A conveying apparatus includes: receiving trays arranged vertically and has a lowest tray and a first receiving tray; a conveying mechanism; a supporter supporting the receiving trays; and a swing mechanism configured to swing the first receiving tray with respect to the supporter to one of a receiving position at which the first receiving tray receives a medium and an upper position. The swing mechanism is configured to: keep the first receiving tray at the upper position when a first external force directed in a direction in which the first receiving tray is moved from the upper position toward the receiving position is not applied to the first receiving tray located at the upper position; and swing the first receiving tray with respect to the supporter toward the receiving position when the first external force is applied to the first receiving tray.

A conveyor, including: receiving trays; a conveyance mechanism; and a support supporting the trays, wherein at least one tray except a lowermost tray is supported so as to be selectively positioned at one of a receiving position and an upper position, wherein at least one lower tray except an uppermost tray includes a protruding portion attached to a tray body so as to be selectively positioned at one of a protruding position and a retracted position, and wherein the conveyor includes a force transmitting mechanism for effectuating at least one of (a) a retracting movement of the protruding portion of one of the at least one lower tray from the protruding position to the retracted position caused by an upward movement of an adjacent upper tray disposed just above and immediately adjacent to the one of the at least one lower tray from the receiving position to the upper position.

A sheet sorting apparatus includes a first tray detachable from an apparatus main body, a second tray arranged below the first tray, a discharge unit to discharge a sheet to the first or second tray, a tray detecting unit to detect that the first tray is detached from the apparatus main body, a full stack detecting unit to detect a fully stacked condition of the first tray, and a control unit to control the discharge unit. In a case where the tray detecting unit detects that the first tray is detached from the apparatus main body, the control unit controls the discharge unit not to discharge a sheet to the second tray when a number of sheets discharged to the second tray reaches a threshold number of sheets, even though the full stack detecting unit does not detect the fully stacked condition.

A method of grouping sheet units, which belong together in sheet groups, a sheet stream comprising two superposed sheet units each by means of a grouping unit, a grouping unit for a sheet handling system, and a sheet handling system that allow a high processing speed and a high cycle efficiency of a sheet handling system are disclosed. A sheet unit can be held back in the grouping unit. Depending on whether the downstream subsequent sheet units transferred into the grouping unit belong to a sheet group, the held-back sheet unit can be released by itself and together with one or together with both downstream subsequent sheet units.

A method of grouping sheet units, which belong together in sheet groups, a sheet stream comprising two superposed sheet units each by means of a grouping unit, a grouping unit for a sheet handling system, and a sheet handling system that allow a high processing speed and a high cycle efficiency of a sheet handling system are disclosed. A sheet unit can be held back in the grouping unit. Depending on whether the downstream subsequent sheet units transferred into the grouping unit belong to a sheet group, the held-back sheet unit can be released by itself and together with one or together with both downstream subsequent sheet units.

A method for evaluating stacking or sorting integrity at an output device of a high-speed apparatus that processes media includes: acquiring an audio data substantially in real-time from the output device of the high-speed apparatus while the high-speed apparatus is in operation, by use of an audio sensor located at the output device; transforming by a processor, the audio data to into a stacking or sorting integrity value; and if the stacking or sorting integrity value exceeds a predetermined threshold, stopping by the processor a document transport of the high-speed apparatus. An apparatus for evaluating stacking or sorting integrity at an output device, and a system for evaluating stacking or sorting integrity at an output device of a high-speed apparatus are also described.

A sheet sorting apparatus includes a second tray arranged below a first tray detachable from a main body having a first discharge port corresponding to the first tray and a second discharge port corresponding to the second tray, a discharge unit, a tray detecting unit, and a control unit. The discharge unit discharges a sheet toward the first or second discharge port. In a state that the first tray is detached from the main body and the discharge unit discharges sheets from the first discharge port to the second tray and then the first tray is detected as attached to the main body, the control unit selects a discharge destination of a second sheet, subsequent to a first sheet discharged and stacked first after the first tray is attached to the main body, such that the second sheet is stacked on a tray having the first sheet thereon.

A sheet sorting apparatus includes a second tray arranged below a first tray detachable from a main body having a first discharge port corresponding to the first tray and a second discharge port corresponding to the second tray, a discharge unit, a tray detecting unit, and a control unit. The discharge unit discharges a sheet toward the first or second discharge port. In a state that the first tray is detached from the main body and the discharge unit discharges sheets from the first discharge port to the second tray and then the first tray is detected as attached to the main body, the control unit selects a discharge destination of a second sheet, subsequent to a first sheet discharged and stacked first after the first tray is attached to the main body, such that the second sheet is stacked on a tray having the first sheet thereon.

A sheet sorting apparatus includes a second tray arranged below a first tray detachable from a main body having a first discharge port corresponding to the first tray and a second discharge port corresponding to the second tray, a discharge unit, a tray detecting unit, and a control unit. The discharge unit discharges a sheet toward the first or second discharge port. In a state that the first tray is detached from the main body and the discharge unit discharges sheets from the first discharge port to the second tray and then the first tray is detected as attached to the main body, the control unit selects a discharge destination of a second sheet, subsequent to a first sheet discharged and stacked first after the first tray is attached to the main body, such that the second sheet is stacked on a tray having the first sheet thereon.

A sheet sorting apparatus includes a second tray arranged below a first tray detachable from a main body having a first discharge port corresponding to the first tray and a second discharge port corresponding to the second tray, a discharge unit, a tray detecting unit, and a control unit. The discharge unit discharges a sheet toward the first or second discharge port. In a state that the first tray is detached from the main body and the discharge unit discharges sheets from the first discharge port to the second tray and then the first tray is detected as attached to the main body, the control unit selects a discharge destination of a second sheet, subsequent to a first sheet discharged and stacked first after the first tray is attached to the main body, such that the second sheet is stacked on a tray having the first sheet thereon.