This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-105860, filed on May 25, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Embodiments described here generally relate to a sheet processing apparatus.
There is known a post-processing apparatus, which performs post-processing on sheets transported from an image-forming apparatus. The post-processing apparatus includes a processing tray and a standby tray. In the processing tray, post-processing is performed. The standby tray is provided above the processing tray. During the post-processing performed on sheets in the processing tray, the standby tray temporarily retains subsequent sheets. When the processing tray becomes empty, the standby tray drops the retained sheets toward the processing tray. In the post-processing apparatus, it is desirable that sheets be stably moved from the standby tray to the processing tray. When the post-processing apparatus is provided with a mechanism to stably move sheets from the standby tray to the processing tray, however, increase in size of the post-processing apparatus may be caused.
According to one embodiment, a sheet processing apparatus includes a first tray, a second tray, a first member, a second member, and an interlocking unit. The first tray holds a transported sheet. The second tray is provided below the first tray and holds the sheet moved from the first tray. The first member presses a first portion of the sheet toward the second tray, when the sheet is moved from the first tray to the second tray. The second member presses a second portion of the sheet toward the second tray, when the sheet is moved from the first tray to the second tray. The second portion of the sheet is located downstream of the first portion of the sheet in a transport direction of the sheet to the first tray. The interlocking unit interlocks a pressing operation of the first member and a pressing operation of the second member.
Hereinafter, a sheet processing apparatus of each embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that in the following description, configurations having an identical or similar function are denoted by an identical reference symbol, and overlapping description thereof may be omitted.
(First Embodiment)
A sheet processing apparatus of a first embodiment will be described with reference to
The image-forming apparatus 2 includes a control panel 11, a scanner 12, a printer 13, a paper feed unit 14, a paper discharge unit 15, and an image-forming control unit 16.
The control panel 11 includes various keys that receive user's operations. For example, the control panel 11 receives an input on a type of post-processing performed on sheets. The control panel 11 transmits information on the input type of post-processing to the post-processing apparatus 3.
The scanner 12 includes a read section that reads image information of an object to be duplicated. The scanner 12 transmits the read image information to the printer 13. The printer 13 forms an output image (hereinafter, described as “toner image”) by a developer such as toner on the basis of the image information transmitted from the scanner 12 or an external device. The printer 13 transfers the toner image onto a surface of a sheet. The printer 13 applies heat and pressure to the toner image transferred onto the sheet, to fix the toner image onto the sheet.
The paper feed unit 14 supplies sheets to the printer 13 one by one at a timing at which the printer 13 forms a toner image. The paper discharge unit 15 transports the sheets, which are discharged from the printer 13, to the post-processing apparatus 3.
The image-forming control unit 16 controls an overall operation of the image-forming apparatus 2. In other words, the image-forming control unit 16 controls the control panel 11, the scanner 12, the printer 13, the paper feed unit 14, and the paper discharge unit 15. The image-forming control unit 16 is a control circuit including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory), for example.
Next, the post-processing apparatus (sheet processing apparatus) 3 will be described. First, an overall configuration of the post-processing apparatus 3 will be described. As shown in
The standby unit 21 temporarily retains (buffers) sheets S (see
The processing unit 22 performs post-processing on the sheets S. For example, the processing unit 22 aligns the plurality of sheets S. The processing unit 22 performs stapling processing on the plurality of aligned sheets S. As a result, the plurality of sheets S are bound together. The processing unit 22 discharges the sheets S, which are subjected to the post-processing, to the discharge unit 23.
The discharge unit 23 includes a fixed tray 23a and a movable tray 23b. The fixed tray 23a is provided to an upper portion of the post-processing apparatus 3. The movable tray 23b is provided to a side portion of the post-processing apparatus 3. The fixed tray 23a and the movable tray 23b hold the sheets S that are subjected to the sorting processing and then discharged, for example.
