Abstract: A medium-discharging device includes: a device main body including a medium-discharging section that discharges a medium; a medium-receiving tray that receives the medium discharged by the medium-discharging section; and a pressing member that is configured to be attached to and detached from to the device main body and presses the medium discharged by the medium-discharging section against the medium-receiving tray in a state in which the pressing member is attached to the device main body, in which the pressing member is configured to switch, in the state in which the pressing member is attached to the device main body, between a first state in which the pressing member comes into contact with the medium-receiving tray and a second state in which the pressing member retreats upward so as to be apart from the medium-receiving tray.

Abstract: A computer-implemented database access method includes receiving, by a server, a database access statement including a target identifying parameter; parsing the database access statement to determine the target identifying parameter; determining a statement type of the database access statement; obtaining a pre-stored execution plan group corresponding to the statement type, the pre-stored execution plan group including one or more execution plans for accessing a database corresponding to the database access statement, in which each execution plan corresponds to a different respective identifying parameter; selecting a target execution plan from the pre-stored execution plan group based on the target identifying parameter; and executing the target execution plan.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus includes: receiving trays arranged vertically and has a lowest tray and a first receiving tray; a conveying mechanism; a supporter supporting the receiving trays; and a swing mechanism configured to swing the first receiving tray with respect to the supporter to one of a receiving position at which the first receiving tray receives a medium and an upper position. The swing mechanism is configured to: keep the first receiving tray at the upper position when a first external force directed in a direction in which the first receiving tray is moved from the upper position toward the receiving position is not applied to the first receiving tray located at the upper position; and swing the first receiving tray with respect to the supporter toward the receiving position when the first external force is applied to the first receiving tray.

Abstract: A contact-and-separation system includes a first roller, a second roller, and a contact-and-separation device. The first roller contacts a belt. The second roller is opposed to the first roller. The contact-and-separation device contacts or separates the belt to or from the second roller via a sheet conveyed. The contact-and-separation device includes an eccentric cam, a motor, and a circuitry. The eccentric cam is mounted on an end of a rotation shaft of the first roller. The motor rotates the eccentric cam. The circuitry controls the motor to rotate the eccentric cam to contact or separate the belt to or from the second roller via the sheet conveyed. The circuitry controls the motor to decelerate a rotation speed of the motor on contact or separation of the belt to or from the second roller between the first roller and the second roller.

Abstract: A stapling section staples a sheet has an opening. The opening has a first open side facing a moving direction of a recording medium moved by the medium moving section and a second open side extending along the moving direction. A shutter is near the second open side in the stapling section. The shutter has a first end axially supported in a freely rotatable manner on an upstream side in the moving direction for arranging the sheet at the stapling position, and a second end portion that hangs down toward the downstream side in the moving direction. When the sheet is not in the stapling section, the second end of the shutter hangs down to block the second open side. When the sheet enters the stapling section through the opening section, the second end of the shutter is pushed up by the axially supported end as the support shaft.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main conveyance path 13, a main discharge roller 17, and a main stacking tray 19. The sorting discharge unit 20 includes a subsidiary conveyance path 22, a change-over mechanism 23, a subsidiary discharge roller 24 and a subsidiary stacking tray 26. The subsidiary discharge roller 24 is provided on the most downstream side of the subsidiary conveyance path 22. The subsidiary stacking tray 26 is arranged above the main stacking tray 19 and the transfer sheet P discharged from the subsidiary discharge roller 24 is stacked in the subsidiary stacking tray 26. A stacking concave portion 29 which expands a stackable area of the subsidiary stacking tray 26 is formed below the subsidiary discharge roller 24.

Abstract: A sheet delivering device includes a first frame stood on a base and a housing having a height position adjusted to the base. A second frame is attached to the housing in a body and located adjacent to the first frame. The height adjustment member is attached to one frame and includes engaged stop parts with different heights. The lever member is turnably attached to another frame and includes a contact stop member stopped into contact with the engaged stop part. Between an interference posture forming a contact stopping state by an interference of the contact stop member and engaged stop part and a withdrawal posture withdrawing from the interference when the housing moves to the base in the upward and downward directions, the lever member usually is advanced to the interference posture by a movement force, but changed to the withdrawal posture by turning against the movement force.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes: a conveying member configured to convey a sheet; a first opening section including a conveyance guide section arranged on the opposite side of the conveying member across a conveying path and configured to form the conveying path and a first pivot shaft configured to pivotably support the conveyance guide section, the first opening section being configured to form the conveying path using the conveyance guide section if changing to a closed state and open the conveying path if changing to an open state; and a second opening section including a cover section configured to cover the first opening section if the first opening section changes to the closed state and a second pivot shaft configured to pivotably support the cover section, the second opening section being configured to cause, if pivoting, the first opening section to pivot following the second opening section.

