A sheet conveying apparatus includes a discharge tray having a support surface supporting a sheet discharged by a discharge unit of a conveyor. A first stopper is provided on the support surface. A movable member is provided on the support surface between the discharge unit and the first stopper. The first stopper is changeable between a first position at which the first stopper protrudes from the support surface and a second position at which the first stopper is stored in the discharge tray. The movable member is changeable between a third position at which the movable member protrudes from the support surface and a fourth position located nearer to the support surface than the third position. The first stopper is changed from the first position to the second position in conjunction with a change of the movable member from the third position to the fourth position.

A sheet transportation device includes a sheet loading table, a feeding unit that feeds a sheet placed on the sheet loading table, a first detection unit that is provided downstream of the feeding unit in a sheet transportation direction and that detects a position of a leading end of the sheet, a second detection unit that is provided upstream of the feeding unit in the sheet transportation direction and that detects a position of a leading end of a small-size sheet which is smaller than the sheet detected by the first detection unit, and a control unit that starts feeding the sheet based on a result of detection performed by any of the first detection unit or the second detection unit in accordance with a size of the sheet.

A medium transport method, which is performed by a medium transport device having a transport unit which includes rollers that can pinch a medium and which transports the medium, includes inserting the medium to a predetermined position, pressing a side end portion of the medium against a side surface guide, and pinching the medium with the rollers, and transports the medium.

A medium transport method, which is performed by a medium transport device having a transport unit which includes rollers that can pinch a medium and which transports the medium, includes inserting the medium to a predetermined position, pressing a side end portion of the medium against a side surface guide, and pinching the medium with the rollers, and transports the medium.

According to an embodiment, a paper-length detection device includes: a moving mechanism and an angle sensor. The moving mechanism supports a magnet. The moving mechanism causes a first regulatory member to move closer to or further from a second regulatory member in accordance with movement of the first regulatory member. The moving mechanism further causes the magnet to rotate in accordance with the movement of the first regulatory member closer to or further from the second regulatory member. The angle sensor faces the magnet and outputs a signal corresponding to an absolute angle with the magnet.

An image forming apparatus includes: one paper cassette configured to accommodate a paper sheet; an image forming section provided above the paper cassette to form an image on the paper sheet; a main conveying path configured to convey the paper sheet; and a reverse conveying path configured to reverse the paper sheet, wherein the reverse conveying path includes: a first reverse conveying path provided side by side with the paper cassette to extend vertically; a second reverse conveying path configured to connect from the first reverse conveying path and extend below the paper cassette; a guide plate configured to open and close the first reverse conveying path and release pressure of a pair of paper conveying rollers; and an entry restricting unit provided at a boundary point between the first reverse conveying path and the second reverse conveying path to open and close a conveying course of the paper sheet.

An image forming apparatus includes: one paper cassette configured to accommodate a paper sheet; an image forming section provided above the paper cassette to form an image on the paper sheet; a main conveying path configured to convey the paper sheet; and a reverse conveying path configured to reverse the paper sheet, wherein the reverse conveying path includes: a first reverse conveying path provided side by side with the paper cassette to extend vertically; a second reverse conveying path configured to connect from the first reverse conveying path and extend below the paper cassette; a guide plate configured to open and close the first reverse conveying path and release pressure of a pair of paper conveying rollers; and an entry restricting unit provided at a boundary point between the first reverse conveying path and the second reverse conveying path to open and close a conveying course of the paper sheet.

A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a sheet introducing unit, a first sheet discharge unit, a second sheet discharge unit, a sheet processing unit, a sheet conveyance unit, and a control unit. The first and the second sheet discharge unit are configured to be able to discharge a sheet to an outside. The sheet conveyance unit includes a sheet conveyance path arranged between the first sheet discharge unit and the second sheet discharge unit. The control unit controls the sheet conveyance unit to convey the sheet along the sheet conveyance path toward the first sheet discharge unit to a predetermined position at which the sheet is not discharged from the first sheet discharge unit to the outside, then convey the sheet along the sheet conveyance path in an opposite direction toward the second sheet discharge unit, and discharge the sheet from the second sheet discharge unit.

A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a sheet introducing unit, a first sheet discharge unit, a second sheet discharge unit, a sheet processing unit, a sheet conveyance unit, and a control unit. The first and the second sheet discharge unit are configured to be able to discharge a sheet to an outside. The sheet conveyance unit includes a sheet conveyance path arranged between the first sheet discharge unit and the second sheet discharge unit. The control unit controls the sheet conveyance unit to convey the sheet along the sheet conveyance path toward the first sheet discharge unit to a predetermined position at which the sheet is not discharged from the first sheet discharge unit to the outside, then convey the sheet along the sheet conveyance path in an opposite direction toward the second sheet discharge unit, and discharge the sheet from the second sheet discharge unit.

A sheet stacking tray that includes a single pneumatic baffle which uses the pressure differential caused by the flow of air across a horizontal planar surface of the pneumatic baffle to hold the lead edge of sheets driven by an input nip into the sheet stacking tray above a stack especially for longer and lighter weight sheets as they are driven by the input nip to a registration wall.