Abstract: A paper sheet processing apparatus has a take-in device which takes in notes set in a setting unit, a judgment device which judges the quality and condition of a note taken in by the take-in device, a stacking box which stacks the note judged the quality and condition by the judgment device, a backup which is provided movably up and down in the stacking box and stacks notes, and a control device which variably controls the position of the backup based on the result of judgment by the judgment device.

Abstract: A system, method, and resulting resilient belt type sheet compiler with a mixed sheet length mode is provided. The device includes a resilient belt transport for sequentially feeding sheets from a sheet inlet to a compiler tray, the compiler tray having a lead edge stop and a trail edge wall. A monitoring means is positioned proximate to the trail edge wall for detecting a lead end and a trail end of sequentially fed sheets from the sheet inlet to the compiler tray. A sheet brake, responsive to the monitoring means detecting a short sheet, selectively stalls the detected short sheet until a lead end of a subsequent sheet is detected by the sensor or subsequent sheets are absent.

Abstract: Provided is a sheet processing apparatus connected to an image forming apparatus, including: an intermediate process tray which receives sheets delivered from the image forming apparatus as a sheet stack; a process unit which applies a predetermined process for the sheet stack received on the intermediate process tray; a pair of rollers which nips and delivers the sheet stack subjected to the predetermined process by the process unit; a stack tray which receives the sheet stack delivered by the pair of rollers; and a controller moves one roller of the pair of rollers to a standby position corresponding to a thickness of the sheet stack to be delivered onto the stack tray.

Abstract: A media depository comprises: an input for receiving deposited media items, a discriminator arranged to receive individual deposited media items from the input, and to ascertain whether each individual deposited media item is a banknote or a check; and a combined media container. The combined media container comprises: first and second media entrances, located opposite each other; first and second moveable supports, also located opposite each other; and an urging mechanism coupled to the first and second moveable supports and arranged to urge the first moveable support towards the first media entrance and the second moveable support towards the second media entrance, so that the first and second moveable supports are initially located at the first and second entrances respectively, and move closer to each other as media items are deposited.

Abstract: To prevent deviation in a processing position of a sheet bundle caused by buckling of the sheet bundle and handle a number of diversified kinds of sheets without increasing the size of apparatuses, a sheet processing apparatus and a image forming apparatus includes a pair of saddle entrance rollers which discharges a sheet; a stack tray which stacks the sheet discharged by the roller pair; a gripping member which grips the rear end portion of the sheet in the discharging direction which is stacked by the tray; a gripper which grips the front end portion of the sheet in the discharging direction which is stacked by the tray; and a stapler, etc., which processes a sheet bundle at a processing position, wherein the gripping member and the gripper grip the sheet bundle stacked by the tray and move the sheet bundle to the processing position in cooperation with each other.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus incorporating a discharging unit that discharges a printing medium outside the housing of the image forming apparatus, and which stacks the discharged printing medium. The discharging unit includes a discharging part arranged on the transportation path of the printing medium in the housing, a stacking lever rotatably supported on the housing and a driving unit that drives the stacking lever to rotate. The discharging part discharges a printing medium outside the housing, and stacks the discharged printing medium on a stacking unit provided outside the housing. The stacking lever guides the stacking of the printing medium in the stacking unit. A control unit may be provided to control the driving unit so as to vary the revolution position of the stacking lever based on the discharged position of the printing medium discharged by the discharging part.

Abstract: A media stacker unit comprises: (i) at least one stacker wheel and (ii) a detent. The stacker wheel includes: a hub for mounting on an axle, and a plurality of arcuate tines, each tine being coupled to the hub at a hub end and extending transverse to the axle to a point radially spaced from the axle at a capture end. When the stacker wheel is rotated about the axle, the capture ends traverse a capture circumference. Each tine further comprises a resilient tine portion. The detent partially extends within the capture circumference for engaging with and temporarily retarding a capture end as the stacker wheel is rotated. This reduces the time during which that capture end blocks a media transport path, thereby reducing the possibility of a media item colliding with a capture end and jamming the media stacker unit.

Abstract: A catch tray for stacking sheets discharged from an apparatus that includes a first sheet-stacking area and a second sheet-stacking area. The tray further includes a first stopper regulation part disposed, within the second sheet-stacking area, on a downstream side of the sheet discharging direction that regulates edges of discharged sheets of a largest size allowed to be stacked on the catch tray and a second stopper regulation part in the first sheet-stacking area that regulates edges of the discharged sheets of a size smaller than the largest size and elastically deforms in the sheet discharging direction when a sheet of the largest size is discharged so as to allow the first stopper regulation part to regulate an edge of the sheet of the largest size.

