Patent Publication Number: US-11649134-B1

Title: Sheet post-processing apparatus

Description:
FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein relate generally to a sheet post-processing apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A sheet post-processing apparatus performs post-processing on a sheet transported from an image forming apparatus (for example, an MFP). For example, the sheet post-processing apparatus includes a folding mechanism for bundling a plurality of sheets and folding the sheets in half. When a sheet jam occurs in the sheet post-processing apparatus, a user pulls out a frame. The user opens a part of a sheet transport path by pulling out the frame, and removes a jammed sheet. 
     However, an operation of removing the sheet may not be easily performed in the sheet post-processing apparatus. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a diagram showing an example of an image forming system according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  2    is a block diagram showing a configuration of the image forming system according to the embodiment; 
         FIG.  3    is a configuration diagram of a sheet post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment; 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment; 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective view of a part of the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment; 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of a part of the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment; 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view of a matching member and a support member; 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective view of the matching member and the support member; 
         FIG.  9    is a perspective view of a part of the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment; 
         FIG.  10    is a perspective view of the part of the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment; 
         FIG.  11    is a configuration diagram of a part of the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment; 
         FIG.  12    is a configuration diagram of an example of the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment; and 
         FIG.  13    is a configuration diagram of another example of a folding mechanism. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     According to one embodiment, a sheet post-processing apparatus includes a guide member, a matching member, a post-processing mechanism, a support member, and a drive unit. The guide member has a loading surface on which a sheet is loaded in a standing state. The matching member supports a lower end of the sheet loaded on the guide member in a free raising and lowering manner. The post-processing mechanism performs post-processing on the sheet. The support member supports the matching member. The drive unit raises and lowers the support member. The matching member is configured to be raised and lowered with respect to the support member. 
     Hereinafter, the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. 
       FIG.  1    is a diagram showing an example of an image forming system  1  according to the embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , the image forming system  1  includes an image forming apparatus  2  and a sheet post-processing apparatus  3 . The sheet post-processing apparatus  3  is simply referred to as a “post-processing apparatus  3 ”. For example, the image forming apparatus  2  is disposed in a workplace. 
     The image forming apparatus  2  forms an image on a sheet-shaped recording medium such as paper. The recording medium is referred to as “sheet S”. For example, the image forming apparatus  2  is a multi-function peripherals (MFP) which is a multifunction device, a printer, a copier, or the like. The post-processing apparatus  3  performs the post-processing on the sheet S transported from the image forming apparatus  2 . The sheet S is not limited to paper, and includes a plastic sheet such as an overhead projector (OHP) sheet. The sheet S may be supplied from the image forming apparatus  2  to the post-processing apparatus  3  or may be manually supplied to the post-processing apparatus  3 . 
       FIG.  2    is a block diagram showing a configuration of the image forming system  1  according to the embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   , the image forming apparatus  2  includes a control panel  11 , a scanner  12 , a printer  13 , a sheet supply unit  14 , a sheet discharge unit  15 , and an image formation control unit  16 . 
     The control panel  11  includes various keys, a touch panel, and the like that receive an operation by a user. For example, the control panel  11  receives an input related to a type of the post-processing on the sheet S. The image forming apparatus  2  transmits information related to the type of the post-processing to the post-processing apparatus  3 . 
     The scanner  12  includes a reading unit that reads image information of an object to be copied. The scanner  12  transmits the read image information to the printer  13 . 
     The printer  13  forms an output image by a developer such as toner based on the image information transmitted from the scanner  12  or an external device. The output image is a “toner image”. The printer  13  transfers the toner image onto a surface of the sheet S. The printer  13  applies heat and a pressure to the toner image transferred onto the sheet S to fix the toner image on the sheet S. 
     The sheet supply unit  14  supplies the sheet S to the printer  13  one by one in accordance with a timing when the printer  13  forms the toner image. 
     The sheet discharge unit  15  transports the sheet S discharged from the printer  13  to the post-processing apparatus  3 . 
     The image formation control unit  16  controls an overall operation of the image forming apparatus  2 . The image formation control unit  16  controls the control panel  11 , the scanner  12 , the printer  13 , the sheet supply unit  14 , and the sheet discharge unit  15 . The image formation control unit  16  includes a control circuit including a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), and a random access memory (RAM). 
