An image forming apparatus performs printing of a plurality of copies of a document in response to execution of a printing job. Each copy includes a plurality of sheets. The image forming apparatus includes a first ejection tray; a second ejection tray; and a first sensor; and circuitry. The circuitry is configured to: start sheet ejection to the first ejection tray; switch a sheet-ejection destination to the second ejection tray in response to detecting that the first ejection tray is at a full level during printing of a first copy; calculate an amount of vacant space of the second ejection tray in response to completion of the printing of the first copy; and perform printing of a second copy to the second ejection tray or to suspend the execution of the printing job, based on the amount of vacant space.

A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet tray configured to hold sheets, a sheet feeding unit configured to feed sheets from the sheet tray, and a lift unit configured to move the sheet tray up and down. When the type of sheets to be held on the sheet tray is to be changed to another type, the lift unit moves the sheet tray up or down to a sheet holding position set for sheets of the other type. Thus, the position where the sheet tray can hold sheets is changed in accordance with the material or size of the sheets. The largest number, in which sheets can be mounted on the sheet tray, can thereby be changed.

A sheet feeding device includes a plurality of containers configured to store sheet members, a housing in which the plurality of containers are mounted from a front, and a locking device configured to restrict withdrawal of the plurality of containers mounted in the housing, wherein a first opening portion is provided in a front surface of each of the plurality of containers, the housing includes a first engaged portion, and the locking device includes an engaging portion that is inserted into the first opening portion and engaged with the first engaged portion located further, in a depth direction, than the first opening portion, a restricting portion that restricts disengagement of the engaging portion, and a contact portion that comes into contact with the front surfaces of the plurality of containers.

A first detection device is configured to output a first signal upon detecting a sheet stacked on a stacking member in a storage portion and to output a second signal upon detecting no sheet. A second detection device is configured to output a third signal in a case where the stacking member is above a predetermined position and to output a fourth signal in a case where the stacking member is below the predetermined position. A packing member is detachably attached to the storage portion. A regulation member is configured to retain the second detection device such that the second detection device outputs the third signal. A control unit is configured to restrict movement of the stacking member in a case where the first detection device outputs the second signal and the second detection device outputs the third signal when power of a sheet feeding apparatus is turned on.

An image forming apparatus 100 includes a cassette fitting portion 1 which is provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 and a paper feed cassette 30 which includes a sheet storage portion S. In the cassette fitting portion 1, a lift plate 50 is provided which raises and lowers a sheet 18. In the cassette base 31 of the sheet storage portion S, an opening portion 31a is formed in a position opposite the lift plate 50. The lift plate 50 is arranged selectively either in a lowered position in which the lift plate 50 is arranged below the cassette base 31 or in a raised position in which the lift plate 50 is protruded above the cassette base 31 through the opening portion 31a so as to allow the sheet 18 to be fed.

A paper sheet folding device (sheet folding device) 160 includes a paper sheet folding unit 60 and a tray unit 110 that is provided on one side surface 161a of a device main body 161 and includes a lower discharge tray 121 on which a paper sheet S discharged through a lower discharge port 85 is loaded. The tray unit 110 is pivotable in an up-down direction about a pivotal shaft 111. A discharge drive mechanism 132 is disposed at a center portion of the tray unit 110 in a paper sheet width direction.

An image forming apparatus 100 includes a cassette fitting portion 1 which is provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 and a paper feed cassette 30 which includes a sheet storage portion S. In the cassette fitting portion 1, a lift plate 50 is provided which raises and lowers a sheet 18. In the cassette base 31 of the sheet storage portion S, an opening portion 31a is formed in a position opposite the lift plate 50. The lift plate 50 is arranged selectively either in a lowered position in which the lift plate 50 is arranged below the cassette base 31 or in a raised position in which the lift plate 50 is protruded above the cassette base 31 through the opening portion 31a so as to allow the sheet 18 to be fed.

A paper sheet handling apparatus includes an accumulation and storage unit that accumulates and stores paper sheets conveyed by the conveyance unit while aligning the paper sheets, the accumulation and storage unit having an accumulation unit that accumulates the paper sheets so that a first direction which is one of a vertical width direction and a horizontal width direction and a second direction which is the other of the vertical width direction and the horizontal width direction are oriented in predetermined directions, a first alignment unit that is movable between a first retracted position spaced apart from the paper sheets and a first alignment position in contact with one end edge of the paper sheets positioned in the first direction; and a second alignment unit that is movable between a second retracted position spaced apart from the paper sheets and a second alignment position in contact with other end edge of the paper sheets positioned in the first direction, with a control unit that causes the paper sheets to be aligned in the first direction by causing the first alignment unit and the second alignment unit to move from the first retracted position and the second retracted position to the first alignment position and the second alignment position and tap the paper sheets accumulated in the accumulation unit from both sides of the first direction.

A stacker includes: an ejector that ejects a sheet on which an image is formed depending on a print job to an ejection destination; a first tray on which the sheet ejected by the ejector is stacked, as the ejection destination; a second tray that is a delivery destination of the sheet stacked on the first tray and with which automatic external ejection processing that ejects the sheet externally is executable; a setter that accepts a setting detail in which it is set whether or not to execute the automatic external ejection processing executable with the second tray; and a controller that controls whether or not to execute the automatic external ejection processing depending on the setting detail, wherein the hardware processor continues stacking of the sheet on the first tray when not executing the automatic external ejection processing.

A sheet conveying device includes a sheet tray on which one or more sheets are placed, a pickup roller by which a sheet is picked up from the sheet tray, and an elevating mechanism. The elevating mechanism includes a shaft rotated by a motor, and a cam attached to the shaft and rotated together with the shaft to raise and lower the sheet tray with respect to the pickup roller. The sheet conveying device further includes a load applying mechanism contacting the shaft to apply a load thereto.