Abstract: A printing machine is described that includes a rotary plate for decollating top sheet from a stack of sheets by turning the top sheet so as to expose a second sheet. The machine also has a clamping finger that tilts into position to hold the second sheet once the top sheet has been turned. The top sheet is then turned back to the original position, aligned with the feed direction.

Abstract: Control apparatus enable the selective injection of individual sheets from channels one or two to collate and combine a stream of sheets in a selected presentation of East/West or West/East mixed multiple forms using both channels one and two to process one particular form, effectively zig-zagging from one channel to the other, and also adapted to control and inject North/South mixed multiples in which all the pages for one form in one channel, but both channels must be controlled to be sure multiple forms from one channel are not processed out of order relative to the other channel. A dual registering stacking interface stages, registers, transports, justifies and stacks forms in which forms are delivered to a side-by-side holding areas known as channels one and two, where they are held stationary and accumulate in a stack or continue feeding as separate forms.

Abstract: A sheet supply apparatus can be releasably attached to a printer. The sheet supply apparatus includes a frame having a sheet conveyance surface, and a shaft arranged above the sheet conveyance surface and having protrusions for correcting inclined feeding of a sheet while conveying the sheet. A plurality of supply sensors are disposed above the sheet conveyance surface at positions beyond the shaft, and in a line parallel to the shaft, for detecting presence or absence of a sheet. The sensors can also detect the size of the sheet to control the carrier of the printer to realize a random set of the sheet.

Abstract: A positioning conveyor is incorporated in a conveyor system for adjusting the position of a sheet on the conveyor system. The positioning conveyor has two belt type conveyor sections that are independently movable transverse to the feed path and are utilized to adjust the position of the sheet. The sheet is scanned by a scanner and the data is input to a computer. A vacuum zone on each section provides spaced apart gripping points to establish a pivot axis to correct for skew. The computer controls the coordinated movement of the sections to pivot and side shift the sheet to a desired position.

Abstract: Each sheet of a stack of media is aligned with a fixed alignment surface prior to being fed towards a process station of a printer by a single pick roll. During the first portion of its cycle of operation, the sheet advancing force of the pick roll, which is offset from the axis or centerline of the sheet, exerts a torque on at least the uppermost sheet of the stack to have one of its sides engage the alignment surface if it is skewed. When the one side of the sheet is not engaging the alignment surface when the pick roll is initially energized, the uppermost sheet's leading edge engages a resilient projection of an insert of a rib, which is offset from the axis of the sheet but farther from the alignment surface than the pick roll. The skewed sheet pivots about the projection, which is formed of a high coefficient of friction material, extending beyond the surface of the rib. During the remainder of its energization, the pick roll advances the sheet towards the process station of the printer.

Abstract: A sheet registration and deskew assembly including a force reducing deskew roll having deflectable ribs, and alternating grooves for enabling the ribs to deflect once the sheet is in resisting contact against a registration edge guide member of the registration assembly, thus reducing a driving force on the sheet, and hence preventing damage to the sheet as well as excessive wear on the registration edge guide member.

Abstract: A printing device for duplex printing of a sheet, comprising a feed path for feeding an unprinted sheet and a return path for returning a sheet printed on one side in an inverted orientation to a part of the feed path which is provided with an aligning station for aligning a supplied unprinted sheet and a returned sheet printed on one side. The aligning station comprises two aligning mechanisms which are disposed in spaced relationship in the feed direction and which each comprise two activatable transport nips which, as considered in a direction transversely of the feed direction, are situated a short distance apart so that a sheet fed between the nips can be aligned against one of each of the two transport nips by lateral transport and turning.

Abstract: An improved device for edging flat products is provided having a plurality of spaced apart generally upstanding fingers, the fingers being forwardly translatable with a group of flat products between them. Each of the fingers is rockable back and forth across a vertical centerline as the fingers are forwardly translated to jostle the flat products, thereby to align the bottom edges of the flat products.

Abstract: A blade for use in an apparatus for urging sheets against registration edges in a sheet compiler is provided. The blade includes a body having a contact surface for contact with the sheets and a locating feature. The locating feature is connected to the body for locating the blade to the apparatus. The locating feature includes a prevention feature for preventing the blade from being inserted into the apparatus in a first orientation and to permit the blade to be inserted into the apparatus in a second orientation, opposed to the first orientation, so that the blade is properly installed into the apparatus.

