A sheet discharge device includes a sheet discharge portion, a sheet loading portion, and a stopper mechanism. The stopper mechanism includes a first stopper supported pivotably to a first retraction position and a first restriction position, a second stopper that is movable to a first position at which the second stopper is housed along a downstream end part of the sheet loading portion and a second position apart from the first position to a downstream side in a sheet discharge direction and is supported pivotably to a second retraction position and a second restriction position, and a link mechanism connecting the first stopper to the second stopper. When the second stopper is disposed at the first position, the first stopper is disposed at the first restriction position, and when the second stopper is disposed at the second position, the first stopper is disposed at the first retraction position.

A sheet discharge device includes a sheet discharge portion, a sheet loading portion, and a stopper mechanism. The stopper mechanism includes a first stopper supported pivotably to a first retraction position and a first restriction position, a second stopper that is movable to a first position at which the second stopper is housed along a downstream end part of the sheet loading portion and a second position apart from the first position to a downstream side in a sheet discharge direction and is supported pivotably to a second retraction position and a second restriction position, and a link mechanism connecting the first stopper to the second stopper. When the second stopper is disposed at the first position, the first stopper is disposed at the first restriction position, and when the second stopper is disposed at the second position, the first stopper is disposed at the first retraction position.

A sheet discharge device includes a sheet discharge portion, a sheet loading portion, and a stopper mechanism. The stopper mechanism includes a first stopper supported pivotably to a first retraction position and a first restriction position, a second stopper that is movable to a first position at which the second stopper is housed along a downstream end part of the sheet loading portion and a second position apart from the first position to a downstream side in a sheet discharge direction and is supported pivotably to a second retraction position and a second restriction position, and a link mechanism connecting the first stopper to the second stopper. When the second stopper is disposed at the first position, the first stopper is disposed at the first restriction position, and when the second stopper is disposed at the second position, the first stopper is disposed at the first retraction position.

A sheet discharge device includes a sheet discharge portion, a sheet loading portion, and a stopper mechanism. The stopper mechanism includes a first stopper supported pivotably to a first retraction position and a first restriction position, a second stopper that is movable to a first position at which the second stopper is housed along a downstream end part of the sheet loading portion and a second position apart from the first position to a downstream side in a sheet discharge direction and is supported pivotably to a second retraction position and a second restriction position, and a link mechanism connecting the first stopper to the second stopper. When the second stopper is disposed at the first position, the first stopper is disposed at the first restriction position, and when the second stopper is disposed at the second position, the first stopper is disposed at the first retraction position.

Features for systems and methods for loading items into a tray are disclosed. The system may have an item conveyor configured to move the items towards a tray conveyor. The tray conveyor may be configured to move trays to receive items from the item conveyor into the tray. One or more sensors may detect the height of the items on the item conveyor and/or in the tray, and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor. A controller may receive data related to the one or more detected heights of the items and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor and correspondingly control movement of the item and/or tray conveyors for efficient loading of items into the tray and efficient movement of the trays for further processing. Tray conveyor movement sensors may detect movement of the trays or tray conveyors for further control or reliability of the system.

Provided is a sheet processing apparatus, including: a placement portion to which a sheet conveyed by a conveyance portion in a conveyance direction is placed; a processing portion configured to perform predetermined processing on a sheet placed on the placement portion, and to be movable in a predetermined moving range; and a control portion configured to control the processing portion to position, at a timing at which a sheet conveyed by the conveyance portion passes through the moving range, from a first position of preventing from interfering with the sheet to a second position of performing the predetermined processing on a preceding sheet having been conveyed by the conveyance portion and placed on the placement portion before the sheet.

Provided is a sheet processing apparatus, including: a placement portion to which a sheet conveyed by a conveyance portion in a conveyance direction is placed; a processing portion configured to perform predetermined processing on a sheet placed on the placement portion, and to be movable in a predetermined moving range; and a control portion configured to control the processing portion to position, at a timing at which a sheet conveyed by the conveyance portion passes through the moving range, from a first position of preventing from interfering with the sheet to a second position of performing the predetermined processing on a preceding sheet having been conveyed by the conveyance portion and placed on the placement portion before the sheet.

This invention provides a stacker for use in forming stacks of cut sheets received from an upstream utilization device (e.g. a printer, cutter, etc.) that allows for positive driving of sheets into a stack using a stacking unit that includes a series of grippers that are adapted to grip and release a leading edge of each sheet at the appropriate time. In this manner, each sheet is gripped as it arrives from the upstream operation and is passed downstream into the stack, being released so as to properly decelerate at the stack's backstop. The grippers are mounted on a continuous belt between a pair of opposing drive sprockets. An edge sensor located upstream of the stacking unit triggers motion of the belts. The grippers are actuated by a mechanical cam arrangement to selectively grip and release at predetermined positions as the belt is driven.

This invention provides a stacker for use in forming stacks of cut sheets received from an upstream utilization device (e.g. a printer, cutter, etc.) that allows for positive driving of sheets into a stack using a stacking unit that includes a series of grippers that are adapted to grip and release a leading edge of each sheet at the appropriate time. In this manner, each sheet is gripped as it arrives from the upstream operation and is passed downstream into the stack, being released so as to properly decelerate at the stack's backstop. The grippers are mounted on a continuous belt between a pair of opposing drive sprockets. An edge sensor located upstream of the stacking unit triggers motion of the belts. The grippers are actuated by a mechanical cam arrangement to selectively grip and release at predetermined positions as the belt is driven.

A sheet container includes a housing, a stacking part provided in the housing so that recording sheets are stacked on the stacking part, a contact part to be brought into contact with edges of the recording sheets in a length direction on the stacking part in an attached state in which the contact part is attached into the housing, a connection member connected to the stacking part or the housing and having an extension part longer than the stacking part in the length direction, and a retreater that retreats the contact part in the attached state from the extension part with the connection member connected to the stacking part or the housing.