Sheet processing device and image forming system

Abstract

To prevent punching chips from dropping when a storage unit is detached.SOLUTION: A sheet processing device comprises: a storage unit which is detachable from the sheet processing device and stores punching chips generated by punching means; a moving part which supports the punching means and is movable together with the punching means; and a receiving part which is positioned between the moving part and the storage unit and receives the punching chips from the punching means via the moving part while supporting the moving part. When the storage unit is detached in a state that the punching chips stored and accumulated in the storage unit reach the receiving part, a part of the punching chips which has reached the receiving part is collapsed by the receiving part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus for processing sheets and an image forming system for forming an image on a sheet.

Background Art

[0002] As an option of an image forming apparatus exemplified by an electrophotographic multifunction peripheral, a sheet processing apparatus that performs processing such as binding processing and sorting processing on a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus main body is used.

[0003] Conventionally, a post-processing apparatus has been proposed that detects the side edge of a sheet by a side edge detection sensor, moves a punch blade unit in the width direction according to the size of the sheet, and adjusts the punching position by a punching device (see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] When punching a sheet with a punching device, punching chips accumulate in the post-processing apparatus, so it is necessary for the user or service technician to periodically dispose of the punching chips in the post-processing apparatus. Therefore, a removable configuration of a storage unit for storing punching chips may be adopted.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to suppress the falling of punching chips when removing the storage unit.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus for processing a sheet being conveyed, comprising: a first conveying path for receiving the sheet; a perforating means for perforating the sheet being conveyed along the first conveying path; and a storage unit that is removable from the sheet processing apparatus for storing the perforation waste generated by the perforation means. And, It comprises a movable part that is movable together with the perforating means, and a receiving part located between the movable part and the storage unit, which supports the movable part and receives the perforated waste from the perforating means via the front movable part, The movable part is movable relative to the receiving part in the same direction as the removal direction of the storage unit, the movable part is provided with a first restricting part, and the receiving part is provided with a second restricting part, and the first restricting part and the second restricting part face each other and form a gap, which restricts the leakage of perforated debris from the gap. When the storage unit is removed while the perforated debris stored and accumulated in the storage unit has reached the receiving section, a portion of the perforated debris that has reached the receiving section is broken up in the receiving section. vinegar ru. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the falling of perforated debris when removing the housing unit with a simpler configuration. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] A schematic diagram showing the image forming system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] Perspective view illustrating the drive mechanism of the drilling device. [Figure 3] Perspective view illustrating the drive mechanism of the drilling device. [Figure 4] Cross-sectional diagrams (a-c) illustrating the operation of the drilling mechanism. [Figure 5] Perspective view showing the drilling mechanism, housing unit, and dispensing section. [Figure 6] Exploded perspective view showing the drilling mechanism, housing unit, and dispensing section. [Figure 7] Perspective view of the moving part from below. [Figure 8] Cross-sectional diagrams (a-c) illustrating the process of pulling the object out of the receiving section. [Figure 9] Cross-sectional view illustrating the detailed shapes of the first and second regulated sections. [Figure 10]A partially enlarged view illustrating the detailed shapes of the first and second regulatory sections. [Figure 11] Cross-sectional diagram illustrating modified examples of the first and second regulatory sections. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] <First Embodiment> [Overall structure] The image forming system 1S according to the first embodiment consists of an image forming apparatus 1, an image reading apparatus 2, a document feeding apparatus 3, and a post-processing apparatus 4. The image forming system 1S forms an image on a recording material sheet and processes the sheet using the post-processing apparatus 4 as needed before outputting it. Below, a brief explanation of the operation of each apparatus will be given, followed by a detailed explanation of the post-processing apparatus 4. Before explaining the apparatus, the coordinate system will be defined. The X direction is defined as the width direction of the apparatus (left and right direction in Figure 1), the Z direction as the height direction of the apparatus (up and down direction in Figure 1), and the Y direction as the depth direction of the apparatus (paper direction in Figure 1). Note that the Y direction is both the depth direction of the apparatus and the edge direction of the sheet. In the following explanation, the coordinate system shown near each graphic symbol is the coordinate system of each graphic symbol.

