Apparatus for binding and trimming a perfect bound book

Apparatus for perfect binding and trimming a book, the later having a multiplicity of text pages constituting a book block and a soft cover of paper stock, said apparatus comprising a carriage for transporting said book block along a worth path with the book block carried in a vertical position with one edge of the book block constituting the spine of the book block oriented such that it is the lowermost edge of the book block, an adhesive application station for applying a suitable adhesive to the spine of the book as the carriage transports the book block there past, a cover clamping station at which said cover is positioned below the spine of the book with the center of the cover positioned to be joined with the spine of the book block, said cover clamping station including a clamp engageable with the front and back sides of the cover proximate the spine so as to press the cover onto the spine of the book block such that the adhesive applied to said spine adheres the cover to the book block along the spine thereby to perfect bind said cover to said book block, said book block and said cover remaining clamped for a time sufficient to effect the setting of said adhesive, said carriage then transporting said bound book to a trimming station, the later having a single trimming blade selectively operable between an open position allowing the book to be trimmed to be positioned with respect to said blade and an operable position for trimming excess margins of said cover and of said book block from said book, said trimming station having a holder for gripping the book to be trimmed, said holder being selectively movable relative to said trimming blade so as to position a first edge of said book relative to said trimming blade in its open position such that upon actuation of said blade to its trimming position a predetermined margin along said first edge is trimmed from said book, said holder then turning said book so as to position a second edge of said book relative to said trimming blade such that upon actuation of said blade a predetermined margin along said second edge is trimmed from said book, and then said holder turning said book so as to position a third edge of said book relative to said trimming blade such that upon actuation of said blade a predetermined margin along said third edge is trimmed from said book so as to form a perfect bound book trimmed to predetermined final dimensions along three edges thereof.