Method and apparatus for making booklets
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsSteven W Trovinger, Ross R Allen, Erik G Vaaler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Method and apparatus for assembling sheets of printing media for booklets. In one aspect of the sheets are folded, sheet-by-sheet, and in another aspect the sheets are collected, sheet-by-sheet, and registered on a fold in each sheet. In still another aspect printed sheets are located, sheet-by-sheet, into the apparatus. Each sheet is trimmed to a pre-determined width depending on the position of the sheet in the booklet being assembled. The sheets are thereafter folded, sheet-by-sheet, and collected into a stack. The method and apparatus have particular application in finishing duplex printed sheets of paper into saddle-stitched booklets.
Claims36
Apparatus for assembling sheets of printing media for booklets, comprising:
- a) a media trimmer that cuts the sheets, sheet-by-sheet, to predetermined widths;
- b) a sheet folder, connected to the media trimmer, that folds the trimmed sheets, sheet-by-sheet, and
- c) a sheet stacker, connected to the sheet folder, that collects the folded trimmed sheets, sheet-by-sheet, in a stack,
- wherein each sheet has a position in the booklet being assembled and the media trimmer cuts the sheets to pre-determined widths depending on the position of the sheet in the booklet.
Apparatus for assembling sheets for booklets, each sheet having a position in the booklet, said booklets when finished are folded and have an edge, comprising:
- a) a paper trimmer that cuts the sheets, sheet-by-sheet, to predetermined widths depending on the position of the sheet in the booklet so that the edge of a finished, folded booklet formed from the sheets is flat as if all of the sheets had been trimmed together to final size;
- b) a sheet folder, connected to the paper trimmer, that folds the trimmed sheets, sheet-by-sheet;
- and
- c) a sheet stacker, connected to the sheet folder, that collects the folded trimmed sheets, sheet-by-sheet, in a stack and registers the sheets, sheet-by-sheet on the fold in each sheet.
Apparatus for assembling sheets for booklets, each sheet having a position in the booklet, comprising:
- a) a paper feeder that loads the sheets, sheet-by-sheet, into the booklet maker;
- b) a paper trimmer, connected to the feeder, that cuts the sheets, sheet-by-sheet, to pre-determined widths depending on the position of the sheet in the booklet;
- c) a sheet folder, connected to the trimmer, that folds the trimmed sheets, sheet-by-sheet;
- d) a sheet stacker, connected to the folder, that collects the folded trimmed sheets, sheet-by-sheet, in a stack;
- e) means, connected to the trimmer, folder, and stacker, for positioning the sheets, sheet-by-sheet, with respect thereto;
- and
- f) an ejector, connected to the sheet stacker, that removes the stacks of sheets from the apparatus.
A method for stacking sheets of printing media, comprising the steps of:
- a) collecting the sheets in a stack on a workpiece, sheet-by-sheet, said sheets each having a fold therein;
- b) registering the sheets in a stack on a workpiece, sheet-by-sheet, with the fold in each sheet;
- c) unloading the stack of collected and registered sheets from the workpiece;
- and
- d) trimming the sheets, sheet-by-sheet, for booklets, each sheet having a width depending on the position of the sheet in the booklet.
A method for folding sheets of printing media, comprising the steps of:
- a) positioning the sheets, sheet-by-sheet, in a media folder;
- b) folding the sheets, sheet-by-sheet, in the media folder;
- c) unloading the folded sheets, sheet-by-sheet, from the media folder;
- and
- d) trimming the sheets, sheet-by-sheet, in accordance with a pre-determined schedule.
A method for assembling sheets for booklets, each sheet having a position in the booklet, comprising the steps of:
- a) trimming the sheets, sheet-by-sheet, with a cutter to a predetermined width depending on the position of the sheet in the booklet;
- b) folding the trimmed sheets, sheet-by-sheet, in a media folder;
- c) stacking the folded trimmed sheets in stacks along a common fold line in each sheet;
- and
- d) stapling the sheets together in the stack and forming a saddle stitched booklet thereby.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.