The post-processing control unit 24 controls an overall operation of the post-processing apparatus 3. In other words, the post-processing control unit 24 controls the standby unit 21, the processing unit 22, and the discharge unit 23. Further, as shown in
Next, configurations of the sections of the post-processing apparatus 3 will be described in detail. It should be noted that in description on the following embodiments, a “sheet transport direction” means a transport direction D of the sheets S of the standby unit 21 to a standby tray 41 (entry direction of the sheets S to the standby tray 41). Further, in the description on the following embodiments, an “upstream side” and a “downstream side” mean an upstream side and a downstream side in the sheet transport direction D, respectively. Further, in the description on the following embodiments, a “front end” and a “rear end” mean an “end of the downstream side” and an “end of the upstream side” in the sheet transport direction D, respectively. Additionally, in the description on the following embodiments, a direction that is substantially parallel to an upper surface (transport surface) 45b of the standby tray 41 and is substantially orthogonal to the sheet transport direction D is described as a sheet width direction W.
The transport path 31 is provided inside the post-processing apparatus 3. The transport path 31 includes a sheet supply port 31p and a sheet discharge port 31d. The sheet supply port 31p faces the image-forming apparatus 2. The sheets S are supplied from the image-forming apparatus 2 to the sheet supply port 31p. Meanwhile, the sheet discharge port 31d is located near the standby unit 21. The sheets S that have passed through the transport path 31 are discharged from the sheet discharge port 31d to the standby unit 21.
The inlet rollers 32a and 32b are provided near the sheet supply port 31p. The inlet rollers 32a and 32b transport the sheets S, which have been supplied to the sheet supply port 31p, toward the downstream side of the transport path 31. For example, the inlet rollers 32a and 32b transport the sheets S, which have been supplied to the sheet supply port 31p, to the outlet rollers 33a and 33b.
The outlet rollers 33a and 33b are provided near the sheet discharge port 31d. The outlet rollers 33a and 33b receive the sheets S transported by the inlet rollers 32a and 32b. The outlet rollers 33a and 33b transport the sheets S from the sheet discharge port 31d to the standby unit 21.
Next, the standby unit 21 will be described. The standby unit 21 includes a standby tray (buffer tray) 41, an opening and closing drive unit 42 (see
The standby tray 41 is an example of a “first tray”. The rear end of the standby tray 41 is located near the outlet rollers 33a and 33b. The rear end of the standby tray 41 is located to be slightly lower than the sheet discharge port 31d of the transport path 31. The standby tray 41 is tilted with respect to a horizontal direction so as to gradually increase in height toward the downstream side of the sheet transport direction D. During post-processing performed on preceding sheets in the processing unit 22, the standby tray 41 holds a plurality of subsequent sheets S in an overlapping manner in order to keep the plurality of subsequent sheets S waiting.
The standby tray 41 includes a bottom wall 45 and side walls (not shown). The bottom wall 45 includes a lower surface 45a and an upper surface (transport surface) 45b. The bottom wall 45 supports the sheets S from below. The side walls support side portions in the sheet width direction W of the sheets S.
The opening and closing drive unit 42 can drive the first tray member 46a and the second tray member 46b in the mutually approaching direction and the mutually separating direction. In the case where the sheets S wait in the standby tray 41, the opening and closing drive unit 42 drives the first tray member 46a and the second tray member 46b so as to approach each other. As a result, the sheets S are supported by the first tray member 46a and the second tray member 46b. Meanwhile, in the case where the sheets S are moved from the standby tray 41 toward a processing tray 61 of the processing unit 22, the opening and closing drive unit 42 drives the first tray member 46a and the second tray member 46b so as to separate from each other. As a result, the sheets S supported by the standby tray 41 drop toward the processing tray 61 from a gap between the first tray member 46a and the second tray member 46b. As a result, the sheets S are moved from the standby tray 41 to the processing tray 61.
The transport guide 43 (assist guide) is an example of a “first member (first pressing member, first biasing member)”.
As shown in
The transport guide 43 of this embodiment is movable between a standby position (see
Next, the paddle unit 34 will be described. As described in
The rotating shaft 49 is the center of rotation of the rotating body 50 of the paddle unit 34. The rotating shaft 49 extends in the sheet width direction W. The paddle unit 34 is rotated about the rotating shaft 49 in a direction of an arrow A in
The first paddles 51 and the second paddles 52 protrude from the rotating body 50 in a radial direction of the rotating body 50. The first paddles 51 and the second paddles 52 are each formed of an elastic member such as rubber. The first paddles 51 are rotated at a timing at which the sheets S are moved from the standby tray 41 toward the processing tray 61, to hit the sheets S toward the processing tray 61. As a result, also in the case where the sheets S stick to the transport guide 43, the sheets S are reliably removed from the transport guide 43.
