Patent Publication Number: US-11390105-B2

Title: System and apparatus for book block binding and method thereof

Description:
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/397,584 filed Apr. 29, 2019 (issued on Jan. 26 2021 as U.S. Pat. No. 10,899,157) which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/700,843 filed Sep. 11, 2017 (issued on Apr. 30, 2019 as U.S. Pat. No. 10,272,711), each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to systems and apparatuses for book block binding and methods thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to providing a rotatable perfect binding solution having separated steps for maximizing efficiency for book block printing. 
     Existing binder concepts suffer numerous deficiencies. One such binder concept is to provide continuous movement. In systems implementing continuous movement, processes and clamp transportation may occur continuously. However, the processes must be synchronized to clamp, and the clamp speed is limited to the milling speed. As such, there is limited speed for thick books and the transportation time is equal to the process cycle. This solution results in complex synchronization and unnecessary wear. 
     Another existing binder solution relates to implementing processes while both moving and standing still. In this case, the clamp speed is equal to the milling speed and thus provides limited speed for thick books. A nipping operation may be performed while a book block is standing still, thus the nipping time plus the transportation time is equal to the process cycle. One benefit of this solution is that no synchronization is required. Although this is a straight-forward solution, it is a very slow process comparatively. 
     A further existing binder solution involves using independent clamps. In this solution, clamp movement and the nipping process are decoupled, thus no synchronization is necessary. However, the solution requires a complex clamp moving system. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A need exists in the art to address the deficiencies in the prior art and to provide capabilities for providing a binding solution permitting format changes from book-to-book on the fly and for quick changeover between formats. One solution described herein relates to implementing a system having only one cover size, which is modified as part of the binding process. Printed products produced according to the present disclosure may be generated with no overhang of the cover after binding and with the highest possible book quality. The solutions provided herein also have the benefit of being operator-friendly. 
     For implementations consistent with the present disclosure, the functions of processing at a process station and transportation to the next process station are separated. All processes, with the potential exception of applying side glue, may be performed simultaneously in the same work step. The clamps holding the book blocks are not required to move during the work step. A relative movement between a milling blade and a book block is necessary in the milling station. In common binder solutions, the book block is moved by the clamp through the milling. However, in implementations consistent with the present disclosure, the clamp is not required to move. Instead, the milling station may be configured to move rather than the clamp holding the book block. The same is true for glue application. In common binder systems, glue is applied by moving the clamp relative to the glue applicators. However, in implementations consistent with the present disclosure, the clamp is not required to move. Instead, the glue station (spine and side) may be configured to move relative to the book block. 
     In various systems, no process is performed while the transportation step is in motion. The process stations (such as, for example, milling and gluing stations) may return to their respective start position simultaneously with the clamp moving one step. One advantage of this separated step process is the fact that all clamps are moved at once and all can be statically chained or mounted on the rotating table without any loss of time caused by the two processes of milling and nipping. 
     Implementations consistent with the present disclosure are capable of decoupling binding processes and book block transport. There may be relative movement for milling and gluing through process station movement. There may be a high transportation speed between stations with implementations consistent with the present disclosure, and one or more formats associated with a book block may be changed while transporting the book block between processes. By performing all processes simultaneously in the manner described herein, binding may be fast, fully variable, and provide moveable process station capabilities. 
     One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a multi-clamp binding apparatus. The multi-clamp binding apparatus includes a rotatable body, a plurality of fixed operation stations associated with the rotatable body, and a plurality of clamps coupled to the rotatable body. Each of the plurality of clamps may be configured to retain at least one workpiece. The rotatable body may rotate each of the plurality of clamps to one or more of the plurality of fixed operation stations. 
     Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method of providing a completed book by a perfect binding apparatus. The method begins by receiving a book block at an in-feed location of the perfect binding apparatus. The book block is stored within a holding apparatus of the perfect binding apparatus. The book block is then rotated between a plurality of fixed operation stations. At least one operation is performed upon the book block at each of the plurality of fixed operation stations. A completed book is output at an out-feed location of the perfect binding apparatus. 
