Device for feeding book blocks into the infeed channel of a subsequent processing arrangement

A device (30) for feeding book blocks (2) standing in an upright orientation on a spine or fore edge cut to subsequent processing equipment, comprising:

• an infeed channel (11) for the subsequent equipment, having a channel bottom (12), lateral channel guides (13) and at least one pusher (14) that pushes the book blocks (2) standing on their spine (2a) or fore edge cut forward into the equipment;
• a star feeder (31) in the form of a roller intermittently rotatable about a main axis (32), comprising a plurality of block receptacles (34) arranged in a star pattern, wherein each receptacle is formed by first and second locating surfaces on each of a plurality of axially spaced disks (33), said first locating surfaces (34.1) extending radially and said second locating surfaces (34.2) extending perpendicular to the first locating surfaces;
• an upstream book block conveyor (21) that feeds flat book blocks (2) to the star feeder (31) substantially tangentially to the roller and transversely to the main axis (32);
• wherein
• the star feeder includes a plurality of clamping jaws (36) that are respectively operatively associated with the plurality of block receptacles (34), each clamping jaw of a receptacle arranged substantially parallel to the second locating surfaces (34.2) and movable transversely relative to the second locating surfaces (34.2) in opening and clamping directions;
• and
• each receptacle receives a flat book block from the upstream book block conveyor (21) while the respective clamping jaw (36) is relatively open, during rotation of the star feeder (31) reorients the flat book block into said upright orientation while clamped between said respective jaw and said second locating surfaces (34.2), thereby positioning the upright book block for transport in a direction parallel to the rotation axis (32) and through the infeed channel.