Patent Publication Number: US-2009232522-A1

Title: Printing system, control method therefor, and storage medium storing control program therefor

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a printing system configured to be able to execute a sheet removing operation when the printing is interrupted, a control method, and a storage medium storing a program for implementing the control method. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A printing system of recent years is configured to be able to automatically restart the printing soon after an interrupt factor is eliminated by, for example, removing a jamming sheet when the printing is interrupted because of occurrence of the printing interrupt factor such as a sheet jam. Such a technique is, for example, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,126,719. 
     In such a system, when an ordered sheet, such as a tabbed index sheet (hereinafter, described as a tab sheet), is utilized when the printing is interrupted (at the timing just before the printing is interrupted), an incorrect operation may be executed when the printing is restarted. 
     For example, there exists such a problem that when an interrupted printing job is restarted, or another printing job is started after the interrupt factor is eliminated, the tab sheet, whose order is incorrect, is fed from a sheet feeder. As described above, there exists such a problem that an operation, which is not intended by a user, is executed after the printing is interrupted. There also exists such a problem that an operator executes an incorrect operation without knowing that the tab sheet with the incorrect order remains in the sheet feeder. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of such a circumstance, the present invention provides a mechanism in which, even if a job utilizing an ordered sheet is interrupted, a disordered sheet which is not intended by a user is prevented from being supplied from sheet feeder after the interruption. 
     The present invention provides a mechanism in which the printing can be rapidly restarted in a less wasteful operation. 
     The present invention provides a mechanism enabling a less wasteful and rapid printing restart for both cases where an interrupted job utilizes an ordered sheet, and where such a job utilizes a disordered sheet. 
     Accordingly, the present invention provides a printing system comprising a job processing unit configured to execute a job outputting a set of a plurality of sheets in a case where sheets printed by a printing operation are outputted, and a control unit configured to control to output, to a predetermined sheet-ejecting unit, a sheet which has not been outputted by the job processing unit among the set of a plurality of the sheets used by the job when the job executed by the job processing unit is interrupted, wherein the job processing unit restarts to execute the interrupted job based on an instruction of a user after the sheet which has not been outputted by the job processing unit is outputted to the predetermined sheet-ejecting unit. 
     The present invention can provide a mechanism in which, even if a job utilizing an ordered sheet is interrupted, an incorrect action and an incorrect operation can be prevented in the system thereafter, and the high productivity is maintained. 
     The features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view showing a configuration of a POD system including a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram describing a configuration of the printing system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of a printing apparatus and a sheet-processing apparatus connected to this printing apparatus in the printing system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an external view of an operation unit of the printing apparatus in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a display screen view showing an exemplary screen displayed in a touch panel unit included in the operation unit of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is the display screen view showing a screen for setting material of a sheet displayed in the touch panel unit of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is the display screen view showing a screen for setting the number of divisions of a tab sheet displayed in the touch panel unit of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 8  is the display screen view showing a screen for setting a remaining sheet removing operation function displayed in the touch panel unit of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 9  is the display screen view showing a restart screen of a tab sheet job displayed in the touch panel unit of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic view showing an outline of the function of the remaining sheet removing operation in the printing apparatus of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 11  is a flowchart showing a control flow of the remaining sheet removing operation in the printing apparatus of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic view showing an example of a first printing interrupt case in the printing apparatus of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic view showing job restarting control after the printing interruption shown in  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic view showing an example of a second printing interrupt case in the printing apparatus in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic view showing the job restarting control after the printing interruption shown in  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 16  is a schematic view showing an example of a third printing interrupt case in the printing apparatus in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 17  is a schematic view showing the job restarting control after the printing interruption shown in  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 18  is a flowchart showing a process when the printing is interrupted in the printing apparatus of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 19  is a flowchart showing a process when the printing is restarted in the printing apparatus of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 20  is a flowchart showing a process according to a modified example of the present embodiment. 
         FIG. 21  is a flowchart showing a process according to a modified example of the present embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the present invention will be described below as referring to the figures. 
     &lt;Configuration of POD System&gt; 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view showing a configuration of a POD system including a printing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
     This POD system includes a printing system  1000 , a scanner  102 , a server computer (PC)  103 , and a client computer (PC)  104 , which are connected through a network  101 . This POD system further includes a sheet-folding machine  107 , a perfect binder  108 , a cutting machine  109 , a saddle finisher  110 , and the like. 
