JP2003252516A - Sheet handling device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet handling device capable of appropriately loading sheets on a sheet loading means without disturbing alignment of a previously discharged sheets, and an image forming device having it. <P>SOLUTION: A sheet conveying means 407 conveys a sheet S to the sheet loading means 410, aligning means 413a and 413b are disposed movably in a direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction of the sheet S loaded on the sheet loading means 410, and the aligning means 413a and 413b are butted on a side end of the sheet loaded on the sheet loading means 410 to align the sheet in the width direction. Before the sheet S is loaded on the sheet loading means 410, aligning means 413a and 413b are moved to positions capable of supporting the sheet S from the downside. Therefore, when the sheet S conveyed by the sheet loading means 410 is loaded on the sheet loading means 410, the sheet S does not contact a previously discharged sheet. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a sheet processing apparatus which is configured to perform processing such as binding processing after stacking sheets on a sheet stacking unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, and a complex machine of these, a sheet processing apparatus for performing a binding process or the like on an image-formed sheet is provided. There is.

In such a sheet processing apparatus, the image-processed sheets are stacked on the sheet stacking means,
Some sheets are configured to perform a binding process or the like on the stacked sheets and then discharge the sheets to a sheet discharge stacking unit.

[0004]

By the way, in the conventional image forming apparatus, in order to surely stack the sheets on the sheet stacking means, for example, by curling the sheets, the rigidity of the sheets is strengthened. There is something to do.

However, when a large curl is applied to the sheet in order to increase the rigidity of the sheet, or when the sheet is greatly curled during the sheet conveyance, the curl is applied when the sheet is stacked on the sheet stacking means. The leading edge of the ejected sheet may touch the sheet ejected to the ejected sheet stacking unit.

When the sheet is further conveyed in the state where the leading edge is touched as described above, the sheet is ejected first by this sheet, and the sheet stacked in the discharged sheet stacking section is pushed out to disturb the alignment of the sheets. May occur.

Further, the sheets discharged to the discharged sheet stacking unit are
For example, in the case where the binding process is performed, the binding-processed sheet is not pushed out, but if the sheet is further conveyed with the leading end touched, friction with the binding-processed sheet may occur. The sheet may be curled from the leading end, and in this case, the sheets cannot be properly stacked on the sheet stacking unit.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and it is possible to appropriately stack sheets on the sheet stacking means without disturbing the alignment of the previously discharged sheets. An object is to provide a processing device and an image forming apparatus.

[0009]

According to the present invention, in a sheet processing apparatus for processing sheets stacked on a sheet stacking means, a sheet transporting means for transporting a sheet to the sheet stacking means, and stacking on the sheet stacking means. An aligning unit that is provided movably in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction of the formed sheet and that aligns the sheet in the width direction by contacting a side end of the sheet, and a sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying unit. It is characterized in that the aligning means is moved to a position where the sheet can be supported from below before being stacked on the sheet stacking means.

Further, according to the present invention, sheet detecting means for detecting the sheets conveyed by the sheet conveying means toward the sheet stacking means, and position control means for moving the aligning means in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction. And the position control means moves the alignment means to a position where the sheet can be supported from below based on a detection signal from the sheet detection means.

Further, according to the present invention, the position control means moves the aligning means to a position where the sheets can be supported from below, and then, at a predetermined timing so that the sheets are stacked on the sheet stacking means. It is characterized in that the seat is moved to a position where the support is released.

The present invention is also characterized in that the aligning means also serves as a guide means for guiding the conveyance of the sheet.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the sheet stacking means is an intermediate tray for temporarily stacking sheets.

Further, the present invention is an image forming apparatus comprising an image forming section and a sheet processing apparatus for processing a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming section, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is any one of the above. It is characterized by being described.

The present invention also provides a sheet processing apparatus for processing sheets stacked on a sheet stacking means,
A sheet conveying unit that conveys a sheet to the sheet stacking unit, an aligning unit that abuts a side edge of the sheet to align the sheet in the width direction, and a sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying unit is a sheet stacking unit. It is characterized in that the aligning means is moved to a position where the sheet can be supported from below before being stacked.

The present invention also provides a sheet processing apparatus for processing sheets stacked on a sheet stacking means,
A sheet conveying unit that conveys a sheet to the sheet stacking unit, and a sheet that is conveyed by the sheet conveying unit moves to a position where the sheet can be supported from below before being stacked on the sheet stacking unit. Is provided, and the sheets are stacked on the stacking means after the sheets are supported by the supporting means.