     Next, the post-processing apparatus  3  will be described. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , the post-processing apparatus  3  is adjacent to the image forming apparatus  2 . The image forming apparatus  2  transports the sheet S to the post-processing apparatus  3 . The post-processing apparatus  3  executes the post-processing specified via the control panel  11  on the transported sheet S. For example, the post-processing apparatus  3  performs sheet folding of folding the sheet in half for discharging. For example, the post-processing apparatus  3  may perform stapling and sorting. 
     The post-processing apparatus  3  includes a carry-in unit  20 , a standby unit  21 , a processing unit  22 , a discharge unit  23 , a post-processing control unit  24  (control unit), a folding mechanism  40  (see  FIG.  3   ), a stacker  50  (see  FIG.  3   ), a drive mechanism  60  (see  FIG.  3   ), a frame  70 , a staple unit  80  (see  FIG.  3   ), a pair of discharge rollers  44 , and a sheet discharge tray  46 . 
     The carry-in unit  20  is connected to a downstream side in a transport direction of the sheet discharge unit  15 . The carry-in unit  20  receives the sheet S transported from the image forming apparatus  2 . 
     The standby unit  21  temporarily retains the sheet S transported from the image forming apparatus  2 . The standby unit  21  is located above the processing unit  22 . When the processing unit  22  is empty, the standby unit  21  causes the retained sheet S to fall down toward the processing unit  22 . 
     The processing unit  22  performs the post-processing on the transported sheet S. For example, the processing unit  22  performs the sorting of aligning and matching a plurality of sheets S. For example, the processing unit  22  performs sheet binding by a staple or an adhesive tape on a sheet bundle in which the plurality of sheets S are aligned. In the figure, a reference numeral  25  denotes a sheet binding device that performs binding by a staple or the like on the sheet bundle in the processing unit  22 . The processing unit  22  discharges the sheet S subjected to the post-processing to the discharge unit  23 . 
     The discharge unit  23  includes a fixed tray  27  and a movable tray  28 . The fixed tray  27  is located on an upper portion of the post-processing apparatus  3 . The movable tray  28  is located on a side portion of the post-processing apparatus  3 . The sheet S is discharged to the fixed tray  27  and the movable tray  28 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   , the post-processing control unit  24  controls an overall operation of the post-processing apparatus  3 . That is, the post-processing control unit  24  controls operations of the carry-in unit  20 , the standby unit  21 , the processing unit  22 , the discharge unit  23 , and the folding mechanism  40 . Similar to the image formation control unit  16 , the post-processing control unit  24  includes a control circuit including a CPU, an ROM, and an RAM. 
       FIG.  3    is a configuration diagram of the post-processing apparatus  3 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  3   , the folding mechanism  40  folds one or a plurality of sheets S in half. In the present embodiment, a sheet bundle SS implemented by a plurality of sheets S is folded in half. For example, the number of the sheets S forming the sheet bundle SS is 2 to 30. A direction along a transport path of the sheet S supplied to the folding mechanism  40  is a sheet transport direction D. The sheet transport direction D is also simply referred to as a “transport direction”. A direction perpendicular to a paper surface of  FIG.  3    is a sheet width direction. The folding mechanism  40  is an example of the post-processing mechanism. 
     The folding mechanism  40  includes a pair of folding rollers  41  and a blade  43 . 
     The pair of folding rollers  41  is generally located at positions facing a surface of a guide member  51  opposite to a loading surface  51   a . The pair of folding rollers  41  form a nip portion  42 . For example, the folding rollers  41  are rubber rollers. One of the pair of folding rollers  41  is a drive roller. The other of the pair of folding rollers  41  is a driven roller. 
     The sheet bundle SS is sandwiched in the nip portion  42  of the folding rollers  41  by the blade  43 . The folding rollers  41  fold the sheet bundle SS inserted into the nip portion  42  in half, and send the sheet bundle SS that is folded in half to the downstream side. 
     The blade  43  is a plate-shaped member. The blade  43  is located at a position facing the nip portion  42  of the folding rollers  41 . The blade  43  has a length in a direction orthogonal to the loading surface  51   a  of the guide member  51 . 
