Abstract: An apparatus for preparing a collation of sheets for folding operations. The system includes a registration device including multiple registration stations and a conveyance device for transporting the collation to one of the registration stations. Each registration station is adapted to register the edges of the collation based upon a desired edge geometry. A processor determines the fold configuration of the collation and determines the edge geometry thereof based upon the fold configuration of the collation. The processor selects one of the registration stations based upon the fold configuration and then controls the conveyance device to transport the collation to the selected registration station. The registration station selected may also be based upon the thickness of the collation and a desired location for binding the collation.

Abstract: The alignment unit includes: an upstream-side pressing portion that presses a side edge of the sheet; and a downstream-side pressing portion that presses the side edge of the sheet. The downstream-side pressing portion includes: a first pressing portion that is arranged downstream of the center of gravity of a predetermined-size sheet and upstream of the downstream edge of the predetermined-size sheet and that presses the predetermined-size sheet; and a second pressing portion that is arranged downstream of the downstream edge of the predetermined-size sheet and downstream of the center of gravity of a large-size sheet having twice or more than twice the length of the predetermined-size sheet and that presses the large-size sheet. The second pressing portion is formed to protrude further toward the center side in the width direction than the first pressing portion.

Abstract: A recording medium post-processing apparatus includes: a recording medium stacking unit on which recording media are stacked; a binding section that binds the recording media by deforming the recording media in a thickness direction, and retracts to the outside of the stacking area of the recording media after binding the recording media; a reference member that functions as a position reference used for aligning the recording media; and an alignment unit that aligns end portions of the recording media facing the reference member by moving the recording media to a position where the recording media come into contact with the reference member from a position where the recording media are separated from the reference member.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes pairs of rollers being sheet conveying units that convey recording sheets that are sheet media, a binding tray in which a plurality of recording sheets conveyed by the pairs of rollers are stacked and the recording sheets are retained as a paper bundle, and a stapler being a binding unit that performs a binding process on the paper bundle retained in the binding tray. Target positions on the paper bundle are adjusted by moving both of two jogger fences in an R direction to move the paper bundle in the sheet width direction so as to displace the paper bundle with respect to the stapler.

Abstract: A sheet cutting apparatus, including: a conveying member configured to convey a half-folded sheet bunch in a conveyance path in which the conveying member is provided; a registration member which comes into contact with a leading edge portion of the sheet bunch to correct a skew feed of the sheet bunch; a cutting member positioned upstream of the registration member to cut a trailing edge portion of the sheet bunch; and a discharging member provided at an outlet of the conveyance path to discharge the sheet bunch, wherein the leading edge portion of the sheet bunch is positioned outside the discharging member when, after the skew feed is corrected, the sheet bunch is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction by the conveying member and the trailing edge portion of the sheet bunch is conveyed to a cutting position of the cutting member to cut the trailing edge portion.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes a discharge unit, a stacking tray, an acquisition unit, a shift control unit, and an alignment unit. The shift control unit controls a stacking position of a sheet in a sheet width direction in response to shift information acquired by the acquisition unit. The alignment unit aligns a sheet staked on the stacking tray and moves to a position that abuts on a side edge of the sheet in the sheet width direction to align the sheet. The shift control unit controls a stacking position of a second sheet to stack the second sheet on a second position or on a first position depending on where a first sheet is stacked and on shift information of the second sheet.

Abstract: A booklet is produced. Selectively-printed sheets are cut to length, inner sheets being shorter, and stacked on a ramp set at an adjustable angle to a sheet support. This aligns the fold axes of all the sheets so they can be fastened and folded. Gravity is used to hold the sheets in place on the ramp and sheet support.

Abstract: A skew correction device for aligning a booklet that is a folded bundle of sheets on a conveying path includes a first member against which a leading end of the booklet abuts in a conveying direction; a second member configured to push a trailing end of the booklet in the conveying direction so that the leading end of the booklet abuts against the first member; and a deflection generating member configured to deflect the booklet downward when the trailing end is pushed.

Abstract: A scroll system and method. The scroll system includes a core that has two end walls that are preferably disc-shaped. A slot that detachably couples a stack of writing material is disposed within the core. The writing materials need not be accessed sequentially but are randomly accessible. The writing materials are also rollable around the core and can be unwound from said core for use.

