Patent ID: 8403325
Filing Date: 2013-03-26
Classification: B65H,G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus for printing multiple copies of images, the images having N (where N is an integer equal to or larger than 2) pages, comprising: an image forming unit configured to print images on a plurality of sheets according to an input print job; a sheet stacking unit configured to stack sheets printed by the image forming unit, the sheet stacking unit including at least one sheet stacking tray; a group mode determination unit configured to determine whether a group mode in which a plurality of sheets, on which an image of a same page is printed, are stacked as a sheet bundle, is set in the print job; a number determination unit configured to determine whether a total number of sheets to be printed in the print job is larger than an upper limit on a stacking capacity of the at least one sheet stacking tray; and a control unit configured to divide a print job which prints M (where M is an integer) copies of each of the N pages of the images into a plurality of print operations in a case where the group mode determination unit determines that the group mode is set and the number determination unit determines that the total number of sheets to be printed in the print job is larger than the upper limit, wherein a first print operation of the plurality of print operations is to sequentially print sets of L (where L is an integer smaller than M) copies of each of the N pages of the images and to stack the N×L (N multiplied by L) printed sheets on the sheet stacking unit as a first print set, wherein the control unit divides the print job so that a second print set is stacked on the sheet stacking unit after the first print set is stacked on the sheet stacking unit.