Sheet finisher

Claim 2

A sheet finishing apparatus, comprising: stacking means for receiving and stacking plural sheets sequentially discharged; stapling means for acting on a stack of the sheets stacked on said stacking means at a predetermined position of the stack to staple it; discharging means for discharging from said stacking means the sheets stapled by said stapling means; an inlet for allowing manual insertion of sheets to said stacking means; manually operable means for said stapling means; and automatic control means for actuating said stapling means when a preset number of the sheets are stacked on said stacking means, for actuating said discharging means when a stapling operation is completed, for actuating said stapling means in response to said manually operable means, and for not actuating said discharging means even when the stapling operation responsive to said manual means is completed.

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said discharging means including a stopper which retracts from its stopping position to permit the stapled sheets to discharge upon completion of the stapling operation.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said discharging means includes a member for urging the sheets.

Claim 5

An apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising accommodating means for accommodating the stapled sheets discharged by said discharging means, said accommodating means being disposed below said stacking means.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a sensor for detecting whether sheets are stacked on said stacking means, and alignment means for acting on the sheets to abut edges of the sheets to a stopper before stapling when the manually operable means is actuated with the sensor detecting the sheets.

Claim 7

A sheet finishing apparatus, comprising: stacking means for receiving and stacking plural sheets sequentially discharged; stacking means for acting on a stack of the sheets stacked on said stacking means at a predetermined position of the stack to staple it; discharging means for discharging from said stacking means the sheets stapled by said stapling means; and control means for actuating said stapling means when a preset number of the sheets are stacked on said stacking means, for selectively actuating and not actuating said discharging means when a stapling operation is completed.

Claim 8

A sheet finishing apparatus, comprising: stacking means for receiving and stacking plural sheets sequentially discharged; stacking means for acting on a stack of the sheets stacked on said stacking means at a predetermined position of the stack to staple it; discharging means for discharging from said stacking means the sheets stapled by said stapling means; and control means for actuating said stapling means when a preset number of the sheets are stacked on said stacking means, for selectively actuating and not actuating said discharging means when a stapling operation is completed.

Claim 9

An apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising means for instructing a number of stapled bundle of sheets, and said discharging means is prevented from operation when only one stapled bundle of sheets is to be produced.

Claim 10

An apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising means for selecting the number of stapled bundle of sheets to be produced, and means for preventing said discharging means from operating when at least one stapled bundle of sheets is to be produced by an interrupting operation.

Claim 11

A sheet finishing apparatus, comprising: stacking means for receiving and stacking plural sheets sequentially discharged; lateral shifting means movable to urge the sheets on said stacking means to align them with a reference position; stapling means for acting on a stack of the sheets stacked on said stacking means at a predetermined position of the stack to staple it; an inlet for allowing manual insertion of sheets to said stacking means; manually operable means for said stapling means; detecting means for detecting edges of the sheets on said stacking means; control means for controlling said lateral shifting means to move it in accordance with information of a size of the sheets, and for controlling said lateral shifting means to move it until said detecting means detects the edge.

Claim 12

A sheet finishing apparatus, comprising: stacking means for receiving and stacking plural sheets sequentially discharged; lateral shifting means movable to urge the sheets on said stacking means to align them with a reference position; stapling means for acting on a stack of the sheets stacked on said stacking means at a predetermined position of the stack to staple it; an inlet for allowing manual insertion of sheets to said stacking means; manually operable means for said stapling means; detecting means for detecting edges of the sheets on said stacking means; control means for controlling said lateral shifting means to move it in accordance with information of a size of the sheets, and for controlling said lateral shifting means to move it until said detecting means detects the edge.

Claim 13

An apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a fixed stopper at the reference position.

Claim 14

An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said detecting means is so disposed that it detects the edge of the sheet when it abuts the fixed stopper.

Claim 15

An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said detecting means includes a photointerruptor wherein light is blocked by the edge of the sheet when it abuts the fixed stopper.

Claim 16

A sheet finishing apparatus, comprising: stacking means for receiving and stacking plural sheets sequentially discharged; stapling means for acting on a stack of the sheets stacked on said stacking means at a predetermined position of the stack to staple it; an inlet for allowing manual insertion of sheets to said stacking means; manually operable means for said stapling means; detecting means for detecting a thickness of the stack of the sheets stacked on said stacking means; and control means for controlling said stapling means to prevent operation thereof in accordance with information of a number of sheets stacked on said stacking means, and to prevent operation thereof in accordance with information of thickness of the stack of the sheets on said stacking means.

Claim 17

A sheet finishing apparatus, comprising: stacking means for receiving and stacking plural sheets sequentially discharged; stapling means for acting on a stack of the sheets stacked on said stacking means at a predetermined position of the stack to staple it; an inlet for allowing manual insertion of sheets to said stacking means; manually operable means for said stapling means; detecting means for detecting a thickness of the stack of the sheets stacked on said stacking means; and control means for controlling said stapling means to prevent operation thereof in accordance with information of a number of sheets stacked on said stacking means, and to prevent operation thereof in accordance with information of thickness of the stack of the sheets on said stacking means.

