Abstract: A post-processing unit is disposed so as to face the apparatus side surface of a printer that has a manual feed tray protruding from the apparatus side surface. The post-processing unit has an ejection tray, which is movably provided in a unit body and to which paper accepted from the printer is ejected. In an apparatus height direction crossing a direction in which paper is ejected, the ejection tray can be moved to a first position at which ejected paper can be mounted and to a second position at which part of paper mounted on the manual feed tray can be supported.

Abstract: A medium discharging device includes a first tray, a second tray receiving a medium from the first tray, a supporter which is configured to be displaced from a retreat position in the first tray and an advance position above the second tray and which supports the medium, an aligner which is provided in the supporter and that aligns a first end portion which is an upstream end portion in a discharge direction of the medium supported by the supporter, to be displaced together with the supporter, and a restrictor configured to be displaced between a restriction position where an upstream movement of the first end portion of the medium in a position of the aligner in the discharge direction and a non-restriction position where the movement is not restricted, when the supporter is in the advance position.

Abstract: A post-processing apparatus includes a conveyance unit, a discharge port, a tray, an elevation unit, a detection unit, and a control unit. The conveyance unit conveys a print medium supplied from an image forming apparatus. The discharge port discharges the print medium conveyed by the conveyance unit. The tray is stacked with the print medium discharged from the discharge port and can be raised and lowered in a vertical direction. The elevation unit raises and lower the tray in the vertical direction. The detection unit detects a top surface of an uppermost print medium of one or more sheets of print media stacked on the tray. The control unit controls the conveyance unit and the elevation unit and hold a relative position of the top surface with respect to the discharge port if the print medium is discharged from the discharge port at a first position.

Abstract: A sheet loading device includes a discharge roller pair, a loading tray, a paddle member, a sheet holding member, a tray lifting-lowering drive portion, a top surface detection sensor, and a control portion. The control portion is capable of performing a lifting-lowering operation to arrange the loading tray at a reference position by lowering the loading tray with the sheet holding member arranged at the holding position to turn the top surface detection sensor into an off state, then lifting the loading tray to turn the top surface detection sensor into an on state, and then lowering the loading tray again to turn the top surface detection sensor into the off state and stopping the loading tray. With the loading tray at the reference position, a predetermined clearance is provided between a top surface of a sheet loaded on the loading tray and a rotational orbit of the paddle member.

Abstract: A discharging device includes: a pair of medium supporting portions that are provided so as to face each other in a width direction intersecting a transporting direction in which a medium is transported and that support the medium that is transported; and a stacking portion that is provided vertically below the pair of medium supporting portions and on which the medium that drops from the pair of medium supporting portions is stacked, each of the pair of medium supporting portions is configured to move in the width direction, the pair of medium supporting portions are configured to be arranged, after the medium is dropped onto the stacking portion, at positions at which a distance in the width direction becomes a predetermined distance, and the predetermined distance varies in accordance with a width of the medium stacked on the stacking portion.

Abstract: A sheet stacking device includes a housing, a discharge tray, a lifting mechanism, a first upper surface detection part, a second upper surface detection part and a control part. The housing has a discharge port. On the discharge tray, the sheet discharged from the discharge port in a predetermined discharge direction is stacked. The lifting mechanism supports the discharge tray. The first upper surface detection part detects a first detected surface of the sheet on the discharge tray. The second upper surface detection part detects a second detected surface of the sheet on the discharge tray on a downstream side of the first detected surface in the sheet discharge direction. The control part controls the lifting mechanism based on a detection result of the first upper surface detection part and a detection result of the second upper surface detection part, and adjusts the discharge tray at a predetermined height.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, while executing a print job that designates a delivery destination of a printed matte of a first quality to a first delivery tray, and prints multiple sets in which each set includes multiple sheets subjected to image formation in order of pages based on multiple page image data, in a case of having determined that a printed matter being conveyed is a printed matter of the second quality, printed matters of one set consecutive from the printed matter of the second quality are delivered to the second delivery tray, and thereafter, a printed matter of the first quality is delivered to the first delivery tray.