     The server PC  103  manages data to be transmitted and received to and from a variety of apparatuses connected to the network  101 . The client PC  104  transmits image data to a printing apparatus  100  of the printing system  1000  and to the server PC  103  through the network  101 . The sheet-folding machine  107  executes a folding process for a sheet printed by the printing apparatus  100 . The perfect binder  108  executes a perfect binding process for the sheet printed by the printing apparatus  100 . The cutting machine  109  executes a cutting process for the sheets printed by the printing apparatus  100  for each sheet bundle including a plurality of the sheets. The saddle finisher  110  executes a saddle stitching process for the sheet printed by the printing apparatus  100 . 
     In the present embodiment, while the printing apparatus  100  functions as a binding processing apparatus, the present invention is not limited to such a case, but the server PC  103 , the client PC  104 , or any of post-processing apparatuses may execute this function. 
     When utilizing the sheet-folding machine  107 , the perfect binder  108 , the cutting machine  109 , and the saddle finisher  110 , a user picks up the sheet printed by the printing apparatus  100  from the printing system  1000  to set the picked-up sheet to an apparatus to utilize, and causes the apparatus to execute a process for the picked-up sheet. The apparatuses other than the saddle finisher  110  in a plurality of the apparatuses included by the POD system are connected to the network  101 , and can mutually communicate data with other apparatuses. 
     Meanwhile, when the sheet printed by the apparatus other than the printing apparatus  100  is supplied, the sheet-folding machine  107 , the perfect binder  108 , the cutting machine  109 , and the saddle finisher  110  also similarly execute a post process for such a sheet. 
     &lt;Configuration of the Printing System&gt; 
     (A) Block Configuration 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram describing a configuration of the printing system  1000  according to the present embodiment. 
     This printing system  1000  includes the printing apparatus  100  and a sheet-processing apparatus  200 . Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, a multi function peripheral (MFP) including a plurality of functions such as a copying function and a printing function will be described as an example of the printing apparatus  100 . However, this printing apparatus  100  may be a single function-type printing apparatus (printer) including only the copying function or only the printing function. Meanwhile, each unit, which is included in the printing system  1000 , other than the sheet-processing apparatus  200  is included in the printing apparatus  100 . Any number of the sheet-processing apparatuses  200  can be connected to the printing apparatus  100 . 
     The printing system  1000  is configured so that a sheet processing for the sheet printed by the printing apparatus  100  can be executed by the sheet-processing apparatuses  200  connected to the printing apparatus  100 . However, the printing system  1000  can be also configured with only the printing apparatus  100  without connecting the sheet-processing apparatuses  200 . 
     The sheet-processing apparatuses  200  is configured so as to be able to communicate with the printing apparatus  100 , receives an instruction from the printing apparatus  100 , and can execute an after-mentioned sheet process. A scanner unit  201  reads an image on an original document, converts the read image to image data, and transfers the image data to other unit. An external I/F  202  transmits and receives data to and from other apparatus connected to the network  101 . A printer  203  prints an image based on the inputted image data on the sheet. An operation unit  204  includes a hard key input unit (key input unit)  402  ( FIG. 4 ) and a touch panel unit  401  ( FIG. 4 ), which will be after-mentioned, and receives the instruction from the user through such units. The operation unit  204  displays various types of information on a touch panel included by the operation unit  204 . 
     A control unit  205  includes a CPU  205   a , and totally controls a process, an operation and the like of a variety of the units included in the printing system  1000 . That is, the control unit  205  also controls the operations of the printing apparatus  100  and the sheet-processing apparatuses  200  connected to the printing apparatus  100 . A ROM  207  stores a variety of computer programs executed by the CPU  205   a . For example, the ROM  207  stores a program for causing the control unit  205  to execute a variety of processes of after-mentioned flowcharts, and a display controlling program which is necessary to display a variety of after-mentioned setting screens. The ROM  207  also stores a program for the control unit  205  to interpret PDL (Page Description Language) code data received from the server PC  103 , the client PC  104 , and the like, and develop the received PDL code data to raster image data. The ROM  207  also stores a boot sequence, font information, and the like. A RAM  208  stores the image data transferred from the scanner unit  201  and the external I/F  202 , and a variety of the programs loaded from the ROM  207  and setting information. The RAM  208  also stores information (the number of the sheet-processing apparatuses  200  connected to the printing apparatus  100 , information regarding functions of each sheet-processing apparatuses  200 , a connection order of each sheet-processing apparatuses  200 , and the like) regarding the sheet-processing apparatuses  200 . Meanwhile, the CPU  205   a  controls data to be written to the RAM  208 , and to be read from the RAM  208 . 
