Abstract: Provided is a technique capable of detecting the amount of a stack of discharged print media and increasing print speed. A printing apparatus includes a displacement member configured to be in contact with the discharged print media and be displaced according to the amount of the stack of the print media, and detects the stack amount based on the displacement of the displacement member. The apparatus performs a first or second detection operation based on the detected stack amount. In the first detection operation, after a specified number of print media are discharged with the displacement member positioned at the evacuation position where it does not come into contact with a print medium, the displacement member is brought into contact with the print media to detect the stack amount. In the second detection operation, the stack amount is detected with the displacement member in contact with the print media.

Abstract: A printing system capable of properly changing a content of a notification based on occurrence of a full state of a sheet in an output destination. A printing system which is able to output a sheet to any of a plurality of sheet stacking units includes a determining unit configured to determine whether a first setting for selecting a specific sheet stacking unit as an output destination of the sheet is performed or a second setting for automatically selecting any sheet stacking unit from among the plurality of sheet stacking units as the output destination is performed, a notification unit configured to perform a notification according to occurrence of a fully-stacked state in the output destination, and a control unit configured to change a content of the notification based on the determining by the determining unit.

Abstract: A series-connected tandem image forming system includes first and second image forming apparatuses capable of forming images on recording media by image forming units, the first and second image forming apparatuses being connected in series, the image forming system forming an image on a recording media by either one or both of the first and second image forming apparatuses, wherein the first image forming apparatus includes a first conveyance path for conveyance of the recording medium, and a second conveyance path for conveyance of the recording medium, the first and second conveyance paths being selectable therebetween, the second image forming apparatus includes a third conveyance path for conveyance of the recording medium, and a fourth conveyance path for conveyance of the recording medium, the third and fourth conveyance paths being selectable therebetween.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a sheet introducing unit, a first sheet discharge unit, a second sheet discharge unit, a sheet processing unit, a sheet conveyance unit, and a control unit. The first and the second sheet discharge unit are configured to be able to discharge a sheet to an outside. The sheet conveyance unit includes a sheet conveyance path arranged between the first sheet discharge unit and the second sheet discharge unit. The control unit controls the sheet conveyance unit to convey the sheet along the sheet conveyance path toward the first sheet discharge unit to a predetermined position at which the sheet is not discharged from the first sheet discharge unit to the outside, then convey the sheet along the sheet conveyance path in an opposite direction toward the second sheet discharge unit, and discharge the sheet from the second sheet discharge unit.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus enabling more appropriate data deletion. The image forming apparatus includes an output setting circuit for performing output setting for adjusting an output of image data to a target output result by selection operation, an output operation circuit for performing output of image data by instruction operation so that a process corresponding to the output setting is performed, an association circuit for storing association information in which the output image data is associated with the output setting, a state determination circuit for determining whether or not the target output result can be obtained based on a current state of the apparatus, and a data deletion circuit for automatically deleting or selecting the deletion of the image data associated with the output setting based on the association information when it is determined that the target output result cannot be obtained.

Abstract: A multifunctional printer comprising a printer section, an auto-document feeder, a scanner section, and a finisher, wherein a finisher path leads from the auto-document feeder into the printer section and converges with a print path into a shared finisher path leading to the finisher, such that documents scanned with the auto-document feeder can be conveyed to the finisher such that it can perform a finishing operation on the documents.

Abstract: A detachable document handler (having an outer casing) has a transparent platen as the casing bottom, and a document tray as the casing top. A moveable internal scanner is located within the outer casing, and is positioned to move past the transparent platen within the outer casing. The moveable internal scanner is in a location within the outer casing to optically scan items external to the outer casing through the transparent platen. A sheet feeder system are also within the outer casing. The sheet feeder system (within the outer casing) is positioned adjacent the document tray in a location to feed sheets from the document tray, internally within the outer casing, past the moveable internal scanner, and back to the document tray. A transparent member within the outer casing is located between the sheet feeder system and the moveable internal scanner.

Abstract: An optical sensor has a light emission section and a light reception section so arranged as to sandwich an opening part of a toner container from both sides when the toner container is attached, and a shutter slides in conjunction with the attachment and detachment of the toner container and has a top surface member opening and closing a toner exhaust port of a cleaning device and a side surface member transmitting and blocking light of the optical sensor. A slit orthogonal to a sliding direction of the shutter is formed at the side surface member of the shutter, and the control section performs detection of attachment and detachment of the toner container based on a waveform pattern of light transmitted through the slits which pattern appears in a signal of the optical sensor.

