Apparatus for applying adhesive to the spines of stacks of sheets and the like

Apparatus for applying coats of an adhesive to selected elongated sides having a predetermined width of a series of successive stacks of overlapping sheets at a coating station, comprising:

• intermittently operated conveyor means for delivering successive stacks of said series to and for temporarily maintaining the thus delivered stacks at said station so that the selected elongated side of the stack at said station temporarily assumes a predetermined position and orientation, wherein said conveyor means comprises pairs of clamping elements arranged to engage the stacks adjacent to the respective selected elongated sides;
• and
• means for applying a coat of adhesive to the selected elongated side of the stack at said station,
• wherein said means for applying includes at least one adhesive discharging nozzle having a slot-shaped adhesive discharging orifice having a length at least approximating said predetermined width and extending transversely of the elongated side of the stack at said station,
• wherein said means for applying includes means for contacting said at least one adhesive discharging nozzle to the elongated side of the stack at said station,
• wherein said means for applying further includes means for moving said at least one nozzle longitudinally of and parallel to the entire selected elongated side of the stack at said station,
• wherein said clamping elements include exposed surfaces extending longitudinally of the selected elongated sides of the stacks being engaged by the clamping elements, and
• wherein said means for moving include followers arranged to track the exposed surfaces of the clamping elements engaging the stack at the station.