Patent Publication Number: US-9833967-B2

Title: Sheet processing apparatus and image forming apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus which binds a sheet bundle, and an image forming apparatus including the same. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     There has been disclosed a sheet processing apparatus which binds a sheet on which an image has been formed and stacks the sheet as a sheet bundle on a predetermined tray. For example, in the U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/018944 A1, a technique for binding a plurality of sheets without using a staple is described. Specifically, a half-blanked tongue and a slit are formed on a sheet by cutting, and a tip of the half-blanked tongue is inserted in the slit, whereby the stacked sheets are bound together. However, such sheet processing apparatuses are not always highly operable. 
     In view of the above problem, it is desirable to provide a sheet processing apparatus with improved operability. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To achieve improved performance of a sheet processing apparatus, the sheet processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a first stacking portion on which a sheet conveyed by a conveying portion is stacked, a binding portion which forms, in a sheet bundle stacked on the first stacking portion, a tongue cut out from the sheet, with apart of the tongue attached to the sheet, and a slit, and which binds the sheet bundle by inserting a tip of the tongue of the sheet bundle in the slit of the sheet bundle, and a second stacking portion on which the sheet bundle bound by the binding portion is stacked. In the sheet processing apparatus, a plurality of recessed parts is formed on a guide face of the binding portion. The recessed parts extend in different directions from each other. 
     Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an explanatory sectional view showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus including a sheet processing apparatus, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of the image forming apparatus. 
         FIG. 3  is an explanatory sectional view showing a configuration of a finisher which serves as a sheet processing apparatus. 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of the finisher. 
         FIG. 5  is an explanatory sectional view showing a configuration of an intermediate stacking portion placed in the finisher. 
         FIG. 6  is an explanatory plan view showing a configuration of an aligning portion placed in the intermediate stacking portion. 
         FIG. 7  is an explanatory perspective view showing a configuration of the intermediate stacking portion. 
         FIG. 8  is an explanatory perspective view showing a configuration of a stapleless binding portion. 
         FIG. 9A  is a left side view showing a configuration of the stapleless binding portion. 
         FIG. 9B  is an explanatory front view showing a configuration of the stapleless binding portion. 
         FIG. 10A  is an explanatory sectional view illustrating a motion of the stapleless binding portion. 
         FIG. 10B  is an explanatory sectional view illustrating a motion of the stapleless binding portion. 
         FIG. 11A  is an explanatory sectional view illustrating a motion of the stapleless binding portion. 
         FIG. 11B  is an explanatory sectional view illustrating a motion of the stapleless binding portion. 
         FIG. 12  is an explanatory perspective view showing a sheet bundle bound by a stapleless binding process. 
         FIG. 13A  is an explanatory sectional view illustrating a flow of a sheet in non-sorting automatic binding. 
         FIG. 13B  is an explanatory sectional view illustrating a flow of a sheet in non-sorting automatic binding. 
         FIG. 14  is an explanatory front view illustrating a flow of a sheet in non-sorting automatic binding. 
         FIG. 15A  is an explanatory front view illustrating a flow of a sheet in automatic binding with sorting. 
         FIG. 15B  is an explanatory front view showing sheet bundles stacked in alternate positions on the stacking portion. 
         FIG. 16  is an explanatory plan view illustrating a motion of a finisher in manual binding. 
         FIG. 17  is an explanatory perspective view illustrating a motion of a finisher in manual binding. 
         FIG. 18  is a flowchart illustrating control of a binding process. 
         FIG. 19  is a flowchart illustrating control of another binding process. 
         FIG. 20A  is an explanatory perspective view showing a different configuration of the stapleless binding portion. 
         FIG. 20B  is an explanatory perspective view showing another different configuration of the stapleless binding portion. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinbelow an embodiment of the image forming apparatus including the sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail, with reference to the attached drawings.  FIG. 1  is an explanatory sectional view showing a configuration of the image forming apparatus including the sheet processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 1  shows the image forming apparatus  502 , an original-reading portion (an image reader)  550  placed in an upper part of the body of the image forming apparatus  502 , and an original-conveying device  551  which is used to read a plurality of originals automatically. 
     &lt;Image Forming Apparatus&gt; 
     The image forming apparatus  502  has a sheet cassette  909   a ,  909   b , on which a sheet  1  is placed. The sheet  1  is a recording material on which a toner image is formed. The image forming apparatus  502  also has an image forming portion  503 . The image forming portion  503  forms a toner image on the sheet  1  by means of an electrophotographic-image-forming processing portion. Further, the image forming apparatus  502  has a fixing device  904  serving as a fixing portion which fixes a toner image formed on the sheet  1 . 
     An operation portion  501  is situated on an upper surface of the body of the image forming apparatus  502 . A user inputs various data into the image forming apparatus  502  or adjusts the settings thereon through the operation portion  501 . A finisher  100  which serves as a sheet processing apparatus is connected to the side of the body of the image forming apparatus  502 . A controller  960  controls the image forming apparatus  502  and the finisher  100  serving as the sheet processing apparatus. 
     In the image forming apparatus  502  of the embodiment, an image on the original (not shown) is formed on the sheet  1  in the following manner. First, an image sensor  550   a  serving as an image reading portion reads the image on the original conveyed by an original-conveying device  551 . The image sensor  550   a  is situated in an original-reading portion  550 . Then, digital data read by the image sensor  550   a  are input into an exposing device  504  serving as an exposing portion. The exposing device  504  irradiates surfaces of photosensitive drums  914   a - 914   d  with light according to the digital data. The photosensitive drums  914   a - 914   d  are situated in the image forming portion  503 . Each of the photosensitive drums  914   a - 914   d  serves as an image bearing member. For the convenience of explanation, the photosensitive drums  914   a - 914   d  may be referred to collectively as a photosensitive drum  914 . Other image-forming processing portions may be referred to in the same manner. 
     A surface of the photosensitive drum  914  is uniformly electrified by an electrifying device  2  serving as an electrifying portion. When the uniformly electrified surface of the photosensitive drum  914  is irradiated with light by the exposing device  504 , an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum  914 . A developing device  3  serving as a developing portion supplies the electrostatic latent image with a toner which acts as a developer, to develop the latent image. As a result, a toner image in respective colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum  914 . 
     Meanwhile, the sheet  1  fed from the sheet cassette  909   a ,  909   b  is conveyed by a conveying belt  4 , via a conveying path  8 , to a position so as to face each of the photosensitive drums  914   a - 914   d . Then, by the action of a transferring device  5   a - 5   d  serving as a transferring portion, the toner image which has been formed on the surface of each of the photosensitive drums  914   a - 914   d  in the respective four colors is transferred sequentially to the sheet  1  conveyed by the conveying belt  4 . The transferring device  5   a - 5   d  is arranged on an inner circumference side of the conveying belt  4 . 
     Subsequently, the fixing device  904  serving as the fixing portion applies heat and pressure on the toner image having been transferred to the sheet  1 , to fix the toner image permanently. After the toner image is fixed on the sheet  1 , when the image forming apparatus  502  is in a mode of forming an image on a single side of the sheet  1 , the sheet  1  is directly discharged to the finisher  100  by a discharge roller  907 . 
     When the image forming apparatus  502  is in a mode of forming an image on two sides of the sheet  1 , a flapper  9  switches directions so that the sheet  1  discharged from the fixing device  904  is led to a conveying path  10  to be passed to an reversing roller  905 . Then, the reversing roller  905  reversely rotates with a predetermined timing so that the sheet  1  can be conveyed by a double-sided conveying roller  906   a - 906   f.    
