An apparatus and method for optional cross-folding of successively following, sequentially printed sheets on a first transport segment. A compressed air device comprises a first control element that is connected to a control unit for triggering or suppressing a compressed air blast from at least one exit opening in the compressed air device. A printed sheet is diverted into a second transport segment for the folding operation or a third transport segment for bypassing the folding operation. The latter empties downstream of folding rolls into the second transport segment at a joint segment point, at which a fourth transport segment adjoins in downstream direction. The third transport segment is longer than the second transport segment or can be operated at a lower speed than the second transport segment such that a first sequence of printed sheets successively following on the first transport segment is identical to a second sequence of the successively following printed sheets located on the fourth transport segment.

A saddle stitcher for printed products includes a saddle chain; a stitching machine; a controller; an ejector; and a delivery system. The delivery system includes: at least one lower conveyor belt and one upper conveyor belt; and at least one deflection roller for the lower conveyor belt, the at least one deflection roller being arranged in a radius. The lower conveyor belt has a first controllable self-propelled drive. The upper conveyor belt has a second controllable self-propelled drive. The controller is configured to separately control the first controllable self-propelled drive and the second controllable self-propelled drive. The controller is configured to provide a control that is exact to a cycle and is adjustable according to a thickness and a format of a respective printed product in a product flow.

The device includes a first conveyor 1 and a second conveyor 12. The first conveyor transports the book blocks B to the bookbinding apparatus and can accumulate the book blocks on a transport surface 4. A first stopper 23 is arranged at an entrance of the second conveyor and a second stopper 28 is arranged in the middle of a path of book block on the transport surface of the first conveyor. The first and second stoppers can take a block position and a retracted position. The second conveyor and the first stopper operate in synchronization with an operation of the bookbinding apparatus. The second stopper takes the block position when the number of book blocks accumulated on upstream side of the first stopper exceeds a predetermined limit value, or when a thickness difference between the book blocks transported side by side exceeds a predetermined reference value.

The device includes a first conveyor 1 and a second conveyor 12. The first conveyor transports the book blocks B to the bookbinding apparatus and can accumulate the book blocks on a transport surface 4. A first stopper 23 is arranged at an entrance of the second conveyor and a second stopper 28 is arranged in the middle of a path of book block on the transport surface of the first conveyor. The first and second stoppers can take a block position and a retracted position. The second conveyor and the first stopper operate in synchronization with an operation of the bookbinding apparatus. The second stopper takes the block position when the number of book blocks accumulated on upstream side of the first stopper exceeds a predetermined limit value, or when a thickness difference between the book blocks transported side by side exceeds a predetermined reference value.

A sheet bundle cutting apparatus includes a cutting portion (65) configured to cut, from a sheet bundle having one end bound with adhesive, a cutting scrap including a part of a spine of the sheet bundle, a pressure portion (59) configured to press the sheet bundle in a thickness direction while sandwiching a first surface and a second surface of the sheet bundle, and a bookbinding apparatus control CPU configured to control the pressure portion (59) and the cutting portion (65). The bookbinding apparatus control CPU causes the pressure portion (59) to press connection areas connected to the spine and respectively provided on the first surface and the second surface, and then causes the cutting portion (65) to cut the sheet bundle so that the cutting scrap includes a pressed area pressed by the pressure portion (59). Accordingly, it is possible to suppress spreading of the cutting scraps.

A sheet bundle cutting apparatus includes a cutting portion (65) configured to cut, from a sheet bundle having one end bound with adhesive, a cutting scrap including a part of a spine of the sheet bundle, a pressure portion (59) configured to press the sheet bundle in a thickness direction while sandwiching a first surface and a second surface of the sheet bundle, and a bookbinding apparatus control CPU configured to control the pressure portion (59) and the cutting portion (65). The bookbinding apparatus control CPU causes the pressure portion (59) to press connection areas connected to the spine and respectively provided on the first surface and the second surface, and then causes the cutting portion (65) to cut the sheet bundle so that the cutting scrap includes a pressed area pressed by the pressure portion (59). Accordingly, it is possible to suppress spreading of the cutting scraps.

A system, preferably a saddle stitcher, includes: a transport chain, which is roof-shaped in an upper region, along which one or more printed products is astride transportable, collected, and are optionally stapled in an intermediate stapling station; and a stop adjustable according to a format of a printed product of the printed products, the stop being arranged in a transport direction of the printed product, behind the stapling station, and along a further course of the transport chain. The stop is in operative connection with a delivery system and an ejector that operate interdependently with each other to perform a format-stabilized discharge of the printed product in accordance with a cycle; and that the format-stabilized printed product is fed to a cutting apparatus.

A system, preferably a saddle stitcher, includes: a transport chain, which is roof-shaped in an upper region, along which one or more printed products is astride transportable, collected, and are optionally stapled in an intermediate stapling station; and a stop adjustable according to a format of a printed product of the printed products, the stop being arranged in a transport direction of the printed product, behind the stapling station, and along a further course of the transport chain. The stop is in operative connection with a delivery system and an ejector that operate interdependently with each other to perform a format-stabilized discharge of the printed product in accordance with a cycle; and that the format-stabilized printed product is fed to a cutting apparatus.

A device for alignment of a book block consisting of single sheets and/or signatures is useable in a processing machine, in which manufacturing of books or printed products is carried out. The device is arranged upstream of a first processing station within the processing machine. The book block is feedable directly or indirectly into the device automatically or by hand. An alignment station has a base plate with a substantially vertically extending stop surface at an end thereof. The base plate has a movable part configured to carry out a movement with respect to the stop surface such that the movement of the movable part, in an operative connection to the stop surface, brings about an alignment of the single sheets and/or signatures at a book block edge, and such that, following alignment, the book block is grippable by at least one transport clamp for processing.

A device for alignment of a book block consisting of single sheets and/or signatures is useable in a processing machine, in which manufacturing of books or printed products is carried out. The device is arranged upstream of a first processing station within the processing machine. The book block is feedable directly or indirectly into the device automatically or by hand. An alignment station has a base plate with a substantially vertically extending stop surface at an end thereof. The base plate has a movable part configured to carry out a movement with respect to the stop surface such that the movement of the movable part, in an operative connection to the stop surface, brings about an alignment of the single sheets and/or signatures at a book block edge, and such that, following alignment, the book block is grippable by at least one transport clamp for processing.