Patent ID: 8238809
Filing Date: 2012-08-07
Classification: B41J,G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus connectable to a plurality of post-processing devices that execute conveyance of a recording material and post-processing on the recording material from the image forming apparatus, at least one of the plurality of the post-processing devices requiring a preparatory operation, the image forming apparatus comprising: a storage unit configured to store connecting orders of the plurality of post-processing devices, a receiver unit configured to receive job information for a plurality of recording materials to be processed including designation information for designating a post-processing device to which each of the recording materials should be discharged, a determination unit configured to determine which of the post-processing devices should be given notification of an operation start request and determine which of the post-processing devices should be given notification of an operation end request according to the designation information included in the job information received by the receiver unit and the connecting orders for the plurality of post-processing devices, wherein, if a succeeding recording material is conveyed to a post-processing device to be sent the operation start request after the post-processing device to be sent the operation start request has executed conveyance of a recording material or post-processing on the recording material, the determination unit determines not to give the notification of the operation end request, and if the succeeding recording material is not conveyed to the post-processing device to be sent the operation start request, the determination unit determines to give the notification of the operation end request, and a transmitting unit configured to transmit the operation start request to each determined post-processing device such that the determined post-processing device gets into an operating state in responding to receiving the operation start request and the operation end request to each determined post-processing device such that the determined post-processing device gets into a non-operating state in responding to receiving the operation end request, wherein the at least one of the plurality of post-processing devices commences the preparatory operation in response to receiving the operation start request.