Patent ID: 7134823

Claim:
A book pressing machine, including a pressing station for pressing a book cover onto a book block, which pressing station includes a substantially horizontally arranged pressing table and a pressing plate movable perpendicularly to the pressing table for all-over pressing of the book with the book lying flat; means for aligning the book in the pressing station; and an endless conveyor belt which conveys the book in a transport direction on a transport plane into and out of a pressing position under the pressing plate, said belt having an upper portion which rests on the pressing table as a support for the book and is thereafter deflected away from the transport direction; wherein the improvement comprises that: the conveyor belt operates in a transport direction that cyclically conveys the book into and out of the pressing position with the spine leading; the front of the pressing table forms a sharp edge for deflecting the conveyor belt away from the transport direction; a pressing rail separate from the pressing plate forms a front end-piece for the pressing plate and is operatively associated with the pressing plate to provide vertical movement for holding down the book cover as the pressing plate is opened and reciprocating horizontal movement for accelerating the book as the book is conveyed out of the pressing position.