A sheet binding method involves holding a tape in at least two different locations of the tape; guiding a sheet bundle to between the two different locations of the tape; bending and holding the tape so as to be convex with respect to a conveying direction on a downstream side of the sheet bundle; and contacting the convex tape with the sheet bundle to bind the sheet bundle.

A sheet binding apparatus according to an embodiment includes a tape holding section and a guide section. The tape holding section holds a tape in at least two parts. The guide section guides a sheet bundle to between the two parts of the tape. The tape holding section bends and holds the tape to be convex to a conveying direction downstream side of the sheet bundle.

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 binding mechanism has a base, a feeder, a tape cutting unit, a tape holding unit and a tape support driving unit. The feeder is supported by the base. The feeder feeds an adhesive tape. The tape cutting unit is supported by the base. The tape cutting unit cuts the fed adhesive tape. The tape holding unit can hold the fed adhesive tape. The tape support units are installed as a pair. The tape support driving unit drives the pair of tape support units such that the pair of tape support units hold the fed adhesive tape simultaneously.

A sheet binding apparatus according to an embodiment includes a tape holding section and a guide section. The tape holding section holds a tape in at least two parts. The guide section guides a sheet bundle to between the two parts of the tape. The tape holding section bends and holds the tape to be convex to a conveying direction downstream side 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.

A binding mechanism has a base, a feeder, a tape cutting unit, a tape holding unit and a tape support driving unit. The feeder is supported by the base. The feeder feeds an adhesive tape. The tape cutting unit is supported by the base. The tape cutting unit cuts the fed adhesive tape. The tape holding unit can hold the fed adhesive tape. The tape support units are installed as a pair. The tape support driving unit drives the pair of tape support units such that the pair of tape support units hold the fed adhesive tape simultaneously.

A paper binding apparatus includes a pair of guides between which a paper bundle connected body formed by applying an adhesive tape to edge portions of sheets that are overlapped in a thickness direction, is moved in a reference direction while pinching the paper bundle connected body in the thickness direction, a guide plate on one side of the paper bundle connected body and downstream of the pair of guides, the guide plate having at least one guide surface that causes the paper bundle connected body guided thereby to be bent, and a driving roller configure to rotate in a first direction to move the paper bundle connected body and to cause a leading edge of the paper bundle connected body to be guided and bent by the at least one guide surface and the edge portions of the sheets to be shifted from each other in the reference direction.

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.