[0012] The document feeder 3 transports the document placed on the document tray 18 to the image reading units 16 and 19. The image reading units 16 and 19 are image sensors that read image information from the surface of the document, and both sides of the document are read in a single document transport. The document from which the image information has been read is discharged to the document discharge unit 20. In addition, the image reading device 2 can read image information from stationary documents (including documents that cannot be used with the document feeder 3, such as booklets) set on the document glass by moving the image reading unit 16 back and forth using the drive unit 17.

[0013] The image forming apparatus 1 is an electrophotographic apparatus including an image forming unit 1B of a direct transfer type. The image forming unit 1B includes a cartridge 8 having a photosensitive drum 9 and a laser scanner unit 15 disposed above the cartridge 8. When performing an image forming operation, the surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 9 is charged, and the laser scanner unit 15 exposes the photosensitive drum 9 based on image information to write an electrostatic latent image on the drum surface. The electrostatic latent image carried on the photosensitive drum 9 is developed into a toner image by charged toner particles, and the toner image is conveyed to a transfer section where the photosensitive drum 9 and the transfer roller 10 face each other. The control unit of the image forming apparatus 1 performs an image forming operation by the image forming unit 1B based on the image information read by the image reading units 16 and 19 or the image information received from an external computer via a network.

[0014] The image forming apparatus 1 includes a plurality of feeding devices 6 that feed sheets as recording materials one by one at a predetermined interval. The sheets fed from the feeding device 6 are corrected for skew by the registration roller 7 and then conveyed to the transfer section, where the toner image carried on the photosensitive drum 9 is transferred. A fixing unit 11 is disposed downstream of the transfer section in the sheet conveyance direction. The fixing unit 11 has a pair of rotators that sandwich and convey the sheet and a heating element such as a halogen lamp for heating the toner image, and performs a fixing process of the image by heating and pressing the toner image on the sheet.

[0015] When discharging the sheet on which an image has been formed to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1, the sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 11 is conveyed to the post-processing device 4 via the horizontal conveyance unit 14. In the case of a sheet on which image formation on the first side has been completed in double-sided printing, the sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 11 is delivered to the reversing roller 12, is switchback conveyed by the reversing roller 12, and is conveyed again to the registration roller 7 via the re-conveyance unit 13. Then, the sheet passes through the transfer section and the fixing unit 11 again to form an image on the second side, and is then conveyed to the post-processing device 4 via the horizontal conveyance unit 14.

[0016] The above-described image forming unit 1B is an example of an image forming means for forming an image on a sheet, and an intermediate transfer type electrophotographic unit that transfers a toner image formed on a photoreceptor to a sheet via an intermediate transfer member may be used. Further, a printing unit of an inkjet system or an offset printing system may be used as the image forming means.

[0017] [Post-processing device] The post-processing device 4 has a punching processing unit 4A that performs a punching process on a sheet and a binding processing unit 4B that performs a binding process on the sheet, and discharges the sheet as a sheet bundle after performing a punching process or a binding process on the sheet received from the image forming apparatus 1. Further, the post-processing device 4 can also simply discharge the sheet received from the image forming apparatus 1 without performing a punching process or a binding process.

[0018] The post-processing device 4 is provided with a receiving path 81, an internal discharge path 82, a first discharge path 83, and a second discharge path 84 as conveyance paths for conveying the sheet, and an upper discharge tray 25 and a lower discharge tray 37 are provided as discharge destinations for discharging the sheet. The receiving path 81 as the first conveyance path is a conveyance path for receiving and conveying the sheet from the image forming apparatus 1, and the internal discharge path 82 as the second conveyance path extends below the receiving path 81 and is a conveyance path for guiding the sheet toward the binding processing unit 4B. The first discharge path 83 is a conveyance path for discharging the sheet to the upper discharge tray 25, and the second discharge path 84 as the third conveyance path extends along the sheet discharge direction and is a conveyance path for guiding the sheet to the lower discharge tray 37.

