Sheet sorter

Claim 2

A sheet sorter, comprising: a plurality of bin trays arranged in the form of multi-stage trays; a plurality of followers provided on said bin trays adjacent sheet receiving sides of said bin trays; and rotatable means for sequentially moving said followers to expand a gap between adjacent bin trays; wherein an accommodating portion is provided with substantially vertical independent spaces which are disposed at respective sides of the sheet receiving side of said sheet sorter and which are defined by walls to accommodate said rotatable means, wherein said walls, a vertically and laterally long connecting member for connecting the walls at the respective sides and members for defining grooves for guiding movements of the plurality of followers, are integrally molded, and wherein the members for defining the grooves are parts of such portions of the walls from which the connecting member is extended.

Claim 3

A sorter according to claim 1, wherein said rotatable means is a helical cam means provided with a helical groove for guiding said followers.

Claim 4

A sorter according to claim 1, further comprising a rotatable member, disposed adjacent the sheet receiving side, for guiding the sheets to said bin trays, a sheet passage disposed upstream of said rotatable member with respect to a direction of movement of the sheet, and switching and guiding means, disposed upstream side of said rotatable member, movable between a position wherein it directs the sheet to said rotatable member and a position wherein it directs the sheet to said sheet passage.

Claim 5

A sorter according to claim 3, wherein said switching and guiding means also functions as a guide for guiding the sheet to said rotatable member.

Claim 6

A sorter according to claim 3, wherein the sheet passage extends substantially downwardly.

Claim 7

A sorter according to claim 5, wherein said sheet passage is defined by a recess.

Claim 8

A sheet sorter, comprising: a plurality of bin trays arranged in the form of multi-stage trays; a plurality of followers provided on said bin trays adjacent sheet receiving sides of said bin trays; rotational means for moving sequentially said followers to expand a gap between adjacent bin trays; a rotatable member, disposed adjacent a sheet receiving side of said bin trays, for guiding the sheets to said bin trays; a sheet passage, disposed upstream of said rotatable member with respect to a direction of movement of the sheet, for guiding the sheet substantially in a vertical direction, said sheet passage being constituted by a guiding member for guiding one side surface of the sheet and being open to outside of said sorter at a bottom thereof and at a side faced to said guiding member; and switching and guiding means, disposed upstream of said rotatable member, movable between a position wherein it directs the sheet to said rotatable member and a position wherein it directs the sheet to said sheet passage.

Claim 9

A sheet sorter, comprising: a plurality of bin trays arranged in the form of multi-stage trays; a plurality of followers provided on said bin trays adjacent sheet receiving sides of said bin trays; rotational means for moving sequentially said followers to expand a gap between adjacent bin trays; a rotatable member, disposed adjacent a sheet receiving side of said bin trays, for guiding the sheets to said bin trays; a sheet passage, disposed upstream of said rotatable member with respect to a direction of movement of the sheet, for guiding the sheet substantially in a vertical direction, said sheet passage being constituted by a guiding member for guiding one side surface of the sheet and being open to outside of said sorter at a bottom thereof and at a side faced to said guiding member; and switching and guiding means, disposed upstream of said rotatable member, movable between a position wherein it directs the sheet to said rotatable member and a position wherein it directs the sheet to said sheet passage.

Claim 10

A sorter according to claim 7, wherein said switching and guiding means also functions as a guide for guiding the sheet to said rotatable member.

Claim 11

A sorter according to claim 7, wherein the sheet passage extends substantially downwardly.

Claim 12

A sorter according to claim 9, wherein said sheet passage is defined by a recess.

Claim 13

An image forming apparatus, comprising: a discharging rotatable member for discharging a sheet having an image; and a sheet sorter including; a plurality of bin trays arranged in the form of multi-stage trays; a plurality of followers provided on said bin trays adjacent sheet receiving sides of said bin trays; and rotatable means for sequentially moving said followers to expand a gap between adjacent bin trays; wherein accommodating portion disposed at both sides of the sheet receiving side of said sheet sorter to accommodate said rotatable means, a connecting portion for connecting said accommodating portions and a member for defining a groove for guiding movements of the plurality of followers, are integrally molded.

Claim 14

An image forming apparatus, comprising: a discharging rotatable member for discharging a sheet having an image; and a sheet sorter including; a plurality of bin trays arranged in the form of multi-stage trays; a plurality of followers provided on said bin trays adjacent sheet receiving sides of said bin trays; and rotatable means for sequentially moving said followers to expand a gap between adjacent bin trays; wherein accommodating portion disposed at both sides of the sheet receiving side of said sheet sorter to accommodate said rotatable means, a connecting portion for connecting said accommodating portions and a member for defining a groove for guiding movements of the plurality of followers, are integrally molded.

Claim 15

A sorter according to claim 11, further comprising a rotatable member, disposed adjacent the sheet receiving side, for guiding the sheets to said bin trays, a sheet passage disposed upstream of said rotatable member in a direction of movement of the sheet, and switching and guiding means, disposed upstream side of said rotatable member, movable between a position wherein it directs the sheet to said rotatable member and a position wherein it directs the sheet to said sheet passage.

Claim 16

An image forming apparatus, comprising: discharging rotatable means including rollers capable of rotating in opposite directions for discharging a sheet having an image; and a sheet sorter, including: a plurality of bin trays arrange din the form of multi-stage trays; a plurality of followers provided on said bin trays adjacent sheet receiving sides of said bin trays; rotational means for moving sequentially said followers to expand a gap between adjacent bin trays; a rotatable member, disposed adjacent the sheet receiving side, for guiding the sheets to said bin trays; a sheet passage disposed upstream of said rotatable member with respect to a direction of movement of the sheet, for guiding the sheet substantially in a vertical direction, said sheet passage being constituted by a guiding member for guiding one side surface of the sheet and being open to outside of said apparatus, at a bottom thereof and at a side faced to said guiding member; a re-feeding passage for conveying a sheet on which in image has been formed to form a further image; and switching and guiding means, disposed upstream of said rotatable member, movable between a position wherein it directs the sheet to said rotatable member and a position wherein it directs the sheet to said sheet passage.

Claim 17

An image forming apparatus, comprising: discharging rotatable means including rollers capable of rotating in opposite directions for discharging a sheet having an image; and a sheet sorter, including: a plurality of bin trays arrange din the form of multi-stage trays; a plurality of followers provided on said bin trays adjacent sheet receiving sides of said bin trays; rotational means for moving sequentially said followers to expand a gap between adjacent bin trays; a rotatable member, disposed adjacent the sheet receiving side, for guiding the sheets to said bin trays; a sheet passage disposed upstream of said rotatable member with respect to a direction of movement of the sheet, for guiding the sheet substantially in a vertical direction, said sheet passage being constituted by a guiding member for guiding one side surface of the sheet and being open to outside of said apparatus, at a bottom thereof and at a side faced to said guiding member; a re-feeding passage for conveying a sheet on which in image has been formed to form a further image; and switching and guiding means, disposed upstream of said rotatable member, movable between a position wherein it directs the sheet to said rotatable member and a position wherein it directs the sheet to said sheet passage.

Claim 18

An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said sheet sorter is retractable.