Post-processing apparatus

Abstract

A post-processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a processing tray, a post-processing section, a sensor, and a control section. A sheet supplied from an image forming apparatus is led into the processing tray through a lead-in path. The post-processing section applies post-processing to the sheet sent from the processing tray. The sensor detects an object passing a detection space in the lead-in path. The control section controls operation of the post-processing section based on a time in which the sensor detects the object.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A post-processing apparatus, comprising:
 a processing tray into which a sheet supplied from an image forming apparatus is led through a lead-in path;   a post-processing section configured to receive the sheet sent from the processing tray and apply post-processing to the sheet;   a sensor comprising a transmission-type sensor including a light emitting section and a light receiving section that receives light emitted from the light emitting section, and the light emitting section and the light receiving section are arranged to face each other at intervals in the sheet width direction, the sensor configured to detect an object within a detection space formed in the sheet width direction of the lead-in path; and   a control section configured to control operation of the post-processing section based on a result of the sensor detecting the object.   
     
     
         2 . The post-processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the control section is further configured to control operation of the post-processing section based on a time in which the sensor detects the object. 
     
     
         3 . The post-processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the lead-in path is a path through which the sheet is led into the processing tray by dropping from the image forming apparatus and gravity. 
     
     
         4 . The post-processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the post-processing section comprises a stapling section that staples the sheet. 
     
     
         5 . The post-processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a distance of the sensor from a conveyance surface of the processing tray is larger than a thickness of a sheet bundle of a maximum number of sheets that can be stapled. 
     
     
         6 . The post-processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the processing tray receives sheets supplied from the image forming apparatus through a lead-in path and the post-processing section is configured to receive the sheets sent from the processing tray and apply post-processing to the sheets. 
     
     
         7 . The post-processing apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the sheets form a sheet bundle on the processing tray. 
     
     
         8 . The post-processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the post-processing section comprises at least one of a punching section, a folding section, and a bookbinding section. 
     
     
         9 . A post-processing method, comprising:
 supplying a sheet from an image forming apparatus through a lead-in path to a processing tray;   sending the sheet from the processing tray to a post-processing section and apply post-processing to the sheet;   detecting an object within a detection space formed in a sheet width direction of a lead-in path a sensor comprising a transmission-type sensor including a light emitting section and a light receiving section that receives light emitted from the light emitting section, and the light emitting section and the light receiving section are arranged to face each other at intervals in the sheet width direction; and   controlling operation of the post-processing section based on a result of the sensor detecting the object.   
     
     
         10 . The post-processing method according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 controlling operation of the post-processing section based on a time in which the sensor detects the object.   
     
     
         11 . The post-processing method according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 dropping the sheet from the image forming apparatus to the processing tray using gravity.   
     
     
         12 . The post-processing method according to  claim 9 , wherein the post-processing section comprises a stapling section that staples the sheet. 
     
     
         13 . The post-processing method according to  claim 9 , wherein a distance of the sensor from a conveyance surface of the processing tray is larger than a thickness of a sheet bundle of a maximum number of sheets that can be stapled. 
     
     
         14 . The post-processing method according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 supplying sheets from the image forming apparatus through a lead-in path and sending the sheets from the processing tray and applying post-processing to the sheets.   
     
     
         15 . The post-processing method according to  claim 14 , wherein the sheets form a sheet bundle on the processing tray. 
     
     
         16 . The post-processing method according to  claim 9 , wherein the post-processing section comprises at least one of a punching section, a folding section, and a bookbinding section.