Paper binding device, paper processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, and image forming system

A paper binding device comprising:

• a pair of binding members that has a pair of teeth portions, and presses to bind a bundle of paper sheets;
• a moving unit that causes one of the pair of binding members to move along with the other of the pair of binding members between a binding position at which the bundle of paper sheets is bound and a retracted position;
• a separating unit configured to move and coordinate with movement of the one of the pair of binding members, and when the one of the pair of binding members moves from the binding position to the retracted position, that contacts with the bundle of the paper sheets and causes the bundle of paper sheets to separate from the one of the pair of binding members;
• a restricting member configured to stop the separating unit at a restricting position between the binding position and the retracted position, when the one of the pair of the binding members moves from the binding position to the retracted position;
• and
• a contact member included in the separating unit and makes contact with the restricting member, the contact member being a protrusion which is on the separating unit.

A paper binding device comprising:

• a pair of binding members that has a pair of teeth portions, and configured to press so as to bind a bundle of paper sheets;
• a moving unit configured to cause one of the pair of binding members to move along with the other of the pair of binding members between a binding position at which the bundle of paper sheets is bound and a retracted position;
• a separating unit configured to move and coordinate with movement of the one of the pair of binding members, and when the one of the pair of binding members moves from the binding position to the retracted position, that contacts with the bundle of the paper sheets and causes the bundle of paper sheets to separate from the one of the pair of binding members;
• a restricting member configured to stop the separating unit at a restricting position between the binding position and the retracted position, when the one of the pair of the binding members moves from the binding position to the retracted position;
• and
• a contact member included in the separating unit and configured to make contact with the restricting member, wherein:
• the separating unit includes a plate-like member that has a contacting surface for making contact with that surface of the bundle of paper sheets which is facing the one of the pair of binding members,
• the plate-like member has an opening formed thereon from which the teeth portion of the one of the pair of binding members becomes able to move forward as well as retract, and
• the contact member is a protrusion which is disposed on the plate-like member.