FR3093467A1 - Device for robotic printing of individually produced books and associated process. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for producing a book on demand, comprising: - a cover printing or receiving station arranged to respectively print or receive a cover (4), - a printing or receiving station corpus arranged to respectively print or receive a corpus, - a binding station (6) arranged to assemble the corpus and the cover, - routing means (7) arranged and / or programmed to convey the cover and / or the corpus between the different stations, said device being characterized in that it is arranged to deposit glue on a gluing zone (8) of the cover inside the binding station before assembly by gluing the cover and of the corpus forming a book. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 7

Description

Device for robotic printing of books produced individually and associated method.

The present invention relates to a book printing device. It also relates to a process for printing books.

The invention typically allows a user to print a book on demand, preferably in one copy.

State of the prior art

Devices for making a book on demand are known, for example as described in document EP 1 196 296.

However, such devices can present certain problems.

First of all, after printing a corpus and a cover, the corpus and/or the cover can sometimes hang in the device. The routing mechanism may have one or more of the following issues:

• complexity of realization
• maintenance complexity
• significant risk of blocking the corpus or the cover

Also, another problem is that the gluing of the corpus to the cover is not always perfect and these two elements can sometimes not fit together very well.

The object of the present invention is to solve at least one of these aforementioned problems.

This objective is achieved with a device for manufacturing a book on demand, comprising:
- a cover printing or reception station arranged to respectively print or receive a cover,
- a corpus printing or reception station arranged to respectively print or receive a corpus,
- a binding station arranged to assemble the corpus and the cover,
- Routing means arranged and/or programmed to route the cover and/or the corpus between the different stations.

The device according to the invention is preferably arranged to deposit glue on a bonding zone of the cover inside the binding station before assembly by bonding of the cover and the corpus forming a book.

The device according to the invention preferably comprises heating means arranged to heat and/or keep hot the glue deposited on the bonding zone of the cover before the assembly by bonding of the cover and the corpus. The heating means preferably comprise:
- means for generating heat,
- a beak arranged to limit the extent of diffusion of this heat,
- Preferably a regulator arranged and/or programmed to adjust an opening of the spout according to a quantity and/or a width of glue deposited on the bonding zone and/or according to a thickness of the corpus.

The routing means are preferably arranged and/or programmed to position the cover according to several positions comprising:
- a deposition position for which the bonding zone is not located under the heating means and for which the device is arranged to deposit the glue on the bonding zone and/or,
- a heating position for which the bonding zone is located under the heating means and/or,
- A pre-assembly position for which the bonding zone is not located under the heating means.

The heating position is preferably offset relative to the deposition position along an offset direction and/or the pre-assembly position is preferably offset relative to the heating position along this offset direction.

The binding station preferably comprises locking means arranged to immobilize the cover in the depositing position and/or in the heating position.

The cover is preferably located in the same plane called the bonding plane for these deposition, heating and/or pre-assembly positions.

The binding station is preferably arranged and/or programmed to position the cover according to an assembly position offset with respect to the pre-assembly position at least partly perpendicular to the offset direction so as to assemble the cover and the corpus by collage.

The binding station preferably includes a corpus receptacle arranged to receive the corpus in a receiving position. The conveying means are preferably arranged and/or programmed so that in the deposit position the gluing zone is not located under the corpus receptacle of the binding station and/or so that in the pre-assembly position the gluing area is located under the corpus receptacle of the binding station.

In its receiving position, the corpus preferably extends perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the cover in its pre-assembly position and/or in its assembly position.

The transport means are preferably arranged and/or programmed to take the book out of the binding station perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to the offset direction and/or by touching only the corpus.

The device according to the invention preferably comprises a creasing station arranged to creasing the cover along several parallel lines extending over an entire width or length of the cover, preferably along two or four parallel lines, the conveying means being arranged and/or programmed to insert the cover into the creasing station in a creasing position.

The deposition position is preferably offset from the creasing position along the offset direction.

The creasing position preferably intersects the deposit position.

In its creasing position, the cover preferably extends perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the cover in its deposit position.

The routing means preferably comprise a robotic arm provided with fingers arranged and/or programmed to manipulate the cover and/or the corpus.

The device according to the invention preferably comprises a glue gun, the robotic arm being arranged and/or programmed to grasp the glue gun to deposit glue on the bonding area of the cover while the cover is placed in the binding station. The glue gun preferably includes:
- a reserve of glue comprising a thread of solid glue wound in the form of a coil,
- Means for unwinding the wire from the reel by one end of this wire and for melting this end of the glue wire so as to deliver the glue in liquid or pasty form.

The device according to the invention preferably comprises means for measuring or determining a thickness of the corpus.

The device according to the invention is preferably arranged and/or programmed to determine and then deposit a quantity of glue on the bonding zone of the cover inside the binding station, this quantity of glue being a function of the thickness measured or determined from the corpus.

The cover printing or reception station and the corpus printing or reception station preferably comprise a printer common to these two stations.

The device according to the invention preferably comprises a grafting station. The conveying means are preferably arranged and/or programmed to convey the corpus from the corpus printing or reception station and to the lettering station and/or from the lettering station to the binding station. The notching station preferably includes a corpus receptacle and means for notching an edge of the corpus when disposed in the corpus receptacle of the notching station.

The routing means are preferably arranged and/or programmed:
- to transport the assembled book from the binding station and to the corpus receptacle of the notching station, touching only the corpus,
- then to drop the book in the corpus receptacle of the latching station,
- then to change grip by grabbing the book by at least part of the cover stuck to the corpus.

The device according to the invention preferably comprises a trimming station arranged to trim the book.

The conveying means are preferably arranged and/or programmed to convey the book from the notching station and to the trimming station.

The trimming station is preferably connected to a collection tray, the conveying means being arranged and/or programmed to convey the corpus in an initial format, preferably A4, to the trimming station, then to hold the corpus in the trimming station for cutting into a part of the corpus held in the transport means and another part of the corpus cut and directed towards the collection tray, then assembling the two parts of the corpus so as to form in the means of delivery of a corpus in a reduced format, preferably A5, but thicker than its initial format.

The device according to the invention preferably comprises a casing containing all the stations, said casing comprising an opaque lower part and an upper part provided with a transparent window, the lower part and the upper part being separated by a separation plate. opaque, said device being further characterized in that:
- the robotic arm is located at least partly in the upper part, and/or
- the binding station is located at least partly in the upper part, and/or
- the creasing station is located at least partly in the upper part, and/or
- the grafting station is located at least partly in the lower part and is accessible from the upper part through a slot made in the separating plate and/or
- the trimming station is located at least partly in the lower part and is accessible from the upper part through a slot made in the separating plate and/or
- the corpus printing or receiving station is located at least partly in the upper part, and/or
- The cover printing or reception station is located at least partly in the upper part.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a book on demand, comprising:
- printing or reception, respectively at a cover printing or reception station, of a cover,
- printing or reception, respectively at a corpus printing or reception station, of a corpus,
- an assembly, at a binding station, of the corpus and the cover,
- routing, by routing means, of the cover and/or of the corpus between the various stations.

