One embodiment of the present disclosure provides a post-processing apparatus for an image forming apparatus which arranges paper ejected from an ejection part of an image forming apparatus on a fence for post-processing. The post-processing apparatus includes a paddle guide which includes a paddle arm to which a paddle wing is coupled and a pusher positioned adjacent to the ejection part and stands by at a home position until the paper is ejected, a driving part which vertically moves the paddle guide, rotates when the paper is ejected from the ejection part to move the paddle guide downward so that the pusher presses the paper downward and drops the paper on a stacking base, and a paddle wing which vertically moves according to a vertical movement of the paddle guide, moves downward according to a downward movement of the paddle guide, arranges the paper dropped on the stacking base toward the fence positioned adjacent to the stacking base, and then, moves upward with an upward movement of the paddle guide according to operation of the driving part, wherein vertical movements of the pusher and the paddle wing are performed by a vertical movement of the paddle guide performed due to single unit periodic operation of the driving part.

One embodiment of the present disclosure provides a post-processing apparatus for an image forming apparatus which arranges paper ejected from an ejection part of an image forming apparatus on a fence for post-processing. The post-processing apparatus includes a paddle guide which includes a paddle arm to which a paddle wing is coupled and a pusher positioned adjacent to the ejection part and stands by at a home position until the paper is ejected, a driving part which vertically moves the paddle guide, rotates when the paper is ejected from the ejection part to move the paddle guide downward so that the pusher presses the paper downward and drops the paper on a stacking base, and a paddle wing which vertically moves according to a vertical movement of the paddle guide, moves downward according to a downward movement of the paddle guide, arranges the paper dropped on the stacking base toward the fence positioned adjacent to the stacking base, and then, moves upward with an upward movement of the paddle guide according to operation of the driving part, wherein vertical movements of the pusher and the paddle wing are performed by a vertical movement of the paddle guide performed due to single unit periodic operation of the driving part.

A device for changing a sheet pile (14) in a sheet feeder (10) for a sheet treating machine comprises a main pile supporting unit (18) with a main pile actuating unit (20) for lifting and lowering the main pile supporting unit (18), wherein the main pile supporting unit (18) comprises a supporting surface (22) adapted to support a pallet (16) carrying a sheet pile (14). The device further comprises a residual pile supporting unit (24) with a residual pile actuating unit (26) for lifting and lowering the residual pile supporting unit (24). The residual pile supporting unit (24) comprises a plurality of residual pile bars (38) extending substantially parallel to each other and being substantially parallel to the supporting surface (22) of the main pile supporting unit (18), wherein the residual pile bars (38) are coupled to a bar actuating unit (43) adapted to move the residual pile bars (38) on a line parallel to the direction of extension of the respective residual pile bar (38) into a sheet pile region (30) and retract the residual pile bars (38) from the sheet pile region (30). The bar actuating unit (43) is configured to retract the residual pile bars (38) while introducing an oscillatory movement of the residual pile bars (38) along the direction of extension of the residual pile bars (38).

Further, a method for changing a sheet pile (14) in a sheet feeder (10) is presented.

A device for changing a sheet pile (14) in a sheet feeder (10) for a sheet treating machine comprises a main pile supporting unit (18) with a main pile actuating unit (20) for lifting and lowering the main pile supporting unit (18), wherein the main pile supporting unit (18) comprises a supporting surface (22) adapted to support a pallet (16) carrying a sheet pile (14). The device further comprises a residual pile supporting unit (24) with a residual pile actuating unit (26) for lifting and lowering the residual pile supporting unit (24). The residual pile supporting unit (24) comprises a plurality of residual pile bars (38) extending substantially parallel to each other and being substantially parallel to the supporting surface (22) of the main pile supporting unit (18), wherein the residual pile bars (38) are coupled to a bar actuating unit (43) adapted to move the residual pile bars (38) on a line parallel to the direction of extension of the respective residual pile bar (38) into a sheet pile region (30) and retract the residual pile bars (38) from the sheet pile region (30). The bar actuating unit (43) is configured to retract the residual pile bars (38) while introducing an oscillatory movement of the residual pile bars (38) along the direction of extension of the residual pile bars (38).

Further, a method for changing a sheet pile (14) in a sheet feeder (10) is presented.

A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet supporting portion to support a sheet, a feeding member to contact an upper surface of the sheet supported on the sheet supporting portion and feed the sheet, and a drive motor to rotate in a first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction. In addition, a lifting mechanism is connected to the drive motor to lift the sheet supporting portion and lower the feeding member in a case where the drive motor rotates in the first direction, and to lower the sheet supporting portion and lift the feeding member in a case where the drive motor rotates in the second direction.

A media processing device includes: a hopper for supporting a stack of media units (e.g. cards), the hopper including (i) a gate wall configured to abut leading edges of the media units and (ii) an outlet defined at an end of the gate wall; a pick roller at the outlet for engaging an outer one of the media units in the stack and dispensing the outer media unit from the hopper to a media processing path; the gate wall including a flexible gate at the outlet, the flexible gate configured to deflect toward the media processing path responsive to the outer media unit being driven into the flexible gate by the pick roller, wherein the outer media unit deflects when passing by the flexible gate, permitting the outer media unit to be dispensed from the hopper.

A media processing device includes: a hopper for supporting a stack of media units (e.g. cards), the hopper including (i) a gate wall configured to abut leading edges of the media units and (ii) an outlet defined at an end of the gate wall; a pick roller at the outlet for engaging an outer one of the media units in the stack and dispensing the outer media unit from the hopper to a media processing path; the gate wall including a flexible gate at the outlet, the flexible gate configured to deflect toward the media processing path responsive to the outer media unit being driven into the flexible gate by the pick roller, wherein the outer media unit deflects when passing by the flexible gate, permitting the outer media unit to be dispensed from the hopper.

A sheet accommodating apparatus includes a main body portion, a loading portion that is provided in the main body portion and supports a portion of a sheet loaded thereon from below, a lifting unit that lifts the loading portion, and a supporting portion that is connected to the main body portion and supports another portion of the sheet from below during a process in which the loading portion is lifted.

A sheet accommodating apparatus includes a main body portion, a loading portion that is provided in the main body portion and supports a portion of a sheet loaded thereon from below, a lifting unit that lifts the loading portion, and a supporting portion that is connected to the main body portion and supports another portion of the sheet from below during a process in which the loading portion is lifted.

A supply device includes: a loading portion where recording media are loaded; a transport unit to transport the media; a contact portion provided on the loading portion, the contact portion being in contact with a side end portion of the media having a first size in a direction intersecting with a transport direction, the contact portion having a blowing portion to blow air to the side end portion; a guide portion detachably attached to the contact portion when media having a second size smaller than the media having the first size are loaded, the guide portion being configured to guide a side end portion of the media having the second size; and a duct provided in the guide portion, the duct including a discharge port to blow the air from the blowing portion to an upper end portion of the media having the second size loaded on the loading portion.