Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing unit, a transfer unit, a power source unit configured to supply a developing bias voltage to the developing unit and a transfer bias voltage to the transfer unit, and an input device to receive an image density evaluation. A processor adjusts the developing bias voltage when an evaluation input indicating a defect in the image density is received. If, after the first adjustment, another evaluation input indicating a defect in image density is received, the processor adjusts one of the developing bias voltage, the transfer bias voltage, or the toner density in the developing unit.

Abstract: Provided is a paper-discharge apparatus that suppresses operating sound of the paper-discharge apparatus. A contact member changes the posture of the introduction guide by coming in contact with the introduction lever and rotating the introduction lever. A control unit sets a state in which paper is introduced to the paper-discharge-conveying unit to a non-contact state of the introduction lever and contact member, and sets a state when conveyed paper is guided to another discharge destination to a contact state of the introduction lever and the contact member. The control unit rotates the motor at a first speed and moves the contact member, and brings the contact member in contact with the introduction lever after setting the rotating speed of the motor to a second speed that is slower than the first speed.

Abstract: A sheet eject device is provided for detecting whether a sheet eject tray is filled with ejected sheets. The sheet eject device includes an ejecting unit that ejects sheets onto the sheet eject tray; a counting unit that counts an accumulated eject number every time a sheet is ejected by the ejecting unit; a storing unit that stores a defined eject number threshold and a defined eject interval time; a fullness detecting unit that detects that the sheet eject tray is filled with ejected sheets when the accumulated eject number counted by the counting unit exceeds the defined eject number threshold; and a reset unit that resets the accumulated eject number counted by the counting unit when an eject interval time exceeds the defined eject interval time, the eject interval time extending from when one sheet is ejected until a next sheet is ejected by the ejecting unit.

Abstract: A print control apparatus to discharge sheets printed by a printing unit to discharging destinations. The print control apparatus includes a first determination unit, a second determination unit, and a selecting unit. When an input print job is to be executed by the printing unit, the first determination unit determines how many sheets are to be discharged, corresponding to a single copy based on the print job. The second determination unit determines how many discharging destinations are required for discharging the determined number of sheets. If the determined number of discharging destinations is a multiple value, the selecting unit selects multiple discharging destinations located closest to each other as discharging destinations for the sheets printed. The multiple discharging destinations are selected by the selecting unit before the printing unit begins printing operation based on the print job.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus capable of executing a plurality of kinds of binding process in one job. A printer control section transmits, to a finisher, a job for equal to or larger than a total number of copies being a sum of a first number of copies for performing the binding process by using a staple and a second number of copies for performing the binding process without use of the staple. On the finisher side, in accordance with the job, a finisher control section causes a stapler to perform a stapling process for the first number of copies and an eco-stapler to perform an eco-stapling process for the second number of copies.

Abstract: This invention relates to a printing system configured to output printing media having undergone print processing by a print apparatus to a plurality of destinations including a specific destination which has a structure allowing an operator to take out the printing media. In the system, output of printing media to the specific destination is restricted while the operator takes out the printing medium outputted to the specific destination, and in case that the number of printing media necessary for a job processed by the print apparatus is smaller than a predetermined number, the system is controlled not to output to the specific destination a printed material formed from printing media smaller in number than the predetermined number. This invention can achieve efficient printing by controlling not to stop the print operation of the system as much as possible.

Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus including a sheet accommodation device including at least one sheet accommodation section which accommodates a sheet before printing, a printing unit which prints an image on a sheet based on print data stored in a storage area, a discharged sheet accommodation device including at least one discharged sheet accommodation section which accommodates the printed sheet, a control device which selects a combination of a sheet accommodation section and a discharged sheet accommodation section such that a storage device completes storing print data into the storage area by a conveyance starting time of a sheet to be printed based on the print data, and which control a conveyance device to feed the sheet to be printed based on the print data from the sheet accommodation section to discharge the sheet to the discharged sheet accommodation section of the selected combination.