The method according to the invention preferably comprises a deposit of glue on a bonding area of the cover inside the binding station before an assembly by bonding of the cover and the corpus forming a book.

The method according to the invention preferably comprises heating or keeping hot, by means of heating, the glue deposited on the bonding zone of the cover before the assembly by bonding of the cover and the corpus.

Reheating or keeping warm may include:
- heat generation,
- a limitation of the extent of diffusion of this heat by a nozzle,
- Preferably an adjustment, by a regulator, of an opening of the beak according to a quantity and/or a width of glue deposited on the bonding zone and/or according to a thickness of the corpus.

The routing means preferably position the cover according to several positions comprising in this order:
- a deposition position for which the bonding zone is not located under the heating means and for which the method comprises depositing the glue on the bonding zone and/or,
- a heating position for which the bonding zone is located under the heating means and/or,
- A pre-assembly position for which the bonding zone is not located under the heating means.

The heating position is preferably offset relative to the deposition position along an offset direction and/or the pre-assembly position is preferably offset relative to the heating position along this offset direction.

The method according to the invention may comprise immobilization, by locking means, of the cover in the deposition position during the deposition of glue and/or in the heating position during the reheating or keeping it warm, by means heating, glue deposited on the bonding area of the cover.

The cover is preferably located in the same plane called the bonding plane for these deposition, heating and/or pre-assembly positions.

The binding station preferably positions the cover according to an assembly position offset with respect to the pre-assembly position at least partly perpendicular to the direction of offset so as to assemble the cover and the corpus by gluing.

The method according to the invention preferably comprises receiving, in a corpus receptacle of the binding station, the corpus in a reception position. The glue zone is preferably not located under the corpus receptacle of the binding station when the cover is in its deposit position, and/or the glue zone is preferably located under the corpus receptacle of the binding station when the cover is in its pre-assembly position.

In its receiving position, the corpus preferably extends perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the cover in its pre-assembly position and/or in its assembly position.

The transport means preferably take the book out of the binding station perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to the offset direction and/or touching only the corpus.

The method according to the invention preferably comprises creasing, by a creasing station, of the cover along several parallel lines extending over an entire width or length of the cover, preferably along two or four parallel lines, the means of routing inserting the cover into the creasing station in a creasing position.

The deposition position is preferably offset from the creasing position along the offset direction.

The creasing position preferably intersects the deposit position.

In its creasing position, the cover preferably extends perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the cover in its deposit position.

The conveying means preferably comprise a robotic arm provided with fingers manipulating the cover and/or the corpus to convey it between the various stations.

The method according to the invention preferably comprises seizure, by the robotic arm, of a glue gun so as to deposit the glue from this gun on the bonding zone of the cover while the cover is placed in the binding. The glue gun preferably comprises a supply of glue comprising a thread of solid glue wound in the form of a coil, the method comprising unwinding the thread from the coil by one end of this thread and a step in which this end of the glue thread so as to deliver the glue in liquid or pasty form.

The method according to the invention preferably comprises a measurement or determination of a thickness of the corpus.

The method according to the invention preferably comprises a determination and then a deposit of a quantity of glue on the bonding zone of the cover inside the binding station, this quantity of glue being a function of the measured thickness or determined from the corpus.

The cover printing or reception station and the corpus printing or reception station preferably comprise a printer common to these two stations.

The conveying means preferably conveys the corpus from the corpus printing or receiving station and to a notching station and/or from the notching station to the binding station. The notching station preferably comprises a corpus receptacle and means for notching an edge of the corpus when it is placed in the corpus receptacle of the notching station before the assembly by gluing the cover and the corpus forming the book.

Preferred means of delivery:
- transport the assembled book from the binding station and to the corpus receptacle of the notching station, touching only the corpus,
- then drop the book in the corpus receptacle of the grafting station,
- then change grip by grasping the book by at least part of the cover glued to the corpus while the book is still in the corpus receptacle of the bonding station.

The method according to the invention preferably comprises trimming, by a trimming station, of the book.

The conveying means preferably convey the book from the notching station and to the trimming station.

The trimming station is preferably connected to a collection tray, the conveying means convey the corpus in an initial format, preferably A4, to the trimming station, then hold the corpus in the trimming station for cutting in a part of the corpus held in the transport means and another part of the corpus cut out and directed towards the recovery bin, then assemble the two parts of the corpus so as to form in the transport means a corpus of reduced format, preferably A5, but thicker than its initial format.

A casing preferably encloses all of the stations, said casing comprising an opaque lower part and an upper part provided with a transparent window, the lower part and the upper part being separated by an opaque separating plate, said method being characterized in besides that:
- the robotic arm is located at least partly in the upper part, and/or
- the binding station is located at least partly in the upper part, and/or
- the creasing station is located at least partly in the upper part, and/or
- the grafting station is located at least partly in the lower part and is accessed by the robotic arm from the upper part through a slot made in the separation plate and/or
- the trimming station is located at least partly in the lower part and is accessed by the robotic arm from the upper part through a slot made in the separation plate and/or
- the corpus printing or receiving station is located at least partly in the upper part, and/or
- The cover printing or reception station is located at least partly in the upper part.

Description of figures and embodiments

Other advantages and particularities of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description of in no way limiting implementations and embodiments, and of the following appended drawings illustrating a first preferred embodiment of device 1 according to the invention and different steps of a first preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention implemented by this device 1:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device 1,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the robotic arm of the means 7 and the printing means 2, 3 of the device 1 when the cover 4 has just been printed,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the robotic arm of the means 7, of the creasing station 21 and of the binding station 6 of the device 1 while the cover 4 is in its creasing position 11,

FIG. 4 is a profile sectional view of the fingers 71 of the robotic arm of the means 7, of the creasing station 21 and of the binding station 6 of the device 1 while the cover 4 is in its creasing position 11,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the robotic arm of the means 7, of the creasing station 21 and of the binding station 6 of the device 1 while the cover 4 is in its deposit position 12,

FIG. 6 is a profile sectional view of the fingers 71 of the robotic arm of the means 7, of the creasing station 21 and of the binding station 6 of the device 1 while the cover 4 is in its deposit position 12,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the robotic arm of the means 7 manipulating a glue gun 72, of the creasing station 21 and of the binding station 6 of the device 1 while the cover 4 is in its deposit position 12,

