ES2664934T3 - Machine and method to produce photo books - Google Patents

Abstract

Machine (1) for producing photographic books, comprising: - at least one unit (2) for feeding sheet-like products (100); - at least one gluing unit (3) designed to apply an adhesive substance on at least one gluing side (100a) of the sheet-like products (100); - a unit (4) for coupling the sheet-like products (100) comprising a first plate (5) and a second plate (6) facing and defining respectively an operational area (7), the first plate (5) interacting and the second plate (6) in a reciprocating movement to press the leaf-like products (100) in an operative condition of use of the machine (1); characterized in that it comprises elements (8) to guide at least one product similar to a sheet (100) in order to control access to the operating area (7), the guide elements (8) being formed of such wood that during access of the sheet-like product (100) in the operational area (7) the sheet-like product (100) is induced to move by contacting along a support surface (5a) of the first plate (5) in a operative configuration of use of the machine (1), the support surface (5a) facing the second plate (6), said guide elements (8) being defined by the first plate (5) and the second plate (6 ) which are positioned perpendicularly to a base support (10) in an inclined position with respect to a horizontal support surface ("W") of the machine (1) and which are slidable in relation to a support base (10) located below the operational area (7).

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Machine and method to produce photo books

This invention is about a machine and a method for producing photo books.

More specifically, this invention is about a machine and a method for producing photographic books by coupling between a printed product and a corresponding support, which can be the back of another printed product or paper-based or other type of media. sheet, that is, similar to leaves.

This invention is therefore a machine for producing photographic books, also known as photo albums, in which the coupling and gluing of the layers that make up the pages of the book can be made directly between two back surfaces facing each other. of two photographic products. The method described below is the same for the machine, included in the inventive concept of this invention.

To make the description of the machine and the method for producing photographic books more detailed, it should be borne in mind that the term "printed products" or, more generally, "sheet-like products" refers to a traditional photographic print or a print on a specific support similar to a sheet. While the term "sheet-like support" made of paper-based material or other material refers to a sheet of cardboard or paper on which the photograph that has a stiffness is glued such that it reduces any wrinkling or folding of The photo once attached.

In general, the machine for producing photo books comprises a feeding unit for housing a plurality of paper-based supports and a feeding unit for a plurality of printed products leading to a coupling unit, in accordance with a predetermined sequence. The gluing and pressing of the printed product with the respective paper support allows to obtain the pages of the photo album.

In general, the pages coupled by the machine for the production of photographic books should be subsequently treated with a final binding that includes, for example, also the insertion of a rigid cover in the front and / or in the back.

The machine for producing photographic books comprises, in addition to what has already been indicated above, a gluing unit interposed between the feeding unit and the coupling unit such that at least one surface of the printed product is partially applied with a substance adhesive

After the step to glue the sheet-like product (in terms of depositing an adhesive substance on the back side of the sheet-like product), it is introduced by gravity along a substantially vertical direction in an operational area of the coupling unit between a pressure plate and a counter plate. Once at least one product similar to a pre-glued sheet has been introduced, the machine introduces a paper support and then performs the actual coupling, moving the photograph towards the paper support and / or the card package and / or or photographs already previously attached. The coupling is done by moving the pressure plate towards the counter plate until the end of the path. Any package of cards and / or photographs already attached are held in position by the stop elements, simultaneously allowing free movement of at least the pressure plate towards the counter plate.

The coupling between the sheet-like product and the paper-based support is produced by pressing and almost simultaneously eliminating any excess adhesive substance.

In general, the adhesive substance used is a vinyl glue that is applied in the photograph and / or on the paper-based support before the coupling step. This type of glue is generally slow in effect, thus allowing the operator to manually correct any incorrect position between the sheet-like product and the paper-based support already attached.

It is known that the machine and the process adopted for the production of photographic books are subject to certain drawbacks, including the management of the introduction of a sheet-like product in the operational area. Indeed, at the moment when the sheet-like product accesses the operating area between the first plate and the second plate, it can accidentally and unpredictably adhere to a part of the same machine or to the support based on opposing paper, causing an arrangement incorrect during pressing and therefore also machine jamming.

In addition, once the sheet-like products have been coupled to the respective paper-based support, it is necessary to maintain the coupling pressure using a press or other similar means for at least one night and / or one day of production in a controlled atmosphere. .

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These aspects considerably penalize the production speed (in terms of, for example, docked pages / hour), which sometimes is not entirely satisfactory and does not allow the reduction of production costs while maintaining a good level of product quality manufactured.