Abstract: For use with an envelope inserter, a sheet packet hold-down apparatus, comprising a stopping mechanism or guide for stopping the leading edge of the sheets, a hold-down button of substantially hemispherical shape, wherein the hold down button is positioned before the stopping mechanism or guide, a bias device for resiliently supporting the hold-down button, and a conveyor apparatus for transporting the sheets to the stopping mechanism or guide.

Abstract: A platen-driven thermal dye printer mechanism (1), and more particularly to a cone-shaped scuff roller (7) which aligns a dye print receiver media sheet (2) with the receiver guide wall (8) during printing in a reciprocating direction (5). Using at least one conical shaped scuff roller (7) at one end of a platen roller (4) to transport the precut dye receiver media (2). The conical scuff roller (7) presses the back surface of the dye receiver media (2) against the non-imaging margin of the thermal dye printer mechanism (1). The invention uses a smooth guiding plate (28) and platen (4) thus, preventing scratches on the front surface of the receiver media (2). The invention is not subject to costly breakdowns, in that it uses the clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation of the platen (4) to provide perfect alignment of the receiver media (2) and printer head (9).

Abstract: A deskewing and registering device for an electrophotographic printing machine. A single sensor determines the position and skew of a sheet in a paper path and generate signals indicative thereof. A pair of independently driven nips forward the sheet to a registration position in skew and at the proper time based on signals from a controller which interprets the position signals and generates the motor control signals. An additional single sensor can be used at the registration position to provide feedback for updating the control signals as rolls wear or different substrates having different coefficients of friction are used.

Abstract: A presser assembly for a turning conveyor comprises multiple presser rollers that are mounted with the axis of rotation of each roller generally parallel to a radius of the turn and at sufficiently close spacings that each article is pressed against the conveyor by at least one of the presser rollers at all times during its traverse of the conveyance path around the turn. Positive turn-gripping of each article is attained by use of resiliently compressible presser rollers having significant width and which are tapered, sized and canted such that the presser-contact segment of its periphery is parallel to the underlying conveyance surface and moves in the same direction and at the same velocity as the underlying segment of the conveyor, across the full width of the roller, whereby each article is maintained in the same orientation relative to the underlying conveyor throughout the turn.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an automatic sheet feeder to feed manuscript sheets onto and discharge the same from the top of the stage on the overhead projector. The automatic sheet feeder comprises a side guide plate disposed at the top of a side edge of the stage, a bottom plate forming a manuscript set window together with the side guide plate, a side plate perpendicular to the side guide plate, a plurality of side feeding rollers for forward and backward rotations supported by the above side plate, and notches formed at the above side guide plate immediately below these rollers to accept the manuscript sheet whose side edge is pressed downward by the outer circumference of the side feeding rollers.

Abstract: A pressure roller drive assembly for a document printer having a pressure roller carried by a pressure roller axle for advancing and retracting a document along a paper path, with the pressure roller pivoting in a first direction towards a side wall to prevent skew or misalignment during advancement of the document and the pressure roller pivoting in a second, opposite direction towards a side wall to prevent skew or misalignment during retraction of the document is disclosed.

Abstract: An electronically actuated turning device for transport apparatus which receives product such as paper folders, detects the presence of the product, causes a ball to contact the product and allows the product to rotate 90 degrees, releases the ball and allows the product to be transported in the same direction by the apparatus for further operations as required.

Abstract: This invention relates to a sheet feeding apparatus having sheet carrying device unit for carrying sheets suspended by suspending unit, which is taken up by winding unit and thereby moves the sheet carrying device up and down to render the sheets fed from the topmost side of the sheets. Connection positions between the suspending unit and the sheet carrying device are located, in a direction perpendicular to a feeding direction of the sheets, at positions on a side of the sheet reference which is one end in the direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the sheets, closer to the center of the sheets with respect to a position of a suspending original point of the suspending unit located over the sheet carrying device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for registering and deskewing a sheet along a paper path. A pair of independently driven selectively actuable nips are used to drive a sheet transverse to a paper path direction until the edge of a sheet is registered laterally and in skew. The transverse nips are then deactivated and a drive nip moves the sheet in a process direction along the paper path. A first transport sensor senses the lead edge of a sheet, a second sensor is used to also detect the lead edge of a sheet within a certain distance from the detection by the first sensor. The transport drive nip can then be adjusted based on the transport time between the first transport sensor and the second transport sensor so that the sheet arrives at a registration sensor at the prescribed time. This apparatus and method allows the use of simple point type sensors as opposed to more complex and expensive sensor arrays.

