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.

Systems and methods for folding a stack of substrate sheets are provided. The system may include a roller assembly and a positioning mechanism. The roller assembly is configured for folding the stack of substrate sheets and the positioning mechanism is configured to position the substrate or stack for entry into the roller assembly. The positioning mechanism includes an upper curved form and a lower curved form to guide the stack of substrate sheets into a curved position for folding. The positioning mechanism further includes a folding blade positioned to extend through the gap between the upper and lower curved forms. The roller assembly can move the folded stack of substrate sheets in at least two directions.

A sheet folder includes a conveyor conveying a sheet, a first folding roller and a second folding roller that form a first nip, a third folding roller forming a second nip with the second folding roller, a first guide movable between a first guide posture and a first retracted posture, a second guide movable between a second guide posture and a second retracted posture, and a motor. The motor rotates the second folding roller forward to convey the sheet toward the first nip, reverse to convey the sheet toward the second nip, moves the first guide to arrange in the first guide in the first guide posture or the first retracted posture, and moves the second guide to arrange the second guide in the second guide posture or the second retracted posture.

A sheet processing device for pressing a fold line formed in a sheet, the sheet processing device comprises a pressing portion configured to press a sheet while rotating about a rotation axis. The pressing portion includes a pressing unit having a projecting shape, disposed over a predetermined range in a direction of the rotation axis to have a position in a rotation direction about the rotation axis changed according to the direction of the rotation axis, and an impact absorbing member provided at a part of the pressing unit of the pressing portion, abutting on the sheet at first in the rotation direction of the pressing portion, the impact absorbing member configured to reduce impact upon abutting on the sheet.

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 device includes: a loading section that has a loading surface directed obliquely upward and in which a recording medium is loaded on the loading surface in a state where one end of the recording medium is directed downward; a supporting section that supports the one end of the recording medium loaded on the loading surface; a transporting section that is provided at a position facing an upper portion of the loading surface and that transports the recording medium downward toward the loading surface; and a pushing section that pushes a non-facing surface of the recording medium, which is opposite to a facing surface facing toward the loading surface, toward the loading surface to move the recording medium toward the loading surface, in a contact state where a part of the recording medium transported by the transporting section on a side of the one end comes into contact with the loading surface and a part of the recording medium on a side of an upper end is separated from the loading surface and comes into contact with the transporting section.

A post-processing device includes: a loading section on which a bundle of recording media subjected to folding processing is loaded; a pushing section that moves in a thickness direction of the bundle of recording media, comes into contact with a surface, and pushes the bundle of recording media to form a folded portion; and a rotating section that starts an operation from a stopped state after the pushing section moves to a predetermined position, and sandwiches and rotates the folded portion of the bundle of recording media pushed by the pushing section to form a fold in the bundle of recording media.

A post-processing device includes: a loading section that has a loading surface directed obliquely upward and in which a recording medium is loaded on the loading surface in a state where one end of the recording medium is directed downward; a supporting section that supports the one end of the recording medium loaded on the loading surface; and a correcting section that has a facing surface facing toward the loading surface and that corrects deflection of the recording medium by coming into contact with the recording medium in a posture in which a lower end portion of the facing surface approaches closer to the loading surface than an upper end portion from a side of the recording medium, which is loaded on the loading surface, opposite to the loading surface and by thereafter coming into contact with the recording medium while moving such that the upper end portion approaches the loading surface in a state where the lower end portion is in contact with the recording medium.

A post-processing device includes: a loading section that has a loading surface directed obliquely upward and in which a recording medium is loaded on the loading surface in a state where one end of the recording medium is directed downward; a supporting section that supports the one end of the recording medium loaded on the loading surface; a transporting mechanism that transports a plurality of recording media transported one by one toward the loading section by shifting and stacking the recording media in a transport direction, and sets an amount of shift of the recording media on the basis of a predetermined condition; and a transporting section that bends each of the plurality of recording media transported from the transporting mechanism by applying a transport force to an upper end of each of the recording media opposite to the one end in a state where the one end is in contact with the supporting section, and separates one by one the recording media and loads the recording media on the loading surface.

A sheet processing apparatus is configured to press a fold line that is formed on a sheet. The sheet processing apparatus includes: a sheet supporting unit configured to support the sheet in a pressing direction for pressing the fold line; a pressing unit configured to press the fold line that is formed on the sheet that is supported by the sheet supporting unit; and a pressing-force generating unit configured to generate a pressing force for pressing the sheet supporting unit against the pressing unit at a central part in a direction along which the fold line is formed.