Another critical aspect for the production of photographic books is the type of adhesive substance. In fact, the vinyl adhesive contains a high percentage of water between its main components and cannot be used to glue together all types of supports and leaf-like products (also due to the excessive presence of water in its composition). An excessive amount of water also results in a deformation of the product similar to a printed sheet that could bend and twist, also creating possible quality problems of the photo book.

In general terms, to compensate for this problem, a paper-based support is interposed between a sheet-like product and the existing support on the opposite side, making it possible to glue between a photograph and the existing support on the opposite side and relatively dry rapid excess water present in the vinyl adhesive used for gluing. However, the adoption of a paper-based support between a product similar to a sheet and that of the opposite side generates an additional production cost, also requiring additional equipment to prepare the sheets of the correct size in the feed compartment of the machine and even increasing production times.

The types of known machines are described in the previous documents EP 2 441 588 and US 2018558.

In this context, the technical objective that forms the basis of this invention is to provide a machine for producing photographic books that overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

More specifically, the aim of this invention is to provide a machine that is effective in coupling and free of possible jams of the product similar to a sheet in the machine.

The objective of this invention is also to provide a machine and a method for producing photo books that allow a higher production speed and at the same time considerably reduce production costs and increase the quality of the final product. This advantage is substantially achieved by directly attaching a sheet-like product (a first photograph) to another sheet-like product (a second photograph) without the need for a paper-based intermediate support paper, which, as is known, is used in the production of the prior art.

The indicated technical purpose is substantially achieved by means of a machine and a method for producing photographic books, comprising the technical characteristics described in one or more of the appended claims.

The dependent claims correspond to possible manufacturing models of the invention.

Other features and advantages of the invention are more evident in the detailed description below, with reference to a preferred, non-limiting manufacturing model, a machine and a method for producing photographic books as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which;

- Figure 1 is a schematic view of the machine for producing photographic books according to a manufacturing model of this invention;

- Figure 1 a, is a schematic view of a detail of the machine of Figure 1.

- Figure 2 is a schematic view of an operating condition of use of the machine of Figure 1;

- Figure 3 is a schematic view of a different operating condition of use of the machine of Figure 1;

- Figure 4 is a detailed schematic view of the machine of Figure 1;

- Figure 5 is a schematic view of the production machine according to a different manufacturing model of this invention.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, the number 1 denotes a machine for producing photographic books in the preferred manufacturing model according to this invention.

Sheet-like products (that is, photographs) have been indicated in the accompanying drawings with the number 100, while the sheet-like supports (ie, cards) are denoted with the number 200.

The machine 1 for photographic book production comprises a load frame type structure (not shown in the attached drawings) that is capable of supporting the weight of the structural and functional elements and resisting the forces of action during the process steps of production.

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Machine 1 comprises at least one unit 2 for feeding sheet-like products 100 and at least one gluing unit 3 designed to apply an adhesive substance on at least one gluing side 100a of sheet-like products 100. Preferably, The gluing side 100a of the sheet-like product 100 is opposite the side with the graphic design 100b which can then be seen by the person leafing through the pages of the photo book once bound.

In detail, the sizing unit 3 comprises a plurality of heads (not illustrated in the accompanying drawings) for dispensing the adhesive substance so that they can be handled independently of each other. In this way, for example, by a type of PLC programmable system - Programmable logic control - (not illustrated in the drawings), the heads for dispensing the adhesive substance can be activated / deactivated, for example, according to the dimensions ( height and / or width) of the product similar to a sheet 100 or as a function of the quantity to be dispensed based on the predetermined production speed set in machine 1.

Preferably, the adhesive substance used in the machine 1 is a "hot melt" type material, that is, a thermoplastic material having physicochemical properties different from the traditional vinyl glue. Advantageously, the use of the hot melt material prevents the addition of large amounts of water that can bend it and negatively affect the result of the coupling of the products similar to a sheet 100 (which can also be based on cellulose). The use of the hot melt adhesive also allows an advantageous saving of material and a reduction in waste in terms of waste and / or escape of the hot melt substance from the dispensing heads.

The production machine 1 also comprises a unit 4 for coupling the sheet-like products 100 designed at least to couple and press together the sheet-like products 100 previously glued by the gluing unit 3.

The coupling unit 4 specifically comprises a first plate 5 and a second plate 6 facing each other and defining between them an operating zone 7.

