A sheet transfer device for transferring a sheet between two sheet processing devices comprising a switch for directing sheets from a first transport path coming from the first sheet processing device onto a two-way transport path or for directing sheets from the two-way transport path onto a second transport path for feeding sheets to the second sheet processing device. A transport pinch is provided along the two way transport path for reversing a sheet on the two-way transport path. When in use, the two-way transport path extends downward in a vertically extending free-hanging chamber wherein the sheet engaged by the transport pinch is allowed to hang freely under the influence of gravity. Thereby, a compact device is formed which is able to adjust the sheet to a suitable orientation for the second processing device. The device further prevents forces from the first processing device to disrupt the sheet's orientation in the second processing device.

A recording system includes: a recording apparatus; a post-processing apparatus; and a transport apparatus which transports the medium to which the recording is performed to the post-processing apparatus, and the transport apparatus includes a transport mechanism which transports a medium to which the recording is performed to the post-processing apparatus, and a loading stand which loads the discharged medium without transporting the medium to which the recording is performed to the post-processing apparatus.

An image forming apparatus includes a tray; a casing having a first outlet, a second outlet above the first outlet, a first path, and a second path; a stack lever; a drive source; and a controller. The second path communicates with the second outlet such that a sheet conveyed along the second path is partially discharged from the second outlet and is reversed along the second path. The first outlet communicates with the first path such that the sheet conveyed along the first path is discharged from the first outlet onto the tray. The stack lever is movable between a first position where the stack lever presses a sheet on the tray and a second position higher than the first position. The controller is configured to control the drive source such that, when the sheet is discharged from the second outlet, the stack lever is at the second position.

There is provided an intermediate unit including a transportation path along which a medium, on which printing has been performed by a printing unit that performs printing on the medium by using liquid, is transported to a post processing unit that performs post processing on the medium. The transportation path includes first and second inversion paths in which the medium is inverted upside down, respectively, the second inversion path being provided with a decurling unit that corrects curl of the medium, the first inversion path being not provided with the decurling unit, the first and second inversion paths being selectively used to invert the medium upside down according to printing data for the medium.

A recording system includes: a recording apparatus; a post-processing apparatus; and a transport apparatus which transports the medium to which the recording is performed to the post-processing apparatus, and the transport apparatus includes a transport mechanism which transports a medium to which the recording is performed to the post-processing apparatus, and a loading stand which loads the discharged medium without transporting the medium to which the recording is performed to the post-processing apparatus.

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 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 sheet conveying apparatus includes a first rotating member, a second rotating member to convey a sheet in a first direction upon the first rotating member rotating, a third rotating member to convey the sheet in a second direction upon the first rotating member rotating, and a switching unit. The switching unit switches a position of the first rotating member between a first position at which the first and second or first and third rotating members convey the sheet, and a second position at which the first rotating member is retracted. Before a rear end of the sheet has been conveyed by the first rotating member and the second rotating member, the switching unit moves the first rotating member from the first position towards the second position. The switching unit stops a movement of the first rotating member at a position between the first position and the second position.

A sheet supplying apparatus, in which a user can select either automatic sheet feeding or manual sheet feeding, includes a driving unit configured to cause a roll including a wound consecutive sheet to rotate in a first direction for feeding the sheet or a second direction opposite to the first direction, a first sensor that detects a leading end portion of the sheet separated from an outer circumferential surface of the roll, a second sensor that detects the leading end portion which is manually set in a conveyance path by the user, and a determination unit configured to determine whether or not automatic sheet feeding is performed on the basis of a detection result of the second sensor.

A relay conveyance device includes a relay conveyance path arranged between an image forming apparatus and a post processing device to convey a sheet from the image forming apparatus to the post processing device, two reversing units reversing a surface side and a back-face side of the sheet, and a control device controlling conveyance of the sheet on the relay conveyance path. The relay conveyance path includes two reverse paths respectively passing through the two reversing units, a branch section branching into the two reverse paths at an upstream side, and a confluence section joining the two reverse paths. The control device controls the branch and confluence sections to convey the sheet while alternately switching the two reverse paths, measures an interval time between the sheets passing through the confluence section, and controls conveyance of the sheet in the two reverse paths so as to uniformize the interval time.