Abstract: In an image forming device, images of originals up to an upper limit number of stapling are read (S1 to S5) and image data thereof are processed (S6 to S8). If a paper sensor has detected a subsequent original even when the number of pages of the read images reaches NS0 (S1, S2), a finisher discharges a bundle of printed papers without stapling. Consequently, the number of the printed papers included in the discharged bundle is made less than the upper limit number. In a case where the number of the printed papers sent to the finisher (S12, S13) is less than a set number NS1 (S15), the bundle is discharged without being stapled after the number of the printed papers reaches NS1 (S17).

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes an aligning member configured to align an end of a bundle of sheets including a folded sheet by engaging with the edge of the bundle of sheets, and a sheet processing unit configured to process the bundle of sheets having the end aligned by the aligning member. The end of the bundle of sheets engaged with the aligning member is opposite to a folded portion of the folded sheet.

Abstract: A saddle-stitched brochure comprising a collated sheet stack (P1 to P3) folded in two at its center portion and stitched with wire at least two positions spaced from each other on the folding line (1a), characterized in that a small printed material (2, 2a) is arranged between the adjacent sheets (P2, P3) of the sheet stack (P1 to P3) and inserted between the adjacent stitched portions (3, 3) on the folding line (1a) and folded along the folding line (1a) together with the sheet stack (P1 to P3) so as to be held in the brochures (1).

Abstract: In a sheet post-processing apparatus that folds a sheet bundle, a folding roller drive motor that drives folding rollers is PWM driven such that its speed is varied in each control during the period until a blade contacts the sheet bundle, during the period when the sheet bundle is conveyed to a discharge port, during discharge operation, and during return of the motor to its home position.

Abstract: When a sheet is loaded to the sheet tray, the position of a trailing edge regulating section is set in response to the size of an insert sheet. Owing to this, the print sheet ejected from the ejection rollers onto the sheet tray falls onto the surface of the insert sheet. Further, when a booklet with an insert sheet placed therein is produced, an insert sheet is supplied to the sheet tray along the second conveying path. The shift amount of the execution position of center folding or the execution position of center stitching with respect to the sheet bundle is calculated in conformity to the finishing form of the booklet containing the insert sheet.

Abstract: A sheet finisher of the invention includes a saddle stitch unit configured to stitch a center of a sheet bundle in which printed sheets are bundled, a fold unit configured to fold the center stitched by the saddle stitch unit and to form a fold line, and a fold reinforcing unit configured to reinforce the fold line formed by the fold unit, and the fold reinforcing unit includes a placement table on which the sheet bundle transported from the fold unit is placed, a band-like elastic member that is extended to face the fold line of the placed sheet bundle and is formed to be longer than the length of the fold line, and a roller unit that includes a reinforce roller and moves the reinforce roller along the direction of the fold line while pressing it to the fold line through the intervening elastic member.

Abstract: A sheet finisher of the invention includes a saddle stitch unit configured to stitch a center of a sheet bundle, in which printed sheets are bundled, with a staple, a fold unit configured to fold the center stitched by the saddle stitch unit and to form a fold line, and a fold reinforcing unit configured to reinforce the fold line formed by the fold unit, the fold reinforcing unit includes a roller unit that includes a reinforce roller and moves along a direction of the fold line while applying pressure by the reinforce roller to the fold line of the sheet bundle transported from the fold unit, a drive unit configured to move the roller unit along the direction of the fold line, and a control unit configured to control a movement speed of the roller unit, and the control unit causes the roller unit to move at a first speed in an outside of a specified range including the edge of the staple, and causes the roller unit to move at a second speed not higher than the first speed in the specified range including th

Abstract: There is provided a technique in which while the occurrence of a sheet jam is avoided, a pair of folding rollers for a folding process and a stapler for a staple process can be disposed to be close to each other, and a contribution can be made to the improvement of productivity.

Abstract: A sheet finisher of the invention includes: a fold unit that forms a fold line with a fold rollers; a roller unit that moves a first roller and a second roller along the fold line while pressing the fold line; a drive unit that moves the roller unit along the fold line from a standby position separate from an end of the sheet bundle; a drive motor that separates the first and the second rollers in a thickness direction at the standby position; and a nipping unit that places the sheet bundle on a first nip plate, and nips it by the first and the second nip plates. Both positions of the nip of the fold rollers and a nip of the first and second rollers are disposed to be substantially coincident with a position on an imaginary plane extending from a surface of the first nip plate.