Abstract: Typical configurations of a sheet stacking apparatus, a sheet processing apparatus, and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a discharging unit which discharges a sheet; a stacking member which stacks a discharged sheet; and a holding unit which is movably disposed along a stacking surface of the stacking member and holds an upstream end in the discharging direction of a stacked sheet, wherein the holding unit is moved according to changes in the upstream end position of the sheet in the discharging direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet stacking apparatus which has a pair of lower discharge rollers which discharges a sheet, a processing tray which stacks the sheet discharged from the pair of lower discharge rollers, a trailing end stopper which aligns the trailing end portion in the conveying direction of the sheet bundle stacked on the processing tray, and pull-in paddles which drop the sheet discharged from the pair of lower discharge rollers on the processing tray and conveys the sheet to abut against the trailing end stopper where the pull-in paddles rotate at a first rotating speed so that the sheet discharged from the pair of lower discharge rollers is dropped on the processing tray and the pull-in paddles rotate at a second rotating speed, slower than the first rotating speed, so that the sheet abuts against the trailing end stopper.

Abstract: A holding portion includes a engagement portion which holds a sheet pressing lever which presses from above a sheet discharged into a sheet stacking portion so that the engagement portion moves upward together with an image reading portion rotatably provided above an image forming portion, and an elastic portion which elastically deforms to release the holding of the sheet pressing lever by the engagement portion. If a force is applied to the sheet pressing lever being held by the holding portion in a direction which makes the lever rotate even lower than its lower limit position, the elastic portion elastically deforms to release the holding of the sheet pressing lever by the engagement portion.

Abstract: A medium stacker apparatus comprising a stacking portion for stacking a medium discharged from a delivery section formed at an upper portion of an apparatus housing, has a top cover which can be open and closed with respect to the apparatus housing, and a part of said stacking portion is formed at the top cover. The stacking portion is constituted of a first stacking portion formed as secured to the apparatus housing, and a second stacking portion serving as a part of the top cover and pivoting openably as separately from the first stacking portion. Printing media therefore do not interfere with the delivery section in a case where the top cover as the second stacking portion is made to be pivotally moved as opened while the printing media are stacked on the stacking portion.

Abstract: A recording medium discharge mechanism is provided with a side wall member capable of changing position between an upright state in which small size sheets are caught when small size sheets are discharged and a laid flat state in which a placement surface of a discharge space is extended for placement of large size sheets when large size sheets are discharged by a discharge mechanism having the discharge space, whose downstream side in a paper discharge direction has been opened. In the upright state, the side wall member does not protrude laterally from an apparatus. Furthermore, in the laid flat state, large size sheets can be placed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first unit configured to form an image, in a recording part, on a first surface of a recording medium being fed from a storing member for storing the recording medium, reverse the recording medium and feed it again to the recording part, form an image on a second surface of the recording medium, and eject the recording medium through an outlet; and a second unit disposed above the first unit. The second unit includes a first reading part, the first reading part being movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the recording medium. The first unit and the second unit form a first space therebetween, and a length from a front end of the first unit to the outlet is greater than or equal to a length of a maximum sized recording medium capable of being stored in the storing member.

Abstract: A large format stacking tray in an image production device is disclosed. The large format stacking tray may include a tray body of a first length that may be attachable to a stacker device in a finishing module of the image production device, and a tray top surface located on top of the tray body on which a media stack containing one or more media sheets rests upon after being output by the image production device. The tray top surface has a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The tray top surface may be sloped between the first end and the second end in a manner that permits media sheets that are longer than the first length to be output and stacked onto the stacker device.

Abstract: A strike plate (266) against which sheets (150) exiting a printer contact prior to falling into a receiving tray, the strike plate comprising: a) at least one strike face (268); and b) a generally outward directed abutment surface (254) at an upper portion of the strike face, said direction being referenced to said strike face.

Abstract: A sheet finishing apparatus includes a conveyance section which is disposed in a space section which is surrounded by peripheral walls of an image forming apparatus main body and conveys a recording medium discharged from the image forming apparatus in a paper discharge direction, a frame which is positioned in the space section and contains the conveyance section, and a removal mechanism to bring the conveyance section into a removal mode in synchronization with an operation of extracting the frame from the space section.