The second paddles 52 are located behind the respective first paddles 51 in the rotation direction of the rotating body 50 of the paddle unit 34. The length of each second paddle 52 is larger than that of each first paddle 51 in the radial direction of the rotating body 50. The second paddles 52 are rotated to come into contact with the upper surface of a sheet S, which is located in an uppermost position in the plurality of sheets S that have dropped on the processing tray 61. The second paddles 52 are further rotated in the state of being in contact with the upper surface of the sheet S, and thus moves the sheets S toward the stapler 62.
Next, the processing unit 22 will be described. The processing unit 22 includes the processing tray 61, the stapler 62, transport rollers 63a and 63b, and a transport belt 64.
The processing tray 61 is an example of a “second tray”. The processing tray 61 is provided below the standby tray 41.
The processing tray 61 is tilted with respect to the horizontal direction so as to gradually increase in height toward the downstream side of the sheet transport direction D.
For example, the processing tray 61 is tilted substantially parallel to the standby tray 41. The processing tray 61 aligns the plurality of sheets S moved from the standby tray 41 in the sheet width direction W and the sheet transport direction D by an alignment plate or the like.
The stapler 62 is provided to an end of the processing tray 61. The stapler 62 performs stapling (binding) processing on a batch of a predetermined number of sheets S located on the processing tray 61.
The transport rollers 63a and 63b are disposed with a predetermined interval therebetween in the sheet transport direction D. The transport belt 64 is stretched over the transport rollers 63a and 63b. The transport belt 64 is rotated in synchronization with the transport rollers 63a and 63b. The transport belt 64 transports the sheets S between the stapler 62 and the discharge unit 23.
Next, the drop mechanism 70 that drops the sheets S will be described in details.
First, the transport guide 43 will be described. As described above, the transport guide 43 is movable between the standby position and the protruding position. In the case where the sheets S are moved from the standby tray 41 toward the processing tray 61, the transport guide 43 moves from the standby position to the protruding position. Thus, the transport guide 43 can press a first portion Sa of the sheets S (see
Specifically, as shown in
As shown in
Further,
From a different perspective, the pressing portion 82 of the transport guide 43 descends below a base 54 of at least one of the paddles 51 and 52 in the direction substantially parallel to the upper surface 61a of the processing tray 61.
It should be noted that the base 54 of each of the paddles 51 and 52 is a boundary portion between each of the paddles 51 and 52 and the rotating body 50. In other words, the pressing portion 82 of the transport guide 43 descends below an upper end of the rotating body 50 (see a virtual line L2 in
According to such a configuration, the sheets S can be stably pressed by the transport guide 43 up to a position near the processing tray 61. Further, according to the configuration described above, a contact direction T of the first and second paddles 51 and 52 with respect to the sheets S is unlikely to be oriented in the opposite direction to the stapler 62. In other words, it is possible to prevent the paddles 51 and 52 from strongly pressing the sheets S toward the opposite direction to the stapler 62. This makes it easier to efficiently transport the sheets S, which have dropped on the processing tray 61, toward the stapler 62.
Next, the pressing member 71 will be described. The pressing member 71 is an example of a “second member (second pressing member, second biasing member)”. As shown in
In this embodiment, the pressing member 71 is located between the turning shaft 81 and the pressing portion 82 of the transport guide 43 in the sheet transport direction D. As shown in
Specifically, the pressing member 71 can press a second portion Sb of the sheets S. The second portion Sb of the sheets S is located downstream of the first portion Sa of the sheets S in the sheet transport direction D. The second portion Sb of the sheets S is a portion on the downstream side relative to the center portion of the sheets S in the sheet transport direction D. For example, the second portion Sb of the sheets S may be the front end of the sheets S. In other words, according to this embodiment, in the case where the sheets S are moved from the standby tray 41 toward the processing tray 61, a plurality of portions (first portion Sa and second portion Sb) of the sheets S in the sheet transport direction D are pressed toward the processing tray 61.
As shown in
Next, the interlocking unit 72 will be described. The interlocking unit 72 interlocks the transport guide 43 and the pressing member 71. Specifically, as shown in
The drive member 91 is a member to move the transport guide 43 from the standby position to the protruding position. As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Next, an operation flow of the post-processing apparatus 3 will be described.
