Sheet conveying apparatus and image forming system including same

A sheet conveying apparatus comprising:

• a sheet conveying path including a first conveying path, and a second conveying path that is disposed in parallel to each other, the second conveying path having a conveying load for a sheet larger than the first conveying path;
• conveying members disposed along the sheet conveying path so as to convey the sheet;
• a switching unit disposed at a branch part of the first conveying path and the second conveying path so as to selectively switch the sheet conveying path between the first conveying path and the second conveying path;
• a receiving unit configured to receive sheet thickness information;
• and
• a control unit configured to control the conveying members and the switching unit on the basis of the sheet thickness information, wherein
• the control unit determines whether the sheet is a first sheet or a second sheet thicker than the first sheet on the basis of the sheet thickness information,
• when conveying the first sheets, the control unit controls the switching unit to switch the sheet conveying path between the first conveying path and the second conveying path alternately for every sheet, and
• when conveying the second sheets, the control unit controls the switching unit to fix the sheet conveying path to the first conveying path.