Abstract: A stitching head is provided for stitching books or printed products. The stitching head includes a supporter and a driver. The supporter has a corrugated supporter surface including first ridges and first grooves. The driver interacts with the supporter and has a channel and a corrugated driver surface which includes second ridges and second grooves. The first grooves and first ridges of the supporter mesh with the second ridges and first grooves of driver and the channel supports stitching material between the corrugated supporter surface and the corrugated driver surface. A method is also provided.

Abstract: An spine formation device includes a sheet conveyer, a contact member including a first row of grooves provided in a contact surface thereof to house a projection projecting from a folded portion of a bundle of folded sheets, a driving unit to move the contact member, first and second sandwiching units to squeeze the bundle, a discharge unit, and a controller. The first row of grooves extends in parallel to the folded portion of the bundle and includes at least a first pair of grooves inclined in different directions with an interval therebetween varying in size with location of the grooves in a first direction perpendicular to a sheet conveyance direction. The contact member is moved to change the size of interval between the first pair of grooves at a position aligned with the projection projecting from the folded portion of the bundle of folded sheets.

Abstract: A pressing unit includes a pressure roller that slides on the folded side while rotating, an elastic biasing unit that presses the pressure roller in a thickness direction of the stack of sheets, and a driving unit that slides the pressure roller in a direction substantially perpendicular to a conveying direction of the stack of sheets. A lifting unit, when the pressure roller slides to a first position, temporarily lifts up the pressure roller, and when lifted-up pressure roller slides to a second position, lifts the lifted-up pressure roller down onto the folded side.

Abstract: An image forming system has an image forming apparatus which has a printing unit which can perform a printing process of data of a storage unit which can store data of a plurality of jobs and which has a conveying unit which can convey a sheet from the print unit to a sheet processing device which can perform sheet processing, including at least a gluing process, for sheets from the printing unit, the system comprising: a controller adapted to permit a predetermined process related to the gluing process when the job to be processed is a job which meets a predetermined condition, and to inhibit the predetermined process related to the gluing process when the job to be processed is not a job which meets the predetermined condition, thereby overcoming obstacles to realization of an image forming system capable of a gluing process.

Abstract: A sheet finisher of the invention includes a fold reinforcing unit that reinforces the fold line. The fold reinforcing unit includes a roller unit, a drive unit that has a single motor and moves the roller unit along the direction of the fold line from a standby position; and a nip unit. The nip unit includes a first nip plate and a second nip plate. The first nip plate and the second nip plate are opened in a thickness direction of the sheet bundle when the roller unit is located at the standby position, and are closed to nip the sheet bundle when the roller unit reinforces the fold line after the sheet bundle is transported to between the first and the second nip plate. The second nip plate is driven to be opened and closed in the thickness direction of the sheet bundle by the single motor.

Abstract: A sheet finisher of the invention includes a saddle stitch unit configured to stitch a center of a sheet bundle in which printed sheets are bundled, a fold unit configured to fold the center stitched by the saddle stitch unit and to form a fold line, and a fold reinforcing unit configured to reinforce the fold line formed by the fold unit, the fold reinforcing unit includes a roller unit that includes a reinforce roller with a structure for preventing an occurrence of a wrinkle, and moves along a direction of the fold line while applying pressure by the reinforce roller to the fold line of the sheet bundle transported from the fold unit, and a drive unit configured to move the roller unit along the direction of the fold line from a standby position located at a position separate from an end of the sheet bundle.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a taking-in portion configured to support sheets conveyed with their leading edges in a conveying direction directed downward in a standing position and release the support of the sheets, a folding portion configured to crease the sheets, which are supported by the taking-in portion, by pressing and release the creased sheets into the taking-in portion, a loading portion arranged under the taking-in portion to load the creased sheets conveyed from the taking-in portion, a stitching portion configured to stitch a sheet bundle loaded on the loading portion, and a controller configured to execute conveying of the sheets to the taking-in portion and creasing of the sheets supported on the taking-in portion by the folding portion during stitching the creased sheet bundle loaded on the loading portion by the stitching portion.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a stacking tray on which sheets are stacked, an aligning unit that aligns the sheets stacked on the stacking tray, a stapler that staples the sheets aligned by the aligning unit using two members provided on one surface side and the other surface side in a thickness direction of the sheets, first conveying rollers arranged in a position on an upstream side along a conveying direction after stapling of the sheets and in contact with one end of the sheets and driven to rotate after the stapling by the stapler, and second conveying rollers arranged in a position on a downstream side along the conveying direction of the sheets and in contact with the other end of the sheets and driven to rotate at rotation speed different from that of the first conveying rollers after the stapling by the stapler.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a winding unit configured to wind a continuous sheet, a binding unit configured to bind the continuous sheet that is wound and stacked by the winding unit, and a first cutting unit configured to cut the continuous sheet that is bound by the binding unit in a state that the continuous sheet is wound by the winding unit.