Here, the sheets S are held in a state of being placed on the standby tray 41 obliquely tilted. Thus, the second portion Sb of the sheets S is located at a higher position than the first portion Sa. Thus, if the second portion Sb of the sheets S starts to drop earlier than the first portion Sa, the drop balance of the sheets S may be disturbed. In this regard, in this embodiment, a timing at which the pressing members 71 come into contact with the second portion Sb of the sheets S is adjusted to get behind a timing at which the transport guide 43 comes into contact with the first portion Sa of the sheets S. Thus, the first portion Sa of the sheets S starts to drop reliably earlier than the second portion Sb of the sheets S. As a result, the drop of the sheets S is liable to be stable.
According to the post-processing apparatus 3 having the configuration as described above, the sheets S can be stably moved, and downsizing can also be achieved. In general, in the post-processing apparatus, it is desirable to stably move sheets from the standby tray to the processing tray. Thus, in the case where the sheets are moved from the standby tray toward the processing tray, it is desirable for the post-processing apparatus to press a plurality of portions, such as a front end and a rear end, of the sheets in the sheet transport direction toward the processing tray. However, if a drive source of a mechanism to press the front end of the sheets and a drive source of a mechanism to press the rear end of the sheets are provided separately, the enlargement of the post-processing apparatus may be caused.
Meanwhile, the post-processing apparatus 3 of this embodiment includes the standby tray 41, the processing tray 61, the transport guide 43, the pressing members 71, and the interlocking unit 72. The processing tray 61 is provided below the standby tray 41. In the case where the sheets S are moved from the standby tray 41 toward the processing tray 61, the transport guide 43 can press the first portion Sa of the sheets S toward the processing tray 61. In the case where the sheets S are moved from the standby tray 41 toward the processing tray 61, the pressing members 71 can press the second portion Sb of the sheets S toward the processing tray 61, the second portion Sb of the sheets S being located downstream of the first portion Sa of the sheets S in the sheet transport direction D. The interlocking unit 72 interlocks the transport guide 43 and the pressing members 71.
According to such a configuration, in the case where the sheets S are moved from the standby tray 41 toward the processing tray 61, a plurality of portions Sa and Sb of the sheets S in the sheet transport direction D can be pressed toward the processing tray 61 by the transport guide 43 and the pressing members 71. Thus, the sheets S are liable to be moved more stably from the standby tray 41 toward the processing tray 61. Further, according to the configuration described above, the transport guide 43 and the pressing members 71 are interlocked to move by the interlocking unit 72. Thus, one drive source 73 can drive both the transport guide 43 and the pressing members 71. Thus, compared with a case where a drive source of a mechanism to press the first portion Sa of the sheets S and a drive source of a mechanism to press the second portion Sb of the sheets S are provided separately, downsizing and reduction in cost of the post-processing apparatus 3 can be achieved.
In this embodiment, the first portion Sa of the sheets S is a portion located upstream of the center portion of the sheets S in the sheet transport direction D. The second portion Sb of the sheets S is a portion located downstream of the center portion of the sheets S in the sheet transport direction D.
According to such a configuration, each of the front end and the rear end of the sheets S in the sheet transport direction D is pressed toward the processing tray 61. Thus, the sheets S are liable to be moved more stably from the standby tray 41 toward the processing tray 61.
In this embodiment, the interlocking unit 72 is coupled to the drive shaft 73a of the drive source 73. The interlocking unit 72 moves the transport guide 43 and the pressing members 71 toward the processing tray 61 along with the rotation of the drive shaft 73a.
According to such a configuration, both the movement of the transport guide 43 and the movement of the pressing members 71 are interlocked with the rotation of one drive shaft 73a. According to the interlocking unit 72 having the configuration as described above, it is possible to interlock the transport guide 43 and the pressing members 71 by a relatively simple configuration. As a result, the post-processing apparatus 3 can be further downsized.
In this embodiment, in the case where the sheets S enter the standby tray 41, the transport guide 43 is located above the standby tray 41. Further, in the case where the sheets S are moved from the standby tray 41 toward the processing tray 61, the transport guide 43 moves downward below the lower surface 45a of the standby tray 41.
