A sheet processing apparatus laminates a partially joined two-ply sheet and a sheet medium inserted in the two-ply sheet. The sheet processing apparatus includes a heat presser, an information acquisition device, and control circuitry. The heat presser heats and presses the two-ply sheet and the sheet medium. The information acquisition device acquires information on the two-ply sheet and the sheet medium. The control circuitry sets a fixing temperature of the heat presser in accordance with the information of the two-ply sheet and the sheet medium acquired by the information acquisition device.

A sheet processing device separates a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlapped and partially bonded and sandwich a sheet medium between the two sheets. The sheet processing device includes a relay conveyance path, a sheet loader, and control circuitry. The sheet medium is fed from an image forming apparatus connected upstream of the sheet processing device through the relay conveyance path. The sheet loader loads at least one of the two-ply sheet and the sheet medium. The control circuitry performs a mixing mode to feed the two-ply sheet or the sheet medium from the sheet loader.

A laminating device inserts a sheet-shaped medium into a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlaid and partially bonded, and includes a loader, a fixing device, and control circuitry. The loader loads the sheet-shaped medium or a cleaning sheet. The fixing device laminates the two-ply sheet in which the sheet-shaped medium is sandwiched between the two sheets of the two-ply sheet. The control circuitry performs a cleaning mode of conveying a plurality of cleaning sheets from the loader to clean the fixing device. The cleaning mode is to convey a subsequent cleaning sheet of the plurality of cleaning sheets at a position different from a position of a preceding cleaning sheet of the plurality of cleaning sheets in a direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of the plurality of cleaning sheets.

A sheet processing device separates a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlapped and partially bonded and sandwich a sheet medium between the two sheets. The sheet processing device includes a relay conveyance path, a sheet loader, and control circuitry. The sheet medium is fed from an image forming apparatus connected upstream of the sheet processing device through the relay conveyance path. The sheet loader loads at least one of the two-ply sheet and the sheet medium. The control circuitry performs a mixing mode to feed the two-ply sheet or the sheet medium from the sheet loader.

A laminating device inserts a sheet-shaped medium into a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlaid and partially bonded, and includes a loader, a fixing device, and control circuitry. The loader loads the sheet-shaped medium or a cleaning sheet. The fixing device laminates the two-ply sheet in which the sheet-shaped medium is sandwiched between the two sheets of the two-ply sheet. The control circuitry performs a cleaning mode of conveying a plurality of cleaning sheets from the loader to clean the fixing device. The cleaning mode is to convey a subsequent cleaning sheet of the plurality of cleaning sheets at a position different from a position of a preceding cleaning sheet of the plurality of cleaning sheets in a direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of the plurality of cleaning sheets.

Imaging apparatus and methods for bindery systems are disclosed. An example method includes engaging a signature assembly with an end of a separator to cause 1) a first page of the signature assembly to be disposed on a platform and 2) a second page of the signature assembly to be disposed on the side of the platform; drawing the first page toward the platform; and imaging the first page when the first page is on the platform.

A sheet separation device includes a sheet separation unit, a displacement detector, a displacement adjuster, and a controller. The sheet separation unit performs a sheet separating operation and a sheet inserting operation. The displacement detector detects a displacement amount of the two-ply sheet when the two-ply sheet is displaced in a width direction of the two-ply sheet and detects a displacement amount of the inner sheet. The displacement adjuster adjusts the displacement of the two-ply sheet in the width direction before the sheet separating operation, based on the displacement amount of the two-ply sheet in the width direction detected by the displacement detector. The controller causes the displacement adjuster to adjust relative positions of the two-ply sheet and the inner sheet between the sheet separating operation and the sheet inserting operation, based on the displacement amount of the inner sheet in the width direction detected by the displacement detector.

Imaging apparatus and methods for bindery systems are disclosed. An example method includes engaging a signature assembly with an end of a separator to cause 1) a first page of the signature assembly to be disposed on a platform and 2) a second page of the signature assembly to be disposed on the side of the platform; drawing the first page toward the platform; and imaging the first page when the first page is on the platform.

A sheet separation device includes a sheet separation unit, a displacement detector, a displacement adjuster, and a controller. The sheet separation unit performs a sheet separating operation and a sheet inserting operation. The displacement detector detects a displacement amount of the two-ply sheet when the two-ply sheet is displaced in a width direction of the two-ply sheet and detects a displacement amount of the inner sheet. The displacement adjuster adjusts the displacement of the two-ply sheet in the width direction before the sheet separating operation, based on the displacement amount of the two-ply sheet in the width direction detected by the displacement detector. The controller causes the displacement adjuster to adjust relative positions of the two-ply sheet and the inner sheet between the sheet separating operation and the sheet inserting operation, based on the displacement amount of the inner sheet in the width direction detected by the displacement detector.