     A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system for providing perfect binding. The system includes a base section having plurality of fixed operation stations and a rotatable section having a plurality of clamps. Each of the plurality of clamps may retain at least one book block and may correspond to at least one of the plurality of fixed operation stations. The rotatable body is configured to rotate each of the plurality of clamps to one or more of the plurality of fixed operation stations. Each of the fixed operation stations may perform at least one operation corresponding to the book block. 
     Numerous other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following disclosure when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a partial top view of an exemplary embodiment of a perfect binding apparatus according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a partial raised perspective view of the perfect binding apparatus of  FIG. 1  according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a partial raised perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a rotatable section according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a partial raised perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a base section according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a raised perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a clamp according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a gripper according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a partial raised perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a mill for use by a milling station according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a raised perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a portion of a glue station. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a raised side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a side glue section according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a cover station according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a perfect binding apparatus according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a process for processing a book block according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a process for processing a cover according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 14  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a process for processing a combined book block and cover according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention. 
     Referring generally to  FIGS. 1-14 , exemplary systems, apparatuses, and methods for providing systems, apparatuses, and methods for book block binding. Where the various figures may describe embodiments sharing various common elements and features with other embodiments, similar elements and features are given the same reference numerals and redundant description thereof may be omitted below. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a partial top view of an exemplary embodiment of a perfect binding apparatus  100  according to aspects of the present disclosure. The apparatus  100  includes a base section  110  having a plurality of fixed operation stations  150   a - f . Although illustrated and described with reference to the base section  110 , it should be appreciated that one or more of the plurality of fixed operation stations  150   a - f  may be located external to the base section  110 , and that one or more of the plurality of fixed operation stations  150   a - f  may be moveably configured in various embodiments. The apparatus  100  further includes a rotatable section  160  including rotatable body  130  having a plurality of clamps  150   a - f . The rotatable body  130  is configured to rotate in a rotation direction R about a pivot point  120  in one exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 2  illustrates a partial raised perspective view of the perfect binding apparatus of  FIG. 1 , according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
     The perfect binding apparatus  100  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  includes six fixed operation stations  150   a - f . The fixed operation stations  150   a - f  may include one or more devices for performing an operation on a workpiece W. The workpiece W may be a book block, printed product or portion thereof, or any other element capable of being sequentially processed using the apparatus  100 . The fixed operation stations  150  may include one or more of an in-feed station  150   a , a jogging station  150   b , a milling station  150   c , a glue station  150   d , a cover station  150   e , and/or a delivery station  150   f . One or more of the fixed operation stations  150   a - f  may include an empty station, or may include a plurality of operations and/or stations corresponding to a single fixed operation station  150 . Although illustrated as having six stations, it should be appreciated that the apparatus  100  may include any number of fixed operation stations  150  without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, although illustrated in a circular configuration, one or more of the fixed operating stations  150  may be located at any point within the base section  110 . 
     The in-feed station  150   a  may be configured to receive at least one workpiece W from an external source. The in-feed station  150   a  may include at least one gripper  600  as described below with reference to  FIG. 6 . The gripper  600  may be configured to receive the workpiece W (e.g., book block) from an external source such as a conveyor. The workpiece W may be received by the in-feed station  150   a  at a receipt angle. The gripper  600  may be configured to rotate the workpiece W to a particular angle or position relative to the receipt angle. For example, the gripper  600  may rotate the workpiece W to a vertical configuration for use with the apparatus  100  (e.g., from a horizontal configuration to a vertical configuration). The gripper  600  may be configured to measure a thickness of the received workpiece W by placing a surface of an adjustable portion of the gripper  600  in contact with a surface of the workpiece W. The gripper  600  may be configured to move at least a portion of the workpiece W to the clamp  140   a , located at the in-feed station  150   a  in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     The jogger  150   b  may be configured to receive a workpiece W via a clamp  140  of the apparatus  100  and/or from an internal or external source. The jogger  150   b  may be an oscillating conveyor in one exemplary embodiment. The jogger  150   b  may be configured to align and transport at least a portion of the workpiece W towards a registration edge. The jogger  150   b  may operate by receiving a workpiece W from a clamp  140  configured to provide the workpiece W to the jogger  150   b . The received workpiece W may be jogged along a length of the oscillating conveyor to the registration edge of the oscillating conveyor, where the clamp  140  may close, thereby securing the workpiece W. The workpiece W may then be transported via rotation of the clamp  140  to at least one other of the fixed operation stations  150 , provided to an internal or external storage location, etc. 
