Patent ID: 6308952
Filing Date: 2001-10-30
Classification: B65H,G03G

Abstract:
A recording medium discharge system which is detachably attachable to a plurality of image forming apparatuses, comprising:a plurality of recording medium receiving devices, each of the plurality of recording medium receiving devices including:a plurality of installing units that install each of said plurality of recording medium receiving devices in each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses; andan introducing unit that introduces a recording medium where an image is formed by each of said plurality of image forming apparatuses,wherein each of said plurality of recording medium receiving devices includes one of said plurality of installing units which is structurally different from another of the plurality of installing units such that respective installing units correspond to each of said plurality of image forming apparatuses in which each of said plurality of recording medium receiving devices is installed by the respective installing units, anda recording medium sorting device, including:a plurality of storing units that store the recording medium introduced by said introducing unit;a discharge unit that discharges the recording medium introduced by said introducing unit into said plurality of storing units;a transport unit that transports the recording medium introduced by said introducing unit to said discharge unit; anda switching unit that switches a transport direction of transporting the recording medium introduced by said introducing unit to the discharge unit and one of the plurality of storing units;wherein said plurality of recording medium receiving devices and said recording medium sorting device are separately formed and detachably connectable to each other regardless of the structure of each of said plurality of installing units.