Image forming apparatus, post-processing apparatus, and image forming control method and program for implementing the method

An image forming apparatus adapted for being connected with one of a plurality of post-processing apparatuses that carry out sheet conveying speed control according to sheet thickness, comprising:

• a storing device that stores pieces of first thickness-determination information used for the sheet conveying speed control in the plurality of post-processing apparatuses in a storage apparatus in association with pieces of identification information indicating the post-processing apparatuses;
• a setting device that permits a user to set on the image forming apparatus a thickness of sheet to be conveyed;
• an obtaining device that obtains identification information indicating one of the post-processing apparatuses which is connected to the image forming apparatus from the connected post-processing apparatus;
• a reading device that reads out the first thickness-determination information associated with the identification information obtained by said obtaining device from among the pieces of the first thickness-determination information stored in the storage apparatus;
• and
• a determining device that determines a plurality of candidate sheet thicknesses that can be set by said setting device, based on the first thickness-determination information read out by said reading device and second thickness-determination information used for image-forming process speed control in the image forming apparatus according to sheet thickness.

An image forming control method for an image forming apparatus adapted for being connected with one of a plurality of post-processing apparatuses that carry out sheet conveying speed control according to sheet thickness and having a setting device that permits a user to set on the image forming apparatus a thickness of sheet to be conveyed, the method comprising the steps of:

• obtaining identification information indicating one of the post-processing apparatuses which is connected to the image forming apparatus from the connected post-processing apparatus;
• reading out first thickness-determination information associated with the identification information obtained in said obtaining step from a storage apparatus, in which pieces of the first thickness-determination information used for the sheet conveying speed control in the plurality of post-processing apparatuses are stored in association with pieces of the identification information indicating the post-processing apparatuses;
• and
• determining a plurality of candidate sheet thicknesses that can be set by the setting device, based on the first thickness-determination information read out in said reading step and second thickness-determination information used for image-forming process speed control in the image forming apparatus according to sheet thickness.

A computer-readable program for causing a computer to perform an image forming control method for an image forming apparatus adapted for being connected with one of a plurality of post-processing apparatuses that carry out sheet conveying speed control according to sheet thickness and having a setting device that permits a user to set on the image forming apparatus a thickness of sheet to be conveyed, the method comprising the steps of:

• obtaining identification information indicating one of the post-processing apparatuses which is connected to the image forming apparatus from the connected post-processing apparatus;
• reading out first thickness-determination information associated with the identification information obtained in said obtaining step from a storage apparatus, in which pieces of the first thickness-determination information used for the sheet conveying speed control in the plurality of post-processing apparatuses are stored in association with pieces of the identification information indicating the post-processing apparatuses;
• and
• determining a plurality of candidate sheet thicknesses that can be set by the setting device, based on the first thickness-determination information read out in said reading step and second thickness-determination information used for image-forming process speed control in the image forming apparatus according to sheet thickness.