According to such a configuration, in the case where the sheets S enter the standby tray 41, the transport guide 43 does not inhibit the entry of the sheets S. Additionally, in the case where the sheets S are moved from the standby tray 41 toward the processing tray 61, the transport guide 43 can press the sheets S downward below the lower surface 45a of the standby tray 41. Thus, the sheets S are reliably dropped below the standby tray 41 by the transport guide 43. If the sheets S are reliably dropped below the standby tray 41, it is possible to prevent the sheets S from being caught in the standby tray 41 in which the first tray member 46a and the second tray member 46b are opened in a mutually separating direction and then approaches each other to be closed again. As a result, the sheets S are liable to be moved more stably from the standby tray 41 toward the processing tray 61.
In this embodiment, in the case where the sheets S enter the standby tray 41, the pressing members 71 are located above the standby tray 41. Further, in the case where the sheets S are moved from the standby tray 41 toward the processing tray 61, the pressing members 71 protrude to substantially the same position as at least the lower surface 45a of the standby tray 41.
According to such a configuration, in the case where the sheets S enter the standby tray 41, the pressing members 71 do not inhibit the entry of the sheets S. Additionally, in the case where the sheets S are moved from the standby tray 41 toward the processing tray 61, the pressing members 71 can press the sheets S to substantially the same position as the lower surface 45a of the standby tray 41. Thus, the sheets S are reliably dropped below the standby tray 41 by the transport guide 43. If the sheets S are reliably dropped below the standby tray 41, it is possible to prevent the sheets S from being caught in the standby tray 41, which is opened and then closed again. As a result, the sheets S are liable to be moved more stably from the standby tray 41 toward the processing tray 61.
In this embodiment, the transport guide 43 includes the turning shaft 81 and the pressing portion 82. The turning shaft 81 is the center of turn of the transport guide 43.
The pressing portion 82 is located on the opposite side to the turning shaft 81 and comes into contact with the sheets S. The pressing members 71 protrude toward the processing tray 61 at positions between the turning shaft 81 and the pressing portion 82 of the transport guide 43 in the sheet transport direction D. According to such a configuration, even in the case where a relatively large member is adopted as the transport guide 43, the whole of the drop mechanism 70 including the transport guide 43 and the pressing members 71 can be relatively made small. As a result, the post-processing apparatus 3 can be further downsized.
From a different perspective, in this embodiment, the turning shaft 81 of the transport guide 43 is provided on the downstream side relative to the pressing members 71 in the sheet transport direction D. Further, the pressing portion 82 of the transport guide 43 is provided on the upstream side relative to the pressing members 71 in the sheet transport direction D.
According to such a configuration, a distance between the turning shaft 81 and the pressing portion 82 is relatively large. Thus, the transport guide 43 moves downward in a relatively gentle arc. Here, if the transport guide 43 moves downward in a relatively sharp arc, when the transport guide 43 comes into contact with the sheets S, force directed in the opposite direction to the stapler 62 may act on the sheets S. When the force directed in the opposite direction to the stapler 62 acts on the sheets S, the sheets S drop on the processing tray 61 while moving in a separating direction from the stapler 62. This makes it difficult to efficiently transport the sheets S, which have dropped on the processing tray 61, toward the stapler 62. Meanwhile, in this embodiment, the transport guide 43 moves downward in a relatively gentle arc. Thus, when the transport guide 43 comes into contact with the sheets S, the force directed in the opposite direction to the stapler 62 is difficult to act on the sheets S. Thus, it is possible to efficiently transport the sheets S, which have dropped on the processing tray 61, toward the stapler 62.
In this embodiment, in the case where the sheets S are moved from the standby tray 41 toward the processing tray 61, the pressing members 71 protrude downward below at least a part of the transport guide 43. According to such a configuration, it is possible to sufficiently press a portion of the sheets S, which cannot be sufficiently pressed by the transport guide 43, by the pressing members 71. As a result, the sheets S are liable to be moved more stably.
In this embodiment, in the case where the sheets S are moved from the standby tray 41 toward the processing tray 61, after the transport guide 43 comes into contact with the sheets S, the interlocking unit 72 synchronizes the transport guide 43 and the pressing members 71 with each other such that the pressing members 71 come into contact with the sheets S. According to such a configuration, the rear end of the sheets S can be started to drop earlier than the front end of the sheets S. Thus, the sheets S are liable to be moved more stably. Here, in this embodiment, the transport guide 43 and the pressing members 71 are mechanically synchronized with each other by the interlocking unit 72. Thus, a timing at which the transport guide 43 presses the first portion Sa of the sheets S and a timing at which pressing members 71 press the second portion Sb of the sheets S can be accurately adjusted. As a result, the sheets S are liable to be moved more stably.
