A sheet binding method according to an embodiment includes holding a sheet bundle in a state where multiple sheets forming the sheet bundle are shifted relative to each other at an edge portion of the sheet bundle. A pressing region of the edge portion is pressed, in a sheet bundle thickness direction, so that there is substantially no slack along the edge portion. While the sheet bundle is pressed, tape is applied to an edge portion of a sheet bundle at a tape attachment region of the edge portion different from the pressing region.

A sheet conveying device includes a tray, a device body having a conveying route of a sheet and supporting the tray, a side guide supported by the tray to be movable in a first direction intersecting with a conveying direction of the sheet and contacting an end portion in the first direction of the sheet placed on the tray, a cover rotatable with respect to the device body and covering the conveying route, and a lock lever locking the cover to the device body and provided in a position overlapping the side guide in a second direction intersecting with the conveying direction and the first direction. The lock lever is rotatable between a lock position where the cover is locked and a release position where the cover is released. The side guide includes a first notched portion facing a rotation track of the lock lever with a gap.

A sheet conveying device includes a tray, a device body having a conveying route of a sheet and supporting the tray, a side guide supported by the tray to be movable in a first direction intersecting with a conveying direction of the sheet and contacting an end portion in the first direction of the sheet placed on the tray, a cover rotatable with respect to the device body and covering the conveying route, and a lock lever locking the cover to the device body and provided in a position overlapping the side guide in a second direction intersecting with the conveying direction and the first direction. The lock lever is rotatable between a lock position where the cover is locked and a release position where the cover is released. The side guide includes a first notched portion facing a rotation track of the lock lever with a gap.

The present disclosure provides a paper stop structure, a paper feed unit, and an image forming apparatus. The paper stop structure includes a movement stopper and a paper stopper both swingably configured in a paper feed path, and a separation structure to separate the movement stopper and the paper stopper. In paper stopping state, the paper stopper is pushed by an external force to swing until contacting the movement stopper, and blocks paper sheets from entering the paper feed path. In non-paper stopping state, the paper stopper is pushed by an external force to swing and separates from the movement stopper. Accordingly, various functions of paper feeding, paper stopping, and paper detecting may be achieved, and large capacity paper feeding can also be achieved to improve product operating efficiency and to effectively prevent paper mis-feed and paper jam during the image forming apparatus operation.

The present disclosure provides a paper stop structure, a paper feed unit, and an image forming apparatus. The paper stop structure includes a movement stopper and a paper stopper both swingably configured in a paper feed path, and a separation structure to separate the movement stopper and the paper stopper. In paper stopping state, the paper stopper is pushed by an external force to swing until contacting the movement stopper, and blocks paper sheets from entering the paper feed path. In non-paper stopping state, the paper stopper is pushed by an external force to swing and separates from the movement stopper. Accordingly, various functions of paper feeding, paper stopping, and paper detecting may be achieved, and large capacity paper feeding can also be achieved to improve product operating efficiency and to effectively prevent paper mis-feed and paper jam during the image forming apparatus operation.

A sheet detecting apparatus has an abutment member against which a leading edge of a conveyed sheet abuts, a holding member with positioning portion to hold the abutment member, and an indicator flag moving in association with movement of the abutment member. The abutment member moves between an abutment position and a retracted position, the holding member moves between a first position and a second position retracted from the first position, the abutment member is pushed by the leading edge of the sheet when the holding member is at the first position, the push moves the holding member the second position, the holding member is moves in a direction away from the first position so that the leading edge of the sheet is separated from the abutment surface, and the holding member moves from the second position to the first position when the abutment member is pushed by the sheet to the retracted position.

A sheet detecting apparatus has an abutment member against which a leading edge of a conveyed sheet abuts, a holding member with positioning portion to hold the abutment member, and an indicator flag moving in association with movement of the abutment member. The abutment member moves between an abutment position and a retracted position, the holding member moves between a first position and a second position retracted from the first position, the abutment member is pushed by the leading edge of the sheet when the holding member is at the first position, the push moves the holding member the second position, the holding member is moves in a direction away from the first position so that the leading edge of the sheet is separated from the abutment surface, and the holding member moves from the second position to the first position when the abutment member is pushed by the sheet to the retracted position.

A sheet conveying apparatus includes a first rotator pair, a second rotator pair provided downstream, in a sheet conveying direction, of the first rotator pair, and a moving member having an abutment portion. the first rotator pair, the second rotator pair and the moving member are configured such that a rear end of the sheet does not pass on a moving trajectory of the abutment portion when the moving member moves from a passage state in which the sheet is allowed to pass through the abutment portion as the abutment portion is pressed by the sheet conveyed by the first rotator pair to an abutment state in which the abutment portion protrudes into a sheet conveying path.

The sheet feeding apparatus of the invention includes a sheet stacking portion, a rotating body, a contact member, a conveyance guide, a driving source, a shutter member and a torque limiter. The torque limiter is disposed between the rotating body and the driving source, transmits a driving force of the driving source to the rotating body in a state that a load in the sheet feeding direction of less than a predetermined torque is applied to the rotating body, and not transmit the driving force of the driving source to the rotating body in a state that the load in the sheet feeding direction of more than the predetermined torque is applied to the rotating body.

The sheet feeding apparatus of the invention includes a sheet stacking portion, a rotating body, a contact member, a conveyance guide, a driving source, a shutter member and a torque limiter. The torque limiter is disposed between the rotating body and the driving source, transmits a driving force of the driving source to the rotating body in a state that a load in the sheet feeding direction of less than a predetermined torque is applied to the rotating body, and not transmit the driving force of the driving source to the rotating body in a state that the load in the sheet feeding direction of more than the predetermined torque is applied to the rotating body.