Abstract: A paper output structure includes a printer enclosure and a paper output extending device. The paper output extending device includes a pivot shaft, a drive gear, and a toothed bar which is capable of internal telescopic extension by means of a drive gear which includes a great gear portion and a first small gear portion. A printed sheet of paper is slightly stretched so as to be dropped uncrinkled and perfectly flat into the output tray.

Abstract: A paper-pressing tray mounting apparatus for a printing apparatus includes a first paper support tray, a second paper support tray mounted on the first paper support tray, a paper-pressing tray pivotally mounted on the second paper support tray, and a sliding panel mounted on the second paper support tray. When the second paper support tray moves toward the first paper support tray along a first direction, the sliding panel moves on the second paper support tray along a second direction opposite to the first direction, the sliding panel abuts against the paper-pressing tray, the paper-pressing tray rotates toward the first paper support tray around the second paper support tray, the second paper support tray is accommodated in the first paper support tray, and the paper-pressing tray is accommodated between the first paper support tray and the second paper support tray.

Abstract: A paper discharge device includes: an end fence to restrict leading end positions of paper sheets discharged to a paper receiving tray; a lift mechanism to lower the paper receiving tray by a prescribed distance upon reach of a top surface position of the paper sheets stacked on the paper receiving tray to a reference position; an ultrasonic sensor to emit an ultrasonic wave in a horizontal direction toward the paper receiving tray from upstream of the paper receiving tray in a discharge direction in a prescribed height range including the reference position and portions above and below the reference position, and receive a reflected wave from a detection target; and a detector to detect the top surface position on a basis of changes in a reception level of the reflected wave over an elapsed time from an emission of the ultrasonic wave.

Abstract: A stacking unit accommodates sheets stacked on it. The stacking unit is capable of moving up and down within an operation range from a predetermined upper limit to a predetermined lower limit. A determination unit releases a determination of the fully loaded state if elapsed time from the time when the determination unit determines that the stacking unit has been fully loaded with sheets to the time when a sheet detection unit again detects an uppermost sheet of the stacked sheets as a result of the stacking unit being lifted up when the sheet detection unit can no longer detect the sheet after detection of the sheet exceeding a first threshold time preset in correspondence with the amount of curl imparted to the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet ejection device includes a sheet receiving tray provided with a sheet stack plane, a detector for detecting ejected sheets at a reference position, and a controller. Both side end of the sheet stack plane is made higher than a center thereof when viewed along a sheet ejection direction. The reference position functions as a reference for a height level of a center of an uppermost surface of stacked sheets on the sheet stack plane. During a sheet ejection operation, the controller moves the tray downward by a preset height level every ejection of a preset number of sheets until the detector detects sheets, and then newly starts to move the tray downward by the preset height level every ejection of the preset number of sheets from a time when the detector detects sheets. According to the device, sheets can be prevented from being stacked on the tray erroneously.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a fed original placing portion on which an original is placed, wherein the fed original placing portion is configured to be rotated; an feeding portion that feeds the original placed on the fed original placing portion; an image reading portion that reads an image of the original fed by the feeding portion; a discharging portion, disposed below the fed original placing portion, onto which the original with the image read by the image reading portion is discharged; an irradiation portion that irradiates the discharging portion with light; and a stopping unit that stops the irradiation of the light by the irradiation portion according to a rotation of the fed original placing portion.

Abstract: A sheet stacking device including a stacking tray, an auxiliary tray, and pivot limiting means. The stacking tray is disposed to be pivotable relative to an apparatus main body. The stacking tray has a stacking surface on which sheets discharged from discharging means are stacked. The auxiliary tray is pivotable between a storage position at which the auxiliary tray is stored in the stacking tray and a pivot position to which the auxiliary tray pivots from the stacking tray.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, an image forming unit, a guide member, and a cover. The guide member is configured to be pivotable with respect to the apparatus body and is configured to guide the sheet along a transporting path. The cover is configured to be pivotable with respect to the apparatus body and is configured to open and close at least a part of the transporting path. The guide member includes a first engaging portion and the cover includes a second engaging portion which engages the first engaging portion of the guide member. One of the guide member and the cover includes an engagement guiding portion which guides one of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion toward the other one of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion, such that the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion engages with each other.