Abstract: Sheet collation apparatus and method operate on a random array of seriatim sheets to effect ordered stack collation. An edge guide surface is located along a sheet support surface extending from a sheet ingress to egress. A plurality of conical rollers are configured and relatively overdriven to effect edge alignment and sheet end separations between the sheet ingress and egress.

Abstract: An apparatus for registering substrates while they are partially in a turn baffle assembly. The apparatus includes a registration transport assembly and a turn baffle assembly having a pinch roller assembly. The pinch roller assembly includes a set of pinch rollers which feed the substrate through the turn baffle assembly and into the registration transport assembly. The pinch roller assembly also includes a motion inducing device for selectively moving one pinch roller away from the other and a low friction roller which is somewhat larger than one of the pinch rollers. The low friction roller is located near a pinch roller such that when the pinch rollers are moved apart, the low friction roller biases the substrate way from a pinch roller so as to reduce or eliminate friction between the substrate and that pinch roller.

Abstract: An adjustable skew offset device includes a tapered roll as a paper drive roll and a line contact idler roll which is axially adjustable. With these two rolls forming a nip, paper passing therethrough can be purposely skewed clockwise or counterclockwise and thereby serving either to compensate for any fixed skew offset in the paper path or to null out any skew offset between small and large size papers.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a plural number of paper transporting units including at least first and second paper transporting units, in-unit paper sensing mechanism located in the first paper transporting unit, unit-to-unit paper sensing mechanism located between the first and second paper transporting units, and drive control mechanism for controlling the operations of the plural number of the paper transporting units, wherein the drive control mechanism includes first mechanism operating such that when any of the in-unit paper sensing mechanism located in the first paper transporting unit detects a paper transport trouble, the first mechanism stops the paper transporting operation of the second paper transporting unit in response to a sensing signal indicative of the presence of a paper from the unit-to-unit paper sensing mechanism, and second mechanism stops the paper transporting operation of the first paper transporting unit upon the stop of the paper transporting operation of the second paper

Abstract: Apparatus for advancing the cut sheets in an in-track direction to a sheet justification apparatus includes a driven roller and a gimbaled, self-aligning follower associated with the driven roller. The follower is movable between an engaged position, forming a nip with the driven roller, and a disengaged position, spaced from the driven roller. The follower is selectively movable to its engaged position to direct media from to the justification mechanism, to its disengaged position to allow the justification mechanism to justify the sheet, and back to its engaged position without introducing skew or shift as it re-engages the media to direct media from the justification mechanism without introducing skew or linear shift. The driven roller and the follower may be associated such that the media forms a wrap angle partially around the roller.

Abstract: A sheet supplying device having a sheet support for supporting sheets, a sheet supply provided in a laterally deviated position with respect to the sheet supplying direction for supplying sheets supported by the sheet support and a stacking reference guide for impinging on a lateral end of the sheets supported by the sheet support to thereby define the position of the sheets. The guide defining the position of the sheets is supported by the sheet support in such a manner that the sheets are supported in a state inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the sheet supplying direction.

Abstract: Device for aligning sheets in a sheet-processing machine having a rotatingly driven suction plate disposed in a transport surface and being formed with suction openings collectively forming hole patterns shaped as circular-ring sectors, the suction openings communicating intermittently, at each revolution of the suction plate, with a suction-chamber arrangement situated below the suction plate, the suction-chamber arrangement having two suction-chamber openings disposed on respective diametrics of the suction plate and offset from one another by a defined diametric angle, each of the suction-chamber openings having a radial extent matching a radial extent of the hole pattern respectively associated therewith.

