Patent ID: 7946577

Claim:
A switchback mechanism comprising: a switchback roller which accepts in a nip a paper sheet conveyed in a first direction toward a switchback unit, rotates in the first direction, stops the paper sheet in the switchback unit while holding the paper sheet in the nip, rotates in a second direction reverse to the first direction, reverses the paper sheet conveying direction, and takes out the paper sheet from the switchback unit to the second direction; a remaining paper sheet sensor which detects a remaining paper sheet deviated from the nip in the downstream of the nip along the first direction and remaining in the switchback unit; an output mechanism which is positioned in the downstream of the nip along the first direction and outputs the remaining paper sheet from the switchback unit; and a control unit which takes out the remaining paper sheet from the switchback unit by operating the output mechanism, when the remaining paper sheet is detected through the remaining paper sheet sensor, after the switchback roller finishes the switchback operation, wherein the output mechanism includes: an output roller provided rotatably in the second direction one side of the remaining paper sheet; a pressure roller provided movably between an operating position to hold the remaining paper sheet by cooperating with the output roller and a retreat position separated from the output roller, and provided rotatably in the second direction; a moving mechanism configured to move the pressure roller between the operating position and retreat position; and a driving mechanism configured to rotate at least one of the output roller and pressure roller in the second direction.