Patent ID: 6666445
Filing Date: 2003-12-23
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
A sheet discharge apparatus comprising:discharge means for discharging a sheet from an image forming apparatus; storage means for storing the sheet discharged from the discharge means; elevator means for raising and lowering the storage means relative to the discharge means; position detection means for detecting an uppermost surface of the sheet stacked in the storage means or a surface of the storage means where the sheet is to be stacked; reception means for receiving a signal from the image forming apparatus indicating a status of transporting the sheet in the image forming apparatus; and control means for temporarily stopping the discharge means after discharging the sheet to the storage means by said discharge means when the uppermost surface of the sheet discharged to the storage means or the surface of the storage means where the sheet is to be stacked is detected by the position detection means to be away from a predetermined position and the reception means detects that the sheet is being transported inside the image forming apparatus.