Abstract: A post-processing apparatus includes a storing unit that stores plural recording media for performing post-processing, a pushing member that pushes trailing ends of the recording media stored in the storing unit toward an ejection port, and a controller that controls the pushing member to stop at a position at which the pushing member supports a recording medium that is transported.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a tray, a stapler, a first discharge section, and a controller. A sheet on which an image is formed is stacked on the tray. The stapler is arranged at an upstream side in a first direction which is a sheet discharge direction with respect to the tray, and executes a binding processing on the sheet. The first discharge section moves from a reference position at the upstream side of the tray to the first direction while supporting the sheet, and executes a discharge processing of the sheet. The controller enables the first discharge section to move from the reference position to a downstream side in the first direction and stop at a processing position and drives the stapler to execute the binding processing on the sheet supported by the first discharge section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a document feed section; a document reading section; a discharged document sensor detecting the discharged document already read by the document reading section; an image storage section storing a document image obtained through the reading by the document reading section; an image formation section performing an image formation operation in which a toner image of the document image is formed on paper; a fixing section performing fixing processing of heating and pressurizing the paper on which the image has been formed to fix the toner image on the paper; and a control section, upon judgment, with reference to a signal of the discharged document sensor before image formation of a predefined number of pages of document images stored in the image storage section, that the discharged document exists, stopping the image formation of the predefined number of pages of document images.

Abstract: A sheet conveyor device includes a first housing having a sheet conveyance path. A second housing is pivotably disposed above the first housing and movable between a first position at which the second housing is adjacent to an upper side of the first housing and a second position at which the second housing is angled relative to the upper side of the first housing. A sheet support member is connected to the first housing and has a sheet inlet communicating with the conveyance path. An interlock mechanism is pivotable about a second rotational axis that is parallel to the first rotational axis in response to movement of the second housing between the first position and the second position to move a cover between a first state and a second state.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus comprises an ejecting unit configured to eject a sheet or a bundle of sheets, and a sheet stacking unit configured to stack the sheet or the bundle of sheets ejected by the ejecting unit. In the apparatus, the leading end portion of the sheet stacking unit on the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction is rotatable downward and capable of dropping down the sheet or the bundle of sheets stacked on the sheet stacking unit from the leading end portion of the sheet stacking unit.

Abstract: In a medium transport device, when a unit body is inserted into an installation unit and an opening and closing body is closed with respect to the device main body, the unit body is positioned in a position that configures a portion of a transport pathway as a result of the opening and closing body pressing first target pressing units that are provided in the unit body.

Abstract: A pressing portion is lowered to press from above sheets or a sheet bundle discharged onto a discharge tray, and a moving portion configured to lower the pressing portion is controlled so that, in a case where the sheet bundle is discharged onto the discharge tray, the pressing portion exerts a pressing force greater than a pressing force in a case where the sheets are discharged onto the discharge tray.

Abstract: Disclosed is a compressive album manufacturing apparatus in that independent areas for performing an aligning process, a heat providing process, a compressing process, and a cooling process respectively are formed in the multistage compressive album manufacturing apparatus, so that each process, which is done by hand, is merged into one, thereby rapidly manufacturing the bulk of compressive albums.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a post-processing apparatus includes: a stacking tray; an upward and downward driving unit; a binding unit; and an upward and downward driving control unit. The upward and downward driving unit drives the stacking tray in vertical direction. The binding unit performs binding on recording media on the stacking tray. The upward and downward driving control unit controls such that: descent of the stacking tray is performed before a leading edge of a first sheet among the recording media on which the binding is to be performed reaches a position on the stacking tray; and after the leading edge of the first sheet is positioned on the stacking tray, ascent of the stacking tray is performed before a leading edge of a second sheet among the recording media reaches a position on the stacking tray.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus with a stapling function is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a printing device and a stapling device. The printing device is used for printing images on plural papers. The printed papers are transmitted to the stapling device and stapled by the stapling device. The printing device has a printing device casing. The stapling device includes a minor casing and a main casing, which are respectively connected with a first surface and a second surface of the printing device casing. Since the stapling device is connected with two difference surfaces of the printing device casing, the overall height of the image forming apparatus is reduced.

