Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes an intermediate process tray stacked with sheets, a trailing end lever movable upward from a pressing position in which to press the sheets on the intermediate process tray, a lever stopper regulating the upward movement of the trailing end lever, and an adjusting mechanism changing the regulating position of the trailing end lever by the lever stopper in accordance with a sheet stacking height of the sheets stacked on the intermediate process tray, wherein the adjusting mechanism keeps substantially constant a distance to the regulating position from the pressing position of the trailing end lever irrespective of the sheet stacking height of the sheets stacked on the intermediate process tray.

Abstract: A sheet finishing apparatus includes a tray device for sequentially stacking and storing a sheet, a corner support device arranged between a discharge outlet and the tray device for supporting a corner of the sheet, and a finishing device for finishing the sheet on the corner support device. A first support device supports the corner support device to move between an operating position positioned in a sheet conveying path and a retracted position retracted from the operating position. A second support device supports the finishing device. The second support device is formed separately from the first support device and moves the finishing device between an operating position in the sheet conveying path to a retracted position retracted from the operating position. A drive device moves the first support device and the second support device from the operating positions to the retracted positions after finishing the sheet with the finishing device.

Abstract: A sheet finishing apparatus includes a conveying member configured to convey recording media and a tray configured to receive the recording media conveyed by the conveying member. The tray includes a holding member configured to hold the recording media therein and to contact a first edge of the recording media such that the recording media is positioned, a rotatable moving member configured to contact the recording media such that the holding member abuts against the recording media, a discharging member configured to discharge the recording media stacked by the holding member, and a protruding member mounted on the discharging member and configured to contact a second edge of the recording media such that the recording media is positioned. One of the rotatable moving member and the protruding member positions the recording media stacked in the tray in a travel direction of the recording medium.

Abstract: A sheet finisher includes a sheet stacker for stacking sheets conveyed from an image forming apparatus to form a sheet bundle and a binding device for binding the sheet bundle with a staple, further includes a center folding device for center folding sheets conveyed from the image forming apparatus, a first conveying device for conveying sheets conveyed from the image forming apparatus to the sheet stacker without passing through the center folding device, and a second conveying device for conveying the sheets to the sheet stacker via the center folding device.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a processing tray on which sheets are stacked in a bundle form, an intermediate portion stapler which staples the intermediate portion of the sheet bundle stacked on the processing tray, a sheet bundle conveying member which conveys the stapled sheet bundle, a curved sheet bundle conveying path which is downwardly curved on the downstream side of the processing tray with respect to the sheet conveying direction and adapted to guide the sheet bundle conveyed by the sheet bundle conveying member, and a folding device which is arranged in the intermediate portion of the curved sheet bundle conveying path and which folds the stapled sheet bundle, wherein the processing tray is set to be lower on the upstream side than on the downstream side with respect to the sheet conveying direction, and wherein the curved guide path has an extended portion extending to a position under the stacking portion.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus includes a regulating portion which regulates the opening of the folded sheet bundle, and a conveying portion which pushes the sheet bundle from an upstream side in a conveying direction in a state that the regulating portion regulates the opening of folded sheet bundle.

Abstract: A printing assembly for printing on consecutive sheets of print media includes a printing station having at least one printhead configured to print on sheets of print media passing through the printing station. A feed station is positioned upstream of the printing station and is configured to feed the sheets of print media through the printing station along a feed path. An adhesive applicator station is positioned downstream of the printing station and is configured to apply adhesive to each of the sheets of print media. A tray is positioned downstream of the adhesive applicator station. The tray has a floor and side walls that are configured so that sheets from the adhesive applicator station bear against the side walls in a substantially aligned manner. A pressing mechanism is mounted on the tray and is reciprocally displaceable relative to the tray to press and bind the sheets together.