[0019] The sheet discharged from the horizontal conveyance unit 14 of the image forming apparatus 1 is received by an entrance roller 21 as a conveyance unit disposed in the receiving path 81, and is conveyed through the receiving path 81 toward the pre-reversal roller 22. The entrance sensor 27 detects the sheet at a detection position between the entrance roller 21 and the pre-reversal roller 22. The pre-reversal roller 22 conveys the sheet received from the entrance roller 21 toward the first discharge path 83.

[0020] Furthermore, at a predetermined timing after the entrance sensor 27 detects the passage of the rear end of the sheet, the reversing roller 22 accelerates the sheet's transport speed to a speed faster than the transport speed in the horizontal transport section 14. Alternatively, the sheet's transport speed by the entrance roller 21 may be set higher than that of the horizontal transport section 14, and the transport speed may be accelerated by the entrance roller 21, which is upstream of the reversing roller 22. In this case, it is preferable to install a one-way clutch between the transport roller of the horizontal transport section 14 and the motor that drives it, so that the transport roller can rotate freely even if the sheet is pulled by the entrance roller 21.

[0021] When the sheet is to be discharged to the upper discharge tray 25, the reversing roller 24 discharges the sheet received from the pre-reversal roller 22 to the upper discharge tray 25. In this case, the reversing roller 24 decelerates to a predetermined discharge speed at a predetermined timing after the rear end of the sheet has passed the pre-reversal roller 22.

[0022] When the sheet is to be discharged to the lower discharge tray 37, the reversing roller 24, acting as a reversing unit, performs a switchback conveyance, reversing the sheet received from the pre-reversing roller 22, and conveys the sheet to the internal discharge path 82. A backflow prevention valve 23 is positioned at the branching point where the receiving path 81 and the internal discharge path 82 branch off from the first discharge path 83 upstream of the reversing roller 24 in the sheet discharge direction by the reversing roller 24. The backflow prevention valve 23 has the function of preventing the sheet, which has been switched back by the reversing roller 24, from flowing back into the receiving path 81. The pre-reversing roller 22 reverses its direction of rotation when the rear end of the sheet passes the backflow prevention valve 23.

[0023] The internal discharge roller 26, intermediate transport roller 28, and kick-off roller 29, arranged as a pair of rotating bodies in the internal discharge path 82, transport the sheets received from the reversing roller 24 toward the binding processing unit 4B, passing them sequentially along the way. When buffering sheets, the internal discharge roller 26 temporarily stops while holding the preceding sheet. Then, the internal discharge roller 26 reverses in sync with the following sheet heading toward the reversing roller 24, and buffers the sheets by overlapping the preceding sheet with the following sheet in the first discharge path. By repeatedly switching back the internal discharge roller 26, buffering of multiple sheets is possible regardless of the length of the sheets.

[0024] The intermediate loading sensor 38 detects the sheet between the intermediate transport roller 28 and the kick-out roller 29. Optical sensors can be used as the entrance sensor 27 and the intermediate loading sensor 38 to detect the presence or absence of a sheet at the detection position using light.

[0025] The binding unit 4B includes an intermediate lower guide 32 as a loading section on which sheets are stacked, an alignment mechanism 33, and a stapler (not shown). The alignment mechanism 33 aligns the sheets received from the internal discharge path 82, and then the stapler staples the sheets at predetermined positions. The sheet bundles stapled by the binding unit 4B are passed to the bundle discharge roller 36 via the second discharge path 84, and are discharged outside the machine by the bundle discharge roller 36, which acts as a discharge section, and stacked on the lower discharge tray 37.

[0026] Both the upper discharge tray 25 and the lower discharge tray 37 are movable vertically relative to the housing of the post-processing device 4. The post-processing device 4 is equipped with sheet surface detection sensors that detect the upper surface position of the sheets in the upper discharge tray 25 and the lower discharge tray 37. When either sensor detects a sheet, the corresponding tray is lowered in the A2 and B2 directions. Furthermore, when the sheet surface detection sensor detects that a sheet has been removed from either the upper discharge tray 25 or the lower discharge tray 37, that tray is raised in the A1 and B1 directions. Thus, the upper discharge tray 25 and the lower discharge tray 37 are controlled to move up and down in order to maintain a constant upper surface position of the loaded sheets.