Abstract: A scanner option assembly for an image forming device. The scanner option assembly comprises a housing removably attachable to a bottom of the image forming device, and a scanner assembly mounted in the housing and being positionable to receive an original for scanning. When the housing is attached to the bottom of the image forming device, the scanner assembly receives power from the image forming device with the scanner assembly being in operable communication with a controller of the image forming device for receiving instructions from and providing scan data of an image of the original to the controller. The scanner assembly includes at least one of a flatbed scanner slidably extendible and retractable through an opening of the housing, and an automatic document feeder (ADF) assembly for automatically feeding one or more media sheets into an image capture area of the scanner assembly.

Abstract: In an apparatus structure having a sheet discharge mode to store sheets at a stack tray from a sheet discharging path and a sheet discharge mode to store binding-processed sheet bundles with collating and stacking, sheet holding means is arranged above a sheet placement face of the stack tray as a sheet pressurization force being variable in two steps, and then, the pressurization force of the sheet holding means is adjusted in two steps in accordance with the sheet discharge mode for storing sheets at the stack tray.

Abstract: A medium conveying device including a first stacker to which a medium is ejected, a first conveying path guiding the medium to the first stacker, a second conveying path branched from the first conveying path at a first branching position, and a second stacker to which the medium guided by the second conveying path is ejected. The second stacker is provided on an apparatus main body so as to be openable and closable. A first switching unit is movable between a first position and a second position. The first switching unit guides the medium to the first conveying path at the first branching position when the first switching unit is in the first position, and guides the medium to the second conveying path at the first branching position when the first switching unit is in the second position. A moving mechanism moves the first switching unit from the first position to the second position in conjunction with an opening operation of the second stacker.

Abstract: The sheet stacking system discharges a sheet to one of a first stacking apparatus including a first stacking tray and a second stacking tray, and a second stacking apparatus including a third stacking tray, executes one of a first discharging method and a second discharging method, the first discharging method for moving, after a sheet is discharged to the first stacking tray by executing a job, the sheet which has been discharged to the first stacking tray to the second sheet stacking tray and discharging a sheet to the first stacking tray of the first stacking apparatus by executing the job, and the second discharging method for, after a sheet is discharged to the first stacking tray by executing the job, discharging a sheet to the third stacking tray of the second stacking apparatus by executing the job.

Abstract: A print-medium storing unit, a print-medium storing apparatus including the same, and an image forming apparatus including the same which are provided in a power transmission mechanism, print-medium storing apparatus which is installed on a discharge path of a print-medium in an image forming apparatus, includes a plurality of storing units which is arranged with multi-layers, and a controller which controls to drive a feeding unit of another storing unit arranged between the storing unit through which the print-medium is to be discharged and the image forming apparatus, by a driving source of the storing unit through which the print-medium is to be discharged.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming system including: the relay apparatus; the image forming device which is connected to the first communication control unit of the relay apparatus and which acquires the sheet interval information of the downstream post-processing device through the first communication system; and the second post-processing device which is connected to the second communication control unit of the relay apparatus, the second post-processing device being compliant with the second communication system.

Abstract: In order to enable simple and easy handling of a large number of large format sheets, an output assembly is provided. The output assembly comprises a lower output tray element for receiving the sheets. In order to reliably transport and deposit a large format sheet from the printing device onto the lower output tray element, a guide element is provided just below an output opening of the printing device such to guide a leading edge of the sheet onto the lower output tray element. Once the leading edge is supported by the lower output tray element, the guide element is retracted such to enable a trailing edge to be deposited on the lower output tray element.

Abstract: There is provided a recording medium discharging apparatus including: a support tray; a discharging mechanism configured to discharge the recording media; a detector configured to detect a specific state in which a position of an uppermost surface of the recording media is not lower than a predetermined position; and a controller configured to control the discharging mechanism. When executing a job for continuously discharging the recording media on the support tray at a predetermined discharge interval, the controller is configured to control the discharging mechanism to pause discharge of the recording media on the support tray under a condition that the detector keeps detecting the specific state until a predetermined number of pieces of the recording medium is discharged on the support tray since the detector has detected the specific state, and is configured to set the predetermined number to be greater as the discharge interval is shorter.