FIG. 8 is a profile sectional view of the fingers 71 of the robotic arm of the means 7, of the creasing station 21 and of the binding station 6 of the device 1 while the cover 4 is in its heating position 13,

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the robotic arm of the means 7 and of the grafting station 22 of the device 1 while the corpus 5 is inserted into the grafting station 22,

FIG. 10 is a profile sectional view of the fingers 71 of the robotic arm of the means 7 and of the grafting station 22 of the device 1 while the corpus 5 is inserted into the grafting station 22,

FIG. 11 is another profile sectional view (along a plane perpendicular to that of FIG. 10) of the fingers 71 of the robotic arm of the means 7 and of the grafting station 22 of the device 1 while the corpus 5 is inserted into the grafting station 22,

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the robotic arm of the means 7, of the creasing station 21 and of the binding station 6 of the device 1 while the cover 4 is in its heating position 13 and the corpus 5 is inserted into the corpus receptacle 20 of the binding station 6,

FIG. 13 is a profile section view of the fingers 71 of the robotic arm of the means 7, of the creasing station 21 and of the binding station 6 of the device 1 while the cover 4 is in its pre-assembly position 14 and that the corpus 5 is inserted into the corpus receptacle 20 of the binding station 6,

FIG. 14 is a side sectional view of the creasing station 21 and the binding station 6 of the device 1 while the cover 4 is in its assembly position 15 and the corpus 5 is inserted into the corpus receptacle 20 binding station 6,

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the robotic arm of the means 7, of the creasing station 21 and of the binding station 6 of the device 1 while the book 9, resulting from the assembly of the cover 4 and the corpus 5, is excerpt from binding station 6,

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the robotic arm of the means 7 and of the grafting station 22 of the device 1 while the book 9 is inserted into the grafting station 22,

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the robotic arm of the means 7 and of the grafting station 22 of the device 1 while the book 9 is inserted into the grafting station 22 and the arm of the means 7 changes grip on the book 9 ,

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the robotic arm of the means 7 and of the trimming station 25 of the device 1 while the book 9 is inserted into the trimming station 25 for a first cut,

FIG. 19 is a profile sectional view of the fingers 71 of the robotic arm of the means 7 and of the trimming station 25 of the device 1 while the book 9 is inserted into the trimming station 25 for a second cut,

FIG. 20 a perspective view of the robotic arm of means 7 and of the outlet 27 of device 1 while the book 9 is inserted by the arm of means 7 into outlet 27 (to simplify this figure 20, the binding station 6 is not represented there),

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of the first method embodiment according to the invention.

These drawings are only schematic and include certain simplifications. For example :

• in most of the figures, the fingers 71 of the robotic arm are shown apart instead of keeping the corpus 5 or the cover 4 or the book 9 pinched,
• in most of the figures, the corpus 5 or the cover 4 or the book 9 is illustrated schematically, for example by a thin line in figure 19.

These embodiments being in no way limiting, variants of the invention may in particular be considered comprising only a selection of characteristics or steps described or illustrated subsequently isolated from the other characteristics or steps described or illustrated (even if this selection is isolated within a sentence including such other features or steps), if such selection of features or steps is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the prior art. This selection includes at least one preferably functional feature or step without structural details, and/or with only part of the structural details if only that part is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the prior art.

We will first describe, with reference to Figures 1 to 20, the first embodiment of device 1 according to the invention.

Device 1 is a device 1 for making a book 9 on demand.

The device 1 comprises input means 28:

- connected to a computer catalog of books that can be printed and,

- Arranged to allow entry, from the catalog, of the book 9 to be printed by the device 1.

The input means 28 may or may not be integral with the rest of the device 1. They can be connected by wireless (Wifi) or wired communication means to the rest of the device 1. The input means 28 typically comprise a touch pad or a touchscreen.

The device 1 comprises a station 2 for printing and/or receiving a cover arranged to respectively print and/or receive a cover 4.

Station 2 includes a printer for printing cover 4.

Station 2 further comprises a feed tray arranged to insert, from outside device 1, a cover 4 printed outside device 1. This is useful in particular in the case of a thick cardboard cover 4.

Device 1 comprises a creasing station 21.

The device 1 comprises a station 3 for printing and/or receiving a corpus arranged to respectively print and/or receive a corpus 5.

By “corpus” we mean a set of several sheets (preferably paper) stacked on top of each other to form the pages of Book 9.

Station 3 includes a printer for printing corpus 5.

Station 3 further comprises a supply tray arranged to insert, from outside device 1, a corpus 5 printed outside device 1. This is useful in particular in the case of a corpus 5 on a paper or special material or with special inks (gilding, etc.).

Station 2 for printing or receiving cover and station 3 for printing or receiving corpus include a common printer for these two stations. Stations 2 and 3 typically include a LEXMARK CS923 reference printer.

Device 1 comprises a grafting station 22.

The grafting station 22 comprises a corpus receptacle 23 (arranged to receive and immobilize the corpus 5) and means 24 for grafting an edge of the corpus 5 when it is placed in the corpus receptacle 23 of the grafting station 22.

The device 1 comprises a binding station 6 arranged to assemble the corpus 5 and the cover 4.

The device 1 comprises a trimming station 25 arranged to trim the book 9.

Device 1 comprises an exit station 27 arranged to bring book 9 out of device 1, for distribution of book 9 to the user.

The device 1 comprises conveying means 7 arranged and/or programmed to convey the cover 4 alone, the corpus 5 alone, and the book 9 resulting from the assembly of the cover 4 and the corpus 5, between the various stations 2, 3, 6, 21, 22, 25, 27.

As we will see later, said device 1 is arranged to deposit glue on a bonding area 8 of the cover inside the binding station 6 before assembly by bonding of the cover 4 and the corpus 5 forming a book 9.

The routing means comprise (preferably consist of) a control unit COMM described below and a robotic arm provided with fingers 71 (at least two fingers 71 forming a gripper) arranged and/or programmed (in particular by the unit COMM command) to manipulate cover 4 and/or corpus 5.

This arm of the means 7 is typically a robotic arm with at least six axes of rotation, for example of reference COMAU Racer 5.

The conveying means 7 are arranged and/or programmed to convey the corpus 5 from the corpus printing or reception station 3 and up to the notching station 22 (possibly passing through the trimming station 25) in such a way to strap one side of corpus 5 while corpus 58 extends vertically or substantially (i.e. at plus or minus 20°) vertically in post 22.