[0027] (Perforation processing section 4A) Next, the perforation processing unit 4A, which performs the perforation process on the sheet, will be explained in detail. Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the drive configuration of the punch unit 62, which is a perforation unit that constitutes the perforation processing unit 4A (perforation device). The coordinate system in Figure 2 is the same as in Figure 1, and the sheet transport direction is the -X direction. The stepping motor 201 in Figure 2 corresponds to the punch motor M1 in Figures 1 and 4. 202 is the pinion gear of the stepping motor 201. 203a and 203b are gears that drive the rotation axis 62d of the die blade of the punch unit 62. 62c is a gear that rotates with the rotation axis 62d of the die blade (not shown) of the punch unit 62. Gear 62c meshes with gears 62b and 62a attached to the rotation center axis 62e of the punch blade (not shown) of the punch unit 62. The gears 62a, 62b and 62c are adjusted to align their phases so that the punch blade and die (not shown) of the punch unit 62 mesh properly.

[0028] 204 is a photointerrupter sensor, corresponding to the punch position sensor S1 in Figures 1 and 4. The position of the blade (not shown) of the punch unit 62 is controlled by a control unit (not shown) that uses the position of the signal change when light is blocked by the flange portion 203b2 of gear 203b as the home position of the blade portion.

[0029] Figure 3 is a detailed diagram illustrating the drive configuration for the punch unit 62 to move toward the sheet edge. The coordinate system in Figure 3 is the same as in Figure 1, and the sheet transport direction is the -X direction. 304a and 304b are guide shafts, which are guided members for the punch unit 62 to move toward the end. The axial directions of the guide shafts 304a and 304b are arranged parallel to the direction toward the end. 301 is a feeding section that supports the punch unit 62 at its top and guides the punched waste to a storage unit (not shown), and is a moving section that moves together with the punch unit 62.

[0030] The feeding section 310 has a rack gear 301a for connecting to the drive in the end direction. 301b is a guide section that guides perforated shavings (not shown) to the waste bin 64. 301c is a first restricting section that faces the waste bin and restricts the perforated shavings. The first restricting section 301c is composed of a plurality of protrusions and indentations that have the same shape in the Y-direction cross-section.

[0031] 302 is an idler gear. 303 is a stepping motor, corresponding to the end position adjustment motor M2 in Figures 1 and 4. 303a is the pinion gear of the stepping motor 303. The pinion gear 303a moves the rack gear 301a toward the end (in the same direction as the pulling direction) via the idler gear 302.

[0032] 305 is a photointerrupter sensor and corresponds to the punch home position sensor S2 (Figures 1 and 4). 62f is a part of the sheet metal that makes up the frame of the punch unit 62 and is shaped to shield the photointerrupter sensor 305 from light. By shielding the photointerrupter sensor 305 with the light-shielding shape 62f, the home position in the end direction of the punch unit 62 is controlled by the control unit.

[0033] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the punch unit 62. As shown in Figures 2(a) to (c), an inlet roller 21 that transports the sheet SH in the sheet transport direction D1 is provided directly in front of the punch unit 62. Between the inlet roller 21 and the punch unit 62, a lighting unit 63 and a line sensor 61 are provided.

[0034] The lighting unit 63 and the line sensor 61 are arranged to face each other across the receiving path 81 (see Figure 1).

[0035] The line sensor 61 extends in the width direction of the sheet SH, perpendicular to the sheet transport direction D1, and changes its output value based on the position of the edge of the sheet SH in the width direction. More specifically, the line sensor 61 is composed of an optical sensor and changes its output value based on the boundary position of the difference in density on the line sensor 61 that appears when the light emitted from the illumination unit 63 is blocked by the sheet SH. This makes it possible to detect the position of the side edge, which is the edge of the sheet SH in the width direction.

[0036] The punch unit 62, which serves as the perforating section, includes a punch 402 that rotates in the R1 direction around an axis center 401, and a die 405 that rotates in the R2 direction opposite to the R1 direction around an axis center 404. These punch 402 and die 405 rotate synchronously by a punch motor M1 so that the cutting edge of the punch 402 and the hole of the die 405 engage. The punch motor M1 is driven so that the circumferential speed of the cutting edge of the punch 402 and the speed of the sheet SH in the sheet transport direction D1 are the same, enabling perforation while the sheet SH is being transported.

