The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 15, 1991
Filed:
Apr. 16, 1990
Kazunori Kubota, Yokohama, JP;
Hideo Yamazaki, Tokyo, JP;
Yuichi Fujii, Okazaki, JP;
Mitsuru Ichikawa, Nishio, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A finisher for use with a copier, printer or similar image forming apparatus for stapling or otherwise finishing paper sheets sequentially driven out of the apparatus. The paper sheets entering the finisher one after another are collected on a tray. A paper sorting mechanism moves the tray in a reciprocating motion in a horizontal plane in a direction perpendicular to an intended direction of paper discharge onto the tray. The paper sorting mechanism has a paper pressing member movable in a reciprocating motion in interlocked relation to the tray, a paper positioning member for urging the paper sheet discharged onto the tray to a predetermined position, a drive source for causing the tray into a reciprocating motion, and a drive source for driving the tray in the vertical direction such that the tray receives paper sheets at an optimal level. A height sensor is associated with the paper pressing member for determining that the paper sheets sequentially stacked on the tray has reached a predetermined height.