     Subsequently, the sheet  1  is conveyed again to the image forming portion  503 , and a toner image in the respective four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black is transferred on the reverse side of the sheet  1 . The sheet  1 , on the reverse side of which the toner image in the respective four colors is transferred, is again conveyed to the fixing device  904  to fix the toner image. After that, the sheet  1  is conveyed by the discharge roller  907  to the finisher  100  connected to the side of the body of the image forming apparatus  502 . 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of the image forming apparatus  502  having the finisher  100  serving as the sheet processing apparatus.  FIG. 2  shows a Central Processing Unit (CPU) circuit portion  530  which serves as the controller. The controller is located in a predetermined position in the body of the image forming apparatus  502 . 
     The CPU circuit portion  530  includes a CPU  529 , and a Read Only Memory (ROM)  531  which stores a control program. The CPU circuit portion  530  also includes a region for temporarily retaining the control data, and a Random Access Memory (RAM)  560  which is used as a work area for control-related operation. 
     An external interface  537  is an external interface which connects the image forming apparatus  502  and an external computer (PC)  520 . The external interface  537  receives print data from the external PC  520 , develops the print data into a bitmap image, and outputs the image as image data to an image signal controller  534 . 
     The image signal controller  534  outputs the image data to a printer controller  535 . The printer controller  535  outputs the image data received from the image signal controller  534  to an exposure controller (not shown). An image reader controller  533  outputs an image on an original having been read by the image sensor  550   a  shown in  FIG. 1  to the image signal controller  534 . The image signal controller  534  outputs the image-output to the printer controller  535 . 
     The operation portion  501  has a plurality of keys through which various functions related to image forming are set, and a display to show a setting. The operation portion  501  outputs a key signal corresponding to each keystroke by a user to the CPU circuit portion  530 , and shows corresponding information on the display, based on the signal from the CPU circuit portion  530 . 
     The CPU circuit portion  530  controls the image signal controller  534  according to a control program stored in the ROM  531  and a setting input through the operation portion  501 . The CPU circuit portion  530  also controls the original-conveying device  551  shown in  FIG. 1  through an original-conveying device controller  532 . Further, the CPU circuit portion  530  controls the original-reading portion  550  shown in  FIG. 1  through an image reader controller  533 . The CPU circuit portion  530  controls the image forming portion  503  shown in  FIG. 1  through the printer controller  535 . The CPU circuit portion  530  controls the finisher  100  shown in  FIG. 1  through a finisher controller  536 . 
     In the embodiment, the finisher controller  536  is placed in the finisher  100 . The finisher controller  536  controls driving of the finisher  100  by communicating with the CPU  529  and others in the CPU circuit portion  530 . The finisher controller  536  may be placed in the body of the image forming apparatus  502  integrally with the CPU circuit portion  530 , so that the finisher  100  can be controlled directly from the body of the image forming apparatus  502 . 
     &lt;Sheet Processing Apparatus&gt; 
       FIG. 3  is an explanatory sectional view of the finisher  100  which serves as a sheet processing apparatus. The finisher  100  according to the embodiment is connected, via the conveying paths, to the image forming portion  503  placed in the image forming apparatus  502 . The finisher  100  performs a sheet process to the sheet  1  on which an image has been formed by the image forming portion  503 . 
     In sheet processing, the finisher  100  receives the sheet  1  discharged from the body of the image forming apparatus  502  and conveys the sheet  1  in succession to the intermediate processing tray  138 . Subsequently, the finisher  100  aligns and batches a plurality of the sheets  1  received so as to form a single sheet bundle  1   n . The finisher  100  is able to punch the received sheet  1  so as to pierce a hole near the rear end part  1   a  of the received sheet  1 . Moreover, the finisher  100  is able to perform other various processes such as a binding process with a stapler  132  which staples the rear end of the sheet bundle  1   n , and a bookbinding process. 
     The finisher  100  has the intermediate processing tray  138  serving as the first stacking portion which holds the sheet  1  conveyed by a conveying path  103 ,  121 ,  126  serving as the sheet conveying portion. The finisher  100  also has a stapling portion  100 A which staples the sheet bundle  1   n  on the intermediate processing tray  138 , and a saddle unit  135  which half-folds and binds the sheet bundle  1   n.    
     The finisher  100  includes an inlet roller  102  which takes in the sheet  1  discharged by the discharge roller  907  situated in the body of the image forming apparatus  502  to the inside of the finisher  100 . The sheet  1  discharged from the body of the image forming apparatus  502  is received by the inlet roller  102 . At the same time, an inlet sensor  101  detects a timing of receiving the sheet  1 . 
     After that, the sheet  1  having been conveyed by the inlet roller  102  passes through a conveying roller  105 ,  106 , moving along the conveying path  103 . Subsequently, the sheet  1  is conveyed by a conveying roller  110  and a separating roller  111  to reach a buffer roller  115 . Then, when the sheet  1  is discharged to an upper tray  136 , an upper path switching member  118  is switched to a predetermined position by a driving portion such as a solenoid (not shown). As a result, an upper path conveying path  117  leads the sheet  1 , so that the sheet  1  is discharged to the upper tray  136  by an upper discharge roller  120 . 
     When the sheet  1  is not discharged to the upper tray  136 , the sheet  1  having been conveyed by the buffer roller  115  is led to the conveying path  121  by the upper path switching member  118  in a state indicated by a solid line in  FIG. 3 . The sheet  1  is then conveyed by a conveying roller  122 ,  124 , to pass along a series of conveying paths. 
     Next, a plurality of the sheets  1  which has been conveyed to the finisher  100  is bound by the stapler  132  serving as the binding portion, to make a sheet bundle  1   n . Then, the sheet bundle  1   n  is discharged to a lower tray  137  serving as the second stacking portion on which the sheet bundles  1   n  is placed successively. In this case, the sheet bundle  1   n  is conveyed to a conveying path  126  by a saddle path switching member  125  in a state indicated by a solid line in  FIG. 3 . 
     The sheet  1  is discharged to the intermediate processing tray  138  by a pair of lower discharge rollers  128 . The sheet  1  having been discharged to the intermediate processing tray  138  is placed successively in a stack while aligned by a returning portion including a paddle  131  and a belt roller  158 . A predetermined number of sheets  1  are aligned on the intermediate processing tray  138 , on which a sheet bundle  1   n  formed of the stacked and aligned sheets  1  is processed. 
     The sheet bundle  1   n  which has been aligning-processed on the intermediate processing tray  138  is bound with the stapler  132  as necessary. The sheet bundle  1   n  is then discharged to the lower tray  137  by a pair of sheet bundle discharge rollers  130 . 
     When the sheet  1  is saddle-stitched, the saddle path switching member  125  is moved to a predetermined position by the driving portion such as a solenoid (not shown). As a result, the sheet  1  is conveyed to the saddle path  133 , and led to the saddle unit  135  by a saddle inlet roller  134 , to be saddle-stitched. 
     Timing of conveyance of the sheet  1  is controlled by a conveyance sensor  104 ,  123 ,  127  and so forth. The conveyance sensor  104 ,  123 ,  127  controls the timing by detecting the edge of the sheet  1  while the sheet  1  is conveyed along the conveying path  103 ,  121 ,  126 . 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing a configuration of the finisher controller  536  which controls the finisher  100 , in the embodiment. The finisher controller  536  includes a microcomputer including a CPU  701 , a RAM  702 , a ROM  703 , an input/output portion (I/O)  705 , a communication interface  706 , and a network interface  704 . 
