Image forming system

Abstract

An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus that that forms an image on a paper sheet and a sheet finishing device that performs finishing on a paper sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus. The sheet finishing device is disposed beneath the image forming apparatus.

1 . An image forming system comprising:
 an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a paper sheet; and   a sheet finishing device that performs finishing of a paper sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus, wherein   the sheet finishing device includes
 an aligning unit that stacks and aligns a plurality of paper sheets on an alignment tray thereby forming a sheet stack, and 
 a stapling processing unit that performs stapling with respect to the sheet stack, and 
   the sheet finishing device is disposed beneath the image forming apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The image forming system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the stapling processing unit includes
 an edge stapling unit that subjects the sheet stack to edge stapling by stapling an edge of the sheet stack, and 
 a saddle stitching unit that subjects the sheet stack to saddle stitching by stapling a central part of the sheet stack, and 
   the sheet finishing device includes
 a center folding processing unit that subjects the sheet stack to center folding by folding, in center along a sheet conveying direction, the sheet stack subjected to the saddle stitching at the saddle stitching unit, 
 a first discharging tray that houses the sheet stack subjected to the edge stapling at the edge stapling unit, and 
 a second discharging tray that houses the sheet stack subjected to the center folding at the center folding processing unit. 
   
     
     
         3 . The image forming system according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the center folding processing unit includes a configuration to fold a central part of a sheet stack held horizontally in upward direction,   the stapling processing unit includes
 a driver unit including a detachable stapler pin container containing a stapler pin and a stapler pin pushing unit, and 
 a clincher unit that folds a tip of the stapler pin, and 
   the driver unit is disposed beneath the second discharging tray and is configured in such a way that, by opening and closing the second discharging tray entirely or partially, the staple pin container is replaceable.   
     
     
         4 . The image forming system according to  claim 1 , wherein a stapling position in the stapling processing unit is spaced-apart from a door disposed at a front surface of the sheet finishing device by a distance that is about half of a maximum sheet length. 
     
     
         5 . The image forming system according to  claim 2 , wherein a nip portion of a pair of center-folded-sheet discharging rollers that guide the sheet stack subjected to saddle stitching to the second discharging tray is spaced-apart from a door disposed at a front surface of the sheet finishing device by a distance substantially equal to or more than half of a maximum sheet length. 
     
     
         6 . The image forming system according to  claim 2 , wherein
 a folding unit is disposed on an upstream side of the aligning unit in such a way that, when a paper sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus is not to be folded, the paper sheet is conveyed to the aligning unit and, when the paper sheet is to be folded, the paper sheet is guided into the folding unit,   when the folding unit performs Z-folding, a paper sheet subjected to Z-folding is conveyed to the aligning unit that aligns the paper sheet after which the stapling processing unit performs edge stapling and discharges the paper sheet to the first discharging tray, and   when the folding unit performs folding other than Z-folding, a paper sheet subjected to folding is conveyed to the aligning unit that aligns the paper sheet after which the stapling processing unit performs stapling and discharges the paper sheet to the second discharging tray.   
     
     
         7 . The image forming system according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the center folding processing unit and the stapling processing unit are replaceable with a large-capacity edge-stapled-stack tray, and   an edge stapling unit is detachably attached to the aligning unit.   
     
     
         8 . The image forming system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of conveying rollers that are disposed across a conveying path for conveying the sheet stack aligned by the aligning unit to the stapling processing unit, wherein
 each of the pair of conveying rollers is a driving roller.   
     
     
         9 . The image forming system according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the aligning unit includes a sheet rear end fence that determines a position of a rear end of a paper sheet, and   the sheet rear end fence is spaced-apart from a folding position in the center folding processing unit by a distance that is about half of a maximum sheet length.   
     
     
         10 . The image forming system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an edge-stapled-sheet discharging unit including either one of a hole that ensures that conveyance of a sheet stack is not hindered by a door disposed at a front surface of the sheet finishing device and a door that is openable when pushed by a sheet stack from inside.