Abstract: There is provided a sheet post-processing unit and image forming unit, which is capable of stably conveying sheets discharged one after another to a tray to form a bundle of sheets and to staple the bundle. A sheet conveying means is provided for selectively conveying the sheet to be discharged in the downstream and upstream directions of the sheet discharging direction, as well as moving the sheet in a direction intersecting the sheet conveying direction, and which is capable of moving up and down to be contactable with, and detachable from, the sheet.

Abstract: There is provided a sheet post-processing unit having a simple structure, capable of stably conveying sheets on a tray and causing less ruggedness in conveying and aligning the sheets discharged one after another to the tray to form a bundle of sheets and to staple it. The sheet post-processing unit is provided with sheet conveying means for conveying the sheet stacked on the post-processing tray in the same and reverse directions with/from the sheet conveying direction and intersectional moving means for conveying the sheet in the direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction by moving the sheet conveying means in the direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction. It conveys the sheet while keeping rollers of the sheet conveying means in contact with the sheet and aligns the sheet by hitting the trailing edge thereof against a trailing edge stopper and by hitting the side edge of thereof against a wall by moving the rollers in the intersecting direction.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus has: a plurality of conveying paths which convey sheets; and front and back aligning members which perform width alignment in the direction which crosses the sheet conveying direction of the sheets conveyed from the conveying paths. Standby positions when the front and back aligning members approach side edges of the sheets from the standby positions and perform the width alignment of the sheets at the width aligning position are made different every sheet on the basis of discharge position information of the sheets to the plurality of conveying paths.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus is provided with a processing tray on which sheets are to be stacked and subjected to a processing, a stack tray provided in the downstream of the processing tray with respect to the sheet conveying direction on which sheets are to be stacked, an oscillation roller pair for conveying the sheets stacked on the processing tray to the stack tray, and a trailing edge assist for conveying the sheet stacked on the processing tray toward the stack tray. The sheets stacked on the processing tray are discharged to the stack tray by the oscillation roller pair and the trailing edge assist.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes: a buffer unit which stores plural supplied sheets with upstream edges in a conveying direction thereof aligned; a processing tray on which sheets discharged from the buffer unit are stacked; and an oscillation roller pair and a return roller which convey the sheet stacked on the processing tray to bring the sheet into abutment against a stopper for receiving the upstream edge of the sheet. The buffer unit is adapted to align the upstream edges of only sheets to be stored before a sheet to be supplied last among the sheets to be stored.

Abstract: An aligning unit aligns a front end of a sheet bundle stacked in a tray in a discharging direction. A sheet bundle conveying unit holds a rear end of the sheet bundle and conveys the sheet bundle in the discharging direction. The aligning unit is arranged to be retracted from a conveying path of the sheet bundle after aligning the front end of the sheet bundle and to come out in the conveying path of the sheet bundle behind the sheet bundle conveying unit after a movement of the sheet bundle conveying unit.

Abstract: A sheet finishing apparatus of the present invention takes in sheets of paper ejected from an image forming apparatus through a taking-in port and clamping and conveying the sheets of paper by a pair of pinch rollers for post processing, has a sheet guidance member which supports one of the pair of pinch rollers and can rotate between a first position where the one pinch roller and the other pinch roller make contact with each other and a second position where the one pinch roller is released from the other pinch roller, and furthermore includes a tray for loading the sheets of paper conveyed by the pair of pinch rollers and an assist arm which is attached rotatably to the sheet guidance member and when the one pinch roller and the other pinch roller are in contact with each other, is projected in the direction for pressing the sheets of paper in the tray and when the one pinch roller is released from the other pinch roller, is rotated in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes: a buffer unit which stores plural supplied sheets with upstream edges in a conveying direction thereof aligned; a processing tray on which sheets discharged from the buffer unit are stacked; and an oscillation roller pair and a return roller which convey the sheet stacked on the processing tray to bring the sheet into abutment against a stopper for receiving the upstream edge of the sheet. The buffer unit is adapted to align the upstream edges of only sheets to be stored before a sheet to be supplied last among the sheets to be stored.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus is provided with a processing tray on which sheets are to be stacked and subjected to a processing, a stack tray provided in the downstream of the processing tray with respect to the sheet conveying direction on which sheets are to be stacked, an oscillation roller pair for conveying the sheets stacked on the processing tray to the stack tray, and a trailing edge assist for conveying the sheet stacked on the processing tray toward the stack tray. The sheets stacked on the processing tray are discharged to the stack tray by the oscillation roller pair and the trailing edge assist.

