In accordance with an embodiment, a sheet processing apparatus comprises an axis of rotation; a standby section configured to buffer a sheet; a processing section configured to execute a post processing on sheets moved from the standby section; a first paddle configured to be mounted in the axis of rotation and be rotated around the axis of rotation to contact with the sheet supplied from the standby section to draw the sheet into a stopper; and a second paddle configured to be mounted in the axis of rotation at a predetermined angle with respect to the first paddle and draw the sheet into the stopper after the first paddle is separated from the sheet after a drawing-in operation of the sheet by the first paddle.

A finishing unit for applying a note onto a printed document that exits from an image forming apparatus is provided. The finishing unit, according to one embodiment, includes a note cutting unit for cutting a sheet of paper to a note of a desired size and a note pasting unit for applying the note onto the printed document that exits from the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus and method of applying a note onto a printed are also described.

A finishing unit for applying a note onto a printed document that exits from an image forming apparatus is provided. The finishing unit, according to one embodiment, includes a note cutting unit for cutting a sheet of paper to a note of a desired size and a note pasting unit for applying the note onto the printed document that exits from the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus and method of applying a note onto a printed are also described.

A distributed printing system includes: a job management device that divides a print job to generate divided jobs; image forming devices that execute the divided jobs to form an image on a sheet; and a sorting device that sorts sheets of a sheet bundle, wherein each of the image forming devices executes the divided jobs, and discharges a sheet bundle, the job management device includes a storage that stores information regarding the sheets constituting the sheet bundles, and the sorting device includes a sheet feeder on which the sheet bundles is settable, an instructor that instructs an operator on an arrangement order of the sheet bundles to be set on the sheet feeder, and a sheet discharger that sorts the sheets of the sheet bundles on the basis of operation information, and discharges a sheet bundle and a sheet bundle including remaining sheets to different sheet discharge trays.

An apparatus for folding sheets or sheet stacks, including at least two folding/transport rollers, transport device and knife, the transport device defining transport plane E for sheets or sheet stacks fed in transport direction R, knife being movable substantially perpendicularly to and through transport plane E, folding/transport rollers being arranged above transport plane E, oppositely on both sides of knife, axis of rotation A of folding/transport rollers extending substantially perpendicularly to transport plane E, and at least two folding/transport rollers each having, at their end facing toward transport plane E, rounded portion, such that narrowing gap S is formed between the at least two folding/transport rollers, into which gap sheets or sheet stacks can be introduced by means of knife so as to be folded there and at same time conveyed away in transport direction R, and to corresponding method.

An apparatus for folding sheets or sheet stacks, including at least two folding/transport rollers, transport device and knife, the transport device defining transport plane E for sheets or sheet stacks fed in transport direction R, knife being movable substantially perpendicularly to and through transport plane E, folding/transport rollers being arranged above transport plane E, oppositely on both sides of knife, axis of rotation A of folding/transport rollers extending substantially perpendicularly to transport plane E, and at least two folding/transport rollers each having, at their end facing toward transport plane E, rounded portion, such that narrowing gap S is formed between the at least two folding/transport rollers, into which gap sheets or sheet stacks can be introduced by means of knife so as to be folded there and at same time conveyed away in transport direction R, and to corresponding method.

A post-processing apparatus comprises a first processing tray on which fed paper is placed; a paper binding section configured to bind a plurality of sheets of paper stacked on the first processing tray into one bundle; a second processing tray which a plurality of paper bundles bound on the first processing tray are sequentially conveyed to and placed on; a paper bundle gluing section configured to coat glue at a given position of the top surface of a first paper bundle placed on the second processing tray before a second paper bundle is placed on the first paper bundle; a pressing section configured to press and bind the first paper bundle with the second paper bundle between which glue is coated; and a control section configured to control the timing for conveying the second paper bundle onto the first paper bundle after the glue is coated.

A medium processing apparatus includes a conveyor, a tray, a binder, a mover, and a switcher. The switcher includes a first passage, a second passage, and a movable wall. The movable wall guides a guided portion of the binder to the second passage when the guided portion moving along the first passage from an end side to a center side contacts the movable wall; causes the guided portion to pass when the guided portion moving along the second passage from the end side to the center side contacts the movable wall; guides the guided portion to the first passage when the guided portion moving along the second passage from the center side to the end side contacts the movable wall; and causes the guided portion to pass when the guided portion moving along the first passage from the center side to the end side contacts the movable wall.

A medium processing apparatus includes a conveyor, a tray, a binder, a mover, and a switcher. The switcher includes a first passage, a second passage, and a movable wall. The movable wall guides a guided portion of the binder to the second passage when the guided portion moving along the first passage from an end side to a center side contacts the movable wall; causes the guided portion to pass when the guided portion moving along the second passage from the end side to the center side contacts the movable wall; guides the guided portion to the first passage when the guided portion moving along the second passage from the center side to the end side contacts the movable wall; and causes the guided portion to pass when the guided portion moving along the first passage from the center side to the end side contacts the movable wall.

A post processing apparatus includes a first sheet stacking portion, a stapling portion, a driving portion, and an airflow generating portion. The first sheet stacking portion stacks the sheets conveyed from an image forming apparatus that forms images on the sheets. The stapling portion is provided below a sheet conveying path leading to the first sheet stacking portion so as to be able to move along a width direction of the sheet orthogonal to a conveying direction of the sheet, and is configured to bundle sheets stacked on the first sheet stacking portion. The driving portion generates a driving force that moves the stapling portion according to the power supply. The airflow generating portion generates an airflow that flows into a movement space of the stapling portion via the driving portion.