Abstract: A device and method for producing complex multipart collections (K1) of printed products includes at least two partial collections (T1, T2, T3) of precursors. The device comprises a collating device (6) having a conveyor track (41) on which a plurality of receptacle units (50) circulate in a closed circuit for receiving collated precursors, and on which a plurality of feeder apparatuses (101-112) are disposed in at least one collating region (11, 12), from which precursors are dispensed into the receptacle units (50) moving past on the conveyor track. A transfer apparatus (30) is disposed in at least one location of the conveyor track (42), transferring collated first partial collections (T1) from the receptacle units (50) for further processing, and a collator (31, 32) is disposed in at least one further location of the conveyor track (41, 43), collating further collated partial collections (T3, T4) from the receptacle units (50) into collections (K1).

Abstract: There is described an image forming apparatus, which makes it possible to prevent a final print product from getting its appearance worse due to such a drawback that a reference mark still remains on the final print product. The apparatus includes: a setting section to make the display section display a setting screen for inputting setting information therefrom, the setting information being in regard to a post-processing use page including a reference mark to be used for post processing; an image processing section to create image data representing a second image of the post-processing use page, based on the setting information inputted from the setting screen; and a print processing section to print the first images of the pages included in the document and the second image of the post-processing use page onto first paper sheets and a second paper sheet being separate from the first paper sheets, respectively.

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 stacking device includes a contact section with which top ends of the recording media in a conveying direction, conveyed into the storage space, make contact so stop the recording media at a storage position, a media move section which comprises a plurality of partition members, forms a plurality of spaces capable of storing the recording media between the partition members, stores the recording media stopped at the storage position into arbitrary one of the plurality of spaces, and moves the partition members thereby to move at least a part of the top ends of the recording media to a pushup position different from the storage position, and a lift section which pushes up, to the carry-out section, the recording media moved to the pushup position by the media move section.

Abstract: A method executed by an image forming apparatus for producing a print job, which includes the steps of: (a) receiving data representing a document to be printed in the print job; (b) receiving job information about the print job, the job information including an instruction to print multiple copies of the document; (c) printing the multiple copies of the document; and (d) ejecting one sheet of each of the multiple copies of the document at an ejection speed, that is either greater than or less than an ejection speed of the other sheets of the multiple copies of the document.

Abstract: The subject application is directed to a system and method for on-demand generation of a selectable input for enacting a previous document processing device control sequence. User identification data is received, and a document processing session is opened. A sequence of instructions is then received, and data associated with the sequence is logged according to identification data. After the session opening, logged data is stored in associated memory. Data of a request to generate a selectable input corresponding to the logged data is then received, and testing is performed to determine whether data has been logged in a current session. Data logged during the session is associated with the selectable input, and stored data is retrieved and associated with the selectable input when no data has been logged during the current session. The sequence of selected instructions is then commenced upon the selection of the selectable input by the user.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for recovering from print assembly failure in a printer with printed medium assembly capabilities. The method generates a first print set including a plurality of physical medium sheets, and stores the first print set of a first interim stacker. A second print set is generated including a plurality of physical medium sheets. Sheets are accessed sheets from the first interim stacker and assembled with sheets from the second print set, generating a final print set with a plurality of sheets in a first order. The final print set is stored in an output stacker. In the event of a first print set failure, first print set replacement sheets are generating. In one aspect, generating the final print set includes directly merging first print set replacement sheets (bypassing the interim stacker) with sheets from the second print set.

Abstract: A merging module connects two printing systems at approximately 90 degrees to one another. The merging module includes a sheet rotator in a plane that is common to the paper paths of both print engines and a buffer. It also includes two bypass paths (one above and one below the rotator) to route the two paper paths around the rotator and enable both print engines to deliver their output to the appropriate finishing device as well as to the buffer.

Abstract: A collation of printed marketing signs for delivery or distribution to a retail store includes at least a first group of marketing signs and a second group of marketing signs. Each group has at least one stack of marketing signs for altering product display structures in a retail store and each marketing sign in each stack has a same non-rectangular shape. The first group of signs includes a first level of priority and the second group of signs includes a second level of priority. The first level of priority indicates that the first group of signs be set in the store before the second group of signs, which have the second level of priority.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus that can reduce the burden placed on the user by avoiding input errors and a complicated input operation when making settings for a color/black-and-white mixing operation and can perform a proper recovery even when a sheet determined to be abnormal is included in other sheets. Images are formed on sheets by an MFP 104 in accordance with an image forming job. The sheets on which the images have been formed are conveyed to a stacker tray 1207 detachably attached to the MFP 104. Information relating to the image forming job for the sheets conveyed to the stacker tray 1207 is written into a storage device 1202 provided in the stacker tray 1207.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus which enable users to easily set the cutting amount of sheets according to the intended purpose of use. A folding unit folds the sheets. A cutting unit cuts off ends of the folded sheets. A setting unit sets details of processing of the sheets to be executed at least by the center-folding unit and the cutting unit. The setting unit is capable of selecting a first cutting amount-setting mode in which a cutting amount is set using a cutting width of the at least one end, and a second cutting amount-setting mode in which the cutting amount is set using a sheet size which the sheets should have after being cut. The setting unit sets the cutting amount in a selected one of the first cutting amount-setting mode and the second cutting amount-setting mode, when setting details of processing of the sheets to be executed by the cutting unit.

