Method and device for trimming a book

1. A method for trimming a single book having a front edge and two side edges, the method comprising:

transporting a book in a transport direction so that the front edge is parallel to the transport direction,

cutting the front edge of the book using a first reciprocating knife when the front edge is parallel to the transport direction, at the first reciprocating knife and registering the spine before and/or during the cutting of the front edge by contacting the spine against a surface of a fixed guide parallel to the first reciprocating knife,

transporting the book so that the side edges are parallel to the transport direction, and

cutting the side edges using second and third reciprocating knives when the side edges are parallel to the transport direction.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the front edge is cut before the side edges.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein a spine of the book is registered against the fixed guide by conveying the book at an angle with respect to the transport direction at the first reciprocating knife to contact the fixed guide.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising scoring a spine of the book prior to the side edge cutting.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein the scoring is laser scoring.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the book is turned 90 degrees in a plane of the book between the front edge cut and the side edge cuts.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein the transport direction is altered 90 degrees as the book is turned.

8. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein the transport direction remains the same as the book is turned.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising turning a book from a vertical to a horizontal position before a first cut.

10. A single book trimming device comprising:

a conveyor device for conveying a book in a transport direction;

a reciprocating front knife for trimming a front edge of the book, the front knife having a first blade edge parallel to the transport direction of the conveyor at the front knife; and

at least one reciprocating side knife for trimming side edges of the book, the side knife having a second blade edge parallel to the transport direction at the side knife, the front knife being upstream of the side knife.

11. The trimming device as recited in claim 10 wherein the conveying device includes a turning unit turning the book 90 degrees in a plane of the book.

12. The trimming device as recited in claim 11 wherein the turning unit is an orbital turning unit.

13. The trimming device as recited in claim 10 further comprising a fixed guide at the front knife to register a spine of the book against the fixed guide.

14. The trimming device as recited in claim 13 wherein the conveying device includes a first transport section at an angle to the fixed guide to move the spine against the fixed guide, and a second transport section parallel to the fixed guide.

15. The trimming device as recited in claim 10 further comprising a laser scoring device upstream of the side knife.

16. The trimming device as recited in claim 10 further comprising a registration device upstream of the side knife.

17. The trimming device as recited in claim 10 wherein the side knife and the front knife have a same construction.

18. A book finishing device for a book comprising:

a saddle stitcher;

a first conveyor for conveying the book from a saddle position to a flat position, and

a single book trimming device receiving the book from the first conveyor and having a second conveyor for conveying a book in a transport direction, a reciprocating front knife for trimming a front edge of the book, the front knife having a first blade edge parallel to the transport direction of the conveyor at the front knife, and at least one reciprocating side knife for trimming side edges of the book, the side knife having a second blade edge parallel to the transport direction at the side knife.

19. A method for trimming a single book having a front edge and two side edges, the method comprising:

transporting a book in a transport direction so that the front edge is parallel to the transport direction,

cutting the front edge of the book using a first reciprocating knife when the front edge is parallel to the transport direction,

transporting the book so that the side edges are parallel to the transport direction, and

cutting the side edges using second and third reciprocating knives when the side edges are parallel to the transport direction,

wherein the front edge is cut before the side edges.

20. A method for trimming a single book having a front edge and two side edges, the method comprising:

transporting a book in a transport direction so that the front edge is parallel to the transport direction,

cutting the front edge of the book using a first reciprocating knife when the front edge is parallel to the transport direction,

transporting the book so that the side edges are parallel to the transport direction,

cutting the side edges using second and third reciprocating knives when the side edges are parallel to the transport direction, and

scoring a spine of the book prior to the side edge cutting.

21. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein the scoring is laser scoring.

22. A single book trimming device comprising:

a conveyor device for conveying a book in a transport direction;

a reciprocating front knife for trimming a front edge of the book, the front knife having a first blade edge parallel to the transport direction of the conveyor at the front knife;

at least one reciprocating side knife for trimming side edges of the book, the side knife having a second blade edge parallel to the transport direction at the side knife; and

a fixed guide at the front knife to register a spine of the book against the fixed guide.

23. A single book trimming device comprising:

a conveyor device for conveying a book in a transport direction;

a reciprocating front knife for trimming a front edge of the book, the front knife having a first blade edge parallel to the transport direction of the conveyor at the front knife; and at least one reciprocating side knife for trimming side edges of the book, the side knife having a second blade edge parallel to the transport direction at the side knife; and

a fixed guide upstream of the front knife,the fixed guide being parallel to the front knife;

the conveying device including a first transport section at an angle to the fixed guide to move the spine against the fixed guide.

24. A single book device comprising:

a conveyor device for conveying a book in a transport direction;

a reciprocating front knife for trimming a front edge of the book, the front knife having a first blade edge parallel to the transport direction of the conveyor at the front knife; and

at least one reciprocating side knife for trimming side edges of the book, the side knife having a second blade edge parallel to the transport direction at the side knife, and

a laser scoring device upstream of the side knife.