Abstract: A stapler system for an image forming apparatus according to one example embodiment includes a housing and a mounting device for mounting the housing to the image forming apparatus. A staple head is positioned within the housing for stapling media. A media sheet path is disposed within the housing for directing media received from the image forming apparatus to the staple head for stapling. When the housing is mounted on the image forming apparatus, a portion of the housing extends above an output bin of the image forming apparatus to permit delivery of stapled media from the housing to the output bin of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus with a structure capable of reliably discharging a document, and a multi-functional machine having the same are disclosed. The image reading apparatus includes a document feed path having a document outlet, a reading unit which reads an image of a document fed through the document feed path, and a guide member which is disposed at the document outlet downstream of the reading unit to form a curl on the trailing end portion of the document. The curl formed on the document may make it possible for a subsequent document being discharged to push the curled document out of the document outlet.

Abstract: To provide a paper-sheet-loading device that makes it easy to take out booklet or the like loaded on a tray. The paper-sheet-loading device 1 is provided with a discharge-processing portion 7 which discharges the booklet or the like through a discharge portion and a discharged paper stacker 8 having a loading stage 80 on which the booklet or the like discharged from the discharge-processing portion 7 is loaded. The loading stage 80 is provided with a tray 81 on which the booklet or the like is loaded and which can be pulled out from the front side of the device and an auxiliary loading member 80b closing the lower side of a rear side of the tray 81 when the tray 81 is pulled out. The auxiliary loading member 80b has a shape after a loading face 81a of the tray 81 and becomes exposed continuously from the lower side of the tray 81 to the rear side thereof, thereby enabling the booklet or the like to be loaded without losing its balance.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus of the present invention includes a post-processing unit provided inside a housing and configured to perform post-processing on sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus, a sheet discharge unit configured to guide sheets having undergone post-processing to a discharge port, a paper discharge tray configured to accommodate sheets discharged from the discharge port and allowed to ascend and descend within a specific height range lower than the discharge port, and a sheet member disposed directly below the discharge port and configured to move along a wall surface of the housing in association with ascending and descending of the paper discharge tray and receive rear ends of the sheets accommodated in the paper discharge tray, a width of a receiving portion thereof in a height direction varying with a quantity of the sheets accommodated in the paper discharge tray.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main housing, a post-processing unit including a pivotable processing tray, and a recording medium discharging outlet. The processing tray includes a lock member, urging member and lock releasing member. The lock member is supported movably between first and second positions. The lock member engages with an engaging hole at the first position and disengages from the engaging hole at the second position. The urging member urges the lock member towards the first position. The lock releasing member resists a force applied by the urging member so as to allow the lock member to travel to the second position. A recording medium depressing member is disposed within a pivotal range of the lock member. A first slope is provided on at least one of a contact portion of the lock member and a contact portion of the recording medium depressing member.

Abstract: To provide a sheet post-processing apparatus enabling a sheet to be aligned in a predetermined collection position irrespective of the basis weight of the sheet and image formation surface in dropping and collecting the sheet onto a tray from a sheet discharge outlet, the apparatus has a tray for collecting a sheet from the sheet discharge outlet, and a sheet discharge rotating body for transferring the sheet that is carried out to the tray toward a sheet end regulation member, and is configured to be able to adjust the timing of shifting the sheet discharge rotating body to an operation position engaging in the sheet from a withdrawal position above the tray corresponding to image formation conditions of the sheet.

Abstract: The sheet processing apparatus is provided with: a sheet aligning part that accumulates and aligns sheets so as to generate a bundle of sheets; an edge stitching processor that performs an edge stitching process by which the generated bundle of sheets is stitched together at one edge of the bundle of sheets; an apparatus housing that includes an opening portion through which the bundle of sheets is discharged to an outside of the apparatus housing; a saddle stitching processor that performs, outside of the apparatus housing, a saddle stitching process by which the discharged bundle of sheets is stitched together at a center portion of the bundle of sheets in a transporting direction of the bundle of sheets; and a stacking tray that is provided below the opening portion and outside the apparatus housing, and on which the bundles of sheets subjected to the edge stitching process and the saddle stitching process are capable of being stacked.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention comprises: a sheet discharge section that feeds a sheet supplied from an image forming apparatus to a post-processing section and leads the sheet that has passed through the post-processing section to a sheet discharge port; a sheet discharge tray that receives a sheet discharged from the sheet discharge port and can move to a first standby position and a second standby position higher than the first standby position and nearer to the sheet discharge port; and a controller that controls the height position of the sheet discharge tray by identifying the type of the sheet. The controller changes the height position of the sheet discharge tray to allow the sheet discharge tray to receive the discharged sheet at the first standby position in the case where the sheet is a first type while to receive the discharged sheet at the second standby position in the case where the sheet is a second type.