Abstract: A stacker support with automatic unload function for flexible media includes a first set of ribs and a second of ribs. The stacker support is moved between a first UP position and a second unloading position. In the first UP position and loading positions, the first set of ribs and the second set of ribs are aligned so that their surfaces from a single uniform continuous surface for supporting stack of substrate sheets. In the second unloading position, the top surface of the second set of ribs is caused to move below the top surface of the first set of ribs whereby the top surface of the first set of ribs forms a ribbed surface that supports stacked sheets. The gaps formed thereby permit unloading by a cart having offset ribs.

Abstract: A system for improving stacking of flat items stacked on edge and forming a batch of items in a sort bin (200a) of the type comprising a stacking deck (210) for supporting the batch of items, a paddle (220) movably connected to a shaft (224) mounted on the stacking deck for registering the batch of items while applying a first stacking pressure to the batch of items, a driving device (228) for applying at least another adjustable pressure to the batch of items for refining their registering against the paddle, and a movement control module (229) for controlling the driving device so as to adjust pressure in the batch of items, wherein the batch of items and the paddle are driven synchronously and separately.

Abstract: A drive controlling unit causes an ascending and descending unit to lower a recording medium discharge tray, and then causes raising of the recording medium discharge tray until detection of the upper surface of the recording medium by an upper surface detection sensor. A determining unit determines whether a raising time of the recording medium discharge tray measured by a measuring unit is a predetermined abnormal time. When the raising time is determined by the determining unit not to be the abnormal time, the drive controlling unit causes the recording medium discharge unit to execute the subsequent recording medium discharge into the recording medium discharge tray. When the raising time is determined by the determining unit to be the abnormal time, the drive controlling unit causes the recording medium discharge unit to stop the subsequent recording medium discharge into the recording medium discharge tray.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a paper discharge device includes a discharged-sheet receiving part that can be opened and closed on a side surface of an apparatus body, is closed on the side surface and receives a recording medium dropped from above along the side surface after image formation.

Abstract: A sheet cassette includes a lower stage side tray that accommodates a sheet, an upper stage side tray that is slidable with respect to the lower stage side tray on an upper portion of the lower stage side tray and accommodates the sheet, and a discharged sheet tray that is slidable with respect to the upper stage side tray, is displaceable to a position to receive the sheet discharged after being recorded on, and covers an upper portion of the upper stage side tray. The upper stage side tray and the discharged sheet tray are configured to be driven by a driving unit, and the discharged sheet tray is displaced by the driving unit to a position to receive the sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a main body, a first guide member coupled to the main body so as to be rotated from a first position to a second position, and a second guide member rotatably coupled to the first guide member. The first guide position defines a first paper discharge path to discharge paper, a printed surface of which is inverted, when it is in the first position. The first guide member defines a second paper discharge path, along which the printed surface of the paper is directly discharged, when it is pivotally rotated from the first position to the second position. The second guide member guides the paper on the first paper discharge path and does not interfere with the paper on the second paper discharge path.

Abstract: A paper out mechanism includes a paper tray, a holding tray, and an actuating device. The holding tray is slidably attached to the paper tray. The actuating device is located on the paper tray and meshed with the holding tray. The holding tray is slidable relative to the paper tray driven by the actuating device.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a cassette having a stacking region for stacking recording materials mounted to main assembly of the recording apparatus; a feeder for feeding the recording material stacked to the cassette; a sheet discharge portion for sheet discharging the recording material having been subjected to a recording operation; a tray movable between a first position where the recording material is incapable of being discharged from the sheet discharge portion and a second position where the recording material is capable of being discharged from a main assembly of the recording apparatus; a holding portion, disposed on the tray, for holding the recording material discharged when the tray is at the second position; an auxiliary portion disposed on the tray and capable of stacking the recording material with the stacking region when the tray is at the second position.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device is provided that may include a sheet receiving portion having a movable member, a protruding portion and a recessed portion. The protruding portion may protrude from an upper portion of a sheet receiving surface of the movable member when the movable member is located in one position. When a document is discharged from an outlet port onto the sheet receiving surface of the movable member, the protruding portion may come into contact with a leading edge of a sheet. When the movable member is located in another position, the recessed portion may receive the protruding portion therein.