Abstract: A controller temporarily opens a pair of side fence plates under a prescribed condition to move the side fence plates away from both side ends of sheets in a sheet width direction, after each time stacking of sheets at a first or second sheet stacking position is completed, but before a sheet receiving tray is temporarily lifted down to offset an offset guide plate and an end fence plate. Else, the controller sets an amount of lifting up and down of the sheet receiving tray such that the amount at the second sheet stacking position is smaller than that at the first sheet stacking position when offsetting the offset guide plate and the end fence plate after each time the stacking of sheets at the first or second sheet stacking position on the sheet receiving tray is completed.

Abstract: A sheet storage apparatus having a sheet conveying portion and a sheet storage portion to receive the sheet as conveyed upward from below by the sheet conveying portion and to store the sheet in a vertical direction. The sheet storage portion includes a guide portion, first and second holding members. The first holding member forms a first nipping portion between the first holding member and the guide surface. The first holding member permits the sheet to be conveyed upward to pass through the first nipping portion, and holds the sheet by restricting the sheet from moving downward at the first nipping portion. The second holding member forms a second nipping portion between the second holding member and the guide surface. The second holding member permits the sheet to be conveyed upward to pass through the second nipping portion, and holds the sheet at the second nipping portion.

Abstract: A conveying roller conveys a sheet. A sheet holding portion receives a sheet from below and holds the received sheet with keeping its forward end upward and its rear end downward. The sheet holding portion has: a storing guide provided in a vertical state and having a guide surface configured to guide the received sheet upward; a conveying guide provided to face the guide surface and having a curved surface portion whose distance from the guide surface increases in the upward direction; and a holding member provided between the guide surface and the curved surface portion and configured to roll on the curved surface portion toward the guide surface to nip the received sheet with the guide surface. An inclination angle of the curved surface portion with respect to the guide surface decreases with distance from the guide surface.

Abstract: A printer includes a main body capable of printing and outputting paper, a bracket attached to the main body, two sliding blocks, and a tray configured for receiving the paper. The bracket includes two sidewalls. A retaining member is secured to each sidewall. The sliding blocks are slidably attached to the sidewalls of the bracket. The tray is received in the bracket and has tray posts corresponding to the retaining members. The sliding blocks bring the tray to slide in the bracket. The retaining members have a first position, where the tray posts urge the retaining members to slide before passing across the retaining members, and a second position, where the tray posts are blocked by the retaining member when the tray is released from the sliding blocks.

Abstract: A discharging unit including: a casing; a discharger to discharge printing medium; a storage plate disposed in the casing below the discharger, to store the printing media discharged by the discharger; and a separation preventing unit to prevent the printing media from being ejected from the discharging unit by selectively protruding from the storage plate.

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: A first tray has notches allowing second-tray arms to pass therethrough, and arm-receiving recesses in which respective first-tray arms are received. With such a plurality of sheet stacking trays that are movable vertically, a large stack of sheets can be removed efficiently, whereby a highly productive system is provided.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus has a recording head, a transporting passage, a paper support section, a pair of discharge rollers and a reverse-transporting mechanism. The paper support includes a main supporting member and an auxiliary supporting member disposed on the upstream side of the main supporting member. An opening can be formed between the two supporting members. The pair of discharge rollers can be rotated reversely, and one of the supporting members can be inclined. This makes it possible to transport backward, through the opening to the reverse-transporting mechanism, a recording medium with an image recorded on one side of the medium. The reverse-transporting mechanism leads the medium to the transporting passage and transports it again toward the recording head. Having a small number of parts and a simple structure, the image recording apparatus enables double-sided image recording.