The trimming station 25 is connected to a recovery tray 26, the conveying means 7 being arranged and/or programmed to convey the corpus 5 in an initial format, preferably A4 of the international standard ISO 216 (ICS no. 85.080. 10) (i.e. having a dimension of 210 × 297 mm), up to the trimming station 25, then holding the corpus 5 in the trimming station 25 (while the corpus 5 extends vertically or substantially (i.e. more or minus 20°) vertically in the station 25) for cutting into a part of the corpus 5 held in the conveying means 7 and another part of the corpus 5 cut and directed towards the collection tray 26, then assemble in the collection tray recovery 26 of the two parts of the corpus 5 so as to form in the conveying means 7 a corpus 5 of reduced format, preferably A5 of the international standard ISO 216 (ICS no. 85.080.10) (i.e. having a dimension of 210 × 148 mm), but of increased thickness compared to its format i initial. These means 25 are implemented optionally when the book 9 is of reduced format compared to the printing by the means 3.

The notching station 22 comprises one or two toothed rollers 24 arranged to notch (that is to say notch) the corpus 5. A jack 37 is arranged to move each roller 24 in translation along the corpus 5 held in the receptacle 23. A guide rail 38 is arranged to guide each roller in this translation movement. Another cylinder or side clamp 39 is arranged to hold the corpus 5 in position in the receptacle 23 during the notching.

Depending on the variant considered:

• the conveying means 7 are arranged and/or programmed to convey the corpus 5 from the corpus printing or reception station 3 and up to the binding station 6 by measuring a thickness of the corpus 5, for example by measuring the gap between the two fingers 71 of the clamp of the arm of the means 7 holding the corpus 5. This is for example the case if the corpus 5 is already in the receptacle 20 before the glue is deposited on the cover 4; and or
• the device 1 is arranged and/or programmed to measure a thickness of the corpus 5, for example by measurement at the output of the printing station 3 (by an optical or mechanical measurement, possibly with a multiplying factor x2 in the event of future cutting in the drip tray 26). This is for example the case if the corpus 5 has not yet been manipulated by the means 7 before the glue is deposited on the cover 4; and or
• the device 1 is arranged and/or programmed to determine a thickness of the corpus 5 from a database and according to the book 9 selected by the user. This is the case, for example, if corpus 5 has not yet been printed before the glue is applied to cover 4.

The binding station 6 comprises a corpus receptacle 20 arranged to receive the corpus 5 in a reception position 16, in which the corpus 5 preferably extends vertically or substantially (i.e. more or less 20°) vertically.

The conveying means 7 are arranged and/or programmed to convey the corpus 5 from the notching station 22 to the binding station 6 (more exactly to the receptacle 20).

The conveying means 7 are arranged and/or programmed to convey the cover 4 from the printing station 2 to the creasing station 21.

The routing means 7 are arranged and/or programmed to insert the cover into the creasing station in a creasing position 11, in which the cover 4 preferably extends vertically or substantially (i.e. at plus or minus 20°) vertically.

The creasing station 21 is arranged to crease the cover 4 (before any deposition of glue on the cover 4) along several parallel folding lines extending over the entire width or length of the cover 4, preferably along two or four lines folding parallels. At least two of these parallel lines are in the glue zone 8.

The creasing station 21 comprises, depending on the variant considered:

• a blade 41, an abutment 42, and a cylinder 43 arranged to move the blade 41 so as to wedge the cover 4 between the blade 41 and the abutment 42 so as to produce a fold line in the cover 4 along the blade 41. In this case the cover 4 shifts in the station for each fold line to be made;
• several blades 41, a stop 42, and a jack 43 arranged to move the blades 41 so as to wedge the cover 4 between the blades 41 and the stop 42 so as to simultaneously produce several (typically two or four) parallel folding lines in the cover 4 along the blades 41. In this case the cover 4 explores only one creasing position 11.

The conveying means 7 are arranged and/or programmed to convey the cover 4 from the creasing station 21 to the binding station 6.

The binding station 6 comprises heating means 10 arranged to heat and/or keep hot the glue deposited on the bonding zone 8 of the cover 4 before the assembly by bonding of the cover 4 and the corpus 5.

The conveying means 7 are arranged and/or programmed to position the cover 4 according to several positions in the binding station 6, successively in this order:

- deposit position 12, in which the cover 4 preferably extends horizontally or substantially (i.e. at plus or minus 20°) horizontally, then

- heating position 13, in which the blanket 4 preferably extends horizontally or substantially (i.e. at plus or minus 20°) horizontally, then

- pre-assembly position 14, in which the cover 4 preferably extends horizontally or substantially (i.e. at plus or minus 20°) horizontally, then

- assembly position 15, in which the cover 4 preferably extends horizontally or substantially (i.e. at plus or minus 20°) horizontally.

The routing means 7 are arranged and/or programmed to position the cover 4 according to the deposition position 12 for which the bonding zone 8 is not located under the heating means 10 and for which the device 1 is arranged to deposit the glue on the bonding zone 8. In this position 12 the heating means 10 are inactive.

In this deposit position 12, the cover 4 rests on a horizontal or substantially horizontal support surface (at more or less 20°) of the binding station 6.

The binding station 6 comprises locking means 18 arranged to immobilize the cover 4 in the deposit position 12.

Device 1 includes a glue gun 72.

The robotic arm of the means 7 is arranged and/or programmed to grab the glue gun 72 to deposit glue on the gluing zone 8 of the cover 4 while the cover 4 is placed in the binding station 6 in its position deposit 12.

The 72 glue gun includes:

- a reserve 73 of glue comprising a thread of solid glue wound in the form of a coil,

- Means for unwinding the thread from the reel via one end of this thread and for melting this end of the glue thread so as to deliver the glue in liquid or pasty form to the bonding zone 8; these means typically comprise an unwinding system and a melter. The unwinding system comprises a freely rotating roller and a toothed wheel driven in rotation by a motor, the roller and the toothed wheel pinching the glue thread between the coil and the melter. The unwinding system is arranged to pull the wire coming from the reel and push it towards the melter so as to thread the glue wire into the melter. The melter is heated and temperature controlled. The melter is arranged to melt glue thread. The melter comprises a mass (typically of a tin or other type copper alloy) in the shape of a funnel and heated, the outlet diameter of this funnel (approximately 1mm) being less than the diameter of the glue wire in the solid state on its reel.

The glue is, for example, PLANATOL Planamelt W glue purchased in the form of granules and extruded in the form of a wire wrapped in the form of the coil 73..

The device 1, more precisely the arm of the means 7, is arranged and/or programmed to deposit (and possibly determine beforehand) a quantity of glue on the bonding zone 8 of the cover 4 inside the binding station 6 , this quantity of glue being a function of the measured or determined thickness of the corpus 5.

