Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus includes a main unit, and a processing unit installed on an installation surface of the main unit and configured to process a sheet discharged from a discharge portion in a first direction. The processing unit includes a first connector electrically connected to the main unit, and a first guide pin extending in a second direction crossing the first direction. The main unit includes a second connector electrically connected to the processing unit in a manner the first connector is inserted along the second direction, and a first guide hole the first guide pin passing through the first guide hole. At least a part of the first guide pin is disposed in a position different from a position of the second connector in a third direction crossing both the first direction and the second direction.

Abstract: In an image forming system, a processing unit 120 is provided in an in-body space of an image forming apparatus 1 in a detachably attachable manner, and the image forming apparatus 1 and the processing unit 120 are electrically connected using a drawer connector on a rear side of the in-body space. The processing unit 120 is supported by a movable frame 222 of a slide rail 220, and the movable frame 222 is slidable to be separated from a pair of discharge rollers 20 in a state in which a connector 126 on the processing unit side is disposed on a rear side of the fixed frame 221 and connected to a connector 42 on the image forming apparatus 1 side.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including a main unit and a processing unit installed on an installation surface and configured to process the sheet discharged from a discharge portion. The processing unit includes a first connector electrically connected to the main unit; and a first positioning portion that protrudes from a bottom surface toward the installation surface. The main unit includes a second connector disposed, in a second direction, on a first side with respect to a sheet discharging position onto which the sheet is discharged from the discharge portion, the second direction crossing the first direction, and the second connector being electrically connected to the processing unit in a manner that the first connector is inserted into the second connector along the second direction; and a groove portion provided on the installation surface and engages with the first positioning portion.

Abstract: A pair of conveyance rollers conveys a sheet in a first conveyance direction. A sheet dropping portion includes a pivot center, is provided to extend upstream in the first conveyance direction from the pivot center. The sheet dropping portion drops the sheet onto a placement portion by moving from an upper position toward a lower position about the pivot center. A stapleless binding unit includes a sheet receiving portion and performs a binding process without using a staple on a sheet bundle placed on the placement portion and received by a sheet receiving portion. A guiding portion is provided on the sheet dropping portion and passes the sheet onto the sheet receiving portion in a case where the sheet abuts against the guiding portion in a state in which the sheet dropping portion is at a guiding position below the upper position.

Abstract: A sheet dropping portion abuts on a sheet conveyed in a first conveyance direction by a pair of conveyance rotary members from above to drop the sheet onto a placement portion by pivoting from an upper position to a lower position. The guide portion is arranged above the placement portion and extends toward the placement portion, and guides the sheet toward an abutment portion in a case where the sheet on the placement portion conveyed in a second conveyance direction opposite to the first conveyance direction by a reverse conveyance portion comes into contact with the guide portion. The sheet dropping portion located at the lower position overlaps a part of the guide portion when viewed in a rotational axis direction of the pair of conveyance rotary members.

Abstract: In a case where a binding unit performs a binding process at the corner portion on a first end side in a width direction of the sheet in the second posture, an abutment operation of conveying the sheet and abutting the downstream end edge of the sheet in a conveyance direction against the abutment portion, and a shift operation of moving the sheet to a position where the sheet does not contact a back side surface of the binding unit when the binding unit is in the second posture, on a second end side in the width direction with respect to a position of the sheet conveyed to the placement portion are performed. Then a movable turning unit turns the binding unit from a first posture to the second posture, and the binding process is performed by the binding unit in the second posture.

Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus includes: a rotor having a first peripheral surface and a second peripheral surface with a radius smaller than that of the first peripheral surface and configured to convey a sheet; and a guide member configured to be movable between a first position where it guides a sheet being conveyed by the rotor and a second position retracting from the first position. The guide member is disposed so as to move from the second position to the first position while passing within the rotation locus of the first peripheral surface of the rotor.

Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus includes: a rotor having a first peripheral surface and a second peripheral surface with a radius smaller than that of the first peripheral surface and configured to convey a sheet; and a guide member configured to be movable between a first position where it guides a sheet being conveyed by the rotor and a second position retracting from the first position. The guide member is disposed so as to move from the second position to the first position while passing within the rotation locus of the first peripheral surface of the rotor.

Abstract: A sheet supply device includes a sheet supply tray, a delivery roller contacting a topmost surface of a sheet bundle on the sheet supply tray to deliver the sheet, and separation means feeding the sheet delivered by the delivery roller one by one in a separated manner. The sheet supply device further includes an elevating tray freely elevated/lowered to support a leading end side of the sheet bundle placed on the sheet supply tray and to move the topmost surface of the sheet bundle to a delivery position, a first drive section elevating/lowering the elevating tray, a second drive section elevating/lowering the delivery roller, and a controller controlling the first and second drive sections to elevate the elevating tray until the topmost surface of the sheet bundle reaches the delivery position and thereafter lower the delivery roller to a position contacting the topmost surface of the sheet bundle.

Abstract: A sheet supply device includes a sheet supply tray, a delivery roller contacting a topmost surface of a sheet bundle on the sheet supply tray to deliver the sheet, and separation means feeding the sheet delivered by the delivery roller one by one in a separated manner. The sheet supply device further includes an elevating tray freely elevated/lowered to support a leading end side of the sheet bundle placed on the sheet supply tray and to move the topmost surface of the sheet bundle to a delivery position, a first drive section elevating/lowering the elevating tray, a second drive section elevating/lowering the delivery roller, and a controller controlling the first and second drive sections to elevate the elevating tray until the topmost surface of the sheet bundle reaches the delivery position and thereafter lower the delivery roller to a position contacting the topmost surface of the sheet bundle.

Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus that transports a sheet to a reading section for reading the sheet, has a reading front roller pair contacting with a front end of the sheet to form a register loop in the sheet; a first transport path extending curvingly toward the reading front roller pair; a second transport path extending curvingly toward the reading front roller pair after joining the first transport path; a first register space in which a register loop is formed in a sheet guided along the first transport path; and a second register space in which a register loop is formed in a sheet guided along the second transport path. The first register space is provided on the upstream side of a junction position in which the first transport path joins the second transport path, and the second register space is provided on the downstream side of the junction position.

Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus for transporting a sheet along a transport path has a sheet transport mechanism having a plurality of transport rollers for transporting a sheet; and a jam clearing mechanism for removing the sheet, when the sheet causes a transport failure and is jammed on the transport path. The jam clearing mechanism has a coupling member coupled to a transport roller, a jam clearing dial that transfers a rotation force to the transport roller through the coupling member, and a switching device for switching so that the coupling member separates from the transport roller in transporting a sheet, while being coupled to the transport roller in clearing a jam.

Abstract: In a sheet folding apparatus, to enable a jammed sheet to be removed with ease when a jam occurs, a casing having a carry-in entrance and a carrying-out exit is divided into an upper unit and a lower unit via a first transport path for carrying a sheet from the carry-in entrance to the carrying-out exit, a second transport path for performing folding processing on a sheet is disposed in the direction for crossing the first transport path, and in the upper unit are disposed a sheet front end switchback path for reversing and carrying the sheet toward a folding roller pair and sheet deflecting means for guiding the sheet to the folding roller pair. Then, the upper unit is coupled to the lower unit to be openable and closable by a hinge shaft rotating around one side end portion orthogonal to the sheet transport direction of the first transport path.

Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus that transports a sheet to a reading section for reading the sheet, has a reading front roller pair contacting with a front end of the sheet to form a register loop in the sheet; a first transport path extending curvingly toward the reading front roller pair; a second transport path extending curvingly toward the reading front roller pair after joining the first transport path; a first register space in which a register loop is formed in a sheet guided along the first transport path; and a second register space in which a register loop is formed in a sheet guided along the second transport path. The first register space is provided on the upstream side of a junction position in which the first transport path joins the second transport path, and the second register space is provided on the downstream side of the junction position.

Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus for transporting a sheet along a transport path has a sheet transport mechanism having a plurality of transport rollers that transports a sheet, and a jam clearing mechanism to remove a sheet which causes a transport failure and is jammed on the transport path. The jam clearing mechanism has a coupling member coupled to a transport roller, a jam clearing dial that transfers a rotation force to the transport roller via the coupling member, and a switching device for switching so that the coupling member separates from the transport roller in transporting a sheet, while being coupled to the transport roller in clearing a jam.

Abstract: Provided is a document reading apparatus in which an original document fed by feeding means to contact glass having a predetermined reading position is read by reading means. Then, the document reading apparatus is provided with a guide unit having a guide member for guiding the original document to be fed to the contact glass, and a backup unit to back up the original document to be read, and the guide unit is configured to be able to travel between a close position to near the contact glass and an open position to distance from the contact glass. In the guide unit is formed a concave portion for removably accommodating the backup unit, and the backup unit is configured so that an original document guide face of the guide member and an original document guide face in the backup unit form a continuous guide face when the guide unit travels to the close position. Then, the guide unit is moved to the open position to perform cleaning of the backup unit and contact glass.

Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus includes a transport roller for transporting a sheet to the processing section, a driving motor for driving the transport roller, and a driving transmission mechanism. The driving transmission mechanism includes a rotary shaft, a transmission rotary member having a circular fit hole, a holder member with a press-fit hole having a curved part and a flat part, and a coupling mechanism for coupling the holder member and the transmission rotary member. The rotary shaft includes a fitting part having a circular cross section at one end side to be fitted into the circular fit hole, and a press-fit part having a curved part and a flat part press-fitted with the press-fit hole. The coupling mechanism includes a convex portion formed on a side of the transmission rotary member, and a concave portion formed on a side of the holder member press-fitted with the convex portion.

Abstract: In a sheet folding apparatus, to enable a jammed sheet to be removed with ease when a jam occurs, a casing having a carry-in entrance and a carrying-out exit is divided into an upper unit and a lower unit via a first transport path for carrying a sheet from the carry-in entrance to the carrying-out exit, a second transport path for performing folding processing on a sheet is disposed in the direction for crossing the first transport path, and in the upper unit are disposed a sheet front end switchback path for reversing and carrying the sheet toward a folding roller pair and sheet deflecting means for guiding the sheet to the folding roller pair. Then, the upper unit is coupled to the lower unit to be openable and closable by a hinge shaft rotating around one side end portion orthogonal to the sheet transport direction of the first transport path.

Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus is provided with a processing section having a processing position to process a sheet, and a first roller pair and a second roller pair disposed at the front and back of the processing section to transport the sheet to the processing section at a predetermined velocity. Each of driving transmission mechanisms respectively for driving the first roller pair and second roller pair is provided with a rotary shaft for supporting the roller, a rotary member provided with a circular fit hole to fit with the rotary shaft, and a holder member in which a D-shaped press-fit hole is formed to press-fit to the rotary shaft, and to the rotary shaft are attached the rotary member with the circular fit hole formed therein and the holder member with the D-shaped press-fit hole formed therein.

Abstract: Provided is a document reading apparatus in which an original document fed by feeding means to contact glass having a predetermined reading position is read by reading means. Then, the document reading apparatus is provided with a guide unit having a guide member for guiding the original document to be fed to the contact glass, and a backup unit to back up the original document to be read, and the guide unit is configured to be able to travel between a close position to near the contact glass and an open position to distance from the contact glass. In the guide unit is formed a concave portion for removably accommodating the backup unit, and the backup unit is configured so that an original document guide face of the guide member and an original document guide face in the backup unit form a continuous guide face when the guide unit travels to the close position. Then, the guide unit is moved to the open position to perform cleaning of the backup unit and contact glass.