     The blade  43  can reciprocate in a direction approaching and away from the nip portion  42  of the folding rollers  41 . The blade  43  enters the nip portion  42  while pushing a center position of the sheet bundle SS into the nip portion  42 . The blade  43  leaves the sheet bundle SS in the nip portion  42  and retracts from the nip portion  42 . 
     The stacker  50  includes the guide member  51  and a matching member  52  (see  FIG.  6   ). The guide member  51  has a flat plate shape. A surface of the guide member  51  on a side opposite to the surface facing the folding rollers  41  is the loading surface  51   a . The loading surface  51   a  is a surface on which the sheet bundle SS is loaded in a standing state. The guide member  51  takes an upright posture inclined with respect to a vertical direction (up-down direction in  FIG.  3   ). The guide member  51  is inclined in a direction approaching the image forming apparatus  2  (see  FIG.  1   ) as the guide member  51  goes downward. The guide member  51  is inclined such that the loading surface  51   a  faces obliquely upward. A back surface  51   b  of the guide member  51  is the surface opposite to the loading surface  51   a . A facing direction of the loading surface  51   a  is “forward”. A facing direction of the back surface  51   b  is “rearward”. 
     The guide member  51  includes a first guide plate  51 A and a second guide plate  51 B. The first guide plate  51 A is located at a position higher than the second guide plate  51 B. Between the first guide plate  51 A and the second guide plate  51 B, there is a gap from and into which the blade  43  can advance and retract. 
     As shown in  FIG.  6   , the matching member  52  is provided on the second guide plate  51 B. The matching member  52  supports a lower end of the sheet loaded on the loading surface  51   a.    
     As shown in  FIGS.  7  and  8   , the matching member  52  includes a back plate portion  53 , one or a plurality of receiving portions  54 , an operation portion  55 , and one or a plurality of engagement portions  56 . The back plate portion  53  is superposed on the back surface  51   b  (see  FIG.  6   ) of the guide member  51 . The back plate portion  53  has a shape having a length in the sheet width direction. 
     In the present embodiment, the number of the receiving portions  54  is two. The two receiving portions  54  are formed at an interval in the sheet width direction. One of the receiving portions  54  is formed at one end portion of the back plate portion  53 . The other of the receiving portions  54  is formed at the other end portion of the back plate portion  53 . 
     The receiving portion  54  includes a receiving plate portion  57  and a claw portion  58 . The receiving plate portion  57  protrudes forward from the back plate portion  53 . The receiving plate portion  57  protrudes forward from the loading surface  51   a  (see  FIG.  3   ) of the guide member  51 . The receiving plate portion  57  supports the lower end of the sheet loaded on the loading surface  51   a . The claw portion  58  protrudes upward from a tip end of the receiving plate portion  57 . The claw portion  58  restricts forward movement of the sheet supported by the receiving plate portion  57 . 
     The operation portion  55  protrudes rearward from a back surface  53   b  of the back plate portion  53  (see  FIG.  8   ). The operation portion  55  is formed on an upper portion of the back plate portion  53  at a center in a length direction. The operation portion  55  has a stick shape that linearly protrudes from the back plate portion  53 . In a state in which a support member  61  is attached to the matching member  52  (see  FIG.  7   ), the operation portion  55  protrudes further toward a back surface side (rearward) than a back surface  64   b  of a main plate portion  64  of the support member  61 . 
     In the present embodiment, the number of the engagement portions  56  is two. The two engagement portions  56  are formed at an interval in the sheet width direction. One of the engagement portions  56  is formed in an upper portion in the vicinity of one end portion of the back surface  53   b  of the back plate portion  53 . The other of the engagement portions  56  is formed in an upper portion in the vicinity of the other end portion of the back surface  53   b  of the back plate portion  53 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  8   , the engagement portion  56  includes a shaft portion  91  and a restriction portion  92 . The shaft portion  91  protrudes rearward from the back surface  53   b  of the back plate portion  53 . For example, the shaft portion  91  has a cylindrical shape having a central axis perpendicular to the back surface  53   b . The shaft portion  91  is inserted into a recess  66  of an engagement receiving portion  65  and is engaged with the engagement receiving portion  65 . 