Abstract: A current invention provides a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of obtaining a sheet bundle which can be double-leaved and released without use of any binding device. A slit S to which a projection Pa provided at an end portion opposite to a side to be bound by a binding portion of a front cover P1 is formed in a back cover P3 of a sheet bundle PA by an insertion portion forming portion. Further, creases L1, L2 for inserting the projection Pa into the slit S while surrounding sheets P2 existing between the front cover P1 and the back cover P2 are formed in the back cover P3 of the sheet bundle PA by a crease forming portion.

Abstract: In the staple process and folding process after performing switchback transport of a sheet, there is provided a technique which can be made to the improvement of maintenance in the case where a sheet jam occurs in the vicinity of the switchback position.

Abstract: A creasing device includes a feeding mechanism, a creasing mechanism, sensors, and an aligning mechanism. The feeding mechanism conveys paper on which an image has been formed in a post-processing apparatus main body direction. The creasing mechanism makes a crease on the paper. The sensors detect a deviation of the paper with respect to the feeding direction. The aligning mechanism, based on an amount of deviation in a result of a detection by the sensors, causes the creasing mechanism to rotate in such a way that the creasing mechanism is aligned parallel to a crease direction of the paper.

Abstract: A sheet folding device has a releasable clutch between a roll driving device and a pair of folding rolls for folding a sheet bunch so that when a folding blade inserts the sheet bunch to a nip position on the pair of folding rolls, the first and second folding rolls rotate following the inserted sheets. The sheet folding device includes a guide for holding the sheet bunch at a predetermined fold position. The first and second folding rolls arranged at the fold position are in pressure contact with each other. The folding blade inserts the sheet bunch supported on the guide to the nip position on the first and second folding rolls. The roll driving device rotationally drives the first and second folding rolls. The first and second folding rolls and the roll driving device are coupled together via the releasable clutch.

Abstract: A bookbinding apparatus comprises, a stacking unit on which sheets are stacked; a folding portion which folds the sheets stacked on the stacking unit; a humidifying unit which humidifies portions of the sheets to be fold lines of a booklet before folding by the folding portion; and a controller which controls a humidifying condition at the time of the humidifying by the humidifying unit, wherein the humidifying condition is variable according to the sheets composing the booklet.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus of the invention includes a sheet guiding unit configured to have plural components including paper carrying components be attached thereto, a tray onto which a sheet of paper is discharged, and a protection cover attached to the sheet guiding unit at a portion in close proximity to the tray side. A protection cover has a cover main body, a screw attachment portion, a screw cover that covers the screw attached to the screw attachment portion, and a slit used for the tip end of the screw cover to be inserted into the cover main body to be fixed thereto.

Abstract: An image forming system including an image forming apparatus and a book binding apparatus, the image forming system includes: a first detection section which detects maximum and minimum book-body sheet length in the bundle of the book-body sheets; a second detection section which detects a thickness of the bundle of the book-body sheets; a third detection section which detects a cover sheet length; a selection section to select whether the cover sheet length is determined based on the maximum book-body sheet length or on the minimum book-body sheet length; a calculation section which calculates a cutting amount of the cover sheet according to the selection; a trimming section which cuts the cover sheet based on the calculated cutting amount; and a book binding section which encases the bundle of sheets of the book-body with the U-shaped cover sheet.

