Sheet processing unit

Abstract

To provide a sheet processing unit with a simplified structure that performs post-processing and sorting on sheets after printing.SOLUTION: A sheet processing unit 100 is equipped with a post-processing device 1 that performs post-processing on sheets after printing and a sorting device 2 that sorts sheets after printing into designated trays. The post-processing device 1 is equipped with a post-processing section 20 that performs post-processing of sheets and a destination switching guide 10 that switches the sheets to either the post-processing section 20 or the sorting device 2 as the destination for processing. The sorting device 2 is equipped with a destination switching guide 30 that switches the tray to which sheets are sorted and a guide driving device 40 that drives the destination switching guide 30. The guide driving device 40 also drives the destination switching guide 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sheet processing unit. [Background technology]

[0002] There has been proposed a sheet processing unit that includes a post-processing device that performs post-processing such as binding the sheets after printing on them, and a sorting device that can be attached to the post-processing device and sorts the sheets into a mail tray.

[0003] In the invention described in Patent Document 1, a switching guide provided in a post-processing device switches the destination for processing printed sheets. The switching guide switches the destination of the sheets between a post-processing device that performs post-processing or a sorting device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2000-169033 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the sheet processing unit described in Patent Document 1 requires a drive source for driving the switching guide within the post-processing device, which complicates the structure of the sheet processing unit.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has an object to simplify the structure of a sheet processing unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, a sheet processing unit includes a post-processing device that performs post-processing on printed sheets, and a sorting device that is detachable from the post-processing device and sorts the printed sheets into a predetermined tray, the post-processing device having a post-processing section that performs post-processing on the sheets, and a processing destination switching guide that switches the destination for processing the sheets to either the post-processing section or the sorting device, the sorting device having a sort destination switching guide that switches the tray into which the sheets are sorted, and a guide drive unit that drives the sort destination switching guide, and the guide drive unit also drives the processing destination switching guide. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, in the sheet processing unit, the guide drive unit inherently provided in the sorting device drives the processing destination switching guide as well as the sorting destination switching guide, so that a drive source dedicated to the processing destination switching guide is not required in the post-processing device, and the structure of the sheet processing unit can be simplified. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1A to 1C are diagrams illustrating an example of a usage form of a sheet processing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the sheet processing unit. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the sheet processing unit (with the processing destination switching guide switched). [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the sheet processing unit (in a state where a sort destination switching guide is switched). [Diagram 5] FIG. [Figure 6] 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating another example of the usage form of the sheet processing unit. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the sheet processing unit with the sorting device removed. [Figure 8] 11 is a vertical sectional view of another example of a usage form of the sheet processing unit. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference characters and description thereof will not be repeated.

[0011] An example of a usage pattern of the sheet processing unit 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a usage pattern of the sheet processing unit 100.

[0012] 1, the sheet processing unit 100 is installed next to a printing machine P such as a multifunction peripheral. The sheet processing unit 100 includes a post-processing device 1 and a sorting device 2.

[0013] The post-processing device 1 is a device that performs post-processing on printed sheets. Specifically, the post-processing device 1 is also called a finisher, which performs finishing processes such as stapling, punching, and folding on printed sheets. The post-processing device 1 is typically installed next to the printing press P. Sheets printed by the printing press P are discharged from the side of the printing press P and supplied to the post-processing device 1 from the side of the adjacent post-processing device 1. Sheets that have completed post-processing are discharged to a discharge tray 1a installed on the side of the post-processing device 1.

[0014] The sorting device 2 is detachable from the post-processing device 1, and performs a process of sorting sheets into a predetermined mail tray 2a (hereinafter simply referred to as "tray"). The sorting device 2 is also called a mailbox, and is equipped with about 5 to 7 trays 2a. By using the sorting device 2, it is possible to prevent printed materials from being mixed up when multiple people are using the multifunction device. In this embodiment, the sorting device 2 is attached to the top of the post-processing device 1 when used.

[0015] Next, the configuration of the sheet processing unit 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the inside of the sheet processing unit 100 taken along the line X in Fig. 1.