     The restriction portion  92  is formed at a tip end of the shaft portion  91 . For example, the restriction portion  92  has a disk shape parallel to the back surface  53   b . An outer dimension (outer diameter) of the restriction portion  92  is larger than an outer diameter of the shaft portion  91 . The restriction portion  92  restricts the engagement receiving portion  65  from moving rearward (in a direction away from the back plate portion  53 ). 
     As shown in  FIG.  6   , the drive mechanism  60  includes the support member  61 , a drive unit  62 , and a transmission belt  63 . 
     The support member  61  includes the main plate portion  64  and one or a plurality of engagement receiving portions  65 . The support member  61  supports the matching member  52 . The main plate portion  64  is a rectangular plate having a length in the sheet width direction. The main plate portion  64  is superposed on the back surface  53   b  of the back plate portion  53 . The support member  61  is a separate member from the matching member  52 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  8   , in the present embodiment, the number of the engagement receiving portions  65  is two. The engagement receiving portion  65  has a plate shape along the main plate portion  64 . One of the engagement receiving portions  65  protrudes outward from an end edge of one end portion of the main plate portion  64 . The other of the engagement receiving portions  65  protrudes outward from an end edge of the other end portion of the main plate portion  64 . The “outward” is a direction in which the one end portion and the other end portion of the main plate portion  64  are separated from each other. 
     The engagement receiving portion  65  has the recess  66  formed upward. The recess  66  has a recessed shape downward from an upper end of the engagement receiving portion  65 . A width of the recess  66  is equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the shaft portion  91 . The width of the recess  66  is smaller than the outer dimension (outer diameter) of the restriction portion  92 . 
     The recess  66  may have a shape including a base portion and a wide portion having a width larger than that of the base portion. The wide portion is located at a position lower than the base portion. When the recess  66  including the base portion and the wide portion is employed, since the shaft portion  91  is disposed in the wide portion, the engagement portion  56  is less likely to be detached from the recess  66 . 
     The shaft portions  91  of the engagement portions  56  are inserted into the recesses  66  by being lowered with respect to the engagement receiving portions  65 . When the shaft portions  91  are inserted into the recesses  66 , the matching member  52  is attached to the support member  61 . The shaft portions  91  are removed from the recesses  66  by being raised with respect to the engagement receiving portions  65 . When the shaft portions  91  are removed from the recesses  66 , the matching member  52  is detached from the support member  61 . 
     Since the matching member  52  can be detached from the support member  61 , the matching member  52  can be raised and lowered with respect to the support member  61 . For example, the matching member  52  can be raised and lowered in a plane parallel to the support member  61 . The matching member  52  can be located at an optional height position independently of the support member  61 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  7   , when the matching member  52  is at the lowermost position with respect to the support member  61 , the shaft portions  91  are inserted into the recesses  66 , and the matching member  52  is attached to the support member  61 . A position of this matching member  52  (position shown in  FIG.  7   ) is referred to as a “normal position”. For example, as shown in  FIG.  11   , when the matching member  52  is in the normal position, an upper end of the sheet bundle SS is located at a position the same as an upper surface of the frame  70  or a position lower than the upper surface of the frame  70 . The sheet bundle SS supported by the matching member  52  is located in the frame  70 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  12   , the matching member  52  may be located in a “raised position” higher than the normal position without changing a height position of the support member  61 . When the matching member  52  is at the raised position, a part of the sheet bundle SS supported by the matching member  52  protrudes to the outside of the frame  70 . For example, a portion including the upper end of the sheet bundle SS protrudes upward from the upper surface of the frame  70 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  11  and  12   , the matching member  52  can switch between the normal position and the raised position. For example, the matching member  52  can be moved from the normal position to the raised position by lifting the operation portion  55  and raising the matching member  52 . The matching member  52  can be moved from the raised position to the normal position by lowering the matching member  52  by an operation of the operation portion  55 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  6   , the drive unit  62  is provided on the back surface side of the main plate portion  64 . For example, the drive unit  62  is a motor. The drive unit  62  transmits a driving force to the transmission belt  63  via a pulley  67 . The transmission belt  63  is formed in an endless shape. The transmission belt  63  is wound around the pulley  67 . A part of the transmission belt  63  is attached to the main plate portion  64 . The drive unit  62  can raise and lower the support member  61  and the matching member  52  by moving the transmission belt  63 . The matching member  52  and the support member  61  are integrally raised and lowered in a state of being engaged with each other. The matching member  52  and the support member  61  can adjust a folding position of the sheet S by the folding mechanism  40  by setting the height position. 