Abstract: Above a processing tray, a standby tray for making sheets of paper P stand by is installed. The sheets of paper P on the standby tray are dropped, fed, and moved to the processing tray, thus the conveying path from the standby tray to the processing tray is shortened. Furthermore, a Z-folding mechanism is arranged above the standby tray, and the sheets of paper P folded in a Z shape are dropped, and are mixed and stapled on the standby tray or processing tray, and even when performing a plurality of post processes for sheets, miniaturization of a sheet post-process system is retained.

Abstract: A sheet treating apparatus for treating a sheet having an image formed thereon is provided, which includes a pair of transport rollers for transporting the sheet upward, a sheet post-treating portion having an intermediate treatment tray, provided to execute post-treatment such as sheet stitching or punching while holding the sheet in a substantially vertical state, and a sheet delivery portion arranged above the sheet post-treating portion. Also, an image forming apparatus is provided, which includes an image reading portion for reading an image, an image forming portion arranged below the image reading portion to form an image on a sheet, a delivery space portion provided in an apparatus housing between the image reading portion and the image forming portion to deliver the sheet, sheet treating portion for treating the sheet while holding it in a substantially vertical state, and an in-body transportation path for transporting the sheet treated by the sheet treating means to the delivery space portion.

Abstract: A sheet finishing apparatus of the present invention has a gate for taking in sheets of paper ejected from an image forming apparatus through a taking-in port and switching to either of a conveying path for post processing or a conveying path for non-post processing to convey the sheets of paper and a tray attached to the upper part of the sheet finishing apparatus by a link mechanism, and the tray can rotate between the height position for storing sheets of paper and the height position away from the upper part and keeps the angle of inclination thereof constant at either of the height positions, and furthermore, sheets of paper taken in from the taking-in port are clamped and conveyed by a pair of rollers, and one of the pair of rollers is supported by a sheet guidance member, and the sheet guidance member rotates in connection with the link mechanism and can cope with paper jamming, if any.

Abstract: There is provided a sheet processing apparatus that is capable of allowing a decrease in the speed at which sheets are discharged to a stacking device even if sheets are conveyed into the sheet processing apparatus at short time intervals, or capable of eliminating the necessity of using an aligning device that can perform each alignment at a high speed, or capable of reducing the number of times of operations to be performed by the aligning device, and an image forming apparatus that is provided with the sheet processing apparatus. A plurality of sheets being conveyed is superposed. The sheets conveyed from the sheet superposing device are stacked. The sheets stacked in the stacking device are aligned. A sheet superposing device superposes a plurality of sheets being conveyed. A stacking device stacks thereon the sheets conveyed from said sheet superposing device are stacked. An aligning device aligns the sheets stacked in said stacking device.

Abstract: Above a processing tray, a standby tray for making sheets of paper P stand by is installed. The sheets of paper P on the standby tray are dropped, fed, and moved to the processing tray, thus the conveying path from the standby tray to the processing tray is shortened. A conveyor belt is arranged at an angle with the processing tray so that the front end side of the sheets is positioned higher than the rear end side thereof and the conveyor belt on the front end side of the sheets is projected from the processing tray. By doing this, frictional force of the conveyor belt with the sheets of paper P on the rear end side is made smaller, and frictional force with the sheets of paper P on the front end side is made larger, and the ejectability of sheets from the processing tray after ending of the post process is improved.