Abstract: A control apparatus discharges, into a stacking unit, sheets of a plurality of copies obtained by executing a first job that is set to print a plurality of copies, and discharges sheets of a plurality of copies obtained by executing a second job that is set to print a plurality of copies and follows the first job. The control apparatus carries out control so that a sheet discharge position for copies discharged by executing the first job changes from a first discharge position in the stacking unit to a second discharge position in the stacking unit between copies, and carries out control so that a sheet discharge position for the plurality of copies discharged by executing the second job changes from a third discharge position in the stacking unit to a fourth discharge position in the stacking unit between copies.

Abstract: A print medium finishing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a conveyance module configured to convey print media on a first tray to a second tray. Since a rotary member of the conveyance module is rotated to support the print media on the first tray during a process in which the conveyance module passes through a through-hole formed in a support section of a main body to move over the first tray, disorder of the print media is reduced during a process of conveying the print media to the second tray.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus comprises a conveyance path, a first storage section, a detection section, a first roller and a control section. The conveyance path conveys a sheet. The first storage section stores the sheet conveyed through the conveyance path. The detection section detects whether or not the sheet conveyed in the conveyance path is in the detection target area of the conveyance path. The first roller is located at the downstream side of the detection target area of the detection section in a conveyance direction of the conveyance path, and rotates to convey the sheet in the conveyance path towards the first storage section. The control section reversely rotates the first roller when the conveyance path is recovered from a stop state so that the sheet in the conveyance path is moved for a distance from the first roller to the detection target area of the detection section.

Abstract: A reduction is prevented in stacking efficiency of a sheet stacking apparatus due to a wrong setting of a stacking tray performed by a user thereby achieving a high stacking efficiency. In a control method for controlling an image forming apparatus including a sheet stacking control unit configured to stack sheets, subjected to printing in a print job, on one of a plurality of removable sheet stacking units, the control method includes specifying a sheet discharging unit used in the print job, determining whether a sheet stacking unit corresponding to the specified sheet discharging unit is properly set, and, in a case where it is determined that the sheet stacking unit is not properly set, restricting conveying sheets to the sheet stacking unit.

Abstract: When performing a purging process in which remaining sheets remaining in the image forming system are gathered and ejected to any of trays in an ejection section, any of the trays other than a valid sheet tray to which a sheet having a normally formed imager has been ejected is set as a purge tray which is a tray to which the remaining sheets are to be ejected by the purging process, and the ejection section is controlled to eject the remaining sheet to such purge tray

Abstract: An image reading apparatus comprises a feeding mechanism conveying a document, a moving mechanism moving a reading unit, a driving source shared by the mechanisms, a biasing mechanism moving the reading unit to a predetermined position by an elastic member when the reading unit is moved out of a reading region, a transmission element being displaced by the movement of the reading unit and switching transmission of the drive force, and a disengaging mechanism disengaging the reading unit in the predetermined position to the reading region from the predetermined position by the drive force of the driving source.

Abstract: When implementing a purge processing for collecting a retention paper sheet remaining within an image forming system so as to eject the collected retention paper sheet to a plurality of paper sheet ejecting trays of a paper sheet ejecting section, based on paper sheet information regarding a paper sheet feeding tray from which each of the retention paper sheets is fed, a control section controls the paper sheet ejecting section so as to eject the retention paper sheets onto the plurality of paper sheet ejecting trays, in such a manner that a first retention paper sheet fed from a specific paper-sheet feeding tray is ejected separately from a second retention paper sheet fed from a paper sheet feeding tray other than the specific paper-sheet feeding tray.

Abstract: The sheet stacking system discharges a sheet to one of a first stacking apparatus including a first stacking tray and a second stacking tray, and a second stacking apparatus including a third stacking tray, executes one of a first discharging method and a second discharging method, the first discharging method for moving, after a sheet is discharged to the first stacking tray by executing a job, the sheet which has been discharged to the first stacking tray to the second sheet stacking tray and discharging a sheet to the first stacking tray of the first stacking apparatus by executing the job, and the second discharging method for, after a sheet is discharged to the first stacking tray by executing the job, discharging a sheet to the third stacking tray of the second stacking apparatus by executing the job.