     The milling station  150   c  may be configured to receive a workpiece W via a clamp  140  of the apparatus  100  and/or from an internal or external source. The milling station  150   c  may include a milling housing  420   c  having a milling device. The milling station  150   c  may be configured to create a rough surface on the workpiece W, for example to optimize glue adhesion. In one exemplary embodiment, the milling station  150   c  is configured to mill a spine of the workpiece W. One or more components of the milling station  150   c  may be selected for or, as implemented, result in minimized formation of dust during milling and/or dust and waste removal from a spine of the workpiece. 
     The milling station  150   c  may include a milling motor  422  and/or a track  424 . The milling station  150   c  may further include a milling transport section (e.g., milling motor  422  and/or track  424 ) configured to place the milling housing  420   c  in contact with a workpiece W and to transport the milling housing  420   c  relative to the workpiece W during at least a portion of a milling operation. For example, the milling housing  420   c  may be coupled to a track  424  or other conveyance means capable of transporting the milling housing  420   c . The milling housing  420   c  may be configured to move in a direction D 1  using the milling motor  422  and the track  424 . Although described with reference to a milling motor  422  and track  424 , it should be appreciated that the milling transportation section is not limited solely to a motor/track configuration, but any means of conveying the milling housing  420   c  along the direction D 1 . 
     In one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus  100  is configured to hold the workpiece W stationary in the clamp  140   c  while the milling operation is performed by causing the milling housing  420   c  to be placed in contact with the workpiece W and transported across a surface of the workpiece W. For example, the clamp  140   c  may be configured to hold the workpiece W in a configuration where the spine may be contacted by the milling housing  420   c  when the milling housing  420   c  is moved along the direction D 1  during a milling operation. Additional detail regarding the milling station  150   c  is described below with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
     The glue station  150   d  may be configured to receive a workpiece W via a clamp  140  of the apparatus  100  and/or from an internal or external source.  FIG. 8  illustrates a raised perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a portion of a glue station  150   d . The glue station  150   d  may include at least one of a housing  802 , a drum  804 , a scraper  806  and/or a fill level sensor  808 . The glue station  150   d  may be configured to apply at least one portion of glue to a surface of the workpiece W. For example, the glue station  150   d  may be configured to apply glue to a spine of the workpiece W. The glue station  150   d  may include a glue storage (not illustrated) coupled to otherwise accessible by the drum  804  and the fill level sensor  808 . The drum  804  is configured to apply glue to at least a portion of the workpiece W. The scraper  804  is configured to control the start and stop positions of glue application by the drum  804  and to remove excess glue applied by the drum  804 . An angle of the scraper  806  may be configured to control the applied glue thickness. 
     In one exemplary embodiment, the glue applied by the glue station  150   d  is an ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) hotmelt glue, although any glue or tacky substance capable of functioning as described herein may be used within the spirit and the scope of the present disclosure. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated by  FIG. 8 , there are two drums  804  and two scrapers  806 , although a single instance or a plurality of each of the drum  804  and/or the scraper  806  may be implemented in various embodiments. One or more of the drums  804  may be configured as or in conjunction with a heated spinner to smoothen glue applied to the workpiece W. 