Abstract: A waiting tray is provided in a sheet-conveying path and holds sheets if the sheets need to be post-processed. A processing tray receives sheets conveyed from the waiting tray. It may receive sheets conveyed through the sheet-conveying path and coming not via the waiting tray, before the sheets are post-processed. A conveying mechanism is provided, which causes the sheets to fall, due to gravity, from the waiting tray onto a processing tray. A sheet-aligning mechanism aligns the sheets on the processing tray, at their transverse edges and longitudinal edges. On the processing tray, the sheets are post-processed, forming a bundle. The conveying mechanism conveys the bundle of sheets to a storage tray. The storage tray and the waiting tray are positioned, providing a gap between the waiting tray and the upper surface of the bundle of sheets held on the storage tray.

Abstract: A sheet-shaped medium processing apparatus of the present invention is provided with a pair of arranging members 102a, 102b, and these arranging members 102a, 102b have both arranging function for arranging paper S piled on a tray 12 after being discharged in a discharge direction “a” from a paper discharge roller 3 at only fixed position, and sorting/arranging function for arranging the papers S grouped together at different position in direction (direction perpendicular to paper face) perpendicular to the discharge direction “a” in every copy of grouping together predetermined number of the paper S. For that reason, it is possible to conduct sorting/arranging action by using small drive power and to arrange the paper S in high precision regardless of largeness of piled amount of the paper S on the tray 12.

Abstract: A sheet post-process apparatus includes a waiting tray and a processing tray. The waiting tray is provided in the middle of a conveying path so that a downward side end in a conveying direction of sheets is oriented upwardly. In the case where a postprocess is required, sheets are made standby. The processing tray has a function which causes the sheets made standby on the waiting sheet to be dropped by self-weight. With this function, the processing tray receives the sheets moved to be dropped and the sheets conveyed from the conveying path without intervening the waiting tray, before carrying out the post-process. In addition, an upstream side end in a conveying direction of the sheets on the waiting tray and a downstream side end in a conveying direction of the sheets on the processing tray are allocated to overlap on each other in the conveying direction of the sheets.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing device of the present invention includes a jam-disposal mechanism for moving a moving section which is provided opposite to a staple tray to the outside of the device. That is, in the sheet post-processing device, since a portion of the moving section can be moved to the outside, it is possible to form a space in front of the staple tray. Thus, it is easy to perform the jam-disposal by using the space. Further, since the staple tray is not moved in forming the space, consistency of placed sheets is not lost. Further, since it is not required that a space to perform the jam-disposal is prepared inside the device in advance, it is easy to miniaturize the device. Thus, the sheet post-processing device of the present invention is a compact sheet post-processing device by which the jam-disposal can be performed without losing the consistency of a sheet bundle placed on the staple tray.

Abstract: When the rear end of a sheet bundle S is brought to reach the clamping portion between a rocking roller and a rear end aligning wall by conveyance means, the individual timings, at which the rocking roller and the rear end aligning wall move to the escape position, are controlled to drop said sheet bundle S onto a stack tray, and then the rear end aligning wall is moved from the escape position to the support position thereby to register the rear end of the sheet bundle S dropped on the stack tray.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus according to an aspect of the invention can process a first-size sheet having a first length and a second-size sheet having a second length smaller than the first length. The sheet processing apparatus includes an intermediate stacking portion on which the sheets are stacked; a stapler which performs a stapling process to the sheets; a second alignment reference wall and a first jogger which align the sheets with a stapling process position; and a second jogger which is moved toward the second alignment reference wall and first jogger. Irrespective of a sheet size, the second jogger is moved toward the second alignment reference wall and first jogger by an alignment distance necessary to align the second-size sheet with a stapling process position, which allows the stapler to staple the sheets with at least one of two staple legs.