According to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, the image forming section, the sheet conveying means for conveying the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming section to the sheet stacking means, and the sheet conveying means. Before the sheets are stacked on the sheet stacking means, the sheets are moved to a position where they can be supported from below, and a supporting means for supporting the sheets is provided. It is characterized in that the sheets are stacked.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which A is an image forming apparatus,
A1 is the image forming apparatus main body, and 300 is the image forming apparatus main body 1
An automatic document feeder provided on the upper surface of A, 400 is a finisher which is a sheet processing apparatus for processing the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus A, and 700 is a finisher 40.
0 is a sheet reversing device arranged between the image forming apparatus main body 1A and the image forming apparatus main body 1A. Although the image forming apparatus is described as including the sheet processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus not including the sheet processing apparatus may be expressed as an image forming apparatus.

In the figure, 100 is a reader unit (image input device) for converting a document into image data, and 200 is a plurality of sheet cassettes 204 and 205. Image data can be printed on a sheet by a print command. A printer unit, which is an image forming unit that outputs a visual image, and 250 are external devices electrically connected to the reader unit 100.

The external device 250 has various functions, and although not shown, a fax (facsimile) unit,
A file unit, an external storage device connected to the file unit, a computer interface unit for connecting to a computer, a formatter unit for converting information from the computer into a visible image, information from the reader unit 100, and storage of information. An image memory unit for temporarily storing information sent from a computer, a core unit for controlling each of the above functional units, and the like are provided.

The image forming apparatus A having such a configuration
In the case of reading an original image to form an image,
First, the originals stacked on the automatic document feeder (ADF) 300 are sequentially conveyed one by one onto the platen glass surface 102.

Next, when the original is conveyed to a predetermined position on the glass surface 102 in this way, the lamp 1 of the reader section 100
03 is turned on, and the scanner unit 104 is moved to illuminate the document. Then, the reflected light from this document is input to the CCD image sensor unit 109 through the mirrors 105, 106, 107 and the lens 108, and this CCD
In the image sensor unit 109, electrical processing such as photoelectric conversion is performed, and normal digital processing is performed.

Next, the image signal thus electrically processed is converted into a modulated optical signal by the exposure control section 201 of the printer section 200, and the photosensitive drum 202 is irradiated with the modulated optical signal. Then, a latent image is formed on the photoconductor drum 202 by this irradiation light, and this latent image is developed by the developing device 203, and as a result, a toner image is formed on the photoconductor drum 202.

Next, the sheet S is fed from the sheet cassettes 204 and 205 at the same timing as the leading edge of the toner image.
Are conveyed, and the toner image is transferred to the sheet S at the transfer unit 206. After that, the toner image transferred to the sheet S is
After the toner image is fixed on the sheet S by the fixing unit 207 and thus the toner image is fixed, the sheet S is ejected from the paper ejection unit 208 to the outside of the apparatus.

Then, the sheet S output from the paper output unit 208 passes through the sheet reversing device 700 and the finisher 40.
The sheet is conveyed to 0, and the finisher 400 performs processes such as sorting and binding according to the operation mode designated in advance.

It should be noted that the images to be sequentially read are the one sheet S.
When outputting on both sides of the sheet, first, the sheet S having the toner image fixed on one side by the fixing unit 207 is guided to the path 215 by once setting the direction switching member 209 in the solid line direction in the figure, and the direction switching member 217 is set. By moving the direction switching member 213 in the direction of the solid line and in the direction of the broken line, the path 218
It is conveyed to the reversing path 212 via.

Next, the rear end of the sheet has the direction switching member 21.
After passing 3, the direction switching member 213 is switched to the solid line direction and the rotation direction of the roller 211 is reversed to reverse the transport direction of the sheet S and re-feed the sheet stacking unit 2
Transport to 10. After that, when the next original is prepared, the original image is read in the same manner as the above process, but since the sheet S is fed from the sheet re-feeding sheet stacking unit 210, the same output paper is eventually obtained. Two document images can be output on the front and back sides.

When the sheet on which the image has been formed is reversed and discharged, the sheet S on which the image is fixed by the fixing unit 207 is once guided to the path 215 by setting the direction switching member 209 to the solid line direction, and the direction is changed. By conveying the switching member 217 in the solid line direction and the direction switching member 213 in the broken line direction, the sheet is conveyed to the reversing path 212 via the path 218.

