Sheet discharging apparatus

A sheet discharging apparatus adapted to receive a rectangular sheet conveyed thereto, said sheet discharging apparatus comprising:

• a pair of axes situated parallel to each other at a predetermined distance away from each other, said axes being located along two side edges of said sheet and rotated in directions opposite to each other, said side edges being parallel to a conveying direction of said sheet,
• a pair of rotating blades, each rotating blade having an axis portion rotatably attached to each of said axes and plural plates attached to an outer circumferential surface of said axis portion, said plates being arranged to be spaced apart by a predetermined angular interval therebetween in a rotating direction of said axis and being parallel to said axes, each of said plates supporting said side edge of said sheet;
• elastic pressing members attached to each of said axes and pressing rear portions of said rotating blades forward;
• engaging members protrusively attached to respective outer circumferential surfaces of said axes, each engaging member engaging said rotating blade pressed by said elastic pressing member so that said rotating blade and said axis are joined to rotate in the same direction;
• and
• engaging portions formed at front portions of said respective rotating blades, each engaging portion having same number of recesses and protrusions as that of said plates, said recess and said protrusion being alternately arranged along said rotating direction of said axis, each recess allowing said rotating blade to be situated at a predetermined position in said rotating direction of said axis when engaging said engaging member.