Abstract: An embodiment of an image forming apparatus includes: a sheet discharging unit provided in a space between a document reading unit and an image forming unit; a stack tray on which a sheet discharged to the sheet discharging unit is stacked; a rotating mechanism configured to lift and lower, with a front surface side of the stack tray as a fulcrum, the other end of the stack tray to incline the stack tray; and a control unit configured to control an angle of inclination of the stack tray in association with the discharge of the sheet such that the angle of inclination decreases as sheets stacked on the stack tray increase.

Abstract: There is described a paper sheet post processing apparatus that includes a paper sheet stacking apparatus in which the paper sheet stacking operation can be smoothly and stably conducted during a high-speed post processing of paper sheets. The paper sheet stacking apparatus includes: a paper sheet stacking tray that is inclined with respect to a horizontal line; an ejecting member to press-push a lower end portion of the paper sheets stacked on the paper sheet stacking tray, so as to eject the paper sheets outside the paper sheet stacking apparatus; and a protrusion member to push up substantially a center portion of the paper sheets stacked on the paper sheet stacking tray. The protrusion member is formed as a separate member being independent of the ejecting member. Further, the height of the protrusion member is lower than that of the ejecting member.

Abstract: There is provided a sheet discharging apparatus and an image forming apparatus, in which even a curled sheet can properly be discharged to and stacked on a sheet stacking portion. A projection is provided in a central portion in a width direction of a tailing end regulating portion while projected toward an upstream side in a sheet discharge direction. The tailing end regulating portion regulates a tailing end position of the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking portion. The tailing end position of the sheet discharged to the sheet stacking portion is supported by the projection, and the both end portions in the width direction of the sheet are pushed down below an upper surface of the projection by pressing portions at both ends of a full load detecting flag, thereby bending the sheet.

Abstract: A post-processing method involves using a standby tray to receive a paper sheet to be supplied from a digital copier, a processing tray to receive a paper sheet dropped from a standby tray, a feed member which guides the rear end of a paper sheet received in a standby tray in the feeding direction to a processing tray, and scrapes and sends the rear end of a paper sheet dropped onto a processing tray to a stopper, a press member which clamps the rear end of a paper sheet received in a standby tray by cooperating with two feed members, and a stapler to staple the aligned rear ends of paper sheets. When a first paper sheet is supplied to the standby tray, the press member presses the rear end of the first paper sheet, to receive a second paper.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus of the present invention includes a post-processing unit provided inside a housing and configured to perform post-processing on sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus, a sheet discharge unit configured to guide sheets having undergone post-processing to a discharge port, a paper discharge tray configured to accommodate sheets discharged from the discharge port and allowed to ascend and descend within a specific height range lower than the discharge port, and a sheet member disposed directly below the discharge port and configured to move along a wall surface of the housing in association with ascending and descending of the paper discharge tray and receive rear ends of the sheets accommodated in the paper discharge tray, a width of a receiving portion thereof in a height direction varying with a quantity of the sheets accommodated in the paper discharge tray.

Abstract: A paper sheet accumulating/feeding apparatus to execute an accumulating processing, in which paper sheets conveyed by a conveyance unit are accumulated in an accumulating unit in a direction of accumulation, and a feeding processing, in which paper sheets accumulated in the accumulating unit are fed to the conveyance unit, comprising a rotating member including one or more pieces, which spread radially from an axis thereof, the rotating member being provided in the vicinity of a connection between the conveyance unit and the accumulating unit to enable the piece or pieces to slap and move a paper sheet in the accumulating unit in the direction of accumulation at the time of accumulating processing, and a guide member provided to guide the piece or pieces to enable the same to be stored toward the axis of the rotating member, whereby the paper sheet accumulating/feeding apparatus is able to readily set the piece or pieces long and endures an operation over a long term and frequent operations.

Abstract: A media dispenser has a delivery module for feeding media, a stacking module for stacking the media, which are fed through the delivery module, on a stacking plate, and a delivery clamp module for clamping the media stacked on the stacking module and delivering the clamped media to the customer, and for feeding the media, which the customer did not take out, to the stacking plate. A path through which the media clamped by the delivery clamp module are fed to a reject box is opened by moving the stacking plate of the stacking module. The method comprises the steps of returning the media onto the stacking plate by a clamp assembly, opening a reject slot by allowing a driving plate to be moved by a driving source and the stacking plate to be moved together with the driving plate, and dropping the media as the clamp assembly unclamps the media through the opened reject slot.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming stacks in sheet-processing machines, in particular printing machines, includes side stops moving back and forth. The stops are divided into upper and lower parts. The lower part can be displaced vertically or in slotted guides and can interact with a switch in order to switch off a stack lift drive.

