Selective sheet loading apparatus

Claim 1

A sheet selective loading apparatus which make groups a given number of sheets discharged on a sheet stacker from a pair of sheet discharge rollers in an image recording apparatus and selectively loads said groups of sheets alternatively on positions separate from each other one on top of another, wherein said pair of sheet discharge rollers are held movably in their axial direction between first and second positions a given distance apart from each other, and comprising means to move said pair of sheet discharge rollers between said two positions; first detecting means to detect that the trailing edge of sheets has left sheet-carrying means upstream of said pair of sheet discharge rollers; second detecting means to detect that the trailing edge of sheets has left said pair of sheet discharge rollers ; and control means which when sheets are to be discharged in a normal position on said sheet stacker, is so programmed that said pair of sheet discharge rollers are held at either said first or second position while they receive and discharge the sheets, and when sheets are to be discharged in another position offset from said normal position, is so programmed that said sheet discharge rollers are held at either said first or second position, said pair of sheet discharge rollers are moved to the other position after said first detecting means has detected the trailing edge of sheets to be discharged at the other position, and are returned to the original position in response to said second detecting means detecting the trailing edge of said sheets and before the leading edge of the following sheet reaches said pair of sheet discharge rollers.