     In addition or alternative to applying glue to a spine of the workpiece W, glue may be applied to at least one side of the workpiece W by a side glue section.  FIG. 9  illustrates a raised side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a side glue section  900  according to aspects of the present disclosure. The side glue section  900  includes first and second glue input tubes  902   a ,  902   b  respectively coupled to first and second nozzles  904   a ,  904   b . The side glue section  900  may be configured to apply glue from at least one of the first and second glue input tubes  902   a ,  902   b  to at least one surface of the workpiece W using at least one of the first and second nozzles  904   a ,  904   b . The nozzles  904   a ,  90   b  may be configured to oppose one another over a width w n  corresponding to a width of the workpiece W. In various embodiments, the side glue section  900  may be configured with a single nozzle  904  or with a plurality of nozzles  904 . Although illustrates and described with reference to opposing locations, it should be appreciated that one or more nozzle  904  may be independently located relative to one or more other nozzles  904  and that one or more nozzles  904  may be configured not to provide glue during one or more operations of the side glue section  900 . 
     The side glue section  900  may be configured to use an EVA hotmelt glue or any other glue or tacky substance capable of functioning as described herein may be used. Use of one or more nozzles  904  enables the side glue section  900  to provide precise start and stop locations for glue application and to provide precise glue usage based, for example, on nozzle attributes such as opening size and angle relative to the workpiece W. The width w n  may be automatically or manually determined and/or implemented, for example according to a width of the workpiece W. In one or more instances, the side glue section  900  may be configured to allow a workpiece W to pass through the section without applying any glue. The side glue section  900  may include one or more needle valves (not illustrated) to avoid excess glue dripping from one or more needles  904 . One or more of the glue input tubes  902  may be selected based at least in part upon one or more properties specified for continuous movement. 
     The cover station  150   e  may be configured to receive a workpiece W via a clamp  140  of the apparatus  100  and/or from an internal or external source.  FIG. 10  illustrates a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a cover station  1000  according to aspects of the present disclosure. The cover station  150   e  may include at least one of an input section  1002 , a scoring section  1004 , a pre-trim cut section  1006 , a nipping station  1008 , and/or a gripper  1010 . The input section  1002  may be configured to receive a cover, either as manual input or as automatically fed into the cover station  150   e  from an internal or external source. The cover received at the cover station  150   e  may be transported between two or more sections of the cover station  150   e  by the gripper  1010 . The gripper  1010  may be coupled to a track  1012  or other conveyance means configured to permit the gripper  1010  to be transported between areas of the cover station  150   e . Although described as a track, it should be appreciated that the gripper  1010  may be moved according to any means of motion, whether track-based or not, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. 
     The scoring section  1004  may include at least one scoring device  1005 , configured to selectively perform at least one scoring operation on a cover received at the input section  1002 . The gripper  1010  may be configured to convey the cover to the scoring section  1004  for operation. In one exemplary embodiment, the scoring section  1004  may perform at least one scoring operation on the cover as the gripper  1010  transports the cover by the scoring section  1004  along the track  1012 , and according to an orientation of the cover as held by the gripper  1010 . The pre-trim cut section  1006  may include at least one cutting section  1007 . The pre-trim cut section  1006  may be configured to perform at least one cutting operation on the cover. For example, the pre-trim cut section may be configured to reduce a size of the cover according to one or more parameters associated with the cover and/or an orientation of the cover as held by the gripper  1010 . 
     The nipping station  1008  may include one or more of a suction plate  1014 , a pressing station  1016 , and a lifting motor  1018 . The nipping station  1008  may be configured to receive the cover from the gripper  1010 . The suction plate  1014  may be configured to hold the cover in place during at least a portion of operation of the cover station  150   e . The pressing station  1016  may include an adjustable pressing plate  1020  and a fixed pressing plate  1022 . Both of the adjustable pressing plate  1020  and the fixed pressing plate may be configured to be positioned and/or moved according to at least one property of a workpiece W. For example, in one exemplary embodiment, at least one of the adjustable pressing plate  1020  and the fixed pressing plate  1022  may be positioned according to a width of a workpiece to be operated upon by the nipping station  1008 . The lifting motor  1018  may be configured to operate as a servo in one embodiment. Cover overhang may be trimmed prior to completed workpiece delivery (e.g., by the cover station  150   e  and/or delivery station  150   f ). 
