JPH0813580B2 - Staple sorter - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a staple sorter having a stapling device for binding sheets.

[Conventional technology]

For example, a copier or the like may be equipped with a sorter for distributing and storing sheets provided with the image forming apparatus. Further, a sorter having a stapling device for binding the distributed sheet bundle has already been provided.

As a conventional sorter of this type, for example, JP-A-1-
There is a device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 231757 (first publication). In this apparatus, a plurality of paper receivers (hereinafter, referred to as bins) for distributing and storing the supplied papers are arranged in the vertical direction, and the plurality of bins are vertically movable. Further, at the base of the bin, there is provided a paper ejecting unit for ejecting the paper ejected from the copying machine main body into each bin, and the bundle of paper distributed and stored in each bin is bound to this paper ejecting unit. A stapling device is provided.

Then, when each bin moves to the paper discharge unit, a predetermined space is provided above the bin, and the paper is sent from the paper discharge unit to the bin through this space.
The sheet bundle distributed and stored in each bin is bound by a stapling device. The stapling device is capable of swiveling within a certain angle range so that it can take a retracted position that does not hinder the movement of the bin and a staple position where the binding process is performed.

Further, in the conventional device disclosed in JP-A-2-23154 (second publication), a plurality of bins are fixed at predetermined positions. The paper supplied from the copier body is
Each bin is accommodated by a transport control member such as a claw provided corresponding to each bin. On the other hand, the stapling device is vertically movable.

When performing stapling processing with this device, the stapling device is moved up and down, the paper in each bin is temporarily pulled out to the stapling position by the paper gripping device provided separately from the stapling device, and after stapling processing is performed by the stapling device. The paper gripping device returns it to the bin.

Further, in the device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-165270 (3rd publication), in addition to the sorting unit for distributing and storing sheets,
A stack unit for stacking and accommodating sheets is provided. When the binding process is performed by this apparatus, the sheet bundle once distributed by the sorting unit is conveyed to the stack unit, and the stapling device provided in the stack unit performs the binding process. Therefore, in this apparatus, it is possible to bind a bundle of sheets having a number of copies equal to or larger than the number of bins provided in the sorting unit.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

In the conventional sorter of the first publication, since the stapling device is provided in the sheet discharging portion, it hinders the vertical movement of the bin. Therefore, a mechanism for rotating the stapling device between the stapling position and the retracted position is required, and the structure becomes complicated. In the sorter of the second publication, a device for pulling out a bundle of sheets from the bin and returning it into the bin is required in addition to the stapling device, and the structure is complicated as described above.

Further, in the sorters of the first and second publications, since the sheets after the binding processing are stored in the respective bins as they are, the sorting processing and the binding processing with the number of copies exceeding the number of bins cannot be performed. Therefore, when performing a large amount of copy processing, it is necessary for the operator to take out the bound sheet bundle from the bin. Here, if sorters are installed side by side, a large number of copies can be sorted and bound, but the space occupied by the apparatus becomes large.

On the other hand, in the sorter of the third publication, a stack section for storing the bound sheets is provided separately from the sort bin. Therefore, it is possible to perform sorting processing and binding processing for a large number of copies, which is equal to or larger than the number of bins. However, in this apparatus, the bundle of sheets once distributed and stored is conveyed to the stack section provided with the stapling apparatus, and the sheet bundle is separated during this conveyance, and a series of sheets is stacked in the stack section. It is very difficult to bind a bundle well.

An object of the present invention is to provide a staple sorter having a simple structure for binding processing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a staple sorter capable of successfully binding a bundle of sheets having a number of copies equal to or larger than the number of bins and capable of storing the bound sheets in a stack section with a simple mechanism. .

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a compact staple sorter which can perform a binding process on a sheet bundle having a number of copies equal to or larger than the number of bins.

[Means for solving the problem]

(1) The staple sorter according to the first aspect of the invention includes a sheet receiver, a stapler, and a pair of width adjusting members.

The paper receiver stores the supplied paper. The stapling device is for binding sheets stored in a sheet receiver. Each of the pair of width adjusting members is movable in the width direction of the paper in the paper receiver, contacts the both ends of the paper to adjust the width of the paper, and staples the stapled sheet while holding the bundle of sheets. It is a member for moving to the staple position of the apparatus.