     The input/output portion (I/O)  705  is connected to a conveyance controller  707 , an intermediate processing tray controller  708 , and a binding controller  709 . The conveyance controller  707  controls the lateral registration detecting process, the sheet buffering process, the conveyance process, and the like, of the sheet  1 . The intermediate processing tray controller  708  controls driving of a front aligning plate motor  340   a , a rear aligning plate motor  341   a , a paddle driving motor  155   a , and a sheet bundle discharge driving motor  130   a.    
     A front aligning plate home position sensor  340   b , a rear aligning plate home position sensor  341   b , and a paddle drive home position sensor  155   b  are connected to the intermediate processing tray controller  708 . The intermediate processing tray controller  708  controls operations of a front aligning plate  340  and a rear aligning plate  341  shown in FIG.  6 . The front aligning plate  340  and the rear aligning plate  341  serve as the aligning portion which aligns the sheet  1  on the intermediate processing tray  138  (on the intermediate stacking portion). The intermediate processing tray controller  708  also controls an operation of a drawing paddle  131  shown in  FIG. 7 . Further, the intermediate processing tray controller  708  controls opening/closing of a swing guide  149  shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     The intermediate processing tray controller  708  performs the above mentioned controls by means of the front aligning plate home position sensor  340   b , the rear aligning plate home position sensor  341   b , and the paddle drive home position sensor  155   b , as well as the front aligning plate motor  340   a , the rear aligning plate motor  341   a , the paddle driving motor  155   a , and the sheet bundle discharge driving motor  130   a . Furthermore, a clinch cam motor  132   a  and a clinch cam home position sensor  303   b  are connected to the binding controller  709 . 
     &lt;Binding Process Portion&gt; 
     The following is a description of a configuration of the binding process portion including the intermediate processing tray  138 , with reference to  FIG. 5 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the intermediate processing tray  138  is placed so as to incline in such a manner that the downstream side (left side on  FIG. 5 ) in the discharge direction of the sheet bundle  1   n  is higher than the upstream side (right side on  FIG. 5 ). A rear end stopper  150  is placed in the lower end part or the upstream side of the intermediate processing tray  138 . The intermediate processing tray  138  may be placed horizontally. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a front aligning portion  340   c  and a rear aligning portion  341   c  are placed in the middle part of the intermediate processing tray  138 . In addition, as shown in  FIG. 14 , the intermediate processing tray  138  has a side edge regulating portion which regulates positions of both side edges  1   c ,  1   d  in the width direction of the sheet  1  discharged to the intermediate processing tray  138 . 
     The front aligning portion  340   c  and the rear aligning portion  341   c  have the front aligning plate  340  and the rear aligning plate  341 , respectively. The front aligning plate  340  and the rear aligning plate  341  have an aligning portion  340   d ,  341   d , respectively. The aligning portion  340   d ,  341   d  forms an aligning surface. Furthermore, the front aligning portion  340   c  and the rear aligning portion  341   c  include a front aligning plate motor  340   a  and a rear aligning plate motor  341   a , respectively, which drive separately the front aligning plate  340  and the rear aligning plate  341 , respectively. 
     Positions of both side edges of the sheet  1  are regulated in the following manner. The drive motions of the front aligning plate motor  340   a  and the rear aligning plate motor  341   a  are transmitted, through timing belts  340   e ,  341   e , to the front aligning plate motor  340  and the rear aligning plate motor  341 , respectively. The timing belts  340   e ,  341   e  form a moving portion together with the front aligning plate motor  340   a  and the rear aligning plate motor  341   a.    
     As a result, the front aligning plate  340  and the rear aligning plate  341  move independently along the width direction of the intermediate processing tray  138 . The front and the rear aligning plates  340 ,  341  align the sheet  1  by abutting the both side edges of the sheet  1  placed on the intermediate processing tray  138 . 
     More specifically, the front aligning plate  340  and the rear aligning plate  341  are disposed on the intermediate processing tray  138  such that the aligning portions (aligning surfaces)  340   d ,  341   d  face each other. Moreover, the front and the rear aligning plates  340 ,  341  are attached to the intermediate processing tray  138  so as to be movable both forward and backward in the alignment direction or the vertical direction of  FIG. 6 . 
     With this configuration, even if the sheet  1  (or the sheet bundle  1   n ) is conveyed unaligned widthwise, the sheet  1  (or the sheet bundle  1   n ) on the intermediate processing tray  138  is placed in a correct position widthwise by the front aligning plate  340  and the rear aligning plate  341 . 
     For example, the aligning portion  340   d  which forms the aligning surface of the front aligning plate  340  is placed movably in the width direction of the sheet  1 . The width direction corresponds to the vertical direction of  FIG. 6 . A tension spring  345  is placed between the aligning portion  340   d  and an apparatus frame  340   f  of the front aligning plate  340 . 
     The tension spring  345  and a moving link  346 ,  347  cause the aligning portion  340   d  to project by a predetermined distance L to the sheet  1  side. As described below, in order to regulate the side edge position of the sheet  1 , when the aligning portion  340   d  presses the sheet  1 , the aligning portion  340   d  serving as a pressing portion moves toward the apparatus frame  340   f  while resisting the tension spring  345 . 
     The front aligning plate home position sensor  340   b  and the rear aligning plate home position sensor  341   b  are shown in  FIG. 6 . The front aligning plate home position sensor  340   b  and the rear aligning plate home position sensor  341   b  detect home positions of the front aligning plate  340  and the rear aligning plate  341 , respectively. 
     With the front aligning plate home position sensor  340   b  and the rear aligning plate home position sensor  341   b , the front aligning plate  340  and the rear aligning plate  341  are able to stand by at home positions thereof, when the finisher  100  is not in operation. The home positions are outer end positions of the front aligning plate  340  and the rear aligning plate  341 . 
     The drawing paddle  131  shown in  FIG. 7  and the swing guide  149  shown in  FIG. 13A  are placed in the downstream side in the drawing direction of the intermediate processing tray  138 , which corresponds to the upper end part on  FIG. 5 . The drawing paddle  131  shown in  FIG. 7  is placed in the upper side of the intermediate processing tray  138 . A plurality of the drawing paddles  131  is fixed along a driving shaft  157  shown in  FIG. 7 . The driving shaft  157  is rotated by a paddle driving motor  155   a . The drawing paddle  131  shown in  FIG. 7  rotates around the driving shaft  157  counterclockwise on  FIG. 5 . The drawing paddle  131  is rotated by the paddle driving motor  155   a  with a proper timing. 
     The sheet  1  is nipped and discharged by rollers  128   a ,  128   b  shown in  FIG. 5 , which form a pair of lower discharge rollers  128 . As a result of the inclination of the intermediate processing tray  138  and the rotation of the drawing paddle  131 , the sheet  1  slides down on a stacking surface of the intermediate processing tray  138 , or on another sheet  1  which has already been placed on the intermediate processing tray  138 . 