Abstract: Device for correctly-registered feeding of sheets supplied thereto in a sheet stream in a sheet transport direction, to front lays of a sheet-processing machine having a lateral pulling device, and a sheet-advancing device disposed within a smallest format width to be processed. The feeding devices includes at least one permanently driven drive roller disposed in the vicinity of the front lays, and at least one contact pressure device cooperatively engageable with the at least one drive roller. The drive roller has a rotational axis directed crosswise to the sheet transport direction, and at least part of the drive roller is disposed laterally of the sheet advancing device.

Abstract: A paper edge justifying conveyor has a first roller and a second roller arranged in a generally parallel position. A guide rail positioned in a position perpendicular to said rollers provides documents with edge justification. An elastomeric band around the rollers having at least one twist on a top surface provides for edge justification of documents against the guide rail.

Abstract: A document alignment system includes a plurality of drive rolls (42, 44) operative to drive documents one by one along a feed path, and a plurality of alignment rolls (100) spaced apart along the feed path with their axes perpendicular to those of the drive rolls (42,44) and operative to move a document (124) transversely to the feed path so as to bring a long edge of the document (124) into parallel abutting contact with a reference surface (72). When the alignment rolls are operative the drive rolls (42) are inoperative and out of contact with the document (124). Each alignment roll (100) is arranged to cooperate with a spring biased rotatably mounted ball (112) whereby in the course of an alignment operation the document (124) is gripped resiliently between the alignment rolls (100) and the cooperating balls (112).

Abstract: A turning device for transport apparatus which receives product such as paper folders, stops the product and rotates the product 90 degrees with the product then transported in the same direction by the apparatus for further operations as required.

Abstract: A stacker for stacking paper documents seriatim is disclosed. The stacker includes: a platform, a helix extending upwardly from the platform; and a device for rotating the helix, whereby a paper document placed at the bottom of the helix can be driven upwardly to the top of the helix.

Abstract: The production of offset stacks of business forms is effected in a continuous (i.e. without interruption) manner until a vertical stacker into which the forms are fed is full. Between a detacher and the stacker, the forms are automatically and continuously directed either to the left or the right from a common center line to offset the forms into different groups with at least one form in each group. This offsetting action may be accomplished by a pair of angled conveyor belts with steel balls movable into and out of association with the conveyor belts by solenoids, and/or by two sets of diverter wheels which are also angled and which are moved up out of engagement with the forms or down into engagement with them. Edge guide rods are provided which are part of transport aligning mechanisms that are movable toward and away from each other to accommodate different form widths.

Abstract: A deposit processing module comprising a first transport having a first end for receiving envelopes and single document deposits and a second end from which the deposits are discharged, and a second transport operatively positioned for receiving and returning single document deposits to and from the first transport. Printing means are provided for printing deposit information on the deposits, a magnetic charge/read head is provided for charging and reading magnetic information on the single document deposits and an imager is provided for imaging one side of the single document deposits. A gate mechanism associated with the second end of the first transport is movable between a first position wherein envelopes and single document deposits may be discharged from the module and a second position wherein single document deposits may be transported between the first transport to the second transport.

Abstract: An apparatus for reading information off a document such as a check is herein disclosed. The apparatus includes an apparatus housing defining a specific path through which the document is intended to pass during normal operation of the apparatus. The apparatus also includes an arrangement including a read head positioned at a fixed point on the path and cooperating circuitry for reading specific information off of the document as the document is caused to move through the path and across the read head. And, the apparatus includes an arrangement for moving the document through the path and across the read head along with causing the document to engage against the read head as the document moves across the read head. This document moving arrangement includes an arrangement supporting a freely rotating idler roller which is positioned to engage the document against the read head.

Abstract: A sheet registration device including a hub having an axis of rotation and a plurality of resilient plastic blades arranged in radial planes passing through said axis and extending in the direction of said axis beyond one end of the hub towards sheet-engaging tips lying in a common plane normal to said axis said blade being made of a polyurethane elastomer obtained by the reaction of a polytetramethylene ether glycol having the formula HO[(CH.sub.2).sub.4 O].sub.n H where n is from 8 to 41, preferably 39 to 41, and from about 20 to about 95 parts preferably 22 to 26 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of said glycol of a diisocyanate selected from the group consisting of diphenylmethane diisocyanates, toluene diisocyanates, naphthalene diisocyanates and blends thereof and a sufficient amount of cross linking agents to provide a crosslinked elastomer, said cross linking agents comprising a mixture of from about 75% to 60% by weight of a diol having the formula: HO(R.sub.1) OH where R.sub.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feed device having a sheet supporting device for supporting a sheet, a regulating member for regulating both one lateral edge and a rear edge of the sheet, and a positioning device for positioning the regulating member in a position depending upon the size of the sheet supported by the sheet supporting device.

