Sheet processing apparatus and sheet discharge method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019031463-A1
Application number	US-201816147919-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 1, 2018
Priority date	Feb 22, 2017
Publication date	Jan 31, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

In accordance with an embodiment, a sheet processing apparatus comprises a first tray, a second tray, a third tray, a lower supporting plate, a drive section and a control device. The second tray is located at the lower part of the first tray. The third tray is located at a downstream side with respect to the second tray in a sheet conveyance direction. The lower supporting plate can support the sheet from the lower part. The drive section drives the lower supporting plate. The control device controls the drive section to arrange the lower supporting plate at the downstream side with respect to a conveyance starting point of the sheet in the sheet conveyance direction in a case of skipping the first tray and the second tray to convey the sheet to the third tray.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An image forming system, comprising:
a sheet accommodating unit configured to accommodate a plurality of sheets; a printer unit configured to form an image on a sheet from the sheet accommodating unit; a discharging unit configure to discharge the sheet having an image formed thereon; a first tray configured to support a temporarily discharged sheet; a second tray located at a lower part of the first tray configured to carry out a post-processing on sheets; a third tray located at a downstream side with respect to the second tray in a sheet conveyance direction; a sheet supporting plate configured to support the sheet; a drive section configured to drive the sheet supporting plate; and a control device configured to control the drive section to arrange the sheet supporting plate at the downstream side with respect to a conveyance starting point of the sheet in the sheet conveyance direction in a case of skipping the first tray and the second tray to convey the sheet to the third tray.

2 . The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the control device controls the drive section to arrange the sheet supporting plate at the downstream side with respect to the conveyance starting point of the sheet in the sheet conveyance direction in a non-processing mode.

3 . The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the first tray is movable in order to avoid a skip route of the sheet.

4 . The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein
the first tray comprises a first support member and a second support member capable of supporting the sheet from the lower part, wherein the first support member and the second support member are separatable from each other in a sheet width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction in order to avoid the skip route.

5 . The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
a downstream end part of the sheet supporting plate in the sheet conveyance direction is directed towards the third tray at the time of skipping the first tray and the second tray to convey the sheet towards the third tray.

6 . The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an upper part covering section configured to cover the sheet at the time of skipping the first tray and the second tray to convey the sheet towards the third tray.

7 . The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
a downstream end of the second tray is located at the upstream side with respect to an downstream end of the first tray in the sheet conveyance direction.

8 . The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a sheet height maintenance mechanism configured to maintain the height of an uppermost surface of the sheet conveyed to the third tray to a certain height.

9 . The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the control device is configured to convey the sheet from an image forming apparatus directly to the third tray.

10 . A sheet discharge method, comprising:
forming an image on a sheet; discharging the sheet having an image formed thereon; arranging a sheet supporting plate at a downstream side with respect to a conveyance starting point of the sheet in the sheet conveyance direction in a case of skipping a first tray and a second tray to convey the sheet to a third tray.

11 . The sheet discharge method according to claim 10 , wherein
the sheet supporting plate is arranged at the downstream side with respect to the conveyance starting point of the sheet in the sheet conveyance direction in a non-processing mode.

12 . The sheet discharge method according to claim 10 , further comprising:
skipping a first tray and a second tray to convey the sheet to a third tray.

13 . The sheet discharge method according to claim 10 , further comprising:
moving a first tray in order to avoid a skip route of the sheet.

14 . The sheet discharge method according to claim 13 , further comprising:
supporting the sheet from a lower part; and separating a first support member and a second support member from each other in a sheet width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction in order to avoid the skip route.

15 . The sheet discharge method according to claim 10 , further comprising:
directing a downstream end part of the sheet supporting plate in the sheet conveyance direction towards the third tray at the time of skipping the first tray and the second tray to convey the sheet towards the third tray.

16 . The sheet discharge method according to claim 10 , further comprising:
covering the sheet from an upper part at the time of skipping the first tray and the second tray to convey the sheet towards the third tray.

17 . The sheet discharge method according to claim 10 , wherein
an downstream end of the second tray is located at the upstream side with respect to an downstream end of the first tray in the sheet conveyance direction.

18 . The sheet discharge method according to claim 10 , further comprising:
maintaining a height of an uppermost surface of the sheet conveyed to a third tray to a certain height.

19 . The sheet discharge method according to claim 10 , further comprising:
conveying the sheet from an image forming apparatus directly to a third tray.

Assignees

• Toshiba Kk
• Toshiba Tec Kk

Inventors

• Yamamoto Mikio

Classifications

• B65H31/24

  multiple or compartmented, e.d. for alternate, programmed, or selective filling · CPC title

• B65H29/52

  Stationary guides or smoothers · CPC title

• B65H31/02

  with stationary end support against which pile accumulates · CPC title

• B65H2404/693

  Retractable guiding means, i.e. between guiding and non guiding position · CPC title

• B65H2404/61

  Longitudinally-extending strips, tubes, plates, or wires · CPC title