     The sheet  1  which has slid down as described above is conveyed by the belt roller  158  serving as the sheet conveying portion, which rotates in the counterclockwise direction on  FIG. 5 , until the rear end part  1   a  (an upstream end in the discharge direction) of the sheet  1  hits the rear end stopper  150  which serves as a stopper. Then the sheet  1  stops. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the belt roller  158  is placed above the intermediate processing tray  138  in such a manner that the lower part thereof is in contact with the uppermost sheet  1  placed on the intermediate processing tray  138 . The belt roller  158  is suspended on the outer circumference of the roller  128   a  which forms the pair of lower discharge rollers  128 . The belt roller  158  rotates counterclockwise on  FIG. 5 , driven by the rotation of the roller  128   a.    
     The swing guide  149  forming a sheet discharging portion rotatably holds an upper part discharge roller  130   b . The upper part discharge roller  130   b  forms a pair of sheet bundle discharge rollers  130  shown in  FIG. 3 , together with a lower part discharge roller  130   c . The lower part discharge roller  130   c  is placed at the downstream end of the intermediate processing tray  138 . 
     As the swing guide  149  swings in the vertical direction on  FIG. 5 , the upper part discharge roller  130   b  touches/leaves the lower part discharge roller  130   c . The pair of sheet bundle discharge rollers  130  (for example, the lower part discharge roller  130   c ) is rotated forward/backward by the sheet bundle discharge driving motor  130   a  mentioned in  FIG. 4 . 
     The swing guide  149  serves as a holding member to hold the upper part discharge roller  130   b  which is one of the pair of sheet bundle discharge rollers  130 . The swing guide  149  swings in the vertical direction on  FIG. 5 , driven by a swing guide opening/closing motor  180 . A supporting shaft  154  serves as a fulcrum of the swing guide  149 . 
     Normally, when the sheet  1  is discharged to the intermediate processing tray  138 , the swing guide  149  swings upward on  FIG. 5 , with the supporting shaft  154  as a fulcrum. Accordingly, the upper part discharge roller  130   b  is separated from the lower part discharge roller  130   c  which is the other one of the pair of sheet bundle discharge rollers  130 . In other words, the pair of the sheet bundle discharge rollers  130  are in an open state. 
     When processing of the sheet  1  on the intermediate processing tray  138  is finished, the swing guide  149  swings downward on  FIG. 5 , with the supporting shaft  154  as the fulcrum, so that the upper part discharge roller  130   b  and the lower part discharge roller  130   c  nip the sheet bundle  1   n . Then, the pair of sheet bundle discharge rollers  130  rotate, with the sheet bundle  1   n  nipped by the upper part discharge roller  130   b  and the lower part discharge roller  130   c . As a result, the sheet bundle  1   n  is discharged to the lower tray  137 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , in the swing guide  149 , a first destaticizing needle  152  is placed along the axial direction of the driving shaft  157 . The first destaticizing needle  152  removes surface charge on the sheet  1 , when the sheet  1  is discharged from the pair of lower discharge rollers  128  into the intermediate processing tray  138 . 
     Furthermore, in the swing guide  149 , a second destaticizing needle  153  is placed along the axial direction of the driving shaft  157 . The second destaticizing needle  153  removes surface charge on the sheet  1  discharged from the pair of sheet bundle discharge rollers  130 . The second destaticizing needle  153  is located in the downstream side of the upper part discharge roller  130   b.    
     &lt;Binding Portion&gt; 
     A stapler  132  serving as the binding portion binds an end of the sheet bundle  1   n , driven by the clinch cam motor  132   a  mentioned in  FIG. 4 . The stapler  132  is fixed on the intermediate processing tray  138 . 
     The stapler  132  performs binding in a corner of the sheet bundle  1   n  placed on the intermediate processing tray  138 . 
     The front aligning plate  340  and the rear aligning plate  341  shown in  FIG. 6  move the sheet  1  in the width direction such that the stapler  132  fixed on the intermediate processing tray  138  and a part to be stapled of the sheet bundle  1   n  are in the same position, whereby the stapler  132  is able to bind the sheet bundle  1   n  in different sizes. 
     &lt;Stapleless Binding Portion&gt; 
     Next, a configuration of the stapler  132  is described with reference to  FIGS. 8-11 .  FIG. 8  is an explanatory perspective view showing the configuration of the stapler  132 .  FIG. 9A  is a left side view showing the configuration of the stapler  132 .  FIG. 9B  is an explanatory front view showing the configuration of the stapler  132 .  FIGS. 10A, 10B, 11A, and 11B  are explanatory sectional views illustrating a motion of the stapler  132 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8, 9A and 9B , a half-blanking punch  601  is placed in the stapler  132 . The half-blanking punch  601  forms, in the sheet bundle in, a half-blanked tongue  1   p  shown in  FIG. 10B . The half-blanking punch  601  is fixed to a punch holder  603 . In addition, a slit punch  602  shown in  FIG. 10A  is fixed to the punch holder  603 . The slit punch  602  makes a slit is into which a tip  1   p   1  of the half-blanked tongue  1   p  formed by the half-blanking punch  601  is inserted. 
     The stapler  132  serving as the binding portion, in the sheet bundle  1   n  placed on the intermediate processing tray  138  (on the intermediate stacking portion), forms a half-blanked tongue  1   p  in each of the sheets  1  forming the sheet bundle  1   n . Such half-blanked tongue  1   p  is formed by cutting with the half-blanking punch  601 , with a part of the tongue attached to each of the sheets  1 . Further, the slit is  1   s  made in each of the sheets  1 . The slit is  1   s  formed of a through hole cut by the slit punch  602 . Then, the tips  1   p   1  of the half-blanked tongues  1   p  of the sheet bundle  1   n  are inserted integrally into the slits  1   s , as a unit, of the sheet bundle  1   n . As a result, the sheet bundle  1   n  is bound at the end thereof. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10A , a die  604  is fixed to an apparatus frame (not shown) so as to face the punch holder  603  which is movable in the vertical direction on  FIG. 10A . A series of through holes  604   a  is formed in the die  604 . The half-blanking punch  601  and the slit punch  602  pass through the through holes  604   a.    
     A slide supporting plate  605  is placed between the punch holder  603  and the die  604 , with a gap t in which the sheet bundle  1   n  is contained. The slide supporting plate  605  is fixed to the apparatus frame (not shown). 
     A plurality of slide shafts  606  is erected on an upper surface  605   e  of the slide supporting plate  605 . The punch holder  603  has a through hole  603   b  through which the slide shaft  606  is movably inserted. As a result, the punch holder  603  is configured to be able to slide along the slide shaft  606  in the vertical direction on  FIG. 10A . 
     A compression spring  607  is fitted to the outer periphery of the slide shaft  606 . The compression spring  607  has the inside diameter larger than the outside diameter of the slide shaft  606 . The compression spring  607  is placed between the lower surface  603   c  of the punch holder  603  and the upper surface  605   e  of the slide supporting plate  605 , coaxially with the slide shaft  606 . With this configuration, lifting force in the upward direction on  FIG. 10A , caused by extension force of the compression spring  607 , acts constantly on the punch holder  603 . 
     In the upper direction on  FIG. 10A  from the punch holder  603 , an eccentric cam  608  is placed so as to be in contact with the upper surface  603   a  of the punch holder  603 . The eccentric cam rotates around a cam shaft  609 . A clinch cam motor  132   a  mentioned in  FIG. 4  is provided in the vicinity of the cam shaft  609  of the eccentric cam  608 . The clinch cam motor  132   a  serves as a drive source for rotating the eccentric cam  608 . 
