Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for aligning, feeding, trimming, slitting, rotating, cross-slitting and stacking sheets, each containing one or more discrete page images thereon that allows for greater automation of the overall process so that reduced or no manual intervention is required to generate completed book stacks or “blocks” from a stream or stack of printed sheets. Sheets are fed to a first, upstream trimming station to remove margin edges and optionally separate the sheets relative to the discrete page images. The sheets are then rotated 90 degrees and fed to a second, downstream trimming station that trims the right-angle edges and optionally separates the sheets into a final group of full-bleed pages, removing margins and gutter strips. The sheets are feed to a stacking assembly to be tacked in page order and any rejected, defective sheets or stacks are removed from the order.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying a plurality of sheets into a receiving member includes receiving member and a conveyor for conveying a plurality of sheets into the receiving member so that the sheets are stacked one upon another to form a book block. The conveyor can have a downstream end that is moveable relative to the stack of sheets in the receiving member. The apparatus can also include an actuator connected to the conveyor that is operable to move the downstream end of the conveyor relative to the stack of sheets in the receiving member.

Abstract: There is provided a technique in which in a sheet processing apparatus including a switchback portion in a sheet transport path, a contribution can be made to the improvement of maintenance in the case where a sheet jam occurs in the vicinity of a switchback position. In a sheet processing method of a sheet processing apparatus for performing a specified process to a sheet, the sheet processing apparatus includes a first sheet transport path for transporting the sheet, and a second sheet transport path that is for performing switchback transport of the sheet transported in the first sheet transport path and includes at least one of a hole, a projection and a recess in the vicinity of a meeting position between the second sheet transport path and the first sheet transport path, and the first sheet transport path and the second sheet transport path are enabled to be integrally pulled out to the outside of the sheet processing apparatus.

Abstract: A method for determining a subgroup of a group of sheets in a sheet stream starting from a group start of the group comprises determining the subgroup end of the subgroup based on a sheet state parameter. The subgroup is determined by the group start and the subgroup end and comprises a variable number of sheets. The sheet state parameter determines which sheet in the sheet stream is a group end of the group of sheets.

Abstract: In a sheet processing apparatus that, for example, sorts or staples sheets after image formation, when preceding finishing is not completed on a processing tray, a third sheet fed anew into a waiting tray of a sheet placing member configuring a sheet waiting unit, which temporarily puts a sheet conveyed thereto on standby, is stacked to be shifted such that leading ends of second and third sheets are located further on a conveying direction upstream side than a leading end of a first sheet. Consequently, longitudinal alignment in the processing tray after that is surely performed.

Abstract: A method for inserting a supplement into a multipage printed product having a back and composed of signatures and/or individual sheets, and being transported with the back oriented parallel to a conveying direction. The multipage printed product is supplied with a signature or an individual sheet projecting from the multipage printed product to define a predetermined separating location between the projecting signature or individual sheet and an adjacent signature or sheet. The multipage printed product is opened at the predetermined separating location and then the opening is expanded. The supplement is thereafter inserted into the expanded separating location.

Abstract: A method of positioning copy or subsets for the easy insertion of tabs thereinto that includes creating a shingled boundary between subsets, with the top sheets of all subsets in the same position, but with the rest of each subset progressively offset so that the last page of the upper subset is significantly offset from the top sheet of the next subset in sawtooth fashion. As a result, the subsets can then be separated from one side more easily and tabs or other pages can be manually inserted with minimal difficulty.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which makes it possible to perform image forming processing and post-processing efficiently. A job controller divides a single print job into a plurality of print jobs according to the processing capability of a post-processing apparatus. A print controller causes a printer section to perform sequential operations according to the split print jobs, to form a plurality of sets of printed sheet bundles. The sets of sheet bundles formed in association with the respective print jobs and stacked on a stacker by the operation of the print controller are sequentially brought to the post-processing apparatus, and the post-processing apparatus sequentially performs post-processing on the supplied sets of sheet bundles.

Abstract: A combined sheet inverting and buffering system and method including a sheet drive for transporting sheets into a sheet collecting area. The sheet drive is selectively operable to transport the sheets in a first and second direction along a processing path. A holding device can hold a plurality of sheets. The sheet drive and holding device cooperate to compile the plurality of sheets into a stack wherein the sheets overlie each other in a shingled manner. A take away drive is in operative communication with the sheets for individually unloading the sheets from the sheet collecting area.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing documents is provided. Documents having a selected characteristic are placed into a first area, whereas documents not having the selected characteristic are placed into a second area. A sensor in the first area detects the presence of documents in the first area. The documents are conveyed to a scanner that scans the documents to obtain information regarding the documents. The processing of the documents is controlled by a processor. A document is electronically tagged as having the selected characteristic and processed accordingly in response to the detection of the document in the first area and in response to whether the document arrived at the scanner during a pre-determined time frame.

