Abstract: For use with lazy-portrait narrow-end to narrow-end (LPEE) formatted document pages printed on a continuous web of material, a system and method for assembling correctly page-sequenced document sets that utilizes a slitter for separating the LPEE formatted document pages into two separate streams of continuous sheets, a turn-bar assembly positioned to flip only one of the continuous sheet streams, a cutter that produces separates pages from both the flipped stream of sheets and non-flipped stream of sheets, a collator for collating all of the separate pages into the correctly page-sequenced document sets, and a controller for tracking the LPEE formatted document pages and overseeing the assembly of the correctly page-sequenced document sets.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a first roller pair conveying a sheet received from an external apparatus, a second roller pair conveying the sheet conveyed from the first roller pair, a jogging tray configured to receive the sheet conveyed from the second roller pair and jog the received sheet, and a binding device configured to bind a stack of sheets received and jogged by the jogging tray. The second roller pair can be driven to rotate such that sheets received from the external device and conveyed by the first roller pair one after another are pinched by the second roller pair one after another while being overlapped one upon another with leading edges thereof shifted stepwise one after another and are held by the second roller pair to be further conveyed to the jogging tray.

Abstract: A sheet finishing apparatus of the present invention includes a gate for conveying sheets of paper ejected from an image forming apparatus by switching to a first conveying path requiring post processing or to a second conveying path requiring no post processing and a manual introduction unit for post-processing the sheets of paper conveyed via the first conveying path by a processing mechanism and ejecting them to a first paper ejection tray and manually leading sheets of paper requiring post processing to the processing mechanism, and when the post process is executed in a manual mode, switches the gate to the second conveying path, and when sheets of paper are taken in from the image forming apparatus, ejects the sheets of paper to a second paper ejection tray via the second conveying path.

Abstract: A sheet processing system comprises a plurality of sheet processing devices, a primary sheet conveyance path, a secondary sheet conveyance path, and a controller which controls the sheet processing devices. The controller uses the primary sheet conveyance path to execute one job, and uses the secondary sheet conveyance path to execute another job in parallel with that one job.

Abstract: A sheet deposition system having multiple supports detachably suspended in multiple guide members, wherein a support can be placed in a sheet deposition location or the distance between supports can be altered by driving the guide members. Multiple sheet deposition locations may be provided. The system enables that supports can be easily removed, added or relocated either manually or in an automated manner.

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 stapler is incorporated in a finishing device associated with a document creating apparatus. The stapler has a control circuit with a memory and is driven by a variably powered motor. An end user inputs the job parameter information at the control panel of the document creating apparatus for each different set of documents to be reproduced and stapled. In response thereto, the control panel sends a particular variable start pulse signal to the stapler control circuit. The control circuit senses the duration of the variable start pulse. Based upon the duration of the variable start pulse signal, the control circuit selects the motion control profile to be provided to the stapler motor from the various profiles stored in the memory of the control circuit.

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: 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 sheet post-process apparatus includes a waiting tray and a processing tray. The waiting tray is provided in the middle of a conveying path and makes standby sheets in the case where a post-process is required. 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. Sheet bundles formed on the processing tray are stacked on a storage tray by a sheet conveying mechanism after they have been post-processed.

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: A sheet processing apparatus includes a first processing unit, a second processing unit, a roller, a guide member, and a conveying unit. The first processing unit applies first processing to a recording medium. The second processing unit applies second processing to the recording medium. The roller has a conveying path to convey the recording medium from the first processing unit to the second processing unit along the outer circumference. The guide member guides the recording medium to the conveying path to lead the recording medium to the second processing unit. The conveying unit applies a conveying force to a stack of recording media at an upstream of the guide member in a recording-medium conveying direction.

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 post-process apparatus has a standby tray for putting a sheet delivered from an image forming apparatus on standby, a process tray arranged under the standby tray for stacking the sheet dropped from the standby tray or the sheet delivered from the image forming apparatus not through the standby tray, a matching mechanism for matching a lateral direction of the sheet stacked on the process tray by a lateral matching plate to form a sheet bundle, a post-process mechanism for post-processing the sheet bundle matched by the matching mechanism, and a delivery tray for delivering the sheet bundle post-processed by the post-process mechanism, in which the process tray and the standby tray are arranged so as to make a height of an upper end of the lateral matching plate of the process tray higher than a height of a lower end of the standby tray.