Abstract: A method includes causing a stacking device having a first stacking unit and a second stacking unit to stack sheets of a small size on the first stacking unit or the second stacking unit and to stack sheets of a large size over the first stacking unit and the second stacking unit, and controlling the stacking of sheets by restricting stacking of the sheets of the large size on the sheet of the small size when the sheets of the small size are stacked on at least one of the first stacking unit and the second stacking unit.

Abstract: A transversal cutting equipment for sheets separable from overlapped continuous forms, wherein the forms are longitudinally divided from a basic continuous form for producing documents with a single sheet or more sheets, and wherein the documents and the respective sheets are printed according to a predetermined order. The equipment comprises a cutting device for joined separation of the sheets; an accumulating and forwarding device; transport paths; and differentiating means for modifying the transport times of the sheets along one or more transport paths. The cutting device operates in a continuous way, while the accumulating and forwarding device collects the sheet or sheets of a partially formed document and sends the sheet or sheets upon the completion of the document.

Abstract: A control method for an image forming system capable of preventing reduction of the ability of the system even if a shift transportation function becomes an abnormal condition. An image forming apparatus forms an image on a sheet. A first sheet process apparatus has a first moving unit receiving the sheet on which the image is formed and moving the sheet in a width direction. In a determination step, it is determined whether a second sheet process apparatus having a second moving unit moving the sheet in the width direction is connected to an upstream side of the first sheet process apparatus. In a detection step, it is detected an abnormal condition of the first moving unit. In a sheet movement step, the second moving unit moves the sheet in the width direction if an abnormal condition is detected and the second sheet process apparatus is connected.

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

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus, including: a stacking section which stacks sheets; a sorting section which changes an ejecting position of the sheet in the stacking device to sort the sheets; an aligning section which aligns the sheet sorted by the sorting section and ejected onto the stacking section; a shifting section which shifts the aligning section based on the ejecting position changed by the sorting section in the stacking section; and a control section which controls at least the aligning section and the shifting section; wherein when the number of sheets as a sheet unit to be sorted by the sorting section is plural, the control section controls the aligning section to align the sheets as the sheet unit, and when the number of sheets is singular, the control section controls at least the aligning section and shifting section not to align the single sheet in the sheet unit.

Abstract: In a sheet processing apparatus that, for example, sorts or staples sheets after image formation, when preceding finishing is not completed on a processing tray, a third sheet fed anew into awaiting tray of a sheet placing member configuring a sheet waiting unit, which temporarily puts a sheet conveyed thereto on standby, is stacked to be shifted such that leading ends of second and third sheets are located further on a conveying direction upstream side than a leading end of a first sheet. Consequently, longitudinal alignment in the processing tray after that is surely performed.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a sheet processing apparatus includes: a processing tray on which a sheet conveyed from an image forming apparatus is placed; a lateral alignment unit which has a pair of movable alignment boards, holds and the sheet on the processing tray between the pair of alignment boards, and aligns the sheet; a stapler which staples the sheet placed on the processing tray; a sheet discharge unit which discharges the stapled sheet from the processing tray to a discharge port; and a control unit which control so that the sheet is stapled after an operation of holding the sheet between the pair of alignment boards and then opening the alignment boards is performed plural times, when the sheet is inserted to the stapler from the discharge port and manually stapled.

Abstract: There is provided a technique in which a retracting operation of a bundle of sheets from a stapler after a staple process can be stably performed irrespective of the number of sheets constituting the bundle of sheets or the transport resistance. When the bundle of sheets subjected to the staple process is moved by a stacker in a direction of retracting from the stapler, an alignment roller is caused to come in contact with the bundle of sheets held by the stacker and to assist the movement of the bundle of sheet.

Abstract: A printing system capable of increasing the working efficiency of an operator engaged in a post-process necessary after printing can be provided. For this purpose, the user interface unit can execute a display which allows the operator to explicitly input, for each job, instruction information in consideration of a post-process necessary after a printing process in a job requiring a printing process by a printing apparatus in a printing system capable of stacking, on a stacking unit, printed materials having undergone the printing process. When the job to be processed is a job for which the operator inputs the instruction information via the display, printed materials of the job for which the operator inputs the instruction information are stacked on the stacking unit while the printed materials are classified every printed materials on the basis of the instruction information input by the operator for the job.