Abstract: A sheet processor includes a processing tray with a first surface that receives sheets and forms a pile of sheets. An endless belt circulates by way of first and second surface sides on a side opposite the first surface of the processing tray. A first roller reverses a circulation path of the endless belt from the first surface side to the second surface side. A second roller is disposed at an interval from the first roller and reverses the circulation path from the second surface side. First and second abutments are attached to the belt and abut an end edge of the pile of sheets. The abutments are attached to the belt so that the first abutment is positioned near the first roller and on the second surface side and the second abutment is near the second roller on the second surface side.

Abstract: When handling paper sheets, the paper sheet present at the uppermost or lowest part of each batch of the paper sheets is assigned as a designated paper sheet, and then intrinsic information on this designated paper sheet is associated with transaction information corresponding to the batch of the paper sheets. Thereafter, a plurality of batches of the paper sheets are stacked, one on another, in a certain number corresponding to transactions, while the intrinsic information on each designated paper sheet is already associated with the corresponding transaction information. Then, such stacked batches of the paper sheets are handled, collectively, by a paper sheet handling system. Thereafter, each recognition result on the plurality of batches of the paper sheets, respectively handled by the paper sheet handling system, is separated by utilizing each designated paper sheet.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device in which at least a sheet is guided and conveyed by a guiding member includes a discharging roller that conveys the sheet, a first guiding member and a second guiding member that are arranged along an outer periphery of the discharging roller, and a supporting shaft that rotatably supports both the first guiding member and the second guiding member. When the first guiding member is located at a first position in which a path between the first guiding member and the discharging roller is closed, the sheet is guided to a shift conveying path, and when the first guiding member is located at a second position in which the path is opened, the sheet is guided to a folding processing tray.

Abstract: A shifting unit shifts a plurality of sheets discharged on a tray to a different position in a sheet width direction that is perpendicular to a sheet discharging direction in a set of sheets. A first width-direction aligning unit and a second width-direction aligning unit align both sides of the sheets in the sheet width direction. A leading-edge aligning unit aligns leading edges of the sheets in the sheet discharging direction.

Abstract: A document handling apparatus includes a document transport buffering apparatus including drive belts and aligner belts. Each of the drive belts has a general continuous loop shape. The aligner belts are intermixed with the drive belts. Each of the aligner belts has a general continuous loop shape and a projection extending in a general cantilever fashion from the aligner belt. A first drive system is adapted to rotate the drive belts. A second drive system is adapted to rotate the aligner belts individually. The first and second drive systems are adapted to rotate the drive belts and the aligner belts such that a plurality of spaced stacks of documents are transported by the drive belts with one of the projections at a leading edge of each of the stacks and another one of the projections at a trailing edge of each of the stacks.

Abstract: A device and a method for inserting flat objects into a folded printed product, wherein the products are held by grippers of a gripper conveyor which opens only briefly for inserting the flat object. In order to also stabilize the product in the open state of the gripper, a support element is provided, which moves between the two product parts before the gripper opens and rests on one of the product parts. If the orientations of the support elements and the grippers are selected in a suitable fashion, this will suffice in order to position the product and keep it open such that the flat object can be inserted and the gripper can then be closed again, while clamping the product with the flat object into position. Optionally, further support elements are present, which additionally support the product from the outside, such as the folded edge.

Abstract: A sheet superposing device to superpose sheets supplied from an image forming device, and eject the superposed sheets to a finishing device following the sheet superposing device, the sheet superposing device including: a control section to obtain sheet structure information indicating a structure of sheets of a set, the set on which finishing is performed; judge whether or not a number of the sheets of the set is two or more based on the obtained sheet structure information; and superpose two sheets or more of the sheets of the set when the number of the sheets of the set is two or more.

Abstract: A finishing assembly suited to use in a printing system includes a plurality of finishing modules, each of which performs a finishing function. The plurality of finishing modules includes a compiler module which compiles sheets into a set of sheets and at least one stacker module, downstream of the compiler module, which is configured for receiving compiled sets of sheets compiled by the compiler module and stacking a plurality of the sets of sheets into a stack. Optionally, at least one sheet processing module is intermediate the compiler module and the stacker module and receives a compiled set of sheets compiled by the compiler module and processes the compiled set of sheets.