     At least one component of the cover station  150   e  may include or otherwise have access to a processor  1020  configured to perform or coordinate at least one operation. In one exemplary embodiment, the processor  1020  determines at least one of a position or a relative orientation of at least a portion of the cover relative to the workpiece W in conjunction with the gripper  1010  (e.g., by wireless identification such as by obtaining a radio frequency (RF) tag identifier, scanning an image obtained by the gripper  1010  or other element of the apparatus  100 , etc.). At least one operation of the scoring section  1004  and/or pre-trim cut section  1006  may be performed based at least in part upon the determined at least one of a position or a relative orientation of at least a portion of the cover relative to the workpiece W. 
     Unlike in common perfect binders, in various embodiments consistent with the present disclosure, the cover is not required to be conveyed using rollers and guides. Instead, the gripper  1010  may control movement of the cover (e.g., as mounted on a portal or industrial multiple axle robot). The cover may be either manually or automatically placed at a pick-up position for the gripper  1010 . At least one of a position and/or an orientation of a print mark and thus for the image is obtained, identified, or determined before the gripper  1010  picks up the cover in one embodiment. Additionally or alternatively, the position or orientation may be provided to the cover station  150   e  from an internal or external source, or may be determined while the cover is in transit in the possession of the gripper  1010 . As such, it is not the locations of a paper&#39;s edges that triggers the exact pick up position for the gripper  1010 . Therefore, the tolerances in sheet size or position of an image on the sheet is irrelevant. 
     The gripper  1010  may be configured to know or determine the exact position and orientation of an image or print mark associated with a cover and can transport the cover to at least one of the scoring section  1004  and/or the pre-trim cut section  1006 . During operations of the scoring section  1004  and/or the pre-trim cut section  1006 , the gripper  1010  may be configured to hold the cover at all times to ensure correct positioning. After the operations are completed, the gripper  1010  may be configured to position the prepared cover on the nipping station  1008 . There, the cover is hold in position by either a suction (e.g., vacuum) plate or another kind of holding mechanism to avoid any slipping when the gripper  1010  releases the cover. This ensures the position of the scoring and the position of the cover image to the workpiece. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates overhead top view of an exemplary embodiment of a perfect binding apparatus  1100  according to aspects of the present disclosure. Similar to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the perfect binding apparatus  1100  includes an in-feed station  150   a , a jogging station  150   b , a milling station  150   c , a glue station  150   d , a cover station  150   e , and/or a delivery station  150   f . A workpiece W may be received at the in-feed station  150   a , operated upon by one or more of the jogging station  150   b , the milling station  150   c , the glue station  150   d , the cover station  150   e , and/or the delivery station  150   f . One or more devices associated with one or more of the in-feed station, the jogging station  150   b , the milling station  150   c , the glue station  150   d , the cover station  150   e , and/or the delivery station  150   f  may be mounted to, coupled to, or otherwise associated with the base section  110 . 
