Image forming apparatus, sheet processing apparatus, sheet processing method, and book-binding method

A sheet processing method for processing a transfer material and a special sheet in an image forming apparatus including memory means for storing original image information, image forming means for forming an image indicated by the original image information stored in said memory means on the transfer material and outputting the transfer material, special sheet feeding means for feeding special sheets stacked on a special sheet tray, and post processing means for performing post-processing on the transfer material output from said image forming means and a special sheet fed from said special sheet feeding means, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing receiving means and conveyance path means for said post processing means, said receiving means receiving the transfer material output from said image forming means and the special sheet fed from said special sheet feeding means for storage therein in a mixable manner, said conveyance path means conveying the special sheet fed from said special sheet feeding means to said receiving means;
• and
• controlling said post processing means to store said transfer material and said special sheet together in page order in said receiving means, by causing said special sheet to be temporarily halted on standby on said conveyance path means, and thereafter causing said special sheet and said transfer material to be conveyed to said receiving means and stored therein in page order.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• original feeding means for feeding originals stacked on an original tray one by one;
• image reading means for reading images of the originals fed by said original feeding means;
• image processing means for performing image processing on said images of the originals read by said image reading means;
• image forming means for forming said images processed by said image processing means on transfer materials;
• special sheet feeding means for feeding special sheets stacked on a special sheet tray;
• and
• post processing means for inserting at least one of said special sheets into said transfer materials having images formed thereon by said image forming means and performing post-processing operation on said images;
• wherein said image processing means is responsive to selection of a book-binding mode in which said transfer materials having images formed thereon and at least one of said special sheets inserted therein are to be folded in two and bound together into a state being openable for viewing in page order, for performing synthesizing operation and rearranging operation on images to be formed on said transfer materials such that the bound transfer materials are in proper page order;
• said post processing means being responsive to selection of said book-binding mode, for inserting at least one of said special sheets into said transfer materials such that orientation of an image on at least one of said special sheets coincides with orientation of the images formed on said transfer materials, and then performing the post-processing operation on said transfer materials with at least one of said special sheets inserted therein.

A book-binding method for use in in an image forming apparatus including original feeding means for feeding originals stacked on an original tray one by one, image reading means for reading images of the originals fed by said original feeding means, image processing means for performing image processing on said images of the originals read by said image reading means, image forming means for forming said images processed by said image processing means on transfer materials, special sheet feeding means for feeding special sheets stacked on a special sheet tray, and post processing means for inserting at least one of said special sheets into said transfer materials having images formed thereon by said image forming means and performing post-processing operation on said images, the method comprising the steps of:

• controlling said image processing means to perform synthesizing operation and rearranging operation on images to be formed on said transfer materials such that the bound transfer materials are in proper page order;
• and
• controlling said post processing means to insert at least one of said special sheets into said transfer materials such that orientation of an image on at least one of said special sheets coincides with orientation of the images formed on said transfer materials, fold in two said transfer materials with at least one of said special sheets inserted therein, and bind together the transfer materials folded in two with at least one of said special sheets inserted therein into a state being openable for viewing in page order.

A sheet processing apparatus for arranging at least one sheet from a stacking unit and a succession of sheets from an image forming apparatus in alignment into a bundle of sheets, comprising:

• a receiving unit that receives and stores sheets;
• conveyance means for conveying said at least one sheet from said stacking unit and said succession of sheets from said image forming apparatus to said receiving unit via a conveyance path;
• and
• control means for causing conveyance of said at least one sheet from said stacking unit to be started prior to conveyance of said succession of sheets from said image forming apparatus;
• wherein said control means causes said at least one sheet from said stacking unit which is conveyed prior to conveyance of said succession of sheets from said image forming apparatus, to be temporarily halted on said conveyance path at a location intermediate between said stacking unit and said receiving unit.

A sheet processing method of arranging at least one sheet from a stacking unit and a succession of sheets from an image forming apparatus in alignment into a bundle of sheets, comprising:

• a conveying step of conveying said at least one sheet from said stacking unit and said succession of sheets from said image forming apparatus to a receiving unit that receives and stores sheets, via a conveyance path;
• and
• a control step of causing conveyance of said at least one sheet from said stacking unit to be started prior to conveyance of said succession of sheets from said image forming apparatus;
• wherein said control step causes said at least one sheet from said stacking unit which is conveyed prior to conveyance of said succession of sheets from said image forming apparatus, to be temporarily halted on said conveyance path at a location intermediate between said stacking unit and said receiving unit.