Abstract: A sheet registering unit for an image forming apparatus in which in the location upstream of the transfer stage, a preregistering roller device and a registering roller device are disposed while being separated with a predetermined distance from each other, and the leading edge of a sheet of paper is positioned with the aid of a loop of the sheet formed in a manner that the leading edge is thrust against the nip of the paired rollers of the registering roller device, and in this state the sheet is additionally pushed by the preregistering roller pair. In the sheet registering unit, the shafts supporting the roller members of the registering roller device or the roller members are supported by the combination of linear bearing members and springs, and by a pressure in the oblique direction caused in the sheet nipped by the registering roller device, the roller members of the registering roller device are shifted in the axial direction.

Abstract: A sheet transport for transporting sheets across a surface which includes an elongated member supported for transverse movement across the surface. The transport further includes a fibrous material which comprises a base substrate portion carried by the member and a plurality of fibers extending from the base substrate so that the extending fibers form a sheet engaging area with the surface. Apparatus for moving the member across the surface is also provided so that a sheet in the sheet engaging area is translated in a process direction across the surface when the member is translated.

Abstract: A sheet transport roller device is disclosed, comprising a drive roller member and a free roller member disposed facing each other with a specified pressure between them and transport a sheet held between them, a device which allows each roller of the drive and free roller members to move in the axial direction, urging members disposed at both ends of the rollers, in which the roller devices are moved in the direction lateral to a sheet transport path as a sheet is being held by the roller devices, in accordance with an action moving said sheet in the direction lateral to the transport path.

Abstract: In an apparatus for transporting sheets along a travel path, a registration mechanism for aligning a sheet relative to the travel path. The registration mechanism comprises a support for a sheet moving along the travel path and a pair of frusto-conical rollers. The frusto-conical rollers are mounted for rotation about common axis, with the apex portions of the respective frusto-conical rollers oriented in the same direction relative to the common axis. The common axis is located to lie in a plane parallel to the plane of a sheet in the travel path and extend in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of a sheet along the travel path. The plane containing the axis is spaced from the sheet supporting means a distance such that the frusto-conical rollers are in nip relation with the sheet supporting means so as to urge a sheet in the travel path in the direction of movement along the travel path and in a direction transverse to the direction of movement with a minimum of skew induced in such sheet.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for aligning the lateral edge of sheets fed to a printing press. The lateral position of a sheet is detected. A slidable suction device beneath the sheet is operated to pull the sheet toward a lateral abutment at a constant speed, the suction being applied at an individual time for each sheet in accordance with the detected position. Suction pressure is released when the sheet reaches the side lay, such that suction pressure is only applied for the time necessary to place the sheet in proper registration.

Abstract: A lateral sheet registering device for registering sheets transported along a path including a lateral registration edge positioned along the path. An apparatus is provided for driving sheets laterally and along the path so that a lateral edge of a sheet is registered along the lateral registration edge and so that sheets are transported along the path. The invention further includes a gate positioned in the path opposite said lateral registration edge for engaging an edge of a sheet to oppose rotation of such sheet in the path. The gate also is positioned to permit unimpeded transport of the lead edge of a sheet so that larger sheets are transportable within the path.

Abstract: A device for the precise edge alignment and shift-free transfer of sewing material includes a feed device, a clamping carriage, and a swingably mounted stop straightedge. The material is manually placed in the feed device, between lowerable clamping tongues and a substantially flat support arm, in such a manner that its forward edge, which is to be aligned, is located in the vicinity of the stop straightedge, which is temporarily swung upward for aligning the material. The stop straightedge has a vacuum chamber which exerts suction on the material, and the suction action is further intensified by jets of air which emerge from the bottoms of the clamping tongues and are directed obliquely to the stop straightedge. In this way, the edge of the material is aligned precisely along the stop straightedge, without contact by the operator. Thereupon the aligned material is transferred forward, without shifting, to a position beneath the clamping levers of the clamping carriage.