Abstract: A sheet punching and embossing machine includes revolving gripper cars with which a gripping margin of a sheet is grasped by grippers disposed on the gripper car so as to move the sheet through the machine, a punching station in which the gripping margin can be separated from the sheet, a delivery station in which the gripping margin can be further separated from the sheet, and an ejection station in which the gripping margin can be ejected from the gripper. The ejection station includes a blower which directs a current of air at the gripping margin.

Abstract: An apparatus for the removal of proof sheets from a sheet-processing machine has at least one sheet catcher provided with a gripper device. The gripper draws the sheet out of the stacking region. A lower sheet catcher is first moved into the stacking region above the sheet stack. Following a deposition of at least one proof sheet, the sheet is gripped with the gripper device, and following sheets are held back with an upper sheet catcher. Then the proof sheet is drawn out of the stacking region by moving the lower sheet catcher and the gripper device back.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing unit which includes a sheet stacking portion, a sheet conveying portion, an intersectional moving device, a vertical moving device, an intersectional regulating member, and a controller. The sheet stacking portion stacks sequentially discharged sheets. The sheet conveying portion conveys each sheet stacked on the sheet stacking portion. The intersectional moving device moves the sheet conveying portion in a direction intersecting with a sheet discharging direction. The vertical moving device moves up and down the sheet conveying portion in a vertical direction. The intersectional regulating member aligns each sheet by contacting an edge of each sheet. The controller controls the intersectional moving device and the vertical moving device to move the sheeting conveying portion, and to press-contact the sheet conveying portion to an upper surface of a sheet and separate it from the sheet.

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 includes an image forming device having an image forming section that forms image on a recording medium based on image information and ejects the recording medium; a post-processing device that performs post-processing on a recording medium, the post-processing device having a sheet feeding section to load the recording medium; a power switching device to turn on power to the image forming system; a post-processing operation setting device for setting post-processing dedicated mode to execute post-processing on the recording medium loaded on the sheet feeding section; and a controller that executes startup operation for setting only the post-processing device into an operable state and prohibits startup operation of the image forming section of the image forming device when power has been turned on via the power switching device and the controller has detected that the post-processing dedicated mode has been set via the post-processing operation setting device.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided wherein a printer used with a host device is operated to generate print batch separator pages using the same blank sheets as are used to print respective pages of successive print jobs. The printer is directed to print a visually distinctive graphic indicator, such as a separator border, trim, header, visible banner or other visual indicator or markings. This eliminates the need for an additional printer separator page tray. Usefully, a host device is operated to generate a separator command in a specified PDL language. A printer control device receives the page separator PDL command, and software contained in the printer control converts the PDL command into a printer readable format (PRF). A printer component responsive to the PRF command then operates the printer to print the specified separator page.

Abstract: Provided is a sheet ejection tray to which sheets are ejected; a stacker in which, after a plurality of sheets have been stacked, these sheets are ejected to the sheet ejection tray; a sheet ejection control section capable of controlling in such a way that it is selectable whether the sheets are ejected to the sheet ejection tray after having been stacked in the stack section, or the sheets are ejected to the sheet ejection tray without using the stack section; and an input button employed by an user to perform input operations. The sheet ejection control section provides control in such a way that, when the input button has been operated to perform an input operation while the sheets are ejected to the sheet ejection tray without using the stacker, the sheets will be ejected to the sheet ejection tray after having been stacked temporarily in the stacker.

Abstract: A sheet finisher includes: a stacking section having a stacking surface arranged to be tilted, and a stopper located below the stacking surface; a sheet finishing section which post-processes for a sheet bundle that hits the stopper and is stacked on the stacking section; a conveying section which sends two sheets to the stacking section under the condition that the two sheets are shifted each other in a conveyance direction and are superimposed; an input section in which sheet type information is inputted; and a controller which adjusts a shift amount between the two sheets so that the sheet on a lower side precedes toward the stopper by a prescribed amount, when a conveyance condition of the conveyance section is changed based on the inputted sheet type information inputted, and the two sheets are conveyed to the stacking section with the two sheets superimposed.

