Sheet thermocompression apparatus and post-processing apparatus

A sheet thermocompression apparatus comprising:

• a loading portion in which sheets having adhesion toner formed thereon are loaded in a loading direction;
• and
• a thermocompression unit comprising:
• a pressing member elongated in a longitudinal direction, for pressing the sheets loaded in the loading portion in the loading direction, the pressing member overlapping a region of a sheet loaded in the loading portion from one end portion to another end portion in the longitudinal direction in a case where the pressing member is viewed from the loading direction;
• and
• a heating source for heating the pressing member, the heating source being capable of heating an end portion and a center portion of the pressing member in the longitudinal direction to different temperatures,
• wherein the heating source comprises a substrate elongated in the longitudinal direction;
• and a first heat generating element provided on a surface of the substrate,
• wherein the first heat generating element extends from a first end portion to a second end portion of the substrate in the longitudinal direction, and
• wherein a resistance value of an end portion of the first heat generating element in the longitudinal direction is larger than a resistance value of a center portion of the first heat generating element in the longitudinal direction.

A post-processing apparatus to be connected to an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet, the post-processing apparatus comprising a sheet thermocompression apparatus for bonding a plurality of sheets to one another,

• the sheet thermocompression apparatus comprising:
• a loading portion in which sheets having adhesion toner formed thereon are loaded in a loading direction;
• a thermocompression unit comprising:
• a pressing member elongated in a longitudinal direction, for pressing the sheets loaded in the loading portion in the loading direction, the pressing member overlapping a region of a sheet loaded in the loading portion from one end portion to another end portion in the longitudinal direction in a case where the pressing member is viewed from the loading direction;
• and
• a heating source for heating the pressing member, the heating source being capable of heating an end portion and a center portion of the pressing member in the longitudinal direction to different temperatures,
• wherein the heating source comprises a substrate elongated in the longitudinal direction and a first heat generating element and a second heat generating element that are disposed on a surface of the substrate,
• wherein the sheet thermocompression apparatus further comprises a control unit capable of independently controlling an amount of heat generation of the first heat generating element and an amount of heat generation of the second heat generating element, and
• wherein, in a case where the first heat generating element and the second heat generating element are viewed from the loading direction, the first heat generating element is disposed at a position overlapping an end portion of the substrate in the longitudinal direction, and the second heat generating element is disposed at a position overlapping a center portion of the substrate in the longitudinal direction;
• and
• a conveyance mechanism for conveying a sheet on which an image has been formed by the image forming apparatus to the sheet thermocompression apparatus.