Sheet post-process apparatus

Abstract

A waiting tray is provided in a sheet-conveying path and holds sheets if the sheets need to be post-processed. A processing tray receives sheets conveyed from the waiting tray. It may receive sheets conveyed through the sheet-conveying path and coming not via the waiting tray, before the sheets are post-processed. A conveying mechanism is provided, which causes the sheets to fall, due to gravity, from the waiting tray onto a processing tray. A sheet-aligning mechanism aligns the sheets on the processing tray, at their transverse edges and longitudinal edges. On the processing tray, the sheets are post-processed, forming a bundle. The conveying mechanism conveys the bundle of sheets to a storage tray. A gap is provided between the lower surface of the waiting tray and a nip between sheet-feeding rollers that are positioned upstream of the waiting tray and are included in the plurality of rollers.

1 . A sheet post-process apparatus comprising: 
 a plurality of rollers which receive sheets from an MFP and convey the sheets forward;    a waiting tray which is provided in a conveying path and holds the sheets conveyed from the rollers when the sheets need to be post-processed, a gap being provided between the lower surface of the waiting tray and a nip between sheet-feeding rollers included in the plurality of rollers;    a processing tray which holds the sheets conveyed from the waiting tray and the sheets conveyed via the conveying path without being conveyed to the waiting tray, before the sheets are post-processed;    a conveying mechanism which causes the sheets to fall, due to gravity, from the waiting tray onto the processing tray;    a sheet-aligning mechanism which aligns the sheets with one another on the processing tray, at transverse edge and longitudinal edge, thereby forming a bundle of sheets;    a post-process mechanism which performs a post-process on the bundle of sheets on the processing tray;    sheet-conveying means for conveying the bundle of sheets from the processing tray; and    a storage tray which holds the bundle of sheets conveyed from the processing tray.    
     
     
         2 . The sheet post-process apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the waiting tray and the processing tray are inclined and have a rear end each, which is positioned at a lowest position.  
     
     
         3 . The sheet post-process apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheet-aligning mechanism has a longitudinal-alignment unit and a transverse-alignment unit.  
     
     
         4 . The sheet post-process apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the waiting tray has a sheet-alignment mechanism.  
     
     
         5 . The sheet post-process apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a rear end of the processing tray is positioned at upstream of a rear end of the waiting tray.  
     
     
         6 . A sheet post-process apparatus comprising: 
 first means for receiving receive sheets from an MFP and convey the sheets forward;    second means provided in a conveying path, for holding the sheets conveyed from the first means when the sheets need to be post-processed, a gap being provided between the lower surface of the second means and a nip between sheet-feeding rollers included in the first means;    third means for holding the sheets conveyed from the second means and the sheets conveyed via the conveying path without being conveyed to the second means, before the sheets are post-processed;    fourth means for causing the sheets to fall, due to gravity, from the second means onto the third means;    fifth means for aligning the sheets with one another on the third means, at transverse edge and longitudinal edge, thereby forming a bundle of sheets;    sixth means for performing a post-process on the bundle of sheets on the third means;    seventh means for conveying the bundle of sheets from the third means; and    eighth means for holding the bundle of sheets conveyed from the third means.    
     
     
         7 . The sheet post-process apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the second means and the third means are inclined and have a rear end each, which is positioned at a lowest position.  
     
     
         8 . The sheet post-process apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the fifth means has a longitudinal-alignment unit and a transverse-alignment unit.  
     
     
         9 . The sheet post-process apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the waiting tray has a sheet-alignment mechanism.  
     
     
         10 . The sheet post-process apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein a rear end of the third means is positioned at upstream of a rear end of the second means.