Methods and apparatus for use with a trimmer to produce a plurality of books having different trim sizes

A method, comprising:

• obtaining, via a controller having a processor, recipient address data;
• based on the recipient address data, generating, via the controller, a sequence to produce first books and second books for a first bundle of books, the first books having a first size and the second books having a second size, the second size larger than the first size;
• operating the controller to produce the first books and the second books in the sequence for the first bundle by executing instructions programmed in the processor to:
• determine respective sizes of the first books and second books as the first books and the second books move down a conveyor;
• adjust a first modifiable distance between a first backstop and a cutting device based on the first size of the first books, the cutting device having a longitudinal axis along which a blade extends, the adjusting occurring along a first axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the first backstop positioned closer to the cutting device than the second backstop;
• adjust, along a second axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, a second modifiable distance between the second backstop and the cutting device based on the second size of the second books, the second modifiable distance different from the first modifiable distance, the second modifiable distance independently adjustable relative to the first modifiable distance, the second axis parallel to the first axis, the second axis being spaced from the first axis in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis;
• in response to determining that the first book corresponds to the first size:
• actuate, along a third axis orthogonal to the first axis, toward a cutting surface, the first backstop to enable a first book of the first books to engage the first backstop;
• and
• trim the first book with the cutting device;
• in response to determining that the second book corresponds to the second size:
• retract, along the third axis, away from the cutting surface, the first backstop to enable a second book of the second books to engage the second backstop;
• and
• trim the second book with the cutting device;
• and
• repeat a succession of actuating the first backstop toward the cutting surface and retracting the first backstop away from the cutting surface while maintaining the first modifiable distance and the second modifiable distance, wherein the succession is based on the sequence for the first bundle;
• and
• bundling the books produced in the sequence in the first bundle.