Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming system having an original-stationary scanning mode and an original-through scanning mode characterized by control means for more shortening a sheet supply distance in the original-through scanning more than that in the original-stationary scanning mode.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes at least one tray for stacking discharged sheets; a stacker, disposed adjacent to the tray, for receiving a set of sheets from the tray; a controller operable in one of a first mode in which the set of sheets is transferred to the stacker and a second mode in which the set of sheets remains on the tray; and a retractor for retracting the stacker by relative movement between the tray and the stacker when the second mode is selected.

Abstract: A sheet supplying apparatus has a sheet stacking plate on which sheets are stacked, a drive unit for vibrating the sheet stacking plate upwardly and downwardly, and a sheet supply mechanism for supplying the sheet from the sheet stacking plate. A sheet supplying condition detecting device detects poor supply of a sheet bundle, and the drive unit is operated on the basis of a detection signal of the sheet supplying condition detecting device so that clogging of the sheets, poor sheet separation and poor sheet supply can be prevented.

Abstract: A copying apparatus has a recirculating document feeder; an exposure device for scanning and exposing the fed document sheets fed onto the document table by the document recirculating device; an image forming device for forming the images on the scanned and exposed document sheets; and a sheet receiving device for receiving and storing the recording medium sheets carrying images formed by the image forming device.

Abstract: A copying apparatus comprises an original support unit for supporting original sheets, an original transport unit for feeding the originals one by one from the original support unit to an exposure unit, and, after the exposure, discharging the originals to the original support unit, a circulation detecting unit for detecting one circulation of the originals by the original transport unit, a counter for counting the number of originals transported by the original transport unit, a copying unit for effecting exposure in the exposure unit, and copying the image of the exposed original onto a sheet, and a storage unit provided with plural storage devices for storing sheets subjected to the copying by the copying unit.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes plural bins positioned at predetermined intervals for accommodating discharge sheets, and a sheet discharger for discharging the sheets into the bins. An offset device is provided for selectively offsetting the sheets in one of the bins to a second aligning position which is different from a first aligning position to which the sheets are discharged by the sheet discharger, and a controller is provided for selectively operating the offset device.

Abstract: A sheet-postprocessing apparatus includes a sheet discharger which discharges sheets to a stacker, the stacker including a first tray adjacent to the discharger for supporting trailing portions of the sheets discharged by the discharger and a second tray for supporting leading portions of the sheets, the second tray being movable in a vertical direction and disposed downstream of the first tray with respect to a sheet discharge direction, the trays being inclined so that sheets stacked thereon slide by their own weight, such that a stack of sheets supported on both trays are stapled by a stapler, the stapled set of sheets then being pushed out of the first tray to be stacked entirely by the second tray. The sheet post-processing apparatus operates in two modes, a stapling mode and a non-stapling mode wherein sheets discharged by the discharger bypass the first tray and are supported entirely by the second downstream tray.

Abstract: A sheet sorter with includes a bin unit including a plurality of bins for accommodating sorted sheets, sheet stacker for accommodating non-sorted sheets, sheet switcher for selectively guiding the sheets to the plural bins or to the sheet stacker, stapler for stapling the sheets accommodated in the bins, for each of the bins, and controller for controlling the sheet switcher to direct the sheet to the bins in response to instructions for sorting and stapling the sheets, to direct the sheet to the sheet stacker in response to instructions for accommodating the sheets without sorting, and to direct the sheets to the bin unit in response to instructions for stapling the sheets without sorting. The apparatus further includes a reciprocating aligning member which is driven to an alignment position during movement of the bins and is again driven to the alignment position to complete the aligning operation after completion of the movement of the bins.

Abstract: An original feeding apparatus has a first original feeding means for directing an original to an original reading station from one side thereof in an original-stationary scanning mode in which the original is read while fixing the original at the original reading station, and a second original feeding means for directing then original to the original reading station from the other side thereof in an original-through scanning mode in which the original is read while shifting the original along the original reading station.

Abstract: A sheet stacking tray apparatus for receiving sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a printer or copying machine. The sheets are correctly stacked, that is, without inclination or deviation. The tray apparatus according to the present invention is such that the speed at which the sheet is discharged to the tray apparatus is reduced when the tray apparatus receives the sheet material. And, the sheet is laterally shifted so as to correct the lateral deviation thereof. The tray is lowered in accordance with the amount of the sheets so as to keep a proper height thereof with respect to the discharging outlet from which it receives the sheet. An auxiliary sheet stacking plate is provided operable in association with the lowering of the tray so as to raise the sheet receiving side thereof so as to keep the sheet material on the tray horizontal.

