A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a first stapler and a second stapler having different thicknesses of sheets on which a binding process can be performed. A control unit can perform a manual staple mode. If the first stapler is selected as a stapler for performing the binding process in the manual staple mode, the control unit controls the alignment member moving mechanism to move alignment members to a position defining a first insertion position for guiding the sheets to a first placing position. If the second stapler is selected, the control unit controls the alignment member moving mechanism to move the alignment members to a position defining a second insertion position for guiding the sheets to a second placing position.

A paper stack S supplied between clamping plates 1a, 1b of a carriage clamp 1 is pushed toward a positioning bar 2b by an alignment bar 5. A nip head 7 of a paper stack supplying unit 3 has first and second nip plates 9, 10, and a nip plate drive mechanism 11 moving each nip plate from a protruding position at which the nip plate protrudes from the nip head and a retracted position at which the nip plate retracts into the nip head, and translating the second nip plate taking the protruding position relative to the first nip plate taking the protruding position between a first position at which the first and second nip plates receive the paper stack therebetween and a second position at which the second nip plate cooperates with the first nip plate to grip the paper stack.

A paper stack S supplied between clamping plates 1a, 1b of a carriage clamp 1 is pushed toward a positioning bar 2b by an alignment bar 5. A nip head 7 of a paper stack supplying unit 3 has first and second nip plates 9, 10, and a nip plate drive mechanism 11 moving each nip plate from a protruding position at which the nip plate protrudes from the nip head and a retracted position at which the nip plate retracts into the nip head, and translating the second nip plate taking the protruding position relative to the first nip plate taking the protruding position between a first position at which the first and second nip plates receive the paper stack therebetween and a second position at which the second nip plate cooperates with the first nip plate to grip the paper stack.

A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a first stapler and a second stapler having different thicknesses of sheets on which a binding process can be performed. A control unit can perform a manual staple mode. If the first stapler is selected as a stapler for performing the binding process in the manual staple mode, the control unit controls the alignment member moving mechanism to move alignment members to a position defining a first insertion position for guiding the sheets to a first placing position. If the second stapler is selected, the control unit controls the alignment member moving mechanism to move the alignment members to a position defining a second insertion position for guiding the sheets to a second placing position.

A media punching and collating system includes a multi-source sheet intake mechanism, an accumulator, a punching die assembly and a discharge mechanism. The sheet intake mechanism is configured to pick and feed at least two different types of finished sheet media to the accumulator, which is positioned to receive the sheets from the sheet intake mechanism. The accumulator includes a sheet accumulating mechanism configured to sequentially gather and align a selected number of the sheets into a sheet lift. The punching die assembly is positioned to receive the sheet lift as a unit from the accumulator, and configured to punch holes in an edge of the sheets of the lift, after which the discharge mechanism discharges the punched lift.

According to one embodiment, a sheet binding device includes a first mounting part, a second mounting part, and a mounting adjustment part. The first mounting part mounts a tape on an edge part of a sheet bundle. The second mounting part is opposite to the first mounting part in a sheet bundle thickness direction. The mounting adjustment part is capable of adjusting a mounting gap between the first mounting part and the second mounting part based upon a thickness of the sheet bundle. The mounting gap is equal to or smaller than the thickness of the sheet bundle before the sheet bundle is inserted between the first mounting part and the second mounting part.

According to one embodiment, a sheet binding device includes a first mounting part, a second mounting part, and a mounting adjustment part. The first mounting part mounts a tape on an edge part of a sheet bundle. The second mounting part is opposite to the first mounting part in a sheet bundle thickness direction. The mounting adjustment part is capable of adjusting a mounting gap between the first mounting part and the second mounting part based upon a thickness of the sheet bundle. The mounting gap is equal to or smaller than the thickness of the sheet bundle before the sheet bundle is inserted between the first mounting part and the second mounting part.

An image forming apparatus, which is connectable to a first device configured to conduct a punching process on a sheet with use of a replaceable punching member, the first device being connectable to a second device configured to conduct a binding process for generating a bookbinding product having a binding member inserted through a hole punched in the sheet, the image forming apparatus including: a display configured to display a print setting screen; and a controller configured to determine whether or not the replaceable punching member of the first device is compatible with the binding member of the second device, and control the display to inhibit bookbinding setting using the second device from being selected on the print setting screen in a case where the replaceable punching member is not compatible with the binding member.

Disclosed herein is a sheet binding apparatus that comprises a first binding unit provided and a second binding unit configured to perform needle binding on sheets, and a second binding unit configured to perform non-needle binding on sheets. A needle replenishing position where needles are replenished in the first binding unit is set in the vicinity of the second binding unit.

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.