Abstract: The invention is to provide a sheet treating apparatus achieving a space saving and enabling easy identification of an output mode of sheets. The sheet treating apparatus of the invention for treating sheets after image formation is accommodated in a space formed in an image forming apparatus, and includes plural sheet stacking devices which stack treated sheets, and a lifting and lowering device which independently lifts and lowers the plural sheet stacking devices.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes upstream and downstream transport rollers for transporting a recording paper sheet. The upstream transport roller is disposed on the upstream side of a recording head while the downstream transport roller is disposed on the downstream side of the recording head. When forming an image on the first half area of the recording sheet, the upstream transport roller rotates and is responsible for transporting the recording sheet. When forming an image on the second half area of the recording sheet, the downstream transport roller rotates and is responsible for transporting the sheet. This structure provides printing without margins at the leading and trailing edges of the sheet. By adjusting the gap sizes between rollers in each of the upstream and the downstream rollers, the transport speed of the sheet is maintained constant so that high-quality print image can be obtained without uneven density in an image.

Abstract: An arrangement for handling banknotes includes a magazine (13) containing a plurality of magazine pockets (18). Each pocket (18) has an infeed and outfeed opening (26) through which a banknote can be fed in into or fed out from the pocket (18). Furthermore, each pocket is provided with elements (27) for releasably holding a banknote fed in into the pocket (18) within the same. The arrangement also includes controllable driving members (16, 17), that allow a selectable magazine pocket (18) to be placed with its opening (26) in front of an infeed and/or outfeed station (14, 15) located adjacent to the magazine (13), and feeding members (33) for controllably feeding in a banknote into or feeding out a banknote from a pocket (18) placed in front of the station (14, 15). The feeding members consist of feeding members (33) provided at the station (14, 15).

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

Abstract: An anti-jam bezel is provided for dispensing a flexible substrate from an output slot. A guideway is provided for receiving the flexible substrate from a transport and guiding the flexible substrate into the output slot. The guideway may extend from the output slot to the transport to provide a substrate receiving opening. The bezel body is adapted for mounting with the substrate receiving opening adjacent the transport such that the guideway catches a leading edge of the substrate after the substrate exits the transport and guides the leading edge into the output slot. In the event the output slot is blocked, the guideway is adapted to guide at least a portion of the substrate into the substrate receiving opening so that at least the portion of the substrate loops into the substrate receiving opening, thereby preventing a jam.

Abstract: An anti-jam bezel is provided for dispensing a flexible substrate from an output slot. The output slot has a front portion for outputting the flexible substrate and a rear portion for receiving the flexible substrate from a transport. A guideway diverges away from the rear portion of the output slot toward the transport to provide a substrate receiving opening. When in use, the bezel body is mounted adjacent the transport with a cavity between the transport and the rear portion of the output slot. The guideway is adapted to catch a leading edge of the substrate exiting the transport, and guide the leading edge to the output slot. In the event the output slot is blocked, the guideway will guide at least a portion of the substrate into the cavity, thereby preventing a jam.

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

Abstract: A printing apparatus provided with a deposition unit for printed sheets comprising a number of copy trays situated one above the other, which trays are adjustable in height independent of one another to a deposition position with respect to the sheet delivery rollers disposed at a fixed height, and to a parking position. Upon the activation of the printing apparatus by a start key provided on the printing apparatus, a control system sets the bottom copy tray into a deposition position and the other copy trays into a higher parking position. Upon the activation of the printing apparatus by a start key disposed at a distance from the printing apparatus at a workstation, the control system selectively sets one of the other copy trays into a deposition position and the bottom copy tray into a lower parking position.

Abstract: A finisher for finishing papers sequentially driven out of an image forming apparatus includes a plurality of trays selectively movable to a single paper outlet. The finisher reduces a period of time necessary for designated one of the trays to reach the paper outlet, increases the number of papers which can be stacked on the trays, and determines the number of papers stacked with a simple configuration. Papers are prevented from returning from the tray to the paper outlet without complicating the configuration of the outlet. An outlet roller protrudes from the paper outlet, but does not interfere with the tray moving past the paper outlet. The trays protect the operator from injury and protect the structural elements of the finisher from damage despite their movement.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing sheets carrying images thereon and sequentially driven out of an image forming apparatus in consecutive bins thereof is disclosed. The apparatus includes a deflector for deflecting a sheet toward the inlet of a preselected bin and a plurality of cylindrical cams cooperating to open and close the inlet of the bin. The deflector and cams are interlocked to each other to operate at a relatively high speed. The apparatus is capable of surely inserting a sheet into the inlet of the bin and highly reliable and durable.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes discharging bins in which image-formed sheets are stacked, and uses a bin elevating motor to switch discharging into one discharging bin. The image forming apparatus is provided with a sensor for detecting the amount of stacked paper in one discharging bin to which discharging can be performed. When the operational discharging bin is changed, the discharging bins are moved by the bin elevating motor, whereby the sensor detects the amount of stacked paper in the discharging bin to which discharging can be performed after the moving. Subsequently, the sensor directs a start of image formation.

