Sheet storage apparatus and image formation system using the apparatus

A sheet storage apparatus, comprising:

• a sheet discharge outlet for carrying out a sheet sequentially;
• a placement tray disposed in a level difference formed on a downstream side of the sheet discharge outlet to place the sheet dropped from the sheet discharge outlet;
• a sheet discharge rotating body disposed in the sheet discharge outlet;
• a reverse rotating body capable of moving up and down between an actuation position for engaging the sheet on the placement tray and a retracted position retracted upward to switch a transport direction of the sheet;
• an alignment rotating body that aligns the sheet dropped from the sheet discharge outlet to a predetermined position on the placement tray;
• and
• a kick member disposed between the sheet discharge rotating body and the reverse rotating body to forcibly drop a sheet rear end carried out of the sheet discharge outlet toward the alignment rotating body positioned downward,
• wherein the kick member is configured to swing among a waiting posture retracted upward from the sheet carried from the sheet discharge outlet to the reverse rotating body, an engagement posture for imposing a load on the sheet nipped by each of the sheet discharge rotating body and the reverse rotating body, and an actuation posture for forcibly dropping the sheet rear end released from the sheet discharge rotating body by a weight of the kick member freely falling,
• the kick member is coupled to a shift member for changing from the waiting posture to the engagement posture,
• the shift member is provided with an engagement portion for holding the kick member in the waiting posture, while changing from the actuation posture to the waiting posture,
• the shift member comprises a cam disposed between the kick member and a driving motor, and
• the cam has a wait cam surface for holding the kick member in the waiting posture, and a shift cam surface for changing the kick member from the actuation posture to the waiting posture, while being configured so that the cam and the kick member are mutually in a non-engagement state in the engagement posture.

A sheet storage apparatus, comprising:

• a sheet discharge outlet for carrying out a sheet sequentially;
• a placement tray disposed in a level difference formed on a downstream side of the sheet discharge outlet to place the sheet dropped from the sheet discharge outlet;
• a sheet discharge rotating body disposed in the sheet discharge outlet;
• a reverse rotating body capable of moving and down between an actuation position for engaging the sheet on the placement tray and a retracted position retracted upward to switch a transport direction of the sheet;
• an alignment rotating body that aligns the sheet dropped from the sheet discharge outlet to a predetermined position on the placement tray;
• and
• a kick member disposed between the sheet discharge rotating body and the reverse rotating body to forcibly drop a sheet rear end carried out of the sheet discharge outlet toward the alignment rotating body positioned downward,
• wherein the kick member is configured to swing among a waiting posture retracted upward from the sheet carried from the sheet discharge outlet to the reverse rotating body, an engagement posture for imposing a load on the sheet nipped by each of the sheet discharge rotating body and the reverse rotating body, and an actuation posture for forcibly dropping the sheet rear end released from the sheet discharge rotating body by a weight of the kick member freely falling,
• the kick member is coupled to a shift member for changing from the waiting posture to the engagement posture,
• the shift member is provided with an engagement portion for holding the kick member in the waiting posture, while changing from the actuation posture to the waiting posture, and
• the engagement portion of the shift member does not engage the kick member at the actuation posture so that the kick member freely falls.

A sheet storage apparatus, comprising:

• a sheet discharge outlet for carrying out a sheet sequentially;
• a placement tray disposed in a level difference formed on a downstream side of the sheet discharge outlet to place the sheet dropped from the sheet discharge outlet;
• a sheet discharge rotating body disposed in the sheet discharge outlet;
• a reverse rotating body capable of moving up and down between an actuation position for engaging in the sheet on the placement tray and a retracted position retracted upward to switch a transport direction of the sheet;
• an alignment rotating body that aligns the sheet dropped from the sheet discharge outlet to a predetermined position on the placement tray;
• and
• a kick member disposed between the sheet discharge rotating body and the reverse rotating body to forcibly drop a sheet rear end carried out of the sheet discharge outlet toward the alignment rotating body positioned downward,
• wherein the kick member is configured to swing among a waiting posture retracted upward from the sheet carried from the sheet discharge outlet to the reverse rotating body, an engagement posture for imposing a load on the sheet nipped by each of the sheet discharge rotating body and the reverse rotating body, and an actuation posture for forcibly dropping the sheet rear end released from the sheet discharge rotating body,
• the kick member is coupled to a shift member for changing from the waiting posture to the engagement posture,
• the shift member is provided with an engagement portion for holding the kick member in the waiting posture, while changing from the actuation posture to the waiting posture,
• the shift member comprises a cam disposed between the kick member and a driving motor, and
• the cam has a wait cam surface for holding the kick member in the waiting posture, and a shift cam surface for changing the kick member from the actuation posture to the waiting posture, while being configured so that the cam and the kick member are mutually in a non-engagement state in the engagement posture.