Abstract: A finisher includes a bundle hook configured to push a sheet bundle in a first direction and convey the sheet bundle; a drive unit configured to drive the bundle hook in the first direction and a second direction; a discharge unit configured to discharge the sheet bundle conveyed by the bundle hook; a stacking unit configured to stack the sheet bundle discharged by the discharge unit; and a control unit configured to control the drive unit to drive the bundle hook in the second direction if the drive unit drives the bundle hook in the first direction and the discharge unit discharges the sheet bundle.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus which is capable of improving the productivity of sheet processing as much as possible. An image forming apparatus forms an image on a sheet. A finisher is connected downstream of the image forming apparatus and performs post processing on the sheet. The finisher moves at least one of the sheet and a punching unit to adjust a position for punching holes in the sheet. The finisher determines whether or not a post-processing apparatus connected upstream of the finisher is provided with a correction mechanism for correcting a position of a sheet in a direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction. When the post-processing apparatus is provided with the correction mechanism, the finisher causes the image forming apparatus to be set such that a sheet conveying interval becomes shorter than when the post-processing apparatus is not provided with the correction mechanism.

Abstract: The post-processing apparatus obliquely disposed is provided with a stacker 21 to stack a recording sheet bundle S, a stopper 22 located at a lower end D of the stacker 21 and a blower section 3 disposed at the lower end D side of the stacker 21. The recording sheet bundle S is conveyed to the stacker 21 via a conveyance path a. The blower section 3 blows air towards a lower edge SD of the recording sheet sliding down on the stacking surface P of the stacker 21 from an upper end U side to the lower end D side of the stacker 21.

Abstract: Provided is a sheet processing apparatus for processing sheets, including: a sheet process tray on which sheets to be processed are stacked; a sheet transport means for transporting processed sheets on the sheet process tray; a pressure member which is provided on an upstream side of the sheet transport means with respect to a sheet transport direction and which moves in the sheet transport direction while pressing the processed sheets, for transporting the processed sheets in cooperation with the sheet transport unit; and a controller for selectively operating the pressure member.

Abstract: A sheet collecting apparatus has a sheet transport path for transporting a sheet, a tray device for bearing and storing sheets, a regulation stopper for regulating the sheet, a holding path to temporarily hold a sheet, an alignment roller to transport the sheet, and a control device for controlling transport of the sheet. The alignment roller adjusts a level of pressing force acting on the sheet transported onto the tray device. The control device has a first operation mode and a second operation mode. In the first operation mode, the alignment roller applies a transport force to the sheet by a predetermined pressing force after a rear end of the sheet is carried into the tray device, while in the second operation mode, changing the pressing force applied to the sheets from the alignment roller from a first pressing force to a second pressing force and applying varied transport force.

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

Abstract: In a sheet processing apparatus that, for example, sorts or staples sheets after image formation, when preceding finishing is not completed on a processing tray, a third sheet fed anew into a waiting tray of a sheet placing member configuring a sheet waiting unit, which temporarily puts a sheet conveyed thereto on standby, is stacked to be shifted such that leading ends of second and third sheets are located further on a conveying direction upstream side than a leading end of a first sheet. Consequently, longitudinal alignment in the processing tray after that is surely performed.

Abstract: A sheet aligning apparatus includes an alignment surface formed in a planar shape and that presses an end of a sheet to move and align the sheet; and a holding unit that holds the end of the sheet at a position contacting the alignment surface in a state that a curled end of the sheet contacts the alignment surface and the sheet is thus pressed.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus which is capable of improving the productivity of sheet processing as much as possible. An image forming apparatus forms an image on a sheet. A finisher is connected downstream of the image forming apparatus and performs post processing on the sheet. The finisher moves at least one of the sheet and a punching unit to adjust a position for punching holes in the sheet. The finisher determines whether or not a post-processing apparatus connected upstream of the finisher is provided with a correction mechanism for correcting a position of a sheet in a direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction. When the post-processing apparatus is provided with the correction mechanism, the finisher causes the image forming apparatus to be set such that a sheet conveying interval becomes shorter than when the post-processing apparatus is not provided with the correction mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet processing apparatus including: a conveying portion which conveys a sheet; a stacking portion which stacks the sheet conveyed by the conveying portion; a first processing unit which performs a process to the sheet at a first process position on the stacking portion; a second processing unit which performs a process to the sheet at a second process position on the stacking portion, the second process position being at the downstream side in the conveying direction of the first process position; and a controlling portion which performs positioning of the sheet at the first process position when the first processing unit performs the process to the sheet and positioning of the sheet at the second process position when the second processing unit performs the process to the sheet which is passed through the first process position without being positioned.

