Patent ID: 8882649

Claim:
A method for performing a folding process on paper which is conveyed from an image forming apparatus, by using a folding device comprising an alignment member moving unit to move an alignment member, a folding unit, a prior moving unit, and a detection unit, the image forming apparatus being connected to the folding device, the method comprising: moving the alignment member from a home position to a predetermined alignment position upon conveyance of the paper subjected to the folding process from the image forming apparatus; moving the alignment member from the alignment position to a predetermined folding position upon performing the folding process on the paper; positioning the paper aligned by the alignment member at the predetermined folding position; moving the alignment member from the predetermined folding position to the home position or the alignment position according to a position of the end of the paper moved in the folding process; detecting a downstream end of the paper at a predetermined position on a path of the paper moved in the folding process, wherein the alignment member includes a downstream alignment member configured to align the downstream end of the paper, and wherein the detection unit is provided at a predetermined position between a downstream folding position of the downstream alignment member and a downstream home position of the downstream alignment member; and moving the downstream alignment member to the downstream home position or a downstream alignment position when the detection unit detects the downstream end of the paper moved in the folding process.