Abstract: A post-processing apparatus having a conveyance device to convey a sheet, a sheet bundle storing device to load and store the sheets conveyed by the conveyance device as a sheet bundle, a moving device to enable the sheet bundle storing device to be movable, a post-processing device to carry out post-process for the sheet bundle accumulated in the sheet bundle storing device, wherein the sheet bundle storing device can be withdrawn to outside the post-processing apparatus main body through the moving device so as to be capable of storing the sheet bundle from outside.

Abstract: A card collection mechanism may include a card collection box for collecting a card, a feeding roller for carrying the card from a feeding passage to the card collection box, and a guide part for guiding the card to the card collection box. The guide part guides the card while the guide part causes the card to be resiliently bent in a direction where an urging force directed to a surface of the feeding roller is applied to the card when the card is fed to the card collection box, and the feeding roller carries the card to a state in which the card is capable of being collected in the card collection box. The card collection mechanism may be used in a card issuing device having a card issuing part.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus according to the invention includes a conveying portion that conveys a sheet; and an abutment member against which an end of the sheet in a conveying direction abuts, the sheet being conveyed by the conveying portion. Herein, the abutment member is movable so as to change a distance between the abutment member and the conveying portion adjacent to the abutment member based on sheet information about the stiffness of a sheet, when an end of the sheet in the conveying direction is abutted against the abutment member.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a tray includes a take on surface on which a sheet is placed, a projecting portion configured to stick out from the take on surface, and a slip stopper including a sheet-slip stopper portion having a larger frictional coefficient with the sheet than the take on surface has. The slip stopper sticks the sheet-slip stopper portion out from the take on surface when the sheet comes into contact with the projecting portion.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus having: a sheet discharge tray to move upward and downward; an alignment section including first and second regulating members to align a side edge of a sheet on the tray; a first drive section for moving the tray upward or downward; a second drive section for moving the regulating members in a conveyance width direction; and a control section for controlling the first and the second drive sections so as to: align the side edge of the sheet discharged on the tray on the basis of the position of the first regulating member; when a predetermined amount of the sheets are discharged on the tray, separate the sheets from the first regulating member and the second regulating member by moving the tray or the alignment section and, after that, move the regulating members in the conveyance width direction; and align the side edge of the sheets.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a document tray, an output tray on which the document for which image reading is finished is placed, a roller applying carrying force to the document by rotating and contacting the document, and a movable ejection flap. The ejection flap is movable between a first position where the document for which image reading is finished is sunk into a position between the output tray and a bottom of a document already stacked on the output tray and a second position where the document is ejected on the output tray without being sunk into the position between the output tray and the bottom of the stacked document. The automatic document feeder also includes a switching unit to switch between a first motion of transmitting driving force of a driving source to the movable ejection flap and a second motion of transmitting driving force to the roller.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus comprises: an first stack portion which temporarily stacks a sheet thereon; a first stack portion which is disposed under the first stack portion and stacks thereon a sheet discharged from the first stack portion; a second stack portion which is disposed above the first stack portion and stacks a sheet thereon; a stack reference wall which serves as an abutment reference at an end of the sheet on the second stack portion; and an alignment reference wall which is disposed more upstream in the sheet conveyance direction than the stack reference wall and serves as an abutment reference at an end of the sheet on the first stack portion; wherein the second stack portion has such a length that an end of the sheet stacked on the first stack portion cannot project from the second stack portion, as viewed from above in a vertical direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet processing apparatus that can prevent, with higher certainty, lift of the trailing end of each sheet placed in sheet stacking portion. This apparatus includes a first holding member and a second holding member that prevent lift of the trailing end of each sheet from an intermediate stacking portion. When introduced to the intermediate stacking portion, the subsequent sheet comes into contact with the first holding member, so that the first holding member moves to the retracting position. As the subsequent sheet continues to be conveyed, the subsequent sheet comes into contact with the second holding member, so that the second holding member moves from the restricting position to the retracting position. As the trailing end of the sheet is introduced, the first holding member moves from the retracting position to the restricting position, to hold down the trailing end of the sheet.

