Patent ID: 8083227
Filing Date: 2011-12-27
Classification: B42C,B65H

Abstract:
1. A sheet alignment apparatus for aligning a sheet, comprising: a stopper configured to catch a leading edge of the sheet being conveyed in a sheet conveyance direction Y; a pair of alignment members which are configured to be movable between a first position and a second position and have alignment surfaces to press an edge of the sheet, whose leading edge is caught by the stopper, and to align the sheet, each of which alignment surfaces is tilted at a first angle to the sheet conveyance direction Y such that a width between the alignment surfaces is wider at a downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction Y than at an upstream side, wherein in the first position the alignment surfaces are separated from the edge of the sheet in a sheet alignment portion provided between the pair of alignment members, and in the second position the alignment surfaces are in contact with and press the edge of the sheet in the sheet alignment portion; and a driving unit configured to drive the alignment members to reciprocate in a direction crossing the sheet conveyance direction Y from the first position to the second position while keeping the first angle of the alignment surfaces when feeding the sheet into the sheet alignment portion.