     A HDD (Hard Disk Drive)  209  is configured with a hard disk, a driving unit for reading and writing data from and to the hard disk, and the like. The HDD  209  is a large-capacity storage apparatus for storing the image data which is inputted from the scanner unit  201  or the external I/F  202 , and is compressed by a compressing and expanding unit  210 . The HDD  209  also stores a memory setting value (recommended setting value) of each after-mentioned item. The control unit  205 , based on the instruction from the user, can output the image data stored in the HDD  209  to the printer  203  to print the outputted image data. The control unit  205 , based on the instruction from the user, can also transmit the image data stored in the HDD  209  to an external apparatus such as the server PC  103  through the external I/F  202 . A compressing and expanding unit  210  executes a compressing and expanding operation for the image data, and the like stored in the RAM  208  and the HDD  209  in a variety of compressing methods such as JBIG and JPEG. 
     (B) Cross-Sectional Configuration 
     (i) A Cross-Sectional Configuration of the Printing Apparatus 
       FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the printing apparatus  100  and the sheet-processing apparatus  200  connected to this printing apparatus  100  according to the present embodiment. 
     An automatic document feeder (ADF)  301  separates a document from a document bundle set on a mounting surface of a document tray in order of a page number from a document of the first page, and feeds the separated document on platen glass so that the document is scanned and read by the scanner unit  201 . The scanner unit  201  reads the image of the document fed on the platen glass to convert the read image to image data with a CCD. A rotating multifaceted mirror (polygon mirror, or the like)  303  reflects and scans laser light modulated according to the image data to irradiate the modulated laser light to a photoconductive drum  304  through a reflection mirror. A latent image formed on the photoconductive drum  304  as described above is developed with toner, and a toner image is transferred to the sheet put on a transferring drum  305 . A full-color image is transferred to the sheet by sequentially executing a series of such image forming processes for toners of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). 
     As described above, the sheet, to which the full-color image is transferred, on the transferring drum  305  is separated from the transferring drum  305  by a separating claw  306 , and is fed to a fixing unit  308  by a pre-fixing feeding unit  307 . The fixing unit  308  is configured with a combination of a roller and a belt, incorporates a heat source such as a halogen heater, and solves the toner on the sheet, to which the toner image is transferred, with heat and pressure, and fixes the toner image. A sheet-ejecting flapper  309  is configured so as to be able to rock around a rocking axis, and defines a direction for feeding the sheet. While the sheet-ejecting flapper  309  is rotating in a clockwise direction in the figure, the sheet is straightly fed, and is ejected by a sheet-ejecting roller  310  to an outside of the apparatus. The control unit  205  controls the printing apparatus  100  so as to execute a single side printing in a series of above sequences. 
     On the other hand, when the images are formed on both sides of the sheet, the sheet-ejecting flapper  309  rotates in a counter clockwise direction in the figure, and the sheet is transferred to a both-side-feeding unit by changing a course to a downward direction. The both-side-feeding unit is provided with an inverting flapper  311 , an inverting roller  312 , an inverting guide  313 , and a both-side tray  314 . The inverting flapper  311  rotates around a rotation axis to define a feeding direction of the sheet. 
     When processing a both side printing job, the control unit  205  controls to print a first side of the sheet with the printer  203 , and to transfer the printed sheet to the inverting guide  313  through the inverting roller  312 . Next, the control unit  205  causes the inverting roller  312  to temporarily stop rotating while a back end of the sheet is being tightly held by the inverting roller  312 , continuously causes the inverting flapper  311  to rotate in a clockwise direction in the figure, and causes the inverting roller  312  to rotate in an inverse direction. Thereby, the control unit  205  causes the sheet to be switched back and fed, and controls this sheet to be led to the both side tray  314  in such a condition that a back end and a front end of the sheet are replaced. After being temporarily mounted on the both side tray  314 , the sheet is transferred again by a sheet re-feeding roller  315  to a resist roller  316 . In this case, the sheet is fed as an opposite side from a transferring step of the first side is facing the photoconductive drum  304 . In a similar way to the above process, an image of a second side is transferred to the second side of the sheet. Next, the images are formed on the both sides of the sheet, and the sheet is passed through a fixing step to be ejected from an inside of a main body of the printing apparatus  100  to an outside of the apparatus through the sheet-ejecting roller  310 . The control unit  205  controls the printing apparatus  100  to execute the both-side printing in a series of the above sequences. 