Abstract: A sheet finisher having a post-processing section that conducts post-processing on a sheet on which an image has been formed by an image forming apparatus, the sheet finisher comprising: an intermediate storing section in which a plurality of sheets conveyed from the image forming apparatus are superposed to be stored temporarily; a pair of conveyance rollers that convey the plurality of sheets stored in the intermediate storing section to the post-processing section while the plurality of sheets are superposed; each of two drive motors which drives one of the pair of conveyance rollers that comes in contact with one sheet of the plurality of sheets and the other of the pair of conveyance rollers that comes in contact with the other sheet of the plurality of sheets, separately; and a correction controller that controls a rotation speed of at least one of the two drive motors.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus arranged to produce groups of printed sheets. Each group includes a plurality of sequential sheets. The image forming apparatus includes a plurality of storage units each configured to store the printed sheets produced by an image forming unit, a sorter unit configured to sort the printed sheets of a group into a plurality of portions, wherein the sheets in each portion are in sequential order, and to output each of the portions to a different storage unit, and a display unit configured to display an indication of the storage unit storing the portion including the first or the last sheet of the group such that a user is directed to collect the portion including the first or the last sheet of the group from the indicated storage unit first.

Abstract: The invention provides a print control apparatus, a print control method, and a print control program, in which in the case of Z-folding a sheet which has been print-outputted by using an N-up function for allocating a plurality of logic pages onto one sheet, it is possible to make layout adjustment such that the logic pages printed onto the output sheet in the Z-folding state can be easily confirmed, and also provides a memory medium in which such a program has been stored. For this purpose, layout designation to designate a mode to print the plurality of logic pages onto one of print surfaces of the sheet which is outputted by a printing apparatus is made. Further, when the sheet is Z-folded, the layout of the plurality of logic pages is adjusted so that the whole area of at least one logic page is displayed onto an exposing surface of the Z-folded sheet.

Abstract: A sheet superposing device to superpose sheets supplied from an image forming device, and eject the superposed sheets to a finishing device following the sheet superposing device, the sheet superposing device including: a control section to obtain sheet structure information indicating a structure of sheets of a set, the set on which finishing is performed; judge whether or not a number of the sheets of the set is two or more based on the obtained sheet structure information; and superpose two sheets or more of the sheets of the set when the number of the sheets of the set is two or more.

Abstract: The invention is to provide a sheet treating apparatus achieving a space saving and enabling easy identification of an output mode of sheets. The sheet treating apparatus of the invention for treating sheets after image formation is accommodated in a space formed in an image forming apparatus, and includes plural sheet stacking devices which stack treated sheets, and a lifting and lowering device which independently lifts and lowers the plural sheet stacking devices.

Abstract: A printer is provided that stores raw data. Printing is performed with the material data merged together in accordance with a print instruction from a print instruction terminal. The material data is rendered in advance and then stored in a compressed form. However, part of the material data stored in the compressed form is decompressed to its original size and stored in a decompressed form. This allows a large amount of material data to be stored in a compressed form while also allowing the stored decompressed material data to be immediately used. As such, the time required to decompress frequently used material data is eliminated. This advances the printing start time to allow high-speed printing.

Abstract: A system for adding a post-collation operation to an imaging job is disclosed. The system includes a computing device with executable instructions. The executable instructions are executable on the computing device and are configured to implement a method for adding a post-collation operation to the imaging job. The imaging job is received downstream from an origination point of the imaging job and upstream from a job interpreter/rasterization process in an imaging device. New commands are inserted into the imaging job that relate to a post-collation operation. Another use of the method for multi-job interleaving is also disclosed.

