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.

Grouping unit and method to form groups of hygiene absorbent articles in a packaging machine; a conveyor which receives the single hygiene absorbent articles in an input station is provided, which feeds the hygiene absorbent articles along a grouping path, and releases the groups of hygiene absorbent articles in an output station; wherein the conveyor has a belt which is closed so as to form a ring, is wound around at least two pulleys, and supports a plurality of blades, which extend perpendicular to the belt and delimit, between one another, respective pockets, which are each designed to hold a corresponding hygiene absorbent article; an active braking device is provided, which is arranged at the input station so as to cooperate with a pocket arranged in the input station to slow down the movement with which a corresponding hygiene absorbent article enters the pocket.

Grouping unit and method to form groups of hygiene absorbent articles in a packaging machine; a conveyor which receives the single hygiene absorbent articles in an input station is provided, which feeds the hygiene absorbent articles along a grouping path, and releases the groups of hygiene absorbent articles in an output station; wherein the conveyor has a belt which is closed so as to form a ring, is wound around at least two pulleys, and supports a plurality of blades, which extend perpendicular to the belt and delimit, between one another, respective pockets, which are each designed to hold a corresponding hygiene absorbent article; an active braking device is provided, which is arranged at the input station so as to cooperate with a pocket arranged in the input station to slow down the movement with which a corresponding hygiene absorbent article enters the pocket.

To stop a variety of sheets and prevent problems generated by colliding sheets, a front stopping device that receives sheets being delivered along a horizontal transport route on a hopper unit and stops the movement in the transport direction includes a plate-shaped buffering member that is brought into direct contact with the front part of a sheet; and supporting members that support the upper end and lower end of the buffering member. The buffering member is formed of a flexible material to absorb the kinetic energy of the sheet by being elastically deformed in a concave surface shape when receiving the front part of the sheet, and the buffering member is supported by being inclined upward or downward by the supporting members such that a restoring force of pushing back the front part of the sheet due to the restoration of the elastic deformation includes a vertical component.

To stop a variety of sheets and prevent problems generated by colliding sheets, a front stopping device that receives sheets being delivered along a horizontal transport route on a hopper unit and stops the movement in the transport direction includes a plate-shaped buffering member that is brought into direct contact with the front part of a sheet; and supporting members that support the upper end and lower end of the buffering member. The buffering member is formed of a flexible material to absorb the kinetic energy of the sheet by being elastically deformed in a concave surface shape when receiving the front part of the sheet, and the buffering member is supported by being inclined upward or downward by the supporting members such that a restoring force of pushing back the front part of the sheet due to the restoration of the elastic deformation includes a vertical component.

A sheet transport device includes a loading unit at which a sheet to be conveyed is loaded, a transport unit configured to impart to the sheet loaded at a sheet loading surface of the loading unit a transport force for transporting the sheet toward an alignment unit, and an adjustment unit configured to adjust the transport force. The adjustment unit includes a movable loading unit formed so that at least part of the sheet loading surface is configured to protrude toward the transport unit and a driving unit configured to displace the movable loading unit in a protruding direction and a retracting direction.

A sheet transport device includes a loading unit at which a sheet to be conveyed is loaded, a transport unit configured to impart to the sheet loaded at a sheet loading surface of the loading unit a transport force for transporting the sheet toward an alignment unit, and an adjustment unit configured to adjust the transport force. The adjustment unit includes a movable loading unit formed so that at least part of the sheet loading surface is configured to protrude toward the transport unit and a driving unit configured to displace the movable loading unit in a protruding direction and a retracting direction.

A sheet conveyance device of an embodiment includes a carrying-in unit feeds a sheet to a stacking unit; a lower conveyance unit applies a force to a lower side of a sheet stacked on the stacking unit to move the sheet; a lifting and lowering unit lifts and lowers at least an end of the lower conveyance unit on a side close to the carrying-in unit in at least three stages (lower, middle, and upper); an upper conveyance unit faces the lower conveyance unit and applies a force to the upper side of a sheet pinched between the upper conveyance unit and the lower conveyance unit that is moved to the upper stage to move the sheet; and a stopper protrudes above the lower conveyance unit placed at the lower stage by the lifting and lowering unit, and the downstream end in the feeding direction of a sheet abuts on the stopper.

A sheet conveyance device of an embodiment includes a carrying-in unit feeds a sheet to a stacking unit; a lower conveyance unit applies a force to a lower side of a sheet stacked on the stacking unit to move the sheet; a lifting and lowering unit lifts and lowers at least an end of the lower conveyance unit on a side close to the carrying-in unit in at least three stages (lower, middle, and upper); an upper conveyance unit faces the lower conveyance unit and applies a force to the upper side of a sheet pinched between the upper conveyance unit and the lower conveyance unit that is moved to the upper stage to move the sheet; and a stopper protrudes above the lower conveyance unit placed at the lower stage by the lifting and lowering unit, and the downstream end in the feeding direction of a sheet abuts on the stopper.