Abstract: The sheet stacking-aligning apparatus or the sheet processing apparatus includes a substantially horizontal stacking tray, a rear end aligning unit for aligning a rear end of a sheet bundle on the stacking tray, and a control unit for controlling an operation of the rear end aligning unit for aligning the sheet bundle when it is in an upstream position of the stacking tray, and the stacking tray is provided substantially horizontally. It is thus made possible to increase the stacking space, thereby increasing the number of stackable sheets and to achieve the alignment of the rear end of the sheet bundle with a simple configuration, thereby improving the stacking-aligning property of the sheet bundle on the stacking tray.

Abstract: A sheet post-process apparatus of the present invention, when sending sheets of paper collected on a standby tray to a processing tray, has a standby tray realizing an improved lining capacity of sheets of paper and a pair of tray members for loading ejected sheets of paper is formed so as to project from the wall face of the standby tray.

Abstract: A sheet treating apparatus to be connected to an image forming apparatus, which has a sheet guide portion which selectively guides a sheet to a sheet stacking portion or a sheet treating portion and, in a state in which a power supply of the sheet treating apparatus is turned off, the sheet guide portion guides a sheet to the sheet stacking portion such that a sheet delivered from the image forming apparatus can be stacked even if the power supply of the sheet treating apparatus is turned off. Moreover, a sheet can be stacked on the sheet stacking portion without using a transporting drive force of the sheet treating apparatus.

Abstract: A sheet finisher for executing preselected processing with a sheet introduced thereinto from an image forming apparatus and then discharging the sheet is disclosed. The sheet finisher includes a stacking device configured to temporarily stack sheets sequentially delivered thereto. Jogger fences jog each sheet within the stacking device. A stapler staples the sheet stack jogged in the stacking device. The stapler is supported by a guide shaft such it is movable along the guide shaft in a direction perpendicular to the direction of sheet conveyance and angularly movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of guide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a printer with an apparatus for binding pages. The apparatus includes a tray having a support surface for supporting a stack of pages. The support surface is inclined towards a lower-most corner with two side walls being provided which define a corner situated at the lower-most corner of the support surface. A vibrator is coupled to the support surface to induce vibration therein to thereby urge sheets towards the lower-most corner. A binding press is also provided which is operable by moving through a stroke length to bear upon the stack of pages to thereby bind the pages. The support surface is adjustable vertically so as to present the top page of the stack at a preset level to limit the stroke length.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus which is capable of reliably sandwiching or catching sheets, and also capable of providing control so as to ensure reliable conveyance of succeeding sheets during the catching operation. A stack tray is provided downstream of a processing tray that stacks sheets. A position on the stacking surface of the stack tray at which the leading end of a sheet having its trailing end passing a discharging section, which discharges sheets toward the processing tray, contacts the stacking surface is lower in level than the highest portion of the processing tray. A swinging arm that discharges the sheets stacked on the processing tray to the stack tray is capable of selectively assuming a catching state in which a sheet discharged to the processing tray is caught by the swinging arm, and a non-catching state in which a sheet discharged to the processing tray is not caught by the swinging arm.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes: a buffer unit which stores plural supplied sheets with upstream edges in a conveying direction thereof aligned; a processing tray on which sheets discharged from the buffer unit are stacked; and an oscillation roller pair and a return roller which convey the sheet stacked on the processing tray to bring the sheet into abutment against a stopper for receiving the upstream edge of the sheet. The buffer unit is adapted to align the upstream edges of only sheets to be stored before a sheet to be supplied last among the sheets to be stored.

Abstract: A waiting tray is provided at some midpoint of a conveying path, and a sheet is caused to be in a waiting state when a post-process is required. Before performing the post-process, a processing tray receives the sheet conveyed from the waiting tray and the sheet conveyed from a conveying path without passing through the waiting tray. At this point, waiting tray parts are moved toward a direction in which the waiting tray parts are separated from each other, and a bundle of paper starts fall-down. When the bundle of paper falls down, the waiting tray parts are moved toward the direction in which the waiting tray parts are brought close to each other, and an alignment member performs alignment in a transverse direction of the bundle of paper.

