Patent ID: 8985573
Filing Date: 2015-03-24
Classification: B65H,G03G

Abstract:
1. A relay apparatus to be communicatively connected to an image forming device which acquires sheet interval information indicating a sheet interval necessary for a first post-processing device by performing communication through a serial communication system for transmitting sheet information relating to a sheet on which an image is formed, to the first post-processing device and for receiving the sheet interval information of the first post-processing device from the first post-processing device as a response of the transmitted sheet information, and which discharges the sheet at a timing based on the sheet interval information of the first post-processing device, and to be communicatively connected to a second post-processing device which is arranged on a downstream side of the image forming device in a sheet carrying direction and which communicates with the relay apparatus through a parallel communication system which is different from the serial communication system, the relay apparatus comprising: a serial interface which communicates with the image forming device through the serial communication system; a parallel interface which communicates with the second post-processing device through the parallel communication system; and a storage unit which previously stores information relating to a sheet interval necessary for the second post-processing device, wherein when the relay apparatus receives the sheet information from the image forming device, the serial interface determines sheet interval information of the second post-processing device in accordance with the received sheet information and the information relating to the sheet interval, which is previously stored in the storage unit, and transmits the determined sheet interval information of the second post-processing device to the image forming device.