     The printing apparatus  100  includes a sheet feeder storing the sheets which are necessary for the printing process. The sheet feeder includes sheet-feeding cassettes  317  and  318  (for example, each one can store 500 sheets), a sheet-feeding deck  319  (for example, this can store 5000 sheets), a hand-feeding tray  320 , and the like. A variety of the sheets, whose sizes and materials are different from each other, including tab sheets used in the present embodiment can be separately set in each of the sheet-feeding cassettes  317  and  318 , and the sheet-feeding deck  319 . 
     A variety of the sheets including the special sheet such as an OHP sheet can be set in the hand-feeding tray  320 . A sheet-feeding roller is provided in each of the sheet-feeding cassettes  317  and  318 , the sheet-feeding deck  319 , and the hand-feeding tray  320 , and each of the sheets is continuously fed by the rotation of this sheet-feeding roller. 
     (ii) A Cross-Sectional Configuration of the Sheet-Processing Apparatus 
     Next, the sheet-processing apparatus  200  shown in  FIG. 3  will be described. 
     If the sheet can be fed from an upstream apparatus to a downstream apparatus through a sheet-feeding path, the sheet-processing apparatuses  200 , whose type and number are arbitrary, in the printing system  1000  according to the present embodiment can be connected. For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , in the order of the nearest position to the printing apparatus  100 , a large-capacity stacker  200 - 3   a , a gluing-binding machine  200 - 3   b , and a saddle finisher  200 - 3   c  can be connected in such an order, and each of such apparatuses can be selectively utilized by the printing system  1000 . Each of the sheet-processing apparatuses  200  is provided with a sheet-ejecting unit, and the user can pick up the sheet which has been sheet-processed from the sheet-ejecting unit of each sheet-processing apparatus. 
     The control unit  205  receives an execution request for the sheet processing, whose type is desired by the user, from candidates of the sheet processing which can be executed by the sheet-processing apparatus  200  connected to the printing apparatus  100  along with a printing execution request through the operation unit  204 . As responding to such a fact that the printing execution request of a job to be processed is received from the user through the operation unit  204 , the control unit  205  causes the printer  203  to execute the printing process needed by the job. The control unit  205  causes the sheet of the job, whose printing process has been executed, to be fed to the sheet-processing apparatus, which can execute the sheet-processing desired by the user, through the sheet-feeding path, and causes such a sheet-processing apparatus to execute the sheet-processing. 
     For example, it is assumed that the printing system  1000  has the system configuration shown in  FIG. 3 , and that the job to be processed, whose printing execution request is received from the user, is the job which is instructed to execute a large amount stacking process by the large-capacity stacker  200 - 3   a . This job is referred to as “stacker job”. When this stacker job is processed by the printing system  1000  of  FIG. 3 , the control unit  205  causes the sheet, which is printed by the printing apparatus  100 , of this job to be fed to an inside of the large-capacity stacker  200 - 3   a  through a point A of  FIG. 3 . After that, the control unit  205  causes the large-capacity stacker  200 - 3   a  to execute the stacking process of this job. The control unit  205  does not feed the printed sheet, which is processed by the stacking process in the large-capacity stacker  200 - 3   a , to other apparatus (for example, the apparatus in a post-stage), but causes the printed sheet to be held in a sheet-ejecting destination X inside the large-capacity stacker  200 - 3   a.    
     This printed sheet held in the sheet-ejecting destination X of  FIG. 3  can be directly picked up by the user from the sheet-ejecting destination X. This eliminates such a work of feeding the sheet in a sheet feeding direction of  FIG. 3  to the most downstream ejecting destination (any of Z- 1 , Z- 2 , and Z- 3 ) and taking the printed sheet from such a sheet-ejecting destination (any of Z- 1 , Z- 2 , and Z- 3 ). 
