Image-forming apparatus, network-type image-forming apparatus, and method therefor

An image-forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet comprising:

• an image-forming unit for forming an image on said sheet;
• a stacker for accommodating said sheet on which said image has been formed;
• a discharging unit for discharging said sheet to said stacker via a plurality of independently driven discharge rollers;
• and
• a controller for controlling the driving of said discharging rollers,
• wherein said controller selectively executes an attitude control mode for stopping the driving of the discharging roller of the one side of said plurality of discharging rollers for a predetermined period of time part way through the discharging of said sheet by said plurality of discharging rollers, and thereafter restarting the driving of said discharging roller of the one side, and a normal mode for driving both sides of said plurality of discharging rollers to discharge said sheet, and
• wherein said controller sets said predetermined stopping time in accordance with the angle of rotation of said sheet in said stacker.

An image-forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet comprising:

• an image-forming unit for forming an image on said sheet;
• a stacker for accommodating said sheet on which said image has been formed;
• a discharging unit for discharging said sheet to said stacker via a plurality of independently driven discharge rollers;
• and
• a controller for controlling the driving of said discharging rollers,
• wherein said controller selectively executes an attitude control mode for stopping the driving of the discharging roller of the one side of said plurality of discharging rollers for a predetermined period of time part way through the discharging of said sheet by said plurality of discharging rollers, and thereafter restarting the driving of said discharging roller of the one side, and a normal mode for driving both sides of said plurality of discharging rollers to discharge said sheet, and
• wherein said discharging roller of the one side is constituted of a roller with a relatively narrow with of contact with said sheet, and said discharging roller of the other side is constituted of a roller with a relatively wide width of contact with said sheet.

A network-type image-forming apparatus, which is connected to a plurality of hosts via a network, and forms an image on a sheet in accordance with the commands of said hosts, comprising:

• an image-forming unit for forming an image on said sheet;
• a stacker for accommodating said sheet on which said image has been formed;
• a discharging unit for discharging said sheet to said stacker and having a plurality of independently driven discharge rollers on separate shafts aligned on same axis rotation and a plurality of auxiliary rollers positioned oppositely to said discharge rollers;
• and
• a controller for controlling the driving of said discharging rollers,
• wherein said controller, in accordance with the commands of said hosts, selectively executes an attitude control mode for stopping the driving of the discharging roller of the one side of said plurality of discharging rollers for a predetermined period of time part way through the discharging of said sheet by said plurality of discharging rollers, and thereafter restarting the driving of said discharging roller of the one side, and a normal mode for driving both sides of said plurality of discharging rollers to discharge said sheet.

An image-forming method for forming an image on a sheet, comprising:

• image-forming step for forming an image on said sheet;
• discharging step for discharging a sheet, on which an image has been formed by said image-forming unit, to said stacker via a plurality of independently driven discharging rollers on separate shafts aligned on same axis rotation and a plurality of auxiliary rollers positioned oppositely to said discharge rollers;
• and
• controlling step for controlling the driving of said discharging rollers,
• wherein said controlling step selectively executes an attitude control mode for stopping the driving of the discharging roller of the one side of said plurality of discharging rollers for a predetermined period of time part way through the discharging of said sheet by said plurality of discharging rollers, and thereafter restarting the driving of said discharging roller of the one side, and a normal mode for driving both sides of said plurality of discharging rollers to discharge said sheet.