Abstract: In a sheet aligning apparatus, a pair of sheet aligning members stops at three positions such that when a sheet aligning operation is not conducted, the pair of sheet aligning members is stopped at the first position of an upper level so as not to come in contact with sheets discharged from a discharging section, when the sorting section shifts for sorting, the pair of sheet aligning members is stopped at the second position of a middle level lower than the first position so as not to come in contact with sheets stacked on the tray, and when a sheet aligning operation is conducted, the pair of sheet aligning members is stopped at the third position of a lower level so as to come in contact with the top surface of the tray or the upper surface of the sheets stacked on the 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: A sheet collecting apparatus has a sheet discharge outlet, a tray device for bearing and storing sheets, a regulation stopper disposed in the tray device; a forward/backward rotation roller, a roller lifting/lowering device, a sheet pressing guide disposed between the forward/backward rotation roller and the regulation stopper; a pressing force reducing device for reducing a pressing force, and a control device for controlling the forward/backward rotation roller, the roller lifting/lowering device and the pressing force reducing device. The control device is configured to rotate forward the forward/backward rotation roller in the operating position to move forward a carried-in sheet in the sheet discharge direction by a predetermined distance, and then rotate backward the forward/backward rotation roller. The control device has two operation modes that are selectively executed a first operation mode and a second operation mode.

Abstract: A system for binding variable thickness multi-sheet collations includes first and second processing stations including a stitcher and stapler, respectively and a means for determining the thickness of a multi-sheet collation. A processor is responsive to a thickness value signal and selects one of the first and second processing stations to bind the multi-sheet collation. A conveyance system then transports the multi-sheet collation to the selected one of the first and second processing stations. A method includes the steps of: stacking sheet material to produce a multi-sheet collation, determining the thickness of the multi-sheet collation, and selecting an apparatus to bind the multi-sheet collation from one of at least two binding apparatus based upon the thickness of the multi-sheet collation. The multi-sheet collation is then conveyed along a feed path to a selected one of the binding apparatus.

Abstract: A sheet finishing apparatus includes: a conveying roller configured to convey a sheet to a storage tray; a positioning stopper provided in parallel to a conveying path for the sheet; an aligning roller configured to convey the sheet, move the sheet in a lateral direction orthogonal to a direction of the conveyance, and press the sheet against the stopper to laterally align the sheet; and a moving mechanism configured to move the position of the aligning roller in the conveying direction. The sheet finishing apparatus controls the position of the aligning roller according to a size of the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet finishing apparatus includes: a puncher which moves between a penetrate position and a standby position; a detection unit which detects a lateral edge of a sheet; a standby tray which supports the sheet passed through the puncher, by a pair of tray members; a lateral alignment unit which holds and aligns the sheet falling off the standby tray, by a pair of alignment boards; a moving mechanism which moves the position of the standby tray or the alignment boards in a direction orthogonal to the carrying direction of the sheet; and a control unit which measures a quantity of misalignment of the sheet by using a result of detection of the lateral edge from the detection unit and controls the moving mechanism in accordance with the quantity of misalignment.

Abstract: A post-processing device include a conveyed medium stacking portion, a medium bundle stapling member, a medium bundle stacking portion and a medium bundle stacking control unit. A plurality of recording mediums, on which images are recorded, are conveyed and stacked into the conveyed medium stacking portion. The medium bundle stapling member staples a medium bundle, which is a bundle of the plurality of recording mediums stacked on the conveyed medium stacking portion, with staples. The stapled medium bundle is conveyed and stacked into the medium bundle stacking portion. The medium bundle stacking control unit stacks a second medium bundle on a first medium bundle under the condition that a second stacking stapling position deviates from a first stacking stapling position in a width direction by a distance not less than a staple width.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a support unit on which sheets are stacked together as a sheet stack, first and second binding units that bind the sheet stack as first and second sheet stacks, respectively, an arranging unit that arranges the first and second sheet stacks such that an area through which the first sheet stack passes and an area through which a portion of the second sheet stack at which the second sheet stack has been bound passes do not overlap and such that, in a transporting path of the first and second sheet stacks, an area through which the first sheet stack passes and an area through which the portion of the second sheet stack passes are located at different positions in a direction that crosses the transporting path, and a transporting unit that transports one of the first and second sheet stack disposed at different positions.

