Patent ID: 7461837
Filing Date: 2008-12-09
Classification: B42C,B65H

Abstract:
1. A sheet postprocess apparatus comprising: a sheet discharging device, said sheet discharging device comprising: a sheet discharging port from which sheets are sequentially conveyed; a process tray provided below the sheet discharging port and on which the sheets are stacked and supported; and a switchback transferring device provided between the sheet discharging port and the tray to convey each sheet from the sheet discharging port to the tray and then to reverse a conveying direction of the sheet on the tray to transfer the sheet to a predetermined position, the switchback transferring device comprising: a conveying belt provided between the sheet discharging port and the tray, the conveying belt having a tray-side end and a sheet discharging port-side end, a roller cooperating with the conveying belt to transfer the sheet from the sheet discharging port onto the conveying belt, a plate shape guide member located opposite a belt surface of the conveying belt at a downstream side of the roller in a sheet discharge direction to convey the sheet from the sheet discharging port to the tray, the plate shape guide member extending along the conveyer belt and comprising a tray-side end and a sheet discharging port-side end, and a pressing force applicator for depressing the plate shape guide member toward the conveying belt, the conveying belt and the guide member being arranged so that the tray-side end of each of the conveying belt and the guide member can pivot around its sheet discharging port-side end in a vertical direction; a postprocessor located at the process tray to execute a postprocess on a sheet bundle; a stacking tray located downstream of the process tray; a paddle transfer device located above the process tray near the switchback transfer device to transfer the sheet on the process tray to a postprocess position; and a driver for driving the paddle transfer device, the pressing force applicator being actuated by the paddle transfer device.