Bookbinding apparatus and image forming system

1. A bookbinding apparatus for bookbinding such that a cover sheet forms a front and a back cover by bonding the cover sheet and a spine portion of a bundle of sheets together, the bookbinding apparatus comprising:

a cover-sheet outfitting device which can be raised and lowered for holding and conveying a cover sheet to a cover sheet bonding position where the cover sheet is bonded to a bundle of sheets; and

a cover-sheet trimming device which is integrally formed with the cover-sheet outfitting device and is raised and lowered together with the cover-sheet outfitting device and which trims a cover sheet conveyed from the cover-sheet outfitting device, to a predetermined length prior to bonding the cover sheet to the bundle of sheets.

2. The bookbinding apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cover-sheet outfitting device comprises:

a transporting member for transporting a cover sheet, and

an alignment device for positioning the cover sheet by regulating an end side of the cover sheet parallel to a direction of transportation conducted by the transporting member.

3. The bookbinding apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein the cover-sheet outfitting device is driven by an elevation device such that the cover-sheet outfitting device can be raised and lowered for receiving a cover sheet transported from a cover-sheet supply device at a lowered position and for coming close to a bonding position where the cover-sheet outfitting device bonds the cover sheet at a raised position.

4. The bookbinding apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the alignment device sets a position of a cover sheet in a width direction prior to trimming the cover sheet by the cover-sheet trimming device and sets a position of the cover sheet in a width direction after the trimming, prior to bonding the cover sheet to the bundle of sheets.

5. The bookbinding apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the cover-sheet outfitting device is raised while maintaining a set position after setting a position of the cover sheet in a width direction after trimming conducted by the cover-sheet trimming device.

6. The bookbinding apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein an angle of the cover-sheet outfitting device and the cover-sheet trimming device is adjustable with respect to a horizontal plane.

7. The bookbinding apparatus of claim 2 ,

wherein the alignment device comprises an ejection device for ejecting a bundle of sheets bonded with the cover sheet out of the apparatus.

8. A bookbinding apparatus for bookbinding such that a cover sheet forms a front and a back cover by bonding the cover sheet and a spine portion of a bundle of sheets together, the bookbinding apparatus comprising:

a cover-sheet outfitting device which can be raised and lowered in its entirety for holding and conveying a cover sheet to a cover sheet bonding position where the cover sheet is bonded to a bundle of sheets;

wherein the cover-sheet outfitting device comprises:

an alignment device for regulating an end of a cover sheet in a width direction so as to position the cover sheet; and

a cover-sheet trimming device for trimming the cover sheet positioned by the alignment device, to a predetermined length prior to bonding the cover sheet to the bundle of sheets.

9. The bookbinding apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the cover-sheet outfitting device is driven by an elevation device such that the cover-sheet outfitting device can be raised and lowered for receiving a cover sheet transported from a cover-sheet supply device at a lowered position and for coming close to a bonding position where the cover-sheet outfitting device bonds the cover sheet at a raised position.

10. The bookbinding apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the alignment device sets a position of a cover sheet in a width direction prior to trimming the cover sheet by the cover-sheet trimming device and sets a position of the cover sheet in a width direction after the trimming, prior to bonding the cover sheet to the bundle of sheets.

11. The bookbinding apparatus of claim 10 ,

wherein the cover-sheet outfitting device is raised while maintaining a set position after setting a position of the cover sheet in a width direction after trimming conducted by the cover-sheet trimming device.

12. The bookbinding apparatus of claim 8 , wherein an angle of the cover-sheet outfitting device and the cover-sheet trimming device is adjustable with respect to a horizontal plane.

13. The bookbinding apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the alignment device comprises an ejection device for ejecting a bundle of sheets bonded with the cover sheet out of the apparatus.