Medium processing device and image forming apparatus

A medium processing device comprising:

• a conveyor configured to convey multiple sheets in a conveyance direction;
• a tray configured to stack the multiple sheets conveyed to the tray by the conveyor;
• a first binder configured to perform a first binding process on the multiple sheets stacked on the tray;
• a second binder configured to perform a second binding process different from the first binding process on the multiple sheets stacked on the tray;
• a common guide extending in a main scanning direction intersecting the conveyance direction and disposed upstream from the tray in the conveyance direction;
• a first branch guide branched from one end of the common guide in the main scanning direction to a first standby position in a first direction;
• a second branch guide branched from the one end of the common guide in the main scanning direction to a second standby position in a second direction different from the first direction;
• circuitry configured to:
• cause one of the first binder and the second binder to move to an automatic binding position on the common guide facing the tray in the conveyance direction, or a manual binding position along the first branch guide and the common guide,
• wherein the first binder is movable between the first standby position and the manual binding position,
• the second binder is movable between the second standby position and the manual binding position,
• wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
• cause the one of the first binder and the second binder, at the automatic binding position, to perform an automatic binding operation of a corresponding one of the first binding process and the second binding process on the multiple sheets conveyed by the conveyor to the tray;
• cause the one of the first binder and the second binder, at the manual binding position, to perform a manual binding operation of a corresponding one of the first binding process and the second binding process on the multiple sheets inserted into the case through the slit;
• in response to receiving an instruction for the manual binding operation by the second binder during the automatic binding operation by the first binder, and determining that a first time (T) for the manual binding operation is shorter than a second time (T0) for a number of the multiple sheets stacked on the tray to reach N,
• cause the first binder to move from the automatic binding position to the first standby position;
• cause the second binder to move from the second standby position to the manual binding position;
• cause the second binder at the manual binding position to perform the manual binding operation of the second binding process, on the multiple sheets inserted into the case through the slit, to complete the manual binding operation by the second binder before the automatic binding operation by the first binder;
• cause the second binder to move from the manual binding position to the second standby position;
• cause the first binder to move from the first standby position to the automatic binding position;
• and
• cause the first binder at the automatic binding position to perform the automatic binding operation of the first binding process on the multiple sheets stacked on the tray, and
• wherein the first time (T) for the manual binding operation includes time for:
• a movement of the first binder from the automatic binding position to the first standby position;
• a movement of the second binder from the second standby position to the manual binding position;
• the manual binding operation of the second binding process by the second binder;
• a movement of the second binder from the manual binding position to the second standby position;
• and
• a movement of the first binder from the first standby position to the automatic binding position.