The conveying means 7 are arranged and/or programmed to position the cover 4 according to the heating position 13 for which the bonding zone 8 is located under the heating means 10, so that the glue deposited is located between the cover 4 and the heating means 10.
The heating means 10 comprise:

- Means 201 for generating heat; these means 201 typically comprise means for generating a current of hot air and/or means for generating heat radiation, for example they comprise an infrared lamp or a heating resistor; these means 201 are typically arranged to generate a temperature above 100°C (or even 150°C) and/or below 300°C at the level of zone 8 when cover 4 is in its heating position 13; these means 201 are typically arranged to be at a distance greater than 10 mm and/or less than 50 mm from zone 8 when cover 4 is in its heating position 13; these means 201 typically comprise a heating resistance arranged at a distance of 30 mm from zone 8 when the cover 4 is in its heating position 13 and whose temperature is slightly higher than 170° C. so as to heat zone 8 slightly away at 170° C. when cover 4 is in its heating position 13;

- a spout 202 (typically in stainless steel or ideally in a thermally insulating material such as mica) arranged to limit an extent of diffusion of this heat in the direction of the bonding zone 8 in the heating position 13 of the cover 4,

- a regulator (including the COMM control unit) arranged and/or programmed to adjust an opening of the spout 202 (the spout 202 comprising two flaps) according to a quantity and/or a width of glue deposited on the gluing zone 8 and/or depending on a thickness of the corpus 5. This regulator can be dispensed with in particular if the heat generated by the means 201 is not too great.

The locking means 18 are arranged to immobilize the cover 4 in the heating position 13.

The locking means 18 comprise the spout 202 of the heating means 10 which are removably mounted between two positions including a position for which the cover 4 is not immobilized by the spout 202 and a position for which the cover 4 is immobilized by the spout 202.

The transport means 7 are arranged and/or programmed to position the cover 4 according to the pre-assembly position 14 for which the bonding zone 8 is not located under the heating means 10.

The heating position 13 is offset with respect to the deposition position 12 along an offset direction 17, preferably horizontal or substantially (i.e. more or less 20°) horizontal.

The deposition position 12 is offset with respect to the creasing position 11 along the direction of offset 17.

The space occupied by cover 4 in its creasing position 11 intersects the space occupied by cover 4 in its deposit position 12.

In its creasing position 11, the cover 4 extends perpendicular or substantially perpendicular (i.e. at plus or minus 20°) to the cover 4 in its deposit position 12.

The pre-assembly position 14 is offset from the heating position 13 along this offset direction 17.

The cover 4 is located in the same plane called the bonding plane 19 (preferably horizontal or substantially (i.e. at plus or minus 20°) horizontal)) for these positions of deposit 12, heating 13 and pre-assembly 14.

The binding station 6 is arranged and/or programmed to position the cover 4 according to the assembly position 15. For this, the binding station 6 comprises a pivot link 45 (illustrated by the passage between FIGS. 4 and 6) arranged to tilt the cover support surface 4 between its positions 14 and 15. This pivot link 45 is actuated by a jack 46.

Assembly position 15 is offset from pre-assembly position 14 at least partly perpendicular (preferably obliquely) to offset direction 17 and glue plane 19 so that cover 4 can be assembled and the corpus 5 by bonding via the bonding zone 8 on which the glue has been deposited.

The transport means 7 are arranged and/or programmed so that in the deposit position 12 the gluing zone 8 is not located under the corpus receptacle 20 of the binding station 6.

The transport means 7 are arranged and/or programmed so that in the pre-assembly position 14 the gluing zone 8 is located under the corpus receptacle 20 of the binding station 6.

In its reception position 16 the corpus 5 extends perpendicularly or substantially (i.e. at plus or minus 20°) perpendicular to the cover 4 in its pre-assembly position 14 and in its assembly position 15.

The routing means 7 are arranged and/or programmed to take the book 9 out of the binding station 6 perpendicularly or substantially (i.e. at plus or minus 20°) perpendicular to the offset direction 17 (and parallel or substantially (i.e. at more or less 20°) parallel to the gluing plane 19) and only touching the corpus 5, that is to say holding the book by the “gutter”.

The conveying means 7 are arranged and/or programmed:
- to convey the assembled book 9 from the binding station 6 and to the corpus receptacle 23 of the notching station 22 by touching only the corpus 5,

- then to release the book 9 in the corpus receptacle 23 of the notching station 22, while the book 9 extends vertically or substantially (i.e. at more or less 20°) vertically

- then to change grip by grabbing book 9 by at least part of cover 4 stuck to corpus 5.

The conveying means 7 are arranged and/or programmed to convey the book 9 from the notching station 22 and up to the trimming station 25.

The trimming station 25 is arranged to cut the book 9 along three cutting lines corresponding to three edges of the book 9, the fourth edge of the book 9 corresponding to the gluing edge of the corpus 5 to the cover 4 by the gluing zone 8. Each cutting line is made while the book 9 extends vertically or substantially (i.e. more or less 20°) vertically in station 25.

The trimming station 25 comprises a blade 51, an abutment 54, a motor 52 arranged to actuate the blade 51 against the abutment 54 (via gears 53) so as to jam the book 9 (or the corpus 5 in case of cutting to go from A4 to A5) between the stop 54 and the blade 51 and thus cut an edge of the book 9.

The device 1 comprises a formwork 30 containing all the stations. Formwork 30 includes:

- a completely opaque lower part 31 (by opaque is meant through which a human eye cannot see and/or which allows less than 1% of the light intensity of each wavelength between 400 and 700 nm to pass ),

- an upper part 32 provided with a transparent window and located above the lower part 31 (by transparent is meant through which a human eye can see and/or which allows at least 50% of the light intensity to pass at least one wavelength between 400 and 700 nm),

- a side part 34 (preferably completely opaque) laterally adjoining the lower part 31 and the upper part 32.

The device 1 comprises a COMM control unit (not shown), preferably located in the side part 34.

This control unit comprises at least one computer, a central or computing unit, an analog electronic circuit (preferably dedicated), a digital electronic circuit (preferably dedicated), and/or a microprocessor (preferably dedicated), and/ or software means.

This control unit is arranged for:

- communicate with the input means 28, in particular to receive the indication of the book 9 to be printed selected on the input means 28 by the user, and

- to control the means 7 and each of the stations 2, 3, 6, 21, 22, 25 to implement the method according to the invention described below so as to manufacture this book 9, in particular to print the corpus 5 and the cover 4 corresponding to this book 9.

The lower part 31 and the upper part 32 are separated by an opaque separating plate 33 (but provided with passage holes or slots).

Plate 33 is horizontal or substantially (i.e. more or less 20°) horizontal.

The robotic arm of the means 7 is located at least partly in the upper part 32.

The binding station 6 is located at least partly in the upper part 32.

The creasing station 21 is located at least partly in the upper part 32.

The grafting station 22 is located at least partly in the lower part 31 and is accessible from the upper part 32 by the corpus 5 or the book 9 manipulated by the arm of the means 7 through a slot made in the plate 33 of seperation.

