Muller Martini Saddle Stitcher

a picture would help

that machine depending on the heads is for more than one operator usually 3 or 4 operators

Deleted. Apologies.

In the U.K. we see (generally) 2 types of binding lines, Muller Martini, & Heidelberg, very similar in most respects. i.e. continuous Saddle chain conveyor, fed by up to 4 Hoppers (sections) all continuously loaded from above, drawn out from under, non stop feed dropping onto the saddle/chain.
Followed by drawn on cover, if required, Immediately followed by Twin Head stitcher, Synchronized to stitch as the chain is moving, supplied from smaller wire reel drums, above or from massive reels behind and below, M/c (at least 50 Kilos per reel) .
The collated stitched copies then fed under 3 Knife trimmer, programmed to deliver continuous feed or set to factor in any batch number.
Sophisticated detectors drop any missing section(s) prior to stitching.

Normally only 2 operators required, one to feed the hoppers and one to batch and pack

one operator for 4 hoppers made me think of charles chaplin in modern times dont even mension the other poor bastard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_1apYo6-Ow&list=RDDfGs2Y5WJ14&index=2

Depending on the machine, and the size of book being run, you will need at least one or two other people to keep up with it. A small book (4 8-page sections) could easily run at 5000 plus books an hour and likely a whole lot more. Biggest thing to learn is the setting of the knives for the 3 knife trimmer.

If this machine is new to your facility, spend the time to inspect and (likely) renew the suckers throughout the feeder line. Offhand I don’t know of training videos out there, but a call to Muller Martini would possibly point you to training resources.

http://www.mullermartini.net/us/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-158/8850_read-...

Worked on one in Germany,
they scream, one person can feed the hoppers, but that is a chore, 2 are better, one machine Tender, one Person unloads and stacks on pallet, you have one Runner bring fresh stock on pallet and pull loaded pallet away.

From that photo it looks like a Muller Martini Minuteman Stitch finishing line. We have the same machine where I work during the day. It’s a straight forward, mostly mechanical machine. If you have the operators manual there will be a ton of basic information in there to get you started.

Basic operation is suckers pull the folded sheet from the hopper on top onto a drum. Suckers on the drum, along with grippers, open the folded sheet to allow it to drop onto the gathering chain. Signatures from each hopper drop on each other in succession to complete the book. There is a cover feeder that will score and fold covers before dropping them on the chain. Once gathered books pass under a caliper wheel to determine it has the proper amount of signatures in it. If it does not it not stitched and ejected under by a chute under the conveyor leading to the trimmer. If it is correct the book is stitched then pulled up onto the belts leading to the trimmer. Head and foot are trimmed, then the face is trimmed, then it’s delivered to the exit belt.

There are too many specifics of setting up each section of the machine to list. I’ve not found many videos on it aside from those for machines for sale. Your best bet me by to find a third party mechanic that can do some setup training with you in person.

Neat thing about this machines is you can collate and stitch smaller books two up at a time, then trim them out by adding a second set of head and foot knives to the trimmer. You can also change the timing on the pockets so that they drop a signature every other spot on the chain. With this you can actually bind two different books of the same size at the same time, or stack the same signature in multiple pockets.

When run slow enough one person can feed all six pockets and pack finished books. We do it all the time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s30Nj3-BQvA

Maybe this will work…. https://youtu.be/s30Nj3-BQvA