A stacking device for generating decks (10) of sheet elements (12) comprises a transport device with an upper side onto which sheet elements (12) are arranged on separate sheet sections (50). Each sheet section (50) is adapted to transport at least one sheet element (12). The upper side has a height offset between adjacent sheet sections (50). A displacement element shifts sheet elements (12) of one sheet section (50) onto an adjacent sheet section (50) in order to produce the deck (10) of sheet elements (12).

An image reading apparatus includes a stacking unit having an abutment portion, a feeding unit, a conveyance unit, a reading unit, a rotating shaft, and a drive unit. The abutment portion abuts a document end in a widthwise direction of a document stacked on the stacking unit. The conveyance unit conveys the stacked document fed by the feeding unit in a feeding direction perpendicularly intersecting the document widthwise direction. The reading unit reads an image of the document. The drive unit rotates the stacking unit, rotatably supported by the rotating shaft, around the rotating shaft. The rotating shaft is disposed at a position where at least a part of the rotating shaft exists between one end and other end in the document widthwise direction of a document having a maximum width conveyable by the conveyance unit in a state where the maximum width document abuts on the abutment portion.

An image reading apparatus includes a first stacking unit having a stacking surface, and an abutment portion that abuts a document stacked on the stacking surface, a feeding unit, a reading unit, a second stacking unit, a detection unit, a rotating shaft, a drive unit, and a control unit. The second stacking unit receives the document fed by the feeding unit and read by the reading unit. The detection unit detects presence or absence of the document stacked on the second stacking unit. The drive unit rotates the first stacking unit around the rotating shaft rotatably supporting the first stacking unit. Based on the detection of the absence of the document on the second stacking unit by the detection unit, the control unit controls the drive unit to rotate the first stacking unit in a direction with which the abutment portion is lowered.

An image reading apparatus includes a first stacking unit having a stacking surface, and an abutment portion that abuts a document stacked on the stacking surface, a feeding unit, a reading unit, a second stacking unit, a first detection unit, a rotating shaft, a drive unit, and a control unit. The second stacking unit receives the document fed by the feeding unit and read by the reading unit. The first detection unit detects presence or absence of the document stacked on the first stacking unit. The drive unit rotates the first stacking unit around the rotating shaft rotatably supporting the first stacking unit. At a predetermined timing after the first detection unit detects the absence of the document on the first stacking unit, the control unit controls the drive unit to rotate the first stacking unit in a direction with which the abutment portion is lowered.

A document feeder includes a document placing tray on which a document is placed; a document discharging tray on which a document discharged from a document discharging port in a discharging direction is stacked; and a light source that radiates light to the document discharging tray. The document discharging tray is disposed below the document placing tray. The document discharging tray has a protruding portion protruding upward from the surrounding area. The light source is disposed within a region having a width that is the same as a document having a maximum size in the width direction.

A document feeder includes a document placing tray on which a document is placed; a document discharging tray on which a document discharged from a document discharging port in a discharging direction is stacked; and a light source that radiates light to the document discharging tray. The document discharging tray is disposed below the document placing tray. The document discharging tray has a protruding portion protruding upward from the surrounding area. The light source is disposed within a region having a width that is the same as a document having a maximum size in the width direction.

A sheet stacking tray includes a first stacking portion, a second stacking portion, and a base portion. In a sheet widthwise direction perpendicular to the sheet discharge direction, the first stacking portion includes a first sheet stacking surface having a first stacking width within a range from one half of a sheet width of a maximum-size sheet to be discharged up to the sheet width of the maximum-size sheet. The second stacking portion includes a second sheet stacking surface having a second stacking width smaller than the first stacking width. A border between the first stacking portion and the second stacking portion lies on a discharge-direction upstream side of a contact point where a leading end portion of the maximum-size sheet comes into contact with the sheet stacking part while the sheet is discharged.

A sheet processing apparatus includes a conveyance member to convey a sheet, a pair of alignment members to move relatively in a width direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of the sheet by the conveyance member, so as to align a position of the sheet in the width direction, and a lower portion to support a lower surface of the sheet between the pair of alignment members in the width direction. In addition, a pair of upper portions are arranged on one side and the other side of the lower portion in the width direction and each hold an upper surface of the sheet, wherein the pair of upper portions is positioned lower than the lower portion in a plane vertical to the conveyance direction.

An image reading apparatus includes a first stacking unit having a stacking surface, and an abutment portion that abuts a document stacked on the stacking surface, a feeding unit, a reading unit, a second stacking unit, a first detection unit, a rotating shaft, a drive unit, and a control unit. The second stacking unit receives the document fed by the feeding unit and read by the reading unit. The first detection unit detects presence or absence of the document stacked on the first stacking unit. The drive unit rotates the first stacking unit around the rotating shaft rotatably supporting the first stacking unit. At a predetermined timing after the first detection unit detects the absence of the document on the first stacking unit, the control unit controls the drive unit to rotate the first stacking unit in a direction with which the abutment portion is lowered.

An image reading apparatus includes a stacking unit having an abutment portion, a feeding unit, a conveyance unit, a reading unit, a rotating shaft, and a drive unit. The abutment portion abuts a document end in a widthwise direction of a document stacked on the stacking unit. The conveyance unit conveys the stacked document fed by the feeding unit in a feeding direction perpendicularly intersecting the document widthwise direction. The reading unit reads an image of the document. The drive unit rotates the stacking unit, rotatably supported by the rotating shaft, around the rotating shaft. The rotating shaft is disposed at a position where at least a part of the rotating shaft exists between one end and other end in the document widthwise direction of a document having a maximum width conveyable by the conveyance unit in a state where the maximum width document abuts on the abutment portion.