Patent ID: 7731169
Filing Date: 2010-06-08
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. A sheet finishing apparatus comprising: a discharge path along which sheets are sequentially conveyed out from a discharge outlet; a first discharge roller means disposed in said discharge path, for discharging sheets from the sheet-discharge outlet; a stacking tray into which sheets from the discharge outlet are stacked and stored, said stacking tray disposed below the discharge outlet and forming a break in the discharge path; a second discharge roller means disposed on said stacking tray, for conveying, in cooperation with said first discharge roller means, sheets downstream in the sheet-discharge direction; a raise/lower support means for supporting said second discharge roller means allowing it to rise and lower between an engage position in which said second discharge roller means engages a sheet on said stacking tray, and a retract position; registering means disposed on said stacking tray, for positionally registering the conveyance-direction trailing edge of the sheets; grip means, disposed on said stacking tray, for pressingly holding an uppermost stacked sheet, said grip means configured to allow it to shift into an operational position, in which said grip means engages the uppermost sheet, and to shift from the operational position into a non-operational position into which said grip means is retracted; a sheet ejecting member disposed on said stacking tray free to reciprocate back and forth along said stacking tray, for conveying finishing-processed sheets out of said stacking tray to a storage tray downstream therefrom, said sheet ejecting member being furnished with a linked-movement mechanism for linking with said grip means so as to engage the trailing edge of a sheet to transport the sheet, after said sheet ejecting member in the course of its reciprocating movement shifts said grip means from the operational position into the non-operational position; and a sheet finishing means for implementing processes including stapling on sheets positionally registered by said registering means.