[0016] 2, the post-processing device 1 has a post-processing section 20 and a processing destination switching guide 10. The post-processing section 20 is composed of a mechanism for performing finishing processes such as stapling, and performs post-processing of sheets discharged from the printing press P.

[0017] The processing destination switching guide 10 has a receiving portion 11, a guide portion 13, and a rotating shaft 12. The receiving portion 11 and the guide portion 13 are provided at different positions along a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in Fig. 2, and are connected via the rotating shaft 12. The receiving portion 11 and the guide portion 13 are rotatable as a unit around the rotating shaft 12.

[0018] The processing destination switching guide 10 is held in a predetermined position by a spring 14, but when an acting force is applied to the receiving portion 11, the receiving portion 11 rotates against the force of the spring 14, causing the guide portion 13 to rotate as well. The guide portion 13 is disposed at a position where the conveying path 71 branches into conveying paths 72 and 73. The conveying path 71 is a path from the printing press P to the processing destination switching guide 10. The conveying path 72 is a path from the processing destination switching guide 10 to the post-processing portion 20. The conveying path 73 is a path from the processing destination switching guide 10 to the sorting device 2.

[0019] When the guide portion 13 is rotated, the processing destination switching guide 10 blocks one of the sheet transport paths 72 and 73 with the guide portion 13 and guides the sheet to the other transport path.

[0020] That is, the processing destination switching guide 10 switches the destination for processing the printed sheets to either the post-processing unit 20 or the sorting device 2.

[0021] Specifically, among the sheets discharged from the printing press P, those to be post-processed in the post-processing section 20 pass through the conveying path 71, are guided by the processing destination switching guide 10, and then pass through the conveying path 72 and are conveyed to the post-processing section 20 by the conveying rollers 5.

[0022] On the other hand, among the sheets discharged from the printing press P, those to be sorted by the sorting device 2 are not post-processed in the post-processing unit 20, but are guided by the processing destination switching guide 10 and then passed through the conveying path 73, where they are discharged upward from the top of the post-processing device 1 and conveyed to the sorting device 2.

[0023] The sorting device 2 has a plurality of sorting destination switching guides 30 and a guide driving device 40 that drives the sorting destination switching guides 30.

[0024] The multiple sorting destination switching guides 30 are arranged corresponding to the multiple trays 34, respectively. Each sorting destination switching guide 30 has a receiving portion 31, a guide portion 33, and a rotating shaft 32. The receiving portion 31 and the guide portion 33 are provided at different positions along a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 2, and are connected via the rotating shaft 32. The receiving portion 31 and the guide portion 33 are rotatable as a unit around the rotating shaft 32.

[0025] The sorting destination switching guide 30 is held in a predetermined position by a spring 35, and when an acting force is applied to the receiving portion 31, the receiving portion 31 rotates against the force of the spring 35, causing the guide portion 33 to rotate as well. The guide portion 33 is disposed at a position where the conveying path 74 branches into the conveying path 75 to the tray 34.

[0026] The guide portion 33 is held by the spring 35 in a position that does not block the conveying path 74, but when rotated against the force of the spring 35, it blocks the conveying path 74 and guides the sheet to the conveying path 75. The guided sheet passes through the conveying path 75 corresponding to each tray 34, is conveyed by the conveying rollers 6, and is discharged to each tray 34.

[0027] That is, the sort destination switching guide 30 switches and guides which of the trays 34 the printed sheets are to be sorted into.

[0028] The guide driving device 40 includes a moving body 42 , an acting member 43 , link mechanisms 44 and 45 , and a roller group 50 .

[0029] The roller group 50 moves the moving body 42. In the illustrated example, the moving body 42 is a loop-shaped string-like body that is wound around the roller group 50. As the roller group 50 rotates, the moving body 42 moves in the length direction of the moving body 42. An action member 43 is attached to the moving body 42. As moved by the roller group 50, the moving body 42 moves the action member 43 along a loop-shaped path.

[0030] The acting member 43 applies an acting force to the sorting destination switching guide 30 and the link mechanisms 44, 45 by being moved along the loop-shaped path.

