Patent ID: 7866646
Filing Date: 2011-01-11
Classification: B65H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A sheet post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing on sheets of paper after image formation, comprising: a gate that carries in a sheet of paper discharged from an image forming apparatus by switching between a first carrying path for post-processing use and a second carrying path not for the post-processing use; a post-processing mechanism that performs post-processing on a sheet of paper carried therein via the first carrying path; a tray having a discharge port through which a sheet of paper carried therein via the second carrying path is discharged and attached at a top portion of the sheet post-processing apparatus; a sheet guiding unit configured to have plural components including paper carrying components provided to the second carrying path be attached thereto; a linking mechanism that rotates the tray between a first height position at which the tray is able to receive a sheet of paper carried from the second carrying path and a second height position higher than the first height position; a coupling mechanism that couples the sheet guiding unit to the linking mechanism and is configured to rotate the sheet guiding unit in association with a rotation of the tray; and a protection cover attached to the sheet guiding unit at a portion in close proximity to the discharge port in the tray, the protection cover includes a cover main body to cover the plural components attached to the sheet guiding unit, a screw attachment portion formed integrally with the cover main body and used to attach the protection cover to the sheet guiding unit, a screw cover formed integrally with the cover main body to cover the screw attached to the screw attachment portion, and a slit made in the cover main body through which a tip end of the screw cover is inserted into the cover main body to be fixed thereto.