Abstract: In a mailboxing system in which the different numbers and types of printed sheets being printed by the different users of a shared users printer are separately stored in different assigned mailbox bins in an array of mailbox bins, there is provided a system for automatically changing the spacing between selected adjacent bins to provide selectably different sheet stacking capacities for different bins for the different numbers of printed sheets being stored in the respective bins of different users. With this system the bin capacity can also be automatically reduced when the sheets are removed from that bin. Greatly increased overall and individual bin sheet stacking capacity is thus provided for the same overall system size as compared to conventional fixed spacing bins. Also, many more print jobs can be stored in the same user-assigned bin instead of having to split up large print jobs into other, overflow, bins.

Abstract: In a sheet storage apparatus having a plurality of bin trays for stacking sheets fed sequentially from an image forming device into sheaves of sheets, sheet accommodating spaces formed on the respective bin trays for receiving the sheets fed from the image forming device are made wide at a sheet intake position so as to successfully introduce the sheets thereinto and narrow at the positions above and below the sheet intake position so as to effectively store the sheets. When the sheets introduced into the sheet accommodating space at the sheet intake position comes to a prescribed number or height, the bin trays are moved upward or downward to narrow the sheet accommodating spaces, thus to compress a bulky stack of sheets. When taking out the finished sheaves of sheets from the apparatus, the sheet accommodating spaces formed between the bin trays are made relatively wide.

Abstract: A sheet sorter includes an array of a plurality of sorting trays which are mounted on a sorter body and arranged in a vertical direction and a general-purpose tray which is mounted on the sorter body and is larger than each of the sorting trays in capacity so that it accommodates a larger number of sheets than each of the sorting trays. A tray drive mechanism provided in the sorter body moves up and down the sorting trays and the general-purpose tray so that sheets transferred by a transfer mechanism provided in the sorter body are selectively discharged onto the sorting trays or the general-purpose tray. The array of the sorting trays is positioned above the general-purpose tray. The sorting tray array and the general-purpose tray are normally held in a position where the sheet discharge port of the sheet transfer mechanism is positioned between the lowermost tray of the sorting tray array and the general-purpose tray as seen in a vertical direction.

Abstract: An improvement in sheet sorters in which movable bins are incremented past a sheet entrance and the bins are cantilever-mounted and incremented in the sorter from only one side of the bins. The unsupported side or end of at least one of the cantilevered bins is temporarily supported to prevent its sagging from the weight of sheets loaded therein, or other causes. Specifically, the free end of the bin which is currently in position to receive sheets entering the sorter from the sheet entrance is supported by a small rotatably driven indexing bin support, such as a star-wheel, which is mounted to allow unrestricted access to the bins for the removal of stacks of sorted sheets.

Abstract: A guard inhibits access between a first member and a second member having relative motion between the first member and the second member. The guard includes a body having a first portion and a second portion. The second portion is pivotably connected to the first portion by a living hinge. The first portion of the body is connected to the first member and the second portion is connected to the second member.

Abstract: A sorter includes a non-sorting paper exit, a sorting paper exit, a non-sorting bin and a bin assembly having a plurality of sorting bins. When a non-sorting mode is selected, papers is ejected from the non-sorting exit to the non-sorting bin which faces to the non-sorting exit. When a sorting mode is selected, papers are ejected from the sorting exit to the sorting bins each of which faces to the sorting exit by sequentially shifting the bin assembly. In this operation, the non-sorting bin is kept stationary while the papers are ejected to the upper sorting bins, and the non-sorting bin is shift together with the sorting bins while the paper are ejected to the lower sorting bins.

Abstract: A moving bin sorter of the type in which the trays are individually and collectively moved vertically relative to a sheet inlet location and opened to provide an enlarged sheet entry space for receiving the sheets, has cams and counterbalancing springs to lift the trays supported in a support structure which maintains the trays in parallel relation, thereby maintaining equal spacing for printed sheet storage along the complete effective length of the trays. In one form, the support structure is a unit moved upwardly by the springs, and in another form, the support structure has a member integrated with the tray housing and a cooperative member moved upwardly by the springs, the trays being supported at all times in parallel relation.