[0031] When the sorting device 2 is attached to the post-processing device 1, the link mechanisms 44 and 45 are located between the movable body 42 wound around the roller group 50 and the processing destination switching guide 10 inside the post-processing device 1. In the link mechanisms 44 and 45, the link 44 is rotatable about the rotation axis 44b, and the link 45 is rotatable about the rotation axis 45a provided on the link 44. The tip of the link 45 penetrates the casing of the sorting device 2 and enters the inside of the post-processing device 1, so that the acting force received from the moving acting member 43 is transmitted to the processing destination switching guide 10, which is pushed upward by the spring 14, via the acting surface 45b.

[0032] The processing destination switching guide 10 will be described in detail with reference to Figures 2 and 3. Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the sheet processing unit 100, showing the processing destination switching guide 10 in a switched state.

[0033] To repeat, the processing destination switching guide 10 has a receiving portion 11 , a guide portion 13 , and a rotating shaft 12 .

[0034] The receiving portion 11 has an L-shaped main body 11a and an acted surface 11b arranged at an end of one side of the L-shaped main body 11a. The acted surface 11b is arranged at a position where it contacts an acting surface 45b of the link 45 of the link mechanism 44, 45, and receives an acting force from the acting surface 45b.

[0035] The guide portion 13 has a wedge-shaped main body portion 13a and guide surfaces 13b and 13c arranged on the tip side of the main body portion 13a. The guide portion 13 blocks one of the transport paths and guides the sheet to the other transport path by the guide surfaces 13b and 13c.

[0036] Here, a pressing force is applied by the spring 14 to the main body 11a of the receiving part 11 so as to press the acted surface 11b upward. Therefore, the processing destination switching guide 10 tries to rotate clockwise around the rotation shaft 12. However, as shown in FIG. 2, the acted surface 11b is in contact with the acting surface 45b of the link 45, so no rotation occurs.

[0037] In this case, when the acting member 43 is separated from the link 44 as shown in Fig. 2, the processing destination switching guide 10 blocks the conveying path 72, and the guide surface 13b guides the sheet to the conveying path 73 (arrow 80 in Fig. 2). That is, the processing destination switching guide 10 is given a pressing force from the spring 14 as a mechanical force so as to assume a posture for sending the sheet to the sorting device (hereinafter referred to as the sorting device guiding posture).

[0038] 3, when the movable body 42 travels from the state shown in FIG. 2 and the acting member 43 acts on the link mechanisms 44, 45, the acting member 43 presses the acted surface 11b in the direction opposite to the pressing force applied by the spring 14. Then, the processing destination switching guide 10 rotates counterclockwise around the rotation shaft 12, and a switching operation is performed.

[0039] At this time, as shown in Fig. 3, the guide portion 13 of the processing destination switching guide 10 blocks the conveying path 73, and the guide surface 13c guides the sheet to the conveying path 72 (arrow 81 in Fig. 3). That is, by being applied with a switching action force from the outside, the processing destination switching guide 10 switches to a posture in which the processing destination switching guide 10 guides the sheet to the post-processing section 20 (hereinafter referred to as the post-processing section guiding posture).

[0040] Therefore, the processing destination switching guide 10 is switched from the sorting device guiding position to the post-processing section guiding position by applying a switching force. As a result, the guide drive device 40 can switch the processing destination switching guide 10 to the post-processing section guiding position by applying a switching force when there is no need to switch the sorting destination switching guide 30.

[0041] By transmitting the force to the processing destination switching guide 10 by the link mechanisms 44 and 45, the guide driving device 40 also drives the processing destination switching guide 10 provided in the post-processing device 1 to switch the destination for processing the sheet.

[0042] Therefore, the post-processing device 1 does not require a dedicated drive device for driving the processing destination switching guide 10 included in the post-processing device 1. In other words, the sheet processing unit 100 can share the guide drive device 40, which is a drive source for switching between the sorting destination switching guide 30 and the processing destination switching guide 10. As a result, the structure of the sheet processing unit 100 can be simplified, and ultimately the cost of the product can be reduced.

[0043] Next, the sorting destination switching guide 30 will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the sheet processing unit 100, showing a state in which one of the sorting destination switching guides 30 has been switched.

