Patent Publication Number: US-11383546-B2

Title: Sheet processing apparatus and image forming system provided with the sheet processing apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a continuation application of Ser. No. 16/232,382 filed on Dec. 26, 2018, which claims priorities of Japanese Patent Applications No. 2017-250341 filed on Dec. 27, 2017, No. 2017-250342 filed on Dec. 27, 2017, and No. 2018-235170 filed on Dec. 17, 2018, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus for discharging a sheet with post-processing applied inside from a discharge opening to load on a load tray, and an image forming system provided with the sheet processing apparatus. 
     2. Description of Related Arts 
     Conventionally, a sheet processing apparatus has been known which performs post-processing on a sheet fed from an image forming apparatus such as a copier and printer to load onto a load tray. Generally, this type of sheet processing apparatus is known as an apparatus which is coupled to a sheet discharge opening of the image forming apparatus, temporarily holds the image-formed sheet in a transport path or on a processing tray to perform post-processing, and then, collects in a collection tray to store. As the post-processing, known is punching processing for punching a punch hole in a sheet, binding processing for binding a sheet bunch obtained by collecting sheets, stamp processing for putting a stamp on a sheet, folding processing for folding a sheet and the like. 
     For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose an apparatus which is coupled to a sheet discharge opening of an image forming apparatus, guides an image-formed sheet from a carry-in path to a processing tray to collate and collect in the shape of a bunch, performs binding processing, and then, loads on a stack tray on the downstream side to store. Further, an apparatus housing of this apparatus is provided with a manual set section, adjacent to a discharge opening, for enabling a sheet bunch created outside to be inserted and set to perform binding processing, as well as a sheet processing mechanism section for guiding a sheet from the carry-in path to the processing tray to perform binding processing, and then, storing on the stack tray. An apparatus housing of the manual set section is provided with a slit-shaped opening adjacent to the discharge opening in the direction orthogonal to the discharge direction, an operator is capable of inserting and setting a sheet bunch in the opening in an upright position, and the binding processing is performed on the set sheet bunch with a binding processing apparatus incorporated into the sheet processing apparatus. 
     Further, Patent Documents 3 and 4 disclose a sheet processing apparatus provided with the so-called neat alignment apparatus where a pair of aligning members is pivotally fitted slidably to a shaft supported by the apparatus housing of the sheet processing apparatus so as to extend in a direction (hereinafter, described as shift direction) orthogonal to the discharge direction of the sheet above the load tray, and in a state in which the pair of aligning members is moved downward on the load tray, the members are brought into contact with two end faces parallel with the discharge direction of the sheet loaded on the load tray so as to nip the end faces, and thereby align the sheet in a predetermined position in the shift direction. A width-direction drive mechanism for shifting the pair of aligning members in the shaft direction, and a rotation drive mechanism for rotating around the shaft are controlled by a control section of the sheet processing apparatus for controlling operation of the entire sheet processing apparatus. By providing such a pair of aligning members, it is possible to align sheets loaded on the load tray and collate with high accuracy. 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
     [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-117076 
     [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-124084 
     [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-179326 
     [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-206332 
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     Problems to be Solved by the Invention 
     In the sheet processing apparatus as described above, in order to collate and collect sheets in a predetermined position on the processing tray, it is general that the processing tray is provided with an alignment apparatus, and after aligning a sheet in a predetermined position in the direction orthogonal to the discharge direction on the processing tray with the alignment apparatus, it is possible to discharge to the load tray. In other words, only the alignment apparatus on the processing tray is capable of aligning the position in the direction orthogonal to the discharge direction with a predetermined level to some extent to load the sheet on the load tray, but in the case where high alignment characteristics are required on the load tray, it is desirable to provide a neat alignment apparatus for aligning sheets on the load tray. 
     In addition, in the case of the apparatus provided with a manual binding section, since the slit-shaped opening of the manual set section is provided adjacent to the discharge opening, when the sheet processing apparatus provided with the manual set section is equipped with the neat alignment apparatus, the manual set section overlaps with a shift allowable range of the aligning members in the direction orthogonal to the discharge direction, and there is the problem that the aligning members interfere with insertion of sheets in the manual set section and operation of an operator. 
     Accordingly, in a sheet processing apparatus provided with a manual set section for performing binding processing on a manually fed sheet bunch, it is an object of the present invention to enable sheets to be aligned on the load tray, without interfering with operation for inserting sheets in the manual set section. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the above-mentioned object, in a sheet processing apparatus of the present invention, the sheet processing apparatus is provided with a transport path for transporting a sheet in a predetermined transport direction, a processing tray for placing the sheet transported from the transport path, a binding processing apparatus for performing binding processing on sheets placed on the processing tray, a discharge opening for discharging the sheet from the processing tray to outside an apparatus main body housing, a load tray provided on the downstream side of the processing tray in the transport direction to load sheets discharged from the discharge opening, neat alignment plates provided outside the main body housing to shift in an alignment direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the sheet loaded on the load tray and align opposite sides of the sheet, and a sheet support surface provided in a different position adjacent to the processing tray in the alignment direction to support sheets inserted from a manual feed opening provided outside the main body housing, where the binding apparatus shifts to the processing tray and the sheet support surface, and is provided to be able to perform the binding processing on sheets placed on the processing tray or the sheet support surface, and the neat alignment plates are positioned in positions for not blocking the manual feed opening during the binding processing on manually fed sheets on the sheet support surface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an entire configuration view of an image forming system provided with a sheet processing apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an explanatory view illustrating an internal configuration of the sheet processing apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view illustrating a path principal part of the sheet processing apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a manual set section in the sheet processing apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 5A to 5C  contain explanatory views of operation of a sheet bunch carrying-out mechanism, where  FIG. 5A  illustrates a state in which a sheet bunch is positioned in a binding position on a processing tray,  FIG. 5B  illustrates a state in which the sheet bunch is being shifted from a processing position to the downstream side, and  FIG. 5C  illustrates a state immediately before the sheet bunch is carried out to a first load tray on the downstream; 
         FIG. 6  is an explanatory view illustrating an arrangement relationship between alignment positions and a staple unit in the sheet processing apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an explanatory view illustrating shift loci of the staple unit and eco-binding unit in the sheet processing apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is an explanatory view illustrating a structure of a neat alignment apparatus of the sheet processing apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the image forming system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  is an explanatory view illustrating a position relationship among neat alignment plates of the neat alignment apparatus, regulation surface positioned on the apparatus rear side of the manual set section and sheets which are inserted in the manual set section and are struck by the regulation surface; 
         FIG. 11A  is an explanatory view illustrating a state in which the neat alignment plate of the neat alignment apparatus is in a waiting position; 
         FIG. 11B  is an explanatory view illustrating a state in which manually fed sheets are guided when the neat alignment plate is in the waiting position; 
         FIG. 12A  is an explanatory view illustrating a state in which the neat alignment plate of the neat alignment apparatus is in an operation position; and 
         FIG. 12B  is an explanatory view illustrating a state in which manually fed sheets are guided when the neat alignment plate is in the operation position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The preferred Embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, similar components will be shown by assigning same reference numerals. 