The trimming station 25 is located at least partly in the lower part 31 and is accessible from the upper part 32 by the corpus 5 or the book 9 manipulated by the arm of the means 7 through a slot made in the plate of separation 33.

The corpus printing or reception station 3 is located at least partly in the upper part 32 and/or in the side part 34.

The printing or cover reception station 2 is located at least partly in the upper part 32 and/or in the side part 34.

The exit station 27 (typically comprising a simple hatch) is located at least partly in the upper part 32.

We will now describe, with reference to Figures 1 to 21, the first embodiment of the method according to the invention implemented in the device 1 according to the invention.

This embodiment being in no way limiting, variants may in particular be considered comprising only a selection of steps described or illustrated below and/or for each of these steps a selection of the characteristics of these steps described or illustrated below. (even if this selection is isolated within a sentence including these other features or steps), if this selection of features or steps is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the art anterior.

This embodiment of the method according to the invention comprises steps 99 to 135 described below.

Steps 101 to 114 follow one another in time by increasing numbers.

Steps 100 and 115 to 119 follow one another in time by increasing numbers.

Steps 121 to 135 follow one another in time by increasing numbers.

Each of steps 121 through 135 is implemented after the block of steps 100 and 115 through 119 and after the block of steps 101 through 114.

In this embodiment, steps 101 to 135 follow one another in time by increasing numbers.

Step 100 is implemented:

- before step 115, and

- before and/or after and/or during step 101, preferably between and/or during steps 102 to 114, preferably between and/or during steps 102 to 109.

During or between these different steps, this embodiment of the method according to the invention comprises routing, by the routing means 7, of the cover 4 and/or of the corpus 5 between the different stations 2, 3, 6, 21, 22, 25, 27. The routing means 7 comprise the robotic arm of the means 7 fitted with fingers 71 manipulating the cover 4 and/or the corpus 5 to route it between the different stations 2, 3, 6, 21 , 22, 25, 27.

These means 7 are also called "robot", in particular in Figure 21.

This embodiment of the method according to the invention for manufacturing a book 9 on demand initially comprises the step 99 of input by the user, on the input means 28, of the book 9 to be printed.

After step 99, this embodiment of the method according to the invention comprises step 100 of printing or receiving, respectively at station 3 for printing or receiving corpus , of corpus 5. In the event of printing of the corpus 5, this embodiment of the method further comprises jogging the corpus, typically at the output of the printer 3.

After step 99, this embodiment of the method according to the invention also comprises the following successive steps:

- step 101: printing or reception, respectively at station 2 of printing or reception of cover, of cover 4; then

- step 102: the means 7 (more exactly the arm of the means 7) take the cover 4, as illustrated in FIG. 2; then

- step 103: the means 7 (more exactly the arm of the means 7) transport the cover 4 from the station 2 for printing or receiving the cover to the creasing station 21; then

- step 104: the means 7 (more exactly the arm of the means 7) insert (vertically) the cover 4 into the creasing station 21, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the conveying means 7 inserting the cover 4 into the creasing station 21 in creasing position 11; then

- step 105: creasing, by the creasing station 21, of the cover 4 (before the deposition of the glue) along several parallel lines extending over an entire width or length of the cover 4, preferably along two or four parallel lines. The spacing between these parallel lines depends on the thickness of the corpus 5, measured or determined beforehand as explained below in the paragraph of step 110; then

- step 106: the means 7 (more exactly the arm of the means 7) position the cover 4 according to the deposition position 12 for which the bonding zone 8 is not located under the heating means 10, as illustrated in FIG. 5 ; the gluing zone 8 is not located under the corpus receptacle 20 of the binding station 6 when the cover 4 is in its deposit position 12; the deposition position 12 is offset with respect to the creasing position 11 along the offset direction 17; the space occupied by the cover 4 in its creasing position 11 intersects the space occupied by the cover 4 in its deposit position 12; in its creasing position 11 the cover 4 extends perpendicularly or substantially (i.e. at plus or minus 20°) perpendicular to the cover 4 in its deposit position 12; then

- step 107: immobilization, by the locking means 18, of the cover 4 in the deposit position 12 as illustrated in FIG. 6, at least until the future step 110 inclusive of depositing glue; then

- step 108: the means 7 (more exactly the arm of the means 7) release the cover 4 in its deposit position 12; then

- step 109: seizure, by the robotic arm of the means 7, of the glue gun 72 as illustrated in FIG. 7; then

- step 110: a deposition of glue, by the robotic arm of the means 7 holding the gun 72, on the gluing zone 8 of the cover 4 inside the binding station 6 before assembly (future step 124) by collage of cover 4 and corpus 5 forming book 9; more precisely, a deposit of the glue from the gun 72 on the bonding zone 8 of the cover 4 while the cover 4 is placed in the binding station 6 in its deposit position 12; the glue gun 72 comprises the reserve 73 of glue comprising the solid glue wire wound in the form of a coil, this embodiment of the method according to the invention comprising unwinding the wire from the coil by one end of this wire and a step in which this end of the glue thread is melted so as to deliver the glue in liquid or pasty form to the bonding zone 8; this embodiment of the method according to the invention comprises, before this deposition of a certain quantity of glue on the bonding zone 8 of the cover 4 inside the binding station 6, a determination of this quantity of glue, this quantity of glue being a function of the measured or determined thickness of the corpus 5. This thickness of the corpus 5 has been measured and/or determined beforehand in this process:

• for example by measuring the distance between the two fingers 71 of the clamp of the arm of the means 7 holding the corpus 5; and or
• for example by measurement at the output of station 3 by an optical or mechanical measurement, for example after or during the jogging (possibly with a multiplying factor x2 in the event of future cutting in the recovery tank 26 at optional steps 116 and 117); and or
• from a database and according to the book 9 selected by the user;

; then

- step 111: the means 7 (more exactly the arm of the means 7) release the glue gun 72 and store it in its support inside the formwork 30, 32; then

- step 112: the means 7 (more exactly the arm of the means 7) take the cover 4 and the means 18 cease to immobilize the cover 4; then

- step 113: the conveying means 7 position the cover 4 according to the heating position 13 for which the bonding zone 8 is located under the heating means 10 so that the glue deposited is located between the cover 4 and the means heater 10, the heating position 13 being offset with respect to the deposition position 12 along the offset direction 17; the means 18 immobilize the cover 4 in its position 13 as illustrated in FIG. 8, the means 18 moving integrally with the heating means 10; during this step 113 and up to step 121, this embodiment of the method according to the invention comprises heating or keeping hot, by the heating means 10, the glue deposited on the bonding zone 8 of the cover 4 before assembly (future step 124) by gluing the cover 4 and the corpus5; the gluing zone 8 is not located under the corpus receptacle 20 of the binding station 6 when the cover 4 is in its heating position 13; reheating or keeping warm includes:

* a generation of heat by the heating means 10 more exactly by the means 201,
* a limitation, by the beak 202, of an extent of diffusion of this heat in the direction of the bonding zone 8 in the heating position 13 of the cover 4,
* an adjustment, by the COMM regulator, of an opening of the spout 202 according to a quantity and/or a width of glue deposited on the bonding zone 8 and/or according to a thickness (determined or measured) of the corpus 5.