Abstract: A method of binding a stack of printed sheets includes the step of consecutively conveying the sheets through an adhesive application station. One part of a two-part adhesive is applied to one side of each sheet and another part of the two-part adhesive is applied to an opposite side of each sheet at the adhesive application station. The sheets are stacked in alignment on a support tray. The sheets are then pressed together to activate the two-part adhesive.

Abstract: A waiting tray is provided in a sheet-conveying path and holds sheets if the sheets need to be post-processed. A processing tray receives sheets conveyed from the waiting tray. It may receive sheets conveyed through the sheet-conveying path and coming not via the waiting tray, before the sheets are post-processed. A conveying mechanism is provided, which causes the sheets to fall, due to gravity, from the waiting tray onto a processing tray. A sheet-aligning mechanism aligns the sheets on the processing tray, at their transverse edges and longitudinal edges. On the processing tray, the sheets are post-processed, forming a bundle. The conveying mechanism conveys the bundle of sheets to a storage tray. A control mechanism controls the speed of sheet-feeding rollers provided at upstream of the waiting tray, thereby to the place sheets at a preset position on the waiting tray.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes a sheet transport path for transporting a sheet; a discharge device disposed adjacent to the sheet transport path for sequentially transporting the sheet; a support tray disposed adjacent to the discharge device for temporarily supporting at least a part of the sheet transported by the discharge device; a stacker disposed at a downstream side of the support tray for stacking and storing the sheet transported from the support tray; a sheet pushing member disposed on the support tray for abutting against an edge of the sheet stacked on the support tray; and a drive device capable of rotating in forward and reverse directions. The drive device reciprocally moves the sheet pushing member between a retracted position at an upstream side of a stacking position where the sheet is stacked on the support tray and a transport position at a downstream side of the stacking position.

Abstract: A processing tray comprises a transport belt which transports a sheet, and a push feed arm mounted to be projected onto a surface on a sheet transport side of the belt, the arm retaining a sheet distal end so that the sheet distal end can be pushed and fed, wherein the transport belt forms a through hole through which the push feed arm penetrates, and the push feed arm comprises a push feed face which pushes and feeds the sheet distal end, a penetrating projection portion which reaches a transport belt lower face from the push feed face through the through hole, and a hook shaped engagingly lock portion engagingly locked on the belt lower face after being bent from the penetrating projection portion to the transport belt traveling direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a paper processing unit for a binding device that can improve moving efficiency of a sheet of papers and prevent side binding error of the sheet of papers.

Abstract: A binding process includes the application of respective parts of a two-part binding adhesive as strips at either side of a page to be bound. Part A of a two-part adhesive is applied to one side of a page and Part B of the two-part adhesive is applied to the reverse side of the page. A stack of pages with the respective parts of the two-part adhesive applied to facing surfaces is then pressed by a binding press so as to combined the two parts of the adhesive which then set.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a delivery processing apparatus for delivering a sheet after implementing a prescribed sheet processing upon aligning the sheet, and includes an aligning device for aligning a sheet, a conveying device for conveying the sheet to the aligning device and a bundle delivering device disposed on an upstream side of the aligning device in a sheet conveyance direction for delivering a sheet bundle being done with a sheet processing. The bundle delivering device is able to choose a conveyable state for conveying the sheet upon nipping the sheet and a non-conveyable state for not conveying the sheet, wherein when a first sheet among a plurality of sheets to be conveyed to the aligning device by the conveying device is conveyed the conveyable state is chosen, and wherein when a second or later sheet is conveyed the non-conveyable state is chosen.