Abstract: Feed table in the vicinity of a side lay of a sheet-fed printing press includes a table cover having a continuous surface between a table surface covering a center of a feed table and a side lay, the table cover having the continuous surface being formed with regions having at least one characteristic of being compressible and expandable in a direction of lateral displacement of the side lay, support elements defining a uniform sheet guiding plane and being adjustable in position in the direction of lateral displacement of the side lay, and a device for adjusting the position of the support elements in accordance with an extent of compression and expansion, respectively, of the compressible and expandable regions.

Abstract: An improved printer paper stack-handling device is described. In its preferred embodiment, the stack-handling device includes a pivot member with a downwardly inclining paper top-of-stack contact surface. The device also includes a force mechanism, e.g. a leaf spring, to pivot the member into contact with the top sheet of a paper stack. The spring and the pivot member's inclined contact surface produce a variable top sheet bias for corresponding variable paper stack heights, to properly laterally align the top sheet against a fixed, opposing guide rail, for feeding to a printer input port.

Abstract: A sheet feeding and corrugating system, especially for output of image substrate sheets of a reproduction apparatus, wherein the sheets are fed in a normal path through a sheet feeding nip comprising plural spaced sheet feeding rollers. Both feeding and variable corrugating of flimsy or stiff sheets is provided by spherical balls freely mounted in generally vertical ball retainers providing for vertical movement and dual axis rotation against the sheet feeding rollers to define the sheet feeding nip and by additional similar balls (in additional similar ball retainers) intermediately of the feed rollers, which additional balls are unsupported vertically except by bottom-of-travel retainers so that these additional intermediate balls roll gravity-loaded against a sheet being fed through the nip to provide sheet corrugation varying automatically with the stiffness of the sheet, and are freely liftable up to the level of the nip by stiff sheets resisting corrugation.

Abstract: A device for monitoring the side lay marks and excess draw of a sheet fed rotary press that further ensures that sheets are at a sufficient distance from the side lay mark prior to transverse conveyance. A lateral sensor is positioned at a predetermined distance from the side lay mark so that when front sensors determine the presence of a sheet at front lay marks, the lateral sensor is evaluated. The sheet will only be conveyed transversely toward the side lay if the lateral sensor has not detected a sheet but the front sensors have, thus ensuring that the side edge of the sheet is at a sufficient distance from the side lay mark. A single sensor can also be used for all side lay mark monitoring, including monitoring for excess draw.

Abstract: A side edge alignment system for pre-aligning side edges of sheet stock prior to feeding them into a printing press employs a sheet engaging vacuum suction member driven reciprocatingly across the feed path of the press. As the member travels towards a side alignment stop the engaged sheet is aligned upon engaging the stop. The suction level is adjustable so that the suction member disengages to slide over the top surface of the aligned sheet after engagement with the side alignment stop. Suction is terminated before the return stroke of the suction member. For stack feeding operations the side alignment stop is configured as a rail having planar upper and lower vertical wall surfaces, the upper being offset away from the suction member. Initial stack alignment is secured by lower elements of the stack engaging the lower face of the side alignment stop, leaving upper sheets at a standoff distance from the upper stop surface.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus in which a stack of sheets is supported and stored in a biased base tray. Successive uppermost sheets contained within the biased base tray are caused to move into engagement with a segmented feed roller. A cone shaped roller in combination with edge guides provide cross-track, in-track and skew alignment for the uppermost sheet after is it separated and advanced from the stack by the segmented feed roller. A biased retard pad prevents multiple sheet feeds from the stack.

Abstract: A sheet transport and aligning apparatus that engages with a sheet to shift the sheet laterally during forward transport of the sheet by a roller. The lateral shift brings the sheet into engagement with a light weight pivotal edge guide which aligns to the sheet to establish a line contact with the sheet as the sheet is driven by the conical drive roller. By continuing to drive the sheet, the sheet pivots with the light weight pivotal edge guide until the sheet is in cross-track and skew alignment.

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