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. The waiting trays have sidewalls, each having at least one part that is inclined outwards.

1 . (canceled) 
   
   
       2 . A sheet handling apparatus, comprising:
 a roller configured to convey a sheet in a conveying direction;   a first tray configured to support a part of the sheet and configured to move to left of the conveying direction;   a second tray configured to support the other part of the sheet supported by the first tray, and configured to move to right of the conveying direction;   a first wall configured to move together with the first tray, a top of the first wall inclining from vertical to the left of the conveying direction;   a second wall configured to move together with the second tray, a top of the second wall inclining from vertical to the right of the conveying direction; and   a third tray configured to receive the sheet fell off through a gap between the first tray and the second tray.   
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a mechanism configured to change an angle of inclination of the first wall.   
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a mechanism configured to change an angle of inclination of the second wall.   
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a first mechanism configured to change an angle of inclination of the first wall; and   a second mechanism configured to change an angle of inclination of the second wall.   
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a stapler configured to staple the sheet on the third tray.   
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first tray and the second tray have a gap therebetween when the first tray supports the part of the sheet and the second tray supports the other part of the sheet. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first tray inclines from horizontal so as to lower toward the gap. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the second tray inclines from horizontal so as to lower toward the gap. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein both of the first tray and the second tray incline from horizontal so as to lower toward the gap. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an ejector configured to eject the sheet from the third tray.   
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the ejector ejects the sheet in a direction in parallel with the conveying direction in plane view. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a storage tray configured to stack the sheet ejected by the ejector from the third tray.