Multiple section sheet sorter with stacking tray positioned there between

Abstract

In a sheet output module for the collection and stacking of printed media sheets from the output of a reproduction apparatus, with multiple separate sheet collection bins in a vertical array, a sheet input for receiving the sheets, and a sheet transport path for transporting the sheets to a selected bin; the sheet input is at a central vertical level intermediately of the module and the vertical bin array, the vertical bin array is divided into first and second portions with a central vertical space therebetween, the sheet transport path has a common shared central path from the input to a branching position where it arcuately branches in opposite directions, with a first branch path extending upwardly to feed sheets to the first portion of the bins and a second branch path extending downwardly to feed sheets to the second portion of the bins. A sheet deflector gate is located at this branching position for selectively deflecting sheets from a the common shared path portion into one of these first and second branch paths. A high capacity stacking tray is located within this vertical space between the first and second portions of the vertical array of bins.