     The eccentric cam  608  rotates around the cam shaft  609  by the rotary drive of the clinch cam motor  132   a . As a result, a cam surface  608   a  in a longer diameter part of the eccentric cam  608  presses the upper surface  603   a  of the punch holder  603  in the lower direction on  FIG. 10A , resisting the extension force of the compression spring  607 . When the cam surface  608   a  in a shorter diameter part of the eccentric cam  608  abuts the upper surface  603   a  of the punch holder  603 , the punch holder  603  retracts in the upper direction on  FIG. 10A , by the extension force of the compression spring  607 . With this configuration, the punch holder  603  is able to lift and lower as desired in the vertical direction on  FIG. 10A , according to the rotation of the eccentric cam  608 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , a cam home position flag  610  is attached to the cam shaft  609  of the eccentric cam  608 . In addition, a clinch cam home position sensor  303   b  is provided, in order to detect the location of the cam home position flag  610 . 
     In the embodiment, when the punch holder  603  is in the upper position on  FIG. 8 , or when the half-blanking punch  601  and the slit punch  602  retract and separate from a sheet bundle holding portion  6  formed between the slide supporting plate  605  and the die  604 , the punch holder  603 , the half-blanking punch  601 , and the slit punch  602  are located in the home positions thereof. 
     The slide supporting plate  605  has through holes  605   a  and  605   b  through which the half-blanking punch  601  and the slit punch  602  are able to pass, respectively. 
     The half-blanking punch  601  forms the half-blanked tongue  1   p  in the sheet bundle  1   n . Therefore, a cutting blade of the half-blanking punch  601  viewed from the direction along which the punch holder  603  slides (the vertical direction on  FIG. 8 ) has a U-shaped sectional shape, which corresponds to a U-shape of a cutout part  1   u  of the half-blanked tongue  1   p  shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 10B , a C-shaped folding lever  611  is placed inside the cutting blade of the half-blanking punch  601 . The folding lever  611  turns around the lever turning shaft  612 . The folding lever  611  folds the half-blanked tongue  1   p  shown in  FIG. 10B , which has been formed by the half-blanking punch  601 , to the slit is side. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 11A , the slit punch  602  has a through hole  602   a . A tongue pushing surface  611   a  of the folding lever  611  and the tip  1   p   1  of the half-blanked tongue  1   p  pass through the through hole  602   a , when the folding lever  611  turns around the lever turning shaft  612 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 10A , a hooking portion  611   c  is provided in the folding lever  611 . The hooking portion  611   c  is placed in an upper position on  FIG. 10A  from the turning center of the lever turning shaft  612  of the folding lever  611 . One end of the tension spring  613  is locked to the hooking portion  611   c . The other end of the tension spring  613  is locked to the slit punch  602 . Therefore, the folding lever  611  and the slit punch  602  are engaged with each other via the tension spring  613 . 
     In  FIG. 10A , the cam surface  608   a  in the shorter diameter part of the eccentric cam  608  abuts the upper surface  603   a  of the punch holder  603 , and the punch holder  603  retracts in the upper direction on  FIG. 10A  by the extension force of the compression spring  607 . Therefore, the punch holder  603  is in its home position. At this time, the tongue pushing surface  611   a  of the folding lever  611  is always housed and kept inside the cutting blade of the half-blanking punch  601 . 
     On the other hand, in  FIG. 11A , a cam surface  608   a  in the longer diameter part of the eccentric cam  608  presses the upper surface  603   a  of the punch holder  603 , resisting the extension force of the compression spring  607 . The punch holder  603  moves in the downward direction on  FIG. 11A , and reaches the lowest position as shown in  FIG. 11A . At this time, the folding lever  611  turns around the lever turning shaft  612  in the counterclockwise direction on  FIG. 11A . Then the tongue pushing surface  611   a  passes through the through hole  602   a  shown in  FIG. 8  to project from the slit punch  602 . 
     The folding lever  611  has an abutting surface  611   b  which abuts an abutting surface  605   c  of the slide supporting plate  605 . As shown in  FIG. 11A , when the punch holder  603  lowers to the lowest position, the abutting surface  611   b  of the folding lever  611  abuts the abutting surface  605   c  located between the two through holes  605   a  and  605   b  formed in the slide supporting plate  605 . With this configuration, the folding lever  611  turns around the lever turning shaft  612  in the counterclockwise direction on  FIG. 11A , then the tongue pushing surface  611   a  passes through the through hole  602   a  shown in  FIG. 8 , to project from the slit punch  602 . 
     Details of motions for forming the half-blanked tongue  1   p  to be formed in the sheet bundle  1   n  by cutting with the half-blanking punch  601 , and for folding and inserting the half-blanked tongue  1   p  into the slit is formed by cutting with the slit punch  602  will be described later. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B , the die  604  and the slide supporting plate  605  have recessed parts  604   c  and  605   d , respectively. Each of the recessed parts  604   c ,  605   d  extends in a plurality of different directions starting from the half-blanking punch  601  and the slit punch  602 . The recessed parts  604   c ,  605   d  have a gap Ya, Yb in between. Distance of the gap Ya, Yb is larger than that of the gap t between flat parts formed in end parts of both of the die  604  and the slide supporting plate  605 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the recessed parts  604   c ,  605   d  are formed in the die  604  and the slide supporting plate  605  which act as guide faces of the stapler  132  serving as the binding portion. The recessed parts  604   c ,  605   d  extend in different directions from each other. At least one of the plurality of recessed parts  604   c ,  605   d  extending in different directions from each other is formed in either of the die  604  or the slide supporting plate  605  which acts as guide faces of the stapler  132  serving as the binding portion. 
     The recessed part  604   c ,  605   d  of the embodiment extends in a plurality of different directions (in orthogonal directions, in the embodiment) from a binding point of the sheet bundle  1   n . At least one of the recessed part  604   c  and the recessed part  605   d , which extends in a plurality of different directions (in orthogonal directions, in the embodiment) from the binding point of the sheet bundle  1   n , is formed in one of the guide faces (either one of the die  604  and the slide supporting plate  605 ). 
     In the embodiment, each of the recessed parts  604   c ,  605   d  formed in the die  604  and the slide supporting plate  605 , respectively, extends from the half-blanking punch  601  and the slit punch  602 , in the direction toward the lower tray  137  serving as a stacking portion shown in  FIG. 3  (in the direction indicated by an arrow Din  FIG. 8 ). Also, each of the recessed parts  604   c ,  605   d  extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction toward the lower tray  137  (in the direction indicated by an arrow E in  FIG. 8 ). 
     After a binding process of the sheet bundle  1   n  by the stapler  132  serving as the binding portion, there are at least two directions in which the sheet bundle  1   n  having been bound moves from an opening formed of the gap t between the slide supporting plate  605  and the die  604  of the stapler  132 . 
     Additionally, the die  604  and the slide supporting plate  605  can each have the recessed part  604   c ,  605   d  which is not shown but extends in at least two radial directions from the half-blanking punch  601  and the slit punch  602 . Thereby, the stapler  132  is configured such that the sheet bundle  1   n  having been bound moves in at least two directions from the opening formed of the gap t between the slide supporting plate  605  and the die  604  of the stapler  132 . 
     With this configuration, after a stapleless binding process of the sheet bundle  1   n , an insertion-fastening part  1   r  which partially protrudes from a sheet surface  1   n   1  of the sheet bundle  1   n  as shown in  FIG. 12  and the guide faces of the die  604  and the slide supporting plate  605  do not interfere with each other. Therefore, the insertion-fastening part  1   r  partially protruding from a sheet surface  1   n   1  easily passes through the recessed part  604   c ,  605   d  extending linearly from the half-blanking punch  601  and the slit punch  602 . This enables the sheet bundle  1   n  having been binding-processed to move easily along the recessed part  604   c ,  605   d.    