Next, the rear end of the sheet is the direction switching member 21.
After passing 7, the direction switching member 217 is switched to the direction of the broken line, the rotation direction of the roller 211 is reversed to guide the sheet to the path 216, and the sheet S is reversed and discharged through the discharge unit 208. To do so.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the structure of the sheet reversing device 700. In the figure, reference numeral 701 is a switching flapper for selecting whether the sheet discharged from the printer unit 200 is turned upside down (face up / face down), and is driven by a flapper solenoid 706 shown in FIG.

Reference numeral 702 denotes a reversing conveyance roller. The reversing conveyance roller 702 is driven by a reversing conveyance motor 707. However, when a load of a certain amount or more is applied, it is positioned between the reversing conveyance motor 707 and the reversing conveyance roller 702. The torque limiter (not shown) idles so that it does not rotate.

A sheet 703 reverses the sheet discharged from the printer unit 200 by the forward / reverse driving of the reverse motor 709.
A reversing roller 704 that conveys to a reversing conveyance roller 702
Reference numeral 705 denotes a reverse entrance sensor which is a prism type transmissive sensor that detects a sheet discharged from the printer unit 200.
Is a reverse sheet ejection sensor that detects a sheet when the sheet is conveyed from the sheet reversing device 700 to the finisher unit 400.

In the sheet reversing device 700 having such a structure, when the sheet conveyed to the finisher section 400 is not reversed, the switching flapper 701 is used.
Is rotated downward to select the straight path 710. As a result, the received sheet receives the reverse conveyance motor 707.
The sheet is conveyed to the finisher unit 400 without being reversed by the reverse conveying roller 702 driven by.

On the other hand, when reversing the sheet S, the switching flapper 701 is set to the position shown in FIG. Accordingly, the sheet discharged from the printer unit 200 passes through the reversing path 711, is detected by the reversing entrance sensor 704, and passes through the reversing path 711 by the reversing roller 703 rotated by the normal rotation driving of the reversing motor 709. Then, after a predetermined time, when the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the reversing path 711, the sheet is conveyed to the finisher unit 400 via the reversing conveying roller 702 by the reverse driving of the reversing roller 703.

On the other hand, FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the structure of the sheet processing apparatus 400. In the figure, reference numeral 401 denotes a sheet receiving unit that receives a sheet discharged from the sheet reversing device 700, and the received sheet is, for example, by a conveyance roller 407 as a sheet conveyance unit driven by a conveyance motor 450 shown in FIG. The sheet is conveyed and discharged as a sheet stacking unit onto, for example, the intermediate tray 410.

A sheet sensor 403 is, for example, a path sensor as a sheet detecting means for detecting the sheet conveyed toward the intermediate tray 410 by the conveying rollers 407 after being received by the sheet receiving portion 401, and 415 is on the intermediate tray 410. It is an intermediate tray sheet sensor that detects a sheet.

As shown in FIG. 4, 413a and 413b are provided on the intermediate tray 410 so as to be movable in the sheet width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction, and the intermediate tray 410 is movable.
For example, front and rear aligning plates serve as aligning means that abuts the side edges of the sheets stacked on top of each other to align the sheets in the width direction. The front and rear matching plates 413a and 413b are
Front and rear alignment motors 447a, 44 shown in FIG.
It is driven by 7b.

Here, the front and rear matching plates 413a, 413
13b are racks 443a, respectively, as shown in FIG.
The seat 443b and the pinion gears 445a and 445b move in the width direction of the seat. By moving the front and rear aligning plates 413a and 413b in the sheet width direction in this manner, the sheets discharged onto the intermediate tray 410 are aligned on the intermediate tray 410 to form a sheet bundle.

Further, in FIG. 3, 417 is a bundle discharge belt driven by a bundle discharge motor 473 shown in FIG. 5, which will be described later, and the sheets stacked on the intermediate tray 410 are, for example, stapled and then The bundle is discharged onto the stack tray 421 when the rear end is pressed by the pressing piece 417a provided on the bundle discharging belt 417.

Reference numeral 409 denotes the bundle discharge motor 4 shown in FIG.
This is a bundle returning member that pulls in the sheets that have been conveyed by the conveying rollers 407 and that have fallen onto the intermediate tray 410 by the reverse drive of 73, and the rear end of the sheets that have been pulled in by the bundle returning member 409 is at the position indicated by the broken line. 417
When the sheet is pressed against a, the aligning operation for aligning the sheet conveying direction is performed.