     In addition, in the present Description, “offset transport of a sheet bunch” means that a sheet bunch obtained by collecting sheets carried on a processing tray from a sheet discharge opening is shifted (width aligning shift) in a direction orthogonal to (or crossing) a sheet transport direction, and “offset amount” means a shift amount in the direction orthogonal to (or crossing) the sheet transport direction in offset-transporting a sheet bunch. Further, “alignment of a sheet bunch” means that with respect to a plurality of sheets carried on the processing tray from the sheet discharge opening and a sheet discharged onto a load tray from the discharge opening, a sheet bunch is placed in a beforehand determined posture and position on the processing tray according to predetermined reference (e.g., center reference that is a center position in the direction orthogonal to the sheet transport direction and discharge direction i.e. width direction, or one-side reference set on one side in the width direction). For example, “performing an offset after aligning sheets” means that after placing a plurality of sheets in the beforehand determined position and posture according to the reference as described previously, the entire sheet bunch of this state is shifted in the direction orthogonal to (or crossing) the sheet transport direction and discharge direction. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , first described is the entire configuration of an image forming system. The image forming system includes an image forming apparatus A and sheet processing apparatus B to be comprised thereof. Sheets with images formed in the image forming apparatus A are collated and collected in the sheet processing apparatus B, post-processing such as binding processing is performed on a bunch of collected sheets, and the bunch is loaded and stored in a first load tray  26 , second load tray  27  or third load tray  28  on the downstream side. In addition, in the present Description, it is assumed that the front side of the image forming system of  FIG. 1  is referred to as the apparatus front side, and that the rear side is referred to as the apparatus rear side. 
     The image forming apparatus A and sheet processing apparatus B will be described below in detail. 
     Image Forming Apparatus 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the image forming apparatus A includes an image forming unit A 1 , image read unit A 2  and document feed unit A 3 . The image forming unit A 1  is provided with a paper feed section  2 , image forming section  3 , sheet discharge section  4  and data processing section  5  inside an apparatus housing  1 . 
     In the Embodiment shown in the figure, the paper feed section  2  includes a plurality of cassettes  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c , and each of the cassettes  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c  is capable of storing sheets of a beforehand selected different standard size. Into each of the cassettes  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c  is incorporated a separation mechanism for separating sheets inside on a sheet-by-sheet basis, and a paper feed mechanism for feeding the sheet. With respect to the sheets stored in the paper feed section  2  of such a configuration, based on information input from a control panel  84  (see  FIG. 9 ), a sheet of a size designated from a main body control section  80  is fed to a paper feed path  6 . The paper feed path  6  is provided with a transport roller  7  disposed in an intermediate portion to feed the sheet supplied from each of the plurality of cassettes  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c  to the downstream side, and a register roller pair  8  disposed in a path end portion to align a front end of each sheet. 
     Further, the paper feed path  6  is coupled to a high-capacity cassette  2   d  and manual tray  2   e , the high-capacity cassette  2   d  is comprised of an option unit for storing sheets of a size consumed in large quantity, and the manual tray  2   e  is capable of supplying particular sheets such as thick sheets, coating sheets and film sheets difficult to feed separately. 
     It is essential only that the image forming section  3  is configured to form an image on a sheet fed from the paper feed section  2 , and it is possible to adopt various image forming mechanisms. The Embodiment shown in the figure illustrates an electrostatic image forming mechanism as the image forming section  3 . However, the image forming section  3  is not limited to the electrostatic image forming mechanism shown in the figure, and it is also possible to adopt an inkjet image forming mechanism, offset image forming mechanism and the like. 
     The image forming section  3  shown in  FIG. 1  is provided with a photosensitive body  9  (drum, belt), and a light emitting device  10  that emits an optical beam to the photosensitive body  9 , and a developer  11  and cleaner (not shown) are disposed around the rotating photosensitive body  9 . The section shown in the figure is a monochrome printing mechanism, where a latent image is optically formed on the photosensitive body  9  with the light emitting device  10 , and toner ink is added to the latent image with the developer  11 . The ink image (ink toner) added to the photosensitive body  9  is transferred to a sheet fed from the paper feed section  2  with a transfer charger  12 , and the image-transferred sheet is fused with a fuse roller  13 , and then, is fed to a sheet discharge path  14 . In the sheet discharge path  14 , a sheet discharge roller  15  is disposed, a sheet discharge opening  16  is formed in its end, and the sheet is transported to the sheet processing apparatus B described later from the sheet discharge opening  16  with the sheet discharge roller  15 . 
     Above the thus configured image forming unit A 1  is provided the document read unit A 2  for reading an original document image, and further above the document read unit A 2  is mounted the document feed unit A 3 . 
     The image read unit A 2  is provided with first platen  17  and second platen  21  formed of transparent glass, read carriage  18 , light source mounted on the read carriage  18 , photoelectric converter  19 , and reduction optical system  20  configured by combining mirrors and lenses, light from the light source is applied to an image of an original document sheet placed on the platen  17 , by scanning the read carriage  18  along the platen  17 , the reflected light from the image of the original document sheet is guided to the photoelectric converter  19  by the reduction optical system  20 , and the image is read. The photoelectric converter  19  converts the image data into electric signals to transfer to the image forming section  3 . 
     The paper feed unit A 3  is provided with a paper feed tray  22 , paper feed path  23 , and sheet discharge tray  24 , transports the original document placed on the paper feed try  22  along the paper feed path  23  on a sheet-by-sheet basis, passes on the second platen  21 , and discharges to the sheet discharge tray  24 . In addition, in reading the original document which is fed from the paper feed unit A 3  and passes on the second platen  21 , the read carriage  18  is beforehand halted below the second platen  21 , and image data is generated from the image passing on the second platen  21 . 
     Sheet Processing Apparatus 
     The sheet processing apparatus B coupled to the image forming apparatus A is an apparatus for receiving an image-formed sheet discharged from the sheet discharge opening  16  of the image forming apparatus A to perform post-processing, and has (1) function (printout mode) for loading and storing a sheet discharged from the sheet discharge opening  16  without performing sheet processing, (2) function (jog sorting mode) for collating sheets discharged from the sheet discharge opening  16  in the shape of a bunch to load and store, (3) function (“binding processing mode”) for collating sheets discharged from the sheet discharge opening  16  in the shape of a bunch to perform binding processing, and then, loading to store, and (4) function (“bookbinding finish processing mode”) for collating sheets discharged from the sheet discharge opening  16  in the shape of a bunch, and then, folding in the shape of a book to load and store. In addition, the sheet processing apparatus B does not need to have all the functions described above, and may have as appropriate corresponding to apparatus specifications (design specifications). Also in this case, it is assumed to minimally have the function (binding processing mode) of (3). 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a detailed configuration of the sheet processing apparatus B. The sheet processing apparatus B is provided with a main body housing  25 , first load tray  26 , second load tray  27 , and third load tray  28 . Inside the main body housing  25  is provided a carry-in path  31  extending approximately linearly in the approximately horizontal direction between a carry-in opening  29  and a path sheet discharge opening  30 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the carry-in path  31  is disposed to continue to the sheet discharge opening  16  of the image forming apparatus A, and it is configured to enable a sheet discharged from the sheet discharge opening  16  to be carried into the sheet processing apparatus B via the carry-in path  31 . Further, inside the main body housing  25  are provided a third sheet discharge path  32 , second sheet discharge path  33  and first sheet discharge path  34 . The first sheet discharge path  34  is disposed on the downstream side from the carry-in path  31 . Further, the third sheet discharge path  32  and second sheet discharge path  33  are disposed on the upstream side from the first sheet discharge path  34 , and are configured to branch off from the carry-in path  31  in this order to the downstream from the carry-in opening  29 , and a first path switch piece  35  and second path switch piece  36  are provided in respective branch portions. Further, the first sheet discharge path  34  and second sheet discharge path  33  are switchback transport paths for transporting the sheet in the transport direction of the sheet that is the direction opposite to the carry-in path  31 . 
