Binding member removing apparatus, automatic document feeder, sheet processing apparatus, and image forming apparatus

A binding member removing apparatus 300 comprises a tray 30 for mounting thereon a bundle D of document sheets bound with a staple S, a removing unit 410 for removing the staple S from the bundle D of document sheets mounted on the tray 30 , and a moving unit for moving the staple S removed by the removing unit 410 . The removing unit 410 is provided with an inserting member 411 to be passed between the bundle of document sheets and the binding member binding the bundle of document sheets and the inserting member 411 is provided with a plurality of elongated parts 412 formed in the shape of a comb having teeth extended in the direction of insertion thereof. The inserting member optionally comprises a first inserting member 811 to be passed between the obverse face of the bundle D of document sheets and the staple S and a second inserting member 812 to be passed between the reverse face of the bundle D of document sheets and the staple S as a binding member. The binding member removing device is further provided with discerning means for forming a judgment whether or not the staple S has been removed from the bundle D of document sheets after the operation for removal of the staple S by the removing unit 410.