Sheet finishing device with calculating means for efficient operation

An automatic sheet finishing device comprising:

• sheet punch means for making a hole in a sheet having a specified length and width;
• moving means for supporting the sheet punch means and for moving the sheet punch means along a side of the sheet;
• and
• control means including:
• storage means for storing sheet finishing data;
• calculator means for calculating a punching position from the sheet finishing data;
• and
• first control portion means for controlling the moving means so as to move the sheet punch means to the calculated punching position;
• container means for containing waste produced by the sheet punch means;
• and
• leveling means for leveling a deposit of waste in the container means while the sheet punch means is being moved, said leveling means being attached to the sheet punch means and having a tip positioned in the container means.

An automatic sheet finishing device for use with a sorting unit for sorting sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus and having a specified length and width, comprising:

• a support member mounted on the sorting unit and withdrawable from the sorting unit in a widthwise direction of the sheet;
• a base member movably mounted on the support member;
• base member moving means supported on the support member for moving the base member in a widthwise range of movement in a widthwise direction of the sheet;
• a mount member movably mounted on the base member;
• mount member moving means supported on the base member for moving the mount member in a lengthwise direction of the sheet in a lengthwise range of movement smaller than the widthwise range of movement by the base member moving means;
• sheet finisher means mounted on the mount member for finishing the sheet;
• storage means for storing sheet finishing data;
• calculator means for calculating a finishing position from the sheet finishing data;
• and
• control means for controlling the base member moving means and the mount member moving means to move the sheet finisher means to the calculated finishing position.

An automatic sheet finishing device comprising:

• sheet finisher means for applying a sheet finishing to a sheet having a specified length and width;
• moving means for supporting the sheet finisher means and for reciprocatingly moving the sheet finishing means along a side of the sheet between a first limit and a second limit;
• and
• control means including:
• storage means for storing sheet finishing data;
• calculator means for calculating a finishing position from the sheet finishing data;
• first control portion means for controlling the moving means so as to move the sheet finisher means to the calculated finishing position;
• discriminator means for discriminating which is shorter of a first distance between the first limit and a last stopping position of the sheet finisher means and a second distance between the second limit and the last stopping position;
• and
• second control portion means, responsive to the discriminator means, for controlling the moving means so as to move the sheet finisher means to the nearer one of the first and second limits after the sheet finishing is completed.

An automatic sheet finishing device comprising:

• sheet finisher means for applying a sheet finishing to a sheet having a specified length and width;
• moving means for supporting the sheet finisher means and for moving the sheet finisher means along a side of the sheet;
• mount means for mounting the moving means on a sorting unit of an image forming apparatus, wherein the sorting unit includes:
• a plurality of bin trays movable in a vertical direction for holding sheets;
• and
• bin tray moving means for moving the plurality of bin trays in the vertical direction;
• and
• control means including:
• storage means for storing sheet finishing data specifying a plurality of finishing positions for each sheet on each bin tray;
• calculator means for calculating a finishing position from the sheet finishing data;
• first control portion means for controlling the moving means so as to move the sheet finisher means to the calculated finishing position;
• and
• second control portion means for controlling the moving means so as to permit the sheet finisher means to stay at a last finishing position for one bin tray after the sheet finishing for the one bin tray is finished, and for moving the sheet finisher means to the one of the plurality of finishing positions for the next bin tray which is closest to the last finishing position for the one bin tray.

An automatic sheet finishing device comprising:

• sheet finisher means for applying a sheet processing to a sheet having a specified length and width;
• moving means for supporting the sheet finisher means and for moving the sheet finisher means along a side of the sheet;
• mount means for mounting the moving means on a sorting unit of an image forming apparatus, wherein the sorting unit includes a plurality of bin trays movable in a vertical direction for holding sheets, each bin tray being movable in a direction inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction;
• the moving means includes:
• a base member movable in a widthwise direction of the bin tray;
• first moving mechanism means for moving the base member in the widthwise direction of the bin tray;
• mount member means, movable over the base member in a lengthwise direction of the bin tray, for supporting the sheet finisher means;
• guide means, provided on the base member, for guiding the mount member means so as to move in a direction inclined at the same angle as the bin tray being moved;
• and
• second moving means for moving the mount member means along the guide means;
• and
• control means including:
• storage means for storing sheet finishing data;
• calculator means for calculating a finishing position from the sheet finishing data;
• and
• first control portion means for controlling the moving means so as to move the sheet finisher means to the calculated finishing position.