     As shown in  FIGS. 8, 20A, and 20B , the recessed part  604   c ,  605   d  formed in the die  604  and the slide supporting plate  605  is formed so as to extend in a direction in which the sheet bundle  1   n  is conveyed, that is, in the direction toward the lower tray  137  serving as the stacking portion, as indicated by the arrow D in  FIG. 8 . The recessed part  604   c ,  605   d  is also formed so as to extend in the width direction of the sheet bundle  1   n , that is, in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the sheet bundle  1   n  is conveyed, as indicated by the arrow E in  FIG. 8 . 
     On the other hand, a flat part is formed in the end part of each of the die  604  and the slide supporting plate  605 . As shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B , the distance of the gap t between the flat parts of the die  604  and the slide supporting plate  605  is smaller than the gap Ya, Yb of the recessed part  604   c ,  605   d . With such flat part, the thickness of the sheet bundle in is limited so as to prevent the sheet bundle  1   n  interposed between the die  604  and the slide supporting plate  605  from increasing in thickness beyond the processing capacity of the stapler  132 . 
     &lt;Stapleless Binding Operation&gt; 
     A stapleless binding operation on the sheet bundle  1   n  with the stapler  132  is described below with reference to  FIGS. 10A, 10B, 11A, and 11B . As shown in  FIG. 10A , the sheet bundle in is stored in the sheet bundle holding portion  6  in the stapler  132 . The sheet bundle holding portion  6  is formed of the flat parts with the gap t between the die  604  and the slide supporting plate  605 . Subsequently, the eccentric cam  608  shown in  FIG. 10A  rotates around the cam shaft  609  in the direction indicated by an arrow A in  FIG. 10A . The eccentric cam  608  is rotated by rotary drive of the clinch cam motor  132   a  mentioned in  FIG. 4 . 
     As the eccentric cam  608  rotates in the direction indicated by an arrow A in  FIG. 10B , the punch holder  603  including the half-blanking punch  601  and the slit punch  602  is pressed by the cam surface  608   a  of the eccentric cam  608 , resisting the extension force of the compression spring  607 , and lowers as shown in  FIG. 10B . As a result, the half-blanked tongue  1   p  is formed in the sheet bundle  1   n  stored in the sheet bundle holding portion  6 , by cutting with the half-blanking punch  601 . Likewise, the slit  1   s  is formed by cutting with the slit punch  602 . 
     Next, as shown in  FIG. 10B , tongue pushing surface  611   a  of the folding lever  611  abuts the half-blanked tongue  1   p  cut out by the half-blanking punch  601  and begins to fold the half-blanked tongue  1   p  to the slit is side. 
     The eccentric cam  608  rotates around the cam shaft  609  further in the direction indicated by an arrow A shown in  FIG. 11A , and the punch holder  603  reaches near the lowest position thereof, as shown in  FIG. 11A . As a result, the abutting surface  611   b  of the folding lever  611  and the abutting surface  605   c  of the slide supporting plate  605  contact each other. 
     Then, the folding lever  611  turns around the lever turning shaft  612  in the direction indicated by an arrow B shown in  FIG. 11A , resisting a tensile force of the tension spring  613  engaged between the hooking portion  611   c  of the folding lever  611  and the slit punch  602 . 
     Further, the tongue pushing surface  611   a  of the folding lever  611  pushes the half-blanked tongue  1   p  of the sheet bundle  1   n  upward on  FIG. 11A . Then, the tip  1   p   1  of the half-blanked tongue  1   p  passes through the through hole  602   a  shown in  FIG. 8 , formed in the slit punch  602 , to project to the right on  FIG. 8 . 
     As the eccentric cam  608  further rotates around the cam shaft  609  in the direction indicated by the arrow A shown in  FIG. 11A , the punch holder  603  is pushed in the upward direction on  FIG. 11B  by the extension force of the compression spring  607 , as shown in  FIG. 11B . 
     Then, the folding lever  611  turns around the lever turning shaft  612  in the direction indicated by an arrow C shown in  FIG. 11B , by the tensile force of the tension spring  613 . Accordingly, the abutting surface  611   b  of the folding lever  611  and the abutting surface  605   c  of the slide supporting plate  605  are separated from each other. As a result, the tongue pushing surface  611   a  of the folding lever  611  leaves the through hole  602   a  formed in the slit punch  602  shown in  FIG. 8  and retracts to the left on  FIG. 8 . 
     Also, as shown in  FIG. 11A , the punch holder  603  moves in the upward direction on  FIG. 11B . At this time, the tip  1   p   1  of the half-blanked tongue  1   p  of the sheet bundle in, having been cut out by the half-blanking punch  601 , is inserted in the through hole  602   a  formed in the slit punch  602  shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     The tip  1   p   1  of the half-blanked tongue  1   p  having been inserted in the through hole  602   a  formed in the slit punch  602  lifts integrally with the slit punch  602  which moves in the upward direction on  FIG. 11B . The tip  1   p   1  then passes through the slit is of the sheet bundle  1   n  formed by cutting with the slit punch  602 , and moves to the upper surface side of the sheet bundle  1   n  as shown in  FIG. 11B . 
     As a result, as shown in  FIG. 11B , the half-blanked tongue  1   p  of the sheet bundle  1   n  is folded to be inserted in the slit is, so that the sheet bundle  1   n  is fastened and bound as a unit. After that, when the eccentric cam  608  rotates to the home position thereof shown in  FIG. 10A , the clinch cam motor  132   a  mentioned in  FIG. 4  stops, completing the stapleless binding operation by the stapler  132  on the sheet bundle  1   n.    
     As described above, by the stapleless binding, the sheet bundle  1   n  formed of a plurality of sheets  1  is bound to be a single unit of the sheet bundle in, with the tip  1   p   1  of the half-blanked tongue  1   p  folded and inserted in the slit is of the sheet bundle in, as shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     &lt;Sheet Conveying Motion&gt; 
     The following is a description of the motion of the finisher  100  when conveying the sheet  1  at the time of stapleless binding process, with reference to  FIGS. 13A to 19 . 
     &lt;Automatic Binding&gt; 
     The embodiment has an automatic binding mode. In the automatic binding, the sheet bundle  1   n  is binding-processed by the stapling portion  100 A. The stapling portion  100 A serves as the binding portion which binds the sheet bundle  1   n  formed of the sheets  1  stacked on the intermediate processing tray  138  (on the intermediate stacking portion). The sheet  1  is conveyed by the conveying path  126  serving as the conveying portion shown in  FIG. 3 , to be placed on the intermediate processing tray  138 . 
     In the automatic binding, after the binding process by the stapling portion  100 A serving as the binding portion, the sheet bundle  1   n  is conveyed in the following direction: The sheet bundle  1   n  which has been binding-processed is conveyed by the pair of sheet bundle discharge rollers  130  serving as the discharging portion, from the opening formed between the die  604  and the slide supporting plate  605  in the stapling portion  100 A to the lower tray  137  serving as the stacking portion. 
     &lt;Non-Sorting Automatic Binding&gt; 
     The motion of the finisher  100  in non-sorting automatic binding is described below, with reference to  FIGS. 13A to 15A .  FIGS. 13A and 13B  are explanatory sectional views showing the motion of the stapling portion  100 A.  FIGS. 14 and 15A  are explanatory plan views showing the motion of the stapling portion  100 A.  FIG. 18  is a flowchart illustrating the motion of the stapling portion  100 A in non-sorting automatic binding. 
