Method and systems of automated document processing described herein include activating in sequence a plurality of illumination modules of an illumination source to illuminate a document, where the plurality of illumination modules are located at different positions relative to the document. The document can be imaged each time the document is illuminated by an illumination module to provide a plurality of images. A shadow profile of the document can be obtained based on the plurality of images. One or more of a boundary of the document and presence of a fastener attached to the document can be identified using the shadow profile. Any fasteners present may be removed using a robot arm.

Method and systems of automated document processing described herein include activating in sequence a plurality of illumination modules of an illumination source to illuminate a document, where the plurality of illumination modules are located at different positions relative to the document. The document can be imaged each time the document is illuminated by an illumination module to provide a plurality of images. A shadow profile of the document can be obtained based on the plurality of images. One or more of a boundary of the document and presence of a fastener attached to the document can be identified using the shadow profile. Any fasteners present may be removed using a robot arm.

An image forming system including an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a sheet, a post-processing apparatus comprising a binding device configured to bind the sheet output from the image forming apparatus, and a control unit configured to control the binding device. The binding device is capable of executing binding processing via a staple forming process of forming a staple and moving the staple toward a striking-out position and a staple striking-out process of striking out the staple at the striking-out position. The control unit is configured to control the binding device to repeat multiple times the staple forming process without undergoing the staple striking-out process.

A staple removing device configured to remove a staple of a paper bundle bound by the staple includes a loading portion on which the paper bundle is loaded and a pressing member (120A) configured to press the paper bundle to the loading portion. The pressing member (120A) includes a staple support portion (126) configured to position the staple at a removing position by allowing the staple to abut against the staple support portion (126).

Method and systems of automated document processing described herein include activating in sequence a plurality of illumination modules of an illumination source to illuminate a document, where the plurality of illumination modules are located at different positions relative to the document. The document can be imaged each time the document is illuminated by an illumination module to provide a plurality of images. A shadow profile of the document can be obtained based on the plurality of images. One or more of a boundary of the document and presence of a fastener attached to the document can be identified using the shadow profile. Any fasteners present may be removed using a robot arm.

A multifunctional printer comprising a printer section, an auto-document feeder, a scanner section, and a finisher, wherein a finisher path leads from the auto-document feeder into the printer section and converges with a print path into a shared finisher path leading to the finisher, such that documents scanned with the auto-document feeder can be conveyed to the finisher such that it can perform a finishing operation on the documents.

An image forming system including an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a sheet, a post-processing apparatus comprising a binding device configured to bind the sheet output from the image forming apparatus, and a control unit configured to control the binding device. The binding device is capable of executing binding processing via a staple forming process of forming a staple and moving the staple toward a striking-out position and a staple striking-out process of striking out the staple at the striking-out position. The control unit is configured to control the binding device to repeat multiple times the staple forming process without undergoing the staple striking-out process.