Abstract: A sheet sorter includes a plurality of bins for receiving sorted sheets, a sheet discharging unit for discharging the sheets to the bins, a shifting unit for raising and lowering the plurality of bins in order to selectively face a bin to the sheet discharging unit, an aligning reference wall for regulating one end portion of a sheet discharged to the bin, and an aligning member for bringing the one side portion of the sheet into contact with the aligning reference wall by pushing the other side portion of the sheet. The sheet sorter further includes a controller for controlling the aligning member so as to vary the timing of alignment start depending on whether operation is during normal sorting wherein the bin receiving the sheet at a position facing the sheet discharging unit rises after receiving the sheet or during reverse sorting wherein the bin receiving the sheet descends.

Abstract: In a sheet conveying apparatus having a jam detecting means, there are provided an accommodating portion for jam treatment and a conveyance controlling means to accommodate sheets on a conveyance path into said portion, enabling all the sheets on the path to be gathered in one place and rendering the removal treatment easier. In another aspect of this invention, in case of jam occurrence, the sheets being conveyed are temporarily accommodated in the standby accommodating portion for discharge and then rejected outside the apparatus after jam return, while an image forming portion carrying out the image formation onto the sheets to be accommodated so that they can be discharged as regular output sheets, and image formation being prohibited when the sheets are discharged, resulting in that the image previously formed on the sheets is not to be disturbed.

Abstract: A sheet stacking tray apparatus for receiving sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a printer or copying machine. The sheets are correctly stacked, that is, without inclination or deviation. The tray apparatus according to the present invention is such that the speed at which the sheet is discharged to the tray apparatus is reduced when the tray apparatus receives the sheet material. And, the sheet is laterally shifted so as to correct the lateral deviation thereof. The tray is lowered in accordance with the amount of the sheets so as to keep a proper height thereof with respect to the discharging outlet from which it receives the sheet. An auxiliary sheet stacking plate is provided operable in association with the lowering of the tray so as to raise the sheet receiving side thereof so as to keep the sheet material on the tray horizontal.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes trays for accommodating discharge sheets; an aligning device for aligning the sheets on said trays by urging edges of the sheets; a driver for driving the aligning device; supporting device for supporting said aligning device for rotation; and a controller for controlling the driver to change a degree of the urging of the aligning device in accordance with a size of the sheets accommodated in the tray.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a stapling unit including a detachable staple cartridge for holding staples attached in series, a staple driving device for sequentially driving the series of staples into sheets from a front-end portion, and a staple feeder for feeding the staples from the staple cartridge to the staple driving device. The sheet post-processing apparatus further includes a cartridge regulating device engageable with the staple cartridge for inhibiting detachment of the staple cartridge as a result of the engagement, a detector for detecting the presence or absence of the staples, and a releasing device for disengaging the regulating device when the absence of staples is detected by the detector to allow removal of the staple cartridge for replacement of the staples.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet sorting apparatus with plural bins trays; bin tray moving device for moving the bin trays stepwise to cause each of the bin trays to face a sheet receiving position; and a controller for controlling the operating speed of the bin tray moving device according to sheet transporting information of an image forming apparatus to be connected to said sorting apparatus, in such a manner that said bin tray moving means can be operated in continuous manner even during the discharge of a sheet into a bin tray.

Abstract: A sheet stapling apparatus including a stapling device for stapling a set of sheets, a load detecting device for detecting a level of a load of the stapling device during a stapling operation, and a signal generating device for generating a signal when the load detected by the load detecting device is outside a predetermined range.

Abstract: A sheet stacking tray apparatus for receiving sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a printer or copying machine. The sheets are correctly stacked, that is, without inclination or deviation. The tray apparatus according to the present invention is such that the speed at which the sheet is discharged to the tray apparatus is reduced when the tray apparatus receives the sheet material. And, the sheet is laterally shifted so as to correct the lateral deviation thereof. The tray is lowered in accordance with the amount of the sheets so as to keep a proper height thereof with respect to the discharging outlet from which it receives the sheet. An auxiliary sheet stacking plate is provided operable in association with the lowering of the tray so as to raise the sheet receiving side thereof so as to keep the sheet material on the tray horizontal.

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 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