Sheet conveying apparatus

Abstract

A sheet conveying apparatus includes a first storing unit in which a sheet bundle is stacked, a second storing unit that is provided near the first storing unit and in which the sheet bundle is stacked, a transfer tray that is provided in the second storing unit and transfers the sheet bundle from the second storing unit to the first storing unit, and a stopper that regulates, when the transfer tray transfers the stacked sheet bundle from the second storing unit to the first storing unit and moves from the first storing unit to the second storing unit, movement of the sheet bundle on the transfer tray.

1 . A sheet conveying apparatus comprising:
 a first storing unit in which a sheet bundle is to be stacked;   a second storing unit which is provided near the first storing unit and in which the sheet bundle is stacked;   a transfer tray which is provided in the second storing unit;   a stopper which regulates, when the transfer tray transfers the sheet bundle from the second storing unit to the first storing unit and moves from the first storing unit to the second storing unit, movement of the sheet bundle on the transfer tray;   rollers which are provided for movement with the transfer tray and guided by the first and second storing units as the transfer tray moves from the second storing unit to the first storing unit and then from the first storing unit to the second storing unit to transfer the sheet bundle;   a guide member which moves to a position between the first storing unit and the second storing unit where the guide member does not impede the transfer of the sheet bundle in a transfer direction of the transfer tray;   a trailing end guide member which is provided in the transfer tray and comes into contact with a trailing end of the sheet bundle in the transfer direction, a relation L 1 <L 2  being satisfied when a distance in the transfer direction between the trailing end guide member and the guide member is represented as L 1  and a distance in the transfer direction from the stopper to a surface in contact with a side of the sheet bundle in the first storing unit is represented as L 2 ; and   a controller which controls the transfer tray to transfer the sheet bundle from the second storing unit to the first storing unit.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller controls the stopper and the guide member to move to first positions where the stopper and the guide member do not impede the transfer of the sheet bundle in the transfer direction, before the controller controls the transfer tray to start the transfer of the sheet bundle from the second storing unit to the first storing unit. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the controller controls the transfer tray to start the transfer of the sheet bundle from the second storing unit to the first storing unit, when the controller determines that the movements of the stopper and the guide member to the first positions are completed. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the controller controls the stopper to move to a second position where the stopper impedes the transfer of the sheet bundle in the transfer direction, when the controller determines that the transfer of the sheet bundle from the second storing unit to the first storing unit is completed. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the controller controls the transfer tray to move from the first storing unit to the second storing unit, when the controller determines that the movement of the stopper to the second position is completed. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the second position is between the trailing end guide member and the trailing end of the sheet bundle. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the stopper sets a lower end at height equal to or smaller than height of position in contact with a bottom of the sheet bundle stacked on the transfer tray. 
     
     
         8 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a first storing unit in which a sheet bundle is to be stacked;   a second storing unit which is provided near the first storing unit and in which the sheet bundle is stacked;   a paper feeding member which is provided in the first storing unit;   a paper feeding side tray which is provided in the first storing unit to press the sheet bundle to be stacked therein against the paper feeding member;   a transfer tray which is provided in the second storing unit;   a stopper which regulates, when the transfer tray transfers the sheet bundle from the second storing unit to the first storing unit and moves from the first storing unit to the second storing unit, movement of the sheet bundle on the transfer tray; and   rollers which are provided for movement with the transfer tray and guided by the first and second storing units as the transfer tray moves from the second storing unit to the first storing unit and then from the first storing unit to the second storing unit to transfer the sheet bundle; and   a controller which controls the transfer tray to transfer the sheet bundle from the second storing unit to the first storing unit.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a guide member which moves to a position between the first storing unit and the second storing unit where the guided member does not impede the transfer of the sheet bundle in a transfer direction of the transfer tray. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a trailing end guide member that is provided in the transfer tray and comes into contact with a trailing end of the sheet bundle in the transfer direction. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein, when a distance in the transfer direction of the transfer tray between the trailing end guide member and the guide member is represented as L 1  and a distance in the transfer direction of the transfer tray from the stopper to a surface in contact with a side of the sheet bundle in the first storing unit is represented as L 2 , a relation L 1 <L 2  is satisfied. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the controller controls the stopper to move to first position where the stopper does not impede the transfer of the sheet bundle in the transfer direction, before the controller controls the transfer tray to start the transfer of the sheet bundle from the second storing unit to the first storing unit. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the controller controls the transfer tray to start the transfer of the sheet bundle from the second storing unit to the first storing unit, when the controller determines that the movements of the stopper to the first position are completed. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the controller controls the stopper to move to a second position where the stopper impedes the transfer of the sheet bundle in the transfer direction, when the controller determines that the transfer of the sheet bundle from the second storing unit to the first storing unit is completed. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the controller controls the transfer tray to move from the first storing unit to the second storing unit, when the controller determines that the movement of the stopper to the second position is completed. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the stopper sets a lower end at height equal to or smaller than height of position in contact with a bottom of the sheet bundle stacked on the transfer tray. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein controller controls the stopper to be inserted between the trailing end guide member and the trailing end of the sheet bundle. 
     
     
         18 . A sheet conveying method in the sheet conveying apparatus of  claim 1  comprising:
 transferring the sheet bundle stacked on the transfer tray from the first storing unit to the second storing unit; and 
 after transferring the sheet bundle to the second storing unit, regulating movement of the sheet bundle from the second storing unit to the first storing unit. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising, in transferring the sheet bundle, pressing the trailing end of the sheet bundle and moving the sheet bundle in the transfer direction. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising moving the transfer tray from the second storing unit to the first storing unit in a state in which the movement of the sheet bundle is regulated.