Sheet transporting apparatus provided for a copying machine

A sheet transporting apparatus for receiving sheets ejected from an image forming apparatus and transporting the sheets, comprising:

• an outlet for sheets, at which a sheet handling apparatus can be attached;
• first transporting means which can transport sheets ejected from said image forming apparatus in a first direction, to said outlet, and reverse the sheets, in a second direction, from said outlet;
• means for diverting the travel of sheets, which is disposed in the vicinity of said outlet and movable between a fist position where sheets transported in the first direction by said first transporting means are guided to said sheet handling apparatus attached at said outlet and a second position where the sheets are guided to a space between respective outside frames of said sheet handling apparatus and said sheet transporting apparatus;
• second transporting means for receiving sheets transported in the second direction by said first transporting means and transporting the sheets;
• a sheet storing unit wherein sheets transported by said second transporting means are collected and stored;
• refeeding means for feeding sheets stored in said sheet storing unit to said image forming apparatus;
• and
• control means of said first transporting means and said diverting means, having a first mode wherein said diverting means is set to the first position in order to transport sheets ejected from said image forming apparatus in the first direction by said first transporting means to said sheet handling apparatus through said outlet and a second mode wherein said diverting means is set to the second position in order to transport sheets ejected from said image forming apparatus in the first direction and then in the second direction by said first transporting means and further transport the sheets to said sheet storing unit by said second transporting means.

An image forming system whose elements are an image forming apparatus, a sheet transporting apparatus attached to said image forming apparatus and a sheet handling apparatus attached to said sheet transporting apparatus, said image forming system comprising:

• a sheet path which is formed between said sheet handling apparatus and said sheet transporting apparatus and as guide members of which sheet path the respective outside frames of said sheet handling apparatus and said sheet transporting apparatus act;
• switchback means for receiving sheets ejected from said image forming apparatus, transporting the sheets to said sheet path and then reversing the sheets;
• and
• a refeeding unit for feeding sheets reversed by said switchback means to said image forming apparatus.