(2) The staple sorter according to the second invention is the first
In the sorter according to the invention, a plurality of the paper receivers are arranged in the vertical direction and are respectively movable in the vertical direction, and accommodate the supplied papers, and the downstream end of the paper feeding direction is the upstream end. When a plurality of paper receivers come to predetermined positions after being bound by the stapling device after being arranged so as to be positioned higher than the other and having a rotatable paper stopper at the upstream end, the paper Further provided is a rotating means for rotating the sheet stopper so that the sheet bundle in the receiver is discharged, and a stack portion for accommodating the sheet bundle falling from the sheet receiver.

(3) The staple sorter according to the third invention is the first sorter.
Alternatively, in the sorter according to the second aspect of the invention, the paper receiver includes a sorting unit that distributes and stores the paper discharged from a discharge unit that is arranged laterally of the image forming apparatus, and a discharge unit of the image forming apparatus. A stack unit provided between the sorting unit and a transport path for transporting the sheets to the sorting unit, disposed below the transport path, and further containing a stack of sheets bound by the stapling device. ing.

[Action]

(1) In the first aspect of the invention, the supplied paper is stored in the paper receiver. When the paper is discharged into the paper receiver, the pair of width-matching members move according to the size of the paper, and the width-matching members come into contact with both sides of the paper to perform width-matching. When a predetermined number of sheets of paper are stored in the paper receiver, the pair of width adjusting members abut on both sides of the sheet bundle, and the sheet bundle is held by the pair of width adjusting members. Move to the stapling position of the stapling device. When the stack of paper is moved to the staple position,
The stapling device performs the binding process. The sheet bundle subjected to the binding process is returned to the original position in the sheet receiver by the pair of width adjusting members.

As described above, since the sheet bundle in the sheet receiver is moved to the staple position while being held by the width aligning member, a special device for moving the sheet bundle to the staple position is not required and the configuration is simplified. , Sheet bundles are less likely to come apart during movement. Further, since the bundle of sheets is moved to the stapling position, the stapling device can be arranged at a position that does not interfere with the movement of the sheet receiver, and a device for moving the stapling device becomes unnecessary.

(2) In the second aspect of the invention, the supplied sheet is distributed and stored in a plurality of sheet receivers. When a predetermined number of sheets are stored in each sheet receiver, the sheet bundle in each sheet receiver is bound by the stapling device. Here, since the sheet receivers are arranged so as to be inclined, the sheet bundle in the sheet receivers is in contact with the sheet stopper portion provided at the end portion on the upstream side in the sheet supply direction. When the sheet receiver moves and reaches a predetermined position in such a state, the sheet stopper portion that regulates the movement of the sheet bundle is rotated, and the sheet bundle falls along the inclination of the sheet receiver. The stack of paper dropped from this paper receiver
It is housed in the stack.

In this way, the sorting process and the binding process can be performed in the number of copies that is equal to or larger than the number of the sheet receivers, and a large number of sheets can be sorted and bound in a short time. Moreover, since the bound sheet bundle falls due to its own weight due to the rotation of the sheet stopper portion to the stack portion, a complicated mechanism for discharging the sheet bundle is unnecessary.

(3) In the third aspect of the invention, the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus is supplied to the sorting section through the transport path and is distributed and stored by the sorting section. The sheet bundle stored in the sorting unit is bound by the stapling device and stored in the stack unit arranged below the transport path.

As a result, it is possible to perform a sorting process and a binding process on a bundle of sheets that is equal to or larger than the number of sheet receivers provided in the sorting unit. In addition, since the stack portion that stores the bundle of sheets that has undergone the binding process is arranged in an empty space below the transport path provided between the discharge portion and the sort portion of the image forming apparatus main body, it is special for the stack portion. Unnecessary space,
The entire device can be made compact.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 shows a copying machine which employs a sorter as a sheet post-processing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the copying machine includes a copying machine main body 1, a paper feeding unit 2 fixed adjacent to the right side of the copying machine main body 1, and a sorter 3 arranged on the right side of the copying machine main body 1. have. The copying machine body 1 includes a case 4 and a case 4
An image forming section 5 arranged in the center of the image forming section 5, a document scanning section 6 arranged above the image forming section 5, and a sheet is supplied to the image forming section 5 or a sheet is discharged from the image forming section 5. And a sheet conveyance path 7 for

The image forming unit 5 includes a photoconductor drum arranged in the center,
And a charging device, a developing device, a transfer device, a paper separating device, and a cleaning device which are arranged around it.