According to the terminology known in the prior art, the first plate 5 is known as the pressure plate, while the second plate 6 is known as counterplate. Further details are provided below to better describe the characteristics and operation of the first plate 5 and the second plate 6. For example, the operating area 7 could be defined as an imaginary area with a parallelepipedic shape between the first plate 5 and the second plate 6 into which a product similar to a pre-glued sheet 100 is inserted and coupled, as described above and illustrated in Figure 1. In the operative area 7 there may also be a semi-elaborated element 101 resulting from the previous steps of coupling and pressing a plurality of sheet-like products 100 together, alternatively placing the gluing side 100a of a product similar to a sheet 100 along the gluing side 100a of another product similar to a sheet 100.

The term semi-elaborated element 101 means a plurality of pre-glued products similar to a sheet 100 already coupled and pressed together to produce the photo book.

The machine 1 also comprises elements 8 to guide the product similar to a sheet 100 which, coming from the feeding unit 2, is inserted in the operative area 7 of the coupling unit 4 according to a method and a path controlled by the guide elements 8 mentioned above.

The coupling unit 4 of the machine 1 also comprises elements 9 for blocking the semi-elaborated element 101 once placed within the operative area 7, preferably, in an operative configuration of use of the machine 1, the blocking elements 9 acting on conjunction with the guide elements 8.

The blocking elements 9 and their operation are described in more detail below.

With reference to the coupling 4, the first plate 5 and the second plate 6 collaborate with a translation movement between them along a translation direction "X". The translation movement is produced by keeping the first plate 5 and the second plate 6 facing each other; In addition, the translation movement is decisive to allow the pressing and final gluing of the sheet-like products 100.

Preferably, the first plate 5 is driven by a hydraulic or pneumatic type system which, if possible, will be schematically illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Preferably, the second plate 6 is manually movable by an operator.

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Preferably, the first plate 5 and the second plate 6 face and are parallel to each other and in order to perform the pressing of the sheet-like product 100 they move at least until the end of their stroke along the direction of "X" translation.

The second plate 6 has a respective axis "A", while the first plate 5 has a respective axis "B". Preferably, the second plate 6 has the relative axis "A" on the axis "B" of the first plate 5 with reference to the direction of translation "X", as illustrated in Figure 2.

In summary, the relative translational movement between the first plate 5 and the second plate 6 is carried out using a support base 10 along which the first plate 5 and the second plate 6 slide. Preferably, the support base 10 it is positioned below the operational area 7 mentioned above; in fact, it defines the relatively lower perimeter.

The support base 10 has grooves or guides in such a way that they rigidly support both the first and the second plates 5 and 6, simultaneously allowing sliding along them. The first plate 5 and the second plate 6 comprise respective parts, preferably lower ones, which can receive and interact along the upper part of the mentioned grooves of the support base 10 such that they are slidable along them, but simultaneously they are fixed in the predetermined position in which they are.

Preferably, the first plate 5 and the second plate 6 are positioned perpendicularly to the support base 10, in particular, perpendicular to the direction of translation "X".

Preferably, the support base 10 extends along the translation direction "X" for a length at least equal to the length of the stroke for the first 5 and the second plate 6 in an operating condition of use of the machine 1. Preferably, the length of the translation stroke of the first plate 5 relative to the second plate 6 corresponds to a multiple of the maximum thickness of the semi-processed element 101 attainable with the machine 1. The thickness value can also be set. in the programmable system, type PLC, of the machine to configure the other operating parameters of the machine, such as, for example, the speed of the feeding unit 2, the dispensing pressure of the adhesive substance by the gluing unit 3 , and so on.

Advantageously, the guide elements 8 are such that, during the access of a sheet-like product 100 in the operative area 7, the sheet-like product 100 is induced to move in contact along a support surface 5a of the first plate 5.

On the support surface 5a of the first plate 5, the second plate 6 also has a contact surface 6a opposite the support surface 5a.

Preferably, the support surface 5a of the first plate 5 is convex in shape, that is, it has a radial shape with respect to the axis "B" of the first plate 5 and in the direction of the second plate 6.

Preferably, at least the first plate 5 has the heated support surface 5a, such that the adhesive substance (hot melt glue) applied on the sheet-like product 100 is maintained to be coupled in an optimal viscous state, preventing hardening from being too fast and influencing the coupling of the product similar to a sheet 100.