Abstract: A sheet treating apparatus for treating a sheet having an image formed thereon is provided, which includes a pair of transport rollers for transporting the sheet upward, a sheet post-treating portion having an intermediate treatment tray, provided to execute post-treatment such as sheet stitching or punching while holding the sheet in a substantially vertical state, and a sheet delivery portion arranged above the sheet post-treating portion. Also, an image forming apparatus is provided, which includes an image reading portion for reading an image, an image forming portion arranged below the image reading portion to form an image on a sheet, a delivery space portion provided in an apparatus housing between the image reading portion and the image forming portion to deliver the sheet, sheet treating portion for treating the sheet while holding it in a substantially vertical state, and an in-body transportation path for transporting the sheet treated by the sheet treating means to the delivery space portion.

Abstract: A vibrating screen for conducting material in a longitudinal direction while screening the material comprises a screening deck, exchangeable modular screening media, and an adapter arrangement for mounting the screening media on the deck. The screening deck includes transverse carriers oriented transversely of the longitudinal direction. The adapter arrangement comprises longitudinal support carriers arranged substantially in the longitudinal direction, and connecting elements oriented transversely of the longitudinal direction for interconnecting the support carriers and connecting the interconnected support carriers on the transverse carriers.

Abstract: A printing device (10) such as a laser printer includes a radio frequency controller (38) which permits the detection and redirection of media having one or more defective radio frequency device tags, such as an RFID tag, to a specific one of two or more output options (50, 52). The radio frequency controller (38) may include radio frequency control logic (500) that communicates with the base printer (10) and the output options (50, 52) over a down port (506) and up port (508) to intercept commands from the printer (10) to the options (50, 52) and to also respond to such commands. A defective tag can be detected by attempting to program a tag using an RF reader/programmer (504).

Abstract: An image I/O apparatus has a paper feeding direction specifying control unit 125 which is constructed in a manner such that when a plurality of paper sizes exist mixedly in one image forming job, on the basis of paper mixture information which is set on a printer driver of a PC/WS 11 and shows which paper sizes exist mixedly in the one image forming job, the paper feeding direction for performing a paper feed in the vertical direction or a paper feed in the lateral direction to the paper which can be fed in both of the vertical direction and the lateral direction is specified.

Abstract: An image forming system including: an image forming section for forming an image on a paper; a transporting path for transporting the paper on which the image has been formed in the image forming section; a plurality of stackers for stacking the paper transported by the transporting path; a switching section for selecting and switching to, on a way of the transporting path, a transporting destination of the paper among the plurality of stackers; and a controller for controlling the image forming section and the switching section; wherein when transportation of papers, on which images have been formed, is switched from a first copy set to a second copy set, the controller controls the switching section to switch the transporting destination for the second copy set to another stacker within the plurality of stackers.

Abstract: In a sheet post-processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the sheet post-processing apparatus is provided with discharge rollers for discharging a sheet, a fixed stacking portion for supporting a portion of the discharged sheet, a storage tray established below the fixed stacking portion with a larger surface area, and a stapler for applying a finishing process to the sheet in a state of straddling the fixed stacking portion and the storage tray. A pushing member moves the sheet finished by the stapler in a direction different from a discharge direction by the discharge rollers to discharge the sheet to the storage tray, thereby providing the sheet post-processing apparatus that can securely discharge the stapled sheet bundle to a storage tray after a post-processing such as stapling.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section; a discharger for discharging and guiding the copying paper to an outlet; and a controlling section for operating the image forming section, based on an image forming instruction from an operation section. A data fetching section fetches first image data on a plurality of pages and second image data on a plurality of pages. The operation section accepts, as the image forming instruction, a sheaf-unit sorting instruction which includes a predetermined number of copies of each of the first image data and second image data and sorting of the copies. The controlling section, based on the sheaf-unit sorting instruction executes, for the predetermined number of copies, an operation of guiding the first and second sheafs of copying paper, in sequence, to the outlet so that the first sheaf and second sheafs of copying paper are piled in order.