The document scanning section 6 includes an optical system 8 arranged above the image forming section 5, a document table 9 arranged above the optical system 8, and an automatic document feeder 10 provided on the document table 9. Have The automatic document feeder 10 has a document placing portion 11 provided on the upper surface of the case and a document feeding portion 12 which is arranged inside the case and includes a document moving belt and the like.

The paper conveyance path 7 has a paper supply path arranged on the upstream side (the right side in FIG. 1) of the paper conveyance direction with respect to the image forming section 5 and a paper discharge path arranged on the downstream side. A fixing device 14 is provided in the middle of the carry-out path. Further, on the downstream side of the fixing device 14, a discharge roller 20 for discharging the paper to the sorter 3 side and a reversing device 15 for reversing the paper are provided.

At the bottom of the case 4, a stock conveyance path 16 that conveys the paper that has passed through the reversal device 15, an intermediate reversal device 17 that reverses the paper from the stock conveyance path 16, and an intermediate tray 18 that temporarily stores the paper. And a sheet re-feeding section 19 for feeding the sheets of the intermediate tray 18.

 The structure of the sorter 3 is shown in FIG.

The sorter 3 is mainly configured to convey a transport system 22 provided on the right side of the partition frame 21 of the main body, a plurality of bins 23 arranged vertically side by side on the left side of the partition frame 21, and drive the bins 23. A bin drive system 24 and a stapling device for binding a bundle of sheets distributed and stored in each bin 23.
25, a width adjusting member 26 disposed at substantially the same height as the stapling device 25, and a stack portion 27 disposed below the transport path 22 for accommodating the bound sheets.

The transport system 22 is provided with the discharge roller 20 (first
(See the figure) It is for discharging the paper discharged from each bin 23 into the bins 23, and the transport roller 28 and the discharge roller 29.
A transport motor 30, a belt 31 stretched between the rollers 28, 29 and the transport motor 30, and a guide plate 32 for guiding the transport of the sheet. Also, the transport roller
A paper detection switch 33 for detecting that the paper has been conveyed is provided near 28.

A bin 23 for storing sheets and a width adjusting member 26 for performing width adjustment and movement of the sheets will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

Each bin 23 is composed of a main tray 35 and a slide tray 36 provided on the upstream side of the main tray 35 in the paper supply direction. The size of the slide tray 36 in the width direction (vertical direction in FIG. 3) is set to be smaller than the minimum size of paper that can be used in this sorter. The slide tray 36 is connected to the main tray 35 by a rod 37 provided at the rear end of the main tray 35 and is movable in the paper width direction. The slide tray 36 is always urged to the inner side of the apparatus (upward direction in FIG. 3) by the spring 38 provided on the outer circumference of the rod 37, and is positioned at the center portion in the width direction in the free state. The plurality of bins 23 configured in this manner are arranged in the vertical direction while maintaining a predetermined interval, and the plurality of bins 23 as a whole serve as one block and are vertically moved along the guide groove formed in the main body frame 39. It is movable in any direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, each of the bins 23 has a tip portion (downstream end portion in the sheet feeding direction) on the opposite side (hereinafter,
It is inclined so as to be located higher than this direction).

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4A, a paper stopper portion 40 is provided at the rear end of the slide tray 36 that constitutes the bin 23. This paper stopper 40 is
As shown in the figure, the paper stop position that extends upward at an angle of 90 ° with respect to the paper loading surface of the slide tray 36, and the 4B
As shown in the figure, the slide tray 36 is rotatable between a paper placement position flush with the paper placement surface of the slide tray 36. The paper stopper 40 is always urged clockwise in FIG. 4A by a spring (not shown), and the upper end thereof is in contact with the partition frame 21. Then, when the paper stopper portion 40 is at the paper stop position extending upward, the paper delivered from the copying machine main body comes into contact with the stopper portion 40 by its own weight and the edges of the paper are aligned. On the other hand, when the stopper portion 40 is rotated to the sheet discharging position, it acts as a guide plate for guiding the bound sheets to the stack portion,
Make sure to guide the paper to the (stack) section. A notch 36a is formed at one end portion on the rear end side of the slide tray 36 so that the slide tray 36 does not interfere with the stapling device 25 when sliding.

