30d is generally horizontally aligned with the top edge 28a of the forward support member 28 the lower section of the support member defines a free end 30e and is sloped and biased toward the forward support member 28 the forward free end 28c and rearward free end 30e engage each other at a binding position and are aligned generally along a line parallel to the longitudinal center line for the slot 22 together these bottom edges define a normal or binding position in which the bottom edges are biased toward each other and are separable as shown by the dashed lines to an alternative document engaging extended position in the extended position the bottom free edges are separated from each other and the plates effectively hinge or swing about the connection to the housing or transition line as appropriate a heating element 32 is positioned adjacent the free ends 28c and 30e so as to cooperate in forming the normal or binding position heater controls for time temperature etc are not shown but can be located on the front face 20 the book 24 includes individual documents or pages 24a covers 24b and 24c and edge 24d to be bound in the embodiment of this system a u shaped adhesive strip 34 is applied along the binding edge usually the left hand edge of a document the adhesive bonds to the edges of the individual sheets.