A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a first sheet conveyance passage, a second sheet conveyance passage, a sheet folding portion, and a merging portion. The second sheet conveyance passage branches off from a branch portion on the first sheet conveyance passage. The merging portion is located downstream of the branch portion on the first sheet conveyance passage, and there a folding conveyance passage of the sheet folding portion merges with the first sheet conveyance passage. When performing a folding process on a sheet, a controller guides the sheet conveyed from a sheet introduction port into the first sheet conveyance passage via the branch portion to the second sheet conveyance passage, then reverses the conveyance direction to guide the sheet to the sheet folding portion to perform the folding process, and passes the sheet through the folding conveyance passage, merges the sheet into the first sheet conveyance passage at the merging portion.

A paper stack press machine comprises a base 1 with a press surface 2, a pressing plate 5, and a pressing plate drive mechanism 6 moving the pressing plate between a standby position at which the pressing plate separates from a paper stack S on the press surface and a press position at which the pressing plate presses the paper stack against the press surface. A surface of the pressing plate facing the press surface is elastically deformable. A pushing bar 11a is arranged at the second side of the pressing plate so as to be movable in an axial direction thereof between a retracted position at which the pushing bar separates from the paper stack and an advanced position at which the pushing bar pushes the paper stack against the press surface.

A device and method for the processing of printed products with one or more transport systems for transporting the printed products between processing stations comprises a transport path lighting system that is divided into segments, wherein the type of illumination of such a segment is with respect to its color, intensity and/or variation in time defined by certain properties of the product located in this section or its production history.

There is provided an image forming system including an apparatus body including an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet, a first sheet processing device mounted on the apparatus body, and configured to perform a first binding processing on plural sheets each of which is formed with an image by the image forming unit, and a second sheet processing device mounted on the apparatus body at a position different from that of the first sheet processing device, and configured to perform a second binding processing different from the first binding processing on the plural sheets, each of which is formed with an image by the image forming unit.

A method for providing a stack of book covers for production of finished books includes supplying a task stack of book covers having identical cover formats and stacked one above another in an unknown or known sequence. Each book cover in the task stack includes an identifier comprising cover information. The book covers are separated out and conveyed from the task stack as separate book covers in a sequence that does not change until a completion signal is transmitted. The separated out book covers are counted, an identifier on each separated out book cover is detected, and cover information is read out of the respective identifier stored. The separated out book covers are deposited on top of one another in the sequence in which they were separated out for forming a detected stack. An identifier is stored that identifies the detected stack together with the temporarily stored cover information.

A sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet holding unit, a sheet conveying unit configured to convey a plurality of sheets one by one onto the sheet holding unit during sheet processing, wherein the plurality of sheets including a first sheet and a second sheet that is conveyed immediately after the first sheet and is a last of the plurality of sheets that is conveyed, an adhesive applying unit configured to apply an adhesive material, and a control unit configured to control the adhesive material applying unit to apply the adhesive material on the first sheet held on the sheet holding unit before the second sheet is conveyed onto the first sheet and cause the adhesive material applying unit to not apply the adhesive material on the second sheet after the second sheet is conveyed onto the first sheet.

A sheet stacking device includes a vacuum system that delivers an individual sheet toward a binder element, a sheet deflector element that presses an end of the individual sheet onto the binder element, and a sheet kick-down element that presses the individual sheet away from the vacuum system.

A sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet holding unit, a sheet conveying unit configured to convey a plurality of sheets one by one onto the sheet holding unit during sheet processing, wherein the plurality of sheets includes a first sheet and a second sheet that is conveyed immediately after the first sheet, an adhesive applying unit configured to apply an adhesive material on the first sheet held on the sheet holding unit before the second sheet is conveyed onto the first sheet, and a pressing unit configured to press the second sheet against the first sheet after the second sheet is conveyed onto the first sheet.

A conveyance control unit is provided with a conveyance request unit configured to transmit a conveyance request signal to a paper conveyance device at a conveyance request timing corresponding to a processing cycle of a downstream paper processing device, a passage information reception unit configured to receive a paper passage signal indicating that paper has been sent out from the paper conveyance device, and the determination unit configured to determine whether a conveyance delay has occurred based on timing when the paper passage signal was received. The conveyance request unit is configured to transmit the conveyance request signal at the conveyance request timing corresponding to the next processing cycle when it is determined that a conveyance delay has not occurred, and the conveyance request unit is configured not to transmit the conveyance request signal at the conveyance request timing corresponding to the next processing cycle when it is determined that a conveyance delay has occurred.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods are described for providing a multiple process workflow. The system includes a first process device configured to convey at least a portion of a printed element and an apparatus. The apparatus includes a storage section, an input section configured to receive the at least a portion of the printed element, a gripper configured to selectively transport the at least a portion of the printed element from the input section to the storage section and to selectively transport the at least a portion of the printed element from the storage section, and an output section configured to selectively transfer the at least a portion of the printed element from the storage section. The system further includes a second process device configured to perform at least one operation on the at least a portion of the printed element.