[0037] Figure 4(a) is a schematic diagram showing the punch 402 in the punching start position. Figure 4(b) is a schematic diagram showing the punch 402 in the punching completion position. Figure 4(c) is a schematic diagram showing the punch 402 in the separated position. The punch 402, rotating in the R1 direction, begins contact with the sheet SH at the punching start position and engages with the die 405 at the punching completion position. Then, the punch 402 separates from the sheet SH at the separated position. After the leading edge of the sheet SH is detected by the inlet sensor 27, the punch 402 is rotated at a predetermined timing to punch holes in the conveyed sheet SH at various hole pitches.

[0038] The above operation is configured such that the sheet punching process causes the punched waste to fall and accumulate in the waste box 64, which is a storage unit. A full load detection unit 65 is installed between the waste box 64 and the punch unit 62.

[0039] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the punch unit 62, waste bin 64, and feeding unit 301. Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the punch unit 62, waste bin 64, and feeding unit 301. Figure 7 is a perspective view from below of the punch unit 62 and feeding unit 301 to illustrate the first restricting section 301c of the feeding unit 301.

[0040] The punching debris (not shown) generated by the punching unit 62 is discharged from a hole (not shown) formed on the -Z side of the punching unit 62 to the guide hole 301b of the feeding unit 301. 66 is a receiving unit. 66b is a guide unit. The guide hole 66b has the function of guiding the punching debris (not shown) sent from the guide hole 301b to the waste bin 64. The punching debris (not shown) that enters the guide hole 301b of the feeding unit 301 is passed to the guide hole 66b of the receiving unit 66. The punching debris (not shown) that enters the guide hole 66b is guided by the guide hole 66b to the waste bin 64 and stored in the waste bin 64.

[0041] A second restricting portion 66a of the receiving portion 66 is formed around the guide hole portion 66b of the receiving portion 66. The first restricting portion 301c and the second restricting portion 66a face each other and form a certain gap. The shape details of the second restricting portion 66a are described in Figure 9.

[0042] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the state in which a user or service technician grasps the gripping portion 64a of the waste bin 64 and pulls it out of the receiving portion 66 for replacement. Figure 8(a) shows the state before pulling it out, and Figure 8(b) shows the state during the pulling process.

[0043] The load detection sensor 65 provided in the receiving section 66 functions as a transmissive light sensor, comprising a light-emitting section 65a and a light-receiving section 65b that receives light emitted by the light-emitting section 65a. The load detection sensor 65 is positioned above the waste bin 64, such that the optical path 65c from the light-emitting section 65a to the light-receiving section 65b is substantially parallel to the insertion direction of the waste bin 64.

[0044] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the feed section 301 of Figure 6, viewed from below. The first restricting section 301c described above is formed along both ends in the Y direction of the guide hole section 301b of the feed section 301. The punch unit 62 and the feed section 301 move in the Y direction as explained in Figure 3. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a certain gap between the first restricting section 301c of the feed section 301 and the second restricting section 66a of the receiving section 66.

[0045] Here, there is a possibility that drilling debris may leak out from the space between the first restricting portion 301c of the dispensing portion 301 and the second restricting portion 66a of the receiving portion 66. Therefore, in order to prevent drilling debris from leaking out, it is necessary to maintain the gap relationship between the first restricting portion 301c and the second restricting portion 66a. For this purpose, the same shape portion of the cross-section in the Y direction of the first restricting portion 301c is greater than or equal to the Y direction movement stroke length.

[0046] As shown in Figure 8(a), the punching debris 70 generated by the punching unit 62 is deposited in the waste bin 64 via the feed unit 301b (Figure 7) of the feed unit 301. As the amount of punching debris 70 increases, it piles up in a mound-like shape near the area directly below the punching unit 62. The top portion of the pile of punching debris 70 accumulated in the waste bin 64 reaches the receiving unit 66. When the light transmission sensor is blocked by the punching debris, it is possible to detect that the waste bin 64 is full.

