The invention provides a paper path structure that is able to perform the following four functions: pass a sheet of paper through the paper path structure with is original orientation maintained; pass a sheet of paper through the paper path structure with its original orientation reversed; stack a sheet of paper in a stack repository with its original orientation maintained; and stack a sheet of paper in the stack repository with its original orientation reversed. The invention also provides a method to operate said paper path structure as well as a stacker and a printer comprising said paper path structure.

A conveying direction switching apparatus includes a first switching gate that, at a joint portion of a first conveying path, a second conveying path, and a third conveying path, switches between a first conveyance route connecting the first conveying path and the second conveying path and a second conveyance route connecting the first conveying path and the third conveying path, a second switching gate that switches between the first conveyance route and a third conveyance route connecting the second conveying path and the third conveying path, and a free gate that is arranged on a same shaft as the first switching gate such that a second conveyance route side is opened by an elastic body at a joint portion of the second conveyance route and the third conveyance route.

A medium conveyance path switching device include: a support unit located at a branch point of a conveyance path at which a conveying direction for a medium converges from three directions; a gate assembly including gates to guide the medium to different conveyance paths at the branch point; and a rotation mechanism configured to selectively rotate the gates. The support unit includes: a first support piece having a first through-hole portion; a second support piece having a second through-hole portion and disposed on one side of the first support piece; a third support piece having a third through-hole portion and disposed on the other side of the first support piece; a first bending connection part pivotably connecting one end of the first support piece and the second support piece; and a second bending connection part pivotably connecting the other end of the first support piece and the third support piece.

The invention provides a paper path structure that is able to perform the following four functions: pass a sheet of paper through the paper path structure with is original orientation maintained; pass a sheet of paper through the paper path structure with its original orientation reversed; stack a sheet of paper in a stack repository with its original orientation maintained; and stack a sheet of paper in the stack repository with its original orientation reversed. The invention also provides a method to operate said paper path structure as well as a stacker and a printer comprising said paper path structure.

A lead-in path through which a sheet is led in; a first branch path and a second branch path which branch from the lead-in path; a first switchback path which extends from the first branch path; a second switchback path which extends from the second branch path; a first joining path and a second joining path through which the switched-back sheet is transported; and a lead-out path which extends from a joining point at which the first joining path and the second joining path join with each other, are provided. The lead-out path passes through between the first switchback path and the second switchback path. A first connection point at which the first switchback path and the first joining path are connected to each other is disposed above a second connection point at which the second switchback path and the second joining path are connected to each other.

A medium conveyance route switching device includes: a support unit located at a branching point where conveyance directions of a medium converge in three directions; a gate assembly including a plurality of gates to guide at the branching point the medium to different conveyance paths; and a rotation mechanism configured to selectively rotate the plurality of gates. The support unit includes: a first support piece having a first through-hole portion; a second support piece having a second through-hole portion; a third support piece having a third through-hole portion; a first bending connection portion rotatably connecting one end of the first support piece and the second support piece; a second bending connection portion rotatably connecting the other end of the first support piece and the third support piece; and a fixing shaft inserted into the first through-hole portion, the second through-hole portion, and the third through-hole portion.

A conveyance path switching module includes a main body and a switching mechanism. The main body has first, second and third conveyance paths. The switching mechanism includes a first switching assembly and a second switching assembly. The first switching assembly and the second switching assembly are pivoted to the main body. By pivotally turning of the first switching assembly and the second switching assembly, the switching mechanism is adapted to be switched to a first state to open the first conveyance path and close the second conveyance path and the third conveyance path, adapted to be switched to a second state to open the second conveyance path and close the first conveyance path and the third conveyance path, and adapted to be switched to a third state to open the third conveyance path and close the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path.

A lead-in path through which a sheet is led in; a first branch path and a second branch path which branch from the lead-in path; a first switchback path which extends from the first branch path; a second switchback path which extends from the second branch path; a first joining path and a second joining path through which the switched-back sheet is transported; and a lead-out path which extends from a joining point at which the first joining path and the second joining path join with each other, are provided. The lead-out path passes through between the first switchback path and the second switchback path. A first connection point at which the first switchback path and the first joining path are connected to each other is disposed above a second connection point at which the second switchback path and the second joining path are connected to each other.

A lead-in path through which a sheet is led in; a first branch path and a second branch path which branch from the lead-in path; a first switchback path which extends from the first branch path; a second switchback path which extends from the second branch path; a first joining path and a second joining path through which the switched-back sheet is transported; and a lead-out path which extends from a joining point at which the first joining path and the second joining path join with each other, are provided. The lead-out path passes through between the first switchback path and the second switchback path. A first connection point at which the first switchback path and the first joining path are connected to each other is disposed above a second connection point at which the second switchback path and the second joining path are connected to each other.

A paper sheet sorting unit where a second guide path (2) is formed between the first sorting member (11) and the second sorting member (12), a first guide path (1) is formed on the exterior of the first sorting member (11), and a third guide path (3) is formed on the exterior of the second sorting member (12), the first sorting member (11) is driven by a power transmitted from an exterior to guide the paper sheets to the first guide path (1), the second sorting member (12) is driven by the power transmitted from the exterior to guide the paper sheets to the third guide path (3), and the first sorting member (11) and the second sorting member (12) are respectively driven in an opposite direction by the power transmitted from the exterior to guide the paper sheets to the second guide path (2).