     As shown in  FIG.  3   , the pair of discharge rollers  44  are located downstream in the transport direction with respect to the folding rollers  41 . One of the pair of discharge rollers  44  is a drive roller. The other of the pair of discharge rollers  44  is a driven roller. The sheet bundle SS (folded body) transported by the folding rollers  41  is sandwiched in the nip portion of the discharge rollers  44 . The discharge rollers  44  transport the folded body inserted into the nip portion. 
     The sheet discharge tray  46  is located downstream in the transport direction with respect to the discharge rollers  44 . The sheet discharge tray  46  loads the folded body transmitted from the discharge rollers  44 . 
     The frame  70  includes the folding mechanism  40 , the stacker  50 , and the drive mechanism  60 . As shown in  FIG.  5    and  FIG.  9   , the frame  70  includes a back plate  71  on the back surface side of the support member  61  and the guide member  51 . A slit  72  through which the operation portion  55  is inserted is formed in the back plate  71 . The slit  72  extends along the up-down direction. The slit  72  allows raising and lowering of the operation portion  55 . A portion including a tip end of the operation portion  55  protrudes rearward from the back plate  71 . 
     The staple unit  80  can perform the stapling on the sheet bundle SS before the sheet bundle SS is transmitted to the folding mechanism  40 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , a gate  20   a  is provided downstream of the carry-in unit  20  of the post-processing apparatus  3 . The gate  20   a  switches a transport destination of the sheet S to one of the processing unit  22  and the folding mechanism  40 . When the sheet folding is not performed, the gate  20   a  transports the sheet S to the standby unit  21 . When the sheet folding is performed, the gate  20   a  transports the sheet S to the folding mechanism  40 . 
     The sheet S transmitted from the image forming apparatus  2  is supplied via a sheet path  26 . The staple unit  80  can perform the stapling on a sheet bundle including a plurality of sheets S. 
     As shown in  FIG.  3   , the sheet bundle SS supplied to the folding mechanism  40  is loaded on the loading surface  51   a  of the stacker  50 . The center position of the sheet bundle SS (center position in the sheet transport direction) faces the nip portion  42  of the folding rollers  41 . 
     The blade  43  pushes out the center position of the sheet bundle SS toward the nip portion  42  of the folding rollers  41 . The blade  43  pushes the center position of the sheet bundle SS into the nip portion  42 . The blade  43  retracts after the sheet bundle SS is pushed into the nip portion  42 . The folding rollers  41  rotate while sandwiching the sheet bundle SS and fold the sheet bundle SS in half. 
     The sheet bundle SS folded in half is transmitted to the nip portion of the discharge rollers  44  and transported by the discharge rollers  44 . The sheet bundle SS folded in half is the “folded body”. The discharge rollers  44  transport the folded body. The folded body is discharged to the sheet discharge tray  46 . 
     Next, a method of removing a jammed sheet when a sheet jam occurs in the post-processing apparatus  3  will be described. 
     As shown in  FIG.  4   , the frame  70  is pulled out from the post-processing apparatus  3 . As shown in  FIG.  5    and  FIG.  9   , the back plate  71  is exposed by pulling out the frame  70 . As shown in  FIG.  10   , the user operates the operation portion  55  to raise the matching member  52 . For example, the user can raise the matching member  52  by lifting the operation portion  55  with a finger. As shown in  FIG.  12   , the matching member  52  is switched to the raised position from the normal position. At this time, the support member  61  does not raise. 
     When the matching member  52  is at the raised position, the portion including the upper end of the sheet bundle SS protrudes upward from the frame  70 . The user can grip the portion including the upper end of the sheet bundle SS and remove the sheet bundle SS from the frame  70 . 