; then

- step 114: the means 7 (more exactly the arm of the means 7) release the cover 4; then

- step 115: the means 7 (more exactly the arm of the means 7) take the corpus 5 and route the corpus from the station 3 for printing or receiving the corpus; then

- step 116 (optional, in the case of corpus 5 in station 3 in large format to manufacture a book 9 of format at least twice as small): the conveying means 7 (more exactly the arm of the means 7) convey the corpus 5 in an initial format, preferably A4, to the trimming station 25, then hold the corpus 5 in the trimming station 25 for a cutting of the corpus 5 into a part of the corpus 5 held in the transport means 7 and another part of the corpus 5 cut and directed (by falling) towards the recovery tank 26; then

- step 117 (optional, in the case of corpus 5 in station 3 in large format to manufacture a book 9 of format at least twice as small): the conveying means 7 (more exactly the arm of the means 7) assemble in the recovery tray 26 the two parts of the corpus 5 so as to form in the conveying means 7 a corpus 5 of reduced format, preferably A5, but of increased thickness compared to its initial format; then

- step 118: as illustrated in Figures 9 to 11, the means 7 (more exactly the arm of the means 7) convey the corpus to the notching station 22 comprising the corpus receptacle 23; this receptacle 23 immobilizes the corpus 5 while the means 24 carry out a notching of an edge of the corpus 5 when it is placed in the corpus receptacle 23 of the notching station 22; then

- step 119: the conveying means 7 (more exactly the arm of the means 7) convey the corpus 5 from the notching station 22 to the binding station 6, more exactly to the corpus receptacle 20 of the binding station 6; there is therefore a reception, in the corpus receptacle 20 of the binding station 6, of the corpus 5 in its reception position 16 illustrated in FIG. 12; then

- step 120: the conveying means 7 (more exactly the arm of the means 7) release the corpus 5 into the corpus receptacle 20 in its receiving position 16; then

- step 121: the conveying means 7 (more exactly the arm of the means 7) take the cover 4; then

- step 122: as illustrated in figure 13, the routing means 7 (more exactly the arm of the means 7) positions the cover 4 according to the pre-assembly position 14 for which the bonding zone 8 is not located under the heating means 10; the pre-assembly position 14 is offset with respect to the heating position 13 along the offset direction 17; the cover 4 is located on its surface or support plate in the same plane called the bonding plane 19 for the deposition 12, heating 13 and pre-assembly 14 positions; the gluing zone 8 is located under the corpus receptacle 20 of the binding station 6 when the cover 4 is in its pre-assembly position 14; in its reception position 16 the corpus 5 extends perpendicularly or substantially (at plus or minus 20°) perpendicular to the cover 4 in its pre-assembly position 14; then

- step 123: the conveying means 7 (more exactly the arm of the means 7) release the cover 4; then

- Step 124: as illustrated in Figure 14, the cover 4 is positioned according to its assembly position 15 (by pivoting the support surface of the cover 4 in the direction of the receptacle 20); this position 15 is offset from the pre-assembly position 14 at least partly perpendicular to the offset direction 17 (and to the plane 19) so as to assemble the cover 4 and the corpus 5 by gluing; in its reception position 16, the corpus 5 extends perpendicularly or substantially (at plus or minus 20°) perpendicular to the cover 4 in its assembly position 15; there is then an assembly, at the binding station 6, of the corpus 5 and of the cover 4 by gluing the glue deposited on the zone 8; then

- step 125: the transport means 7 (more exactly the arm of the means 7) take the book 9 thus assembled, but only touching the corpus 5; then

- step 126: as illustrated in FIG. 15, the conveying means 7 (more exactly the arm of the means 7) take the book 9 out of the binding station 6 perpendicularly or substantially (at plus or minus 20°) perpendicular to the direction of offset 17 (and parallel or substantially (at plus or minus 20°) parallel to the plane 19) and touching only the corpus 5; then

- step 127: the conveying means 7 (more exactly the arm of the means 7) convey the assembled book 9 from the binding station 6 and up to the corpus receptacle 23 of the notching station 22 by touching only the corpus 5 ; then

- step 128: as illustrated in FIG. 16, the conveying means 7 (more exactly the arm of the means 7) release the book 9 into the corpus receptacle 23 of the grafting station 22; then

- step 129: as illustrated in figure 17, the conveying means 7 (more exactly the arm of the means 7) change grip by seizing the book 9 by at least a part of the cover 4 glued to the corpus 5 while the book 9 is still in the corpus receptacle 23 of the grafting station 22; then

- step 130: the conveying means 7 (more exactly the arm of the means 7) convey the book 9 from the notching station 22 and up to the trimming station 25; then

- Step 131: as illustrated in Figure 18, a trimming, by the trimming station 25, of a first side ("foot") of the book 9; then

- Step 132: as illustrated in Figure 19, a trimming, by the trimming station 25, of a second side ("gutter") of the book 9 (the book 9 is rotated by 90° relative to Figure 18); then

- step 133: a trimming, by the trimming station 25, of a third side (“head”) of the book 9 (the book 9 is rotated by 180° with respect to FIG. 18); then

- Step 134: as illustrated in Figure 20, the conveying means 7 (more exactly the arm of the means 7) convey the book 9 from the trimming station 25 and to the output station 27; then

- step 135: the transport means 7 (more exactly the arm of the means 7) release the book 9 in the output station 27.

According to considered variants of this method embodiment according to the invention, each of the steps of the block of steps 100 and 115 to 119 can be implemented before, after, simultaneously or alternately with each of the steps of the block steps 101 to 114.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described and many adjustments can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention.

In combinable variants:

• all or part of the steps 100 and 115 to 119 are carried out before the step 110, or even before the step 101, and/or it is the means 7 which, by grasping the corpus 5, measure the thickness of this corpus 5 to the determination of the quantity of glue to be deposited on the bonding zone 8 of the cover 4; and or
• the glue may not be deposited by the arm of the means 7 but by another robotic arm or another technical means dedicated to the deposit of glue, this other arm or technical means being:
  • mobile relative to the formwork 30 so as to deposit the glue in several places of the bonding zone 8, or
  • stationary with respect to the formwork 30, the cover 4 being moved by the arm of the means 7 so as to deposit the glue in several places of the bonding zone 8.