As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of width adjusting members 26 are provided on both sides of the slide tray 36. The width adjusting member 26 has an abutting portion 26a capable of abutting both sides of the paper stored in the bin 23, and a guide portion 26b serving as a guide when the width adjusting member 26 moves in the paper width direction. are doing. A guide groove 26c is formed in the guide portion 26b, and the fixed guide pin 41 provided on the main body frame side is formed in the guide groove 26c.
Is inserted. Further, the guide portion 26b of the width adjusting member 26
Racks are formed in the pinion 42, and the pinion 42 that meshes with each rack is a width matching motor 43.
(See FIG. 2). Although only one motor 43 is shown in FIG. 2, two pinions 42 are shown.
A motor 43 is provided corresponding to each of the above and can be controlled independently.

As is clear from FIGS. 2 and 3, the stapling device 25 is located above the width-adjusting member 26 and not in the way when the sheets are discharged, and when the bins 23 move up and down. It is arranged by shifting to the rear side so that it does not become.

As shown in FIG. 2, the bin drive device 24 is a sprocket rotatably provided above and below the main body frame.
It is composed of 50 and 51, a chain 52 spanned between these two sprockets 50 and 51, and a motor 53 for driving the sprocket 51. By this bin drive device 24, the whole of the plurality of bins 23 can be moved up and down.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, in the entire partition frame 21, below the stapling device 25 and above the stack part 27, an opening 45 for discharging the stack of sheets stored in each bin 23 to the stack part 27. Are formed. Further, below the opening 45, a stack guide 46 for guiding the sheet bundle from the opening 45 into the stack portion 27 is provided. A shutter mechanism 55 as shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5A and 5B is provided in the opening 45. The shutter mechanism 55 is
As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a shutter 56 formed in a comb shape and covering the opening 45, a solenoid 57 for opening the shutter 56, and a spring 58 for keeping the shutter closed at all times.
It consists of and. The shutter 56 is rotatably attached to a support portion 59 provided on a part of the body frame.

This sorter has a sorter control unit 60 as shown in FIG.
have. The sorter control unit 60 is a control unit of the copying machine body.
It is connected to 61 and includes a microcomputer including a CPU, ROM, RAM and the like. The sorter control unit 60 includes a paper detection switch 33, a bin storage sensor 62 for detecting that the paper has been discharged into each bin 23, and a stack of closed paper from each bin 23 in the stack unit 27. The bin ejection sensor 63 for detecting that the paper has been ejected and the other input section are connected. Also, the sorter control unit 60 has
A conveyance motor drive unit 64 that drives the conveyance motor 30, a width adjustment motor drive unit 65 that drives the width adjustment motor 43, and a shutter drive unit 66 that drives the solenoid 57 of the shutter mechanism 55.
And a bin driving unit 67 that drives the bin driving motor 53,
It is connected to another output unit.

Next, the operation of this sorter will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the main switch of the copying machine main body 1 is turned on, the copying machine main body 1 side is initialized, and the sorter side is also initialized such that each bin 23 is moved to the initial position.
If the staple mode is selected as the ejection mode on the operation panel of the copying machine body 1,
The flowchart shown in the figure is executed.

When the paper is ejected from the copying machine main body 1 side, the sorting process (sorting) is started in step S1.
That is, the uppermost bin 23 is moved to the position of the discharge roller 29 of the transport system 22 so that the paper can be discharged into the bin 23. When the sheet is discharged into the bin 23, the width adjusting motor 43 is driven in step S2 to bring the pair of width adjusting members 26 closer to each other in accordance with the sheet size. This allows
The abutting portions 26a of the width-adjusting members 26 abut on both sides of the paper to perform width-adjustment. Note that the size of the ejected paper is from the control unit 61 on the main body of the copying machine to the sorter control unit.
Sent to 60.

Next, in step S3, it is detected whether the set number of sheets have been ejected. If the set number of sheets have not been discharged, the process proceeds to step S4. In step S4, the bin drive system 24 raises the bin 23 and controls the movement so that the next bin 23 comes to the position of the discharge roller 29. Then, the process returns to step S2. In this way, steps S2 to S4 are repeatedly executed until the set number of sheets are distributed and stored in each bin 23.

If the set number of sheets have been ejected, the program proceeds from step S4 to step S5. In step S5, it is determined whether or not the copy processing for the set number of sheets has been performed for all the originals. If the manuscript still remains,
The process proceeds to step S6, the document is exchanged, and the process returns to step S1. In this way, steps S1 to S are performed until the copy processing for the number of sheets set for all the originals is completed.
Repeat S6. It should be noted that each time the original document is replaced in step S6, the moving direction of the bin 23 is changed to perform the sorting process.

