Image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus having a sorter, comprising:

• a plurality of bins for accommodating sheet materials, said bin each having sheet material receiving inlet portion;
• discharging means movable along the inlet portions of said bins to discharge the sheet material to selected one of said bins;
• sheet material accommodating means other than said bins to accommodate the sheet materials;
• directing means switchable to direct the sheet materials selectively to said bin or to said sheet material accommodating means;
• and
• means for switching said directing means in mechanical interrelation with movement of said discharging means to direct the sheet material in said discharging means when said discharging means is opposed to a said bin, and to direct the sheet material to said accommodating means when said discharging means is not opposed to a said bin.

An image forming apparatus having a sorter, comprising:

• a plurality of bins for accommodating sheet materials, said bins each having sheet material receiving inlet portion;
• discharging means movable along the inlet portions of said bins to discharge the sheet material to selected one of said bins;
• directing means switchable to direct the sheet material selectively to said bin or to other than said bins;
• and
• means for switching said directing means in mechanical interrelation with movement of said discharging means to direct the sheet material to said discharging means when said discharging means is at a position for discharging the sheet material to said bin, and to direct the sheet material to other than said bins when said discharging means is not at said position.

An image forming apparatus having a sorter, comprising:

• a plurality of bins for accommodating sheet materials, said bin each having sheet material receiving inlet portion;
• discharging means movable along the inlet portions of said bins to discharge the sheet material to selected one of said bins;
• sheet material accommodating means other than said bins to accommodate the sheet materials;
• directing means switchable to direct the sheet material selectively to said bin or to said sheet material accommodating means;
• and
• means for switching said guiding means in mechanical interrelation with movement of said discharging means to direct the sheet material to said discharging means in a sorting mode, and to direct the sheet material to said accommodating means in a non-sorting mode.

An image forming apparatus having a sorter, comprising:

• discharging means for discharging sheet materials;
• a plurality of bins for accommodating sheet materials, said bin each having sheet material receiving inlet portion;
• sheet material accommodating means other than said bins to accommodate the sheet materials;
• directing means switchable to direct the sheet material selectively to said bin or to said sheet material accommodating means;
• and
• means for switching said directing means in mechanical interrelation with relative movement between said discharging means and said bins to direct the sheet material to said discharging means when said bins are at a sorting mode position, and to direct the sheet material to said accommodating means when said bins are at a non-sorting mode position.

A sorter, comprising:

• a plurality of bins for accommodating sheet materials, said bins each having sheet material receiving inlet portion;
• discharging means movable along the inlet portions of said bins to discharge the sheet material to selected one of said bins;
• directing means switchable to direct the sheet material selectively to said bin or to other than said bins;
• and
• means for switching said directing means in mechanical interrelation with movement of said discharging means to direct the sheet material to said discharging means when said discharging means is at a position for discharging the sheet material to said bin, and to direct the sheet material to other than said bins when said discharging means is not at said position.

An image forming apparatus having a sorter, comprising:

• discharging means for discharging sheet materials;
• a plurality of bins for accommodating sheet materials, and bins each having sheet material receiving inlet portion;
• directing means switchable to direct the sheet material selectively to said bin or to other than said bins;
• and
• means for switching said directing means in mechanical interrelation with relative movement between said discharging means and said bins to direct the sheet material to said discharging means when said bins are at a sorting mode position, and to direct the sheet material to other than said bins when said bins are at a non-sorting mode position.

A sorter, comprising:

• discharging means for discharging sheet materials;
• a plurality of bins for accommodating sheet materials, said bins each having a sheet material receiving inlet portion;
• directing means switchable to direct the sheet material selectively to said bin or to other than said bins;
• and
• means for switching said directing means in mechanical interrelation with relative movement between said discharging means and said bin to direct the sheet material to said discharging means when said bins are at sorting mode position, and to direct the sheet material to other than said bins when said bins are at a non-sorting mode position.