Preferably, the sheet-like product 100 is brought into contact with the heated support surface 5a of the first plate 5 with the respective side of the graphic design 100b, opposite the sizing side 100a. Preferably, the sheet-like product 100 is moved along the axis of the support surface 5a of the first plate 5, therefore substantially along the axis of the machine 1.

The product similar to a sheet 100 is guided by the guide elements 8 from the exit of the feeding elements 2 until the moment in which it is coupled, keeping its axis coinciding with the axis "B" of the first plate 5.

Advantageously, the precise control of the trajectory and the position of the product similar to a sheet 100 makes it possible to avoid any possibility of blocking due to an incorrect position of the product similar to a sheet 100 during the feeding of the machine 1.

In other words, the guide elements 8 are capable of causing the sheet-like product 100 to adhere to the support surface 5a so that it can slide and be positioned in the operating area 7 in an orderly and precise manner and not in a random and unpredictable way, as in traditional machines.

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In the preferred manufacturing example of this invention, the support base 10 is positioned in an inclined position with respect to a horizontal support surface "W" of the machine 1, as illustrated in Figure 1 and Figure 2. In In general, the reference "W indicates a horizontal reference with respect to which at least the support base 10 is oriented with an inclined position. Accordingly, the support surface 5a of the first plate 5 is inclined such that it defines a "a" angle with a vertical direction, with the vertex in the respective lower position, preferably between about 10 and 30 degrees.

In other words, the support base 10 of the machine 1 is inclined such that the first plate 5, perpendicular to it, is also in an inclined position with respect to a vertical direction. More specifically, the first plate 5 is in a lower position than the second plate 6. An example of this arrangement is illustrated in Figure 1.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, the guide elements 8 are defined by the first plate 5 and by the second plate 6 inclined with respect to the vertical direction and by the support base 10 positioned inclined in relation to the horizontal support surface " W ".

Advantageously, with reference to the diagram shown in Figure 1A, the weight force "P" of the product similar to a sheet 100 sent by the feed unit to the operating zone 7 is such that it has, as soon as it comes into contact with the support surface 5a, two vector components, one of which is parallel to the support surface 5a, labeled with an "F" and the other is perpendicular to the support surface 5a, labeled with an "N".

The perpendicular component "N" of the weighting force "P" is such that it leads the sheet-like product 100 to a temporary continuous contact of the sheet-like product 100 on the support surface 5a, from the moment it is released by the feeding unit until the coupling step with a respective product similar to a sheet of the semi-elaborated element 101 already configured in the operative area 7 and retained by the blocking elements.

With reference to the locking elements 9, these comprise a plurality of rods 9a preferably placed perpendicular to the support surface 5a of the first plate 5, that is, parallel to the direction of translation "X". Preferably, the plurality of rods 9a is not mobile, but is restricted to the base of the machine 1 or, in any case, can be moved and / or removed only for maintenance reasons when the machine 1 is not in operation.

Preferably, the rods 9a are arranged in two series, one for each side end of the first plate 5, as illustrated in Figure 4.

Preferably, the rods 9a are equipped at the respective ends with a pressurized elastic element (not illustrated in the attached drawings) that can be activated by sliding the first plate 5, and the product similar to a pre-glued sheet 100, towards the second plate 6 in an operative configuration to couple the product similar to a sheet 100 pre-glued to the respective product similar to a sheet of the semi-elaborated element 101.

Preferably, the pressurized elastic element present at the end of each rod 9a allows the passage of the product similar to a sheet 100 beyond that position along the rod 9a, but does not allow the product similar to a sheet 100 to retract towards the first plate.

Advantageously, since the second plate 6 is in an upper position relative to the first plate 5, the rods 9a are designed to retain the semi-elaborated element 101 until contact with the product similar to a sheet 100 positioned in the operating area 7 and ready to engage with the semi-elaborated element 101 mentioned above that prevents the sliding towards the loading area of the new pre-glued product similar to a sheet 100.

As mentioned above, the first plate 5 and the second plate 6 are movable respectively in relation to the rods 9a, which are fixed in an operative condition of use of the machine 1.

Preferably, to allow relative movement at least between the first plate 5 and the blocking elements 9, the first plate 5 has a plurality of through grooves 5b placed on the rods 9a, so that they can pass through the first plate 5 during, for example, the coupling step.

Preferably, the grooves 5b are positioned horizontally and divided into two assemblies side by side for each side end of the first plate 5 and symmetrically with respect to the axis "B" of the first plate 5.

