Patent ID: 8668193

Claim:
A sheet processing apparatus comprising: a conveying unit that conveys a booklet formed by folding a sheet bundle; a processing unit that performs a predetermined process on the booklet; a booklet holding unit that includes first and second holding members to hold the booklet and varies a gap distance between the first and second holding members depending on a state of processing the booklet while the processing unit is performing the process on the booklet; and a pressing unit that presses and fixes the booklet while the processing unit is processing the booklet, wherein the gap distance between the first and second holding members is variably set to: a first gap distance sufficient to convey the booklet by the first and second holding members; a second gap distance that is smaller than the first distance and allows the booklet to be in contact with and move between the first and second holding members while an alignment is being performed on the booklet before being processed by the processing unit; and a third gap distance that is smaller than the second distance and sufficient to press and hold the booklet when being processed by the processing unit.