Abstract: A sheet finisher includes: a sheet stacker for stacking sheets outputted from an image forming apparatus to form a sheet bundle; a binder for binding the sheet bundle stacked on the sheet stacker; an ejection device for ejecting out of the sheet finisher at least one of the sheet bundle stacked on the sheet stacker and the sheet bundle which has been bound; an ejection tray for stacking the ejected sheet bundle or the bound sheet bundle sequentially; and a controller for controlling the ejection device to make the bound sheet bundle to wait on the sheet stacker, to make a sheet outputted from the apparatus which have not been bound to stack sequentially on the bound sheet bundle, and to make the bound sheet bundle and the sheet stacked on the bound sheet bundle as a unit to eject to the ejection tray.

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 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 rear end of the processing tray is positioned at upstream of the rear end of the waiting tray.

Abstract: In a sheet post-process apparatus of the present invention, a pair of paper feed rollers for receiving and conveying sheets of paper is arranged so that the tangential direction thereof forms a dip of ? with the horizontal plane, and a standby tray for making sheets of paper ejected from the paper feed rollers standby is given an inclination angle of ? at which the front end of the sheets of paper ejected is positioned higher than the rear end thereof, and the two angles are in a relation of ?>?.

Abstract: A sheet treating apparatus including, a conveying device for conveying sheets, a sheet stack tray for stacking the sheets conveyed by the conveying device, a sensor detecting the sheets conveyed to the sheet stack tray, a pressure-contact conveying device for conveying the sheets on the sheet stack tray in pressure contact with the sheets, a pressure-contact device for bringing the pressure-contact conveying device into pressure-contact with the sheets, and a controlling device for varying a time from when the sensor detects the sheets to when the pressure-contact device starts operating according to a sheet conveyance speed of the conveying device.

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 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 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: 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 waiting tray has an angle of inclination.

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 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. The waiting tray is formed by waiting tray parts which are arranged at a predetermined interval, and a strike-down mechanism is operated. Therefore, a bundle of paper loaded on the waiting tray is caused to fall down on the process tray.

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 top cover is provided above the waiting tray and can be opened and closed.

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. The standby tray is given a tilt angle of ?1 and the consistency is improved by the own weight of the sheets. A first and a second paper ejection tray are given a tilt angle of ?2 and the consistency is improved by the own weight of the sheets or a sheet bundle.

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. A third storage tray holds the sheets ejected without being conveyed to the waiting tray or the processing tray.

Abstract: A sheet handling apparatus is provided, which is comprised of a plurality of inserter trays for stacking thereon insert sheets to be inserted between recording sheets having images formed thereon. Sheet feeding modes for feeding insert sheets include two kinds, i.e. S-stacking mode and F-stacking mode, that can be set by a mode key displayed on a sheet feeding mode setting screen view. In the S-stacking mode, only first-page insert sheets are stacked on a first inserter tray, and only second-page insert sheets and third-page insert sheets are stacked on second and third inserter trays, respectively. In the F-stacking mode, insert sheets are stacked in order of page on an inserter tray. Sheet feeding is suitably controlled by stacking insert sheets on inserter trays in manners corresponding to respective selected stacking modes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sheet stacking device which stacks sheets thereon, comprising: a buffer unit which allows a preceding sheet to temporarily stay so as to superimpose the preceding sheet and a following sheet one on another; a sheet discharging roller which discharges the sheets superimposed in the buffer unit; and a sheet stacker which stacks the sheets discharged from the buffer unit. The sheets to be discharged in superimposition by the sheet discharging roller is superimposed in a state in which a rear end of a lower sheet in a sheet conveying direction advances in the sheet conveying direction more than a rear end of an upper sheet, and the lower sheet is previously discharged to the sheet stacker.

Abstract: An aligning device movable to a first position constituting a first sheet stacking portion for supporting a delivered sheet and a second position in which the sheet is not supported is provided downstream of a pair of delivery rollers, and the pair of delivery rollers are designed to be capable of assuming a first state in which they are capable of delivering the sheet, and a second state in which rollers constituting the pair of delivery rollers are spaced apart from each other. When the pair of delivery rollers are in the first state and the aligning device is in the first position, a sheet aligning and stacking portion for making the alignment of the sheet by the aligning device possible is defined by the first stacking portion and the sheet transport path between a reference wall and the pair of delivery rollers.

Abstract: A sheet finishing apparatus is provided with a discharge device for discharging a sheet; a support device arranged below the discharge device; a storage device arranged below the support device; an aligning device having a reference member as a reference to align the sheet and alignment rotating members for moving the sheet to the reference member; a shift device for shifting the discharge device to move the sheet to a position where the sheet can contact the alignment rotating members; a finishing device for finishing the sheet aligned by the discharge device, the shift device and the aligning device in a state that the sheet straddles between the support device and the storage device; and a transport device for transporting the sheets finished by the finishing device to the storage device.

