Tape heating apparatus and bookbinding apparatus

A bookbinding apparatus comprising:

• a tape heating apparatus including;
• first heating means for heating a central portion in a width direction of a bind tape to penetrate a melted adhesive into a bound edge of a sheet bundle urged against the central portion of the bind tape,
• second heating means for heating and pressurizing both side portions in the width direction of the bind tape to adhere both side portions of the bind tape to a front surface and a rear surface of the sheet bundle with melted adhesive, and
• control means for controlling said second heating means so that, when the thickness of the sheet bundle is smaller than a predetermined value, said second heating means performs a first heating/pressurizing operation to adhere both side portions of the bind tape to the front surface and the rear surface of the sheet bundle at a first position in the vicinity of the bound edge of the sheet bundle, and then performs a second heating/pressurizing operation to adhere both side portions of the bind tape to the front surface and the rear surface of the sheet bundle at a second position spaced apart from the bound edge of the sheet bundle by a predetermined distance;
• tape convey means for conveying a cut bind tape to a bookbinding position disposed forwardly of said tape heating apparatus;
• and
• sheet bundle convey means for conveying the sheet bundle to said bookbinding position.