On the other hand, FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of the sheet processing apparatus 400. In the figure, reference numeral 1001 denotes, for example, a CPU as a control unit of the sheet processing apparatus 400.
It executes and controls a program stored in the OM. R
An OM 1005 is a control program for controlling the sheet processing apparatus 400, and stores a control program corresponding to the control procedure shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 and the control procedure of other units.

The RAM 1003 is a memory, and the CPU 100
1 stores various data used for executing the control program, work data, and input data.
Reference numeral 1009 denotes, for example, a communication IC as a serial interface unit for exchanging control data between the CPU 1001 and the printer unit 200, and the CPU 1001 stores these data sent from the printer unit 200 and the RAM 1
Based on each part control program stored in the ROM 1005 based on various data of 003, the entire sheet processing apparatus 400 is controlled, and the communication IC 1009 receives information from the image forming apparatus main body, Perform processing based on it.

The CPU 1001 is also connected to other parts. For example, the pass sensor 403, the stack tray sheet height sensor 461, the stack tray sheet sensor 462, the intermediate tray sheet sensor 415, the stack tray lower limit sensor 463, and the stack tray lower limit front sensor 4
64, stack tray upper limit sensor 465, stapler
Cartridge sensor 642, stapler needle sensor 64
3, stapler needle cueing sensor 644, bundle returning member HP
(Home position) sensor 471, front alignment plate HP sensor 457, rear alignment plate HP sensor 459, bundle discharge belt H
P sensor 472, stapler HP sensor 641, joint sensor 481, transport motor clock sensor 451,
Stack tray clock sensor 466, transport motor 45
0, front alignment motor 447a, rear alignment motor 447b, bundle discharge motor 473, stack tray motor 467, staple motor 645, flapper solenoid 706, reverse conveyance motor 707, reverse motor 709, reverse entrance sensor 704, reverse discharge sensor 705, and the like. Is connected to the CPU 1001 to exchange information and control.

Further, sensors such as the reversing entrance sensor 704 are connected to the input port of the CPU 1001. Based on the state of these sensors, an entrance conveyance motor etc. connected to the output port according to the program stored in the ROM 1005. Control the load.

Further, as shown in the figure, a signal from the intermediate tray sheet sensor 415 is inputted to the CPU 1001, and the CPU 1001 has the ROM 10
In accordance with the program stored in 05, the pre-alignment motor 44 based on the signal from the intermediate tray sheet sensor 415.
7a and the rear alignment motor 447b are driven, and the front and rear alignment plates 413a and 413b are controlled to be brought into contact with the side edges of the sheets stacked on the intermediate tray 410.

By the way, as shown in the figure, as a position control means, for example, a signal from the pass sensor 403 is inputted to the CPU 1001.
When the signal from CPU 3 is input, CPU 1001 reads ROM
The front alignment motor 447a and the rear alignment motor 447b are driven according to the program stored in 1005, and in the present embodiment, the front and rear alignment plates 413a and 413b are controlled to be moved inward, for example, 10 mm from the sheet width. ing. As a result, the front and rear matching plates 413a, 413a,
413b moves to a position where the sheet can be supported from below.

Then, as described above, the sheet is transferred to the intermediate tray 4
10 and front alignment plates 413a and 41
By moving 3b to a position where the sheet can be supported from below, the conveyed sheet slides on the upper surfaces of the front and rear alignment plates 413a and 413b. The discharged sheets can be smoothly conveyed onto the stack tray 421 without touching them.

After this, as will be described later, the sheets are sequentially stacked on the intermediate tray 410, and then the intermediate tray 41.
The sheets are aligned on 0 to form a sheet bundle. After the sheet bundle is created in this manner, for example, when stapling is performed, the sheets are bound by a stapling unit (not shown), and then the stack discharge belt 417 driven by the bundle discharge motor 473 causes the stack tray 421 to move. Is discharged to.

Further, in the figure, reference numerals 457 and 459 are home position (HP) sensors of the front and rear matching plates 413a and 413b. It should be noted that other sensors and the like are not directly related to the present invention, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the operation of the embodiment having the above configuration will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, the sheet processing apparatus 400 will be described with reference to FIG.
The processing at the start of copying will be described. This operation is performed by the CPU
This is performed under the control of 1001. First, the printer unit 20
0 has started printing (image formation), the information of the print start from the image forming apparatus main body A1 is transmitted to the communication IC 100.
9 is received and determined through S9 (S1001), if printing has not been started (no in S1001), the process waits for start (yes in S1001), and then the sheet is ejected from the printer unit 200. Whether or not the paper is printed is determined by the sensor information of the reverse entrance sensor 704 (S
1002).

