Sheet handling apparatus

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• image forming means for image formation on a sheet;
• sheet processing means for processing sheets on which images are formed by said image forming means;
• a first sheet transport path for transporting the sheet, on which an image is formed by said image forming means, to said sheet processing means;
• a second sheet transport path branched from said first sheet transport path and join thereto at the downstream side in the transport direction;
• transport direction switch means for guiding the sheet, sent from the image forming means, either to said first sheet transport path or to said second sheet transport path;
• and
• control means for controlling said transport direction switch means so that a first sheet fed from said image forming means is guided to said second path while a second sheet fed from said image forming means is guided to said first path after an operating demand to said sheet processing means has been outputted;
• wherein the second and first sheets are sent to said sheet processing means in a mutually superposed state.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• image forming means for forming images of a group of information on plural sheets;
• stapling means for binding sheets of each information group, on which an image has been formed by said image forming means;
• a first sheet transport path for transporting the sheet on which an image has been formed by said image forming means to said stapling means;
• a second sheet transport path, separate from said first sheet transport path, for transporting the sheet on which an image has been formed by said image forming means to said stapling means;
• transport direction switch means for guiding the sheet either to said first sheet transport path or to said second sheet transport path;
• control means for controlling said transport direction switch means in such a manner that a first one in a group of sheets on which images of a group of information have been formed by said image forming means is guided to said second sheet transport path, and a next one is guided to said first sheet transport path;
• and
• the second and first sheets are sent to said sheet staple means in a mutually superposed state.

A sheet handling apparatus comprising:

• sheet processing means for processing sheets;
• a first sheet path for guiding the sheets to said sheet processing means;
• a second sheet path for guiding the sheets to said processing means;
• switching means for guiding the sheets fed to either of said first sheet path or said second sheet path;
• controlling means for controlling said switching means so that a sheet is guided to said first sheet path while another sheet is guided to said second sheet path;
• and
• the sheets guided by the first and second sheet path being fed to said sheet processing means in a stacked state.

A sheet handling apparatus comprising:

• stacking means for stacking sheets;
• processing means for processing the sheets stacked in said stacking means;
• a first path for guiding the sheets to said stacking means;
• a waiting path for guiding the sheets to said stacking means one by one after a delay time;
• switching means for guiding the sheets to either of said first path or said waiting path;
• and
• control means for controlling the switching of said switching means after an operating demand to said processing means has been outputted.

A sheet handling apparatus comprising:

• stacking means for stacking sheets;
• processing means for processing the sheets stacked in said stacking means;
• a second path for guiding the sheets to said stacking means;
• switching means for guiding the sheets said to either of said first path or said second path;
• detecting means for detecting passage of the sheets at said first path and outputting a detecting signal;
• conveying means for conveying the sheets to be passed through said second path;
• control means for controlling the switching of said switching means so that the first sheet is guided to said second path while the second sheet succeeding to the first sheet is guided to said first path, and controlling said conveying means so that the first sheet is stopped in said second path while the second sheet is conveyed after the detection of the first sheet by said detecting means.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• original supplying means for feeding a set of originals stacked in a predetermined position to an original reading position one by one, and returning the original from the original reading position to the predetermined position;
• a cycle sensor for detecting that all of one set of originals are fed to said original reading position;
• an image forming means for successively forming images of the originals fed to the original reading position on sheets;
• stacking means for stacking the sheets;
• a first path for guiding the sheets to said stacking means;
• a second path for guiding the sheets to said stacking means;
• switching means for guiding the sheets on which the image is formed by said image forming means to either of said first path or second path;
• processing means for processing the sheets stacked on said stacking means;
• and
• control means for controlling switching of said switching means based on the detection by said cycle sensor.

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• image forming means for forming an image on a sheet;
• sheet processing means for processing the sheet;
• a first sheet path for guiding one sheet on which the image is formed to said sheet processing means;
• a second sheet path for guiding other sheets on which the image is formed to said sheet processing means;
• switching means for guiding the sheet fed to either of said first sheet path or second sheet path;
• and
• controlling means or controlling said switching means so that the one sheet is guided to said first sheet path while the other sheet is guided to said second sheet path;
• wherein each sheet guided by said first and second sheet path is fed to said sheet processing means in a stacked state.