Abstract: A paper-collecting apparatus for printing apparatuses is disclosed. The paper-collecting apparatus comprises a fixing board having two first protrusion portions; a first paper holding tray having two first hooks, and two second protrusion portions; wherein each of the two first hooks corresponds to each of the two first protrusion portions; and each of the two second protrusion portions is beside each of the two first hooks; and a second paper holding tray having two second hooks; wherein each of the two second hooks corresponds to each of the two second protrusion portions, wherein the first paper holding tray is fixed on to the fixing board by each of the two first hooks engages with each of the two first protrusion portions; and the second paper tray is fixed on to the first paper tray by each of the two second hooks engages with each of the two second protrusion portions.

Abstract: A feeder unit includes: a first tray that keeps a storage position in which the first tray is stored within the base portion and an operation position, and is provided at one end of a feeding path of a medium so as to place the medium thereon; a cover member that is openably and closeably provided to cover the first tray in the storage position when being closed or uncover the first tray when being open; and a first power transmitter that transmits power to open and close the cover member to the first tray, and the first power transmitter is configured so as to displace the first tray to the operation position with the displacement of the cover member when the cover member is switched to an open-state, and to the storage position with the displacement of the cover member when the cover member is switched to a closed-state.

Abstract: This invention provides an effective and inexpensive stacker tray assembly apparatus and method for determining an elevator stacker tray location in the assembly. A sensor is attached to the stacker tray so that it is in sensing proximity to a continuous variable slanted shape marker. The marker has measurables therein where the measurables decrease in measurement as they proceed from a bottom of the marker to an upper portion of the marker. The sensor is substantially shorter than a length of the movable elevator stacker tray travel.

Abstract: A movable rod member is provided that changes the shape of a medium receiver of a medium storage portion by changing the location of the movable rod member. The location of the movable rod member is changed in accordance with the condition of a medium, so as to change a method of storing the medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a sheet container, a sheet stacking member to closably open the sheet container; a restriction unit to restrict a swinging movement of the sheet stacking member, and a stopper mechanism to restrict insertion of the sheet container into the image forming apparatus in a state in which the sheet stacking member swings open from the sheet container. The stopper mechanism includes a stopped member provided to the sheet container and being movable vertically along the swinging movement of the sheet stacking member, and a stopper member provided to the image forming apparatus and being contactable with the stopped member. The stopped member includes a stopped surface contacted by the stopper member in a state in which the stopped member is lifted; and a switching surface adjacent to the stopped surface and vertically moving the stopped member by contact against the stopper member.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a fixed tray and a movable tray. The fixed tray is fixed at its downstream portion in a sheet transport direction and includes a sheet loading surface. A downstream portion of the sheet loading surface of the fixed tray is positioned at a higher level than an upstream portion thereof. The movable tray is pivotally supported, at its upstream portion, by a pivot support provided on the fixed tray. An angle between a sheet loading surface of the movable tray and a horizontal direction is more gentle than an angle between the sheet loading surface of the fixed tray and the horizontal direction.

Abstract: A sheet discharging tray device includes: a discharging section from which a sheet is discharged; a discharging tray on which the sheet discharged from the discharging section is stacked sequentially; a tray drive section which drives the discharging tray in a tray shift direction that is perpendicular to a sheet discharging direction from the discharging section with reference to a sheet surface; a controller which conducts a tray shift operation that shifts a position of the discharging tray under a condition of the number of sheets stacked on the discharging tray, and a sheet detection section which detects an alignment deviation in the tray shift direction. The controller changes an operation status of the discharging tray when a tray shift operation is conducted and changes a discharging operation of a sheet to the discharging tray, based on a detected result of the sheet detection section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a body, a sheet feed unit, a regulator, an image forming device, and a sheet output unit. The sheet feed unit is removably mounted to the body to store a recording medium. The regulator has a locking portion and is disposed in the sheet feed unit to regulate a position of the medium in a width direction of the medium. The image forming device forms an image on the medium conveyed from the sheet feed unit. The sheet output unit is disposed above the sheet feed unit to stack the medium on which the image is formed by the image forming device. When the sheet feed unit is drawn from the body to a predetermined position, the sheet feed unit is rotatable downward by weight of the sheet feed unit and the sheet output unit rotates upward with rotation of the sheet feed unit.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a holding tray in which a second recording material can be set and a transportation driving roller that transports a first recording material and the holding tray. A front edge of the holding tray is set back from an outer edge of the second recording material set in the holding tray.