Abstract: A post-processing apparatus has a standby tray to receive a paper sheet to be supplied from a digital copier, a processing tray to receive a paper sheet dropped from a standby tray, a feed member which guides the rear end of a paper sheet received in a standby tray in the feeding direction to a processing tray, and scrapes and sends the rear end of a paper sheet dropped onto a processing tray to a stopper, a press member which clamps the rear end of a paper sheet received in a standby tray by cooperating with two feed members, and a stapler to staple the aligned rear ends of paper sheets. When a first paper sheet is supplied to the standby tray, the press member presses the rear end of the first paper sheet, to receive a second paper.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for forming image, digital image information is generated by conveying a document and scanning an image recorded on the document while conveying the document. When an image is scanned with a high resolution that is greater than a default resolution, a document is conveyed at a default speed at an initial stage and the document is conveyed at a speed slower than the default speed during an image scanning operation. The image forming apparatus includes a scan unit scanning the image recorded on the document, and a conveying unit which conveys the document at a default speed in an initial stage of conveying the document, and which conveys the document at a speed slower than the default speed while scanning the image in a high resolution scanning operation that has higher resolution than a default resolution.

Abstract: A booklet loading apparatus has a carry-out unit that sequentially carries out plural booklets to a predetermined carry-out position; a transfer unit that sequentially arranges the booklets carried out from the carry-out unit while the booklets overlap one another, the transfer unit transferring the booklets in a predetermined transfer direction, the transfer unit returning the booklet to an upstream side in the transfer direction once in each time when the booklet is carried out from the carry-out unit, then the transfer unit transferring the booklet in the transfer direction; a loading unit on which the booklet carried out by the transfer unit is loaded; and an orientation correcting unit arranged on the upstream side in the transfer direction with respect to the transfer position, the orientation correcting unit correcting an orientation of the booklet to a predetermined orientation by causing the booklet to abut on the orientation correcting unit.

Abstract: A control method for controlling a sheet processing apparatus having a stacking control unit configured to cause a sheet on which an image is printed by a printing unit to abut a movable abutting member, followed by stacking the sheet on a stacking unit, the control method includes: determining a position of the abutting member; and controlling a sheet which is abutted to the abutting member moved to a first position determined by the determination and mounted on the stacking unit and a sheet which is abutted to the abutting member moved to a second position determined by the determination and mounted on the stacking unit so that the sheets are mounted on said stacking unit while being prevented from overlapping from one another.

Abstract: A method and device for forming a stack of sheets including a delivery surface, and also a stop and a pusher element movable in the direction of the stop, and also a guide which can occupy a first and a second position, in which the first position a sheet can be received in the guide, and in which the second position a guide path is formed, wherein the freedom of movement of the sheet edge is substantially limited in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pushing direction and substantially perpendicular to the delivery surface of the preceding sheet.

Abstract: Bills are aligned, ejected and collected in a storage tray without being bent. A bill conveyed to the storage tray is given curve habits in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the bill. The front edge of the bill immediately after being ejected from the last conveying part lifts up holding levers by pressing their lower surfaces. The holding levers impose a load on the bill, and strengthen the curve habits of the bill. Then, the bill is conveyed in an obliquely upward conveyance direction immediately after passing through the last conveying part. And the bill continues to be conveyed to the storage tray.

Abstract: A paper pressing unit is composed of two cylindrical paper pressing portions, connecting members to which the paper pressing portions are each connected, and rotational shafts protruding outward from the central parts of the connecting members along the longer sides thereof, and is rotatably supported between frames provided inside the apparatus and disposed in the width direction of the processing tray (in the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 2). The paper pressing portions are disposed in such a way that a surface of a circular cylinder whose cylindrical axis corresponds to a line passing through the rotational shafts is divided thereby into equal parts (into two equal parts). The paper pressing portions travel on the same orbit as the paper pressing unit rotates.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet processing apparatus that can prevent, with higher certainty, lift of the trailing end of each sheet placed in sheet stacking portion. This apparatus includes a first holding member and a second holding member that prevent lift of the trailing end of each sheet from an intermediate stacking portion. When introduced to the intermediate stacking portion, the subsequent sheet comes into contact with the first holding member, so that the first holding member moves to the retracting position. As the subsequent sheet continues to be conveyed, the subsequent sheet comes into contact with the second holding member, so that the second holding member moves from the restricting position to the retracting position. As the trailing end of the sheet is introduced, the first holding member moves from the retracting position to the restricting position, to hold down the trailing end of the sheet.

Abstract: A mechanical device to stabilize the stack height position of a compiler output tray and compress the sets in the tray is provided. The small mechanical device may be mounted in the back wall of the stacker tray near the top limit. The mechanical device includes a gravity-activated arm that moves out of the way when a set is ejected and, then, when the stacker tray lowers, the arm returns to the extended position. The tray rises again to the compiling position for the next set, pushing the arm upwards and compressing the set against the rubber contact member. The compression reduces the stack height, increases tray capacity and prevents each new set from pushing out the top of the stack.