When the set number of sheets have been ejected for all the originals, the program proceeds from step S5 to step S7. In step S7, the lowermost or uppermost bin 23 is moved to the height position where the stapling device 25 is provided. Here, whether each bin 23 is located above or below the stapling device 25 when the sorting process is completed depends on whether the number of originals is an odd number or an even number.

Next, in step S8, the sheet is inserted into the stapling position P (see FIG. 3) of the stapling device 25 by the width adjusting member 26. This situation is shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C.

That is, for example, when the size of the sheet is A3 size, the width adjusting motor 43 is driven and controlled so that the pair of width adjusting members 25 contact both sides of the A3 size sheet. Then, with the A3 size paper sandwiched between the width adjusting members 26,
The width adjusting members 26 are moved to the front side of the apparatus by the same amount, and the movement of the width adjusting members 26 is controlled so that the trailing edge of the sheet comes to the stapling position P of the stapling apparatus 25. When the paper size is A4 size or B5 size as shown in, for example, FIGS. 8A and 8C, the width adjusting member 26 is provided in accordance with each paper size.
Is controlled to move the trailing edge of each sheet to the stapling position P of the stapling device 25. At this time, when the movement amount of the width adjusting member 26 on the device back side is large as shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C, the contact portion 26a of the width adjusting member 26 is on the device back side end surface of the slide tray 36. Upon contact, the slide tray 36 is pushed toward the front side of the apparatus against the spring force of the spring 38. Therefore, the slide tray 36 moves with the paper and always supports the rear end portion of the paper.

When the trailing edge of the sheet is moved to the stapling position P of the stapling device 25 in step S8, the program proceeds to step S9, and the stapling device 25 is operated in step S9. As a result, the bundle of sheets in the bin 23 is bound. In step S10, it is determined whether or not the binding process has been performed on all the sheet bundles distributed and stored in the bin 23. If the binding process has not been performed for all the bins 23, the process proceeds to step S11. Step S
In 11, the bin drive system 24 moves the next bin 23 to the height position where the stapling device 25 is provided, and the operations of steps S7 to S9 are executed. When it is determined that the binding process is completed for all the bins 23 in which the sheets are stored by repeatedly executing the above-described operations in steps S7 to S11, the process proceeds from program step S10 to step S12.

In step S12, the bottom or top bin 23 is opened 4
Move to position 5. Next, in step S13, the solenoid 57 is turned on to move the shutter 56 downward to open the opening 45. This state is shown in FIGS. 4B and 5B. Here, as described above, the paper stopper portion 40 at the rear end of the slide tray 36 is urged toward the partition frame 21 by the spring. Therefore, when the shutter 56 moves downward,
The paper stopper portion 40 rotates 90 ° clockwise in FIG. 4A and becomes flush with the paper loading surface of the slide tray 36. In this way, when the paper stopper portion 40 falls down, the bin 23 is arranged so that the tip of the bin 23 inclines upward, so that the bundle of paper sheets stored in the bin 23 follows the stack guide 27 along the stack portion 27. It falls inside due to its own weight.

A photo sensor (bin discharge sensor 63) for detecting that the sheet bundle has passed is provided in the opening 45 portion,
It is confirmed by the sensor 63 that the bundle of sheets has dropped onto the stack unit 27. If it is confirmed in step S14 that the stack of sheets has dropped onto the stack unit 27, the program proceeds to step S1.
Go to 5. In step S15, the solenoid 57 is turned off. As a result, the shutter 56 is moved upward by the spring 58, and the opening 45 is closed.

Next, in step S16, it is determined whether or not the discharge processing has been completed for all the bins 23 containing the bound sheets. If not completed for all the bins, the process proceeds to step S17, the next bin 23 is moved to the opening 45 portion, and the process returns to step S12. In this way, the operations of steps S12 to S17 are repeatedly executed until the discharging process is completed for all the bins containing the bundle of sheets. When the discharging process for all the bins 23 is completed, one cycle of the sorting process, the binding process, and the discharging process is completed.

Here, for example, the number of bins 23 is 20 and the set number is 40.
In the case of one sheet, the processing shown in FIG. 7 is repeatedly executed for two cycles.

In such an embodiment, the sorting process and the binding process can be executed for the number of copies equal to or larger than the number of bins 23 without the operator's hand, and a large amount of copying process can be executed in a short time.

