Abstract: A binding processing apparatus includes: a pressure-applying member pair that has multiple projections arranged side-by-side and applies pressure to a sheet stack by pressing the projections against the sheet stack; and an advancing-and-retracting part that causes at least one of the pressure-applying members in the pressure-applying member pair to move toward or away from the other pressure-applying member. A pitch of the projections in each pressure-applying member is from 1.2 mm to 1.5 mm, and a height of the projections is from 0.55 mm to 0.75 mm, and a load per unit area applied from each pressure-applying member to the sheet stack when the pressure-applying member applies pressure to the sheet stack is from 42 N/mm2 to 94 N/mm2.

Abstract: There is provided a binding processing device including: a first pressing member including a convex portion formed by a curved surface with a curvature and protruding toward a sheet bundle; and a second pressing member including a concave portion formed by a curved surface with a curvature and configured to be combined with the convex portion through the sheet bundle, the second pressing member configured to press the sheet bundle sandwiched between the first and second pressing members, wherein in a state where the convex portion of the first pressing member and the concave portion of the second pressing member are combined with each other, a gap is formed between the convex portion and the concave portion in a cross section of the first and second pressing members along a pressing direction, and the gap has a volume larger than a volume of the sandwiched sheet bundle.

Abstract: A recording-medium binding device includes first and second tooth groups. The first tooth group includes first and second tooth rows. The second tooth group includes third and fourth tooth rows. The third tooth row to be engaged with the first tooth row forms, together with the first tooth row, a first tooth row pair. The fourth tooth row to be engaged with the second tooth row forms, together with the second tooth row, a second tooth row pair. A second engaging height in the second tooth row pair is smaller than a first engaging height in the first tooth row pair. A second effective tooth top width in the second tooth row pair is larger than a first effective tooth top width in the first tooth row pair.

Abstract: A binding processing apparatus includes a pair of pressing members each including a concave-convex portion configured to form a concave part and a convex part in a recording material bundle. The concave-convex portion includes protrusion portions. Aside surface of each protrusion portion is inclined so that the protrusion portion is widened from an apex of the protrusion portion. The side surfaces of the protrusion portions of a first pressing member that is one of the pressing members and the side surfaces of the protrusion portions of a second pressing member that is the other of the pressing members intersect with each other during pressing when viewed in a column direction of the protrusion portions.

Abstract: There is provided a binding processing device including: a first pressing member including a convex portion formed by a curved surface with a curvature and protruding toward a sheet bundle; and a second pressing member including a concave portion formed by a curved surface with a curvature and configured to be combined with the convex portion through the sheet bundle, the second pressing member configured to press the sheet bundle sandwiched between the first and second pressing members, wherein in a state where the convex portion of the first pressing member and the concave portion of the second pressing member are combined with each other, a gap is formed between the convex portion and the concave portion in a cross section of the first and second pressing members along a pressing direction, and the gap has a volume larger than a volume of the sandwiched sheet bundle.

Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet and provided in an apparatus body, a first sheet processing device provided in a first housing and configured to perform a first binding processing, without using a needle, on the sheet that is formed with the image and stacked, and a second sheet processing device provided in a second housing that is different from the first housing and configured to perform a second binding processing, using a needle, on the sheet that is formed with the image and stacked. The first housing and the second housing are mounted on the apparatus body. At least a portion of the first housing is positioned within a range exclusively occupied by a rectangular space defined by a maximum outer dimension of the apparatus body. The second housing is positioned outside the rectangular space.

Abstract: A binding processing apparatus includes: a pressure-applying member pair that has multiple projections arranged side-by-side and applies pressure to a sheet stack by pressing the projections against the sheet stack; and an advancing-and-retracting part that causes at least one of the pressure-applying members in the pressure-applying member pair to move toward or away from the other pressure-applying member. A pitch of the projections in each pressure-applying member is from 1.2 mm to 1.5 mm, and a height of the projections is from 0.55 mm to 0.75 mm, and a load per unit area applied from each pressure-applying member to the sheet stack when the pressure-applying member applies pressure to the sheet stack is from 42 N/mm2 to 94 N/mm2.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming system including an apparatus body including an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet, a first sheet processing device mounted on the apparatus body, and configured to perform a first binding processing on plural sheets each of which is formed with an image by the image forming unit, and a second sheet processing device mounted on the apparatus body at a position different from that of the first sheet processing device, and configured to perform a second binding processing different from the first binding processing on the plural sheets, each of which is formed with an image by the image forming unit.

Abstract: A recording-medium binding device includes a first tooth row that includes teeth arranged in a tooth arrangement direction and a second tooth row that includes teeth, that is to be engaged with the first tooth row, and that cooperates with the first tooth row to bind recording media by pinching a batch of the recording media. In the tooth arrangement direction, the first and the second tooth rows have first and second ranges. In the first range, an engaging height is a first engaging height, and a width of an effective tooth top is a first effective tooth top width. In the second range, the engaging height is a second engaging height that is smaller than the first engaging height, and a width of an effective tooth top is a second effective tooth top width that is larger than the first effective tooth top width.

