A binding device includes a first pressing member that presses a recording-medium stack from one surface side of the recording-medium stack, a second pressing member disposed at a position opposed to the first pressing member to press the recording-medium stack from the other surface side of the recording-medium stack, and a reduction part provided in at least one pressing member of the first pressing member and the second pressing member to reduce creases in recording media of the recording-medium stack when an end portion of the at least one pressing member is pressed against the recording-medium stack.

A booklet making apparatus includes a pressurizing member configured to oppose a first surface of a sheet bundle, a receiving member configured to oppose a second surface of the sheet bundle opposite to the first surface and nip the sheet bundle together with the pressurizing member, a moving portion configured to move the pressurizing member to a retracted position where the pressurizing member is retracted from the sheet bundle and a pressurizing position where the pressurizing member is in contact with the sheet bundle to pressurize the sheet bundle, a heating portion configured to heat the pressurizing member, and a sheet separation member configured to come into contact with the first surface of the sheet bundle and separate the sheet bundle from the pressurizing member in a process of the pressurizing member moving from the pressurizing position to the retracted position.

A medium processing apparatus includes a liquid applier, a binder, a mover, first and second rotators. The first rotator rotates the binder between a first inclined posture and a first parallel posture. The second rotator rotates the liquid applier between a second inclined posture and a second parallel posture, and includes a posture change assembly and a collision avoidance assembly. The posture change assembly changes the posture of the liquid applier from the second inclined or parallel posture to the second parallel or inclined posture at a posture changing position. The collision avoidance assembly allows the binder in the first inclined posture to pass a restriction position, and restricts the binder in the first parallel posture from passing through the restriction position. The binder reaches the restriction position before the liquid applier reaches the posture changing position.

A medium processing apparatus includes a liquid applier, a post-processing device, and a controller that is circuitry. The liquid applier applies liquid on at least one medium. The post-processing device performs a combination of various types of post-processes including a liquid application crimp binding and a crimp binding and a various types of bindings including a dual binding, a parallel binding, and an oblique binding, on a bundle of media including the at least one medium for a number of times. The circuitry is to change the number of times of the post-process according to the combination of the various types of the post processes and the various types of bindings, to be performed.

A booklet making apparatus includes a heat-and-pressure bonding portion including a pressurizing member, a receiving member, a moving portion configured to move the pressurizing member, and a heating portion configured to heat the pressurizing member. The booklet making apparatus is configured to nip, heat, and pressurize, between the pressurizing member and the receiving member, a plurality of sheets on at least one of which an adhesive layer is formed, and thus make a booklet. The booklet making apparatus further includes an elastic member. A deformation amount of the elastic member is constant while the moving portion moves from a first position to a second position. In a case where the moving portion moves from the second position to a third position, the deformation amount of the elastic member increases in accordance with a movement amount the moving portion.

A booklet making apparatus includes a heat-and-pressure bonding portion including a pressurizing member, a receiving member, a moving portion configured to move the pressurizing member, and a heating portion configured to heat the pressurizing member. The booklet making apparatus is configured to nip, heat, and pressurize, between the pressurizing member and the receiving member, a plurality of sheets on at least one of which an adhesive layer is formed, and thus make a booklet. The booklet making apparatus further includes an elastic member. A deformation amount of the elastic member is constant while the moving portion moves from a first position to a second position. In a case where the moving portion moves from the second position to a third position, the deformation amount of the elastic member increases in accordance with a movement amount the moving portion.

An example finisher includes a first portion extending in a vertical direction and including a height adjustment unit, a second portion extending from the first portion in a lateral direction and including a finishing unit to perform a finishing process, and a stacker to receive paper discharged from the finishing unit, the stacker extending in an opposite direction to the second portion in the lateral direction. The height adjustment unit is to adjust a height of the second portion from an installation surface and includes a base plate including a horizontal slot, a guide plate including an inclined slot, and a slide lever coupling the horizontal slot and the inclined slot.

A production plant (22) for books (23) printed with digital technologies. comprising one or more forming stations (26) of book blocks (32), one or more cover binding machines (27) for assembling the book blocks with respective covers (33), an electronic center (29) and a plurality of spiral towers (39) for accommodating the book blocks of the forming stations and transfer them to the binding machines. The book blocks and the covers have respective book codes (34) and cover codes (36) uniquely associated with the respective books of a given working order. Each tower (39) includes a conveyor belt (42) that can be moved along a spiral path. a belt motorization group and an electronic control unit (44). The towers serve as a temporary storage for the blocks and capacity of movement between loading areas (49) adjacent to the forming station and unloading areas (50) adjacent to the binding machines. The electronic control units (44) pre-set the towers to store in an optimized way along the conveyor belt the book blocks from the forming stations. to supply the binding machines with the stored book blocks and to form and memorize databases identifying the stored book blocks. The electronic center (29) of the plant is interfaced with the electronic control units (44) of the towers and with the binding machines for a survey of the loading data and for a functional coupling of the loaded towers with the binding machines.

A production plant (22) for books (23) printed with digital technologies. comprising one or more forming stations (26) of book blocks (32), one or more cover binding machines (27) for assembling the book blocks with respective covers (33), an electronic center (29) and a plurality of spiral towers (39) for accommodating the book blocks of the forming stations and transfer them to the binding machines. The book blocks and the covers have respective book codes (34) and cover codes (36) uniquely associated with the respective books of a given working order. Each tower (39) includes a conveyor belt (42) that can be moved along a spiral path. a belt motorization group and an electronic control unit (44). The towers serve as a temporary storage for the blocks and capacity of movement between loading areas (49) adjacent to the forming station and unloading areas (50) adjacent to the binding machines. The electronic control units (44) pre-set the towers to store in an optimized way along the conveyor belt the book blocks from the forming stations. to supply the binding machines with the stored book blocks and to form and memorize databases identifying the stored book blocks. The electronic center (29) of the plant is interfaced with the electronic control units (44) of the towers and with the binding machines for a survey of the loading data and for a functional coupling of the loaded towers with the binding machines.

A system that, in the case of printing images on sheets exceeding a predetermined number of sheets, is capable of easily outputting a sheet bundle where pressure-bonding has been applied is provided. A method for controlling a sheet processing system includes: conveying a sheet with a printed image, adhering an edge of a plurality of sheets conveyed in the conveying, and applying control to adhere, in the adhering, an additional sheet conveyed in the conveying to a sheet bundle including the plurality of sheets adhered in the adhering.