Patent ID: 6457888
Filing Date: 2002-10-01
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
A sheet discharging apparatus for discharging a sheet having an image formed thereon to a sheet discharging section, said apparatus comprising:sheet discharging means for discharging said sheet to said sheet discharging section; a rotary member having a plurality of projections formed on an outer circumferential portion thereof, said rotary member being rotated by a movement of said sheet discharging means while pressing said sheet by said projections; and attitude changing means that changes an orientation of said rotary member in accordance with a movement of the sheet so that, when said rotary member is rotated while pressing the sheet, a rotating direction of said rotary member is in conformity with a discharging direction of the sheet, wherein said attitude changing means includes a retaining member for oscillatably retaining said rotary member, and regulating members, which are opposingly arranged on both sides of said rotary member, for regulating an axial movement of said rotary member by abutting against said rotary member, and wherein, in order that an oscillation center of said rotary member is located upstream of a contact point of said rotary member with the sheet in the sheet discharging direction, a distance between said regulating members opposingly arranged is gradually increased from an upstream side to a downstream side in the sheet discharging direction so that said regulating members can abut against said rotary member upstream of a contact point of said rotary member with the sheet in the sheet discharging direction.