     Further, inside the main body housing  25  are provided a first processing section B 1 , second processing section B 2 , and third processing section B 3 , and it is configured that a sheet carried in the carry-in path  31  from the carry-in opening  29  is subjected to post-processing in the first processing section B 1 , second processing section B 2 , or third processing section B 3 , and then, is loaded to store in the first load tray  26 , second load tray  27  or third load tray  28 . In the Embodiment shown in the figure, the carry-in opening  29  of the carry-in path  31  is disposed to continue to the sheet discharge opening  16  of the image forming apparatus A, and it is configured that a sheet discharged from the sheet discharge opening  16  of the image forming apparatus A is carried in from the carry-in opening  29 , and is discharged to the first load tray  26  via the first processing section B 1 , the second load tray  27  via the second processing section B 2 , or the third load tray  28  via the third processing section B 3 . 
     The first processing section B 1  is disposed on the downstream side of a path exit (path discharge opening  30 ) of the carry-in path  31 , performs binding processing on a sheet bunch obtained by collating and collecting sequentially fed sheets, and then, loads the bunch on the first load tray  26  to store. However, without performing binding processing on a bunch of collated and collected sheets in the first processing section B 1 , sheets may be loaded and stored on the first load tray  26 , or may be subjected to only an offset in the width direction described later to collect and store on the first load tray  26 . The second processing section B 2  is disposed in a path exit (sheet discharge opening)  37  of the second sheet discharge path  33  branched off from the carry-in path  31 , and after collating and collecting sequentially fed sheets to perform binding processing, performs folding processing to load and store on the second load tray  27 . The third processing section B 3  is disposed on the downstream side of the third sheet discharge path  32  branched off from the carry-in path, applies an offset to the transport sheet by a predetermined amount in the direction (orthogonal direction in this Embodiment) crossing the transport direction of the sheet to sort, and then, loads on the third load tray  28  to store. 
     Carry-In Path 
     The carry-in path  31  is comprised of a linear path extending in the approximately horizontal direction between the carry-in opening  29  and the path sheet discharge opening  30 . The carry-in path  31  is provided with a transport roller  38  for transporting a sheet toward the path sheet discharge opening  30  from the carry-in opening  29 , and sheet discharge roller  39  (comprised of a sheet discharge roller  39   a  disposed above and a sheet discharge roller  39   b  disposed below) provided in the exit end of the carry-in path  31  to discharge the transported sheet from the sheet discharge opening  30 , and these rollers are driven by a forward/backward rotation-capable drive motor (not shown). Further, in the vicinity of the carry-in opening  29  and the path sheet discharge opening  30  of the carry-in path  31  are provided an entrance sensor S 1  and exit sensor S 2  for detecting a front end and/or rear end of the sheet, respectively. The transport roller  38  may be provided in a plurality of portions along the carry-in path  31 . 
     To the above-mentioned carry-in path  31  are coupled the first sheet discharge path  34  and second sheet discharge path  33  so as to allocate and carry the sheet carried in from the carry-in opening  29  to the first processing section B 1  and the second processing section B 2 , the second processing section B 2  is coupled to the upstream side in the path sheet discharge direction via the second sheet discharge path  33 , and the first processing section B 1  is coupled to the downstream side via the first sheet discharge path  34 . The second sheet discharge path  33  is coupled to the carry-in path  31  so as to branch off from the carry-in path  31 , and guides the sheet from the carry-in opening  29  to the second processing section B 2  disposed on the downstream side thereof, and the first sheet discharge path  34  is coupled to the downstream side of the path sheet discharge opening  30  of the carry-in path  31 , and guides the sheet from the carry-in opening  29  to the first processing section B 1  disposed on the downstream side thereof. In the carry-in path  31 , the third sheet discharge path  32  for guiding a sheet, which does not undergo post-processing in the first processing section B 1  and the second processing section B 2 , to the third load tray  28  is coupled to the upstream side of the branch portion to the second sheet discharge path in the path sheet discharge direction, and the third processing section B 3  is coupled via the third sheet discharge path  32 . The third processing section B 3  performs jog sorting for offsetting the transport sheet in the direction orthogonal to the sheet discharge direction to sort, and the jog-sorted sheet is load and stored on the third load tray  28 . 
     The first path switch piece  35  and second path switch piece  36  are further provided respectively in branch portions from the carry-in path  31  to the third sheet discharge path  32  and the second sheet discharge path  33 , and are driven by actuation means (not shown) such as a solenoid. It is selected, by the first path switch piece  35 , whether to guide the sheet carried in from the carry-in opening  29  to the third sheet discharge  32 , or to the first sheet discharge path  34  or the second sheet discharge path  33 , and it is selected, by the second path switch piece  36 , whether to guide the sheet fed from the carry-in opening  29  to the second processing section B 2 , or to the first processing section B 1  on the downstream side thereof. 
     Further, on the carry-in path  30  is provided a post-processing unit  100  for performing post-processing such as stamping (stamping means) and punching (punching means) on a sheet. In the Embodiment shown in the figure, the post-processing unit  100  is disposed in the vicinity of the carry-in opening  29  of the carry-in path  31  to be attachable/detachable corresponding to apparatus specifications. 
     First Processing Section 
     The first processing section B 1  is provided with a processing tray  40  disposed on the downstream side of the carry-in path  30  to collate and collect sheets fed from the path sheet discharge opening  30 , and a binding processing mechanism for performing binding processing on a bunch of collected sheets. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the processing tray  40  is provided below the path sheet discharge opening  30  of the carry-in path  31  via a height difference, and between the path sheet discharge opening  30  and the processing tray  40  is formed the first sheet discharge path  34  for reversing the transport direction from the path discharge opening  30  and guiding the sheet onto the processing tray  40 . 
     Above the first sheet discharge path  34  is provided a sheet carry-in mechanism for carrying a sheet fed from the path sheet discharge opening  30  on the processing tray  40 , and the processing tray  40  is provided with a positioning mechanism to position the sheet in a predetermined binding position, and a sheet bunch carrying-out mechanism for carrying out a sheet bunch subjected to the binding processing to the first load tray  26  on the downstream side. The sheet carry-in mechanism, positioning mechanism, and sheet bunch carrying-out mechanism will be described later. In addition, in the Embodiment shown in the figure, the processing tray  40  bridge-supports the sheet fed from the path sheet discharge opening  30  with the first load tray  26  disposed on the downstream side. In other words, in the sheet fed from the path sheet discharge opening  30 , the front end portion thereof is supported on the uppermost sheet loaded on the first load tray  26  on the downstream side, while the rear end portion is supported on the processing tray  40 , and the sheet is supported to lie astride the first load tray  26  and the processing tray  40 . 
