A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a first sheet conveyance passage, a second sheet conveyance passage, a sheet folding portion, and a merging portion. The second sheet conveyance passage branches off from a branch portion on the first sheet conveyance passage. The merging portion is located downstream of the branch portion on the first sheet conveyance passage, and there a folding conveyance passage of the sheet folding portion merges with the first sheet conveyance passage. When performing a folding process on a sheet, a controller guides the sheet conveyed from a sheet introduction port into the first sheet conveyance passage via the branch portion to the second sheet conveyance passage, then reverses the conveyance direction to guide the sheet to the sheet folding portion to perform the folding process, and passes the sheet through the folding conveyance passage, merges the sheet into the first sheet conveyance passage at the merging portion.

A printing system, including a printing apparatus that sends a print paper after printing to a post-processing machine and a web buffer that temporarily holds a print paper after printing, is provided with: a required print time calculation unit that calculates a required print time for each job; an increase and decrease amount calculation unit that calculates an increase and decrease amount of a consumption amount of the buffer per set for each job on the basis of a difference between a minimum processing time required for a process in a post-processing machine and the required print time; a predicted value calculation unit that obtains a predicted value of the consumption amount of the web buffer by accumulating increase and decrease amounts; and a conveyance control unit that controls a conveyance speed of print paper on the basis of the predicted value.

An apparatus for producing printed products such as books, magazines, brochures, catalogues or the like comprises several connected devices for the processing of printed sheets. The printed sheets are admitted with blast air via at least one air supply in order to change or maintain their position. At least two of the connected devices are respectively provided with at least one blower for generating blast air. The blast air can be used in the respective device. The blowers are connected to a control unit of the apparatus so that the blast air generated by the blowers can be controlled as needed.

In case of simultaneously performing a punching process and a finishing process other than the punching process in an image forming apparatus, in order to prevent an unnecessary (ineffectual) finishing process from being performed, an information processing controller unit of a multifunction peripheral performs control of permitting to set in combination a double-punching center setting and a bookbinding setting, and of prohibiting to set in combination a punch setting, other than the double-punching center setting, and the bookbinding setting.

In case of simultaneously performing a punching process and a finishing process other than the punching process in an image forming apparatus, in order to prevent an unnecessary (ineffectual) finishing process from being performed, an information processing controller unit of a multifunction peripheral performs control of permitting to set in combination a double-punching center setting and a bookbinding setting, and of prohibiting to set in combination a punch setting, other than the double-punching center setting, and the bookbinding setting.

A method for processing a sheet for bookbinding includes operations. A cut is formed that divides a thickness of the sheet in a binding-side side surface of the sheet. A portion of a connection piece that is attached to the sheet is inserted into the cut as an inserted portion, and functions as a hinge in a book-bound state. The portion of the connection piece inserted into the cut is joined to the sheet.

A method for processing a sheet for bookbinding includes operations. A cut is formed that divides a thickness of the sheet in a binding-side side surface of the sheet. A portion of a connection piece that is attached to the sheet is inserted into the cut as an inserted portion, and functions as a hinge in a book-bound state. The portion of the connection piece inserted into the cut is joined to the sheet.

In case of simultaneously performing a punching process and a finishing process other than the punching process in an image forming apparatus, in order to prevent an unnecessary (ineffectual) finishing process from being performed, an information processing controller unit of a multifunction peripheral performs control of permitting to set in combination a double-punching center setting and a bookbinding setting, and of prohibiting to set in combination a punch setting, other than the double-punching center setting, and the bookbinding setting.

In case of simultaneously performing a punching process and a finishing process other than the punching process in an image forming apparatus, in order to prevent an unnecessary (ineffectual) finishing process from being performed, an information processing controller unit of a multifunction peripheral performs control of permitting to set in combination a double-punching center setting and a bookbinding setting, and of prohibiting to set in combination a punch setting, other than the double-punching center setting, and the bookbinding setting.

A printing system includes a book body printing section including a book body printing machine and outputting book bodies sequentially, and a cover printing section including a cover printing machine and outputting covers sequentially. The book body printing machine and the cover printing machine respectively receive printing order data indicating a printing order with regard to a plurality of jobs from a print control apparatus, and perform printing in the printing order indicated by the printing order data. The print control apparatus generates the printing order data, so that an inserting order in unit of job to a bookbinding machine of the book bodies output from the book body printing section coincides with an inserting order in unit of job to the bookbinding machine of the covers output from the cover printing section.