Abstract: A bookmaking apparatus includes a first path to convey a sheet bundle, a second path to convey a cover sheet, a joining stage disposed at an intersection of the first path and the second path, a gripping conveyance device arranged for gripping and a conveyance device arranged at a downstream side of the joining stage for conveying out the cover sheet and sheet bundle. The gripping conveyance device includes clamping members to grip the sheet bundle and clamping control device for opening and closing the clamping members. The clamping control device operates the clamping members to grip a lower edge of the sheet bundle when joining the sheet bundle to the cover sheet, and the clamping members to retract to an upstream side of the first path and to grip the sheet bundle again when conveying the joined sheet bundle to the conveyance device.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes an intermediate stacking portion which temporarily stacks, thereon, a sheet conveyed thereto; a discharge portion which discharges sheet stacked on the intermediate stacking portion; an aligning member which is provided downstream of the discharge portion in a sheet conveying direction and has a sheet holding surface capable of holding the lower surfaces of the sheet and a sheet aligning surface capable of abutting against end portions of the sheet in the widthwise direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction, the aligning member being movable in the widthwise direction; a first stacking portion which is provided below the aligning member and stacks, thereon, a sheet discharged from the discharge portion; and a second stacking portion which is provided above the aligning member and stacks, thereon, a sheet conveyed thereto; wherein a standby position of the aligning member is at a position more inward than the outermost position in the widthwise direction, within

Abstract: A sheet stack loader includes a loading table to support a first folded sheet bundle, an elevator to lift the first folded sheet bundle from the loading table, and a conveyer to convey a second folded sheet bundle into a space between the loading table and the first folded sheet bundle, wherein the space is created by the elevator.

Abstract: A saddle stitching portion which can bind the center portion in the conveying direction of a sheet bundle by a stapler and fold it by a pair of folding rollers and a pushout member, includes an end stopper which receives the downstream end of a sheet conveyed by a first conveying roller in a first receiving position on the downstream of the first conveying roller by a length not buckling the sheet on the downstream of the stapler or the downstream end of the sheet conveyed by a second conveying roller in a second receiving position on the downstream of the second conveying roller by the length on the further downstream, wherein the receiving position of the downstream end stopper is selected according to the length in the conveying direction of the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet post-process apparatus according to one example of the present invention includes a movable stack tray for stacking a sheet that is elevated in a vertical direction; a movable tray position detection unit that detects a vertical position of the movable stack tray while a request command for post-processing of the sheet is not received; an upper surface sensor that senses either an upper surface of the movable stack tray or an upper surface of the sheet stacked on the movable stack tray when a first position of the movable stack tray detected by the movable tray position detection unit is lower than or equal to a predetermined first height; and a movable tray moving unit that moves the movable stack tray upward when either the upper surface of the movable stack tray or the upper surface of the sheet stacked on the movable stack tray is not sensed by the upper surface sensor.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention comprises: a sheet discharge section that feeds a sheet supplied from an image forming apparatus to a post-processing section and leads the sheet that has passed through the post-processing section to a sheet discharge port; a sheet discharge tray that receives a sheet discharged from the sheet discharge port and can move to a first standby position and a second standby position higher than the first standby position and nearer to the sheet discharge port; and a controller that controls the height position of the sheet discharge tray by identifying the type of the sheet. The controller changes the height position of the sheet discharge tray to allow the sheet discharge tray to receive the discharged sheet at the first standby position in the case where the sheet is a first type while to receive the discharged sheet at the second standby position in the case where the sheet is a second type.

Abstract: A post-processing apparatus having a conveyance device to convey a sheet, a sheet bundle storing device to load and store the sheets conveyed by the conveyance device as a sheet bundle, a moving device to enable the sheet bundle storing device to be movable, a post-processing device to carry out post-process for the sheet bundle accumulated in the sheet bundle storing device, wherein the sheet bundle storing device can be withdrawn to outside the post-processing apparatus main body through the moving device so as to be capable of storing the sheet bundle from outside.