Abstract: A sorter has a plurality of sorting tray to receive copied sheets. The sorting trays are moved vertically upon rotation of screw rods. The screw rod has a spiral cam groove with a predetermined cam profile formed on the outer periphery thereof. Cam followers of the sorting tray is engaged with the spiral cam groove. The cam groove is formed such that a distance between adjacent sorting trays in the vertical direction the screw rod is stopped at a first rotational position is different from that when the screw rod is stopped at a second rotational position.

Abstract: A sorter for receiving sheets supplied from a sheet supply machine is formed of a sheet distributing section for distributing sheets supplied from the sheet supply machine, a plurality of bins situated near the sheet distributing section for receiving the sheets from the sheet distributing section, and a positioning device for positioning the bins to a home position, a sheet receiving position and a sheet taking position. The bins are arranged adjacent to each other and are movable relative to the sheet distributing section. The home position is located at one side of the sheet distributing section, wherein the bins are stacked adjacent to each other with a distance (L1) away from each other. All the bins may be located in the home position. The sheet receiving position faces the sheet distributing section to receive the sheet onto the bin, wherein a sheet receiving bin except a top bin is situated away from a bin located above the sheet receiving bin with a distance (L2).

Abstract: A discharged sheet stacking apparatus is provided with a plurality of trays aligned to stack discharged sheets thereon, and a drive member for moving the trays in the alignment direction. Between at least two of the plural trays, a spacer member moved in the alignment direction by the drive device in the same manner as the trays is interposed to widen the space between the trays. The space between the trays can be arbitrarily changed by the spacer member.

Abstract: A sorter for enclosing sheets ejected out from a recording apparatus of an electrophotographic type includes a plurality of movable trays for enclosing the sheets, and a driving unit for driving the tray so as to move the tray. In the present sorter, the driving unit widens a distance between the tray to which the sheet is enclosed and the tray adjacent to the tray and, after the sheet was enclosed to the tray, the driving unit reduces the distance between the tray to which the sheet was enclosed and the tray adjacent to the tray so as to press a curl of the sheet. By vertically moving the plurality of trays, the distance between the trays is changed and the tray to enclose the sheet is changed. Each time a predetermined number of sheets are enclosed to the tray, the plurality of trays are moved upward and, after the elapse of a predetermined time, the plurality of trays are moved downward.

Abstract: A sorter has a plurality of sorting tray to receive copied sheets. The sorting trays are moved vertically upon rotation of screw rods. The screw rod has a spiral cam groove with a predetermined cam profile formed on the outer periphery thereof. Cam followers of the sorting tray is engaged with the spiral cam groove. The cam groove is formed such that a distance between adjacent sorting trays in the vertical direction the screw rod is stopped at a first rotational position is different from that when the screw rod is stopped at a second rotational position.

Abstract: This invention provides a tray shifting type sorter comprising a number of trays having a couple of trunnions at the rear ends of both lateral sides, respectively and a couple of drive wheel assemblies oppositely installed on both side walls of the sorter. The drive wheel assembly includes a cam wheel shifting the trays and a supplementary wheel supporting the trays over the drive wheel assembly. The invention further provides a sheet jogging device for aligning the copy sheets with an alignment rod using a wire as the power transmission apparatus and equipped with tension change apparatus to loosen the wire, so that the drive apparatus is prevented from being overloaded by the continuous contact between the alignment rod and the copy sheets.

Abstract: A sheet post treatment apparatus implementing exact and reliable sheet alignment without the need for a separate driving source for the sheet aligning bar. The apparatus includes a rotation center shaft attached to a slot liner of a side plate; a wheel fixed into the rotation center shaft and formed with a spiral groove; an eccentric cam rotating attached to the rotation center shaft; an aligning rod and a rotation lever one end of the rotation lever being connected to the eccentric cam and the other end thereof being passed through said the plate, displaced to the extent of eccentricity level of the eccentric cam; and a restoration spring, one end thereof being fixed at the side plate and the other end thereof being hung up on one side of the rotation lever. Alternate embodiments include driving the rotation lever through a bevel arrangement, and providing a moving pin on the eccentric to drive the rotation lever.

Abstract: A sorter for receiving sheets supplied from a sheet supply machine is formed of a sheet distributing section for distributing sheets supplied from the sheet supply machine, a plurality of bins situated near the sheet distributing section for receiving the sheets from the sheet distributing section, and a positioning device for positioning the bins to a home position, a sheet receiving position and a sheet taking position. The bins are arranged adjacent to each other and are movable relative to the sheet distributing section. The home position is located at one side of the sheet distributing section, wherein the bins are stacked adjacent to each other with a distance (L1) away from each other. All the bins may be located in the home position. The sheet receiving position faces the sheet distributing section to receive the sheet onto the bin, wherein a sheet receiving bin except a top bin is situated away from a bin located above the sheet receiving bin with a distance (L2).