     Second Processing Section 
     The second sheet discharge path  33  is coupled to the carry-in path  31  so as to branch off from the carry-in path  31  on the upstream side of the first sheet discharge path  34 , and is configured to guide the sheet carried in from the carry-in opening  29  to the second processing section B 2  via the second sheet discharge path  33 . The second processing section B 2  collates sheets fed from the carry-in path  31  to collect, performs the binding processing in a center portion, and then, performs inward folding processing (hereinafter, described as “bookbinding finish”). The bookbinding finished-sheet bunch is loaded and stored on the second load tray  27  disposed on the downstream side of the second processing section B 2 . 
     The second processing section B 2  is provided with a guide member  41  for collecting sheets in the shape of a bunch, regulation stopper  42  for positioning the sheet in a predetermined position on the guide member  41 , a saddle stitch staple unit  43  for performing the binding processing (saddle stitch processing) in the center portion of sheets positioned by the regulation stopper  42 , and a folding processing mechanism for folding the sheet bunch in the center portion after the saddle stitch processing. 
     As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-184324, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-051644 and the like, the saddle stitch staple unit  43  adopts the mechanism for performing the saddle stitch processing, by shifting in position along the sheet center portion in a state of nipping the sheet bunch with a head unit and an anvil unit. Further, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the folding processing mechanism adopts a configuration for inserting the sheet bunch in a folding roller pair  44  in mutually press-contact by a folding blade  45 , and folding by rolling of the folding roller pair  44 . Such a mechanism is also disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-184324, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-051644 and the like. 
     The second load tray  27  is disposed on the downstream side of the second processing section B 2 , and it is configured that the sheet bunch folded in the shape of a book is sent out by a sheet discharge roller  46 , and is loaded and stored on the second load tray  27 . The second load tray  27  is disposed below the first load tray  26  in the side face in the sheet discharge direction of the apparatus housing  25 . 
     Third Processing Section 
     The third sheet discharge path  32  is coupled to the carry-in path  31  so as to branch off from the carry-in path  31  on the upstream side from the second sheet discharge path  33 , and is configured to guide a sheet carried in from the carry-in opening  29  to the third processing section B 3  via the third sheet discharge path  32 . The third processing section B 3  is provided with a roller shift mechanism (not shown) for offsetting the sheet fed from the carry-in path  31  by a predetermined amount in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction, and the sheet transported in the third sheet discharge path  32  is offset to a position in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the sheet so as to sort for each copy, and is loaded and stored on the third load tray  28  of the third processing section B 3 . Various mechanisms are known as such a jog sorting mechanism, and therefore, detailed descriptions thereof are omitted herein. In addition, the sheet loaded on the third load tray  28  may be offset in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction during transport in the carry-in path  31  or the third sheet discharge path  32 . 
     Manual Set Section 
     The main body housing  25  is provided with a manual set section  47  for inserting and setting a sheet bunch created outside to perform the binding processing. The manual set section  47  is used, for example, when an operator collates a bunch of original document sheets with images read to perform the binding processing, and is equipped with a mechanism for performing the binding processing on the sheet bunch set by the operator with an incorporated binding processing apparatus  57 . Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the manual set section  47  is comprised of a slit-shaped opening  47   a , sheet support surface  47   b , and regulation surface  47   c , and is configured so that a sheet bunch S is inserted in the slit-shaped opening  47   a  from the outside, and that the binding processing is performed on the sheet bunch S supported on the sheet support surface  47   b  with the binding processing apparatus  57  disposed inside the apparatus. In the Embodiment shown in the figure, the support surface  47   b  is disposed in a position adjacent to a paper mount surface  40   a  of the processing tray  40  in the same plane. This is because of shifting a staple unit  57   a  capable of shifting along an end edge of the processing tray  40  described later to the sheet support surface  47   b  provided in the position adjacent to the processing tray  40  to be able to perform the binding processing on the sheet bunch set on the sheet support surface  47   b  by the operator. 
     The sheet bunch S manually inserted from the slit-shaped opening  47   a  is inserted into a binding position along the sheet support surface  47   b , and the end face is struck and regulated by the regulation surface  47   c . By this means, in the sheet bunch S inserted from the outside, the undersurface thereof is supported by the sheet support surface  47   b , while the end face thereof is struck and regulated by the regulation surface  47   c , and the sheet bunch S is positioned in a predetermined binding position. Thereafter, the binding processing is performed on the sheet bunch S with the staple unit  57   a  shifted to the binding position. 
     A configuration of the first processing section B 1  will be described next in detail. 
     Details of the First Processing Section 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , as the sheet carry-in mechanism, between the path sheet discharge opening  30  and the processing tray  40  are disposed a reverse transport mechanism for performing switchback transport in the direction opposite to the sheet discharge direction of the sheet discharged from the path sheet discharge opening  30 , a guide mechanism for guiding the sheet to the processing tray  40  side, and a take-in rotating body  52  for guiding the sheet to a regulation member  55 . 
     The reverse transport mechanism is comprised of an up-and-down roller  48  which moves up and down between an operation position for engaging in a sheet carried onto the processing tray  40  and a waiting position for separating from the sheet, and a paddle rotating body  49  for shifting the sheet in the direction opposite to the sheet discharge direction, and the up-and-down roller  48  and paddle rotating body  49  are attached to a swing bracket  50 . 
     The swing bracket  50  is disposed in an apparatus frame to be swingable on a rotation shaft  39   x  (in the Embodiment shown in the figure, rotation shaft of the sheet discharge roller  39   a ) as the center, and rotation shafts of the up-and-down roller  48  and paddle rotating body  49  are bearing-supported by the swing bracket  50 . An up-and-down motor not shown is coupled to the swing bracket  50  to move up and down the supported up-and-down roller  48  and paddle rotating body  49  between the operation position for engaging in the sheet on the processing tray  40  and the waiting position for separating from the sheet on the processing tray  40 . 
     Further, a drive motor not shown is coupled to the up-and-down roller  48  and paddle rotating body  49 , and drive is conveyed so that the up-and-down roller  48  rotates in both directions of the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction in  FIG. 3  (the direction for feeding the sheet into the processing tray  40  and the direction for feeding the sheet out of the processing tray  40 ), and that the paddle rotating body  49  rotates in the counterclockwise direction in  FIG. 3  (the direction for feeding the sheet into the processing tray  40 ). Further, the processing tray  40  is provided with a driven roller  51  coming into mutually press-contact with the up-and-down roller  48 , and the up-and-down roller  48  and the driven roller  51  nip a sheet or a sheet bunch to transport to the downstream side. 
     On the processing tray  40 , the take-in rotating body  52  is further provided as the sheet carry-in mechanism for carrying a sheet in the processing tray  40 . In this Embodiment, the take-in rotating body  52  is comprised of a ring-shaped or short cylindrical belt member disposed rotatably above the processing tray  40 . The take-in rotating body  52  engages in a top surface of a sheet newly transported on the sheet in an uppermost position of a sheet bunch collected on the processing tray  40 , rotates in the counterclockwise direction shown in the figure, while pressing a front end of the sheet, and feeds the sheet into until the sheet comes into contact with the regulation member  55  described later. By this means, it is possible to resolve a curl and skew capable of occurring during transport on the processing tray  40  up to contact with the regulation member  55 . 
     Further, a sheet pressing member  53  is provided above the processing tray  40 . The sheet pressing member  53  is a plate-shaped member, a front end thereof is disposed to be positioned on opposite sides in the rotation shaft line direction of the take-in rotating body  52 , and the member  53  is attached to the rotation shaft of the sheet discharge roller  39   b  to be swingable by its own weight. Accordingly, the sheet pressing member  53  swings in the counterclockwise direction, as the number of loaded sheets on the processing tray  40  increases. 