     In the post-processing apparatus  3  of the present embodiment, the matching member  52  can be raised and lowered with respect to the support member  61 . By setting the matching member  52  to the raised position, a part of the sheet bundle SS can be protruded from the frame  70  (see  FIG.  12   ). In the post-processing apparatus  3 , the jammed sheet bundle SS can be easily removed. 
     Since the matching member  52  can be switched between the normal position and the raised position (see  FIG.  11    and  FIG.  12   ), an operation of protruding a part of the sheet bundle SS from the frame  70  is easy. 
     Since the support member  61  includes the main plate portion  64  that is superposed on the back plate portion  53 , a dimension of the support member  61  in a thickness direction can be reduced, which is advantageous in terms of miniaturization of a device. 
     When the matching member  52  is raised, the engagement portions  56  are removed from the engagement receiving portions  65 , and when the matching member  52  is lowered, the engagement portions  56  are engaged with the engagement receiving portions  65 , so that the matching member  52  is easily attached to and detached from the support member  61 . 
     Since the engagement portion  56  include the shaft portion  91  inserted into the recess  66  of the engagement receiving portion  65  and the restriction portion  92  having a diameter larger than that of the shaft portion  91 , the engagement receiving portion  65  can be restricted from moving rearward (in the direction away from the back plate portion  53 ). With this configuration, the matching member  52  is stably attached to the support member  61 . 
     Since the matching member  52  includes the operation portion  55 , the operation of raising and lowering the matching member  52  with respect to the support member  61  is easy. 
     In the post-processing apparatus  3  of the embodiment, the matching member  52  and the support member  61  have a structure in which the engagement portions  56  are engaged with the recesses  66  of the engagement receiving portions  65 , but an engagement structure between the engagement portions and the engagement receiving portions is not particularly limited. For example, the matching member  52  may include the engagement receiving portion. The support member  61  may include the engagement portion to be engaged with the recess. 
     In the post-processing apparatus  3  of the embodiment, the matching member  52  is attached to and detached from the support member  61  by engagement and disengagement between the engagement portions  56  and the engagement receiving portions  65 , but the structure for attaching and detaching the matching member  52  and the support member  61  is not particularly limited. For example, the matching member  52  and the support member  61  may be attached to and detached from each other by using attraction of a magnet. For example, the matching member  52  and the support member  61  may be attached to and detached from each other by a concavo-convex fitting structure. 
     As shown in  FIG.  3   , in the post-processing apparatus  3  of the embodiment, the guide member  51  is inclined in the direction approaching the image forming apparatus  2  (see  FIG.  1   ) as the guide member  51  goes downward, but an inclination direction of the guide member  51  is not particularly limited. For example, the guide member  51  may be inclined in a direction away from the image forming apparatus  2  (see  FIG.  1   ) as the guide member  51  goes downward. 
       FIG.  13    is a configuration diagram of another example of the folding mechanism. In this folding mechanism  40 , the guide member  51  is inclined in the direction away from the image forming apparatus  2  (see  FIG.  1   ) as the guide member  51  goes downward. 
     In the post-processing apparatus  3  of the embodiment, the folding mechanism  40  is exemplified as the post-processing mechanism, but the post-processing mechanism is not limited to the folding mechanism. The post-processing mechanism may be a staple unit that performs stapling. 
     As shown in  FIG.  8   , in the post-processing apparatus  3  of the embodiment, the number of the receiving portions  54 , the engagement portions  56 , and the engagement receiving portions  65  is two, but the number thereof is not particularly limited. The number of the receiving portion  54 , the engagement portion  56 , and the engagement receiving portion  65  may be one, or may be two or more. In the post-processing apparatus  3  of the embodiment, the number of the operation portion  55  is one, but the number of the operation portion  55  is not particularly limited. The number of the operation portions  55  may be two or more. Although the post-processing apparatus  3  includes the discharge roller  44  in the embodiment, the post-processing apparatus may not include the discharge roller. 
     According to at least one of the embodiments described above, the matching member  52  can be raised and lowered with respect to the support member  61 . By setting the matching member  52  to the raised position, a part of the sheet bundle SS can be protruded from the frame  70  (see  FIG.  12   ), so that a jammed sheet bundle SS can be easily removed. 
     While certain embodiments have been described these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms: furthermore various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. The accompanying claims and there equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the disclosure.