Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Corporation

Takehiko Josako

Toyoaki Nanba

Jinichi Nagata

Tomomi Tanaka

Masahiro Kanezaki

Hironori Takada

Keiji Tanaka

A sheet post-processing device is provided which includes a post-processing tray on which sheets of paper supplied from an image forming device are stacked, and a post-processing section for applying a post-processing operation to edges of one side of the sheets of paper stacked on the post-processing tray. The device further includes a first feed-out opening for discharging, to outside, the sheets of paper having been subject to the post-processing operation, a first discharge transport path for transporting the sheets of paper from the post-processing tray to the first feed-out opening, and a feed-out section for discharging the post-processed sheets of paper from the post-processing tray to the first discharge transport path.

Sheet post processing device with feed out

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

Sheet post-processing with feed-in and feed-out openings relative to respective transport paths

A sheet post-processing device of the present invention conducts post processing on sheets and then ejects the sheets on an offset tray. Upon the ejection, the sheets are sorted by a sorting drive section reciprocating the offset tray horizontally. The sheets are aligned at the trailing edges thereof by a plurality of sheet edge stopper columns erected freely rotatable. The offset tray is moved vertically along the sheet edge stopper columns by, for example, a lifting and lowering motor. Friction rollers are provided as linking means for rotating the sheet edge stopper columns in accordance with a horizontal movement of the offset tray. As to the horizontal movement and a vertical movement of the offset tray, the friction rollers transmit a driving force to the sheet edge stopper columns only when the offset tray is moved horizontally. Consequently, the stack disturbance of the sheets can be prevented both when the offset tray is moved horizontally and when the offset tray is moved vertically.

Sheet receiving apparatus for sorting and stacking sheets on a tray with friction-free horizontal reciprocation

A sheet ejecting mechanism is provided with a sheet ejecting sensor which detects a sheet to be ejected onto an offset tray and an upper-surface position-regulating section which regulates the position of the upper surface of the sheets in accordance with the position of an arm which is in contact with the upper surface of the sheets on the offset tray. When the sheet ejecting sensor detects a sheet to be ejected, a CPU of the upper-surface position-regulating section turns on a solenoid so as to remove a contact between an arm and the upper surface of the sheets. Meanwhile, when the sheet ejecting sensor detects no sheet to be ejected, the CPU turns off the solenoid. With this operation, the arm is allowed to come into contact with the upper surface of the sheets so as to regulate the position of the upper surface of the sheets.

Growing community of inventors

Hiroshima, Japan

Takehiko Josako