Abstract: A moving tray sorter has a set of trays configured to extend upwardly from a horizontal plane at the point of sheet entry and each tray has progressively from the sheet inlet end a back stop against which the trailing edges of sheet are aligned, a horizontally extended section and an upwardly inclined section of a substantial angle from the horizontal providing trays which are short, which occupy a relatively small area or footprint and which support sheets of relatively large size and overhang without droop of the sheets at the outer ends.

Abstract: A movable tray paper sorter includes mechanical and electronic controls for moving, in each paper delivery operation, both the tray set and the paper chute characteristic of such sorters. The trays of the tray set are oriented almost vertically and move along a horizontal axis. The paper chute travels along the same horizontal axis beneath the tray set for delivering a sheet of paper from beneath the trays. The sorter includes a moving finger arrangement and tray lip configuration for ensuring proper paper placement and retention in a tray.

Abstract: A sheet sorting apparatus of a moving bin type for sorting sheets received successively from a sheet delivery station into collated sets, which apparatus comprises. This sheet sorting apparatus includes a plurality of trays stacked one above the other in a vertical direction, and vertically movably supported by a frame structure, first and second camming members extending in a direction parallel to a direction of movement of the trays and having helically continuing threads each having an upwardly oriented camming face engageable with any one of the trays, a sheet delivery mechanism for successively discharching the sheets towards the delivery station, and a drive motor drivingly coupled with the first and second camming members for driving the camming members about respective longitudinal axes of the camming members to move the trays up and down therealong.

Abstract: An information transmit/receive apparatus comprises a printer having a sheet feed portion and a sheet discharge portion, an original reader having a sheet feed portion and a sheet discharge portion and a sorter having a sheet entrance port which is connected to the sheet discharge portion of the printer via an adapter for coupling the sheet discharge portion and the sheet entrance port together. The adapter has a transparent portion through which the recording sheet passage in the adapter can be visually observed, whereby a jam of a recording sheet in the adapter portion can be easily observed. A control means performs receive and transmit operations.

Abstract: An in-bin stapling sorter of the type in which the trays are individually and collectively moved vertically relative to a sheet inlet location and opened to provide an enlarged sheet entire space for receiving the sheets, has a jogger which moves the sheets laterally of the sheet infeed direction into edge alignment against an alignment post which is telescopically movable on a fixed support as the trays are collectively moved vertically, but at an angle to the horizontal, the alignment post being disposed substantially normal to the angle of the trays.

Abstract: A finisher for finishing sheets for use in a copier, printer or similar image forming apparatus having a sorter for sorting sheets on a plurality of bins, and further having a stapler or a punching device. A bin moving member is provided for moving the plurality of bins to predetermined positions in which the bin moving member moves the bins to a positioning relationship such that an interval A between a first bin for accepting the discharged sheets from a discharging member and a third bin located at a position immediately over the first bin, an interval B between the first bin and a second bin located at a position immediately under the first bin, and an interval D between the third bin located at a position immediately over the first bin and a fifth bin located at a position immediately over the third bin are broader than an interval E between other adjacent regular bins.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes bin trays for stacking sheets; sheet discharger for discharging sheets to the bin trays; an aligner for aligning the sheets received by the bin trays by urging them; a controller for controlling the aligner: wherein the controller moves the aligner to a first position for a first alignment and to a second position for a second alignment to provide offset between succeeding sets of sheets received by the bin trays.

Abstract: The vertical stack of trays in a movable tray sorter for sheets of paper exiting a .?.copies.!. .Iadd.copier .Iaddend.is moved in a manner to enlarge the spacing between consecutive pairs of the trays to accept consecutive sheets of paper by moving the trays along a pair of helical coils, each of which has a turn of relatively coarse pitch. The turns of relatively coarse pitch are located at the copier paper chute and causes an increased separation of adjacent trays only at that position as the coils are turned. .Iadd.The coils support the trays approximately midway between the ends of the trays in a sheet feeding direction and the sorter has vertically extended guides at opposite sides of the trays adjacent one end in which side portions of said trays slide to maintain the trays substantially parallel. .Iaddend.