Sheet processing apparatus, method for using the same image and image forming system

Abstract

A sheet processing apparatus for receiving and processing a sheet conveyed from an image forming apparatus, the sheet processing apparatus comprising: a discharging unit configured to discharge the sheet; a stacking unit configured to stack thereon the sheet discharged by the discharging unit; a blowing air unit configured to blow air along a direction parallel to a surface of the sheet being stacked; a first alignment unit having a pair of alignment plane opposed each other, the first alignment unit configured to align the sheet in a direction parallel to a discharging direction of the sheet; and a second alignment unit configured to align the sheet in a direction orthogonal to the discharging direction of the sheet, wherein the blowing air unit is provided at a position opposed to the alignment plane.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sheet processing apparatus for receiving and processing a sheet conveyed from an image forming apparatus, the sheet processing apparatus comprising:
 a discharging unit configured to discharge the sheet;   a stacking unit configured to stack thereon the sheet discharged by the discharging unit;   a blowing air unit configured to blow air along a direction parallel to a surface of the sheet being stacked;   a first alignment unit having a pair of alignment plane opposed each other, the first alignment unit configured to align the sheet in a direction parallel to a discharging direction of the sheet; and   a second alignment unit configured to align the sheet in a direction orthogonal to the discharging direction of the sheet, wherein   the blowing air unit is provided at a position opposed to the alignment plane.   
     
     
         2 . The sheet processing apparatus set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a blowing air flow rate changing unit configured to receive sheet information from the image forming apparatus and change the blowing air flow rate based on the sheet information. 
     
     
         3 . The sheet processing apparatus set forth in  claim 1  further comprising an initial value input unit configured to manually input an initial value of the blowing air flow rate. 
     
     
         4 . The sheet processing apparatus set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a wind direction changing unit configured to change a blowing direction of the blowing air unit. 
     
     
         5 . The sheet processing apparatus set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the wind direction changing unit receives sheet information from the image forming apparatus and changes the blowing direction based on the sheet information. 
     
     
         6 . The sheet processing apparatus set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a moving unit configured to move the blowing air unit along the discharging direction of the sheet. 
     
     
         7 . The sheet processing apparatus set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the moving unit receives sheet information from the image forming apparatus and moves the blowing air unit based on the sheet information. 
     
     
         8 . The sheet processing apparatus set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the blowing unit starts to blow air before a moment when a first sheet discharged by the discharging unit contacts with the stacking unit. 
     
     
         9 . An image forming system comprising:
 the sheet processing apparatus set forth in  claim 1 ; and   the image forming apparatus.   
     
     
         10 . A method for using the sheet processing apparatus set forth in  claim 1 , comprising:
 by the discharging unit, discharging the sheet;   by the stacking unit, stacking thereon the sheet discharged by the discharging unit;   by the blowing air unit, blowing air along the direction parallel to the surface of the sheet being stacked;   by the first alignment unit having a pair of alignment plane opposed each other, the first alignment unit configured to align the sheet in a direction parallel to a discharging direction of the sheet; and   a second alignment unit configured to align the sheet in a direction orthogonal to the discharging direction of the sheet, wherein   the blowing unit is provided at a position opposed to the alignment plane.