     In step S 1  in  FIG. 18 , a non-sorting automatic binding job is selected in the operation portion  501  shown in  FIG. 1 . Then, the image forming apparatus  502  starts a print job to form a toner image on the sheet  1  (step S 2 ). 
     The sheet  1 , having been discharged from the body of the image forming apparatus  502  by the discharge roller  907 , passes through the conveying paths in the finisher  100 , before the rear end part  1   a  of the sheet  1  passes through a nipping part of the pair of lower discharge rollers  128 . Then the sheet  1  is discharged to the intermediate processing tray  138 , as shown in  FIG. 13A  (step S 3 ). 
     Subsequently, in step S 4 , the drawing paddle  131  rotates around the driving shaft  157  in the counterclockwise direction on  FIG. 13A . In this process, the drawing paddle  131  conveys the sheet  1  so as to return the rear end part  1   a  of the sheet  1  in the direction of the rear end stopper  150 . 
     The sheet  1  having been conveyed in the direction of the rear end stopper  150  is drawn further to the side of the rear end stopper  150  by the belt roller  158  which rotates in the counterclockwise direction on  FIG. 13A . Then, the rear end part  1   a  of the sheet  1  jogs the rear end stopper  150 , so that the sheet  1  can be aligned. 
     The rear end part  1   a  of the sheet  1  is aligned so as to align the sheet  1  in the direction in which the sheet  1  is conveyed. After finishing the alignment of the rear end part  1   a  on the intermediate processing tray  138 , the front and rear aligning plates  340  and  341  serving as the aligning portion, shown in  FIG. 14 , shift and align the sheet  1  in the width direction, in step S 5 . The width direction is perpendicular to the direction in which the sheet  1  is conveyed. 
     As shown in  FIG. 14 , the front and rear aligning plates  340  and  341  align the sheet  1  placed on the intermediate processing tray  138 , shifting the sheet  1  so that a side edge of the sheet  1  in the width direction corresponds to the stapling position of the stapler  132 . 
     The aforementioned series of sheet  1  aligning motions is repeated to every succeeding sheet  1  discharged to the intermediate processing tray  138 , until the final sheet  1  of the sheet bundle  1   n  is discharged from the pair of lower discharge rollers  128  to the intermediate processing tray  138 , in step S 6 . 
     When the final sheet  1  of the sheet bundle  1   n  is discharged to the intermediate processing tray  138  and the sheet  1  aligning motion is completed, the stapler  132  binds the sheet bundle  1   n , in step S 7 , such that a corner on one side of the sheet bundle  1   n  is stapled. 
     In step S 8 , as shown in  FIG. 13B , the swing guide  149  lowers so that the sheet bundle  1   n  can be nipped by the upper part discharge roller  130   b  and the lower part discharge roller  130   c  which form the pair of sheet bundle discharge rollers  130  serving as the discharging portion. The sheet bundle  1   n  is conveyed by the discharge rollers  130   b  and  130   c , to be discharged to the lower tray  137 . 
     The above motion is repeated to a specified number of the sheet bundles  1   n . When the binding process of the final sheet bundle  1   n  is finished in step S 9 , the non-sorting automatic binding job terminates. 
     &lt;Automatic Binding with Sorting&gt; 
     The motion of the finisher  100  in automatic binding with sorting is described below, with reference to  FIGS. 15A, 15B and 19 .  FIG. 15A  is an explanatory plan view showing the motion of the stapling portion  100 A.  FIG. 15B  is an explanatory front view showing the sheet bundles  1   n  stacked on the lower tray  137  in alternate positions.  FIG. 19  is a flowchart illustrating the motion of the stapling portion  100 A in the automatic binding with sorting. 
     As mentioned in steps S 11 -S 17  in  FIG. 19 , the sheet  1  having been discharged from the body of the image forming apparatus  502  shown in  FIG. 1  is discharged to the intermediate processing tray  138 . The sheet  1  is shifted to be aligned in such a manner that the end of the sheet  1  corresponds to the stapling position of the stapler  132 . The stapler  132  then binds the sheet bundle  1   n  such that a corner on one side of the sheet bundle  1   n  is stapled. The above series of motions is controlled similarly to the motions in the non-sorting automatic binding described previously with reference to steps S 1 -S 7  in  FIG. 18  and  FIGS. 13A and 13B , and will not be repeatedly described. 
     In step S 17  in  FIG. 19 , the binding process of the sheet bundle  1   n  by the stapler  132  is completed. If the previous sheet bundle  1   n  has not shifted position in step S 18 , the operation proceeds to step S 19 . In step S 19 , as shown in  FIG. 15A , the front aligning plate  340  shifts the sheet bundle  1   n  as a whole in the rear direction. Subsequently, the swing guide  149  shown in  FIG. 13B  lowers so that the sheet bundle  1   n  can be nipped and conveyed by the upper part discharge roller  130   b  and the lower part discharge roller  130   c , and the sheet bundle  1   n  is discharged to the lower tray  137  (step S 20 ). 
     The process for binding the subsequent sheet bundle  1   n  is completed by the stapler  132  in a similar fashion to the non-sorting automatic binding. In this case, the sheet bundle  1   n  is not shifted when the binding process is finished. Then the swing guide  149  lowers so that the sheet bundle  1   n  can be nipped and conveyed by the upper part discharge roller  130   b  and the lower part discharge roller  130   c , and the sheet bundle  1   n  is discharged to the lower tray  137 . 
     The embodiment has a sheet bundle sorting mode. The sheet bundle sorting mode enables the sheet bundle  1   n  which has been binding-processed to move in the rear direction of the body of the finisher  100  (the body of the sheet processing apparatus). The rear direction is perpendicular to the direction toward the lower tray  137  serving as the stacking portion. The binding-processed sheet bundle  1   n  is moved from the opening formed between the die  604  and the slide supporting plate  605  in the stapling portion  100 A serving as the binding portion, by means of the pair of sheet bundle discharge rollers  130  serving as the discharging portion. 
     The above motion for shifting the binding-processed sheet bundle  1   n  is performed on every other sheet bundle  1   n . As a result, as shown in  FIG. 15B , the sheet bundles  1   n  are stacked on the lower tray  137  in alternate positions. In other words, a preceding binding-processed sheet bundle  1   n  and a succeeding binding-processed sheet bundle  1   n  are discharged to the lower tray  137  in shifted positions. 
     This prevents the insertion-fastening part  1   r  of the sheet bundle  1   n  shown in  FIG. 12  from being placed on top of each other on the lower tray  137 , which, as a result, reduces the total thickness of the binding-processed sheet bundles  1   n  stacked on the lower tray  137 . When the binding process of the final sheet bundle  1   n  is finished in step S 21 , the job of the automatic binding with sorting terminates. 
     &lt;Manual Binding&gt; 
     The embodiment has a manual binding mode, which enables the sheet bundle  1   n  placed on the intermediate processing tray  138  to be binding-processed by the stapling portion  100 A serving as the binding portion. In the manual binding, the sheet bundle  1   n  is able to be placed on the intermediate processing tray  138  (on the intermediate stacking portion) manually (by a user) from a direction different from the direction in which the sheet  1  is conveyed by the conveying path  126  serving as the conveying portion shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     In manual binding in the embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 16 and 17 , the binding-processed sheet bundle  1   n  is able to be moved manually (by a user) from the opening formed between the die  604  and the slide supporting plate  605  in the stapling portion  100 A serving as the binding portion. The binding-processed sheet bundle  1   n  is able to be moved in the front direction of the body of the finisher  100  (the body of the sheet processing apparatus). The front direction is perpendicular to the direction toward the lower tray  137  serving as the stacking portion. 