If the sheet is not yet discharged (S1
(No of 002), the print start is discriminated again (S100
1) Prepare for an emergency stop of the printer unit 200. If the reversing entrance sensor 704 detects the discharge of the printer unit 200 (yes in S1002), the setting information of the operation unit (not shown) of the image forming apparatus main body A1 is received and checked via the communication IC 1009. It is determined whether or not to reverse the sheet discharged from the printer unit 200 (S1003).

If not inverted (n in S1003)
In case of (o), the straight path control is reversed (S10).
In the case of “03”, the reverse path control is performed (S100).
5). After that, the sheet processing control shown in FIG. 7, which will be described later, is performed, and when the operation is completed, it is determined whether printing is started again (S1001).

Next, the sheet processing apparatus 400 will be described with reference to FIG.
The sheet processing control will be described in detail. This operation is performed under the control of the CPU 1001.

First, the rotation of the carry motor 450 is started (S1101) to prepare for carrying the sheet. next,
Wait until the path sensor 403 detects the sheet conveyed from the sheet reversing device 700 and is turned on (S110).
2) When the pass sensor 403 is turned on (S1102)
Yes), front alignment motor 447a and rear alignment motor 4
47b is driven to move the front and rear aligning plates 413a and 413b to the inside of, for example, 10 mm from the sheet width.

Then, in this way, the front and rear matching plates 413
By setting the positions of a and 413b to the inside of the width of the sheet, the sheet conveyed by the conveying roller 407 can move the sheet to the front and rear alignment plates 413 as shown in FIGS.
It is conveyed while sliding on the upper surfaces of a and 413b.

In this way, the sheet is conveyed while sliding on the upper surfaces of the front and rear aligning plates 413a and 413b which also serve as the guiding means, so that even the sheet with a large curl is ejected first, and the stack is stacked. Tray 421
No more touching the sheets (bundle) stacked on top. As a result, the alignment of the sheets (bundle) discharged onto the stack tray 421 is not disturbed.

Even when the sheets discharged to the stack tray 421 are those subjected to binding processing, for example, the leading edge is not rounded due to friction with the sheets on the stack tray 421, and the sheets are properly stacked. Four
21 can be loaded.

Next, as described above, the front and rear aligning plates 413 are formed.
The sheet conveyed while sliding on the upper side of a, 413b passes through the pass sensor 403 and waits until the pass sensor 403 is turned off (S1103).

Next, the sheet comes off the pass sensor 403,
When the pass sensor 403 is turned off (yes in S1103)
s), front alignment motor 447a and rear alignment motor 447b
Is driven in the reverse direction, and this time, front and rear matching plates 413a, 41
3b is moved outside the sheet width by, for example, 10 mm.

As a result, the front and rear matching plates 413a, 413a, 4
13b moves to a position where the support of the sheet is released and does not support the sheet from below. Therefore, the leading end portion of the sheet supported by the front and rear aligning plates 413a and 413b is dropped onto the intermediate tray 410. To be done.

Since the conveyance of the sheet by the conveyance motor 450 is continued even after this, the CPU 1001 after this.
The counting of the carrier clock is started by the counter formed in the internal register (S1104). Here, the counting of the transport clock is performed until the sheets are stacked on the intermediate tray 410.

Next, it is judged whether or not a predetermined clock count for stacking the sheets on the intermediate tray 410 is completed (S1).
105), when clock counting is completed (S110)
5), transport motor 450 (transport roller 407)
The rotation of is stopped (S1106).

Next, in order to align the sheets stacked on the intermediate tray 410, the bundle discharge motor 473 is reversely driven to start the bundle returning operation for performing the aligning operation for aligning the sheet conveying direction by the bundle returning member 409. (S1107),
After that, the matching operation is performed by the front and rear matching plates 413a and 413b (S1108).

Next, the presence / absence of a stapling request transmitted from the image forming apparatus main body A1 is received and discriminated by the communication IC 1009 (S1109). Only when there is a stapling request (yes in S1109), the stapling operation is performed (S1).
110). After this, regardless of whether or not there is a staple request,
Whether or not there is a bundle discharge request transmitted from the printer unit 200 of the image forming apparatus main body A1 is received and determined through the communication IC 1009 (S1111), and only when there is a bundle discharge request.
A bundle discharging operation is performed (S1112), and the sheet processing control ends.