Abstract: A sheet ejection device includes: a sheet ejection tray adapted to stack a sheet ejected thereon; an alignment member which aligns a position in a width direction and a direction perpendicular to a sheet ejection direction of the sheet on the sheet ejection tray; and a supporting unit which supports the alignment member so that the alignment member is displaced in a direction intersecting the sheet ejection direction when outer force is applied to the alignment member.

Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus, including: sheet folder configured to fold a sheet bundle; a sheet bundle discharger configured to discharge a folded sheet bundle, folded by the sheet folder, with a folded edge of the folded sheet bundle in the lead; a folded edge support configured to support the folded edge of the folded sheet bundle discharged from the sheet bundle discharger, the folded edge support movable without rotation in a direction declined from a higher side near the sheet bundle provider to a lower side farther from the sheet bundle provider than the higher side; and an undersurface support configured to support an undersurface of the folded sheet bundle so that the folded edge is lower than a trailing edge of the folded sheet bundle, the undersurface support comprising a hill on its upper surface between the folded edge support and the sheet bundle provider, the hill comprising a slope between the folded edge support and the sheet bundle provider, the hill further comprising a valley wall declined st

Abstract: A conveying unit has a nipping hook to nip a sheet bundle and conveys the sheet bundle while nipping the sheet bundle with the nipping hook. A discharge roller sequentially discharges the sheet bundle conveyed by the conveying unit. A stack unit stacks the sheet bundle conveyed by the conveying unit. A shutter is provided between the discharge roller and the stack unit. A push-out lever is fixed to the discharge roller. An opening is provided on one side of the shutter, and a push-out part which causes the push-out lever to protrude to the stack unit from the opening of the shutter with a rotation of the nipping pawl is provided on the nipping hook. The push-out lever caused to protrude to the stack unit by the push-out part pushes out the sheet bundle to the stack unit in accordance with the rotation of the nipping hook.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a support unit on which sheets, which each include first and second edge portions that differ from each other, are stacked together such that the first and second edge portions are aligned; a counter member disposed so as to face the first edge portions; a pressing member that presses the first edge portions against the counter member; a first binding unit that binds together the first edge portions by a first binding process, the first edge portion of each sheet being pressed against the counter member by the pressing member; and a second binding unit that binds together the second edge portions by a second binding process, the first edge portion of each sheet being pressed against the counter member by the pressing member, a bond formed by the second binding unit being more easily breakable than a bond formed by the first binding unit.

Abstract: A sheet stack apparatus comprises a storage portion configured to support sheets conveyed one by one in a standing position, a receiving portion configured to receive lower ends of the sheets supported by the storage portion, an assisting member configured to move from a first position to the storage portion side and at a second position where the assisting member contacts with the sheets conveyed to the storage portion, assist stacking of the sheets on the storage portion, and a holding member configured to move in correspondence with a movement of the assisting member via an attaching portion, when the assisting member is at the second position, separate from the lower ends of the sheets, and when the assisting member is at the first position where the assisting member is separated from the sheets supported by the storage portion, contact with the lower ends of the sheets, thereby hold them on the storage portion side.

Abstract: There is provided a technique in which a retracting operation of a bundle of sheets from a stapler after a staple process can be stably performed irrespective of the number of sheets constituting the bundle of sheets or the transport resistance. When the bundle of sheets subjected to the staple process is moved by a stacker in a direction of retracting from the stapler, an alignment roller is caused to come in contact with the bundle of sheets held by the stacker and to assist the movement of the bundle of sheet.

