Patent ID: 6219503
Filing Date: 2001-04-17
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
A sheet processing apparatus comprising:sheet conveying means for conveying a sheet and placing the sheet in a waiting state by temporarily stopping conveyance of the sheet, said sheet conveying means operable in one of at least a first mode, a second mode and a third mode;sheet-conveying-condition detection means for detecting a conveying condition for each sheet;wherein, in the first mode a sheet is conveyed by driving said sheet conveying means without placing the sheet in a waiting state;wherein, in the second mode a sheet is conveyed by driving said sheet conveying means and putting said sheet conveying means in the waiting state, thereafter releasing the waiting state of said sheet conveying means in accordance with conveyance of a succeeding sheet, and conveying preceding and succeeding sheets in a superposed state; andwherein, in the third mode a sheet is conveyed by driving said sheet conveying means and putting said sheet conveying means in the waiting state, thereafter releasing the waiting state of said sheet conveying means, and conveying the preceding sheet separately from the succeeding sheet; andcontrol means for switching said sheet conveying means from the second mode to the third mode when said sheet-conveying-condition detection means has detected that a sheet having a different sheet conveying condition is included within a plurality of sheets to be discharged from said sheet conveying means in a superposed state when in said second mode.