[0047] As shown in Figure 8(b), the perforated waste 70 accumulates in a mound shape above the top of the waste bin 64. When the waste bin 64 is pulled out to process the perforated waste 70, a receiving section 66, located above the waste bin 64 and outside the point where the perforated waste falls, breaks down the top of the mound, leveling the surface and moving the perforated waste 70 to a space with less accumulation. As described above, by positioning the full-load detection sensor 65 above the waste bin 64, it is possible for the perforated waste 70 to accumulate above the top of the waste bin 64. Furthermore, by pulling out the waste bin 64, the receiving section 66 moves the perforated waste 70 to a space with less accumulation, thereby increasing the allowable accumulation capacity of the waste bin.

[0048] Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating the details of the first restricting portion 301c and the second restricting portion 66a in the first embodiment, and is a cross-sectional view taken from the +Y direction in Figure 5. A partially enlarged view of the vicinity of the first restricting portion 301c and the second restricting portion 66a is also shown. Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating a partially enlarged view of Figure 9.

[0049] 701 is the first opposing surface of the first restricting portion 301c facing the second restricting portion 66a. 702 is the second opposing surface of the second restricting portion 66a facing the first restricting portion 301c.

[0050] H is the width in the X direction of the guide hole portion 66b of the receiving portion 66. N is the longest dimension of a straight line that can be placed in the gap shape consisting of the first restricting portion 301c and the second restricting portion 66a. The -Z direction side surface 701 of the first restricting portion 301c and the +Z direction side surface 702 of the second restricting portion 66a are shaped by periodically arranging five isosceles triangles without a base and with a radius added to the vertex in the X direction. Therefore, the longest dimension straight line N described above exists in two places for each isosceles triangle without a base and with a radius added to the vertex. Thus, in Example 1, in addition to the positions shown, there are nine other longest dimension straight lines N from 704a to 704i. In order to prevent the drilling debris from leaking, theoretically, the drilling debris will not leak if the longest dimension N of a straight line that can be placed in the gap shape shown in Figure 9 is less than or equal to the diameter of the drilling debris (not shown). Furthermore, the maximum dimension N functions as a leak stopper up to 1.4 times the diameter of the perforated debris (not shown).

[0051] Figures 11(a-c) illustrate modified shapes of the first restricting portion 301c and the second restricting portion 66a. As shown in Figure 11, the gap shape can be appropriately changed to prevent leakage of drilling debris. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1. Image forming apparatus 2 Image reading device 3. Document feeder 4. Paper processing device 64 Trash box 70 Drilling waste 301 Mobile Unit 62 Punch Unit

Claims

1. In a sheet processing device that processes sheets being transported, A first transport path for receiving the sheet, A perforating means for perforating the sheet being transported along the first transport path, A storage unit that is removable from the sheet processing apparatus and for storing the perforation waste generated by the perforation means, A movable part that supports the drilling means and is movable together with the drilling means, A receiving unit located between the moving unit and the storage unit, for receiving drilling debris from the drilling means via the moving unit, Equipped with, The movable part is movable relative to the receiving part in the same direction as the removal direction of the storage unit. The aforementioned movable part includes a first restricting part, The receiving unit is equipped with a second regulating unit, The first restricting portion and the second restricting portion face each other, forming a gap, which prevents drilling debris from leaking out through the gap. A sheet processing apparatus characterized in that, when the storage unit is removed while the perforated waste stored and accumulated in the storage unit has reached the receiving section, a portion of the perforated waste that has reached the receiving section is broken up in the receiving section.

2. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the gap is formed by a first opposing surface of the first restricting portion facing the second restricting portion and a second opposing surface of the second restricting portion facing the first restricting portion, and is a gap corresponding to the size of the cutting edge of the perforating means.

3. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the longest dimension of a straight line that can be placed in the gap is 1.4 times or less the diameter of the perforated waste.

4. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the longest dimension of the straight line that can be placed in the gap is less than or equal to the diameter of the perforated waste.

5. The first regulating portion comprises a first plurality of irregularities, The second restricting portion comprises a second plurality of protrusions and indentations, The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the first plurality of irregularities and the second plurality of irregularities face each other to form the gap.

6. An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet, A sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which receives and processes a sheet from the image forming apparatus, is provided. An image forming system characterized by the following:

Images