STAPLE REMOVAL DEVICE

A staple removal device (100) includes: a placement table (104) on which a paper bundle is placed, the paper bundle being bound by a staple (S) and including a first paper surface on which a crown portion is exposed; a moving portion (111) arranged at a position facing the first paper surface in a state where the paper bundle is placed on the placement table (104), the moving portion (111) being movable in a direction along the first paper surface and including a wedge plate (112) inclined in a wedge shape toward a tip end thereof; a driving portion (205) configured to move the moving portion (111) toward the crown portion and insert the wedge plate (112) between the crown portion and the first paper surface in the state where the paper bundle is placed on the placement table (104); and an abutment portion (162b) arranged at a position facing the first paper surface in the state where the paper bundle is placed on the placement table (104), the abutment portion (162b) being abutted against the crown portion from a direction opposite to an insertion direction (D) of the wedge plate (112) after the wedge plate (112) is inserted between the crown portion and the first paper surface. As a result, the staple is reliably removed from the paper bundle without damaging the paper bundle.