Abstract: A support member 60 that projects to a sheet conveying direction and supports sheets, which are sorted and discharged, from a rear surface side thereof is provided in a discharge port 7a of a processing tray 12 or a standby tray 10. The support member 60 is installed not to interfere with a shutter 52 when the shutter 52 rises. The support member 60 is installed to be inclined upward at an angle equal to or larger than an installation angle of the processing tray 12 or the standby tray 10. The support member 60 may be formed of a conductor that conducts static electricity and installed in a metal section of the discharge port 7a.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus of the present invention includes a post-processing unit provided inside a housing and configured to perform post-processing on sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus, a sheet discharge unit configured to guide sheets having undergone post-processing to a discharge port, a paper discharge tray configured to accommodate sheets discharged from the discharge port and allowed to ascend and descend within a specific height range lower than the discharge port, and a sheet member disposed directly below the discharge port and configured to move along a wall surface of the housing in association with ascending and descending of the paper discharge tray and receive rear ends of the sheets accommodated in the paper discharge tray, a width of a receiving portion thereof in a height direction varying with a quantity of the sheets accommodated in the paper discharge tray.

Abstract: A bookmaking apparatus includes: a first path for horizontally conveying a sheet bundle; a second path for vertically conveying a cover sheet; a joining stage for joining the cover sheet and sheet bundle; a gripping conveyance device at an upstream side of the joining stage for gripping and conveying the sheet bundle along the first path; and a folding conveyance device arranged at a downstream side of the joining stage for folding and conveying out the cover sheet and sheet bundle. The gripping conveyance device includes opening and closing clamping members for gripping the sheet bundle and clamping control device for opening and closing the clamping members. The clamping control device operates to vary a gripping position of the sheet bundle by the clamping members when joining the sheet bundle to the cover sheet at the joining stage and when conveying the joined sheet bundle to the folding conveyance device.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a first processing unit, a second processing unit, a roller, a guide member, and a conveying unit. The first processing unit applies first processing to a recording medium. The second processing unit applies second processing to the recording medium. The roller has a conveying path to convey the recording medium from the first processing unit to the second processing unit along the outer circumference. The guide member guides the recording medium to the conveying path to lead the recording medium to the second processing unit. The conveying unit applies a conveying force to a stack of recording media at an upstream of the guide member in a recording-medium conveying direction.

Abstract: In a bookbinding apparatus, an adhesive applying portion applies an adhesive to an end face of a sheet bundle allowed to stand in the substantially vertical direction, a storage portion that gathers and stores the sheet bundle which is applied with the adhesive and bound in the adhesive applying portion while letting the sheet bundle stand in the substantially vertical direction, transport means for conveying the sheet bundle while letting the sheet bundle stand in the substantially vertical direction from the adhesive applying portion to the storage portion along a substantially vertical transport path, and a cutting portion which is provided on the transport path between the adhesive applying portion and the storage portion, and which cuts an end face of the sheet bundle while letting the sheet bundle stand in the substantially vertical direction.

Abstract: A finishing apparatus in a copying machine is disclosed, which can finish large sized papers without enlarging the size of a tray base. The finishing apparatus includes a jogging assembly 170 aligning papers in left and right directions, a paper contact plate 166 provided with a stapler 196, a paper roller 200 pushing the papers to a paper stacker 134, ends of the papers being positioned in the stapler, a tray base 10 moving in a direction opposite to the paper roller to guide alignment of a set of the papers, and an angle adjusting unit guiding the papers by adjusting a tilt angle of the papers in accordance with the size of the papers.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus of the invention includes a post-processing unit that applies post-processing to sheets supplied from an image forming apparatus, a conveying tool that guides the sheets subjected to the post-processing to a discharge port, a sheet discharge tray that receives the sheets discharged from the discharge port, and a control unit that controls an operation of the conveying tool and stops a discharge operation for new sheets, when a quantity of the sheets stacked on the sheet discharge tray reaches a full state set in advance. The sheet processing apparatus further includes a pressing unit that temporarily prevents movement of the sheet on the conveying tool, when a sheet is present on the conveying tool in the full state.