Abstract: In a sheet treating apparatus for treating sheets on which images have been formed, the sheets are upwardly transported by transport rollers, etc., and are transported to an intermediate treatment tray, where the sheets are subjected to treatment such as stapling, and then the sheets can be delivered to a delivery tray disposed in a substantially vertical state above the intermediate treatment tray.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body having a sheet ejecting section, a placing tray formed on an upper portion of the main body to receive a sheet ejected from the main body, an image reading device for reading an image disposed above the sheet ejecting section, and a sheet post-processing unit disposed between the image reading device and the placing tray. The post-processing unit includes a supporting device capable of moving between a support position for supporting an upstream side of an ejected sheet in a transfer direction and a retreat position for allowing the sheet to drop onto the placing tray, a post-processing device disposed at a side adjacent to the supporting means for applying post-processing to the sheet supported on the supporting means, and a sheet shift device laterally moving the sheet into and from the post-processing device.

Abstract: In a booklet maker, as would be found in conjunction with a copier or printer, print sheets to be folded and stapled into a booklet are accumulated in a slot. At the bottom of the slot, a selectably extendable contact member presses an accumulating set of sheets against a sidewall of the slot following the entry of each new sheet into the slot. The contact member decreases curling and fluffing of sheets within the slot, which can cause imprecisions in registering, stapling, or creasing of the sheets as they are formed into a booklet.

Abstract: A finishing device having a sheet guiding and buffering mechanism located in the space between a sheet transporting assembly and a finishing platform. The mechanism has two parallel retractable arms having a slight curvature along their length. Sheets dispensed seriatim from the transport assembly onto the arms conform to the curvature of the arms. In a normal mode, the arms are retracted for each sheet delivered thereto and the individual sheets drop onto platform to form a set of stacked sheets. When the last sheet of a set is dropped, the mechanism changes to a buffering mode and the arms collect and hold the first few sheets of the next set. Once the previous set has been finished and ejected from the platform, the arms are retracted and the sheets collected are dropped, and the mechanism is changed to the normal cycle for the remainder of the subsequent set.

Abstract: This invention relates to a sheet post-processing device and an image-forming device. The mechanism that arranges sheets to be a bundle and that discharges the bundle will be reduced in size and cost. A sheet S1 guided by the guide 44 is conveyed to a tray 12 by a discharging roller 21. When the rear end &agr; of the sheet S1 locates on a arranging table 41, the discharging roller 21 rotates in the opposite direction, and the sheet is conveyed until the sheet contacts the stopper 43 of the arranging table 41. The next sheet S2 is conveyed to the tray 12 in the same manner as previous described, however the previous sheet S1 is held on the arranging table by the holding device 51. The sheet S2 contacts the stopper 43 by the reverse rotation of the discharging roller 21 to be arranged on the sheet S1. A bundle of sheets bound by a stapler 60 is discharged to the tray 12 completely by the discharging roller 21.

Abstract: A sheet finishing apparatus includes a discharge device having a pair of rotating shafts and discharge rotating bodies supported on the rotating shafts; a shift device for shifting the rotating shafts in a shaft direction; a support device for receiving and supporting the sheet discharged by the discharge means; an alignment device having an alignment reference member for aligning one edge of the sheet discharged on the support means and a moving member for moving the sheet to the alignment reference member along the shaft direction; a finishing device disposed at a side facing the support device with the alignment reference member in between for finishing the sheet aligned by the aligning device; and a shift tolerance portion disposed at a side facing the support device with the aligning device in between for allowing the rotating shafts to protrude when the shift device shifts the rotating shafts.

Abstract: In a sheet finisher having a stacker for sheets conveyed from an image forming apparatus and a stapler for stacked sheets, the sheet finisher further has a conveying timing adjustment section arranged upstream of the stacker including: a conveying-in section for a sheet from the image forming apparatus; a conveying-out section separately provided from the conveying-in section; and a reversal conveying section for reversing a conveying direction of the sheet conveyed in one direction from the conveying-in section and for conveying-out from the conveying-out section. A controller controls the reversal conveying section such that at least a second bundle or a bundle after the second bundle of sheet bundles to be stapled by the stapler, in which a plurality of sheets having at least a top sheet and a succeeding sheet to the top sheet are overlapped each other, is conveyed-out from the reversal conveying section.

Abstract: An integrated sheet compiler/stacker system with reduced sheet roll-over or other jam problems, especially where the stacker is an elevator stacking tray or mailbox bin which moves relative to the compiler, with a gap therebetween, and partially shares the sheet set compiling area. For the first sheet of a set being compiled, a dual mode compiler set eject drive roller nips system is closed and that first sheet lead edge area is fed thereby partially out of the compiler towards the adjacent stacker tray or mailbox bin, with improved corrugated and/or more planer sheet extension support. Then that first sheet is reverse fed back into the compiler for positive compiling. Those set eject nips are opened for the compiling of the subsequent sheets of that same set (for which the first sheet provides a smooth gap bridge), then they close again to eject the entire compiled set and receive the first sheet of the next set.