Of course, the different characteristics, forms, variants and embodiments of the invention can be associated with each other in various combinations insofar as they are not incompatible or exclusive of each other. In particular, all the variants and embodiments described above can be combined with each other.

Claims (27)

Device for manufacturing (1) a book on demand, comprising:
- a cover printing or reception station (2) arranged to respectively print or receive a cover (4),
- a corpus printing or reception station (3) arranged to respectively print or receive a corpus (5),
- a binding station (6) arranged to assemble the corpus and the cover,
- routing means (7) arranged and/or programmed to route the cover and/or the corpus between the different stations,
said device being characterized in that it is arranged to deposit glue on a gluing area (8) of the cover inside the binding station before assembly by gluing of the cover and the corpus forming a book ( 9). Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises heating means (10) arranged to heat and/or keep hot the glue deposited on the bonding zone of the cover before the bonding of the cover and the body. Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the heating means comprise:
- means (201) for generating heat,
- a beak (202) arranged to limit an extent of diffusion of this heat,
- A regulator arranged and/or programmed to adjust an opening of the spout according to a quantity and/or a width of glue deposited on the bonding zone and/or according to a thickness of the corpus. Device according to Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the routing means are arranged and/or programmed to position the cover according to several positions comprising:
- a deposition position (12) for which the bonding zone is not located under the heating means and for which the device is arranged to deposit the glue on the bonding zone,
- a heating position (13) for which the bonding zone is located under the heating means,
- a pre-assembly position (14) for which the bonding zone is not located under the heating means
the heating position being offset from the deposition position in an offset direction (17) and the pre-assembly position being offset from the heating position in this offset direction. Device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the binding station comprises locking means (18) arranged to immobilize the cover in the deposit position. Device according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the cover is located in the same plane, called the bonding plane (19), for these positions of deposition, heating and pre-assembly. Device according to any one of Claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the binding station is arranged and/or programmed to position the cover according to an assembly position (15) offset with respect to the pre-assembly position at the less partly perpendicular to the offset direction so as to assemble the cover and the corpus by gluing. Device according to any one of Claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the binding station comprises a corpus receptacle (20) arranged to receive the corpus in a reception position (16), the routing means being arranged and /or programmed so that in the deposit position the gluing zone is not located under the corpus receptacle of the binding station and so that in the pre-assembly position the gluing zone is located under the corpus receptacle of the station binding. Device according to Claim 8, characterized in that in its receiving position the corpus extends perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to the cover in its pre-assembly position and/or in its assembly position. Device according to any one of Claims 4 to 9, characterized in that the conveying means are arranged and/or programmed to take the book out of the binding station perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to the offset direction and touching only the corpus. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a creasing station (21) arranged to crease the cover along several parallel lines extending over the entire width or length of the cover, preferably along two or four parallel lines, the conveying means being arranged and/or programmed to insert the cover into the creasing station in a creasing position (11). Device according to the preceding claim considered dependent on any one of Claims 4 to 10, characterized in that the deposition position is offset with respect to the creasing position in the offset direction (17). Device according to Claim 11 or 12 considered as dependent on any one of Claims 4 to 10, characterized in that the creasing position intersects the depositing position. Device according to any one of Claims 11 to 13 considered as dependent on any one of Claims 4 to 10, characterized in that in its creasing position the cover extends perpendicularly or substantially perpendicular to the cover in its position of deposit. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the routing means comprise a robotic arm provided with fingers (71) arranged and/or programmed to manipulate the cover and/or the corpus. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the device comprises a glue gun (72), the robotic arm being arranged and/or programmed to grasp the glue gun to deposit glue on the gluing zone of the cover then the cover is placed in the binding station. Device according to Claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the glue gun comprises:
- a reserve (73) of glue comprising a thread of solid glue wound in the form of a coil,
- Means for unwinding the wire from the reel by one end of this wire and for melting this end of the glue wire so as to deliver the glue in liquid or pasty form. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for measuring or determining a thickness of the corpus. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the device is arranged and/or programmed to determine and then deposit a quantity of glue on the bonding zone of the cover inside the binding station, this quantity of glue being a function the measured or determined thickness of the corpus. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover printing or reception station and the corpus printing or reception station comprise a printer common to these two stations. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a notching station (22), the conveying means being arranged and/or programmed to convey the corpus from the printing or reception station of corpus and to the notching station and from the notching station to the binding station, the notching station comprising a corpus receptacle (23) and means (24) for notching an edge of the corpus when disposed in the corpus receptacle of the notching station. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the routing means are arranged and/or programmed:
- to transport the assembled book from the binding station and to the corpus receptacle of the notching station, touching only the corpus,
- then to drop the book in the corpus receptacle of the latching station,
- then to change grip by grabbing the book by at least part of the cover stuck to the corpus. Device according to any one of Claims 21 to 22, characterized in that it comprises a trimming station (25) arranged to trim the book. Device according to Claim 23, characterized in that the conveying means are arranged and/or programmed to convey the book from the notching station and to the trimming station. Device according to Claim 23 or 24, characterized in that the trimming station is connected to a collection tray (26), the conveying means being arranged and/or programmed to convey the corpus in an initial format, preferably A4 , to the trimming station, then hold the corpus in the trimming station for cutting into a part of the corpus held in the conveying means and another part of the corpus cut and directed towards the recovery tray, then assemble the two parts of the corpus so as to form in the conveying means a corpus of reduced format, preferably A5, but of increased thickness compared to its initial format. Device according to any one of the preceding claims considered dependent on any one of claims 11 to 14 and any one of claims 15 to 17 and any one of claims 23 to 25, characterized in that it comprises a formwork (30) containing all the stations, said formwork (30) comprising an opaque lower part (31) and an upper part (32) provided with a transparent window, the lower part and the upper part being separated by an opaque separation plate (33), said device being further characterized in that:
- the robotic arm is located at least partly in the upper part,
- the binding station is located at least partly in the upper part,
- the creasing station is located at least partly in the upper part,
- the grafting station is located at least partly in the lower part and is accessible from the upper part through a slot made in the separation plate
- the trimming station is located at least partly in the lower part and is accessible from the upper part through a slot made in the separating plate
- the corpus printing or reception station is located at least partly in the upper part,
- The cover printing or reception station is located at least partly in the upper part. A method of making an on-demand book, comprising:
- printing or reception, respectively at a cover printing or reception station (2), of a cover (4),
- printing or reception, respectively at a corpus printing or reception station (3), of a corpus (5),
- an assembly, at a binding station (6), of the corpus and the cover,
- routing, by routing means (7), of the cover and/or the corpus between the different stations,
said method being characterized in that it comprises depositing glue on a gluing area (8) of the cover inside the binding station before assembling by gluing the cover and the corpus forming a book (9) .