Abstract: A paper discharge apparatus includes a conveying path configured to convey a paper from an upstream portion to a downstream portion. A preventing mechanism is provided on the conveying path. The preventing mechanism is configured to prevent the paper from being conveyed to the downstream portion by pushing the paper or blocking the conveying path. A control unit is configured to bend the paper by preventing the conveyance of the paper by using the preventing mechanism, and then convey the paper to the downstream portion of the conveying path for discharge of the paper from the conveying path.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus of an aspect of the present invention includes stack trays provided with alignment members for applying an alignment process to sheets. At the time of discharging sheets, in a case where a sheet is already stacked on a first stack tray that has been decided on as a discharge destination for a sheet to be discharged, the sheet processing apparatus determines whether or not the width of the sheet to be discharged matches the width of the already-stacked sheet. In a case where the widths of the sheets do not match, a discharge destination for the sheet to be discharged is changed to a second stack tray.

Abstract: A stack state of a plurality of trays is collectively determined and is notified in steps. A printing apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet and create a printed material, a plurality of storage units each configured to store the printed material created by the image forming unit, a sorter unit configured to output the printed material to the plurality of storage units, and a determining unit configured to determine whether the plurality of storage units are in a nearly full state in which printed material is stored in almost all of the plurality of storage units.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus which is capable of efficiently stacking sheets of various sizes while efficiently using space therein to thereby realize compactness thereof, and maintaining a high availability. Stacker trays for stacking sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus can be separately removed. It is detected whether any of the stacker trays is removed. When large-size sheets are stacked, a stacker control section causes the stacker trays to operate as one tray to stack the sheets in a state extending on the stacker trays, whereas when small-size sheets are stacked, the section causes one of the stacker trays to stack the sheets. Further, when one stacker tray is removed to make it impossible to stack the large-size sheets, the section causes a display section to display a guide message advising setting of the removed stacker tray.

Abstract: By adding a distinction for every sheet bundle of a same delivery destination and ejecting the sheet bundle, a sorting burden on the user is reduced. According to a control method of a printing apparatus, an image is printed to a sheet by executing a job including predetermined information, and on the basis of the predetermined information included in the job, the sheet which is printed by executing the job is ejected to a position different from that of a sheet ejected before the sheet.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to providing a mechanism for allowing a user to easily take out print products discharged onto a plurality of sheet discharge trays in the discharge order. A control method for controlling a sheet processing apparatus for performing control to discharge sheets onto a plurality of sheet discharge trays includes storing, in a storage unit, the discharge order in which sheets have been discharged onto equal to or more than two sheet discharge trays by executing a job, and performing, upon reception of a take-out instruction for taking out in the discharge order the sheets discharged by executing the job, processing for allowing a user to take out the sheets discharged onto the equal to or more than two sheet discharge trays, in the discharge order stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: When a sheet processing apparatus is newly connected, discharge of sheets to a paper discharge tray the user does not intend is prevented while omitting cumbersome settings regarding the sheet processing apparatus. To accomplish this, a printing apparatus stores, in storage unit, information for determining a paper discharge destination to which sheets are to be discharged from among a plurality of paper discharge destinations. In a case where a newly connected sheet processing apparatus is a sheet processing apparatus of the same type as an immediately previously connected sheet processing apparatus, the printing apparatus does not change the information stored in the storage unit. In a case where a newly connected sheet processing apparatus is a sheet processing apparatus of a different type, the printing apparatus updates the information stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet stacking apparatus comprises a conveyance path, a plurality of stackers, a plurality of gates, a skew sensor, and a control unit. The gates are arranged in a number corresponding to the number of stackers, and guide the sheets from the conveyance path into the stackers, respectively. The skew sensor detects the skew of the sheet conveyed along the conveyance path. The control unit drives a gate corresponding to a stacker, in which the sheet is to be stacked, in accordance with the skew value of the sheet detected by the skew sensor upstream of the gate corresponding to the stacker, in which the sheet is to be stacked, in the direction in which the sheet is conveyed along the conveyance path.

Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus including: a printing mechanism; a plurality of trays; a discharge mechanism; a plurality of detection mechanisms which detect whether a height of the sheets stacked on the trays is not less than a threshold value; and a controller which controls the discharge mechanism and the printing mechanism. When the detection mechanisms detect that all heights of the sheets stacked on the trays are not less than the threshold value, the controller controls the discharge mechanism to discontinue a discharge of the sheets. After the discharge of the sheets is discontinued, when the detection mechanisms detect that the heights of the sheets stacked on at least two trays became smaller than the threshold value, the controller controls the discharge mechanism to resume the discharge of the sheets on a tray which is other than a tray which is recovered last.