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Preferably, the second plate 6 has respective slots 6b in the slots 5b of the first plate 5.

The series of widths 5b and 6b of the first plate 5 and the second plate 6 are equal to the number of rods 9a and extend over a length at least equal to the difference in width between a narrower product similar to a sheet 100 and a wider product similar to a sheet 100 that machine 1 can handle during the production process.

Advantageously, the two groove matrices 5b allow the rods 9a to slide in / out through at least the first plate 5 during its sliding to and from the second plate 6.

Advantageously, the two groove matrices 6b allow the rods 9a to slide in / out through the second plate 6 to have the contact surface 6a at the ends of the rods 9a or even beyond along the body of the rods 9a, when the second plate 6 is adjusted and placed at the beginning of the production process.

Preferably, the first plate 5 is divided into two half plates 5c symmetrical with respect to the "B" axis and movable with each other using a hinge connection 5d on the vertical axis "B" of the plate 5.

This structural solution of the first plate 5 allows a relative rotation movement substantially along the "B" axis of a half plate 5c relative to the other half plate 5c.

Preferably, the first plate 5 has a vertical upright 11 along the axis "B", interposed between the half plates 5c, on which the hinges (not illustrated in the attached drawings) which allow the rotational movement of the means are fixed 5c plates.

Advantageously, each half plate 5c is such that it imparts a pressure to the pre-glued product similar to a sheet 100 with a continuous movement directed from the "B" axis towards the side edges 101a of the semi-elaborated element 101.

The coupling with a pressure characterized by the aforementioned movement from the inside to the outside of the sheet-like product 100 simultaneously allows the pre-glued and semi-processed element 100 to be coupled to the semi-elaborated element 101 and pressed to remove excess of adhesive substance that is pushed towards the side edges 101a of the semi-elaborated element 101.

Preferably, the half plates 5c are activated during the production process by the actuating elements 12 schematically illustrated in Figure 3, which illustrates a coupling step of the product similar to a sheet 100 in which a half plate 5c is rotated with respect to to the other half plate 5c to push the excess hot molten glue towards the side edge 101a.

Preferably, any elastic element not illustrated, allows the return of the half plates 5c to a symmetrical and aligned position with respect to the "B" axis, or in a different solution the actuating elements 12 are reversible, therefore capable of restoring the symmetrical position of the support surface 5a of the first plate 5 (as illustrated, for example, in Figure 2).

In a variant of the machine 1, according to the inventive concept of this invention, the machine 1 comprises an additional power unit 13 (as illustrated in Figure 5), similar to the power unit 2, designed to accommodate supports similar to sheets 200 having a thickness and / or stiffness greater than the product similar to a sheet 100. The sheet-like supports 200 may be necessary when the photo book to be made must have a predetermined stiffness of the page, greater that which can be obtained without supports similar to sheets based on 200 paper.

The inventive concept of this invention comprises a method for producing photographic books using the machine 1 described above, which comprises:

- preparing a plurality of sheet-like products 100 to be coupled;

- adjust and fix a relative position between a second plate 6, also called counterplate, and a first plate 5, also called a presser;

- dispensing an amount of adhesive substance on at least one gluing side 100a of each product similar to a sheet 100;

- feeding a coupling unit 4 with the products similar to pre-glued sheets 100 by inserting at least one pre-glued product similar to a sheet 100 in an operative area 7, moving in contact along a support surface 5a of the first plate 5;

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- transfer the first plate 5 towards the second plate 6 by means of a translation movement along an "X" direction, the support surface 5a being oriented towards the second plate 6;

- pressing the product similar to a sheet 100 with a semi-elaborated element 101 using a uniform pressure exerted by the first plate 5 towards the second plate 6, preferably the first plate 5 exerts a uniform pressure with a continuous movement directed from an axis " B "from the first plate 5 towards the side edges 101a of the semi-elaborated element 101;

- restore the first plate 5 to the relative initial position to feed a coupling unit 4 with at least one other product similar to a pre-glued sheet 100;

- repeat the sequence as described above starting from the dispensing of an adhesive substance.

This invention achieves the pre-established objectives and, more specifically, in accordance with the inventive concept of this invention, the machine and the method for the production of photographic books allow coupling a product similar to a pre-glued sheet with a respective product similar to a sheet in a short time in relation to the prior art and reduce production costs avoiding the use of a support similar to a paper-based sheet.