     A guide member is provided between the up-and-down roller  48  and the take-in rotating body  52  to guide the sheet carried onto the processing tray  40  toward the regulation member  55 . In the Embodiment shown in the figure, the guide member is comprised of a sheet guide member  54  which moves up and down between a position shown by the dotted lines and a position shown by the solid line in  FIG. 3 . The sheet guide member  54  retracts to the position shown by the dotted lines when a sheet is discharged from the path sheet discharge opening  30 , and after a rear end of the discharged sheet passes through the path sheet discharge opening  30 , moves down to the position shown by the solid line to guide the sheet onto the processing tray  40 . 
     The processing tray  40  has the paper mount surface  40   a , is provided with the regulation member  55  for striking and regulating the front end portion (end portion on the right side in the figure) of the sheet carried in the processing tray  40  and a pair of side edge alignment plates  56  ( 56 F,  56 R) for coming into contact with opposite side edges in the width direction (direction orthogonal to the carry-in and discharge directions) of the sheet to position in a position of reference (center reference, one-side side reference), as a positioning mechanism for positioning a sheet in a predetermined position on the paper mount surface  40   a , and is further provided with the binding processing apparatus  57  for performing the binding processing on a sheet bunch loaded on the paper mount surface  40   a.    
     The regulation member  55  is configured to be able to reciprocate in the sheet discharge direction along the processing tray  40 , so as to perform the function of carrying out the sheet bunch subjected to the binding processing toward the first load tray  26  disposed on the downstream side of the processing tray  40 . In other words, the regulation member  55  functions as a sheet bunch carrying-out mechanism. In the Embodiment shown in the figure, a mechanism for causing the regulation member  55  to reciprocate is comprised of a conveyor belt  55   v  with the regulation member  55  attached thereto, and a drive motor M for driving the conveyor belt  55   v , as shown in  FIGS. 5A to 5C . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the side edge alignment plate  56 F disposed on the apparatus front side (side facing an operator) and side edge alignment plate  56 R disposed on the apparatus rear side (farther side from the operator) have respective regulation surfaces  56   x  for engaging in side edges of the sheet, and are disposed so that the respective regulation surfaces  56   x  are opposed to each other. Such a pair of side edge alignment plates  56  is disposed in the processing tray  40  to be able to reciprocate in a predetermined stroke. The stroke of the side edge alignment plates  56  is set corresponding to a difference in size between the maximum-size sheet and the minimum-size sheet, and an offset amount for position-shifting (offset-transporting) in the width direction (direction orthogonal to the carry-in direction and discharge direction) of the sheet bunch subsequent to alignment. In addition, an offset shift of the side edge alignment plates  56 F,  56 R is to shift sheets loaded in the center reference in corner binding to the right side in right corner binding, or to the left side in left corner binding, by a predetermined amount. This offset shift adopts one of a scheme for executing on a sheet-by-sheet basis whenever a sheet is carried in the processing tray  40 , and a scheme for shifting for each bunch to perform the binding processing after aligning sheets in the shape of a bunch. In addition, penetrating slit grooves (not shown) are provided in the processing tray  40 , and are disposed so that the side edge alignment plates  56 F,  56 R having the regulation surfaces  56   x  for engaging in sheet side edges penetrate the slit grooves, and protrude from the paper mount surface  40   a  of the processing tray  40  to extend. 
     Each of the side edge alignment plates  56 F,  56 R is formed integrally with a rack  59  supported slidably by a plurality of guide rollers  58  (which may be a rail member) on the back side (side opposite to the paper mount surface  40   a ) of the processing tray  40 . Each rack  59  is coupled to an alignment motor M 1  via a pinion  60 . For example, the alignment motor M 1  is comprised of a stepping motor, and is configured so as to detect a position of each of the side edge alignment plates  56 F,  56 R with a position sensor not shown, and using the detection value as the reference, enable each of the side edge alignment plates  56 F,  56 R to shift in the width direction by a designated shift amount. In addition, it is also possible to adopt mechanisms except the rack-pinion mechanism shown in the figure, for example, a mechanism where the side edge alignment plates  56 F,  56 R are fixed to a timing belt, and the timing belt is caused to reciprocate by a motor via a pulley. 
     The side edge alignment plates  56  of such a configuration wait in predetermined waiting positions (positions of the width of a sheet+α) based on sheet size information provided from the image forming apparatus A and the like, and in “multi-binding”, start alignment operation at timing at which the sheet is carried onto the processing tray  40 , and the sheet end strikes the regulation member  55 . In alignment operation in this case, a pair of side edge alignment plates  56 F,  56 R moves in directions (approaching direction) opposite to each other by the same amount. By this means, the sheet carried in the processing tray  40  is positioned with the sheet center as the reference. By repeating such carry-in operation and alignment operation of the sheet, sheets are collated and loaded on the processing tray  40  in the shape of a bunch. At this point, sheets of different sizes are positioned in the center reference. Also in “corner binding”, similarly, the plates start alignment operation at timing at which the sheet is carried onto the processing tray  40 , and the sheet end strikes the regulation member  55 . In alignment operation in this case, shift amounts are made different between the side edge alignment plate  56 F or  56 R on the binding position side, and the side edge alignment plate  56 R or  56 F on the side opposite to the binding position, and the shift amount is set so that the sheet corner is positioned in the beforehand determined binding position. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the binding processing apparatus  57  is comprised of the first binding processing unit (hereinafter, described the staple unit)  57   a  for staple-binding a sheet bunch with a staple, and a second binding processing unit (hereinafter, described as an eco-binding unit)  57   b  for binding without a staple, and is configured to be disposed in a binding position selectively. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the staple unit  57   a  and eco-binding unit  57   b  are capable of shifting along the end portion of the processing tray  40  on the regulation member  55  side. Structures of the staple unit  57   a  for performing staple-binding and eco-binding unit  57   b  for performing non-staple-binding are known, and are not limited particularly, and therefore, detailed descriptions thereof are omitted herein. 
     Herein, referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , descriptions will be given to the relationship between each binding position and the alignment position, and shift to each binding position of the staple unit  57   a  and eco-binding unit  57   b.    
     In this Embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 7 , set are “multi-binding positions Ma 1 , Ma 2 ” to perform the binding processing in a plurality of portions of a sheet bunch with staples by the staple unit  57   a , “corner binding positions Cp 1 , Cp 2 ” to perform bunch binding processing in a corner of a sheet bunch by the staple unit  57   a , “manual binding position Mp” to perform the binding processing on a manually set sheet bunch by the staple unit  57   a , “eco-binding position Ep” to perform non-staple-binding on a corner of a sheet bunch by the eco-binding unit  57   b , a waiting position Wp 1  of the staple unit  57   a , and a waiting position Wp 2  of the eco-binding unit  57   b.    