Further, since the paper is moved to the staple position by the width adjusting member 26 for performing width adjustment of the paper,
A special device for moving the sheet to the stapling position is unnecessary, and the configuration is simple. Further, since the sheet is moved to the stapling position, the stapling device 25 can be arranged at a position that does not hinder the discharging operation and the bin moving operation, and a mechanism for moving the stapling device 25 is unnecessary. Becomes

Here, in the type in which the stapling device moves, the number of sheets is 20 because the load at the time of stapling also affects the moving mechanism.
In many cases, the number of sheets is limited, and if an attempt is made to increase the number of sheets, the stapling device itself becomes large, so that a large moving space can be taken and the moving mechanism must have a structure capable of withstanding the load. However, if the stapling device 25 is of a fixed type as in this embodiment, even if the stapling device 25 itself becomes large (capable of binding 50 sheets), only the structure for supporting it needs to be strengthened. become.

Further, since both ends of the width-adjusted sheets are gripped by the width-adjusting member 26 and the sheets are moved to the staple position while maintaining the aligned state, it is possible to prevent the sheets from being displaced or floating during the movement. .

Furthermore, the paper stack stored in the bin 23 is
Since it is dropped to the stack section 27 by its own weight only by the opening / closing operation of, the mechanism for discharging the paper to the stack section 27 becomes very simple.

Further, since the stack portion 27 is provided below the transport path 22 which is a dead space in the conventional device, the space can be effectively used and a compact device can be realized.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, in the first aspect of the invention, since the width aligning member that aligns the width of the sheet is used to move the sheet bundle to the staple position while being held, a special device for moving the sheet is provided. It is not necessary and the structure is simple, and the paper is less likely to be displaced or lifted during movement.
Further, the stapling device can be arranged at a position where it does not interfere with the movement of the sheet receiver and the sheet discharging operation, and the mechanism for moving the stapling device becomes unnecessary.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the paper receiver is arranged so as to be inclined, the paper stopper portion at the rear end is made rotatable, and when the paper receiver reaches a predetermined position, the paper stopper portion is rotated so that the weight of the paper stack is reduced. Thus, the sorting process and the binding process with the number of copies equal to or larger than the number of bins can be performed by a very simple mechanism.

Further, according to the third aspect of the invention, since the stack section is arranged below the conveying path provided between the image forming apparatus discharge section and the sorting section, no special space for the stack section is required, and a compact apparatus is realized. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic sectional configuration diagram of a copying machine in which an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is adopted, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a sorter portion of the copying machine, and FIG. 3 is III- of FIG. III cross section,
4A and 4B are partial front sectional views for explaining the operation of the shutter mechanism of the sorter, FIGS. 5A and 5B are partial side views for explaining the operation of the shutter mechanism, and 6 is a control block diagram of the sorter, FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the sorter, FIG. 8A, FIG.
8B and 8C are plan views for explaining the operation of the width adjusting member. 1 ... Copier body, 3 ... sorter, 22 ... transport system, 23 ...
… Bin, 24 …… Bin drive system, 25 …… Staple device, 26
...... Width adjusting member, 40 ...... stopper part, 43 ...... width adjusting motor, 45 ...... opening, 55 ...... shutter mechanism, 56 ...... shutter, 57 ...... solenoid, 60 ...... sorter control part.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A paper receiver for storing the supplied paper, a staple device for binding the paper stored in the paper receiver, and each of which is movable in the width direction of the paper in the paper receiver. A staple sorter comprising: a pair of width adjusting members for contacting both ends of the sheet to adjust the width of the sheet and for moving the sheet bundle to a stapling position of the stapling device during stapling. 2. A plurality of the paper receivers are arranged in the vertical direction and are movable in the vertical direction. The paper receivers accommodate the supplied papers, and the downstream end of the paper in the paper supply direction is compared with the upstream end. When the plurality of sheet receivers come to predetermined positions after being bound by the stapling device after being arranged so as to be positioned upward and having a rotatable sheet stopper at the upstream end, the sheet receivers The staple according to claim 1, further comprising: a rotating unit that rotates the sheet stopper unit so that the sheet bundle inside the sheet stack is discharged; and a stack unit that accommodates the sheet bundle falling from the sheet receiver. Sorter. 3. The sheet receiver comprises a sorting section for distributing and storing sheets discharged from a discharging section arranged on the side of the image forming apparatus, a discharging section of the image forming apparatus and the sorting section. A stacking unit that is provided between the sorting units and has a transporting path for transporting the sheets, is disposed below the transporting path, and stores a stack of sheets bound by the stapling device. The staple sorter according to claim 1 or 2.