As described above, before the sheets are stacked on the intermediate tray 410, the front and rear aligning plates 413a and 413b are stacked.
Is moved to a position where the sheet can be supported from below, and when the sheet is stacked on the intermediate tray 410, the sheet is discharged first by preventing the sheet from touching the previously discharged sheet. It is possible to prevent the sheet alignment from being disturbed. Further, the sheets can be appropriately stacked on the intermediate tray 410.

In the above description, the case of so-called center reference in which the sheet widthwise alignment is performed by the pair of rear aligning plates 413a and 413b has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a so-called one-sided reference in which the widthwise alignment of sheets is performed by the alignment means and the fixed wall surface.

[0069]

As described above, as in the present invention, before the sheets are stacked on the sheet stacking means, the aligning means is
The sheet is moved to a position where it can be supported from below, and when the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying means is stacked on the sheet stacking means so as not to touch other sheets, the sheet is discharged first. The sheets can be appropriately stacked on the sheet stacking unit without disturbing the alignment of the sheets.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus including a sheet treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a sheet reversing device arranged between the sheet treatment device and the image forming device.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the sheet processing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a structure of an alignment plate provided in the sheet processing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of the sheet processing apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing at the start of copying by the sheet processing apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating sheet processing control of the sheet processing apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a top view showing a state in which a sheet is conveyed along the upper surface of the alignment plate.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing a state in which a sheet is conveyed along the upper surface of the alignment plate.

[Explanation of symbols]

200 Printer section 400 finisher 403 path sensor 407 Conveyor roller 410 Intermediate tray 413a, 413b front and rear alignment plates 1001 CPU A image forming apparatus S sheet

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A sheet processing apparatus for processing sheets stacked on a sheet stacking unit, the sheet transporting unit transporting the sheet to the sheet stacking unit, and the sheet transporting direction of the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking unit. An aligning unit that is movably provided in a direction orthogonal to each other and that abuts a side edge of the sheet to align the sheet in the width direction; and a sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying unit before being stacked on the sheet stacking unit. In the sheet processing apparatus, the aligning means is moved to a position where the sheet can be supported from below. 2. A sheet detecting means for detecting sheets conveyed by the sheet conveying means toward the sheet stacking means, and a position control means for moving the aligning means in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction. 2. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position control unit moves the alignment unit to a position where the sheet can be supported from below based on a detection signal from the sheet detection unit. . 3. The position control means includes the alignment means,
3. The sheet is moved to a position where it can be supported from below, and is then moved to a position where the support of the sheet is released at a predetermined timing so that the sheet is stacked on the sheet stacking unit. Sheet processing equipment. 4. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the aligning unit also serves as a guide unit that guides the conveyance of the sheet. 5. The sheet stacking means is an intermediate tray for temporarily stacking sheets.
5. The sheet processing apparatus according to any one of items 4 to 4. 6. An image forming apparatus comprising an image forming section and a sheet processing apparatus for processing a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming section, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is any one of claims 1 to 5. Or 1
An image forming apparatus according to item 1. 7. A sheet processing apparatus for performing processing on sheets stacked on a sheet stacking means, the sheet transporting means for transporting a sheet to the sheet stacking means, and a width direction of the sheet abutting on a side edge of the sheet. And an aligning means for aligning the sheet, and before the sheets conveyed by the sheet conveying means are stacked on the sheet stacking means, the aligning means is moved to a position where the sheet can be supported from below. A sheet processing apparatus. 8. A sheet processing apparatus for processing sheets stacked on a sheet stacking unit, the sheet transporting unit transporting a sheet to the sheet stacking unit, and the sheet transported by the sheet transporting unit to the sheet stacking unit. Before being stacked, the sheet is moved to a position where it can be supported from below, and a supporting means for supporting the sheet is provided, and after supporting the sheet by the supporting means, the sheet is stacked on the stacking means. A sheet processing apparatus characterized in that 9. An image forming unit, a sheet conveying unit that conveys a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming unit to the sheet stacking unit, and a sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying unit is stacked on the sheet stacking unit. Before moving to a position where the sheet can be supported from below, a supporting means for supporting the sheet is provided, and after supporting the sheet by the supporting means, the sheet is stacked on the stacking means. An image forming apparatus characterized by the above.