Claim 18

An apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a counter for counting a number of the sheets.

Claim 19

An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said detecting means includes an actuator portion movable in accordance with thickness of the stack of the sheets on said stacking means and a switch portion for detecting amount of movement of the actuator portion.

Claim 20

A sheet finishing apparatus, comprising: stacking means for receiving and stacking plural sheets sequentially discharged; stapling means for acting on a stack of the sheets stacked on said stacking means at a predetermined position of the stack to staple it; detecting means for detecting presence or absence of the sheets on said stacking means; and control means for controlling said stapling means to actuate it when said control means receives both information that a preset number of the sheets are stacked on said stacking means and that the sheets are present on said stacking means, and for controlling said stapling means to prevent operation thereof after said stapling means is once operated, until said detecting means detects absence of the sheet.

Claim 21

A sheet finishing apparatus, comprising: stacking means for receiving and stacking plural sheets sequentially discharged; stapling means for acting on a stack of the sheets stacked on said stacking means at a predetermined position of the stack to staple it; detecting means for detecting presence or absence of the sheets on said stacking means; and control means for controlling said stapling means to actuate it when said control means receives both information that a preset number of the sheets are stacked on said stacking means and that the sheets are present on said stacking means, and for controlling said stapling means to prevent operation thereof after said stapling means is once operated, until said detecting means detects absence of the sheet.

Claim 22

An apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising an inlet for allowing manual insertion of sheets to said stacking means and manually operable means associated with said stapling means.

Claim 23

A sheet finishing apparatus, comprising: stacking means for receiving and stacking plural sheets sequentially discharged; stapling means for acting on a stack of the sheets stacked on said stacking means at a predetermined position of the stack to staple it; discharging means for discharging from said stacking means the sheets stapled by said stapling means; an inlet for allowing manual insertion of sheets to said stacking means; manually operable means for said stapling means; and automatic control means for actuating said stapling means when a preset number of the sheets are stacked on said stacking means, for actuating said discharging means when a stapling operation is completed, for actuating said stapling means in response to said manually operable means, and for not actuating said discharging means even when the stapling operation responsive to said manual means is completed; stack thickness detecting means for detecting a thickness of the stack of the sheets stacked on said stacking means; first control means for controlling said stapling means to prevent operation thereof in accordance with information of a number of sheets stacked on said stacking means, and to prevent operation thereof in accordance with information of thickness of the stack of sheets on said stacking means; lateral shifting means movable to urge the sheets on said stacking means to align them with a reference position; sheet edge detecting means for detecting edges of the sheets on said stacking means; second control means for controlling said lateral shifting means to move it in accordance with information of a size of the sheets, and for controlling said lateral shifting means to move it until said detecting means detects the edge.

Claim 24

A sheet finishing apparatus, comprising: stacking means for receiving and stacking plural sheets sequentially discharged; stapling means for acting on a stack of the sheets stacked on said stacking means at a predetermined position of the stack to staple it; discharging means for discharging from said stacking means the sheets stapled by said stapling means; an inlet for allowing manual insertion of sheets to said stacking means; manually operable means for said stapling means; and automatic control means for actuating said stapling means when a preset number of the sheets are stacked on said stacking means, for actuating said discharging means when a stapling operation is completed, for actuating said stapling means in response to said manually operable means, and for not actuating said discharging means even when the stapling operation responsive to said manual means is completed; stack thickness detecting means for detecting a thickness of the stack of the sheets stacked on said stacking means; first control means for controlling said stapling means to prevent operation thereof in accordance with information of a number of sheets stacked on said stacking means, and to prevent operation thereof in accordance with information of thickness of the stack of sheets on said stacking means; lateral shifting means movable to urge the sheets on said stacking means to align them with a reference position; sheet edge detecting means for detecting edges of the sheets on said stacking means; second control means for controlling said lateral shifting means to move it in accordance with information of a size of the sheets, and for controlling said lateral shifting means to move it until said detecting means detects the edge.

Claim 25

A sheet finishing apparatus, comprising: stacking means for receiving and stacking plural sheets sequentially discharged; stapling means for acting on a stack of the sheets stacked on said stacking means at a predetermined position of the stack to staple it; discharging means for discharging from said stacking means the sheets stapled by said stapling means; an inlet for allowing manual insertion of sheets to said stacking means; manually operable means for said stapling means; and automatic control means for actuating said stapling means when a preset number of the sheets are stacked on said stacking means, for actuating said discharging means when a stapling operation is completed, for actuating said stapling means in response to said manually operable means, and for not actuating said discharging means even when the stapling operation responsive to said manual means is completed; stack thickness detecting means for detecting a thickness of the stack of the sheets stacked on said stacking means; first control means for controlling said stapling means to prevent operation thereof in accordance with information of a number of sheets stacked on said stacking means, and to prevent operation thereof in accordance with information of thickness of the stack of sheets on said stacking means; lateral shifting means movable to urge the sheets on said stacking means to align them with a reference position; sheet edge detecting means for detecting edges of the sheets on said stacking means; second control means for controlling said lateral shifting means to move it in accordance with information of a size of the sheets, and for controlling said lateral shifting means to move it until said detecting means detects the edge; sheet detecting means for detecting presence or absence of the sheets on said stacking means; and third control means for controlling said stapling means to actuate it when said control means receives both information that a preset number of the sheets are stacked on said stacking means and that the sheets are present on said stacking means; and for controlling said stapling means to prevent operation thereof after said stapling means is once operated, until said detecting means detects absence of the sheet.