Abstract: A second stacker is provided with base-end projection portions and leading-end projection portions that protrude outward in the width direction from the second stacker from both sides of the second stacker at the base end of the second stacker in the pull-out direction thereof. A first stacker is provided with guide rails on which the stated projection portions slide when the second stacker is pulled out; contact portions that do not make contact with and allow the leading-end projection portions to pass when the second stacker is pulled out but prevent the base-end projection portions from passing; and a support portion that supports the leading-end projection portions when the base-end projection portions are in contact with the contact portions.

Abstract: A value note cassette comprising a fixed first storage compartment for receiving notes of value and at least a fixed second storage compartment for receiving notes of value. Further, the value note cassette comprises a supply unit for supplying the notes of value to the storage compartments. The storage compartments are designed such that notes of value are stackable therein.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a sheet stacking apparatus including a tray on which sheets are stacked, and an aligning member aligning the sheets stacked on the tray. The aligning member aligns sheets stacked, on a sheet previously stacked on the tray, with a displacement in an aligning direction of the aligning member with respect to the sheet previously stacked. An aligning operation of the aligning member is changed on the basis of whether or not the number of the sheets stacked on the sheets previously stacked is a predetermined number or less.

Abstract: A discharge tray apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is a discharge tray apparatus wherein a plurality of sheets of recording paper that have been successively transported at a fixed speed and a fixed interval, discharged from a discharge opening, and have landed on a discharge tray, are received and placed onto the discharge tray, the discharge tray apparatus being provided with a discharge tray moving means that performs a tray shift operation that moves the discharge tray in a horizontal direction approximately perpendicular to the discharge direction, such that after a preceding paper successively transported earlier has been placed on the discharge tray, a succeeding paper succeedingly transported after the preceding paper is placed at a position different from the placement position of the preceding paper on the discharge tray.

Abstract: With representative configurations of the sheet processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the sheet processing apparatus which includes an intermediate stacking portion in which a sheet is temporarily placed, an aligning portion which supports a part of a lower surface of the sheet stacked in the intermediate stacking portion and which presses a lateral surface end portion of a sheet width direction to align the sheet, and a stapler which processes the sheet aligned by the aligning portion, includes a sheet supporting member which can support the lower surface of the sheet conveyed while sheet stacked in the intermediate stacking portion is processed and a sheet discharging member which presses the rear end of the sheet processed by the stapler and discharges the sheet to the stack tray.

Abstract: A stacker device includes a conveying belt, a longitudinal receiving guide, a paper sheet discharge detecting part, a first detecting part having a rod body, a second detecting part, and a control part for controlling the guide drive mechanism and the belt drive mechanism. The control part is formed so as to control both the mechanisms so that after the predetermined time T, which is required for the paper sheet to be stacked on the stacking surface after the paper sheet discharge detecting part detects the rear edge of the paper sheet having been conveyed to the discharging roller, passes and until the first detecting part detects the paper sheet, the longitudinal receiving guide and the conveying belt move to the upstream side of the conveyance direction at the same time, and after that, until the first detecting part does not detect the paper sheet, the longitudinal receiving guide and the conveying belt move to the downstream side of the conveyance direction at the same time.

Abstract: A first stacker is configured so that a support surface includes a base-side support surface that forms a planar shape on the base end side of the support surface and a leading edge-side support surface that forms a planar shape that tilts upward toward the leading edge. A second stacker is configured so that a support surface forms a planar shape, and is held in a tilted orientation during use so that the support surface of the second stacker continues to the leading edge of the second stacker in the same upward-tilted state with respect to the leading edge-side support surface of the first stacker.

Abstract: There is provided an automatic document feeder, comprising: a document tray; an output tray; a movable ejection flap configured to be movable between a first position where the document for which the image reading is finished is sunk into a position between the output tray and a bottom of a stacked document already staked on the output tray and a second position where the document is ejected on the output tray without being sunk into the position; a setting unit configured to set the movable flap to one of the first position and the second position; a change unit configured to change a position of the movable flap to the second position in response to a fact that a predetermined condition is satisfied in a state where the position of the movable flap has been set to the first position through the setting unit.

