A sheet bundle discharging apparatus, including: a guide unit configured to guide a sheet bundle with a spine as a leading end; a receiving unit configured to receive the spine of the sheet bundle guided by the guide unit; and a discharging unit configured to discharge the sheet bundle, wherein the receiving unit includes: a first surface configured to receive the spine at a first position; a second surface configured to push the sheet bundle in a rotation direction of the receiving unit; and a third surface configured to regulate a movement of the sheet bundle in the rotation direction while the receiving unit rotates from the first position to a second position, and wherein a friction coefficient between the sheet bundle and the third surface in a direction away from the first surface is larger than a friction coefficient between the first surface and the sheet bundle.

A sheet bundle discharging apparatus, including: a guide unit configured to guide a sheet bundle with a spine as a leading end; a receiving unit configured to receive the spine of the sheet bundle guided by the guide unit; and a discharging unit configured to discharge the sheet bundle, wherein the receiving unit includes: a first surface configured to receive the spine at a first position; a second surface configured to push the sheet bundle in a rotation direction of the receiving unit; and a third surface configured to regulate a movement of the sheet bundle in the rotation direction while the receiving unit rotates from the first position to a second position, and wherein a friction coefficient between the sheet bundle and the third surface in a direction away from the first surface is larger than a friction coefficient between the first surface and the sheet bundle.

A sheet processing device has a binding unit that applies water to a crimping range of sheets and then crimps the sheets. The sheet processing device includes a processing tray on which sheets are placed, a pair of pressure teeth (pressure teeth and receiving teeth) that crimps the sheets placed on the processing tray at a crimping position with the sheets interposed therebetween, and a water application member (cylinder and piston) that applies water to the crimping position before crimping by the pressure teeth. When the number of sheets placed on the processing tray is equal to or less than a predetermined number, the sheets are crimped by the pressure teeth without water application; while when the number of sheets placed on the processing tray exceeds the predetermined number, the sheets are crimped by the pressure teeth after water application.

A sheet processing device has a binding unit that applies water to a crimping range of sheets and then crimps the sheets. The sheet processing device includes a processing tray on which sheets are placed, a pair of pressure teeth (pressure teeth and receiving teeth) that crimps the sheets placed on the processing tray at a crimping position with the sheets interposed therebetween, and a water application member (cylinder and piston) that applies water to the crimping position before crimping by the pressure teeth. When the number of sheets placed on the processing tray is equal to or less than a predetermined number, the sheets are crimped by the pressure teeth without water application; while when the number of sheets placed on the processing tray exceeds the predetermined number, the sheets are crimped by the pressure teeth after water application.

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 and apparatus are provided for the manufacture of an article made up of a number of elements, including a resilient element, that are bonded together during the manufacturing process. The apparatus includes a guide track which defines a path along which the elements travel during the manufacturing process and a compression frame provided along at least part of the length of the track for compressing the resilient element as the resilient member travels along the path defined by the guide track. The process includes moving a combination of article precursor elements together along the guide track rails such that the compression frame acts to press the elements together during bonding. The method and apparatus minimize misalignment of the elements and thereby improve quality of the finished article as well increasing production rates compared to conventional methods and apparatus.

A method and apparatus are provided for the manufacture of an article made up of a number of elements, including a resilient element, that are bonded together during the manufacturing process. The apparatus includes a guide track which defines a path along which the elements travel during the manufacturing process and a compression frame provided along at least part of the length of the track for compressing the resilient element as the resilient member travels along the path defined by the guide track. The process includes moving a combination of article precursor elements together along the guide track rails such that the compression frame acts to press the elements together during bonding. The method and apparatus minimize misalignment of the elements and thereby improve quality of the finished article as well increasing production rates compared to conventional methods and apparatus.

A binding method of a perfect-bound booklet includes the steps of folding each leaf of sheets forming a body to obtain multiple signatures; pressing creased parts of the multiple signatures in a thickness direction thereof; jogging a one-book bundle formed of a predetermined number of signatures forming a body, a front cover, and a back cover, or a multi-book bundle formed by stacking a plurality of one-book bundles on top of one another; applying a first adhesive that becomes flexible by its curing, in a layer in a middle area 5 to 10 millimeters from both top and bottom ends of a rear face of the one-book bundle or the multi-book bundle; applying a second adhesive on the entire rear face; and drying and curing the second adhesive for a predetermined drying time.

A binding method of a perfect-bound booklet includes the steps of folding each leaf of sheets forming a body to obtain multiple signatures; pressing creased parts of the multiple signatures in a thickness direction thereof; jogging a one-book bundle formed of a predetermined number of signatures forming a body, a front cover, and a back cover, or a multi-book bundle formed by stacking a plurality of one-book bundles on top of one another; applying a first adhesive that becomes flexible by its curing, in a layer in a middle area 5 to 10 millimeters from both top and bottom ends of a rear face of the one-book bundle or the multi-book bundle; applying a second adhesive on the entire rear face; and drying and curing the second adhesive for a predetermined drying time.