     In the multi-binding processing, the binding processing is performed on the end edge of the sheet bunch, which is positioned and aligned by the regulation member  55  and a pair of side edge alignment plates  56  on the processing tray  40 , by the staple unit  57   a , and as binding positions of two portions, the binding positions Ma 1 , Ma 2  are set along the end edge of the paper mount surface  40   a . In the Embodiment shown in the figure, the binding processing is performed in two portions of the side edge, but the binding processing may be performed in three or more portions. In the corner binding processing, the binding processing is performed on a right corner or a left corner of the sheet bunch collected and aligned on the processing tray  40  by the staple unit  57   a , and set are the right corner binding position Cp 1  to perform the binding processing on the right corner, and the left corner binding position Cp 2  to perform the binding processing on the left corner. In manual binding processing, the binding processing is performed on the sheet bunch supported on the sheet support surface  47   b  of the manual set section  47  by the staple unit  57   a , and in the Embodiment shown in the figure, the manual binding position Mp is set in a region on the apparatus front side. In eco-binding processing, the binding processing is performed on a corner of a side edge portion of the sheet bunch collected and aligned on the processing tray  40  by the eco-binding unit  57   b , and in the Embodiment shown in the figure, the eco-binding position Ep is set in a region on the apparatus rear end. 
     The staple unit  57   a  is provided with a first rolling roller  63  and second rolling roller  64 , the first rolling roller  63  and second rolling roller  64  are respectively engaged in a first travel rail  65  and second travel rail  66  formed in an apparatus frame  62  fixed to side frames  61 F,  61 R, while penetrating an opening portion (not shown) provided in the side frame  61 F on the apparatus front side, and it is thereby configured that the staple unit  57   a  is capable of shifting between the waiting position Wp 1  and the corner binding position Cp 1  in a stroke SL 1  along the first travel rail  65  and second travel rail  66 . Further, the eco-binding unit  57   b  is capable of shifting between the waiting position Wp 2  and the eco-binding position Ep in a stoke SL 2  along a guide rod  67  disposed in the apparatus frame (not shown). 
     Neat Alignment Apparatus 
     The sheet processing apparatus B is further provided with a neat alignment apparatus  68  to align sheets on the load tray. In the Embodiment shown in the figure, the neat alignment apparatus  68  is disposed between the first load tray  26  and the third load tray  28 , and aligns the sheet bunch, which passes through a discharge opening  69  formed between the up-and-down roller  48  and the driven roller  51  and is discharged onto the first load tray  26  from the processing tray  40 , to a beforehand determined position. In addition, since the paper mount surface  40   a  of the processing tray  40  and the sheet support surface  47   b  of the manual set section  47  are formed to be positioned in the same plane, the discharge opening  67  is positioned to be adjacent to, in the width direction (direction orthogonal to the discharge direction of the sheet), a manual feed opening  70  formed on the side face of the main body housing  25  by the slit-shaped opening  47  of the manual set section  47 . 
     A detailed structure of the neat alignment apparatus  68  will be described below. In the following description, “front side” means the side on which the manual set section  47  is provided in the main body housing, and “rear side” means the side opposite to the front side in the sheet discharge direction. 
     The neat alignment apparatus  68  is provided with a neat housing  71 , a neat shaft member  72  supported by the neat housing  71  rotatably to extend in the direction (hereinafter, described as the width direction) orthogonal to the discharge direction of the sheet discharged from the discharge opening  69 , a pair of neat alignment plates  73  ( 73 F,  73 R) supported by the neat shaft member  72 , a paddle apparatus  74  supported by the neat shaft member  72 , and a neat control circuit  75  stored inside the neat housing  71 . The neat housing  71  is attached above the discharge opening  69  on the side face of the main body housing  25  in the sheet discharge direction. Further, the neat housing  71  has a mechanism storage portion  71   b  and control circuit storage portion  71   c  partitioned by a partition wall  71   a , and the neat control circuit  75  is stored in the control circuit storage portion  71   c . In the neat shaft member  72 , one end portion is supported by the partition wall  71   a , and the other end portion is supported by a shaft support portion  71   d  rotatably. 
     A pair of neat alignment plates  73  is supported to be able to shift along the neat shaft member  72  and to rotate around the neat shaft member  72 , is driven to shift along the neat shaft member  72  by a width-direction drive mechanism  76 , and is rotated around the neat shaft member  72  between retract positions and operation positions by a rotation drive mechanism  77 . In addition, operation of the width-direction drive mechanism  76  and rotation drive mechanism  77  is controlled by a neat alignment control section comprised of the neat control circuit  75 , instead of a post-processing control section  81  of the sheet processing apparatus B described later. 
     In this Embodiment, the width-direction drive mechanism  76  to shift each neat alignment plate  73  along the neat shaft member  72  is comprised of a shift block  76   a  which each neat alignment plate  73  is attached to and which is supported by the neat shaft member  72  slidably along the neat shaft member  72 , a width-direction drive motor (not shown) disposed inside the mechanism storage portion  71   b  of the neat housing  71 , and a drive belt  76   b  which the shift block  76   a  is fixed to and which shifts in the neat shaft direction by the width-direction drive motor, where the shift block  76   a  is guided and shifts along the neat shaft member  72  in association with a shift of the drive belt  76   b  by the width-direction drive motor, and the mechanism  76  thereby shifts the neat alignment plate  73  along the neat shaft member  72 . However, the configuration of the width-direction drive mechanism  76  is not limited, as long as the mechanism is capable of shifting a pair of neat alignment plates  73  along the neat shaft member  72 , and it is also possible to adopt other configurations. 
     A pair of neat alignment plates  73  shifts from receive preparation positions where the pair of alignment plates are disposed at an interval wider than a width of a sheet bunch discharged from the discharge opening  69 , to alignment positions in directions of approaching each other along the neat shaft member  72  by the width-direction drive mechanism  76 , strikes side edges in the width direction (direction orthogonal to the discharge direction of the sheet) so as to nip the sheets to be placed on the first load tray  26 , and thereby aligns the sheet bunch in the beforehand determined position on the first load tray  26 . 
     Further, in this Embodiment, the rotation drive mechanism  77  to rotate each neat alignment plate  73  around the neat shaft member  72  is comprised of a pair of fixed blocks  77   a ,  77   a  fixed to the neat shaft member  72  incapable of rotating, a parallel shaft member  77   b  which extends between the pair of fixed blocks  77   a ,  77   a  parallel with the neat shaft member  72 , while penetrating the shift block  76   a , and a rotation motor  77   c  that drives rotation of the neat shaft member  72 . The rotation motor  77   c  is stored inside the control circuit storage portion  71   c  in a state of fixing to the partition wall  71   a  of the neat housing  71 . When the neat shaft member  72  is rotated by the rotation motor  77   c , the pair of fixed blocks  77   a  rotates on the neat shaft member  72 , the parallel shaft member  77   b  supported between the fixed blocks  77   a ,  77   a  rotates around the neat shaft member  72 . By this means, the shift block  76   a  which the parallel shaft member  77   b  penetrates rotates on the neat shaft member  72 , and it is possible to rotate the neat alignment plate  73  attached to the shift bock  76   a  around the neat shaft member  72 . However, the configuration of the rotation drive mechanism  77  is not limited, as long as the mechanism enables the pair of neat alignment plates  73  to rotate around the neat shaft member  72 , and it is also possible to adopt other configurations. 
     The pair of neat alignment plates  73  is rotated from retract positions, which are separated and positioned from/above the sheet bunch placed on the first load tray  26 , toward the first load tray  26  around the neat shaft member  72  by the rotation drive mechanism  77 , moves down to height positions (operation positions) of the side edges in the width direction of the sheet bunch placed on the first load tray  26 , and is thereby capable of coming into contact with the side edges in the width direction of the sheet bunch placed on the first load tray  26  to perform alignment operation. 