[0044] 4, the sorting destination switching guides 30A, 30B are disposed corresponding to the respective trays 34A, 34B. The sorting destination switching guides 30A, 30B have receiving portions 31A, 31B, rotating shafts 32A, 32B, and guide portions 33A, 33B.

[0045] The receiving portions 31A and 31B are contacted by the inclined surface 43b of the action member 43 that has moved along the loop-shaped path, and the action force is applied from the contacting inclined surface 43b. At this time, since the action member 43 is away from the link mechanisms 44 and 45, the process destination switching guide 10 is switched to a position for guiding the sheet to the conveying path 74 by the force of the spring 14. The receiving portions 31A and 31B are applied with a pressing force from the springs 35A and 35B to the surface opposite to the surface contacting the inclined surface 43b. Therefore, the sorting destination switching guides 30A and 30B try to rotate clockwise around the rotation shafts 32A and 32B. As a result, for example, in the state of FIG. 4, the sorting destination switching guide 30B is in a position not to sort the sheet to the tray 34B (hereinafter simply referred to as the "non-sorting position"), and guides the sheet above the sorting destination switching guide 30B.

[0046] Then, a switching force, which is the force required to switch the sorting destination switching guides 30A, 30B, is applied to the receiving portions 31A, 31B from the inclined surface 43b of the acting member 43, which has reached the receiving portions 31A, 31B as the moving body 42 travels, in the opposite direction to the pressing force applied by the springs 35A, 35B, causing the sorting destination switching guides 30A, 30B to rotate counterclockwise around the rotation axes 32A, 32B.

[0047] In the state shown in FIG. 4, of the sorting destination switching guides 30A and 30B, the sorting destination switching guide 30A receives a switching force from the inclined surface 43b of the moving acting member 43 (arrow 82 in FIG. 4) in the receiving portion 31A.

[0048] As a result, the sorting destination switching guide 30A rotates counterclockwise as a whole around the rotation axis 32A, blocking the conveying path 74 with the guide portion 33A, and assumes a position in which the sheet is guided to the conveying path 75A for sorting (hereinafter simply referred to as the "sorting position") (arrow 83 in Figure 4).

[0049] That is, the sorting destination switching guide 30 is applied with a pressing force from the springs 35A and 35B as an external mechanical force to maintain the non-sorting position. The sorting destination switching guide 30 is then switched to the sorting position by the switching action force applied from the external acting member 43.

[0050] Therefore, the sorting destination switching guide 30 is switched from a non-sorting position to a sorting position by the switching force applied by the acting member 43. As a result, the guide drive device 40 can switch the sorting destination switching guide 30 corresponding to the target tray by applying the switching force.

[0051] Next, the guide driving device 40 will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 5 in addition to Fig. 4. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the guide driving device 40.

[0052] 5, the guide driving device 40 has a motor 47 as a driving source. The guide driving device 40 has a roller group 50, a moving body 42, an action member 43, and a control unit 48.

[0053] The roller group 50 includes a roller 51 driven by the motor 47 , another roller 52 that pairs with the roller 51 , and a plurality of rollers 53 that are disposed between the pair of rollers 51 and 52 .

[0054] The moving body 42 is stretched over a roller group 50. The moving body 42 is typically a loop-shaped string-like body, and is a belt in this embodiment. Note that the moving body 42 may be formed of a chain or the like.

[0055] The acting member 43 has an attachment portion 43a and the aforementioned inclined surface 43b. The acting member 43 is attached to the moving body 42 at the attachment portion 43a, and is disposed on the outer circumferential surface side of the moving body 42 that is looped around the roller group 50. The inclined surface 43b is located farther from the moving body 42 on the acting member 43 than the attachment portion 43a. The inclined surface 43b is inclined counterclockwise toward the inner circumferential side of the moving body 42.

[0056] The control unit 48 receives requests from a user (such as which tray to sort the sheets into, whether to post-process the sheets, etc.) and controls the motor 47 so that the acting member 43 moves to a predetermined position. That is, the control unit 48 controls the position of the acting member 43 using the rotation angle of the roller 51 as an operation amount. The control unit 48 includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a communication unit, and a storage unit (not shown).

