A sheet bundle conveyance apparatus includes a tray arranged substantially horizontally below a discharge outlet of an image forming apparatus. The tray, including a drive device for lowering the tray to a sheet configuration position, is configured to rise and lower a predetermined distance between a sheet stacking position and a sheet conveyance position below the sheet stacking position. The apparatus further includes a gripping conveyance device configured to convey a sheet bundle received from the tray to a finishing device at a substantially vertical posture and turned a predetermined angle.