The present invention provides a post process control apparatus including a post processing unit configured to perform post processing on a printed sheet printed in accordance with a job, and a method for controlling the same, where the post process control apparatus and the method of controlling the same obtain a number of sheets in one copy of printed sheets instructed by the job, control the post processing unit to, if the obtained number of sheets in one copy is singular, execute the post processing in one batch on printed sheets corresponding to a plurality of copies, and to control the post processing unit to, if the obtained number of sheets in one copy is plural, execute the post processing individually by printed sheets corresponding to one copy.

An apparatus and method for the post-processing of successively following, sequentially printed sheets, includes a conveyor, a folding table, a folding sword, a folding roller pair, at least one pressing-down mechanism, and a machine control that is operatively connected to the folding sword and the pressing-down mechanism. The pressing-down mechanism includes at least one mechanical braking element which acts in the region of the back edge onto the top side of the printed sheet to be positioned on the folding table. The stationary folding sword includes a compressed-air device with at least one outlet opening for compressed air which is focused onto a folding roller gap. The folding table forms a gathering device for at least two successively following printed sheets. A sensor, arranged in a region of the conveyor, is operatively connected to the machine control and functions to detect the printed sheets, transported with the conveyor.

An apparatus and method for the post-processing of successively following, sequentially printed sheets, includes a conveyor, a folding table, a folding sword, a folding roller pair, at least one pressing-down mechanism, and a machine control that is operatively connected to the folding sword and the pressing-down mechanism. The pressing-down mechanism includes at least one mechanical braking element which acts in the region of the back edge onto the top side of the printed sheet to be positioned on the folding table. The stationary folding sword includes a compressed-air device with at least one outlet opening for compressed air which is focused onto a folding roller gap. The folding table forms a gathering device for at least two successively following printed sheets. A sensor, arranged in a region of the conveyor, is operatively connected to the machine control and functions to detect the printed sheets, transported with the conveyor.

A postpress system (1) and method for producing and processing product units (P), in particular printed end products (P) with printed product collections comprising a plurality of products, selected from the group of wrapping products, and a plurality of part products and/or inserts, to make route adapted stacks or packs, at least some of the printed end products (P) being product units which have been customized for specific addressees are proposed. By using feed devices (3) which each comprise a supply conveyor (31), a preparation circuit (32) with a plurality of transport units (321) and an output conveyor (33), printed products (D) are fed in a controlled fashion to the holding units (21) with reliability. A sorting device (6) with at least one directing group with at least one gate (62), a transit section (612) and at least one supply section is used to correct faults, or deviations in the product sequence from the production sequence.

A postpress system (1) and method for producing and processing product units (P), in particular printed end products (P) with printed product collections comprising a plurality of products, selected from the group of wrapping products, and a plurality of part products and/or inserts, to make route adapted stacks or packs, at least some of the printed end products (P) being product units which have been customized for specific addressees are proposed. By using feed devices (3) which each comprise a supply conveyor (31), a preparation circuit (32) with a plurality of transport units (321) and an output conveyor (33), printed products (D) are fed in a controlled fashion to the holding units (21) with reliability. A sorting device (6) with at least one directing group with at least one gate (62), a transit section (612) and at least one supply section is used to correct faults, or deviations in the product sequence from the production sequence.

A printing apparatus capable of producing a product having the optimum image layout dependent on a discharge destination even when saddle-stitching is canceled due to input of image data for sheets in excess of a limit of a saddle-stitchable number of sheets. The number of output sheets per one copy is calculated based on image data. When the number of output sheets per one copy exceeds a saddle-stitchable number of sheets, it is selected whether to perform the center folding processing on the sheets on which images are printed without performing the saddle stitching processing thereon or to perform neither the saddle stitching processing nor the center folding processing on the sheets on which images are printed.

A printing apparatus capable of producing a product having the optimum image layout dependent on a discharge destination even when saddle-stitching is canceled due to input of image data for sheets in excess of a limit of a saddle-stitchable number of sheets. The number of output sheets per one copy is calculated based on image data. When the number of output sheets per one copy exceeds a saddle-stitchable number of sheets, it is selected whether to perform the center folding processing on the sheets on which images are printed without performing the saddle stitching processing thereon or to perform neither the saddle stitching processing nor the center folding processing on the sheets on which images are printed.

A printing control apparatus configured to control a binding unit configured to perform a binding processing for binding sheets without using a staple includes a control unit that controls the biding unit to divide sheets subjected to printing into sheet groups in units of a number of sheets bindable by the binding unit, and to apply the binding processing to each of sheet groups or controls another binding unit to bind the sheets subjected to printing using a staple.

A printing control apparatus configured to control a binding unit configured to perform a binding processing for binding sheets without using a staple includes a control unit that controls the biding unit to divide sheets subjected to printing into sheet groups in units of a number of sheets bindable by the binding unit, and to apply the binding processing to each of sheet groups or controls another binding unit to bind the sheets subjected to printing using a staple.

A sheet binding processing apparatus includes a binding device which performs a binding process on a sheet bundle stacked on a stacking unit and a sheet bundle set at a manual setting portion, the stacking unit stacking introduced sheets, a sheet bundle being set to the manual setting portion from an outside; a moving portion which moves the binding device to a first binding position for performing the binding process on a sheet bundle stacked on the stacking unit and a second binding position for performing the binding process on a sheet bundle set at the manual setting portion; and a controller which causes the binding device, in a case that the binding process is not performed on a sheet bundle stacked on the stacking unit, to wait due to the moving portion at a position different from the first binding position.