Abstract: An automatic sheet transporting apparatus includes a transporting unit with a discharge roller, the transporting unit discharge a sheet onto a discharge tray configured that support discharged sheets in a stack. A discharge guide, positioned on an upstream side of the discharge tray in a sheet discharging direction, guides a subsequent sheet transported by the transporting unit to a position between the discharge tray and a bottom surface of a previously discharged sheet in the stack. The discharge tray includes at least one rotating member that rotates when the discharge guide guides the subsequent sheet between the discharge tray and the bottom surface of the previously discharged sheet in the stack. The frictional resistance applied to the subsequent sheet is reduced to increase the number of sheets that can be stacked in the discharge tray.

Abstract: The sheet processing apparatus is provided with: an apparatus main body that performs processing for a sheet; a sheet stacker on which a sheet transported from the apparatus main body is stacked in a first state where the sheet stacker is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, and that is downwardly movable; and a moving-down unit that moves the sheet stacker down. The sheet stacker is provided so as to be detachable from the apparatus main body, and so as to change posture from the first state to a second state where the sheet stacker is less inclined relative to the first state.

Abstract: In a bill processing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the invention, the bill P delivered in the bill press area 10 is moved toward the loading tray 60 at one side of the press plate 32 and then toward the loading tray 60 at the other side of the press plate 32. In other words, in the operation of pressing the bill, the pressing operation timings by the bill press device 30 are different at both sides of the bill P. In addition, by means of the operation of the swing press members 300, 302, the bill can be pushed in the loading tray 60 while changing a position of the press operating point along a longitudinal direction of the bill P.

Abstract: A sheet stacking device includes: an evacuation section for transporting and ejecting sheets; a sheet exit tray for stacking the ejected sheets; an arm supporting member; and a sheet presser arm including a supported end at one end, a free end at the other end which is capable of pressing the sheets stacked on the sheet exit tray directly or via a contact member attached to the free end, and a flexure portion having flexibility between the supported end and the free end. The supported end is attached to the arm supporting member. The arm can apply, by the flexibility of the flexure portion, a pressing force to the sheets stacked on the sheet exit tray and a repulsive force to each of the ejected sheets when a front end of the ejected sheet strikes against the arm.

Abstract: A sheet aligning device includes a sheet feeder that discharges a sheet in a first direction, a sheet tray on which the sheet is stacked, a sheet jogger that aligns the sheet on the sheet tray in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a sheet detection filler that detects a state of the sheet on the sheet tray. The sheet detection filler detects a position of a topmost sheet in the stack of sheets on the sheet tray and determines an alignment position from where the sheet jogger is to begin alignment of the sheets.

Abstract: The sheet discharging apparatus for discharging sheets to a stacking portion by a discharging portion, including an opening/closing member openable and closable with respect to a main body of the apparatus; a lever member rotatably provided on the opening/closing member above the stacking portion and capable of taking a suspended posture by an own weight of the lever member in a position where the opening/closing member is closed; and a delay mechanism which delays a rotation of the lever member toward the suspended posture caused by the own weight of the lever member, when the opening/closing member is shifted from an open position to a closed position. It can be prevented from being caught by the sheet when the upper cover is opened and closed.

Abstract: There provided is a post-processing apparatus which has a simple structure and makes more than one sheet of recording paper easily slide down a slope of a post-processing tray, has no irregularity in the alignment of the sheets of recording paper in the discharging direction, and makes the alignment of sheets of recording paper easier after that. A finisher unit is provided with conveyance rollers for discharging sheets to a processing tray, aligning plates for guiding both sides of the sheets discharged by the conveyance rollers, and a control CPU for controlling an operation of the aligning plates. When the sheets guided by the pair of aligning plates slide down a slope of the processing tray, the control CPU causes the pair of aligning plates to vibrate in the cross direction of the sheet and in the same direction.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus including a cross-directionally moving device for moving a sheet in a direction crossing a sheet discharging direction, and a cross-side restricting member for receiving one side edge of the sheet moved in the crossing direction by the cross-directionally moving device, and restricting the movement of the sheet, wherein the cross-directionally moving device moves the next sheet from a position between the other side edge of the sheet received by the cross-side restricting member and the cross-side restricting member to the cross-side restricting member.