Sheet processing apparatus and finisher connecting method

A sheet processing apparatus comprising:

• a finisher connectable to an image forming apparatus and configured to subject sheets sent from the image forming apparatus to first finishing and discharge the sheets;
• a castor attached to a bottom surface of the finisher and including a spring that supports the finisher;
• a processing unit fixed to the image forming apparatus and configured to subject the sheets sent from the image forming apparatus to second finishing and discharge the sheets;
• and
• a connecting mechanism including first and second couplers respectively attached to the processing unit and the finisher, a stud being provided in one of the first and second couplers and a socket into which the stud is inserted being provided in the other to connect the processing unit and the finisher.

A sheet processing apparatus comprising:

• a finisher connectable to an image forming apparatus and configured to subject sheets sent from the image forming apparatus to finishing and discharge the sheets;
• a castor attached to a bottom surface of the finisher and configured to support the finisher;
• a connecting mechanism including first and second couplers respectively attached to the image forming apparatus and the finisher, a stud being provided in one of the first and second couplers and a socket into which the stud is inserted being provided in the other to connect the image forming apparatus and the finisher;
• and
• a spring member attached to a lower part of a surface of the image forming apparatus opposed to the finisher and configured to support the castor of the finisher and expand and contract with weight of the finisher.

A finisher connecting method comprising:

• attaching a first castor configured to support the finisher to a bottom surface of a finisher connectable to an image forming apparatus;
• providing a finishing unit in the finisher configured to subject sheets sent from the image forming apparatus to finishing and discharge the sheets, the finishing unit being capable of being drawn out from the finisher;
• and
• attaching a second castor to a front end in a drawing-out direction of the finishing unit to support the finishing unit with the second castor when the finishing unit is drawn out from the finisher.

A finisher connecting method comprising:

• making a finisher connectable to an image forming apparatus, the finisher being configured to subject sheets sent from the image forming apparatus to first finishing and discharge the sheets;
• attaching a castor including a spring that supports the finisher to a bottom surface of the finisher;
• fixing a processing unit to the image forming apparatus, subjecting the sheets sent from the image forming apparatus to second finishing, and conveying the sheets to finisher;
• and
• attaching first and second couplers respectively to the processing unit and the finisher, providing a stud in one of the first and second couplers, and providing a socket into which the stud is inserted in the other to connect the processing unit and the finisher.

A finisher connecting method comprising:

• making a finisher connectable to an image forming apparatus, the finisher being configured to subject sheets sent from the image forming apparatus to finishing and discharge the sheets;
• attaching a castor to a bottom surface of the finisher and supporting the finisher;
• attaching first and second couplers respectively to the image forming apparatus and the finisher, providing a stud in one of the first and second couplers, and providing a socket into which the stud is inserted in the other to connect the image forming apparatus and the finisher;
• and
• attaching a spring member configured to expand and contract with weight of the finisher to a lower part of a surface of the image forming apparatus opposed to the finisher and supporting the castor of the finisher with the spring member.