A media folding device includes a stacking portion on which media transported from an introduction path are placed; a folding roller pair that folds the media at a folding position after the media have been stacked in the stacking portion; and a bend forming mechanism that includes a first abutting portion configured to abut against a front end of the media, which are stacked in the stacking portion, in a transport direction, and a second abutting portion that is configured to abut against a rear end of the media, which are stacked in the stacking portion, in the transport direction, and that causes the folding position of the media to be nipped by the folding roller pair the folding roller pair by shortening the relative distance between the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion to bend the media toward the folding roller pair.

A staple unit is secured to a second movable body that is provided on a first movable body so as to be swayed. The first movable body is moved linearly in a width direction of a bundle of sheets. The second movable body includes a first engagement member and a second engagement member, and the movement of the first engagement member and the second engagement member in accordance with the linear movement of the first movable body is guided by a parallel groove, a first sway groove, and a second sway groove of a posture control unit. The first engagement member is in constant contact with the first sway groove while the first engagement member moves in the first sway groove, and the second engagement member is in constant contact with the second sway groove while the second engagement member moves in the second sway groove.

A printing system includes a printing apparatus that prints an image on a sheet, a sheet processer that executes sheet processing, and a sheet detection sensor that detects a sheet on which the sheet processing is performed not in association with the printing of an image, where the printing of an image is restricted in response to detection of a sheet by the sheet detection sensor.

Disclosed herein is a sheet-binding apparatus. The apparatus has two sheet binding units, each configured to bind the sheets manually inserted from outside. The sheet binding units operate independently, each at the timing appropriate for a specific need.

A binding apparatus to bind sheets includes a binding device, a non-volatile memory, and control circuitry. The binding device is configured to bind a plurality of stacked sheets with a binding member. The non-volatile memory is configured to store a quantity of binding members in the binding device. The control circuitry is configured to control operation of the binding device. The control circuitry outputs an alert when the quantity of binding members stored in the non-volatile memory is equal to or less than a first predetermined value and cancels the alert when the quantity of binding members is equal to or less than a second predetermined value.

A system may include a finishing device to receive a print job. The print job may move about a first axis of the finishing device. The system may further include a stapling device contained within the finishing device. The stapling device to move about a second axis of the finishing device, and the second axis may be perpendicular to the first axis. A sensor may be located on the stapling device to identify a first edge of the print job. The first edge of the print job may be a leading edge of the print job as the print job moves about the first axis.

An image forming apparatus detects an attribute of paper for each sheet of paper. A post-process apparatus performs a post-process for each group of paper including a designated number of sheets of paper. A controller of the image forming apparatus determines for each sheet of paper, whether or not a designated post-process is prohibited based on prohibition rule data which defines permission and prohibition of the post-process in accordance with the attribute of paper for each type of post-process and the detected attribute of paper. When the controller determines that the designated post-process is prohibited, the controller determines whether or not a sheet of paper which resulted in determination as prohibition is a sheet of paper intermediate between the first sheet of paper and the last sheet of paper in the group of paper, and has an image forming system perform a process in accordance with a result of determination.

An image forming system includes a detection unit to detect a recording material, having an image formed thereon by an image forming unit, placed on a processing tray, a staple unit, a discharge unit, and a discharge tray. A first mode of the system is to discharge the recording material conveyed from the image forming unit to the discharge tray via the processing tray and a second mode involves waiting for instruction for executing. When the detection unit detects the recording material inserted into the processing tray in the second mode, and a recording material first mode conveying instruction is issued in a state of waiting for the executing instruction after the recording material detection, a discharge operation is performed to discharge the recording material inserted into the processing tray to the discharge tray without the staple unit executing staple processing on the recording material inserted into the processing tray.

A printing system includes a printing apparatus that prints an image on a sheet, a sheet processer that executes sheet processing, and a sheet detection sensor that detects a sheet on which the sheet processing is performed not in association with the printing of an image, where the printing of an image is restricted in response to detection of a sheet by the sheet detection sensor.

A stapling apparatus includes a stapler, a driver to move the stapler, and a guide part to define a moving path along which the stapler is to move in response to selection of the moving path among a plurality of moving paths along which the stapler is movable.