[0057] With the above configuration, the roller group 50 is rotationally driven, and as the movable body 42 moves along the looped path, the acting member 43 also moves along the looped path. As the acting member 43 moves clockwise along the looped path, the inclined surface 43b of the acting member 43 applies a switching acting force to the sorting destination switching guide 30. The link mechanisms 44, 45 are specifically a rotating member 44 and a connecting member 45.

[0058] The rotating member 44 constituting the link mechanisms 44, 45 has an arcuate surface 44a and a rotating shaft 44b. The arcuate surface 44a is a surface against which the inclined surface 43b of the acting member 43 that has rotated and moved abuts, and receives an acting force from the acting member 43. The rotating shaft 44b supports the rotating member 44 so that it rotates in a direction toward the post-processing device 1 and in a direction away from the post-processing device 1. The rotating member 44 receives an acting force from the acting member 43 that has moved clockwise along a loop-shaped path, and rotates around the rotating shaft 44b against the force of the spring 14.

[0059] The connecting member 45 is connected to a part of the rotating member 44. The connecting member 45 has a rotating shaft 45a and the above-mentioned action surface 45b. The rotating shaft 45a supports the connecting member 45 rotatably.

[0060] The connecting member 45 is fitted in a through hole 92a provided in a part of a bottom surface 92 of the housing of the sorting device 2 in the longitudinal direction of the connecting member 45 so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction.

[0061] As described above, the acting member 43 applies a switching acting force to the sorting destination switching guide 30 and the processing destination switching guide 10 to switch their respective positions.

[0062] Therefore, the guide driving device 40 can apply a switching force to each of the switching guides 10, 30. As a result, each of the switching guides 10, 30 can be driven by the single guide driving device 40 provided in the sorting device 2.

[0063] Furthermore, by making the movable body 42 a string-like body, the guide driving device 40 can apply a switching force to the multiple sorting destination switching guides 30. As a result, the multiple sorting destination switching guides 30 can be driven by a single guide driving device 40 provided in the sorting device 2.

[0064] The processing destination switching guide 10 can be driven by the guide drive device 40 to change its position so as to selectively switch the destination of the sheet to either the post-processing device 20 or the sorting device 2.

[0065] Similarly, the sorting destination switching guide 30 can be driven by the guide driving device 40 to change its posture so as to selectively switch the sorting destination of the sheets to one of a plurality of sorting destinations, i.e., the sorting destination of the sheets.

[0066] Therefore, the guide driving device 40 can drive each of the switching guides 10, 30 to switch between the switching guides 10, 30. As a result, the post-processing device 1 does not require a dedicated driving device for driving the processing destination switching guide 10 included in the post-processing device 1.

[0067] Next, another example of the usage of the sheet processing unit 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0068] To repeat, the sorting device 2 is detachable from the post-processing device 1. Fig. 6 is a diagram for explaining another example of a usage form of the sheet processing unit 100, specifically, showing a mode in which the sorting device 2 is detached and used.

[0069] 6, the sheet processing unit 100 in this usage form includes a cover 7 that is attached to the post-processing device 1 in place of the removed sorting device 2. The cover 7 is configured to be detachable from the post-processing device 1, just like the sorting device 2.

[0070] Next, a configuration of another example of the usage of the sheet processing unit 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 7 and Fig. 8. Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the sheet processing unit 100 when the sorting device 2 is removed. Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the other example of the usage of the sheet processing unit 100.

[0071] 7, when the sorting device 2 is removed from the post-processing device 1, the acting surface 45b of the connecting member 45 is separated from the acted surface 11b of the receiving part 11. Then, the acted surface 11b of the receiving part 11, which is pressed by the spring 14, is opened at the top when the sorting device 2 is removed. Therefore, the acted surface 11b becomes contactable from the open top.

[0072] 8, the cover 7 has a protrusion 7a. The protrusion 7a is disposed at a position that contacts the acted surface 11b of the receiving portion 11 when the cover 7 is attached to the post-processing device 1. Furthermore, the protrusion height of the protrusion 7a is equal to the amount of displacement of the connecting member 45 toward the post-processing device 1 when an acting force is applied to the rotating member 44 from the acting member 43 while the sorting device 2 is attached to the post-processing device 1.