Abstract: A receiving member for receiving the leading end of sheet on a sheet placing table is disposed movably along the upper surface of the sheet placing table within a specified range including a first position located at the other end of the sheet placing table and distanced from a carry-in opening at least by the length of the sheet, and an operation control unit causes the receiving member to move to a second position where the trailing end of the sheet received by the receiving member slips under the carry-in opening.

Abstract: According to the invention, a sheet finisher has a folding mechanism, a discharging mechanism, a stacking mechanism, and a slip amount calculator. The folding mechanism forms a folding line by folding a sheet which an image forming unit discharges. The discharging mechanism discharges the sheet including the folding line which the folding mechanism forms. The stacking mechanism stacks the sheet which the discharging mechanism discharges. The slip amount calculator outputs a fullness state of the stacking mechanism to the image forming unit, if a slip amount of the discharging mechanism exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: There is provided a technique in which while the occurrence of a sheet jam is avoided, a pair of folding rollers for a folding process and a stapler for a staple process can be disposed to be close to each other, and a contribution can be made to the improvement of productivity.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing device includes a stacker for stacking and storing sheets therein, a feeder for receiving sheets and feeding the sheets toward the stacker, a folder for folding a set of sheets stored in the stacker, a preparatory processor, which is located upstream from the folder, for processing sheets preparatory to folding of a set of sheets, a presser for pressing the set of sheets stored in the stacker at a portion processed by the preparatory processor so as to push the set of sheets into the folder, and a controller for controlling the stacker, the feeder, the folder, the preparatory processor and the presser. The controller controls the preparatory processor not to process a sheet that will be an outermost sheet of a folded set of sheets.

Abstract: A sheet finisher of the invention includes a saddle stitch unit configured to stitch a center of a sheet bundle in which printed sheets are bundled, a fold unit configured to fold the center stitched by the saddle stitch unit and to form a fold line, and a fold reinforcing unit configured to reinforce the fold line formed by the fold unit, the fold reinforcing unit includes a roller unit that includes a reinforce roller with a structure for preventing an occurrence of a wrinkle, and moves along a direction of the fold line while applying pressure by the reinforce roller to the fold line of the sheet bundle transported from the fold unit, and a drive unit configured to move the roller unit along the direction of the fold line from a standby position located at a position separate from an end of the sheet bundle.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus, including: a booklet making section for making a booklet by covering a sheet bundle comprised of a plurality of sheets with a cover in a U-shape; a folding section for forming a fold-line on a coversheet, which covers the booklet made by the book making section; cover sheet conveyance section for conveying the coversheet; a measurement section for measuring a thickness of the sheet bundle; and a control section for controlling operations of the cover sheet conveyance section and the folding section to determine a folding position on the coversheet and form a fold-line on the folding position; wherein the folding position has been determined based on size information of the coversheet, size information of a sheet of the sheet bundle and thickness information of the sheet bundle measured by the measurement section.

Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus including: a conveyance device having a first pair of rollers for nipping and conveying a paper sheet; a folding device disposed downstream of the conveyance device in a paper sheet conveyance direction, the folding device having a second pair of rollers for nipping and conveying the paper sheet, wherein the conveyance device conveys the paper sheet to the folding device by making the paper sheet bent toward the folding device, and the folding device conveys the bent paper sheet to fold the paper sheet; and a folding assist member for pushing the paper sheet so that the paper sheet moves toward the folding device, the folding assist member being pivotally arranged to be capable of rotating downstream of the conveyance device in the conveyance direction.

Abstract: Provided is a sheet folding apparatus for folding a sheet stack, including a sheet stack support member for supporting a sheet stack by being abutted against a lower edge of the sheet stack, an abutting member for folding the sheet stack by making the sheet stack supported by the sheet stack support member abutted against a leading edge of the abutting member, and paired folding rollers for sandwiching the sheet stack folded by the abutting member to fold the sheet stack at a fold position, in which a position where the sheet stack is abutted against the leading edge of the abutting member with respect to the fold position is varied based on sheet stack information.

