An image forming apparatus includes a printing unit, first and second stacking units, first and second conveyance units, and a control unit. When the first conveyance unit conveys a sheet to the first stacking unit, the printing unit prints an image on a first number of sheets as first sheets in a first printing operation and prints the image on the first sheets in a second printing operation. When the second conveyance unit conveys the sheet to the second stacking unit, the printing unit prints the image on a second number of sheets, greater than the first number of sheets, as second sheets in the first printing operation and prints the image on the second sheets in the second printing operation. A number of sheets printed per unit time in the second printing operation is less than a number of sheets printed per unit time in the first printing operation.

An image forming apparatus includes a printing unit, first and second stacking units, first and second conveyance units, and a control unit. When the first conveyance unit conveys a sheet to the first stacking unit, the printing unit prints an image on a first number of sheets as first sheets in a first printing operation and prints the image on the first sheets in a second printing operation. When the second conveyance unit conveys the sheet to the second stacking unit, the printing unit prints the image on a second number of sheets, greater than the first number of sheets, as second sheets in the first printing operation and prints the image on the second sheets in the second printing operation. A number of sheets printed per unit time in the second printing operation is less than a number of sheets printed per unit time in the first printing operation.

To provide a sheet processing system which can properly perform sorting processing of a plurality of kinds of sheets, while making each of a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses effectively operate.

A sheet processing system of an embodiment has a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses, a sorting apparatus, a storage unit, an information acquisition unit, and a controller. The plurality of sheet processing apparatuses each has a plurality of stackers for stacking sheets. The plurality of sheet processing apparatuses each sorts and stacks the sheets in the plurality of stackers. The plurality of sheet processing apparatuses each outputs information of a stacking status of the sheets in each of the plurality of stackers. The sorting apparatus sorts and feeds a sheet group formed of a plurality of the sheets to any of the plurality of sheet processing apparatuses. The storage unit stores the information of the stacking status of the sheets in each of the plurality of sheet processing apparatuses. The controller controls sorting of the sheet group by the sorting apparatus, based on the information of the sheet group which the information acquisition unit acquires, and the information of the stacking status of the sheets in the storage unit.

To provide a sheet processing system which can properly perform sorting processing of a plurality of kinds of sheets, while making each of a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses effectively operate.

A sheet processing system of an embodiment has a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses, a sorting apparatus, a storage unit, an information acquisition unit, and a controller. The plurality of sheet processing apparatuses each has a plurality of stackers for stacking sheets. The plurality of sheet processing apparatuses each sorts and stacks the sheets in the plurality of stackers. The plurality of sheet processing apparatuses each outputs information of a stacking status of the sheets in each of the plurality of stackers. The sorting apparatus sorts and feeds a sheet group formed of a plurality of the sheets to any of the plurality of sheet processing apparatuses. The storage unit stores the information of the stacking status of the sheets in each of the plurality of sheet processing apparatuses. The controller controls sorting of the sheet group by the sorting apparatus, based on the information of the sheet group which the information acquisition unit acquires, and the information of the stacking status of the sheets in the storage unit.

A media processing device includes: a hopper for supporting a stack of media units (e.g. cards), the hopper including (i) a gate wall configured to abut leading edges of the media units and (ii) an outlet defined at an end of the gate wall; a pick roller at the outlet for engaging an outer one of the media units in the stack and dispensing the outer media unit from the hopper to a media processing path; the gate wall including a flexible gate at the outlet, the flexible gate configured to deflect toward the media processing path responsive to the outer media unit being driven into the flexible gate by the pick roller, wherein the outer media unit deflects when passing by the flexible gate, permitting the outer media unit to be dispensed from the hopper.

A media processing device includes: a hopper for supporting a stack of media units (e.g. cards), the hopper including (i) a gate wall configured to abut leading edges of the media units and (ii) an outlet defined at an end of the gate wall; a pick roller at the outlet for engaging an outer one of the media units in the stack and dispensing the outer media unit from the hopper to a media processing path; the gate wall including a flexible gate at the outlet, the flexible gate configured to deflect toward the media processing path responsive to the outer media unit being driven into the flexible gate by the pick roller, wherein the outer media unit deflects when passing by the flexible gate, permitting the outer media unit to be dispensed from the hopper.

A control device executes: either a first conveyance change control or a second conveyance change control; and a retraction control when an operation device receives an interruption operation during execution of a specified number stack control. In the first conveyance change control, a sheet conveyance device of a target unit is changed to a relay conveyance state, and the sheet conveyance device of another coupled unit that is present downstream of the target unit in a main conveyance direction is changed to a stack conveyance state. In the second conveyance change control, the sheet conveyance device of another coupled unit that is present upstream in the main conveyance direction is changed to the stack conveyance state. In the retraction control, a lift mechanism of the target unit is caused to execute a mount operation by which a stack tray is moved down to a mount position on a carriage portion.

A control device executes: either a first conveyance change control or a second conveyance change control; and a retraction control when an operation device receives an interruption operation during execution of a specified number stack control. In the first conveyance change control, a sheet conveyance device of a target unit is changed to a relay conveyance state, and the sheet conveyance device of another coupled unit that is present downstream of the target unit in a main conveyance direction is changed to a stack conveyance state. In the second conveyance change control, the sheet conveyance device of another coupled unit that is present upstream in the main conveyance direction is changed to the stack conveyance state. In the retraction control, a lift mechanism of the target unit is caused to execute a mount operation by which a stack tray is moved down to a mount position on a carriage portion.

A post-processing apparatus includes: a buffer unit that transports sheets such that at least two of the sheets are transported while being stacked on top of one another, the sheets being sent to the buffer unit from an image forming unit; and a compilation tray that is inclined with respect to a direction opposite to a direction in which the sheets are transported in the buffer unit such that the sheets, which are supplied from the buffer unit, are transported into the compilation tray from above the compilation tray and stacked onto a placement surface as a stack of sheets.

A sheet bonding apparatus includes an electrophotographic unit configured to apply powder adhesive on a sheet by an electrophotographic process, a folding portion configured to fold the sheet on which the powder adhesive has been applied by the electrophotographic unit, and a bonding portion configured to heat the sheet folded by the folding portion to bond the sheet by the powder adhesive, wherein the bonding portion and the folding portion are disposed over the electrophotographic unit.