     In addition, since the shift block  76   a  with each neat alignment plate  73  attached thereto is disposed between the pair of fixed blocks  77   a ,  77   b  on the neat shaft member  72 , a movable range of the neat alignment plate  73  along the neat shaft member  72  is regulated by arrangement positions and interval of the pair of fixed blocks  77   a ,  77   a . Accordingly, the positions of the pair of fixed blocks  77   a ,  77   a  are set, in consideration of the maximum width and minimum width of sheet bunches discharged from the discharge opening  69  and the beforehand determined alignment position on the first load tray  26 . For example, in the case of the setting for offsetting the sheet bunch discharged from the discharge opening  69  in the center reference to the front side or the rear side by a predetermined amount by the pair of near alignment plates  73 F,  73 R, in the neat alignment plate  73 R on the rear side, the rear-side limit position is set to be able to shift to the rear side farther than the rear-side edge of the sheet bunch of the maximum width in offsetting to the rear side, and the front-side limit position is set to be able to shift to a position of the rear-side edge of the sheet bunch of the minimum width in offsetting to the front side. Further, in the neat alignment plate  73 F on the front side, the front-side limit position is set to be able to shift to the front side farther than the front-side end edge of the sheet bunch of the maximum width in offsetting to the front side, and the rear-side limit position is set to be able to shift to a position of the side edge on the front side of the sheet bunch of the minimum width in offsetting to the rear side. 
     While meeting the above-mentioned conditions, it is preferable that the front-side limit position of the neat alignment plate  73 F on the front side is set so that the front-side neat alignment plate  73 F disposed in the front-side limit position does not block the manual feed opening  70  i.e. the movable range of the neat alignment plate  73  is set to be on the discharge opening side rather than the manual feed opening  70 . By thus setting the front-side limit position and movable range of the neat alignment plate  73 F on the front side, it is possible to prevent the neat alignment plate  73  from interfering with insertion of a sheet bunch into the manual feed opening  70 . Moreover, it is further preferable that the front-side limit position of the neat alignment plate  73 F on the front side is set so that the surface on the front side of the front-side neat alignment plate  73 F disposed in the front-side limit position is disposed in the rear-side end edge of the manual feed opening  70  to function as a regulation member to the manual feed opening  70 , which will be described later using  FIGS. 10 to 12 . 
     In addition, in this Embodiment, the case is described where the pair of fixed blocks  77   a  functions as a regulation section to limit the movable range of the neat alignment plate  73 , but as a different Embodiment, the movable range and front-side limit position may be controlled, and it is also possible to set the movable range and front-side limit position, using the number of clocks and operation time of the stepping motor used in the width-direction drive mechanism  76 , and rotation pulse signals by an encoder. 
     The paddle apparatus  74  is comprised of a paddle support member  74   a  supported by the neat shaft member  72  rotatably, a wing-shaped paddle member  74   b  which is comprised of an elastic material and is supported by the paddle support member  74   a  rotatably, a paddle rotation drive mechanism  78  for rotation-driving the paddle member  74   b , and a paddle up-and-down mechanism  79  for rotating the paddle member  74   b  around the neat shaft member  72  to move up and down. By the paddle up-and-down mechanism  79 , the paddle apparatus  74  rotates around the neat shaft member  72  between an operation position shown by the solid line in  FIG. 8  for enabling the paddle member  74   b  to contact the sheet bunch discharged from the discharge opening  69  and a waiting position shown by the dotted lines in  FIG. 8  positioned above the operation position to disable the paddle member  74   b  to contact the sheet bunch discharged from the discharge opening  69 . 
     In this Embodiment, the paddle rotation drive mechanism  78  to drive rotation of the paddle member  74   b  is comprised of a paddle drive shaft  78   a  supported rotatably inside the neat housing  71 , a paddle rotation drive motor  79  which is stored inside the control circuit storage section  71   c  in a state of being fixed to the partition wall  71   a  of the neat housing  71  and which drives rotation of the paddle drive shaft  78   a , and an intermediate rotating body  78   c  supported by the neat shaft member  72  rotatably, conveys rotation between the paddle drive shaft  78   a  and the intermediate rotating body  78   c  and between the intermediate rotating body  78   c  and the paddle member  74   b  via belts  78   d ,  78   e , and thereby rotates the paddle member  74   b . However, the configuration of the paddle rotation drive mechanism  78  is not limited, as long as the mechanism is capable of rotating the paddle member  74   b , and it is also possible to adopt other configurations. 
     Further, in this Embodiment, the paddle up-and-down mechanism  79  to rotate the paddle member  74   b  around the neat shaft member  72  is comprised of a paddle swing shaft  79   a  supported by the neat housing  71  rotatably, a paddle swing drive motor  79   b  for rotating the paddle swing shaft  79   a , and an intermediate swing body  79   c  which is supported by the neat shaft member  72  swingably and is coupled to the paddle support member  74 , conveys rotation between the paddle swing shaft  79   a  and the intermediate swing body  79   c  via a belt  79   d , thereby rotates the intermediate swing member  79   c  around the neat shaft member  72 , and rotates the paddle support member  74   a  coupled to the intermediate swing body  79   c  around the neat shaft member  72 . In association with rotation of the paddle support member  74   a , the paddle member  74   b  supported rotatably by the paddle support member  74   a  between the waiting position and the operation position is swung around the neat shaft member  72  between the waiting position and the operation position. However, the configuration of the paddle up-and-down mechanism is not limited, as long as the mechanism is capable of moving the paddle member  74   b  up and down, and it is also possible to adopt other configurations. 
     When the sheet bunch is discharged from the discharge opening  69 , the paddle apparatus  74  moves down from the waiting position to the operation position to rotate the paddle member, thereby scrapes the sheet bunch discharged from the discharge opening  69  toward the first load tray  26  disposed below the discharge opening  69  with the paddle member  74   b , and performs the function of reliably placing on the first load tray  26 . 
     Control Configuration 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , descriptions will be given to a control configuration of the image forming system shown in  FIG. 1 . The image forming system is provided with a control section (hereinafter, described as “main body control section”)  80  of the image forming apparatus A, and a control section (hereinafter, described as “post-processing control section”)  81  of the sheet processing apparatus B. The main body control section  81  includes an image formation control section  82 , paper feed control section  83 , and input section (control panel)  84 . 
     Settings of “image formation mode” and “post-processing mode” are made from the control panel  84 . The image formation mode is to make mode settings of color ⋅ monochrome printing, two-side ⋅ one side printing and the like, and to set image formation conditions of sheet size, sheet paper quality, the number of printout copies, scaling printing and the like. Further, for example, the “post-processing mode” is set for “printout mode”, “staple binding processing mode” and “eco-binding processing mode” that are types of “binding processing mode”, “bookbinding finish processing mode”, “jog sorting mode” or the like. In addition, the image forming apparatus A shown in the figure is provided with “manual binding mode”, and when this mode is selected, binding processing operation of a sheet bunch is executed offline independently of the main body control section  80  of the image forming apparatus A. The image formation control section  82  controls operation of the image forming section  3 , and the paper feed control section  83  controls operation of feeding paper from the paper feed section  2  to the image forming section  3 . 
     Further, the main body control section  80  transmits data of the selected post-processing mode information, the number of sheets, number-of-copy information, paper thickness information of sheets undergoing image formation, and the like to the post-processing control section  81 . Furthermore, the main body control section  80  transmits a job end signal to the post-processing control section  81  whenever image formation is finished. 