In accordance with the inventive concept of this invention, not illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the machine 1 may comprise pneumatic type guide elements 8, which are capable of applying a slight negative pressure on the support surface of the first plate 5 of such that it retains the product similar to a blade 100 with a predetermined resistance during its translation and positioning, but in such a way that it allows it to slide along the support surface 5a.

In a different manufacturing model, fully covered in the inventive concept of this invention and not illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the guide elements 8 may comprise a system that works with electrostatic charges that allow the creation of an attractive force on the product. similar to a sheet 100 from the side with the graphic design 100b towards the electrically charged support surface 5a.

It is understood that other manufacturing models of the machine 1 which in this case are not described in detail or illustrated, but which allow solving the above-mentioned problem, that is, verifying the trajectory of the product similar to a sheet 100, are completely covered within the inventive concept of this invention.

Claims (9)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 40 Four. Five fifty 55 60 1. Machine (1) to produce photo books, comprising: - at least one unit (2) for feeding sheet-like products (100); - at least one gluing unit (3) designed to apply an adhesive substance on at least one gluing side (100a) of the sheet-like products (100); - a unit (4) for coupling the leaf-like products (100) comprising a first plate (5) and a second plate (6) facing and defining respectively an operational area (7), the first plate (5) interacting and the second plate (6) in a reciprocating movement to press the leaf-like products (100) in an operative condition of use of the machine (1); characterized in that it comprises elements (8) to guide at least one product similar to a sheet (100) in order to control access to the operational area (7), the guide elements (8) being formed of such wood that during access of the sheet-like product (100) in the operational area (7) the sheet-like product (100) is induced to move by contacting along a support surface (5a) of the first plate (5) in a operative configuration of use of the machine (1), the support surface (5a) facing the second plate (6), said guide elements (8) being defined by the first plate (5) and the second plate (6 ) which are positioned perpendicularly to a base support (10) in an inclined position with respect to a horizontal support surface ("W") of the machine (1) and which are slidable in relation to a support base (10) located below the operational area (7). 2. Machine (1) according to claim 1, the first plate (5) presenting at least the support surface (5a) with a convex shape, preferably the convex shape having a radius of curvature centered with respect to an axis (" B ") of the first plate (5). 3. Machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, the first plate (5) being heated at least on the support surface (5a). 4. Machine (1) according to claim 2, the first plate (5) being structured such that it imparts a pressure to the product similar to a sheet (100) with a continuous movement directed from the axis ("B") towards the lateral edges (101a) of a semi-elaborated element (101). 5. Machine (1) according to claim 1, the coupling unit (4) comprising elements (9) for locking the leaf-like elements (100) comprising rods (9a) equipped at the respective ends with an element Pressurized elastic that can be activated by sliding the first plate (5) towards the second plate (6) in an operating configuration of machine use (1). Machine (1) according to claim 5, the first plate (5) and the second plate (6) having respectively a plurality of through grooves (5b, 6b) that are positioned on the rods (9a) of the elements lock (9). 7. Machine (1) according to claim 1, the gluing unit (3) presenting a plurality of independent heads for dispensing the adhesive substance, the adhesive substance being preferably a "hot melt" type substance. 8. Machine (1) according to claim 1, comprising an additional feed unit (13) designed to accommodate and send similar sheet supports (200) having a thickness and / or stiffness greater than sheet-like products (100) 9. Method for producing photo books using the machine (1) according to claims 1 to 8, comprising: - preparing a plurality of sheet-like products (100) to be coupled; - adjust and fix a relative position between a second plate (6) and a first plate (5); - dispensing a predetermined amount of adhesive substance on at least one gluing side (100a) of each product similar to a sheet (100); - feeding a coupling unit (4) by inserting at least the product similar to a pre-glued sheet (100) into an operative area (7) that is moved by contacting along a support surface (5a) of the first plate (5); - move the first plate (5) towards the second plate (6) by means of a translation movement along a direction ("X") where the support surface (5a) is oriented towards the second plate (6 ); - pressing the product similar to a sheet (100) pre-glued with a semi-elaborated element (101) using a uniform pressure exerted by the first plate (5) on the second plate (6), preferably exerting the first plate (5) a uniform pressure with a continuous movement directed from an axis ("B") of the first plate (5) towards the lateral edges (101a) of the semi-elaborated element (101); - restore an initial position of the first plate (5) to feed the coupling unit (4) with at least one other product similar to a pre-glued sheet (100); 5 - repeat the sequence as described above from the dispensing of a predetermined amount of the adhesive substance