(Second Embodiment)
Next, a post-processing apparatus 3 of a second embodiment will be described. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that each pressing member 71 and each drive member 91 are not cams but racks and pinion gears. It should be noted that the other configurations of this embodiment are similar to those of the first embodiment. Therefore, description of portions similar to the first embodiment will be omitted.
Similarly, the drive member 91 of this embodiment includes a second rack 105 and a second pinion gear 106. The second rack 105 includes cogs on one surface thereof. The second rack 105 is attached to the transport guide 43. The second rack 105 is supported to be movable toward the processing tray 61. The second pinion gear 106 is attached to the coupling shaft 96. The second pinion gear 106 is engaged with the second rack 105. When the coupling shaft 96 rotates, the second pinion gear 106 rotates. When the second pinion gear 106 rotates, the second rack 105 moves the transport guide 43 toward the processing tray 61.
According to such a configuration, as in the first embodiment, the sheets S can be stably moved, and downsizing of the post-processing apparatus 3 can also be achieved.
(Third Embodiment)
Next, a post-processing apparatus 3 of a third embodiment will be described. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that each pressing member 71 has a corrugation function. It should be noted that the other configurations of this embodiment are similar to those of the first embodiment. Therefore, description of portions similar to the first embodiment will be omitted.
Specifically, in the case where the pressing members 71 are rotated in the orientation of an arrow B1 in
Meanwhile, in the case where the pressing members 71 are rotated by a predetermined angle in the orientation of an arrow B2 in
In the case where the pressing members 71 are rotated by the predetermined angle in the orientation of the arrow B2, the pressing members 71 protrude downward below an upper surface (transport surface) 45b of the standby tray 41 in a space between a pair of tray members 46a and 46b. In other words, the state of the pressing members 71 changes from a state shown in
According to such a configuration, as in the first embodiment, the sheets S can be stably moved, and downsizing of the post-processing apparatus 3 can also be achieved. Additionally, according to this embodiment, the sheets S having a size larger than a predetermined size can be stably held.
(Fourth Embodiment)
Next, a post-processing apparatus 3 of a fourth embodiment will be described. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a transport guide 43 and pressing members 71 are disposed in opposite positions to those of the first embodiment in a sheet transport direction D. It should be noted that the other configurations of this embodiment are similar to those of the first embodiment. Therefore, description of portions similar to the first embodiment will be omitted.
In this embodiment, a first portion Sa of sheets S pressed by the transport guide 43 is disposed downstream of the center portion of the sheets S in the sheet transport direction D. A second portion Sb of the sheets S pressed by the pressing members 71 is located upstream of the center portion of the sheets S in the sheet transport direction D.
According to such a configuration, as in the first embodiment, the sheets S can be stably moved, and downsizing of the post-processing apparatus 3 can also be achieved. It should be noted that
The configurations according to the first to fourth embodiments have been described, but the configurations of the respective embodiments are not limited to the examples described above. Those configurations can be combined for applications.
Further, the configurations according to the embodiments are not limited to the examples described above. For example, an example of the sheet processing apparatus may be an image-forming apparatus including an inner finisher within a casing.
According to at least one of the embodiments described above, the post-processing apparatus 3 includes the standby tray 41, the processing tray 61, the transport guide 43, the pressing members 71, and the interlocking unit 72. The processing tray 61 is provided below the standby tray 41. The transport guide 43 can press the first portion Sa of the sheets S in accordance with the movement of the sheets S. In other words, in the case where the sheets S are moved from the standby tray 41 toward the processing tray 61, the transport guide 43 comes into contact with the first portion Sa of the sheets S and presses the first portion Sa of the sheets S toward the processing tray 61. The pressing members can press the second portion Sb of the sheets S, the second portion Sb being located downstream of the first portion Sa of the sheets S. In other words, in the case where the sheets S are moved from the standby tray 41 toward the processing tray 61, the pressing members 71 come into contact with the second portion Sb of the sheets S and press the second portion Sb of the sheets S toward the processing tray 61. The interlocking unit 72 interlocks the above-mentioned pressing operation of the transport guide 43 and the operation of the pressing members 71. As a result, the sheets S can be stably moved, and downsizing of the post-processing apparatus 3 can also be achieved.
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.
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