Abstract: A system for adding a post-collation operation to an imaging job is disclosed. The system includes a computing device with executable instructions. The executable instructions are executable on the computing device and are configured to implement a method for adding a post-collation operation to the imaging job. The imaging job is received downstream from an origination point of the imaging job and upstream from a job interpreter/rasterization process in an imaging device. New commands are inserted into the imaging job that relate to a post-collation operation. Another use of the method for multi-job interleaving is also disclosed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a data fetching section that fetches first image data on a plurality of pages and second image data on a plurality of pages. An operation section accepts a sheaf-unit sorting instruction, which includes a predetermined number of copies of each of the first image data and second image data. A controlling section conducts finishing processing of each of a first sheaf of paper on which the first image data is copied and a second sheaf of paper on which the second image data is copied based on the sheaf-unit sorting instruction. The controlling section then guides the first sheaf of paper and the second sheaf of paper, in sequence, to the outlet so that the first sheaf of paper and the second sheaf of paper are piled in this order.

Abstract: Split-stream re-uniting of document pages where such pages have followed divided flow paths toward a collator. Control over proper, successive-page feeding from divided feed sources to the collator is provided by PDL-carried page-feed instructions which are “embedded” in the related, document-job PDL information—executed by a PDL interpreter. “Ghost” pages are created and “fed” with appropriate timing to accommodate proper successive page insertion from another feed source, thus to accomplish smoothly flowing, properly sequenced document assembly.

Abstract: A sheets sets compiling and stacking system for the output of a printer, in which the seriatim output of printed sheets may be accumulated and neatly stacked on a temporary sheets supporting system until the desired number of sheets for that set (e.g. all the pages of a collated document) is accumulated (compiled). The temporary sheets supporting system may then automatically open to drop each completed or compiled set of sheets, but with positive alternate side set clamping control against sheet scattering or skewing, dropping only one side of one set at a time, by a short distance, down onto a multiple sets stacking system, such as a self-lowering elevator stacking tray, so as to provide reduced set scattering or skewing of the sheets within the sets, and/or between sets.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that is capable of performing post-processing so as to ensure that sheets on which images are formed and inserted sheets are aligned in orientation when performing sheet insertion processing and post-processing in combination. The image forming apparatus is capable of having attached thereto a finisher that performs post-processing on sheets with images formed thereon. An insertion sheet is placed on one of sheet supply trays and a manual feed tray. An operating/display section controller inputs a post-processing instruction for causing the finisher to perform post-processing. A placing direction in which the insertion sheet is to be placed on one of the sheet supply trays and the manual feed tray is instructed according to the post-processing instruction input by the operating/display section.

Abstract: A print request managing task (61) for managing a print request is placed between a language interpreting task (60) and a print execution task (63). Upon receipt of a print request (PREQ) from the language interpreting task (60), if it requests collate printing, for the printing process of the first copy, the print request managing task 61 generates a print data (PDAT) changed in the number of copies into 1 and transmits it to a print execution task (63) for the first copy. Then, after receiving a print end report from the print execution task 63, the print request managing task 61 stores data necessary for printing the second copy, et seq. as a storage data (SDAT)in a hard disc (39). For the printing process of the second copy, et seq., the print request managing task (61) read out the storage data (SDAT) stored in the hard disk (39), and transmits a print data (PDAT) generated from the storage data (SDAT) to the print execution task (63).

Abstract: An image data storing system, and more particularly a video capture controller to capture raw video image data from a peripheral unit and to provide compressed video image data to a document image management server. The video capture controller includes a control processor, a first memory, and a second memory. The first memory stores raw video image data from the peripheral unit under control of the control processor. The raw video image data stored in the first memory is then converted into compressed video image data, and is then stored in the second memory, again under control of the control processor. Then, the compressed video image data from the second memory is transferred to the image management server.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and a printing method capable of preventing stacks of printed sheets from falling apart which can occur when continuously printing stacks of sheets of different sheet sizes. A printing press is controlled to suspend printing for removal of printed sheets, to change the storage destination of the printed sheets or to change printing order, based on a result of sequential or simultaneous comparisons between print sizes of a plurality of print data and a previously determined permissible limit.

Abstract: A sheet-copy documents producing machine is provided and includes (a) sheet supply and feeding means for supplying and feeding image receiving sheets along a path and through image forming stations; (b) image forming devices mounted at the image forming stations for forming desired images on the image receiving sheets resulting in sheet-copy documents of the desired images; and (c) plural sheet-copy documents finishing devices including (i) moving parts, and (ii) at least a first sheet-copy documents finishing device and a last sheet-copy documents finishing device for each receiving, finishing and stacking the sheet-copy documents into stacks for subsequent removal by an operator. Each the sheet-copy documents finishing devices, except the last sheet-copy documents finishing device, including a movable unload-while-running safety shield assembly for protecting hands of the operator from the moving parts during an unload-while-running operation of the copy sheet documents producing machine.