Abstract: There is provided a technique in which in a case where a sheet folding process or a staple process is performed, even in the case where the size precision of a sheet used is not satisfactory, the high-precision staple process and folding process can be performed to the sheet. In a sheet processing method of a sheet processing apparatus to perform a specified process to a sheet, a relatively moved sheet is detected, the size of the sheet is calculated based on the detection result, and a position where the specified process is performed to a bundle of sheets as an object of the specified process is adjusted based on the calculated sheet size.

Abstract: A paper-sheet handling device, as shown in FIG. 23, is a device that transports a bundle of paper-sheets obtained by binding a plurality of paper-sheets and is provided with a clamp movement mechanism 80 that contains lower arms 801a and upper arms 801b and transports the bundle of paper-sheets with it being fixed. The clamp movement mechanism 80 contains a clamp-opening-and-closing driving section 881 that drives the upper arms 801b, the clamp-opening-and-closing driving section 881 is provided with cams 87a, 87b, and each of the cams 87a, 87b contains a part having a given curved shape, the part keeping a normal operation range in which the upper arm 801b is moved up to a predetermined position with respect to the lower arm 801a to release the bundle of paper-sheets 3? and a U-shaped part that keeps a lock position for opening the clamp, the U-shaped part being continuous with the part having the given curved shape.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus of the invention has: a movement blocking unit for blocking a movement of a sheet which is moved to a side edge aligning unit by a moving unit, thereby allowing the moving unit to position adjustment slip move on the sheet so as to adjust a relative position with the sheet; and a block cancelling unit for allowing the movement blocking unit to cancel the block of the movement of the sheet when the moving unit slips and moves by a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A reference member serves as a reference for aligning trailing edges of a stack of sheets stacked on a binding tray. A binding unit binds the sheets with the trailing edges aligned. A discharge unit discharges the sheets with or without performing the binding process from the binding tray to a discharge tray. The reference member is movable in a sheet width direction such that a first position of the reference member at a time of discharging the sheets without performing the binding process is closer to a center of the binding tray than a second position of the reference member at a time of discharging the sheets with performing the binding process.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes a first and a second guide plate having a guide surface inclined to a perpendicular plane to take an open state having a gap of a first interval in a direction crossing the inclination direction and a closed state of a second interval narrower than the first interval, a sheet take-in portion standing by under the first and second guide plates to support sheets dropped from the guide surfaces with the leading edge thereof in a conveying direction directed downward in a standing position, and a controller configured to permit the first and second guide plates to enter the closed state and guide another sheets conveyed following the sheets supported internally by the sheet take-in portion by the guide surfaces and then to enter the open state and drop the another sheets from the gaps onto the preceding sheets.

Abstract: A method for loading a folded sheet bundle provided from a sheet bundle provider with a folded edge of the folded sheet bundle in the lead, including: supporting an undersurface of the folded sheet bundle so that the folded edge is lower than a trailing edge of the folded sheet bundle by a hill, the hill including a slope between a folded edge support and the sheet bundle provider, the hill further including a valley wall declined steeper than the slope from the higher side to the lower side between the slope and the folded edge support; supporting the folded edge of the folded sheet bundle by the folded edge support; and moving the folded edge support without rotation in a direction declined from a higher side near the sheet bundle provider to a lower side farther from the sheet bundle provider than the higher side.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus discharges and conveys a sheet from a process tray to a storage tray, and decelerates a bundle hook and a paper discharge roller when the bundle hook reaches a discharge start position of a bundle of sheets. At this time, a tangential speed of the paper discharge roller is faster than a movement speed of the bundle hook. Subsequently, the sheet post-processing apparatus stops the paper discharge roller in accordance with a rotation position of the bundle hook, and then decelerates the movement speed of the bundle hook. After the sheets are stacked on the storage tray, the bundle hook accelerates to return to a home position. Additionally, the sheet post-processing apparatus includes a spool 17 having a sheet pressing guide member 16 with a bent portion 16A.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing device receives a sheet from an image forming apparatus conveys a plurality of the sheets to a staple tray to form a sheet pile, and staples the sheet pile with a stapler. The stapler is arranged along a first side of the staple tray in a sheet width direction and has an opening for taking in a second side of the sheet pile when stapling the sheet pile at a staple position. The stapler unit is arranged at a position that a central portion of the second side of the sheet pile is situated inside the opening, and the staple position is located downstream of an alignment surface of an aligning member in a sheet conveying direction that aligns ends of the sheets in the sheet pile.