickness by, after applying side glues to both side surfaces of the sheet bundle, bringing the application roller in contact with a first position within a central region on the back edge face and rotating the roller in a forward direction, bringing the application roller in contact with a second position between the first position and a right side of the sheet bundle, and rotating the roller in the forward direction. The glue is leveled to form a flat layer of adhesive with an adequate thickness.

A method for production of adhesive-bound printed products in a machine belonging to an adhesive-binder line. To change over from one job under production to a following job, supplied printed products of the following job are detected via a barcode and stopped prior to being fed into the machine of the adhesive-binder line. Remaining printed products of a preceding job are moved and fully processed through individual processing stations of the machine while the printed products of the following job remain in a waiting position in front of the machine. After completing the last printed product of the preceding job, an empty withdrawal of covers stored in a cover deposit and belonging to the following job is initiated until it is ensured that the stored covers are available for the printed products of the following job. After determining that a withdrawn cover securely matches the printed products of the following job, stopped printed products of the following job are released with a main control and fed into the machine for being processed via the individual processing stations.