Abstract: A sheet bundle with storage tags, a method for producing the sheet bundle and a sheet transport mechanism in an image forming apparatus are provide. The sheet bundle includes a plurality of sheets stacked to one another, each sheet being attached with a storage tag at an attachment position and having a thickness larger at the attachment position than other positions thereof. The plurality of sheets includes a plurality of kinds of sheets which have different attachment positions when the sheet bundle is viewed from a direction orthogonal to a surface of the sheets.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet processing apparatus comprising a sheet holding device capable of storing supplied sheets, a first sheet stacking tray on which sheets are stacked at a downstream side of the sheet holding device in a sheet conveying direction and on which the sheets are subjected to processing, a sheet discharging device for discharging the sheets stacked on the first sheet stacking tray, a second sheet stacking tray on which the sheets discharged by the sheet discharging device are stacked, and a controller for controlling the sheet discharging device and the sheet holding device if sheet jam occurs at an upstream side of the sheet holding device, in such a manner that, after the sheets on the first sheet stacking tray are discharged onto the second sheet stacking tray, the sheets stored in the sheet holding device are discharged onto the first sheet stacking tray.

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: A support member 60 that projects to a sheet conveying direction and supports sheets, which are sorted and discharged, from a rear surface side thereof is provided in a discharge port 7a of a processing tray 12 or a standby tray 10. The support member 60 is installed not to interfere with a shutter 52 when the shutter 52 rises. The support member 60 is installed to be inclined upward at an angle equal to or larger than an installation angle of the processing tray 12 or the standby tray 10. The support member 60 may be formed of a conductor that conducts static electricity and installed in a metal section of the discharge port 7a.

Abstract: A sheet finishing device includes: a housing unit which houses a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus; a carrying unit which carries the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus in a direction of the housing unit; a standby unit which is arranged on a carrying path of the carrying unit and temporarily holds the sheet; a finishing unit which is arranged on the carrying path of the carrying unit and performs finishing of the sheet; and a control unit which, when a carrying error in the carrying unit is a first error, controls the carrying unit to stop and responses the first error to the image forming apparatus, and when the carrying error is a second error, controls the carrying unit to continue driving and responses the second error to the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a tray includes a take on surface on which a sheet is placed, a projecting portion configured to stick out from the take on surface, and a slip stopper including a sheet-slip stopper portion having a larger frictional coefficient with the sheet than the take on surface has. The slip stopper sticks the sheet-slip stopper portion out from the take on surface when the sheet comes into contact with the projecting portion.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus which is capable of efficiently stacking sheets of various sizes while making efficient use of space therein to realizing compactness of the apparatus. Stacker trays that are driven by respective tray lift motors perform a lifting/lowering operation to have sheets stacked thereon. Selection is made according to the size of sheets between a first stacking mode for stacking sheets having a size not larger than a predetermined size on one of the stacker trays and a second stacking mode for stacking sheets having a size larger than the predetermined size in a state extending on the stacker trays. When it is determined that one of the stacker trays is faulty, execution of the second stacking mode is inhibited, and execution of the first stacking mode using the other stacker tray is permitted.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a hole punching section arranged orthogonally to a conveying path of a sheet, a moving mechanism which moves the hole punching section along a direction orthogonal to the conveying path, a detection unit which is arranged upstream from the hole punching section and which moves by being interlocked with the hole punching section and detects a lateral edge of the sheet conveyed thereto, and a control unit which controls the moving mechanism in accordance with the result of detection by the detection unit and varies the position of the hole punching section, thus controlling the punching processing position.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus of the invention includes a standby tray on which a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus is placed, a processing tray on which the sheet dropped from the standby tray is received and placed, and a post-processing mechanism to perform a post-processing on the sheet placed on the processing tray, and further, an electricity removing brush is attached integrally to a rotation shaft disposed in a direction orthogonal to a transport direction of the sheet at a height position between the standby tray and the processing tray. The electricity removing brush comes in contact with a lowermost surface of the sheet placed on the standby tray or an uppermost surface of the sheet placed on the processing tray by rotation of the rotation shaft, and removes the electricity of the sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which enables the user to easily remove a sheet bundle left in the apparatus after a bookbinding-mode job is stopped in the middle of execution thereof. In a bookbinding mode of the apparatus, in a sheet stacking section, a plurality of sheets having images formed thereon are stacked as a sheet bundle; in a gluing section, glue is applied to an end face of the sheet bundle; and in a bonding section, a cover sheet is bonded to the sheet bundle to wrap the sheet bundle in the cover sheet. When a bookbinding-mode job is canceled during execution thereof, in the gluing section, glue is applied to the sheet bundle stacked in the stacking section before the job is stopped, and a discharge section discharges the glue-applied sheet bundle which is neither wrapped nor trimmed.

