US Patent 7354232 Individual bookbinding device, system, and associated methods

A stack of pages can be bound along a binding edge to form a book by positioning a first side of an elongated conductive metal foil strip in contact with the binding edge. The strip has opposed ends, opposed side edges extending between the ends, and an adhesive with a predetermined melting temperature in contact with at least a portion of a first side thereof. The strip has been altered from a first configuration to a second configuration so as to enhance a resistance of the strip between the ends from a first value to a second value substantially greater than the first value. A voltage is applied across the strip sufficient to melt the adhesive to bind the stack of pages together along the binding edge.