A printing apparatus has a first binding unit for performing a binding process at any one of plural positions and a second binding unit for performing a binding process at a single position and prints images based on image data on sheets. If the binding process is performed using the first binding unit, the printing apparatus prints images on sheets according to the input order of the image data. If the binding process is performed using the second binding unit, the printing apparatus prints images on sheets according to the input order of the image data, or prints the images according to an order reversed from the input order of the image data, based on the orientation of the images of the image data, the single position and the orientation of the sheets used for printing.

A sheet processing device includes a tape binding processing unit, a paper discharge unit, and a control unit. The tape binding processing unit performs tape binding processing on a sheet bundle. The paper discharge unit discharges the sheet bundle subjected to the tape binding processing onto a paper discharge tray. The control unit is configured to control at least one of the tape binding processing unit and the paper discharge unit, such that a first tape binding of the first bundle of sheets and a second tape binding of the second bundle of sheets are not in contact with each other when the first bundle of sheets and the second bundle of sheets are stacked on the paper discharge tray.

A sheet binding device includes a sheet shifting unit, a tape cutter, and a tape attachment unit. The sheet shifting unit has a guide and is configured to stack multiple sheets on the guide with edge portions that are shifted from each other to form a sheet bundle. The tape cutter cuts tape with a target length that is varied in accordance with a thickness of the sheet bundle. The tape attachment unit is configured to attach the cut tape having the target length to an edge portion of the sheet bundle.

According to one embodiment, a sheet separator has a first driving roller and a pressing body. The first driving roller rotates about a first rotation shaft. The first driving roller conveys a sheet bundle including a plurality of sheets. The pressing body is capable of approaching the first driving roller. The first driving roller is rotatable in a first direction with the sheet bundle sandwiched between the first driving roller and the pressing body. The pressing body pivots in the first direction about the first rotation shaft with the sheet bundle sandwiched between the first driving roller and the pressing body to cause the plurality of sheets to deviate from one another at edges.

A sheet processing device includes a tape binding processing unit, a paper discharge unit, and a control unit. The tape binding processing unit performs tape binding processing on a sheet bundle. The paper discharge unit discharges the sheet bundle subjected to the tape binding processing onto a paper discharge tray. The control unit is configured to control at least one of the tape binding processing unit and the paper discharge unit, such that a first tape binding of the first bundle of sheets and a second tape binding of the second bundle of sheets are not in contact with each other when the first bundle of sheets and the second bundle of sheets are stacked on the paper discharge tray.

A sheet binding device includes a sheet shifting unit, a tape cutter, and a tape attachment unit. The sheet shifting unit has a guide and is configured to stack multiple sheets on the guide with edge portions that are shifted from each other to form a sheet bundle. The tape cutter cuts tape with a target length that is varied in accordance with a thickness of the sheet bundle. The tape attachment unit is configured to attach the cut tape having the target length to an edge portion of the sheet bundle.

A sheet processing device includes a tape binding processing unit, a paper discharge unit, and a control unit. The tape binding processing unit performs tape binding processing on a sheet bundle. The paper discharge unit discharges the sheet bundle subjected to the tape binding processing onto a paper discharge tray. The control unit is configured to control at least one of the tape binding processing unit and the paper discharge unit, such that a first tape binding of the first bundle of sheets and a second tape binding of the second bundle of sheets are not in contact with each other when the first bundle of sheets and the second bundle of sheets are stacked on the paper discharge tray.

According to one embodiment, a sheet separator has a first driving roller and a pressing body. The first driving roller rotates about a first rotation shaft. The first driving roller conveys a sheet bundle including a plurality of sheets. The pressing body is capable of approaching the first driving roller. The first driving roller is rotatable in a first direction with the sheet bundle sandwiched between the first driving roller and the pressing body. The pressing body pivots in the first direction about the first rotation shaft with the sheet bundle sandwiched between the first driving roller and the pressing body to cause the plurality of sheets to deviate from one another at edges.

A sheet binding device includes a sheet shifting unit, a tape cutter, and a tape attachment unit. The sheet shifting unit has a guide and is configured to stack multiple sheets on the guide with edge portions that are shifted from each other to form a sheet bundle. The tape cutter cuts tape with a target length that is varied in accordance with a thickness of the sheet bundle. The tape attachment unit is configured to attach the cut tape having the target length to an edge portion of the sheet bundle.

The invention relates to a method for assembling a stack (10) consisting of single or multilayered pre-products (1115) of equal or different sizes, said pre-products lying freely one on top of the other, wherein the stack (10) has two outer pre-products (11, 15). According to the method, the stack (10) is given a cohesion that facilitates later handling. The cohesion is achieved in a very simple and flexibly applicable manner by providing the slack (10) to be assembled in a first step, said stack consisting of pre-products (11-15) that lie freely one on top of the other, and by attaching at least one connecting element (17) to an edge (16) of the stack (10) in a second step such that said element overlaps the two outer pre-products (11, 15) of the stack (10) in a clamping manner.