An image forming apparatus of embodiments includes an accommodation unit and a notification unit. The accommodation unit accommodates both of a paper bundle and a packaging member therein in a state in which at least one of the paper bundle and the packaging member used to package the paper bundle satisfies predetermined conditions. The notification unit performs a notification of guidance on the predetermined conditions.

A transport mechanism includes a transport belt in which holes are formed and a suction clinging mechanism. The transport mechanism transports the medium in the first transporting direction, and when the upstream edge reaches a switching position, the transport mechanism transports the medium in the second transporting direction and stacks the medium in a stacker. The suction clinging mechanism includes an opening of a first suction chamber and an opening of a second suction chamber, and the opening of the first suction chamber is located downstream of the opening of the second suction chamber in the first transporting direction. The switching position is located upstream of the opening of the first suction chamber in the first transporting direction. In the first transporting direction, the distance from the switching position to the opening of the first suction chamber is longer than the length of each hole.

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.

A sheet processing apparatus is described. The sheet processing apparatus includes a housing section, a conveyance mechanism and a controller. The housing section accommodates a sheet. The conveyance mechanism conveys the sheet accommodated in the housing section to a predetermined position at the downstream side in a sheet conveyance direction. The controller controls the conveyance mechanism to remove a needle-free binding section of a sheet bundle if a conveyance jam of the sheet occurs.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a sheet post-processing apparatus which facilitates eliminating of a jammed sheet occurring in the path when sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus are stored as being sorted into two directions. The present invention comprises a sheet post-processing apparatus including a first conveying path through which a sheet introduced from a first introducing port is conveyed, a second conveying path through which a sheet introduced from a second introducing port is conveyed, and a stack portion which stacks sheets conveyed through the second conveying path and which is configured to have at least a part of the stack portion be swingable about an axis intersecting with a sheet conveyance direction of a sheet conveyed to the second conveying path between a stack position where sheets are stacked and an open position where the first introducing port of the first conveying path is opened.

A fold-enhancing device includes a pressing member, at least one retaining member, and a moving mechanism. The pressing member presses against a fold line of a recording-medium bundle folded into a booklet shape. The recording-medium bundle is obtained by stacking multiple sheets of recording media. The retaining member retains the recording-medium bundle and is provided at a position located away from the fold line in a direction intersecting the fold line and not in contact with the pressing member. The moving mechanism moves the pressing member and the retaining member in a direction extending along the fold line.

A paper-made staple binds a sheet bundle subjected to folding processing by a folding blade and a folding roller. The paper-made staple includes a pair of leg portions inserted into the sheet bundle and then bent inward; and a connection portion that connects the leg portions in a staple longitudinal direction. The connection portion has, at an edge portion thereof, a cut in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction so as to correspond to a predetermined folding position of the sheet bundle for the purpose of facilitating the folding of the connection portion, and the cut is formed inward from the edge portion so as to have a substantially triangular shape and is provided on both edge portions of the connection portion of the paper-made staple.

A sheet processing apparatus is described. The sheet processing apparatus includes a housing section, a conveyance mechanism and a controller. The housing section accommodates a sheet. The conveyance mechanism conveys the sheet accommodated in the housing section to a predetermined position at the downstream side in a sheet conveyance direction. The controller controls the conveyance mechanism to remove a needle-free binding section of a sheet bundle if a conveyance jam of the sheet occurs.

A bundle of printing media by eco-stapling often has a smaller thickness than a bundle of printing media by needle stapling by the thickness corresponding to an amount of used staples, although they have the same number of printing media, and there is room capable of stacking bundles in many cases in the eco-stapling. According to an embodiment, when a printing medium that has undergone an image forming process is taken in, stapling processing is performed on the printing medium, and then the printing medium is discharged to the tray, the following process is performed. That is, when the process is performed in accordance with instructed stapling processing, and the printing medium that has undergone the process is discharged outside the apparatus, the amount of printing media stacked on the tray is controlled in accordance with instructed stapling processing.

A medium discharging device includes a discharge roller pair that discharges a medium, a discharge tray disposed below the discharge roller pair in a vertical direction and having a placement surface on which the discharged medium is placed, and a guide member that is advanced and retracted between an advanced position where the guide member is advanced inward in a width direction from opposite sides in the width direction intersecting a discharge direction of the medium and a retracted position where the guide member is retracted to an end portion position side in the width direction. When the guide member is disposed at the advanced position, an upstream side end portion of the guide member in the discharge direction is disposed between a discharge position by the discharge roller pair and a position of the placement surface of the discharge tray, in the vertical direction.