Abstract: A stapler for driving a staple into a sheet stack. The stapler includes a first cartridge configured to receive a first staple defined by a first leg length, and a second cartridge configured to receive a second staple defined by a second leg length. The stapler includes a stapling head configured to drive the staples into the sheet stack, and a cartridge positioning actuator configured to selectively position either the first or the second cartridge over a predetermined position on the sheet stack. The stapler can have a single stationary stapling head, and the cartridges can be moved in position over the stapling head. Alternately, each cartridge can have its own associated stapling head. The stapler can include a sensor to determine the thickness of the sheet stack. A controller can receive a thickness signal from the sensor and determine which of the cartridges to position over the sheet stack.

Abstract: A post print finishing device that incorporates an imaging material binder into the post print handling and finishing functions. In one exemplary embodiment, the finishing device includes a flipper module, an accumulator module and a binder module. The binder module binds sheets together by reactivating imaging material applied to binding regions on the sheets by a printing device. The flipper module receives a sheet leading edge first and discharges the sheet trailing edge first. That is to say, the flipper module flips the sheet before discharging the sheet for further processing. The accumulator module stacks the sheets, presents the sheets to the binder for binding and then discharges the bound stack to the output bin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet process device capable of performing a sheaf discharge operation to discharge sheaves of sheets stacked on a process tray to a stack tray, without discharging a next sheet to the process tray during the sheaf discharge operation and stopping an operation on a body side of an image formation apparatus. In the sheet process device, for example, in a case where an original consisting of six sheets of paper is carried, the first to third sheets are stacked on the process tray as they are without any designation, and the following fourth sheet is designated as a sheaf discharge sheet since it is the sheet two before the final sheet of the sheaf, whereby the sheaf discharge of the first to fourth sheets is performed. The fifth sheet after the sheaf discharge is designated as a wind sheet since a value of a wind counter has been set to be “2”.

Abstract: An image forming system includes a digital copy machine to form an image on a group of sheets from an image of a group of documents, and a staple sorter sorting and discharging copied sheets from the digital copy machine. According to the staple sorter, control is provided so that a sheet of a long left period of time is transported from the bin to a nonsort tray when all of a plurality of bins provided in the staple sorter are used during a print operation. The left time of a sheet is monitored even when a print operation is not carried out. When the left time exceeds a predetermined time, control is provided so that the sheet left in the bin is transferred to the nonsort tray. As a result, a sheet discharge device is provided improved in operability of sheet discharge.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively depositing printed sheets on four superimposed supports which are adjustable as to height independently of one another, each support being adapted to be placed, for the deposition of a sheet thereon, with its support surface or the top sheet situated on the support surface placed a short fixed distance beneath a fixed delivery point and printed sheets of a first type (A) are deposited on the bottom support and printed sheets of a second type (B) are deposited on the supports situated thereabove, wherein out of a group of sheets of a second type (B) for deposition, a first part is first deposited on a higher-level support and then a second part is deposited on a support therebeneath.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing device comprises a feed-in opening through which sheets of paper fed out of a copying machine are supplied, a staple tray on which the sheets of paper to be stapled are stacked, a stapler for stapling the sheets of paper stacked on the staple tray, a feed-out opening for discharging the stapled sheets of paper, and a plurality of paths for transporting the sheets of paper from the feed-in opening, to the staple tray, and further to the feed-out opening. The sheet post-processing device is further characterized in that the feed-in opening is positioned not higher than a position of an upper edge of the post-processing tray and not lower than a position of a lower edge of the post-processing tray. With this arrangement, the sheet post-processing device can be arranged so as to have smaller limitation on positions of the post-processing tray and the feed-in opening in the sheet post-processing device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sheet finisher, which receives sheets from an image forming apparatus, such as an electro-photographic copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, etc., to align and bind the sheets. There is described a sheet finisher which includes a conveyance roller pair to convey the sheets, an intermediate stacker to stack the sheets, an aligning device to align the sheets stacked on the intermediate stacker, a binder to bind the sheets stacked and aligned on the intermediate stacker, an ejector to convey and eject the sheets bound by the binder, a driver to drive the aligning device, a controller to control the driver and an overlapped sheets conveying device to grip and convey two sheets. In the sheet finisher, the controller controls the driver in a manner such that the aligning device aligns an initial one sheet stacked on the intermediate stacker under a first aligning condition, while the aligning device aligns two overlapped sheets under a second aligning condition.