Patent ID: 7503555

Claim:
A system for manufacturing a book on demand, the book comprising at least a first component and a second component, the system comprising: a first printing unit for printing the first component; a second printing unit for printing the second component; a computer control system which initiates printing of the first component by the first printing unit, receives a triggering signal and, after receipt of this triggering signal, initiates printing of the second component by the second printing unit; and a first buffer unit for buffering at least the first component at least until a corresponding second component is ready for binding; wherein the first printing unit generates the triggering signal which indicates a status of the first component and sends this triggering signal to the computer control system; and wherein, for producing a plurality of identical and/or different books, the first printing unit is capable of printing a plurality of first components and the second printing unit is capable of printing a plurality of second components such that the first and second printing units operate independently of each other to produce first and second components.