Abstract: A binding device includes a first pushing member that includes protrusions along one direction and that pushes a recording-material bundle as a result of pushing the protrusions against one of surfaces of the recording-material bundle, the protrusions disposed side by side in a direction that intersects the one direction; and a second pushing member that includes protrusions along the one direction and that pushes the recording-material bundle as a result of pushing the protrusions against the other surface of the recording-material bundle, the protrusions disposed side by side in the direction that intersects the one direction, wherein, in at least one end portion in the one direction of each protrusion of at least one of the first pushing member and the second pushing member, a hollow is disposed in a top portion of each protrusion.

Abstract: A binding member is provided and includes: upper teeth having a tooth form configured to form a convex-concave portion on a recording material bundle; and lower teeth having a tooth form configured to form the convex-concave portion on the recording material bundle, and paired with the upper teeth. At least one of the upper teeth and the lower teeth includes: a first tooth row having a first tooth form having a first shape suitable for binding a first binding number of sheets; and a second tooth row having a second tooth form having a second shape suitable for binding a second binding number of sheets which is smaller than the first binding number of sheets.

Abstract: A binding process device includes an advancing member and an advancing unit. The advancing member has a first end and a second end located opposite from the first end and advances toward a surface of a recording-medium bundle so as to press against the recording-medium bundle. The advancing unit causes the advancing member to advance toward the surface of the recording-medium bundle. When the advancing member advances toward the surface of the recording-medium bundle so as to press against the recording-medium bundle, at least one of the first end and the second end of the advancing member is positioned outside an edge of the recording-medium bundle.

Abstract: A binding process device includes an advancing member and a binding process unit. The advancing member advances toward a corner of a recording-medium bundle having multiple edges and having the corner at an intersection position where the edges intersect. The binding process unit performs a binding process on the recording-medium bundle by causing the advancing member to advance toward the corner and is capable of performing the binding process at a first position and at a second position located closer to the intersection position than the first position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transport unit that transports a continuous medium; an image forming unit that forms an image on a surface of the medium; a pasting unit that pastes a protection member to the surface of the medium on which the image has been formed; an inspection unit disposed downstream of the image forming unit in a direction in which the medium is transported, the inspection unit inspecting whether the image is defective; a cutting unit disposed downstream of the inspection unit in the direction, the cutting unit being capable of performing an operation of forming a cut in the protection member and the medium so as to surround the image; and a controller that controls the cutting unit so that the cutting unit does not perform the operation of forming a cut in the protection member and the medium if the image is defective.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transport unit that transports a continuous medium; an image forming unit that forms an image on a surface of the medium; a pasting unit that pastes a protection member to the surface of the medium on which the image has been formed; an inspection unit disposed downstream of the image forming unit in a direction in which the medium is transported, the inspection unit inspecting whether the image is defective; a cutting unit disposed downstream of the inspection unit in the direction, the cutting unit being capable of performing an operation of forming a cut in the protection member and the medium so as to surround the image; and a controller that controls the cutting unit so that the cutting unit does not perform the operation of forming a cut in the protection member and the medium if the image is defective.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus in which, if the image forming apparatus using only a normal toner is modified to be capable of forming an image formed of a special toner, an appropriate image can be formed in accordance with the characteristics of the special toner.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus in which, if the image forming apparatus using only a normal toner is modified to be capable of forming an image formed of a special toner, an appropriate image can be formed in accordance with the characteristics of the special toner.

Abstract: In an image recording apparatus in which a toner image on a toner image holding and conveying member is transferred onto a recording member and is fixed at the same time, the change of charging characteristics or the like by accumulation of heat in the apparatus is prevented, the toner image is certainly transferred and fixed onto the recording member with small consumed energy, and high speed print can be made. An intermediate transfer material on which a toner image is primarily transferred is disposed at a position facing a photosensitive drum, and a pressing roller for pressing the toner image against the recording member is disposed at the downstream side in the conveying direction of the transferred toner image. At the upstream side of the secondary transfer portion where the pressing roller is pressed, an electromagnetic induction heating unit for melting the toner image on the intermediate transfer material is disposed.

Abstract: A fixing device comprises a heat fixing roller in which a heat resistant elastic layer is formed on a cylindrical metal core and, further, a heat resistant resin layer is coated on the surface thereof, an endless belt, a pressure member disposed in the inside of the endless belt, wherein the endless belt is wound around the heat fixing roller for a predetermined angle to form a nip area between the endless belt and the heat fixing roller for allowing a recording sheet to pass therethrough, the pressure member is pressed by way of the endless belt to the heat fixing roller at the nip area thereby forming distortion in the heat resistant elastic layer of the heat fixing roller. An image forming apparatus using the fixing device can satisfy improved image quality, extended working life, energy saving and high speed operation altogether.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-contact ink developing method for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrostatic latent image formation member with ink, characterized by employing a conductive ink as the ink and a conductive developing roller disposed close to the electrostatic latent image formation member and whose surface has a water-repellent finish for producing very small ink droplets which are substantially spherical. The method comprising the steps of supplying the conductive ink to the surface of the conductive roller to produce a large number of very small ink droplets, and ejecting the ink droplets toward the electrostatic latent image in a developing area facing the electrostatic latent image formation member by an electrostatic induction force generated by charges of the electrostatic latent image and charges of opposite polarity induced in the ink droplets by the electrostatic latent image, and attaching the droplets to the electrostatic latent image.