Patent ID: 7503554

Claim:
A book finishing station configured to process a media sheet, comprising: a sheet path arranged to transport a portion of a plurality of unfolded, unbound media sheets; a support apparatus oriented generally perpendicular to the paper path and configured to receive the portion of unfolded, unbound media sheets; a clamping apparatus spaced from the support apparatus, wherein during use, the portion of unfolded, unbound media sheets is positioned along the sheet path between the support apparatus and the clamping apparatus, and the clamping apparatus is configured to move toward the support apparatus to fold the portion of unfolded, unbound media sheets about the support apparatus wherein a clamping action between the support apparatus and the clamping apparatus forms a fold line in the portion of unbound media sheets; a heating element coupled with one of the support apparatus and the clamping apparatus and being configured to apply heat, during clamping of the portion of unbound media sheets and prior to binding of the portion of folded, unbound media sheets, to the portion of folded, unbound media sheets near the fold line; and a sheet accumulator configured to accumulate the portion of folded, unbound media sheets prior to binding of the portion of folded, unbound media sheets with other folded, unbound media sheets.