Abstract: Image forming system including at least one image forming apparatus for forming images on sheets on the basis of image data. At least one temporary containing apparatus is disposed downstream of the image forming apparatus for temporarily containing therein the sheets on which the images have been formed. A separating and conveying apparatus separates and conveys the sheets contained in the temporary containing apparatus one by one. A sheet post-processing apparatus conveys the sheets conveyed by the separating and conveying apparatus and the sheets on which the images have been formed by the image forming apparatus and which bypass the temporary containing apparatus in an arbitrary order, in order to effect a set post-process on the conveyed sheets.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for high capacity stacking and stitching in an image production device is disclosed.

Abstract: In a sheet finishing apparatus of the present invention, when temporarily loading a plurality of sheets of paper on a standby tray until a processing tray finishes processing, to prevent a sheet of paper loaded first from being pressed out by a sheet of paper ejected later, a chuck for retaining the rear ends of the sheets of paper is installed on the downstream side of the standby tray, and for curled sheets of paper, a standby tray guide and an arm member for suppressing curling of the central part of the sheets of paper are installed, thus matching on the standby tray is stabilized.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus is constructed to apply post-processing to sheets successively supplied from an image forming apparatus and received into an apparatus main body, and includes a main discharge tray onto which the sheets that have passed through the apparatus main body are discharged. The sheet post-processing apparatus further has an elevating mechanism for moving the main discharge tray up and down and a control unit for controlling an elevation control of the elevating mechanism. The control unit controls the elevating mechanism to move the main discharge tray up and down in synchronism with the discharge of the sheet onto the main discharge tray. The control unit carries out the elevation control of the main discharge tray so as not to adversely affect the discharge of a succeeding sheet even if the sheet discharged from the apparatus main body is curled up or down.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A sheet post-process apparatus of the present invention has a standby tray for stably dropping sheets of paper onto a processing tray, so that a pair of tray members for loading ejected sheets of paper is formed so as to project from the wall face of the standby tray and the loading face of sheets of paper is narrowed from the front end side of the sheets of paper toward the rear end side thereof.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a receiver, an aligner, a stapler, a loading table, and a pusher. The receiver is configured to receive sheets. The aligner is configured to align the sheets. The stapler is configured to staple the aligned sheets. The loading table is configured to load the stapled sheets. The pusher is configured to push the stapled sheets from the stapler toward the loading table.

Abstract: A wall mounted printer comprising a main chassis, a pivoting media tray disposed on a front upper portion of the main chassis, a removable collection tray disposed at the base of the main chassis for receiving printed and bound media exiting from the main chassis, a printhead unit disposed within the main chassis, and a binding assembly disposed within the main chassis downstream of a printing zone of the printhead unit, the binding assembly comprising a support chassis downstream of a printing zone of the printer, the support chassis defining a glue application and binding zone in which printed sheets of media are received in a feed direction; and an elongate glue applicator mounted on the chassis and positioned substantially at right angles to said feed direction, the applicator being displaceable towards and away from the sheets of media to apply a strip of glue to a transverse edge of each of said consecutive sheets of media.

Abstract: A sheet finisher includes a sheet stacker for stacking sheets conveyed from an image forming apparatus to form a sheet bundle and a binding device for binding the sheet bundle with a staple, further includes a center folding device for center folding sheets conveyed from the image forming apparatus, a first conveying device for conveying sheets conveyed from the image forming apparatus to the sheet stacker without passing through the center folding device, and a second conveying device for conveying the sheets to the sheet stacker via the center folding device.

Abstract: A copy machine achieves a reduction in power consumption when performing a saddle-stitching operation. An image forming unit forms visible images on recording sheets in accordance with image data stored in a memory device. A post-processing unit collects the recording media on an individual copy basis to prepare a bundle of the recording sheets, and performs a saddle-stitching process and a center-folding process on the bundle of the recording sheets. The post-processing unit ejects the processed recording sheets onto a predetermined eject tray. A system control part determines whether or not a total number of the recording sheets corresponding to the image data is within a limit number for the saddle-stitching process. When the total number of the recording sheets exceeds the limit number for the saddle-stitching process, the recording sheets are ejected onto the at least one eject tray other than a predetermined eject tray.

Abstract: An improved method for monitoring stack quality in a finisher of a printer includes examining the net displacement of a compiling tray after each set has been ejected. A deviation from the normal increments of displacement for each set triggers a “tray full” condition which alerts a user to empty the tray.