Telescopic paper guide means movable to selected receiving trays

An apparatus for sorting sheets of paper discharged from a predetermined portion comprising:

• means for receiving sheets of paper, said receiving means having a plurality of paper receiving portions stacked in a predetermined direction at predetermined intervals;
• a movable unit movable in the predetermined direction along the paper receiving means;
• first moving means for moving the movable unit to a position facing a desired one of the paper receiving portions;
• means for guiding the sheets of paper discharged from the predetermined portion to the movable unit;
• means arranged on said movable unit, for feeding the sheets of paper guided by the guiding means into the paper receiving means, said feeding means being movable between a feeding position close to the paper receiving means and a position wherein the feeding means is remote from the paper receiving means and prevented from interfering with the paper receiving means;
• and
• second moving means for moving, independently of said first moving means, the feeding means to the feeding position when the feeding means feeds the sheets of paper into the receiving means, and moving the feeding means to the remote position when the movable unit moves in said predetermined direction, said second moving means being mounted on the movable unit and movable together with the movable unit in said predetermined direction.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a body having a fitting portion opening outside;
• means arranged in the body for forming images on image transfer materials;
• a discharge portion for discharging the image transfer materials, on which images are transferred toward the fitting portion;
• and
• a sorter for sorting the image transfer materials discharged from the discharge portion, said sorter including:
• means for receiving the image transfer materials, said receiving means having a plurality of receiving portions and being detachably attached to the fitting portion, the receiving portions being stacked in a predetermined direction at predetermined intervals;
• means for feeding the image transfer materials into the receiving means, said feeding means being movable in the predetermined direction along the receiving means;
• a first moving means for moving the feeding means to a position facing a desired one of the receiving portions;
• means for guiding the image transfer materials discharged from the discharge portion to the feeding means;
• and
• second moving means for moving, independently of said first moving means, the feeding means such that said feeding means approaches from said position to the receiving means when the feeding means feeds the image transfer materials into the receiving means, after said feeding means is moved to said position by said first moving means, said second moving means being movable together with the feeding means in said predetermined direction.