A device for shaping a folding region of a lying outstretched book cover includes first and second shaping tools for book blocks having straight and round spines, respectively. A countertool has two counter shaping rails. In a working position, one of the shaping tools is aligned with an inner face of the spine region of the book cover and is configured to raise the spine region of the book cover between the two counter shaping rails to form a spine strip. A single actuator for the shaping tools is in each case arranged in the working position. A tool beam is in each case arranged in the working position and configured to be coupled to the single actuator. Each shaping tool has two shaping rails which are spaced apart, laterally adjustable and are designed so as to be adjustable collectively to change a distance therebetween.

A preheating station for different shaping tools for shaping a folding region of a lying outstretched book cover includes a plurality of receiving spaces for the different shaping tools for shaping different book covers lying outstretched. At least one heating element is arranged in a region of each of the receiving spaces and a temperature sensor is connected to the heating element. A control device is connected to the one heating element and the temperature sensor. A sensor is connected to the control device and configured to detect at least one identifying feature of the different shaping tools received in the preheating station.

A shaping tool for a device for rounding a spine region and for shaping a folding region of a lying outstretched book cover, the folding region being adjacent on either side of the spine region, in accordance with a shape of a spine of a book block, which subsequently forms a book together with the book cover, includes a fixed, convex central shaping strip. Two convex outer shaping rails laterally adjoin the central shaping strip and are laterally adjustable according to a required rounding and width of the spine region of the book cover.

A creasing device is provided that includes a counter-rotating male drum and female drum. The male drum carries a conventional creasing ring with a central rib flanked by shoulders. The female drum comprises a central channel aligned with the creasing rib on the male drum; and a pair of projecting lateral ribs on each side of the central channel that are aligned with the shoulders on the male drum. The lateral ribs press a sheet of the card or paper stock against the shoulders of the creasing ring to better define the edges of the crease and to reduce the tendency of a printed coating on the stock to crack during subsequent folding. The pair of lateral ribs may be provided by a pair of inserts. Alternatively, both ribs and the central channel may be provided by a single insert.

An element for producing a jacket, folder or box, in which the element relates to a semi-finished product comprising a sheet which on at least one side is provided with a layer of hotmelt adhesive directly applied on the sheet for applying a finishing layer directly on the layer of hotmelt adhesive.

A sheet processing apparatus that can suppress a reduction in a quality of a finish of a fold part of a stack of center-folded sheets without losing an ease of center-folding. The sheet processing apparatus comprises a creasing unit for forming a folding stripe on a sheet so as to facilitate folding the sheet, and an acquisition unit for acquiring information related to a thickness of the sheet. One or more sheets to be provided with folding stripes are determined, from among a plurality of sheets to be folded, according to the information related to the thickness of the sheets, and each of the determined one or more sheets are provided with a folding stripe.

A device for manufacturing a book on demand, including a cover printing or receiving station designed to respectively print or receive a cover, a body printing or receiving station designed to respectively print or receive a body, a binding station designed to join together the body and the cover, a conveyor designed and/or programmed to convey the cover and/or the body between the different stations, the device is designed to deposit glue in a gluing region on the verso of the cover inside the binding station before the cover and the body are joined together by gluing, forming a book.

A method of making a customized book via a fully automated process. Various sized customized books are produced via an automated book production system. The automated book production system includes a book block finishing section for preparing a book block to be part of the customized book. The automated book production system also includes a cover finishing section for preparing a cover for the customized book. The book cover is made of a flexible material. The automated book production system further includes a customized book finishing section that combines the book block and the cover to create the customized book. A fully automated customized book production system includes the book block finishing section, the cover finishing section for preparing a cover for the customized book, and the customized book finishing section that combines the book block and the cover to create the customized book.

An element for producing a jacket, folder or box, in which the element relates to a semi-finished product comprising a sheet which on at least one side is provided with a layer of hotmelt adhesive directly applied on the sheet for applying a finishing layer directly on the layer of hotmelt adhesive.

A creasing device includes a frame with a substantially horizontal support surface for supporting an article to be creased; a movable tool; and a stationary tool, the latter comprising a stationary member and at least one displaceable member whose height relative to the stationary member can be adjusted. A first actuator moves the movable tool toward the stationary tool and interacts with opposite faces of the article, and a second actuator translates the displaceable member between a first end position in which interacts with the movable tool and a second end position in which it cannot interact with the movable tool. Guide means associated with the stationary tool guides the displaceable member between the first end position and the second end position. The guide means are have a curvilinear path contained in a plane substantially perpendicular to the support surface.