Abstract: A medium stack tray comprises a stacking member that stacks a sheet medium and is configured to be wound in a roll, a winding mechanism that winds the stacking member, a regulating mechanism that regulates the stacking member being pulled out to be wound by the winding mechanism, and a releasing mechanism that releases regulation for winding the stacking member by the regulating mechanism. In the stacking member being pulled out, at least a portion of a cross section thereof, in a perpendicular direction to a pull-out direction of the stacking member, has a curved shape. Alternatively, the stacking member is configured to have greater minimum area moment of inertia of a cross section when pulled out, than when wound up.

Abstract: A paper discharge device includes a discharge member, a paper carry portion, a first moving section, a pair of paper side end register sections, a second moving section, and a discharge paper control section. The paper carry portion carries thereon paper discharged by the discharge member. The first moving section moves the discharge member in a paper width direction to shift the position of paper. The pair of paper side end register sections holds the paper from both sides in the paper width direction. The second moving section moves the pair of paper side end register sections in the paper width direction. The discharge paper control section, when the shifting direction of the paper by the first moving section is switched from one direction to the other direction, controls the second moving section to move the pair of paper side end register section in the other direction.

Abstract: The sheet processing apparatus is provided with: an apparatus main body that performs processing for a sheet; a sheet stacker on which a sheet transported from the apparatus main body is stacked in a first state where the sheet stacker is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, and that is downwardly movable; and a moving-down unit that moves the sheet stacker down. The sheet stacker is provided so as to be detachable from the apparatus main body, and so as to change posture from the first state to a second state where the sheet stacker is less inclined relative to the first state.

Abstract: The sheet processing system includes: an image forming unit forming an image on a sheet; a sheet stack unit that lowers along a moving route, as more sheets are stacked on the sheet stack unit, the sheets each having an image formed by the image forming unit and being transported through a first route; a processing unit provided in a housing, and applying processing to a sheet having an image formed by the image forming unit, the sheet being transported through a second route; a cover member provided so that a part of the housing is openable, partially reaching a position in the moving route when the part is opened, and allowing a user to operate the processing unit by opening the part; and a moving unit moving the sheet stack unit to a position where the sheet stack unit does not interfere with the cover member, upon abnormal transportation.

Abstract: A sheet finishing apparatus includes a conveyance section which is disposed in a space section which is surrounded by peripheral walls of an image forming apparatus main body and conveys a recording medium discharged from the image forming apparatus in a paper discharge direction, a frame which is positioned in the space section and contains the conveyance section, and a removal mechanism to bring the conveyance section into a removal mode in synchronization with an operation of extracting the frame from the space section.

Abstract: A paper ejecting device with a plurality of swinging protruding members is provided which allows a sheet jumping from a paper ejecting device to a paper receiving tray to be ejected with a desired shape by changing the corrected shape of the sheet according to the kind (size, thickness) of paper.

Abstract: A sheet ejector, configured to eject sheets so as to insert a later-ejected sheet under an earlier-ejected sheet on a catch tray, includes a feed roller provided to the catch tray, wherein the feed roller is configured to feed, in a predetermined ejecting direction, the later-ejected sheet that is inserted under the earlier-ejected sheet, and a switching mechanism configured to switch a state of the feed roller relative to a sheet on the catch tray between a contact state where the feed roller contacts the sheet on the catch tray and a non-contact state where the feed roller is kept from contacting the sheet on the catch tray.

Abstract: A method and a module are described for storing and dispensing flat items such as banknotes or wads of banknotes, wherein the items are retained between ribbon means and deposited on a rotating support element having at least two faces comprising one or more flat or convex portions, after crossing a pair of feed-in/dispensing main rollers. Means are provided for adjusting the length of the ribbon means along the portion that extends between the points of contact with the main rollers and the points of contact with the supporting element and/or with the items stored on the same.

Abstract: There is provided a sheet finishing apparatus according to an embodiment that includes an external wall with a discharge port of sheets, a movable tray on which the sheets discharged from the discharge port are stacked and which moves up and down along the external wall according to the number of stacked sheets, and a lubricant supply unit which moves up and down together with the movable tray and applies a lubricant to the external wall.

