Spine formation device, post-processing apparatus, and spine formation system

A post-processing apparatus comprising:

• a saddle-stapler to staple a bundle of sheets together along a centerline of the bundle;
• a folding unit to fold the bundle of sheets along the centerline of the bundle;
• and
• a spine formation device to flatten a folded portion of the bundle of folded sheets,
• the spine formation device comprising:
• a sheet conveyer that conveys the bundle of folded sheets with a folded portion of the bundle of folded sheets forming a front end portion of the bundle of folded sheets;
• a sandwiching member disposed downstream from the sheet conveyer in a sheet conveyance direction in which the sheet conveyer conveys the bundle of folded sheets,
• the sandwiching member to sandwich and squeeze the bundle of folded sheets, in a direction of thickness of the bundle of folded sheets;
• and
• a spine formation unit disposed downstream from the sandwiching member in the sheet conveyance direction, to flatten the folded portion of the bundle of folded sheets held by the sandwiching member,
• the folded portion of the bundle of folded sheets projecting a predetermined length from the sandwiching member in the sheet conveyance direction,
• the spine formation unit pressing against the folded portion of the bundle of folded sheets in a reverse direction of the sheet conveyance direction while moving in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the folded portion of the bundle of folded sheets.

A spine formation system comprising:

• an image forming apparatus;
• a post-processing apparatus to perform post processing of sheets transported from the image forming apparatus;
• and
• a spine formation device to flatten a folded portion of a bundle of folded sheets,
• the spine formation device comprising:
• a sheet conveyer that conveys the bundle of folded sheets with a folded portion of the bundle of folded sheets forming a front end portion of the bundle of folded sheets;
• a sandwiching member disposed downstream from the sheet conveyer in a sheet conveyance direction in which the sheet conveyer conveys the bundle of folded sheets,
• the sandwiching member to sandwich and squeeze the bundle of folded sheets, in a direction of thickness of the bundle of folded sheets;
• and
• a spine formation unit disposed downstream from the sandwiching member in the sheet conveyance direction, to flatten the folded portion of the bundle of folded sheets held by the sandwiching member,
• the folded portion of the bundle of folded sheets projecting a predetermined length from the sandwiching member in the sheet conveyance direction,
• the spine formation unit pressing against the folded portion of the bundle of folded sheets in a reverse direction of the sheet conveyance direction while moving in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the folded portion of the bundle of folded sheets.