Abstract: There is provided a technique in which a retracting operation of a bundle of sheets from a stapler after a staple process can be stably performed irrespective of the number of sheets constituting the bundle of sheets or the transport resistance. When the bundle of sheets subjected to the staple process is moved by a stacker in a direction of retracting from the stapler, an alignment roller is caused to come in contact with the bundle of sheets held by the stacker and to assist the movement of the bundle of sheet.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus including: a sheet supporting table that supports a sheet stack made of a plurality of sheets which have been folded; a stopper against which a first edge of the sheet stack which is a side to be cut of the sheet stack is pressed on the sheet supporting table; and a pushing member which pushes a second edge of the sheet stack so that the first edge is pressed against the stopper, wherein the pushing member comprises a first surface that is inclined with respect to a sheet supporting surface of the sheet supporting table so that the first surface restricts a height of the folded part of the sheet stack with respect to the sheet supporting surface when the pushing member presses the sheet stack towards the stopper.

Abstract: There is provided a technique which can greatly improve throughput at the time when, after a folding process is performed to a bundle of sheets, the bundle of sheets subjected to the folding process is transported to a downstream side, and can prevent a wrinkle from occurring in the bundle of sheets at the time of the folding process. A sheet transport speed of a pair of rollers is changed from a first transport speed to a second transport speed at a specified timing between when a folding blade finishes a pressing operation of the bundle of sheets and starts a return operation to a waiting position and when a rear edge of the bundle of sheets pressed into a nip of a pair of rollers by the folding blade passes through the nip of the pair of rollers.

Abstract: Based on the image size and folding setting, a recording medium storing device is selected among a plurality of the recording medium storing devices, an image is formed on a recording medium in the selected recording medium storing device based on image information, and the recording medium on which the images is formed is folded by a folding device.

Abstract: A method of finishing a plurality of sheets for a bound document. The method comprises accumulating a stack of sheets at a first position, scoring the sheets at the first position, and outputting the stack of scored sheets from the first position.

Abstract: A spine formation device includes a sheet conveyer to transport a bundle of folded sheets, a pressing unit including a first pressing member movable according to a pressing load in a pressing direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction to press opposed sides of the front end portion of the folded sheets and a second pressing member attached to the first pressing member, to press the front end portion of the folded sheets, and a spine formation member disposed at a predetermined distance from the pressing unit. The second moves in the sheet conveyance direction in conjunction with the first pressing member moving in the pressing direction and presses the folded portion of the bundle of sheets with a predetermined spine-forming load against a contact surface of the spine formation member, thereby forming a spine of the bundle of sheets.

Abstract: When a sheet bundle is being conveyed by any one pair of plural pairs of rollers independently movable toward and away from the bundle sheet, before the bound portion of the sheet bundle passes the pair of rollers, the pair of rollers on the downstream side nearest to the bound portion are separated from the sheet bundle, and the pairs of rollers more downstream than that pair convey the sheet bundle. Thereby, it happens less often that the pairs of rollers gather the air collected between adjacent ones of the sheets of the sheet bundle to the bound portion to thereby cause a slack to the sheets, and the occurrence of wrinkles or twists in the sheet bundle can be reduced. Also, the pair of rollers are separated from the sheet bundle before the bound portion passes the pair of rollers, whereby it happens less often that the pair of rollers are damaged by the bound portion, and the sheet bundle can be conveyed smoothly.

Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus that that forms an image on a paper sheet and a sheet finishing device that performs finishing on a paper sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus. The sheet finishing device is disposed beneath the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A saddle stitcher for making paperback books is provided by the present invention. The saddle stitcher is provided for manually assembling one or a few (or a greater number if desired by the user) booklets in a cost-effective, yet professional manner. The saddle stitcher generally includes a tray, a saddle, and a plurality of staplers. The tray is provided for receiving a plurality of pages to be made into a booklet and in which the pages are stitched to form the booklet. The staplers are provided for stitching the plurality of pages to form a booklet and are pivotally and slidably mounted within the tray in order to accommodate booklets of varying sizes. An engagement device is provided for engaging each of the staplers in tandem in order to fabricate a booklet.