     In  FIG. 3 , it is assumed that the job to be processed, whose printing execution request is received from the user, is the job which is instructed to execute the sheet-processing (for example, any gluing-binding process of a perfect binding process, or a top gluing-binding process) by the gluing-binding machine  200 - 3   b . This job is referred to as “gluing-binding job”. When this gluing-binding job is processed by the printing system  1000  of  FIG. 3 , the control unit  205  causes the sheet, which is printed by the printing apparatus  100 , to be fed to an inside of the gluing-binding machine  200 - 3   b  through the points A and B of  FIG. 3 . After that, the control unit  205  causes the gluing-binding machine  200 - 3   b  to execute the gluing-binding process for this job. The control unit  205  does not cause the printed sheet, whose gluing-binding process is executed by the gluing-binding machine  200 - 3   b , to be fed to other apparatus (for example, the apparatus in a post-stage), but causes the printed sheet to be directly held in a sheet-ejecting destination Y inside the gluing-binding machine  200 - 3   b . Meanwhile, when the perfect binding process is executed, a previously-printed cover sheet can be also utilized. In this case, the sheet which becomes this cover sheet is set to a tray Yo. 
     In the system configuration of  FIG. 3 , it is assumed that the job to be processed, whose printing execution request is received from the user, is the job which is instructed to execute the sheet-processing by the saddle finisher  200 - 3   c . This sheet processing by saddle finisher  200 - 3   c  includes, for example, the saddle stitching process, the punching process, the cutting process, a shift sheet-ejecting process, the folding process, and the like. Here, this job is referred to as “saddle stitching job”. 
     When this saddle stitching job is processed by the printing system  1000  of  FIG. 3 , the control unit  205  causes the sheet, which is printed by the printing apparatus  100 , to be fed to the saddle finisher  200 - 3   c  through the points A, B, and C of  FIG. 3 . After that, the control unit  205  causes the saddle finisher  200 - 3   c  to execute the sheet-processing for this job. The control unit  205  causes the printed sheet of the saddle stitching job, whose sheet-processing is executed by this saddle finisher  200 - 3   c , to be held in a sheet-ejecting destination of the saddle finisher  200 - 3   c . Meanwhile, this saddle finisher  200 - 3   c  includes an inserter tray Zo for supplying the previously-printed sheet. For example, a previously-printed cover sheet, or the like are set in this inserter tray Zo. The sheet supplied from this inserter tray Zo is merged with the sheet from the printing apparatus  100 . Next, the post-processing which causes such sheets to be a bundle is executed by this saddle finisher  200 - 3   c.    
     This saddle finisher  200 - 3   c  includes a plurality of the sheet-ejecting destinations (Z- 1 , Z- 2 , and Z- 3 ). Such sheet-ejecting destinations are utilized to sort the sheets for each of a plurality of types of the sheet-processing which can be executed by the saddle finisher  200 - 3   c . For example, the Z- 3  is the sheet-ejecting destination (booklet holding unit) of the printed sheet for which the saddle stitching process is executed by this apparatus. The Z- 2  is the sheet-ejecting destination (stack tray) of the printed sheet for which any of a stapling process, the punching process, and the folding process is executed by this apparatus. The Z- 1  is the sheet-ejecting destination (sample tray) which is utilized when such a sheet processing is not executed, and the printed sheet is directly ejected. 
     Meanwhile, the large-capacity stacker  200 - 3   a  includes an escape tray Xo as an external sheet-ejecting destination. When the sheet, which is not adopted as final deliverables, is fed from the upstream apparatus, this escape tray Xo is utilized to eject such a sheet. For example, it is possible to eject, to this escape tray Xo, the sheet (stagnant sheet existing in the apparatus) that has been already fed at the time when a printing interrupt factor, such as a case that the sheet being fed is jammed (hereinafter, described as a sheet jam), occurs, and the multi-fed sheet. Thereby, such a sheet can be ejected to an outside of the apparatus without feeding the sheet to the downstream apparatus. 
     As described above, in the printing system  1000  according to the present embodiment, a plurality of the sheet-processing apparatuses can be connected to the printing apparatus  100 . A plurality of such sheet-processing apparatuses can be connected, in any combination, to the printing apparatus  100 . A connection order of a plurality of such sheet-processing apparatuses can be also freely changed within such a range that the sheet-feeding path can be linked between the apparatuses. There also exist a variety of candidates of the sheet-processing apparatuses, which can be connected to the printing apparatus  100 . 
