Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a sorter, includes a plurality of bins for accommodating sheet materials, the bin each having sheet material sheet inlet portion, a discharging device movable along the inlet portions of the bins to discharge the sheet material to selected one of the bins, a sheet material accommodating tray other than the bins to accommodate the sheet materials, a guiding device switchable to direct the sheet material selectively to the bin or to the sheet material accommodating tray, and a device for switching the guiding device to direct the sheet material to the discharging device when the discharging device is at a position for discharging the sheet material to the bin, and the sheet material to the accommodating device when the discharging device is not at the position.

Abstract: A sheet sorting apparatus with a stapler includes a plurality of bin trays which are arranged substantially vertically with predetermined clearances between adjacent bin trays, which are inclined to provide an inclined sheet receiving surfaces and which are independently movable substantially in the vertical direction, wherein the bin trays are so disposed that those ends of adjacent ones of the bin trays which are closer to the sheet inlet are deviated when seen in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sheet receiving surface; bin tray shifting device for moving the plurality of the bin trays stepwisely substantially in the vertical direction to oppose the respective bin trays to a sheet inlet of the sorting apparatus; stapling device, disposed substantially on an extension of the inclined sheet receiving surface and having a stapling head movable to above the sheet receiving surface and an anvil movable to below the sheet receiving surface, for stapling the sheets interposed between the stapling he

Abstract: A sheet sorting apparatus with a stapler includes a plurality of bin trays; bin tray shifting device for moving the plurality of the bin trays stepwisely substantially in the vertical direction to oppose the respective bin trays to a sheet inlet of the sorting apparatus, while expanding the clearances between the bin tray opposed to the sheet inlet and an upper adjacent bin tray and between the bin tray opposed to the sheet inlet and a lower adjacent bin tray to provide a larger clearance than the predetermined clearances; and stapler, disposed substantially on an extension of the inclined sheet receiving surface and having a stapling head movable to above the sheet receiving surface and an anvil movable to below the sheet receiving surface, for stapling the sheets interposed between the stapling head and the anvil, wherein the bin trays are so disposed that between those ends of adjacent ones of the bin trays which are closer to the sheet inlet are deviated when seen in a direction substantially perpendicula

Abstract: A method of controlling a sheet sorter wherein the sheet sorter includes a plurality of bins for accommodating sheets, the bins being arranged in a vertical direction, a first sheet discharging device for discharging sheets not to be sorted, second sheet discharging device, disposed with a vertical interval from the first sheet discharging device, for discharging sheets to be sorted, bin moving device for moving substantially vertically the bins and stapler device for stapling the sheets, the method includes providing the stapler device adjacent to the second sheet discharging device; accommodating the sheets on the plurality of bins by sequentially opposing the bins to the second sheet discharging device, and stapling the sheets on the bins by the stapler, when a sorting mode is selected; discharging the sheets by the first discharging device and accommodating them on a non-sort bin opposed to the first discharging device when a non-sorting mode is selected, and moving the non-sort bin to a neightborhood of

Abstract: A method of controlling a sheet sorter wherein the sheet sorter includes a plurality of bins for accommodating sheets, the bins being arranged in a vertical direction, a first sheet discharging device for discharging sheets not to be sorted, second sheet discharging device, disposed with a vertical interval from the first sheet discharging device, for discharging sheets to be sorted, bin moving device for moving substantially vertically the bins and stapler device for stapling the sheets, the method includes providing the stapler adjacent to the first sheet discharging device; accommodating the sheets on the plurality of bins of sequentially opposing the bins to the second sheet discharging device, and stapling the sheets on the bins by the stapler, when a sorting mode and a stapling mode are selected; discharging the sheets by the first discharging device and accommodating them on a the bin when a non-sorting mode and non-stapling mode are selected; and discharging the sheet by the second discharging device

Abstract: A sheet sorting apparatus with a stapler, includes a plurality of bin trays, bin tray shifting device for moving the plurality of the bin trays stepwisely substantially in the vertical direction to oppose the respective bin trays to a sheet inlet of the sorting apparatus, while expanding the clearance between the bin tray opposed to the sheet inlet and an upper adjacent bin tray to provide a larger clearance than the predetermined clearances, a shaft extending substantially perpendicularly to the extension of the inclined sheet receiving surface, and a stapler, supported rotatably about the shaft and having a stapling head movable to above the sheet receiving surface in a lateral direction by rotation about the shaft and an anvil movable to below the sheet receiving surface by the rotation, for stapling the sheets interposed between the stapling head and the anvil, wherein the bin trays are so disposed that between those ends of adjacent ones of the bin trays which are closer to the sheet inlet are deviated w

Abstract: A sheet sorting apparatus with a stapler, includes a plurality of bin trays, bin tray shifting device for moving the plurality of the bin trays stepwisely substantially in the vertical direction to oppose the respective bin trays to a sheet inlet of the sorting apparatus, while expanding the clearance between the bin tray opposed to the sheet inlet and an upper adjacent bin tray to provide a larger clearance than the predetermined clearances, a shaft extending substantially perpendicularly to the extension of the inclined sheet receiving surface, and a stapler, supported rotatably about the shaft and having a stapling head movable to above the sheet receiving surface in a lateral direction by rotation about the shaft and an anvil movable to below the sheet receiving surface by the rotation, for stapling the sheets interposed between the stapling head and the anvil, wherein the bin trays are so disposed that between those ends of adjacent ones of the bin trays which are closer to the sheet inlet are deviated w