Abstract A copying machine includes a copying unit, an automatic original feeding unit, and a sorting unit. The sorting unit includes discharging rollers and a tray unit. The tray unit is detachable to a main body and includes a plurality of trays which are detachably connected to the tray unit. The discharging rollers are located in the main body and moves upward and downward. The sorting unit further includes a tray detecting device which detects the position of a tray of the tray unit. Before the copying unit makes a copy, the detecting device detects the tray unit and each tray of the tray unit. When one of the trays is detected, a CPU memorizes the position of the tray and controls the discharging rollers to move upward or downward to the position facing the tray of the tray unit. A sheet from the copying unit is conveyed to the sorting unit. The sorting unit includes a pair of guide plates which define a guide path. The length of the guide path will vary according to the position of the tray in which the sheet is to be discharged.
A sorting apparatus for an image forming apparatus, comprising: discharging means at a fixed position for discharging sheet materials from said image forming apparatus; a tray unit including a plurality of trays defining respective openings arrayed to receive the sheet materials through the openings; distributing means, movable along the arrayed openings of said tray unit and spaced from said discharging means by a distance that varies as said distributing means moves, for distributing the sheet materials discharged from said discharging means to each of the trays; guide means for guiding the conveyance of the sheet materials discharged from said discharging means to said distributing means, said guide means including a first pair of plates of which one set of ends are pivotably mounted at the vicinity of said discharging means to define a first conveyance path therebetween, and a second pair of plates of which one set of ends are pivotably mounted to said distributing means and the other set of ends of said second pair of plates are slidably connected to the other set of ends of said first pair of plates to define a second conveyance path therebetween operatively connecting to the first conveyance path constituting a guide path, the length of the guide path being varied according to said distance.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
213 words
A sorting apparatus for an image forming apparatus, comprising: discharging means at a fixed position for discharging sheet materials from said image forming apparatus; a tray unit including a plurality of trays defining respective openings arrayed to receive the sheet materials through the openings; distributing means, movable along the arrayed openings of said tray unit and spaced from said discharging means by a distance that varies as said distributing means moves, for distributing the sheet materials discharged from said discharging means to each of the trays; guide means for guiding the conveyance of the sheet materials discharged from said discharging means to said distributing means, said guide means including a first pair of plates of which one set of ends are pivotably mounted at the vicinity of said discharging means to define a first conveyance path therebetween, and a second pair of plates of which one set of ends are pivotably mounted to said distributing means and the other set of ends of said second pair of plates are slidably connected to the other set of ends of said first pair of plates to define a second conveyance path therebetween operatively connecting to the first conveyance path constituting a guide path, the length of the guide path being varied according to said distance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first pair of plates is slidably contained within said second pair of plates.