     The exemplary embodiment illustrated by  FIG. 11  further illustrates a milling housing  420   c  included with the milling station  150   c  and the movement direction D 1  associated with movement of the milling housing  420   c  during a milling operation.  FIG. 11  further illustrates a housing  802  of the glue station  150   d , along with the movement direction D 2  associated with movement of the housing  802  of the glue station  150   d . One or more components of the milling station  150   c  and/or the glue station  150   d  may be connected to, coupled to, or otherwise associated with at least one of the base section  110  and the rotatable section  160 . In one exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of each of the milling station  150   c  and the glue station  150   d  are coupled to the base section  110 . The workpiece W is configured to be received at the in-feed station  150   a  and output by the delivery station  150   f  in the embodiment illustrated by  FIG. 11 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a partial raised perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a rotatable section  160  according to aspects of the present disclosure. The rotatable section  160  includes the plurality of clamps  140   a - f  coupled to a plurality of arms of rotatable body  130 . Although illustrated as being located at an outer extent of each arm of the rotatable body  130 , it should be appreciated that one or more of the clamps  140   a - f  may be located at any location along any of the arms of the rotatable body  130  in various embodiments. The rotatable section  160  may include one or more crossmembers  310  configured to connect one or more sections of the rotatable body  130 . The rotatable section  160  further includes a central portion  320 . Within the central portion  320  is a rotation means  330  having a rotation pivot point  340 . The rotation means  330  may be any structure or entity configured to cause the rotatable section  160  to rotate about the pivot point  340 . For example, the rotation means  330  may include a motor configured to cause the rotatable section to rotate as described herein. Additionally or alternatively, the rotation means  330  may include a section coupled to a source of rotation, such as an external motor (e.g., as provided by the base section  110 ). 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a partial raised perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a base section  400  according to aspects of the present disclosure. The base section  400  includes a housing  410 , a central pivot  430 , and/or a control unit  440 . One or more fixed operation stations  150   a - 150   f  may be coupled to or otherwise associated with the base section  400  as previously described herein. The central pivot  430  may be configured to provide rotative energy to the rotatable section  160  (e.g., via a motor associated with the base section  400 ) in one embodiment. Additionally or alternatively, the central pivot  430  may be configured to remain stationary or to rotate based at least in part upon rotation associated with the rotatable section  160  when the rotatable section  160  is in contact with the central pivot  430 .  FIG. 4  also illustrates the movement direction D 1  associated with movement of the milling housing  420   c  and the movement direction D 2  associated with movement of the housing  802  of the glue station  150   d . The milling station  150   c  may further include a motor  422  associated with the milling housing  420   c  and configured to provide movement power and control to the milling housing  420   c  during operation. Similarly, the glue station  150   d  may include a motor  426  associated with the housing  802  and configured to provide movement power and control to the housing  802  during operation. 
     The control unit  440  may include one or more processors or devices configured to control one or more operations associated with at least one of the rotatable section  160  and/or the base section  400 . Additionally or alternatively, the control unit  440  may be configured to operate in accordance with one or more operations or control signals received from an external entity (e.g., a remote computer or controller) via one or more wired or wireless public or private communications networks. Although illustrated and described with reference to the base section  440 , it should be appreciated that one or more portions or operations associated with the control unit  440  may be implemented at any physical location or remote location associated with the apparatus  100 , without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present disclosure. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a raised perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a clamp  500  according to aspects of the present disclosure. The clamp  500  includes a body  502  and at least one of a pressing cylinder  504 , a pusher  506 , a pressing plate  508 , a fixed edge  510 , and an opener cylinder  512 . The clamp  500  may be coupled to the raised section  160  in one exemplary embodiment. The pressing cylinder(s)  504  may be coupled to the pressing plate  508  via the pusher  506 . The workpiece W may be configured to be held in place between the fixed edge  510  and the pressing plate  508  via movement of the pressing plate  508  via the pressing cylinder  504 . The pressing cylinder(s)  504  may be controlled by at least one control unit associated with the clamp  500  and/or a processor or control unit communicatively coupleable to the clamp  500  (e.g., control unit  440  or other controller or processor). As noted above, the clamp  500  may be configured to measure a thickness of a workpiece W at the in-feed station  150   a  or at any point during operation of the apparatus  100 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a gripper  600  according to aspects of the present disclosure. The gripper  600  includes one or more of a fixed side  602 , an adjustable side  604 , an adjustment motor  606 , a rotation motor  608 , and a lifting cylinder  610 . The gripper  600  may be controlled by at least one control unit associated with the gripper  600  (not illustrated) and/or a processor or control unit communicatively coupleable to the gripper  600  (e.g., control unit  440  or other controller or processor). The gripper  600  may be configured to provide angular rotation as preciously described using the rotation motor  608 . A distance between the adjustable side  604  and the fixed side  602  may be modified using the adjustment motor  606  by adjusting a position of the adjustable side  604  relative to the fixed side  602 . During operation, a workpiece W received at the in-feed station  150   a  may be placed between the adjustable side  604  and the fixed side  602  for transporting to the clamp  140   a . The gripper  600  may be configured to hold the workpiece W, as received, to rotate the workpiece W to a vertical configuration, to place the rotated workpiece W at least partially into the clamp  140   a , and to selectively release the workpiece W for transfer to the clamp  140   a.    
