B42 BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
Description
Class B42 covers mechanical and manual processes for binding books and related document assemblies, including techniques for collating, folding, and securing sheets or signatures. It encompasses the manufacture of albums, filing systems, and bound documents, as well as specialized printed materials with particular structural or functional requirements. The classification includes equipment, machines, and methods for producing finished bound products, but excludes the underlying printing processes themselves (covered under B41) and general paper or material processing operations. Adjacent classes address paper manufacturing, printing technology, and unrelated document handling or storage systems.
Of 5 combined children, 4 exist in both systems.
1 codes are CPC-only extensions.
3 shared codes have differing titles between IPC and CPC.
Child Classifications
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- B42B PERMANENTLY ATTACHING TOGETHER SHEETS, QUIRES OR SIGNATURES OR PERMANENTLY ATTACHING OBJECTS THERETO (nailing or stapling in general B25C, B27F; machines for both collating or gathering and permanently attaching together sheets or signatures B42C1/12; temporarily attaching sheets together B42F) heading IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- B42C BOOKBINDING (cutting or perforating machines, devices or tools B26; folding sheets or webs B31F; ornamenting books B44) heading IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- B42D BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS heading IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- B42F SHEETS TEMPORARILY ATTACHED TOGETHER; FILING APPLIANCES; FILE CARDS; INDEXING (reading desks A47B19/00; book rests A47B23/00) heading IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- B42P INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO BOOKS, FILING APPLIANCES OR THE LIKE heading +4 CPC CPC only CPC only
Top Applicants
Top Applicants (IPC)
2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- GIESECKE+DEVRIENT CURRENCY TECHNOLOGY DE 898
- BUNDESDRUCKEREI DE 865
- DE LA RUE INTERNATIONAL GB 810
- SICPA HOLDING CH 784
- DNP (DAINIPPON PRINTING COMPANY) 634
- TOPPAN PRINTING COMPANY 486
- TOPPAN PRINTING COMPANY JP 411
- G&D (GIESECKE & DEVRIENT) DE 398
- CCL SECURE AU 334
- NATIONAL PRINTING BUREAU 313
Top Applicants (CPC)
2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- SICPA HOLDING CH 1,317
- GIESECKE+DEVRIENT CURRENCY TECHNOLOGY DE 949
- BUNDESDRUCKEREI DE 881
- DE LA RUE INTERNATIONAL GB 870
- TOPPAN PRINTING COMPANY JP 455
- G&D (GIESECKE & DEVRIENT) DE 421
- CCL SECURE AU 343
- OVD KINEGRAM CH 308
- OBERTHUR FIDUCIAIRE FR 251
- CRANE COMPANY US 204