Sheet sorter with stapler

A sheet sorting apparatus with a stapler, comprising:

• a plurality of bin trays which are arranged substantially vertically with predetermined clearances between adjacent bin trays, which are inclined to provide an inclined sheet receiving surface and which are independently movable substantially in the vertical direction;
• bin tray shifting means for moving said plurality of the bin trays stepwisely substantially in the vertical direction to oppose the respective bin trays to a sheet inlet of said sorting apparatus, while expanding the clearance between the bin tray opposed to the sheet inlet and an upper adjacent bin tray to provide a larger clearance than said predetermined clearances;
• a shaft extending substantially perpendicularly to an extension of the inclined sheet receiving surface;
• and
• stapling means, supported rotatably about said shaft and having a stapling head movable to above the sheet receiving surface in a lateral direction by rotation about said shaft and an anvil movable to below the sheet receiving surface by the rotation, for stapling the sheets interposed between the stapling head and the anvil;
• wherein said bin trays are so disposed that between those ends of adjacent ones of said bin trays which are closer to the sheet inlet are deviated in the direction of movement of the sheet when seen in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sheet receiving surface, and wherein the stapling head is laterally moved using a space provided by the deviation, and wherein the deviation is larger than a sum of a distance from an end of said stapler to a stapling position and a distance from the stapling position to an end of a sheet on said bin tray.

A sheet sorting apparatus with a stapler, comprising:

• a plurality of bin trays which are arranged substantially vertically with predetermined clearances between adjacent bin trays, which are inclined to provide an inclined sheet receiving surface and which are movable substantially in the vertical direction;
• bin tray shifting means for moving said plurality of the bin trays stepwisely substantially in the vertical direction to oppose the respective bin trays to a sheet inlet of said sorting apparatus;
• and
• stapling means, disposed substantially on an extension of the inclined sheet receiving surface and having a stapling head movable to above the sheet receiving surface and an anvil movable to below the sheet receiving surface by the rotation, for stapling the sheets interposed between the stapling head and the anvil;
• wherein said bintrays are so disposed that between those ends of adjacent ones of said bin trays which are closer to the sheet inlet are deviated in the direction of movement of the sheet when seen in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sheet receiving surface, and wherein the stapling head is moved using a space provided by the deviation, and wherein said clearance is smaller than a height of the stapling head.

A sheet sorting apparatus with a stapler, comprising:

• a plurality of bin trays which are arranged substantially vertically with predetermined clearances between adjacent bin trays, which are inclined to provide an inclined sheet receiving surface and which are movable substantially in the vertical direction;
• bin tray shifting means for moving said plurality of the bin trays stepwidely substantially in the vertical direction to oppose the respective bin trays to a sheet inlet of said sorting apparatus;
• and
• a shaft extending substantially perpendicularly to the extension of the inclined sheet receiving surface;
• stapling means, supported rotatably about said shaft and having a stapling head movable to above the sheet receiving surface in a lateral direction by rotation about said shaft and an anvil movable to below the sheet receiving surface by the rotation, for stapling the sheets interposed between the stapling head and the anvil;
• wherein said bin trays are so disposed that between those ends of adjacent ones of said bin trays which are closer to the sheet inlet are deviated in the direction of movement of the sheet when seen in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sheet receiving surface, and wherein the stapling head is laterally moved using a space provided by the deviation, and wherein said clearance is smaller than a height of the stapling head.