Control system for paper feeding apparatus and/or paper discharging apparatus

A paper discharging apparatus used in electrical cascade connection of plural paper discharging devices with an external device, and comprising first communication means for communication between an electrically downstream paper discharging device and the apparatus itself and second communication means for communication between an electrically upstream paper discharging device and the apparatus itself, said apparatus comprising:

• a means for acquiring device information concerning said downstream device through said first communication means;
• a first control means for controlling the upstream device by converting said acquired device information concerning downstream device and device information of the apparatus itself together into device information as a single device, and transmitting to said upstream device by means of said second communication means;
• and
• a means for analyzing control information from said upstream device and transmitting control information through the apparatus itself to said downstream device, which is second control means for controlling the apparatus itself, based on information concerning the apparatus itself out of said control information, and transmitting information concerning said downstream device through said first communication means to said downstream device according to said control information.

A sheet handling apparatus which can be connected to first and second external sheet handling devices, which comprises:

• an accepting means for accepting a sheet from said first external sheet handling device;
• a first communication means for communication with said first external sheet handling device;
• a sending means for sending a sheet to said second external sheet handling device;
• a second communication means for communication with said second external sheet handling device;
• and
• a first control means for acquiring information transmitted from one of said first and second external sheet handling devices through either one of said first and second communication means, for converting the acquired information according to said sheet handling device concerned, and for transmitting the converted information and information about said sheet handling device concerned, to the other of the first and second external sheet handling devices through the other of said first and second communication means.