An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes first and second sheet metal and a moving member. The first sheet metal includes a first facing surface and a first rear surface. The second sheet metal is fixed to the first sheet metal at a fixing portion and includes a second facing surface facing the first facing surface and a second rear surface. The first sheet metal is deformed in a first direction from the first rear surface toward the first facing surface in such a manner that the fixing portion is formed. The fixing portion includes a projection projecting from the second rear surface in the first direction. The moving member overlaps the fixing portion and is disposed at a position that is on an opposite side of the first rear surface from the projection and faces the first rear surface in the first direction.

Disclosed herein is a sheet binding apparatus that comprises a first binding unit provided and a second binding unit configured to perform needle binding on sheets, and a second binding unit configured to perform non-needle binding on sheets. A needle replenishing position where needles are replenished in the first binding unit is set in the vicinity of the second binding unit.

An image forming apparatus, which is connectable to a first device configured to conduct a punching process on a sheet with use of a replaceable punching member, the first device being connectable to a second device configured to conduct a binding process for generating a bookbinding product having a binding member inserted through a hole punched in the sheet, the image forming apparatus including: a display configured to display a print setting screen; and a controller configured to determine whether or not the replaceable punching member of the first device is compatible with the binding member of the second device, and control the display to inhibit bookbinding setting using the second device from being selected on the print setting screen in a case where the replaceable punching member is not compatible with the binding member.

A saddle stitcher is provided. The saddle stitcher includes a saddle conveyor for transporting signatures and at least one signature guide located along the saddle conveyor. The signature guide includes a plurality of supports and at least one flexible member supported by the plurality of supports thereby defining a guide area. The at least one flexible member guides the signature in the guide area. Methods are also provided.

A method for applying at least one enclosing element to a flat product composition wherein the enclosing element is subsequently applied around a selected edge of the product composition in a perpendicular manner with respect to said edge so as to rest against the product composition. A reliable operation that is independent of the type of enclosing element is achieved in that the selected edge of the product composition is moved forward along a transporting path, the enclosing element is held ready at a specified point of the transporting path so as to intersect the transporting path, the selected edge of the product composition is moved past the specified point, and at the same time the selected edge drives the enclosing element that is held ready.

An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes first and second sheet metal and a moving member. The first sheet metal includes a first facing surface and a first rear surface. The second sheet metal is fixed to the first sheet metal at a fixing portion and includes a second facing surface facing the first facing surface and a second rear surface. The first sheet metal is deformed in a first direction from the first rear surface toward the first facing surface in such a manner that the fixing portion is formed. The fixing portion includes a projection projecting from the second rear surface in the first direction. The moving member overlaps the fixing portion and is disposed at a position that is on an opposite side of the first rear surface from the projection and faces the first rear surface in the first direction.