A post-processing apparatus includes a storing unit in which plural recording media are stored for performing post-processing and a transport member that transports a recording medium to the storing unit as a result of rotating while being in contact with a surface of the recording medium. The transport member includes a blade that comes into contact with a recording medium and a reinforcing portion that reinforces a strength of a portion of the blade that does not come into contact with the recording medium.

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.

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.

A mechanism that makes it possible to output a saddle-stitched brochure in a correct page order when a post-processing apparatus that executes a saddle-stitching process by switching back a sheet is caused to execute the saddle-stitching process. Sheets discharged from a printing apparatus are switched back by reverse rotation of a conveying roller pair, and are conveyed into a conveying path for a saddle-stitch bookbinding process. The sheets are accumulated in an accumulation tray for the saddle-stitch bookbinding process. When the saddle-stitch bookbinding process is caused to be executed on the accumulated sheets by the post-processing apparatus, the order of image formation is decided such that the order of pages of images printed on the saddle-stitched sheets becomes correct. The images are printed on the sheets in the decided order of image formation.

A mechanism that makes it possible to output a saddle-stitched brochure in a correct page order when a post-processing apparatus that executes a saddle-stitching process by switching back a sheet is caused to execute the saddle-stitching process. Sheets discharged from a printing apparatus are switched back by reverse rotation of a conveying roller pair, and are conveyed into a conveying path for a saddle-stitch bookbinding process. The sheets are accumulated in an accumulation tray for the saddle-stitch bookbinding process. When the saddle-stitch bookbinding process is caused to be executed on the accumulated sheets by the post-processing apparatus, the order of image formation is decided such that the order of pages of images printed on the saddle-stitched sheets becomes correct. The images are printed on the sheets in the decided order of image formation.

A method for production of adhesive-bound printed products in a machine belonging to an adhesive-binder line. To change over from one job under production to a following job, supplied printed products of the following job are detected via a barcode and stopped prior to being fed into the machine of the adhesive-binder line. Remaining printed products of a preceding job are moved and fully processed through individual processing stations of the machine while the printed products of the following job remain in a waiting position in front of the machine. After completing the last printed product of the preceding job, an empty withdrawal of covers stored in a cover deposit and belonging to the following job is initiated until it is ensured that the stored covers are available for the printed products of the following job. After determining that a withdrawn cover securely matches the printed products of the following job, stopped printed products of the following job are released with a main control and fed into the machine for being processed via the individual processing stations.

A method for production of adhesive-bound printed products in a machine belonging to an adhesive-binder line. To change over from one job under production to a following job, supplied printed products of the following job are detected via a barcode and stopped prior to being fed into the machine of the adhesive-binder line. Remaining printed products of a preceding job are moved and fully processed through individual processing stations of the machine while the printed products of the following job remain in a waiting position in front of the machine. After completing the last printed product of the preceding job, an empty withdrawal of covers stored in a cover deposit and belonging to the following job is initiated until it is ensured that the stored covers are available for the printed products of the following job. After determining that a withdrawn cover securely matches the printed products of the following job, stopped printed products of the following job are released with a main control and fed into the machine for being processed via the individual processing stations.

A sheet binding processing apparatus including a crimp binding member that performs binding processing on a predetermined region of a sheet by sandwiching and pressing the sheet between an upper tooth and a lower tooth meshing with each other, and a detection unit that detects a state of the predetermined region of the sheet to be bound by the crimp binding member. If the detection unit detects that the predetermined region is not capable of binding, the binding processing on the predetermined region is prohibited.

A sheet binding processing apparatus including a crimp binding member that performs binding processing on a predetermined region of a sheet by sandwiching and pressing the sheet between an upper tooth and a lower tooth meshing with each other, and a detection unit that detects a state of the predetermined region of the sheet to be bound by the crimp binding member. If the detection unit detects that the predetermined region is not capable of binding, the binding processing on the predetermined region is prohibited.

An image forming apparatus, including: a printing unit configured to print on a sheet; a bookbinding unit configured to perform a cutting process of cutting a binding member for binding a plurality of sheets before sheets printed by the printing unit are stacked on a stack tray and perform a binding process of binding the sheets by the cut binding member; and a controller configured to cause the bookbinding unit to perform the cutting process of the binding member based on sheet size information, the controller controls, in a case of producing a plurality of copies of bookbound products, not to perform the cutting process of the binding member of a second copy while sheets are stacking as a first copy, but to perform the cutting process of the binding member of a next copy while sheets are stacking as each of the second copy and subsequent copies.