Abstract: A method of scanning documents and moving such documents along a path such that after scanning sorting such documents is disclosed. The method includes providing a plurality of documents in an input tray and transporting each document along the path from the input tray at a transport velocity past the scanner to obtain scanned image data. The method further includes providing at least two movable members including two rotatable exit rollers, movable belts, or a movable belt and a rotatable exit roller along the path to provide a nip for the documents; and selectively driving the movable members to provide selectable exit velocities so that such documents are sorted in accordance with their selected exit velocity.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for printing multiple copies of a document, the document having N (where N is an integer) pages, includes an image forming unit configured to print images on a plurality of sheets according to an input print job, a sheet stacking unit configured to stack sheets printed by the image forming unit, and a control unit configured to divide a print job which prints M (where M is an integer) copies of each of the N pages of the document into a plurality of print operations in a case where a group mode in which sheets are stacked into N groups, each group having M copies of a respective page of the document, is set in the print job, wherein each of the plurality of print operations is for printing less than M copies of each of the N pages of the document.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit which continuously forms an image on sheets of paper, three or more stackers to which the sheets on which the image is formed by the image forming unit are ejected and a control unit which determines paper ejection order of stackers to which the sheets are to be ejected among the three or more stackers in a predetermined order, wherein each of the stackers includes a loading unit on which the sheets are loaded and a conveyance cart which is disposed under the loading unit and by which the loading unit can be removed from the stacker.

Abstract: A printing system prevents mistakes such as that a printed paper sheet printed by requesting from a PC to an image forming apparatus is left in an ejected-paper tray. The image forming apparatus transmits to the server printing execution result information that includes the serial number and the time and date of the printing. The server manages the state of unfetch of the printed paper sheet using a fetch flag in a printing record list created based on the printing execution result information, changes the fetch flag from “unfetched” to “fetched” when information indicating that the printed paper sheet has been fetched is sent from the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus including first and second stacking trays configured to stack sheets, a detection unit configured to detect a sheet stacking amount on the first stacking tray, a setting unit configured to set an upper limit on stacking amount for controlling the sheet stacking amount that is less than a maximum sheet stacking amount on the first stacking tray, and a control unit configured to stop stacking of sheets on the first stacking tray and stack sheets on the second stacking tray in a case where the sheet stacking amount which is detected by the detection unit reaches the upper limit on stacking amount that is set by the setting unit.

Abstract: A control method for controlling a sheet processing apparatus having a stacking control unit configured to cause a sheet on which an image is printed by a printing unit to abut a movable abutting member, followed by stacking the sheet on a stacking unit, the control method includes: determining a position of the abutting member; and controlling a sheet which is abutted to the abutting member moved to a first position determined by the determination and mounted on the stacking unit and a sheet which is abutted to the abutting member moved to a second position determined by the determination and mounted on the stacking unit so that the sheets are mounted on said stacking unit while being prevented from overlapping from one another.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a method of controlling the image forming apparatus are provided. When a finisher is installed onto the image forming apparatus and a communication failure between the finisher and the image forming apparatus is detected, the image forming apparatus causes both of a post processing operation and a double-sided printing operation to be unavailable for selection by a user.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of trays; a plurality of full-stack detectors; a first storage section; a second storage section; and a controller. The plurality of trays are loaded with first sheets that are output from an image forming section. Each of the plurality of full-stack detectors is provided at one of the plurality of trays, each full-stack detector detecting that a corresponding tray is full of first sheets. The first storage section stores the number of second sheets printed in the past by sheet type. The second storage section stores usage priorities of the trays by sheet type based on the contents stored in the first storage section and a sheet stack capacity of each tray. The controller decides a first tray for outputting a third sheet that is output this time based on the priorities stored in the second storage section.