Abstract: A sheet finisher of the invention includes a saddle stitch unit configured to stitch a center of a sheet bundle in which printed sheets are bundled, a fold unit configured to fold the center stitched by the saddle stitch unit and to form a fold line, and a fold reinforcing unit configured to reinforce the fold line formed by the fold unit, the fold reinforcing unit includes a placement table on which the sheet bundle transported from the fold unit is placed, and a roller unit that includes a reinforce roller and moves the reinforce roller along a direction of the fold line while pressing it to the fold line, and the placement table is provided with a groove-like edge clearance along an edge of the sheet bundle.

Abstract: A post-processing apparatus having a conveyance device to convey a sheet, a sheet bundle storing device to load and store the sheets conveyed by the conveyance device as a sheet bundle, a moving device to enable the sheet bundle storing device to be movable, a post-processing device to carry out post-process for the sheet bundle accumulated in the sheet bundle storing device, wherein the sheet bundle storing device can be withdrawn to outside the post-processing apparatus main body through the moving device so as to be capable of storing the sheet bundle from outside.

Abstract: A creasing device includes a feeding mechanism, a creasing mechanism, sensors, and an aligning mechanism. The feeding mechanism conveys paper on which an image has been formed in a post-processing apparatus main body direction. The creasing mechanism makes a crease on the paper. The sensors detect a deviation of the paper with respect to the feeding direction. The aligning mechanism, based on an amount of deviation in a result of a detection by the sensors, causes the creasing mechanism to rotate in such a way that the creasing mechanism is aligned parallel to a crease direction of the paper.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes: a sheet processing apparatus control unit; a folding motor, a rotating direction of which is controlled by the sheet processing apparatus control unit; a low-speed gear train configured to be driven when the folding motor normally rotates; a high-speed gear train configured to be driven when the folding motor reversely rotates; and a saddle-folding driving roller configured to be driven by a gear train selected from the low-speed gear train and the high-speed gear train. When the number of recording media to be saddle-stapled or saddle-folded exceeds predetermined numbers respectively set for the saddle stapling and the saddle folding, the sheet processing apparatus control unit drives the saddle-folding driving roller at low speed. When the number of recording media to be saddle-stapled or saddle-folded does not exceed the predetermined numbers, the sheet processing apparatus control unit drives the saddle-folding driving roller at high speed.

Abstract: This invention can improve the appearance quality of a pamphlet produced by suppressing a swell of a folded sheet bundle and prevent a drop in productivity without enlarging the size of a sheet processing apparatus. A sheet bundle receiving position is changed depending on a sheet size and the moving direction of the press unit is changed corresponding to the sheet size of a conveyed sheet bundle. As a consequence, the enlargement of the sheet processing apparatus can be avoided without deteriorating productivity.

Abstract: When a sheet bundle is being conveyed by any one pair of plural pairs of rollers independently movable toward and away from the bundle sheet, before the bound portion of the sheet bundle passes the pair of rollers, the pair of rollers on the downstream side nearest to the bound portion are separated from the sheet bundle, and the pairs of rollers more downstream than that pair convey the sheet bundle. Thereby, it happens less often that the pairs of rollers gather the air collected between adjacent ones of the sheets of the sheet bundle to the bound portion to thereby cause a slack to the sheets, and the occurrence of wrinkles or twists in the sheet bundle can be reduced. Also, the pair of rollers are separated from the sheet bundle before the bound portion passes the pair of rollers, whereby it happens less often that the pair of rollers are damaged by the bound portion, and the sheet bundle can be conveyed smoothly.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus is operable to cut an edge portion of a sheet. The sheet processing apparatus is operable to calculate a sheet utilization efficiency based on an area of the sheet before cutting and an area of a sheet obtained by cutting the edge portion.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus configured to bind a sheet bundle includes a folding portion configured to fold the sheet bundle, a sheet processing portion provided upstream of the folding portion and configured to form a groove at a fold position of at least one sheet of the sheet bundle, and a controller configured to control an operation of the sheet processing portion. The controller controls an operation of the sheet processing portion such that a width of a groove formed on a sheet located on an outer side of the folded sheet bundle is larger than that of a groove formed on a sheet located on an inner side of the folded sheet bundle.