       FIG. 7  illustrates a partial raised perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a mill for use by a milling station  150   c  according to aspects of the present disclosure. The mill  700  includes a milling device  708  coupled to a milling motor  702 . The mill further includes a fixed end stop  704  and an adjustable press-edge  706 . A distance between opposing surfaces of the fixed end stop  704  and the adjustable press edge  706  may be adjusted to correspond to a width of a workpiece W operated upon by the mill  700 . Adjustment to the width between the fixed end stop  704  and the adjustable press edge  706  may be performed either manually or automatically by the mill  700  (e.g., by means of a control signal generated or received by the mill  700  or by physical displacement of the adjustable press edge  706  by the workpiece W as it is operated upon by the mill  700 . 
       FIG. 12  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a process for processing a book block according to aspects of the present disclosure. The process  1200  begins at a step  1201 , where a book block is received via the in-feed station of a perfect binding apparatus. The process continues to a step  1202 , where the book block is transported to a jogger section of the perfect binding apparatus, which performs a jogging operation on the book block. At a step  1203 , the book block is transported to a milling section of the perfect binding apparatus and a milling operation is selectively performed on the book block. The book block is then transported to a spine glue section at a step  1204 , where the spine glue section selectively performs a spine glue operation. The process then continues to a step  1205 , where a book block is optionally transported to a side glue section which performs a side glue operation on the book block. The process then continues to step  1401 . 
       FIG. 13  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a process for processing a cover according to aspects of the present disclosure. The process  1300  begins at a step  1301 , where a cover is received at an in-feed section associated with a cover station. At least one of a position and an orientation of the cover is/are determined at step  1302 . The process continues to step  1303 , where at least one side (e.g., the long side) of the cover is trimmed. At least a portion of the cover is scored at step  1304 . The process then continues to step  1401 . A gripper associated with the cover station may be used to determine the at least one position or orientation, and may further be configured to transport the cover at a determined orientation for operations of the cover station. 
       FIG. 14  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a process for processing a combined book block and cover according to aspects of the present disclosure. The process  1400  begins at a step  1401 , where a book block and cover are received by a cover station. The book block may be received at the cover station from a clamp of a perfect binding apparatus. The cover may be received at an in-feed section of the cover station. A nipping operation may be performed on the combined book block and cover at a step  1402 . A short side trim of the combined book block and cover may be performed at a step  1403 . A completed book may be delivered at a step  1404 . The completed book may be delivered, for example, to or via a delivery station configured to output the completed book. 
     To facilitate the understanding of the embodiments described herein, a number of terms are defined below. The terms defined herein have meanings as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the areas relevant to the present invention. Terms such as “a,” “an,” and “the” are not intended to refer to only a singular entity, but rather include the general class of which a specific example may be used for illustration. The terminology herein is used to describe specific embodiments of the invention, but their usage does not delimit the invention, except as set forth in the claims. The phrase “in one embodiment,” as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may. 
     The term “circuit” means at least either a single component or a multiplicity of components, either active and/or passive, that are coupled together to provide a desired function. Terms such as “wire,” “wiring,” “line,” “signal,” “conductor,” and “bus” may be used to refer to any known structure, construction, arrangement, technique, method and/or process for physically transferring a signal from one point in a circuit to another. Also, unless indicated otherwise from the context of its use herein, the terms “known,” “fixed,” “given,” “certain” and “predetermined” generally refer to a value, quantity, parameter, constraint, condition, state, process, procedure, method, practice, or combination thereof that is, in theory, variable, but is typically set in advance and not varied thereafter when in use. 
     Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or states. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or states are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without author input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or states are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment. 
     The previous detailed description has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of a new and useful invention, it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this invention except as set forth in the following claims.