Abstract: In a method and system for processing document data in a document processing system that comprises at least one document generation computer, a document processing computer, an electronic document output system comprising a printing device, and a monitoring computer, document data are generated on the document generation computer. The document data are transmitted from the document generation computer to a processing computer. Control data are added to the document data in the processing computer with a processing module via which print stock generated from the document data are separately processed segment-by-segment. A document data stream generated by the processing computer is forwarded to the output system.

Abstract: A collector for stacking sheets of paper, plastics, and cardboard has a feeding device and a tray downstream of the feeding device in the feeding direction. The tray is arranged in a lowered position relative to the feeding device. A stop is provided downstream of the tray. At least one transport roll transports sheets individually from the feeding device onto the tray to form a stack. An adjusting element is arranged in an area where the feeding device and the tray adjoin, wherein the adjusting element is adjustable between a lowered rest position and a position of use lifted relative to the rest position. In the position of use, the adjusting element lifts a trail end of a first sheet that has reached the tray such that a following second sheet is moved into a position underneath the trail end of the first sheet.

Abstract: A setting acceptor is operable to accept printing settings for a current printing job, including a setting of a first printing condition involving a confirmation print to print a copy set of sorted pages before a temporary pause waiting for a continuation instruction to print a designated number of copy sets, and a setting of a second printing condition involving a sorting print to print the designated number of copy sets of sorted pages, and a controller stores a last stack position in a previous printing job, as a first stack position, and is operable, as the printing settings accepted includes the setting of the first printing condition and the setting of the second printing condition, to discharge sheets in the confirmation print to a second stack position offset from the first stack position, and after the continuation instruction, discharge sheets of the designated number of copy sets in the sorting print to an alternating stack position alternating every copy set between the first and second stack posi

Abstract: An apparatus includes a frame, a rotatable first shaft, wherein the first shaft includes a first cam, a rotatable second shaft, an item gripper connected to the second shaft by a connection including a link and an offset shaft rotatably connected to the link, and a linkage. The link is adapted to rotate with the second shaft for pivoting the offset shaft about the second shaft. The item gripper includes jaws adapted to open and close when the offset shaft is axially rotated relative to the link. The linkage connects the first cam on the first shaft to a rider on the offset shaft. The linkage includes a second having a stepped surface for a stepped movement of the rider along the stepped surface to open the jaws during a predetermined angular movement of the offset shaft about the center axis of the second shaft.

Abstract: There are provided a plurality of sheet feeding units 2a to 2d arranged in a vertical direction at spacing therebetween, a vertical sheet conveyance path G arranged oppositely with the sheet outlets 12a to 12d of the sheet feeding units 2a to 2d, conveyance means 1 and 6 for sequentially conveying the sheets fed from respective sheet feeding units 2a to 2d, vertically downward along the sheet conveyance path G, and control means controlling the sheet feeding units 2a to 2d and the conveyance means 1 and 6 in such a manner that the sheets fed from the sheet feeding units 2a to 2d are conveyed while at least partially overlapping the sheets which are fed from a sheet feeding unit of a next lower site on the sheets which are fed from the sheet feeding unit of an upper site.

Abstract: A sheet aligning device includes a sheet feeder that discharges a sheet in a first direction, a sheet tray on which the sheet is stacked, a sheet jogger that aligns the sheet on the sheet tray in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a sheet detection filler that detects a state of the sheet on the sheet tray. The sheet detection filler detects a position of a topmost sheet in the stack of sheets on the sheet tray and determines an alignment position from where the sheet jogger is to begin alignment of the sheets.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus is connected between an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus to receive the sheet ejected from the image forming apparatus, and to eject the sheet to the post-processing apparatus. The sheet conveying apparatus receives, from the post-processing apparatus, a sheet reception line speed information showing a line speed for the post-processing apparatus to receive the sheet, and receives, from the image forming apparatus, a sheet ejection line speed information showing a line speed for the image forming apparatus to eject the sheet. A conveyance line speed control section controls the conveyance line speed at the time of receiving the sheet from the image forming apparatus based on a sheet ejection line speed information, and controls the conveyance line speed at the time of ejecting the sheet to the post-processing apparatus based on a sheet reception line speed information.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus with conveying compartments (2) which can be displaced one behind the other along a conveying path has supporting surfaces (S) which are arranged in the conveying compartments and on which flat articles (G), in particular printed products, can be conveyed in a state in which they rest thereon. The supporting surfaces (S) are each formed by a flexible supporting belt (5). In order to set different angles between the supporting surface (S) and the conveying path (1), each conveying compartment (2) has a setting element (3), which acts on the supporting belt (5) in a region between two belt ends which are fastened at two fastening locations (10, 11) which are spaced apart from one another parallel to the conveying path (1). The setting element (3) is further equipped in order to press articles (G) against the supporting surface (S) in an adjacent conveying compartment (2?).

