Sheet processor mounted within sheet-discharge section of image forming apparatus, and image forming apparatus including the same

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• image forming means for forming an image on a record sheet based on image information;
• transporting means for transporting the sheet on which the image has been formed by the image forming means;
• a sheet-discharge section for loading the transported sheet thereon in an interior section of the image forming apparatus;
• and
• a sheet processor including:
• a processing tray for loading thereon the sheets transported by said transporting means from the image forming means;
• batch transporting means for transporting a batch of the sheets loaded on the processing tray from the processing tray in a batch;
• a stack tray for stacking thereon the batch of sheets transported by the batch transporting means;
• driving means for raising and lowering the stack tray;
• and
• supporting means for supporting the stack tray so that the stack tray can be raised or lowered, said supporting means being provided on a downstream side of the sheet-discharge section,
• wherein the sheet processor is disposed in the sheet-discharge section.

A sheet processor to be mounted in a sheet-discharge section in an interior section of an image forming apparatus comprising:

• a processing tray for loading sheets transported from the image forming apparatus;
• batch transporting means for transporting a batch of the sheets loaded on the processing tray from the processing tray in a batch;
• and
• a stack tray for stacking thereon the sheets transported by said batch transporting means;
• supporting means for supporting the stack tray so that the stack tray can be raised or lowered, said supporting means being provided on the downstream side of the sheet-discharge section;
• and
• driving means for raising the stack tray,
• wherein the sheet processor is disposed in the sheet-discharge section.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• image forming means for forming an image on a record sheet based on image information;
• transporting means for transporting the sheet on which the image has been formed by the image forming means;
• a sheet-discharge section for loading transported sheets thereon in an interior section of the image forming apparatus;
• and
• a sheet processor including:
• a processing tray for loading thereon the sheets transported from the image forming apparatus;
• batch transporting means for transporting a batch of the sheets loaded on the processing tray from the processing tray in a batch;
• a stack tray for stacking thereon the sheets transported by said batch transporting means;
• supporting means for supporting the stack tray so that the stack tray can be raised or lowered, said supporting means being provided on the downstream side of the sheet-discharge section;
• and
• driving means for raising the stack tray,
• wherein the sheet processor is disposed in the sheet-discharge section.