A punching device (230) for a book binding sewing machine (100) is proposed. The punching device includes a support structure (235) carrying a plurality of punching elements (240) and means (310,340,345) for locking each punching element in an operative position or in a non-operative position, each punching element punching a signature (105) if in the operative position and not affecting the signature if in the non-operative position when the support structure is moved towards the signature during operation of the book binding sewing machine, and first biasing means (255,265) and second biasing means (395) for biasing each punching element to the operative position and to the non-operative position, respectively, during configuration of the book binding sewing machine. In the punching device of the invention, at least one of the first and second biasing means is uncoupled from the first support structure during operation of the book binding sewing machine.

Die Vorrichtung hat eine von einer Welle (1) angetriebene Fadenscheibe (2), auf deren Umfang Fadenaufnahmeabschnitte (10) mit gleicher Teilung angeordnet sind. Im Abstand von jeder Stirnseite der Fadenscheibe (2) ist eine ebenfalls von der Welle (1) angetriebene Bandführungstrommel (3) vorgesehen, deren Durchmesser dem der Fadenscheibe (2) entspricht. Der Bandführungsrolle (3) ist ein um Umlenkrollen (17, 17', 21) geführtes Transportband (12) so zugeordnet, daß es die Bandführungstrommel (3) zwischen einem Aufnahmekeil (33) für das Heftgut und einer Abführeinrichtung (17, 19) auf einem Winkel von etwa 180° umschließt. Diesem Heftguttransportbereich, in welchem das Heftgut zwischen den Transportbändern und den Bandführungstrommeln (3) fest eingespannt transportiert wird, sind in Drehrichtung der Fadenscheibe aufeinanderfolgend eine Fadenklammerbildungsstelle (56), an der ein in der Fadenscheibe radial bewegliches Nadelpaar (11) das Heftgut zur Bildung einer Fadenklammer durchsticht, und eine Siegeleinrichtung (16) zur Siegelung der Fadenklammer angeordnet, wobei vor der Fadenklammerbildungsstelle eine Vorstecheinrichtung (13) vorgesehen werden kann. Vor dem Aufnahmekeil ist eine Takteinrichtung (55) angeordnet, die dafür sorgt, daß das taktfrei zugeführte Heftgut der Fadenscheibe (2) synchron zu ihrem Arbeitstakt zugeführt wird.

A method of forming signatures (3) for sending to a sewing machine (2), preferably but not necessarily obtained from sheets (9) output by a photocopying machine, in a production line (1) for the reprographic production of books, includes a stage in which the sheets are folded into an approximate omega shape, resulting in signatures in which a section (7a) of each leaf (7) beginning at the spine (6) is closed and the remaining section (7b) of each leaf (7) further from the spine (6) is open, the said signatures being such that they can be shot directly onto a saddle (5) of the sewing machine (2), which they straddle.

Zur Herstellung von fadengehefteten Büchern werden die zu Blöcken (5) zusammengetragenen Druckbogen vor dem Fadenheften mittels vom Zusammentragen entkoppelbaren Aufnahmevorrichtungen (7) gelagert.

The book sewing machine has an inserter (9) for indicator plates for the planes of separation of the books. it includes a loader (8) and a slider (12) operated by a pneumatic actuator (19) so as to overlay the plate (9) on the last signature (4) of the book (5) which is immediately downstream of the sewing zone (3). Each plate (9) is disposed in the separation plane in correspondence with the top of the adjacent face of the contiguous books on that side of the books facing the loader.

The sewing machine also has a gluer (22) arranged to apply a layer of glue to the backs of the books which advance towards the discharge zone (7).

Close to the latter is a separator constituted by an inclined blade (24) whichls pushed axially downwardly by a pneumatic actuator (25) to make the blade (24) penetrate between the rear signature of the last book and the first signature at the head of the successive book through the interval created between these signatures by the presence of the plate (9). A second actuator (28) pushes the blade towards the other side of the pile of books making it cut the layer of glue applied to the backs and simultaneously cutting the thread which connect the final book to the successive book, thus effecting the separation.

An operative cycle of the separator device is started each time the respective control circuit is given an enabling signal by a photocell (29) arranged to detect the passage there- above of a plate (9). The position of this photocell preferably coincides with that of the blade (24) which effects the cutting.

According to a variant, the blade (24) may be replaced by a rod or the like intended to effect separation by unstitching. In this case the gluer is omitted and the sewing machine has a thread cutter of conventional type.

A method for making a book is provided in the embodiments of the present invention. The method mainly comprises: cutting printed sheets for a book, brushing glue onto edges of the printed sheets, bonding the printed sheets through the glue, and positioning and fixing a plurality of bonded printed sheets by utilizing a right-angled mold; perforating each of the positioned and fixed printed sheets, and stringing holes of the printed sheets so as to reinforce the printed sheets; and splicing front endpaper and rear endpaper onto endpaper connection cloth, and then bonding the endpaper and bookblocks. The embodiments of the present invention adopt a right-angled mold to position, register and fix a plurality of bonded printed sheets, and pages are unlikely to dislocate, thereby guaranteeing the binding quality of the book, improving the attractiveness of the book, reducing a making time of the book, and improving the production efficiency of the book. The method of the present invention can break through a size limitation of a traditional book at 787*544mm, thereby making a book of a greater size.

Die Schneideinrichtung für eine Fadensiegelmaschine umfasst einen drehbar angetriebenen Drehkörper (12), an dessen Außenumfang mehrere Schneidelemente (20) im Umfangsabstand zueinander schräg zur Umlaufrichtung (P) des Drehkörpers (12) angeordnet sind. Für eine weitgehende Wartungsfreiheit werden die Schneidelemente von drehbar gelagerten Kreismessern (20) gebildet.

Die Fördereinrichtung weist ein Zwischenförderorgan (10) auf, das die Teilprodukte (99) einzeln von einer ersten Förderkette (2, 3) übernimmt, eine vorbestimmte Strecke (9) transportiert und an eine weitere Vorrichtung (8) übergibt. Das Zwischenförderorgan (10) besitzt einen Takttransporteur (11) mit mehreren Greifern (22), welche die Teilprodukte (99) jeweils oben fassen und über die genannte Strecke (9) geführt transportieren.

Vorzugsweise weist der Takttransporteur (11) eine Gelenkkette (18) auf, an welcher die Greifer (22) befestigt sind.

A book binding system (100) including a feeding station (110-125) for providing stacks of signatures (130) in sequence, at least one sewing machine of the signatures (135a-135b), a distribution station (140,145a-145b,170a-170b,175a-175b) for distributing the stacks of signatures to each sewing machine, wherein the distribution station includes a friction-type conveying element (140) for conveying the stacks of signatures from the feeding station to the at least one sewing machine along an open path and, for each sewing machine, stopping means (145a-145b) for stopping a stack of signatures in proximity of the sewing machine and means (170a-170b,175a-175b) for unloading from the conveying element and providing to the sewing machine the stopped stack of signature.