Abstract: In order to stack a larger number of sheets on trays by reducing a total thickness of the trays and enabling the trays to ascend and descend actually over long distances, a sheet stacking device includes an upper-tray and a lower-tray which are ascendible and descendible and on which sheets delivered from a delivery roller pair are stacked, a motor and a belt for allowing both the trays to ascend and descend, a clutch for disconnecting the upper-tray and the belt from each other, and a claw and a rack for stopping self-weight descent of the upper-tray when the clutch effects the disconnection. A clearance between the upper-tray under the disconnection by the clutch and in the stop of the self-weight descent by the claw engaged with the rack and the lower-tray connected to the belt is adjustable by ascent and descent of the lower-tray by the motor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus allowing a printing section inside of a casing to print paper and discharging the printed paper from the casing through a discharge port of the casing includes a discharge tray configured such that the position thereof is switchable from a placement position for covering the surface of a feeding belt and receiving the paper discharged from the casing to an exposure position for exposing the surface of the feeding belt, and vice versa, wherein a surface of the discharge tray has a coefficient of friction lower than the surface of the feeding belt.

Abstract: An image recording device can accumulate discharged paper neatly stacked in a paper tray even when the length of the discharged paper changes. An inkjet printer 1 that records images on and discharges roll paper 100 from a paper exit 25 has a cutter unit 80 that cuts the roll paper 100 after an image is recorded, and a discharge tray unit 30 that receives slips 110, 120 discharged from the paper exit 25 after being cut by the cutter unit 80. The discharge tray unit 30 is connected by a hinge at an incline to the case 10 so that the paper stop 42 disposed at the distal end of the discharge tray unit 30 is down, and is configured so that the length of the discharge tray unit 30 is adjustable, and the inclination angle of the discharge tray unit 30 is changed by the operation of shortening the length of the discharge tray unit 30 to a more horizontal angle than when the length of the discharge tray unit 30 is extended.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a drive control unit which drive-controls a movable tray on which a sheet discharged from a predetermined sheet discharge port is stacked, in such a manner that the movable tray sequentially descends according to a sheet discharge operation; an arrival position acquisition unit which acquires, in predetermined timing, arrival position information indicating an actual arrival position of the movable tray when the movable tray is drive-controlled by the drive control unit using a predetermined lower limit position as a target position; a fullness setting unit which sets a full position in the sheet stacking, of the movable tray, on the basis of the arrival position information acquired by the arrival position acquisition unit; and a fullness notification unit which gives a notification that the movable tray is full according to the arrival of the movable tray at the full position, are provided.

Abstract: A sheet ejecting device having a pair of ejection rollers, a strengthener provided in a sheet ejection route, a tray for receiving ejected sheets and a driver for lifting up and down the tray. A sheet is ejected via the ejection rollers while being strengthened by the strengthener. A specified time after the sheet comes into contact with a stack of sheets on the tray, the tray is lifted up so that the contact point between the currently ejected sheet and the stack of sheets on the tray becomes nearer to the pair of ejection rollers.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus according to the present invention has: an apparatus main body whose external appearance is configured from an upper casing, a lower casing, and a link casing that vertically links the upper casing and the lower casing and that has a paper discharge opening for discharging paper on one side face; a paper discharge portion that is formed as a space between the upper casing and the lower casing and that is to store paper discharged from the paper discharge opening; and an operation panel portion that is disposed in a vertically tiltable manner on a front face of the upper casing. When viewing the apparatus main body from the front side, an open space that allows paper discharged to the paper discharge portion to be viewed is provided between the operation panel portion and the link casing.

Abstract: A sheet discharging device including a sheet discharging unit provided at one end of an image forming apparatus; a sheet discharge tray located adjacent to the sheet discharging unit, rotatably provided at the end of the image forming apparatus in a stored position to cover the end of the image forming apparatus and in an extended position extended from the end of the image forming apparatus to stack sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus; and a driving mechanism to drive a shutter provided to the sheet discharge tray in conjunction with rotary movement of the sheet discharge tray to open an opening in the sheet discharge tray in the stored position and to close the opening in the sheet discharge tray in the extended position.