A sheet discharging apparatus includes an apparatus body, a sheet discharge member provided in the apparatus body, and a movable tray including a sheet supporting surface. A movable member in the movable tray is moved by being pressed by the sheet supported on the sheet supporting surface, and a detecting portion detects a presence of the sheet supported on the sheet supporting surface in response to a position of the movable member. The movable member includes an extension portion extending out of the movable tray toward the apparatus body, and the apparatus body is provided with an opening portion through which the extension portion extends. The opening portion is formed such that the extension portion is movable along a moving direction of the movable tray within the apparatus body, and the detecting portion detects a position of the movable member by detecting the extension portion.

A sheet discharging apparatus includes an apparatus body, a sheet discharge member provided in the apparatus body, and a movable tray including a sheet supporting surface. A movable member in the movable tray is moved by being pressed by the sheet supported on the sheet supporting surface, and a detecting portion detects a presence of the sheet supported on the sheet supporting surface in response to a position of the movable member. The movable member includes an extension portion extending out of the movable tray toward the apparatus body, and the apparatus body is provided with an opening portion through which the extension portion extends. The opening portion is formed such that the extension portion is movable along a moving direction of the movable tray within the apparatus body, and the detecting portion detects a position of the movable member by detecting the extension portion.

A removable raised tray system for a printing system generally includes a removable tray operatively arranged to receive print media thereon. The removable tray includes an upper tray surface having an electrically conductive material, a lower tray surface, and at least one tray leg that is connected to the removable tray, which is configured to support the removable tray at a position that is raised relative to a platform surface of a printer feeder or stacker. The at least one leg includes a releasable fastening assembly, such as a rare earth magnet, that releasably secures the removable tray to the platform surface thereby allowing the tray to easily attached and removed from the printer feeder or stacker. The electrically conductive material of the tray surface and the platform surface are electrically conductively connected to one another so as to prevent the build-up of static electricity.

A removable raised tray system for a printing system generally includes a removable tray operatively arranged to receive print media thereon. The removable tray includes an upper tray surface having an electrically conductive material, a lower tray surface, and at least one tray leg that is connected to the removable tray, which is configured to support the removable tray at a position that is raised relative to a platform surface of a printer feeder or stacker. The at least one leg includes a releasable fastening assembly, such as a rare earth magnet, that releasably secures the removable tray to the platform surface thereby allowing the tray to easily attached and removed from the printer feeder or stacker. The electrically conductive material of the tray surface and the platform surface are electrically conductively connected to one another so as to prevent the build-up of static electricity.

A method for rapidly stacking and dropping sheets is provided. The method comprises receiving a plurality of sheets from a sheet delivery device onto a landing platform of a stacking and dropping apparatus. The method also comprises lowering the landing platform from an original upper position. Lowering comprises maintaining a drop height between the sheet delivery device and a stack of delivered sheets. The method also comprises sending a delay signal that comprises a command to delay the receiving of the plurality of sheets from the sheet delivery device. The delay signal is sent in response to a detection of a predetermined stack height of the stack of delivered sheets. The method also comprises sending a movement signal, immediately following the sending of the delay signal. The movement signal comprises a command to move the landing platform, such that the plurality of sheets are received by a catch tray unit. The method also comprises dropping, utilizing the catch tray unit, the plurality of sheets onto a sheet receiving device. The method also comprises returning, automatically, the landing platform to the original upper position. The method also comprises sending a resume signal, that includes a command to the sheet delivery device to resume sheet delivery. The delay signal, movement signal and resume signal are sent by a central processor component of the stacking and dropping apparatus.

A method for rapidly stacking and dropping sheets is provided. The method comprises receiving a plurality of sheets from a sheet delivery device onto a landing platform of a stacking and dropping apparatus. The method also comprises lowering the landing platform from an original upper position. Lowering comprises maintaining a drop height between the sheet delivery device and a stack of delivered sheets. The method also comprises sending a delay signal that comprises a command to delay the receiving of the plurality of sheets from the sheet delivery device. The delay signal is sent in response to a detection of a predetermined stack height of the stack of delivered sheets. The method also comprises sending a movement signal, immediately following the sending of the delay signal. The movement signal comprises a command to move the landing platform, such that the plurality of sheets are received by a catch tray unit. The method also comprises dropping, utilizing the catch tray unit, the plurality of sheets onto a sheet receiving device. The method also comprises returning, automatically, the landing platform to the original upper position. The method also comprises sending a resume signal, that includes a command to the sheet delivery device to resume sheet delivery. The delay signal, movement signal and resume signal are sent by a central processor component of the stacking and dropping apparatus.

A post-processing apparatus for an image forming apparatus includes a processing tray on which a sheet bundle is placed for discharging onto a discharge tray, a detector configured to detect presence or absence of the sheet bundle on the processing tray, and a controller. The controller is configured to control driving of the processing tray to discharge the sheet bundle onto the discharge tray and to determine whether or not to output an error if a detection result of the detector after the processing tray has been driven to discharge the sheet bundle onto the discharge tray indicates presence of the sheet bundle. The controller outputs the error if the sheet bundle is not a last sheet bundle of a post-processing job and does not output the error if the sheet bundle is the last sheet bundle of the post-processing job.

A post-processing apparatus for an image forming apparatus includes a processing tray on which a sheet bundle is placed for discharging onto a discharge tray, a detector configured to detect presence or absence of the sheet bundle on the processing tray, and a controller. The controller is configured to control driving of the processing tray to discharge the sheet bundle onto the discharge tray and to determine whether or not to output an error if a detection result of the detector after the processing tray has been driven to discharge the sheet bundle onto the discharge tray indicates presence of the sheet bundle. The controller outputs the error if the sheet bundle is not a last sheet bundle of a post-processing job and does not output the error if the sheet bundle is the last sheet bundle of the post-processing job.

An automated mail tray filling apparatus for taking envelopes from a vertical stacker output of an inserter machine and placing them in mail trays. A vertical stack of envelopes rests on a long stacker table. The mail tray filling apparatus has a track positioned next the vertical stacker table parallel to the length of the vertical stacker table. A mail tray transport is positioned beneath the track and arranged to transport mail trays beneath the track in a direction parallel to the vertical stacker table. A movable mail tray filler is movably mounted on the track to travel in parallel next to the vertical stacker table and above the mail tray transport, and is arranged to withdraw envelopes from the end of the vertical stack in a sideways direction. Envelopes are then redirected into a downward direction and fed into a mail tray positioned beneath the movable mail tray filler.

An automated mail tray filling apparatus for taking envelopes from a vertical stacker output of an inserter machine and placing them in mail trays. A vertical stack of envelopes rests on a long stacker table. The mail tray filling apparatus has a track positioned next the vertical stacker table parallel to the length of the vertical stacker table. A mail tray transport is positioned beneath the track and arranged to transport mail trays beneath the track in a direction parallel to the vertical stacker table. A movable mail tray filler is movably mounted on the track to travel in parallel next to the vertical stacker table and above the mail tray transport, and is arranged to withdraw envelopes from the end of the vertical stack in a sideways direction. Envelopes are then redirected into a downward direction and fed into a mail tray positioned beneath the movable mail tray filler.