A sheet folding system includes a plurality of sheet folding apparatuses configured to receive and perform a folding process on a sheet and circuitry configured to distribute sheets to the plurality of sheet folding apparatuses. Each of the plurality of sheet folding apparatuses includes a folding device configured to fold the sheet, a first conveyance passage configured to convey the sheet downstream in a sheet conveyance direction without passing through the folding device, a second conveyance passage configured to convey the sheet to the folding device, a third conveyance passage configured to convey the sheet from the folding device downstream in the sheet conveyance direction, and a junction between the first conveyance passage and the third conveyance passage. The circuitry controls sheet conveyance to prevent an interference, at the junction, between the sheet conveyed from the first conveyance passage and the sheet conveyed from the third conveyance passage.

A sheet folding system includes a plurality of sheet folding apparatuses configured to receive and perform a folding process on a sheet and circuitry configured to distribute sheets to the plurality of sheet folding apparatuses. Each of the plurality of sheet folding apparatuses includes a folding device configured to fold the sheet, a first conveyance passage configured to convey the sheet downstream in a sheet conveyance direction without passing through the folding device, a second conveyance passage configured to convey the sheet to the folding device, a third conveyance passage configured to convey the sheet from the folding device downstream in the sheet conveyance direction, and a junction between the first conveyance passage and the third conveyance passage. The circuitry controls sheet conveyance to prevent an interference, at the junction, between the sheet conveyed from the first conveyance passage and the sheet conveyed from the third conveyance passage.

A sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet conveyor, a processing tool, a tool contact separation device, a tool moving device, and a tool facing device. The sheet conveyor is configured to convey a sheet. The processing tool is configured to perform processing to the sheet. The tool contact separation device is configured to contact and separate the processing tool with respect to the sheet. The tool moving device is configured to move the processing tool in a direction intersecting a conveyance direction of the sheet. The tool facing device includes a tool facing portion and a sheet gripper. The tool facing portion includes a rotary member supported by a shaft and is disposed at a position facing the processing tool via the sheet. The sheet gripper includes a rotary member supported by a shaft and is configured to grip the sheet with the tool facing portion.

A sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet conveyor, a processing tool, a tool contact separation device, a tool moving device, and a tool facing device. The sheet conveyor is configured to convey a sheet. The processing tool is configured to perform processing to the sheet. The tool contact separation device is configured to contact and separate the processing tool with respect to the sheet. The tool moving device is configured to move the processing tool in a direction intersecting a conveyance direction of the sheet. The tool facing device includes a tool facing portion and a sheet gripper. The tool facing portion includes a rotary member supported by a shaft and is disposed at a position facing the processing tool via the sheet. The sheet gripper includes a rotary member supported by a shaft and is configured to grip the sheet with the tool facing portion.

A stapling apparatus including a holding portion that receives and holds a plurality of mediums, a first matching portion positioned downstream of the holding portion, a paddle that applies sending force to the mediums so that leading edge sides of the mediums reach the first matching portion, a stapler that binds the mediums, the leading edge sides of the mediums having been matched by the first matching portion, a folding mechanism portion that folds the mediums that have been bound by the stapler. In the stapling apparatus, the first matching portion is configured to move and is configured to transport the mediums to a performing position of the stapler and a performing position of the folding mechanism portion by moving, and a position where the paddle applies sending force to the mediums differs according to lengths of the mediums in a transport direction.

A stapling apparatus including a holding portion that receives and holds a plurality of mediums, a first matching portion positioned downstream of the holding portion, a paddle that applies sending force to the mediums so that leading edge sides of the mediums reach the first matching portion, a stapler that binds the mediums, the leading edge sides of the mediums having been matched by the first matching portion, a folding mechanism portion that folds the mediums that have been bound by the stapler. In the stapling apparatus, the first matching portion is configured to move and is configured to transport the mediums to a performing position of the stapler and a performing position of the folding mechanism portion by moving, and a position where the paddle applies sending force to the mediums differs according to lengths of the mediums in a transport direction.

A sheet processing apparatus includes a rotating body pair capable of transporting a sheet in a first direction for nipping the sheet transported to a transport path thereby drawing the sheet for folding processing, and in a second direction for switching back the sheet to return to the transport path, a push member that pushes the sheet transported to the transport path to a nip portion of the rotating body pair, and a press member pressing one end portion of the sheet folded by the rotating body pair to guide, and including a press portion that presses the one end portion of the sheet in a direction of the transport path where the other end portion of the sheet exists, and a guide portion that guides the sheet pressed by the press portion to the guide face of the transport path where the other end portion of the sheet exists.

A sheet processing apparatus includes a rotating body pair capable of transporting a sheet in a first direction for nipping the sheet transported to a transport path thereby drawing the sheet for folding processing, and in a second direction for switching back the sheet to return to the transport path, a push member that pushes the sheet transported to the transport path to a nip portion of the rotating body pair, and a press member pressing one end portion of the sheet folded by the rotating body pair to guide, and including a press portion that presses the one end portion of the sheet in a direction of the transport path where the other end portion of the sheet exists, and a guide portion that guides the sheet pressed by the press portion to the guide face of the transport path where the other end portion of the sheet exists.

A sheet processing apparatus performs folding processing so that one end of a sheet exists inside the folded sheet. The sheet processing apparatus includes a transport path to guide a transported sheet, a rotating body pair capable of transporting the sheet in a first direction to perform folding processing, and in a second direction for switching back the sheet subjected to the folding processing, a folding blade that pushes the sheet to a nip portion of the rotating body pair, a press member that presses the sheet folded by the rotating body pair in the second direction, and a shift section that shifts the press member for pressing the sheet. In switching back the sheet, a control section controls transport of the sheet so that the one end of the sheet is halted within a region between the press member and a guide face of the transport path.

A sheet processing apparatus performs folding processing so that one end of a sheet exists inside the folded sheet. The sheet processing apparatus includes a transport path to guide a transported sheet, a rotating body pair capable of transporting the sheet in a first direction to perform folding processing, and in a second direction for switching back the sheet subjected to the folding processing, a folding blade that pushes the sheet to a nip portion of the rotating body pair, a press member that presses the sheet folded by the rotating body pair in the second direction, and a shift section that shifts the press member for pressing the sheet. In switching back the sheet, a control section controls transport of the sheet so that the one end of the sheet is halted within a region between the press member and a guide face of the transport path.