Abstract: A sheet-shaped medium treatment apparatus is disclosed. The sheet-shaped medium treatment apparatus has returning means 121. The sheet-shaped medium treatment apparatus is movable between a home position (I) and a press/return position (II). In addition, before leading end of discharged sheet-shaped medium S1 gets contact with top surface of sheet-shaped medium S2 already piled on said piling means, the returning means 121 is situated at said press/return position (II) and acts upon said already piled sheet-shaped medium S2 to retain it in proper position, and after said discharged sheet-shaped medium S1 falls on said piling means 12, said fallen sheet-shaped medium is aligned by being collided against said vertical wall 131 by said returning action of said returning means 121, thereafter, sheet-shaped medium is arranged by said arranging action of said arranging means in the direction of piercing the paper plane.

Abstract: In order to reduce the stack failure of a sheet bundle, there is provided a sheet stacking/aligning apparatus comprising: a stack tray for stacking sheets thereon; and a rear end aligning member for pushing and aligning the rear end of a sheet conveyed onto the stack tray. The rear end aligning member includes sheet holding paddle for holding the sheets stacked on the stack tray.

Abstract: In order to avoid the necessity of cropping the pages of a bound volume, uniformly sized printed pages having pre-glued edge surfaces are aligned within a stack and a press then presses the edge of the stack so as to compress the glue and adhere the pages together.

Abstract: A page stacking and binding system has a support tray for receiving pre-glued pages to be stacked, including a support surface; a drive system arranged so as to direct pages into the support tray, a vibrator interacting with the tray and a press device adapted to apply a compressive force to the stack of pages.

Abstract: A method of printing, stacking and binding pages is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (a) printing on the pages using a printing station; (b) applying adhesive to the pages using an adhesive station; (c) delivering pages one after to another to a support tray, the support tray including an adjustable support surface and at least two side walls for guiding the pages into a stack; (d) vibrating the support tray during and/or after delivery of the pages, thereby aligning the pages in the stack; (e) adjusting the height of the support tray relative to a press device, such that an upper page of the stack is positioned at a predetermined level relative to the press device; and (f) applying a compressive force to the stack using the press device, thereby providing a bound stack of pages.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing device includes a placement unit for placing a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus; a discharging unit for successively discharging the sheet on the placement unit; and an offset unit for shifting an edge of a stitching sheet from an edge of a non-stitching sheet on the placement unit by a predetermined distance depending on whether the sheet discharged on the placement unit is subjected to a stitching process. A stitching unit stitches only the edge portions of the stitching sheets in a stack in a state that the edges of the stitching sheets are shifted from the edge of the non-stitching sheet by the offset unit.

Abstract: A sheet processing device of the invention has an upper conveying guide, being rotatable in the vertical direction, for guiding the upper surface of the sheet, a lower conveying guide, on which the sheets are stacked, for guiding the lower surface of the sheet, upper and lower sheet-discharging rollers, for discharging the sheet, on the downstream side of the upper conveying guide, an arm for shifting the upper sheet-discharging roller in the vertical direction, a cam for pushing the arm upward, a stapler for stapling the sheets stacked on the lower conveying guide, a link portion and a link lever for shifting the upper conveying guide upward when the arm is shifted upward by the cam, a reference wall for receiving the sheets, stacked on the lower conveying guide, and a sheet lift preventing member, which moves away from the sheet when the downstream end of the upper conveying guide is located at the lower position and which holds the sheet when the downstream end of the upper conveying guide is shifted upwar

Abstract: The sheet stacking-aligning apparatus or the sheet processing apparatus includes a substantially horizontal stacking tray, a rear end aligning unit for aligning a rear end of a sheet bundle on the stacking tray, and a control unit for controlling an operation of the rear end aligning unit for aligning the sheet bundle when it is in an upstream position of the stacking tray, and the stacking tray is provided substantially horizontally. It is thus made possible to increase the stacking space, thereby increasing the number of stackable sheets and to achieve the alignment of the rear end of the sheet bundle with a simple configuration, thereby improving the stacking-aligning property of the sheet bundle on the stacking tray.