Binding member, binding device, and image processing apparatus

A binding device comprising:

• a holding unit that holds a bundle of recording materials;
• and
• a binding member that has an upper toothed part and a lower toothed part forming a pair and perform a binding process of forming irregularities in the bundle of recording materials held by the holding unit,
• wherein in the binding member,
• in at least one of the upper toothed part and the lower toothed part, when the upper toothed part and the lower toothed part are engaged, surfaces wide in a direction parallel to a pressing direction of the toothed parts are formed so as to be provided gaps between the upper toothed part and the lower toothed part, and
• wherein the upper toothed part and the lower toothed part are in contact with each other at inclined side surfaces provided on intermediate parts in the pressing direction of the upper toothed part and the lower toothed part.

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• an image forming unit that forms images on recording materials;
• and
• a binding unit that has an upper toothed part and a lower toothed part forming a pair and perform a binding process of forming irregularities in a bundle of recording materials having images formed by the image forming unit,
• wherein in the binding unit,
• in at least one of the upper toothed part and the lower toothed part, when the upper toothed part and the lower toothed part are engaged, surfaces wide in a direction parallel to a pressing direction of the toothed parts are formed so as to be provided gaps between the upper toothed part and the lower toothed part, and
• wherein the upper toothed part and the lower toothed part are in contact with each other at inclined side surfaces provided on intermediate parts in the pressing direction of the upper toothed part and the lower toothed part.