Abstract: A paper sheet processing apparatus includes a plurality of bundling devices, and a plurality of chute devices which temporarily hold bundles, which are bundled by the bundling devices. A second transfer conveyor, which is slower than a first transfer conveyor, is disposed on a downstream side of the first conveyor. A transmission sensor, which detects abnormality in length of the bundle, is provide along the second conveyor. The distance from a release position of the bundle from the chute device, which is located on a most downstream side, to a terminal end of the first conveyor and the length of the second conveyor are set such that a time until the bundle, which is released from the most downstream chute device, is transferred onto the second conveyor is longer than at least a time until the bundle, which is transferred from the first conveyor, passes through the second conveyor.

Abstract: When a new paper sheet is supplied onto a compiling tray, a sub-paddle holds down paper sheets having already been stacked on the compiling tray until a leading edge of the new paper sheet S touches the stacked paper sheets. Thereafter, the sub-paddle gets apart from the sheets stacked on the compiling tray with timing, with which the rear edge of the new paper sheet falls on the compiling tray.

Abstract: A folded portion flattening unit includes: a sheet conveyance unit that conveys a booklet including a folded sheet with a folded portion in a lead toward a predetermined conveyance direction; a sheet stopper that stops the booklet conveyed by the sheet conveyance unit at a predetermined position; a pair of booklet grasping members that clamp and grasp the booklet stopped by the sheet stopper at both faces of the booklet; a pressing member that flattens a curve at a front end of the folded portion being grasped by the booklet grasping members, by pressing the front end toward a direction opposite to the conveyance direction; and an opening amount setting unit that sets an opening amount of an opening portion between the pair of booklet grasping members, when the conveyed booklet is sandwiched between the pair of booklet grasping members.

Abstract: A postprocessing apparatus includes: a housing to which a recording sheet is fed from a predetermined upstream device; a first postprocessing mechanism mounted in the housing and adapted for performing a predetermined first postprocessing to the recording sheet; a second postprocessing mechanism selectively mountable in the housing, and is provided with a predetermined driver, the second postprocessing mechanism being adapted for performing a predetermined second postprocessing to the recording sheet; a conveyance passage provided in the first postprocessing mechanism and adapted for conveying the recording sheet to the second postprocessing mechanism when the second postprocessing mechanism is mounted in the housing; and a conveying member provided in the conveyance passage and adapted for conveying the recording sheet. The conveying member is driven by a transmission of a driving force from the driver of the second postprocessing mechanism.

Abstract: There is disclosed a sheet re-circulating accumulator (10) comprising: an inlet feed path (20) to an accumulation location (30); an outlet feed path (40); a sheet circulation path (60) defined by stationary sheet guide means (62, 64, 66, 68); and sheet driving means (32, 70, 72, 74, 76) associated with the sheet circulation path (60) for selectively advancing a partial accumulation (P) of one or more sheets (S) at the accumulation location (30) around the sheet circulation path (60), so that the partial accumulation (P) is guided by the stationary sheet guide means (62, 64, 66, 68) at the leading edge of the partial accumulation (P) while being driven, and back to the accumulation location (30) to accumulate the next sheet (S) fed from the inlet feed path (20) with the partial accumulation (P), and delivering an accumulation (A) of sheets (S) along said outlet feed path (40).

Abstract: An apparatus for collating sheets, the apparatus comprising: a collating station having a collating position limited at its downstream end by a stop member against which the sheets abut whilst they are being collated; means for conveying sheets to the collating position so as to form a collated sheet set comprising a predetermined number of stacked sheets; a collating station eject device for moving the collated sheet set away from the collating position to an exit position; and means for conveying the collated sheet set from the exit position out of the apparatus to a downstream sheet handling device; wherein the collating station eject device comprises at least one movable pawl arranged to push each collated sheet set away from the collating position to the exit position and wherein the apparatus is adapted to collate a second sheet set at least partially overlying the first sheet set.