Sheet finishing apparatus and image forming apparatus equipped with the same

A sheet finishing apparatus, comprising:

• discharge means for discharging a sheet,
• support means arranged below the discharge means,
• storage means arranged below the support means,
• shift means for shifting the discharge means to move a side of the sheet to the support means,
• a step portion disposed between the support means and the storage means in a direction that the shift means shifts the discharge means;
• a reference member disposed adjacent to the support means as a reference for aligning the sheet,
• aligning means having aligning members for moving the sheet discharged by the discharge means to the aligning member to align the sheet;
• finishing means for finishing the sheet aligned by the discharge means, the shift means and the aligning means in a state that the sheet straddles between the support means and the storage means;
• and
• transport means for transporting the sheet finished by the finishing means to the storage means.

An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet, comprising:

• discharge means for discharging a sheet,
• support means arranged below the discharge means,
• storage means arranged below the support means,
• alignment means disposed adjacent to the support means and having a reference member as a reference for aligning the sheet and aligning rotating members for moving the sheet to the reference member by rotating while contacting the sheet on the support means,
• shift means for shifting the discharge means to move the sheet to a position where the aligning rotating members can contact the sheet,
• finishing means for finishing the sheet aligned by the discharge means, the shift means and the aligning means in a state that the sheet straddles between the support means and the storage means, and
• transport means for transporting the sheet finished by the finishing means to the storage means.