Claim 26

A sheet finishing apparatus, comprising: stacking means for receiving and stacking plural sheets sequentially discharged; stapling means for acting on a stack of the sheets stacked on said stacking means at a predetermined position of the stack to staple it; discharging means for discharging from said stacking means the sheets stapled by said stapling means; an inlet for allowing manual insertion of sheets to said stacking means; manually operable means for said stapling means; and automatic control means for actuating said stapling means when a preset number of the sheets are stacked on said stacking means, for actuating said discharging means when a stapling operation is completed, for actuating said stapling means in response to said manually operable means, and for not actuating said discharging means even when the stapling operation responsive to said manual means is completed; stack thickness detecting means for detecting a thickness of the stack of the sheets stacked on said stacking means; first control means for controlling said stapling means to prevent operation thereof in accordance with information of a number of sheets stacked on said stacking means, and to prevent operation thereof in accordance with information of thickness of the stack of sheets on said stacking means; lateral shifting means movable to urge the sheets on said stacking means to align them with a reference position; sheet edge detecting means for detecting edges of the sheets on said stacking means; second control means for controlling said lateral shifting means to move it in accordance with information of a size of the sheets, and for controlling said lateral shifting means to move it until said detecting means detects the edge; sheet detecting means for detecting presence or absence of the sheets on said stacking means; and third control means for controlling said stapling means to actuate it when said control means receives both information that a preset number of the sheets are stacked on said stacking means and that the sheets are present on said stacking means; and for controlling said stapling means to prevent operation thereof after said stapling means is once operated, until said detecting means detects absence of the sheet.

Claim 27

An image forming apparatus comprising: sheet feeding means for feeding sheets; image forming means for forming images on the sheets fed by said sheet feeding means; a sheet guiding passage for guiding the sheets through said image forming means from an upstream side of said image forming means to a downstream side thereof; means for applying an image formation signal to said image forming means; stacking means for receiving and stacking plural sheets sequentially discharged; stapling means for stapling a stack of sheets stacked on said stacking means at a predetermined positions; discharging means for discharging from said stacking means the sheets stapled by said stapling means; an inlet for allowing manual insertion of sheets to said stacking means; manually operable means for said stapling means; and automatic control means for actuating said stapling means when a preset number of the sheets are stacked on said stacking means, for actuating said discharging means when a stapling operation is completed, for actuating said stapling means in response to said manually operable means, and for not actuating said discharging means even when the stapling operation responsive to said manual means is completed.

Claim 28

An image forming apparatus comprising: sheet feeding means for feeding sheets; image forming means for forming images on the sheets fed by said sheet feeding means; a sheet guiding passage for guiding the sheets through said image forming means from an upstream side of said image forming means to a downstream side thereof; means for applying an image formation signal to said image forming means; stacking means for receiving and stacking plural sheets sequentially discharged; stapling means for stapling a stack of sheets stacked on said stacking means at a predetermined positions; discharging means for discharging from said stacking means the sheets stapled by said stapling means; an inlet for allowing manual insertion of sheets to said stacking means; manually operable means for said stapling means; and automatic control means for actuating said stapling means when a preset number of the sheets are stacked on said stacking means, for actuating said discharging means when a stapling operation is completed, for actuating said stapling means in response to said manually operable means, and for not actuating said discharging means even when the stapling operation responsive to said manual means is completed.

Claim 29

An image forming apparatus, comprising: sheet feeding means for feeding sheets; image forming means for forming images on the sheets fed by said sheet feeding means; a sheet guiding passage for guiding the sheets through said image forming means from an upstream side of said image forming means to a downstream side thereof; means for applying an image formation signal to said image forming means; stacking means for receiving and stacking plural sheets sequentially discharged from said image forming means; stapling means for stapling a stack of sheets stacked on said stacking means at a predetermined position; discharging means for discharging from said stacking means the sheets stapled by said stapling means; and control means for actuating said stapling means when a preset number of the sheets are stacked on said stacking means and for selectively actuating and not actuating said discharging means when the stapling operation is completed.

Claim 30

An image forming apparatus, comprising: sheet feeding means for feeding sheets; image forming means for forming images on the sheets fed by said sheet feeding means; a sheet guiding passage for guiding the sheets through said image forming means from an upstream side of said image forming means to a downstream side thereof; means for applying an image formation signal to said image forming means; stacking means for receiving and stacking plural sheets sequentially discharged from said image forming means; stapling means for stapling a stack of sheets stacked on said stacking means at a predetermined position; discharging means for discharging from said stacking means the sheets stapled by said stapling means; and control means for actuating said stapling means when a preset number of the sheets are stacked on said stacking means and for selectively actuating and not actuating said discharging means when the stapling operation is completed.