     &lt;External View of Operation Unit&gt; 
       FIG. 4  is an external view of the operation unit  204  of the printing apparatus  100  according to the present embodiment. 
     This operation unit  204  is provided with the touch panel unit  401 , and the key input unit  402 . The touch panel unit  401  is provided with a liquid crystal display unit and a transparent electrode applied on the liquid crystal display unit, and displays a variety of setting screens for receiving an instruction from the user. This touch panel unit  401  includes a function for displaying a variety of screens, and an instruction inputting function for receiving the instruction from the user. The key input unit  402  is provided with a power key  501 , a start key  503 , a stop key  502 , a guide key  504 , a user mode key  505 , and a ten-digit keypad  506 . The start key  503  is used when the printing apparatus  100  is caused to start executing a copying job and a transmitting job. The ten-digit keypad  506  is used when a numerical value input, such as the number of copies to be printed, is set. 
     The control unit  205  controls the printing system  1000  to execute a variety of processes based on a user instruction received through a variety of screens displayed on this touch panel unit  401  and the user instruction received through the key input unit  402 . 
     The touch panel unit  401  displays a mode button for setting modes of a variety of operations such as copy, transmission, box, and expansion, and a variety of instruction buttons for executing print magnification setting, and sheet setting. Since a variety of such instruction buttons are well-known, the description for the buttons will be omitted, and such a case will be described that a sheet processing setting button  609  is touched. 
     &lt;Setting Screen&gt; 
     Next, an exemplary setting screen will be described, which is displayed on the touch panel unit  401  of the operation unit  204  of the printing apparatus  100 . 
       FIG. 5  is a display screen view showing an exemplary screen displayed on the touch panel unit  401  when the sheet processing setting button  609  shown in  FIG. 4  is touched. 
     By using this screen, the user can select a type of the sheet processing which can be executed by using the sheet-processing apparatus  200  included in this printing system  1000 . 
     A reference numeral  511  denotes a button for instructing the stapling process, a reference numeral  512  denotes a button for instructing the punching process, and a reference numeral  513  denotes a button for instructing the cutting process. Reference numerals  514 ,  515 , and  516  denote buttons for instructing the shift sheet-ejecting process, the saddle stitching process, and the folding process, respectively. A reference numeral  517  denotes a button for instructing the gluing-binding (perfect binding) process, and a reference numeral  518  denotes a button for instructing the gluing-binding (top gluing-binding) process. A cancel button  520  is used when cancelling all of such settings, and an OK button  521  is used when activating such settings. 
       FIG. 6  is a display screen view showing a screen for setting material of the sheet stored in the sheet feeder. 
     After storing the sheet in the sheet feeder, the user can set the material of the stored sheet on such a screen. As shown in  FIG. 6 , in a screen  1700  for setting the material of the sheet stored in the sheet feeder, a type of the material is displayed, which can be set by the user. The control is executed so that a “the number of indexes” button  1701  is displayed when the tab sheet is selected, and the “the number of indexes” button  1701  is not displayed when the material other than the tab sheet is selected. 
     The screen displayed when the “the number of indexes” button  1701  is pressed will be described later by using  FIG. 7 . The screen  1700  is configured with a cancel button  1702 , a return button  1703 , and an OK button  1704 . When the cancel button  1702  is pressed, the control is executed so as to halt the registering of the sheet stored in the sheet feeder. When the return button  1703  is pressed, the control is executed so as to halt the material-setting of the sheet stored in the sheet feeder, and to return to the previous step in the registering of the sheet stored in the sheet feeder. For example, the process returns to the screen for setting a size of the sheet stored in the sheet feeder. When the OK button  1704  is pressed, set content is registered. 
       FIG. 7  is a display screen view showing a screen for setting the number of divisions of the tab sheet stored in the sheet feeder. 
     The user can set the number of divisions of the tab sheet on such a screen. As shown in  FIG. 7 , a screen  1800 , on which the number of divisions of the tab sheet stored in the sheet feeder is set, is configured with a “−/+” button  1801 , and a “close” button  1802 . When “−” of the “−/+” button  1801  is pressed, the number of divisions displayed in the screen is decreased, and “+” is pressed, the number of divisions displayed in the screen is increased. When the “close” button  1802  is pressed, the number of divisions displayed in the screen is registered. 
