Bookbinding method and apparatus

In a sewing-press for thread-sewing book blocks which are formed from individual book block sections, the sewing-press including a sewing head and a sewing saddle, the sewing saddle feeding individual book block sections to the operating area of the sewing head, the sewing-press further including a delivery table for discharging the sewn book blocks, the sewing-press sewing head having at least a first hook needle and an associated sewing needle, the sewing needle punching an aperture through the fold of each individual book block section during the time the block section is in the said sewing head operating area, the thread being carried through the aperture by the sewing needle and thereafter being transferred to the hook needle, the hook needle also being punched through the fold of each individual book block section at a distance from the sewing needle in the said sewing head operating area, the hook needle leading the thread which has been carried through the aperture formed by the sewing needle out of the block section in the form of a loop and linking the loop to a thread loop previously formed on a next preceeding block section whereby the sewing head produces chain stitches which link the individual book block sections, the improvement comprising an endless conveyor which defines a path, drive means for imparting motion to said conveyor, a plurality of sewing saddles, articulated support means for individually suspending the sewing saddles from said conveyor, the sewing saddles being spaced from one another and being moveable from a starting position to a position for acquiring the individual book block sections and thence to a position within the operating area of the sewing head, the sewing saddles subsequently being moved back into the starting position.