A convey path switching module includes a body and a switching mechanism. The body has first, second and third convey paths. The switching mechanism includes a first switching assembly, a first actuator, a second switching assembly and at least one elastic member. The first actuator drives the first switching assembly to pivotally rotate. The second switching assembly is adapted to pivotally rotate and is restored by an elastic force of the elastic member. By pivotally rotating of the first and second switching assemblies, the switching mechanism is switched to a first state to open the first convey path and close the second and third convey paths, is switched to a second state to open the second convey path and close the first and third convey paths, and is switched to a third state to open the third convey path and close the first and second convey paths.

According to one embodiment, there is provided an information generating device which generates information to be used in an image forming apparatus that performs continuous printing by binding a plurality of sheets on which an image is formed among the plurality of sheets using a sheet binding mechanism, and includes a blank determination unit. The blank determination unit determines blanks of the sheets in a case of forming the image that shows characters on the plurality of sheets based on the number of the characters formed on the sheets, the types of the characters, the sizes of the characters, and a sheet binding position.

A convey path switching module includes a body and a switching mechanism. The body has first, second and third convey paths. The switching mechanism includes a first switching assembly, a first actuator, a second switching assembly and at least one elastic member. The first actuator drives the first switching assembly to pivotally rotate. The second switching assembly is adapted to pivotally rotate and is restored by an elastic force of the elastic member. By pivotally rotating of the first and second switching assemblies, the switching mechanism is switched to a first state to open the first convey path and close the second and third convey paths, is switched to a second state to open the second convey path and close the first and third convey paths, and is switched to a third state to open the third convey path and close the first and second convey paths.

A lead-in path through which a sheet is led in; a first branch path and a second branch path which branch from the lead-in path; a first switchback path which extends from the first branch path; a second switchback path which extends from the second branch path; a first joining path and a second joining path through which the switched-back sheet is transported; and a lead-out path which extends from a joining point at which the first joining path and the second joining path join with each other, are provided. The lead-out path passes through between the first switchback path and the second switchback path. A first connection point at which the first switchback path and the first joining path are connected to each other is disposed above a second connection point at which the second switchback path and the second joining path are connected to each other.

An image forming apparatus includes a first outlet portion that allows sheet to be discharged therethrough toward a side surface of the apparatus, a holding portion that holds sheets that are to be reversed, a second outlet portion that is disposed at an upper portion of the apparatus and that allows sheets to be discharged therethrough toward an upper side of the apparatus, a first switching member that changes a destination of a sheet transported thereto between the holding portion and the first outlet portion, and a second switching member that changes a destination of a sheet transported thereto between the second outlet portion and the holding portion or the first outlet portion to which the first switching member has changed the destination.

A lead-in path through which a sheet is led in; a first branch path and a second branch path which branch from the lead-in path; a first switchback path which extends from the first branch path; a second switchback path which extends from the second branch path; a first joining path and a second joining path through which the switched-back sheet is transported; and a lead-out path which extends from a joining point at which the first joining path and the second joining path join with each other, are provided. The lead-out path passes through between the first switchback path and the second switchback path. A first connection point at which the first switchback path and the first joining path are connected to each other is disposed above a second connection point at which the second switchback path and the second joining path are connected to each other.

A paper sheet sorting unit where a second guide path (2) is formed between the first sorting member (11) and the second sorting member (12), a first guide path (1) is formed on the exterior of the first sorting member (11), and a third guide path (3) is formed on the exterior of the second sorting member (12), the first sorting member (11) is driven by a power transmitted from an exterior to guide the paper sheets to the first guide path (1), the second sorting member (12) is driven by the power transmitted from the exterior to guide the paper sheets to the third guide path (3), and the first sorting member (11) and the second sorting member (12) are respectively driven in an opposite direction by the power transmitted from the exterior to guide the paper sheets to the second guide path (2).

A medium transport unit includes an upstream route in which a print sheet is transported, a first switchback route, a second switchback route, a first guide route, a second guide route, a guide flap configured to switch the route so that the print sheet in the upstream route is transported either toward the first guide route or toward the second guide route, a first discharge route from which the print sheet in the first switchback route is discharged, a second discharge route from which the print sheet in the second switchback route is discharged, and a downstream route passing between the first switchback route and the second switchback route and having an upstream end connected to a junction of downstream ends of the first discharge route and the second discharge route.

A medium transport unit includes an upstream route in which a print sheet is transported, a first switchback route, a second switchback route, a first guide route, a second guide route, a guide flap configured to switch the route so that the print sheet in the upstream route is transported either toward the first guide route or toward the second guide route, a first discharge route from which the print sheet in the first switchback route is discharged, a second discharge route from which the print sheet in the second switchback route is discharged, and a downstream route passing between the first switchback route and the second switchback route and having an upstream end connected to a junction of downstream ends of the first discharge route and the second discharge route.

A lead-in path through which a sheet is led in; a first branch path and a second branch path which branch from the lead-in path; a first switchback path which extends from the first branch path; a second switchback path which extends from the second branch path; a first joining path and a second joining path through which the switched-back sheet is transported; and a lead-out path which extends from a joining point at which the first joining path and the second joining path join with each other, are provided. The lead-out path passes through between the first switchback path and the second switchback path. A first connection point at which the first switchback path and the first joining path are connected to each other is disposed above a second connection point at which the second switchback path and the second joining path are connected to each other.