Sheet collecting device and bookbinding apparatus comprising the same

A bookbinding apparatus comprising:

• a stacking tray on which sequentially fed sheets are stacked and housed;
• sheet bundle conveying means for transferring a sheet bundle from the stacking tray to a predetermined processing position;
• adhesive applying means for applying an adhesive to the sheet bundle from the stacking tray;
• cover binding means for binding a cover sheet to a back of the sheet bundle with the adhesive applied thereto by the adhesive applying means;
• abutment regulating member disposed on the stacking tray for regulating one of a leading edge and a trailing edge of sheets on the stacking tray in a conveying direction, and
• aligning means disposed on the stacking tray for transferring the sheets toward the abutment regulating member;
• wherein the stacking tray is supported by an apparatus frame so as to be able to elevate and lower in a vertical direction between a sheet housing position and a sheet carry-out position;
• wherein the stacking tray comprises a tray base supported by the apparatus frame so as to be able to elevate and lower in the vertical direction, and a plate member disposed on the tray base for placing and supporting at least some of the sheets;
• and
• wherein the plate member is supported on a top surface of the tray base so as to be movable toward the abutment regulating member, biasing means being provided between the plate member and the tray base to bias the plate member toward the abutment regulating member.

A sheet collecting device comprising:

• a substantially horizontal stacking tray on which sheets are placed;
• sheet discharging roller means for transferring sheets to the stacking tray;
• abutment regulating means, comprising an abutment regulating member, for regulating a leading end or a trailing end of the sheets on the stacking tray in a conveying direction;
• and
• aligning means for aligning the sheets relative to the abutment regulating means, wherein
• the stacking tray comprises a tray base supported by an apparatus frame, and a plate member disposed on the tray base for placing and supporting at least some of the sheets, the plate member being supported on a top surface of the tray base so as to be movable toward the abutment regulating member, biasing means being provided between the plate member and the tray base to bias the plate member toward the abutment regulating member,
• wherein the abutment regulating means further comprises a motor driven cam which is operatively connected with the abutment regulating member through a shift lever so as to reciprocate the abutment regulating member in a direction vertical with respect to the stacking tray.