     The stapling portion  100 A serving as the binding portion of the embodiment is situated on the front side of the body of the finisher  100  (the body of the sheet processing apparatus). The stapling portion  100 A is located in the same position as in both the manual binding and the automatic binding described earlier. 
     The motion of the finisher  100  in the manual binding is described below, with reference to  FIGS. 16 and 17 .  FIG. 16  is an explanatory plan view showing a configuration of the stapling portion  100 A.  FIG. 17  is an explanatory perspective view showing the configuration of the stapling portion  100 A. 
     When the manual binding mode is selected in the operation portion  501  shown in  FIG. 1 , the front aligning plate  340 , first, moves to the manual binding position. As shown in  FIGS. 16 and 17 , a sheet bundle  1   n  which a user wishes to have binding-processed is inserted in a slit  11  formed on an outer cover  7  from the front side of the body of the finisher  100 . 
     In the manual binding in the embodiment, an outer back surface of the front aligning plate  340  functions as described below. The front aligning plate  340  serving as the aligning portion is placed on the front side of the body of the finisher  100  (the body of the sheet processing apparatus), and is shifted in advance. 
     The sheet bundle  1   n  is inserted in the slit  11 . The outer back surface of the front aligning plate  340  acts as an abutting guide (a stopper) which obstructs the sheet bundle  1   n . The outer back surface of the front aligning plate  340  is located at the back, in the direction in which the sheet bundle  1   n  is inserted, of the opening formed between the die  604  and the slide supporting plate  605  in the stapling portion  100 A serving as the binding portion. The sheet bundle  1   n  insertion direction is perpendicular to the direction toward the lower tray  137  serving as the stacking portion. With this configuration, the position of the sheet bundle  1   n  is fixed prior to the binding process. 
     When the “binding process” button is pressed through the operation portion  501  shown in  FIG. 1 , the binding process is performed on the corner on one side of the sheet bundle  1   n . The binding-processed sheet bundle  1   n  is removed by the user, in the direction opposite to the direction in which the sheet bundle  1   n  is inserted in the slit  11  before the binding process is performed. 
     This completes the binding job in the manual binding. When the next binding process is performed following the previous one, the insertion of the sheet bundle  1   n  and the sheet bundle  1   n  binding process are repeated in the same fashion. In this way, a plurality of the sheet bundles in is able to be binding-processed continuously. 
     Again, the configuration of the die  604  and the slide supporting plate  605  in the stapler  132  will be described. The tip  1   p   1  of the half-blanked tongue  1   p  formed by cutting the sheet bundle  1   n  with the half-blanking punch  601  is folded so as to turn over. Then, the tip  1   p   1  is inserted in the slit is formed by cutting the sheet bundle  1   n  with the slit punch  602 . 
     After the sheet bundle  1   n  binding process, the insertion-fastening part  1   r  is formed, which partially projects outward from the sheet surface  1   n   1  of the sheet bundle  1   n . The recessed part  604   c ,  605   d  is formed in the die  604  and the slide supporting plate  605 , respectively. The recessed part  604   c ,  605   d  extends from the insertion-fastening part  1   r , in both the direction toward the lower tray  137  and the width direction of the sheet  1 . 
     This configuration prevents the insertion-fastening part  1   r , which partially projects from the sheet surface  1   n   1  as a result of the sheet bundle  1   n  binding process, from getting stuck between the die  604  and the slide supporting plate  605  which serves as the lower and upper guides for the binding-processed sheet bundle in, when the sheet bundle in moves. The recessed part  604   c ,  605   d  enables the insertion-fastening part  1   r , which partially projects from the sheet surface  1   n   1  as a result of the sheet bundle  1   n  binding process, to easily pass therethrough. 
     This facilitates the shifting motion in which the binding-processed sheet bundle  1   n  is conveyed in the direction toward the lower tray  137 . Moreover, this also facilitates the shifting motion in which the sheet bundle  1   n  is conveyed in the width direction (in the horizontal direction on  FIG. 15B ) of the sheet bundle  1   n  for the purpose of stacking a plurality of the sheet bundles  1   n  on the lower tray  137  in alternate positions as shown in  FIG. 15B . 
     Furthermore, as shown in  FIGS. 16 and 17 , in the manual binding by a user, it is easy to move the binding-processed sheet bundle  1   n  in the front direction of the finisher  100 . Therefore, the binding-processed sheet bundle  1   n  is able to be moved in a plurality of different directions easily. 
     With the above configuration, it is not necessary to turn and transfer the stapler  132  in order to remove the binding-processed sheet bundle  1   n  more easily. Also, increases in size and cost of the finisher  100  are avoided, without the need to transfer the lower tray  137  for shift-stacking the sheet bundles  1   n . As a result, the finisher  100  with a simplified configuration is obtained, which enables manual binding and shift-stacking in the stapleless binding. 
     In the embodiment, the stapler  132  is fixed while the binding-processed sheet bundle  1   n  is moved. However, a similar effect is produced, with a configuration in which the stapler  132  moves with respect to the sheet bundle  1   n , as a method to remove the sheet bundle  1   n  from the stapler  132 . 
     In the embodiment, the binding-processed sheet bundle  1   n  is able to be moved with respect to the stapler  132 . Therefore, the sheet bundle  1   n  is able to have either a single or more than one binding point, changing the binding position thereof. 
     In the stapler  132  of the embodiment, the recessed parts  604   c  and  605   d  are formed in both of the die  604  and the slide supporting plate  605 , respectively, to increase the space through which the insertion-fastening part  1   r  of the sheet bundle  1   n  passes. Alternatively, as shown in  FIGS. 20A and 20B , either one of the die  604  and the slide supporting plate  605  has a recessed part  604   c ,  605   d  as appropriate, to obtain a similar effect. 
     In the embodiment, the cutout-insertion-type stapleless binding portion performs the automatic binding process and the manual binding process. Either of the processes can be selected, depending on the needs of a user. 
     Also in the embodiment, with the stapler  132  serving as the binding portion, the automatic binding process and the manual binding process are performed. The moving direction of the binding-processed sheet bundle  1   n  in each of the processes is as follows: In the automatic binding, the binding-processed sheet bundle  1   n  is conveyed from the opening in the stapler  132  to the lower tray  137 . In the manual binding, the binding-processed sheet bundle  1   n  is able to be moved from the opening in the stapler  132  in the front direction of the body of the sheet processing apparatus. The front direction is perpendicular to the direction toward the lower tray  137 . 
     In addition, sorting of the sheet bundle  1   n  can be selected. In the sorting, the binding-processed sheet bundle  1   n  is able to be moved from the opening in the stapler  132  in the rear direction of the body of the sheet processing apparatus. The rear direction is perpendicular to the direction toward the lower tray  137 . The above-mentioned processes are performed selectively. As a consequence, the sheet processing apparatus is provided, which achieves both quality improvement such as operation performance, sorting performance, and multiple binding, and quality assurance such as damage prevention properties, without increasing the size and cost of the apparatus. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions. 
     This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-093864, filed Apr. 30, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.