[0073] That is, the protrusion 7a, which is part of the cover 7 attached to the post-processing device 1, applies a switching force to the processing destination switching guide 10 against the force of the spring 14, thereby switching the position of the processing destination switching guide 10 to the post-processing device guiding position.

[0074] Therefore, when the sorting device 2 is removed and the cover 7 is attached, the processing destination switching guide 10 is switched to the post-processing section guiding position. As a result, even in a usage mode in which the sorting device 2 is removed, no other components are required to switch the processing destination switching guide 10, and the configuration of the sheet processing unit 100 can be simplified.

[0075] The guide driving device 40 is not limited to the above configuration as long as it drives the sorting destination switching guide 30 and also the processing destination switching guide 10. Appropriate design modifications within the scope of the normal creative ability of a person skilled in the art are also included in the scope of the present invention. In terms of technical concept, other appropriate interlocking mechanisms other than the specific link mechanisms 44, 45 described above can also be used. The guide driving device 40 is also not limited to the belt driving type described above, and it is of course possible to adopt other driving system configurations. In addition, according to the present invention, within the scope of the technical ideas described in each claim, appropriate design modifications or modifications of the operating principle can be made within the scope of the ordinary creative ability of a person skilled in the art.

[0076] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The drawings are mainly schematic illustrations of each component for ease of understanding, and the thickness, length, number, spacing, etc. of each component shown in the drawings are different from the actual ones due to the convenience of drawing. In addition, the material, shape, dimensions, etc. of each component shown in the above embodiments are merely examples and are not particularly limited, and various modifications are possible within a range that does not substantially deviate from the configuration of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] P printing machine 1 Aftertreatment device 10 Processing destination switching guide 14 Spring 20 Post-processing section 2 Sorting device 30 Sort destination switching guide 35 Spring 40 Guide drive unit 50 Drive body 42 Mobile 43 Working member 44 Rotating parts 45 Connecting member 7 Cover 100 Sheet Processing Unit

Claims

1. a post-processing device for performing post-processing on the printed sheets; a sorting device that is detachable from the post-processing device and sorts the printed sheets into a predetermined tray; Equipped with The post-treatment device includes: a post-processing section for performing post-processing on the sheet; a processing destination switching guide for switching the destination of the sheet to either the post-processing unit or the sorting device; having The sorting device includes: a sort destination switching guide for switching the tray into which the sheets are sorted; a guide driving device that drives the sorting destination switching guide; having The guide driving device also drives the processing destination switching guide.

2. the processing destination switching guide is capable of changing its posture so as to selectively switch between the post-processing unit and the sorting device as a destination for processing the sheet, the sorting destination switching guide is capable of changing its position so as to selectively switch between a plurality of sorting destinations as sorting destinations for the sheets, The sheet processing unit according to claim 1 , wherein the guide driving device applies a switching force to the processing destination switching guide and the sorting destination switching guide to drive them to switch their positions.

3. The sheet processing unit of claim 2, wherein the processing destination switching guide is applied with a mechanical force so that the processing destination of the sheet is the sorting device, and the switching action force is further applied to switch the processing destination of the sheet to the post-processing section.

4. The sorting destination switching guide is configured to apply a mechanical force to the tray so as to assume a position that does not sort the sheets, and is further configured to apply the switching action force so as to assume a position that sorts the sheets to the tray.

5. The guide drive device is A moving body hung on a driving body, An action member attached to the moving body; having The sheet processing unit according to claim 4 , wherein the acting member applies the switching acting force to the sorting destination switching guide and the processing destination switching guide to switch their respective positions.

6. The sheet processing unit according to claim 5 , wherein the moving body is a string-like body.

7. a cover that is attached to the post-processing device in place of the sorting device when the sorting device is removed from the post-processing device; The sheet processing unit according to claim 6 , wherein a part of the cover attached to the post-processing device applies the switching acting force to the processing destination switching guide to switch the position of the processing destination switching guide.

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