Abstract: In order to relieve the load for an user and smooth an operation of the user in case of mixing each of sheets, on which images are formed by separating jobs, in predetermined page order of the job, color pages in the job outputted from a computer are printed by a color MFP and black/white pages are printed by a black/white MFP. Thereafter, on the computer, it is displayed that each sheaf of sheets has to be set in which bin of a collator, to the user. The user sets a sheaf of sheets printed by each of the MFP's in the collator. The collator mixes color pages with black/white pages. Further, each MFP prints bar codes representing page information or job information. The user sets a sheaf of sheets printed by each of the MFP's in the collator. The collator reads the bar codes to mix the color pages with the black/white pages.

Abstract: A printer has its software controlling the selection of each of its output bins for receiving printed sheets in accordance with the type of media printed. Each type of media has its printed sheets directed to a specific output bin. An output bin may receive sheets of more than one type of media, but the printed sheets of each type of media will be directed to only one output bin or logically linked output bins.

Abstract: When a storage memory becomes full during processing of printing out of image data read from a page memory and transferred to both a storage memory and a printing portion at the same time for a first copy, a function of an image rotating portion is not effected for copies subsequent to the first copy, and, also, for pages of image data which are stored in the storage memory are printed out, and a page of image data processed at the time the storage memory became full is transferred from the page memory to the printing portion and is printed out.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which forms an image on a sheet by an image forming device based on image information, and which discharges the sheet on which the image is formed. The apparatus has a proof printing mode in which, when, in the process of forming an image on sheets to form a plurality of copies of the image, the sheets having the image formed thereon to form a first copy is discharged, the image formation is temporarily stopped by an image formation stopping device. The apparatus also has a mode controller for automatically setting the proof printing mode when execution of a predetermined process mode is selected.

Abstract: In order to raise the productivity of jobs to be output by an image forming apparatus, sheets belonging to a plurality of jobs that have been input are ejected in parallel in dependence upon the type of a sheet stacking apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus. Further, sheets belonging to a plurality of jobs that have been input are ejected in turns in dependence upon the status of use of a sheet stacking apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus. The sheet stacking apparatus is controlled in such a manner that sheets belonging to a plurality of jobs that have been input to the image forming apparatus can be ejected in parallel.

Abstract: This invention relates to alignment devices for input/output devices to printers. Such structures of this type, generally, employ a locating foot that is attached to the input/output device which fits into a locating and referencing means on the underside of the printer stand or under—mounted input device.

Abstract: An image communication apparatus includes a reception unit for receiving image data, a first controller for storing the image data received by the reception unit in a memory, and counting the page number the reception image data, a recording unit for recording an image on a sheet on the basis of the image data stored in the memory, a storage unit having a plurality of trays for sorting and storing sheets on which images are recorded by the recording unit, the plurality of trays having a first tray having a small sheet stackable number and a second tray having a large sheet stackable number, and a second controller for selecting the first tray when the page number counted by the first controller is equal to or smaller than a predetermined page number, and selecting the second tray when the counted page number is larger than the predetermined page number, thereby storing the sheets.

Abstract: A guard inhibits access between a first member and a second member having relative motion between the first member and the second member. The guard includes a body having a first portion and a second portion. The second portion is pivotably connected to the first portion by a living hinge. The first portion of the body is connected to the first member and the second portion is connected to the second member.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to accommodate sheets, as coming from two image forming units, in a small-sized sheet accommodating apparatus. The individual sheets S from the first and second image forming units are fetched in different directions X1 and Y1 by a sheet pedestal and accommodated in a stack. The sheets S are registered by stoppers which can be moved in the fetching directions X1 and Y1, respectively. The sheets can be fetched in registration by inclining the sheet pedestal into first and second modes and can be fetched in an image forming direction and in a sheet direction by turning at least the sheet pedestal in a horizontal direction. The sheets S are stapled as the post-processing and are discharged in a discharge direction X2 along the fetching direction X1 from the sheet pedestal by a push member.