Abstract: In a sheet processing apparatus that, for example, sorts or staples sheets after image formation, when preceding finishing is not completed on a processing tray, a third sheet fed anew into awaiting tray of a sheet placing member configuring a sheet waiting unit, which temporarily puts a sheet conveyed thereto on standby, is stacked to be shifted such that leading ends of second and third sheets are located further on a conveying direction upstream side than a leading end of a first sheet. Consequently, longitudinal alignment in the processing tray after that is surely performed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is composed of a main body, an image forming portion provided in the main body to form an image on a sheet, a top receiving tray provided on a top of the main body to load the sheet on which the image is formed in the image forming portion so as to be visible from the top of the main body, a side receiving tray provided at a side of the main body and under the top receiving tray to load the sheet on which the image is formed in the image forming portion with a maximum sheet loading amount more than the top receiving tray, and a control unit to control to select one of the top receiving tray and the side receiving tray as a discharge destination for the sheet according to whether or not a number of the output sheets outputted from the image forming portion exceeds a prescribed threshold value.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet buffering and inverting device having a sheet transport path and multiple sheet inverter paths extending upward and/or downward there from. Sheets being transported through the sheet transport path are selectively diverted into the sheet inverter paths, held, and subsequently fed back into the sheet transport path such that they are inverted. Optionally, an additional sheet transport path can branch off the sheet transport path upstream of the sheet inverter paths and can connect to the distal end of each of the sheet inverter paths to allow sheets to be buffered without being inverted. This device can be incorporated into a discrete module of a modular printing system to ensure sheets are properly merged and oriented after processing by multiple printing engines. Alternatively, it can be incorporated into a standalone printing system to ensure sheets are properly buffered and/or inverted prior to processing by a single printing engine.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes a gripper configured to discharge a sheet, a plurality of stacker trays arranged in a row and configured to stack the discharged sheet, and a guiding unit configured to guide the discharged sheet to a predetermined position. The plurality of stacking trays are horizontally arranged so that a large number of sheets can be stacked without increasing the size of the sheet stacking apparatus.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes a stage, a driving unit to drive the stage, and a sheet detection device to detect that a sheet exists on the stage. Operation of the sheet stacking apparatus is controlled so that the stage descends in accordance with an amount of sheets to be stacked, and when a job executed in an image forming apparatus is completed, the stage automatically moves to a sheet removing position. The sheet stacking apparatus is controlled so that sheets of a mixing prohibition job are not stacked with sheets of another job, by detecting that a sheet of another job exists on the stage.

Abstract: The image forming system includes: a first transporting unit transporting paper sheets along a first transportation route; an image forming unit forming images on the paper sheets; a sheet supplying unit having a second transportation route, and transporting a sheet along the second transportation route to supply the sheet to a gap between the paper sheets sequentially transported along the first transportation route, the second transportation route joining the first transportation route at a position located on a downstream of the image forming unit in a transportation direction; and a controller outputting, to respective first and second output units, a paper sheet located on a downstream of the gap, and a paper sheet located on an upstream of the gap while causing the image forming unit to form an image on the paper sheet on the upstream of the image forming unit, when the sheet is not supplied.

Abstract: A method and system for auditing security stock usage including displaying one or more data on a graphical user interface (GUI); extracting a first set of information into a first log file from the one or more data displayed on the GUI; commencing a print run on a printer; extracting a second set of information into a second log file after the print run terminates; and determining a number of sheets of security stock used from the first log file and the second log file.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of trays; a plurality of full-stack detectors; a first storage section; a second storage section; and a controller. The plurality of trays are loaded with first sheets that are output from an image forming section. Each of the plurality of full-stack detectors is provided at one of the plurality of trays, each full-stack detector detecting that a corresponding tray is full of first sheets. The first storage section stores the number of second sheets printed in the past by sheet type. The second storage section stores usage priorities of the trays by sheet type based on the contents stored in the first storage section and a sheet stack capacity of each tray. The controller decides a first tray for outputting a third sheet that is output this time based on the priorities stored in the second storage section.

Abstract: An image forming system includes a first sheet stacking device including a rack, provided downstream of an image forming apparatus in a conveyance direction of a recording sheet and connected with the image forming apparatus, for stacking the recording sheet delivered from the image forming apparatus; a second sheet stacking device, which is provided downstream of the first sheet stacking device and connected with the first sheet stacking device; and a controller for controlling the image forming apparatus and the first and second sheet stacking devices. At least one of the first and second sheet stacking devices has a job stop button for stopping a printing job, and when the job stop button is turned on while the printing job execution is in progress, the controller controls the sheet stacking device to stop a stack of a recording sheet to the rack.