Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A finisher for stapling sheets sequentially driven out of an apparatus, comprising: a frame; a first tray disposed in an upper portion of said frame; stapling means located in a lower portion of said frame; an inlet for receiving a paper sheet driven out of the apparatus; a first path extending from said inlet to said first tray; a second path extending from said inlet to said stapling means; a second tray disposed below said first tray; discharging means directly connected to said second tray for discharging a stack of paper sheets having been stapled by said stapling means onto said second tray; said stapling means comprising a paper receiver, a stapling device for stapling paper sheets loaded on said paper receiver and jogger fences for positioning sheets loaded on said paper receiver; and wherein said discharging means includes a discharge belt directly connecting said stapling means and said second tray to each other, and holding means protruding from said discharge belt for holding a stapled stack of sheets at a side where said sheets are stapled.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
A finisher for stapling sheets sequentially driven out of an apparatus, comprising: a frame; a first tray disposed in an upper portion of said frame; stapling means located in a lower portion of said frame; an inlet for receiving a paper sheet driven out of the apparatus; a first path extending from said inlet to said first tray; a second path extending from said inlet to said stapling means; a second tray disposed below said first tray; discharging means directly connected to said second tray for discharging a stack of paper sheets having been stapled by said stapling means onto said second tray; said stapling means comprising a paper receiver, a stapling device for stapling paper sheets loaded on said paper receiver and jogger fences for positioning sheets loaded on said paper receiver; and wherein said discharging means includes a discharge belt directly connecting said stapling means and said second tray to each other, and holding means protruding from said discharge belt for holding a stapled stack of sheets at a side where said sheets are stapled.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A finisher as claimed in claim 1, wherein said jogger fences function as guide means when said discharging means dicharges the stapled stack of sheets.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A finisher as claimed in claim 1, wherein said discharge belt extends aslant in a nearly vertical direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A finisher as claimed in claim 1, wherein said discharging means further comprises rigidity providing means for providing a stapled stack of sheet with rigidity by deforming said stack in a wave-like configuration in a direction perpendicular to an intended direction of sheet transport.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A finisher as claimed in claim 4, wherein said rigidity providing means comprises pressing means for pressing a stapled stack of sheets in different positions and in a direction perpendicular to a surface of said stapled stack.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A finisher as claimed in claim 1, further comprising staple error detecting means associated with said discharging means and said stapling means for detecting a stapling error.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A finisher as claimed in claim 6, further comprising path control means for replacing said first and second paths with a path to a second tray in response to an output of said staple error detecting means representative of a stapling error.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A finisher as claimed in claim 1, further comprising jam detecting means associated with said discharging means for detecting an error in the discharge of sheets.