Patent ID: 7988151

Claim:
A diversion mechanism for a sheet media processing device, comprising: a diversion unit that splits a sheet media transportation path into first and second branch paths; and a branch switching lever that directs sheet media into one of the first and second branch paths; wherein the diversion unit has first and second diversion unit guide surfaces that extend in first and second diversion directions, respectively, and a diversion unit top that connects top edges of the diversion unit guide surfaces: the branch switching lever has first and second lever-side guide surfaces that extend substantially in the first and second diversion directions, and a lever top that connects top edges of the lever-side guide surfaces; the diversion unit top slopes upward in the first and second diversion directions from the lever top, and slopes upward perpendicularly to the diversion directions from the top edges of the first and second diversion unit guide surfaces; and a top of the sheet media transportation path is below a top portion of the sheet media that is disposed in the sheet media transportation path.