     The above-mentioned post-processing mode will be described in detail. When the above-mentioned “printout mode” is selected, a sheet from the path sheet discharge opening  30  is loaded and stored on the first load tray  26  via the processing tray  40 , without performing the binding processing. In this case, sheets are stacked and collected on the processing tray  40 , and a bunch of collected sheets is discharged to the first load tray  26  with a jog end signal from the main body control section  80 . Further, it is also possible to offset in the width direction via the third processing section B 3  to perform jog sorting, and discharge to the third load tray  28 . 
     The “staple binding processing mode” is to collect sheets discharged from the path sheet discharge opening  30  on the processing tray  40  to collate, performs staple-binding on a bunch of collated sheets, and then, loads on the first load tray  26  to store. In this case, in principle, sheets of the same paper thickness and the same size are designated as sheets undergoing image formation by an operator. In this staple binding processing mode, one of “multi-binding”, “right corner binding” and “left corner binding” is selected and designated. Each binding position is as described previously. 
     The “jog sorting mode” is to sort sheets with images formed in the image forming apparatus A into groups to offset and collect, and groups to collect without offsetting, and the offset sheet bunch and the non-offset sheet bunch are stacked alternately on the first processing tray  26 . 
     Corresponding to the setting, alignment by the neat alignment apparatus  73  is performed on sheets or sheet bunches loaded on the first load tray  26 . Further, also in alignment by the neat alignment apparatus  73 , simple alignment to the center reference position and jog sorting alignment is performed. 
     Next, as one example of alignment operation by the neat alignment apparatus  68 , operation of the neat alignment apparatus will be described in the case of aligning a sheet bunch discharged from the discharge opening  69  to the center reference position by the neat alignment apparatus  73 . When the binding processing is performed on a sheet bunch by the staple binding unit  57   a  or eco-binding unit  57   b  on the processing tray  40 , in the position at the time of the binding processing on the processing tray  40  without any change, or after aligning to the center reference position by the a pair of side edge alignment plates  56 , the sheet bunch is discharged from the processing tray  40  to the first load tray  26  via the discharge opening  69 . Prior to discharge of the sheet or sheet bunch from the discharge opening  69  to the first load tray  26 , the neat control circuit  75  receives the position setting information and sheet size information of the sheet or sheet bunch discharged from the discharge opening  69  from the post-processing control section  81 , moves down the pair of neat alignment plates  73  from the retract positions to the first load tray  26  by the rotation drive mechanism  77 , while shifting the pair of neat alignment plates  73 , along the neat shaft member  72 , to the receive preparation positions disposed at the interval of sheet width+α with the center in the width direction of the sheet or sheet bunch discharged from the discharge opening  69  as the reference. At the same time, the neat control circuit  75  moves down the paddle apparatus  74  from the waiting position to the operation position by the paddle up-and-down mechanism  79 , and rotates the paddle member  74   b  by the paddle rotation drive mechanism  78 . Further, when the sheet or sheet bunch discharged from the discharge opening  69  is scraped off to the first load tray  26  by the paddle member  74   b  and is placed on the first load tray  26 , the neat control circuit  75  shifts the pair of neat alignment plates  73  to the alignment position in the direction of approaching each other by the width-direction drive mechanism  76  to strike the side edges in the width direction of the sheet or sheet bunch, and aligns the sheet or sheet bunch to a predetermined position. When alignment operation is completed, the neat alignment plate  73  is returned to the retract position to receive the next sheet by the rotation drive mechanism  77 , and the paddle apparatus  74  is also moved up to the waiting position. Thus, alignment operation is performed on the first load tray  26 . 
     In addition, also in the case where the movable range of the neat alignment plate  73 F on the front side of the pair of neat alignment plates  73  is set to overlap with the manual feed opening  70 , at least under the mode for allowing an operator to insert a sheet bunch in the manual feed opening  70 , the neat control circuit  75  sets the front-side limit position of the movable range to be on the rear side than the manual feed opening  70 . By this means, it is possible to prevent the neat alignment plate  73 F from interfering with insertion of the sheet bunch in the manual feed opening  70 . Further, under the mode for allowing an operator to insert a sheet bunch in the manual feed opening  70 , with respect to the front-side limit position of the movable range of the neat alignment plate  73 F on the front side, as shown in  FIG. 10 , it is preferable that the neat control circuit  75  shifts the neat alignment plate  73 F on the front side so that the surface on the front side of the front-side neat alignment plate  73 F disposed in the front-side limit position is disposed in the vicinity and parallel of/with the rear-side end edge of the manual feed opening  70 . By this means, since the surface on the front side of the neat alignment plate  73 F on the front side functions as a guide of the sheet inserted in the manual feed opening  70 , in manually feeding large-size sheets and sheets of low stiffness to bind, the guided area is increased to prevent the binding position and binding angle from being significantly displaced, and it is possible to improve operability. Further, the sheet inserted in the manual feed opening  70  is prevented from accidentally contacting already loaded sheets on the load tray  26 , and it is thereby possible to prevent alignment properties from being disturbed or the offset sorted state from being in disorder. Furthermore, since the surface on the front side of the front-side neat alignment plate  73 F is disposed parallel with the rear-side end edge of the manual feed opening  70 , it is possible to make a sign to bind in a correct binding position in manually feeding the sheet by a visual check. 
     In addition, a rotation position to which the neat alignment plate  73 F is shifted by the rotation drive mechanism  77  in guiding in the front-side limit position may be the retract position, or may be the operation position. 
       FIG. 11A  illustrates a state in which the neat alignment plate  73 F is positioned in the retract position in the front-side limit position, and  FIG. 11B  illustrates a state in which a sheet is inserted in the manual feed opening  70 . In the state in which the neat alignment plate  73 F is in the waiting position, the state is a suitable state for guiding the sheet S inserted in an extension of the manual feed opening  70 . 
       FIG. 12A  illustrates a state in which the neat alignment plate  73 F is positioned in the operation position in the front-side limit position, and  FIG. 12B  illustrates a state in which a sheet is inserted in the manual feed opening  70 . In the state in which the neat alignment plate  73 F is in the operation position, since the position relationship is made so as to protect an already loaded sheet bunch ST loaded on the load tray  26 , the sheet S hardly contacts the already loaded sheet bunch ST, and such a state is an effective state in the case of placing importance on alignment properties of sheets on the load tray  26 . 
     Further, since the neat alignment apparatus  68  is provided with the neat control circuit  75 , it is possible to control operation of the neat alignment apparatus  68 , only by receiving, from the main body control section  80 , the position setting and sheet size information of the sheet discharged from the processing tray  40 . Accordingly, also in the case where attachment of the neat alignment apparatus  68  is made option, without performing changes in the control program of the main body control section  80  and changes in structural design, only by performing signal wiring between the main body control section  80  and the neat control circuit  75 , it is possible to attach the neat alignment apparatus  68 , and additional installation is made ease. 
     As described above, by referring to the Embodiment shown in the figure, the sheet processing apparatus and the image forming system provided with the apparatus of the present invention are described, but the invention is not limited to the Embodiment shown in the figure. For example, in the Embodiment shown in the figure, the neat alignment apparatus  68  is installed above the first load tray  26 , and it is also possible to provide the neat alignment apparatus  68  above another load tray.