Image forming apparatus, sheet processing apparatus, and sheet processing method capable of bookbinding

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• an image forming mechanism configured to form an image on a sheet;
• and
• a sheet processing mechanism configured to process sheets and comprising:
• a receiver configured to receive sheets;
• an aligner configured to align the sheets;
• a stapler configured to staple the aligned sheets;
• a loading table configured to load the stapled sheets;
• and
• a pusher configured to push the stapled sheets from the stapler toward the loading table wherein the pusher moves (1) from a first position at which the pusher presses against sheets on the loading table to help align the sheets on the loading table, (2) to a second position below the sheets on the loading table, by action of a forward-backward arm, and (3) from the second position to a third position by action on an upward-downward arm, (4) from the third position to a fourth position by action of the forward-backward arm and (5)from the fourth position back to the first position by action of the upward-downward arm, the moving of the pusher from the third position to the fourth position including pushing the stapled sheets toward the loading table.

A sheet processing apparatus, comprising:

• means for receiving sheets;
• means for aligning the sheets;
• means for stapling the aligned sheets;
• means for loading the stapled sheets;
• and
• means for pushing the stapled sheets from the means for stapling toward the means for loading wherein the means for pushing moves (1) from a first position at which the means for pushing presses against sheets on the means for loading to help align the sheets on the means for loading, (2) to a second position below the sheets on the means for loading, by action of a forward-backward arm, and (3) from the second position to a third position by action of an upward-downward arm, (4) from the third position to a fourth position by action of the forward-backward arm, and (5) from the fourth position back to the first position by action of the upward-downward arm, the moving of the means for pushing from the third position to the fourth position including pushing the stapled sheets toward the means for loading.

A method for sheet processing, comprising:

• receiving sheets;
• aligning the sheets;
• stapling the aligned sheets with a stapler;
• pushing with a pusher the stapled sheets from the stapler toward a loading table, wherein the pusher moves (1) from a first position at which the pusher presses against sheets on the loading table to help align the sheets on the loading table, (2) to a second position below the sheets on the loading table and stoppers at the second position until a stapling is completed, by action of a forward-backward arm, and (3) from the second position to a third position by action of an upward-downward arm, (4) from the third position to a fourth position by action of the forward-backward arm, and (5) from the fourth position back to the first position by action of the upward-downward arm, the moving of the pusher from the third position to the fourth position including pushing the stapled sheets toward the loading table;
• and
• loading the stapled sheets onto the loading table.