       FIG. 8  is a display screen view showing a selection screen for setting a “remaining sheet removing operation” function. 
     This selection screen is configured so that the user can set whether or not to execute the remaining sheet removing operation before the printing is started. The following is a “remaining sheet removing operation” function. That is, for example, when the printing is interrupted, and when the tab sheet remains in the sheet feeder, the order of the tab sheet becomes wrong. Such a function executes the sheet removing operation for automatically removing the sheet from the sheet feeder to avoid such a disadvantage. The sheet feeder can supply, one by one, a set of sheets configured with a plurality of the tab sheets corresponding to the predetermined number of sheets to the transferring drum  305  side. The remaining sheet is included in a set of the above sheets, and is the tab sheet to be forcibly ejected, which is remaining in the sheet feeder as the sheet unsupplied to the transferring drum  305  side. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , a screen  1900  for setting the “remaining sheet removing operation” function is configured with an ON button  1901 , an OFF button  1902 , a cancel button  1903 , and an OK button  1904 . When the ON button  1901  is pressed, the “remaining sheet removing operation” function is activated, and by contraries, when the OFF button  1902  is pressed, the “remaining sheet removing operation” function is inactivated. When the cancel button  1903  is pressed, it is halted to register content set by the ON button  1901  or the OFF button  1902  of the screen  1900 , and when the OK button  1904  is pressed, the content is registered which is set by the ON button  1901  or the OFF button  1902  of the screen  1900 . 
       FIG. 9  is a display screen view showing a restart screen of the printing job (hereinafter, described as tab sheet job) utilizing the tab sheet. Such a screen shows an example of the screen displayed after a jam is eliminated when the jam occurs in the tab sheet job. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , a restart screen  2000  of the tab sheet job is configured with a “to another function” button  2001 , a halt button  2002 , and a printing restart button  2003 . When the “to another function” button  2001  is pressed, the control for the tab sheet job, which is being executed, is interrupted, and the process transits to a control screen of another operation mode of a transmission function, a box function, or the like. When the halt button  2002  is pressed, the control for the tab sheet job, which is being executed, is halted. 
     When the printing restart button  2003  is pressed, the printing control for the tab sheet job which is being executed, or the remaining sheet removing operation is restarted. If the printing control for the tab sheet job, or the remaining sheet removing operation is automatically restarted after the jam is eliminated, the beginning tab of the tab sheets stored in the sheet feeder may not be appropriately set. Thus, by restarting the printing control for such a tab sheet job or the remaining sheet removing operation, after the printing restart button  2003  is pressed, an inappropriate output sheet is not produced. 
     &lt;Function of the Remaining Sheet Removing Operation&gt; 
     Next, a function of the remaining sheet removing operation will be described in detail. 
       FIG. 10  is a schematic view showing an outline of the function of the remaining sheet removing operation. 
     In  FIG. 10 , a tab sheet  601  is shown as an example of the tab sheet used by the tab sheet job. As shown above, the tab sheet normally corresponds to a set of a plurality of the sheets obtained by dividing the tabs to the arbitrary number of divisions. The tab sheet  601  shows that three sets of the tab sheets divided to five divisions are included. The document  602  shows an example of a document bundle used for the tab sheet job. 
     It is assumed that the sheet, in which the image of the document  602  is printed, is set in a storing location other than the sheet feeder in which the above tab sheet  601  is set. For example, in the system configuration of  FIG. 3 , the tab sheet  601  is set in the sheet-feeding cassette  317 , and the sheet, in which the image of the document  602  is printed, is set in the sheet-feeding deck  319 . 
     Output sheet sets  603  and  605 , and tab sheets  601   a  and  601   b  show a result obtained by inserting the tab sheet  601  to the first page and the third page of the document  602 , and outputting two sorted copies. The output sheet set  603  shows a first output result, and an example of the ejecting destination of this output sheet set is the stack tray Z- 2  of the above saddle finisher  200 - 3   c , to which the control unit  205  controls to eject this output sheet set. The tab sheet set  601   a  shows the unnecessary tab sheets outputted after the output sheet set  603 , and an example of the ejecting destination of this output sheet set is the escape tray Xo of the large-capacity stacker  200 - 3   a , to which the control unit  205  controls to automatically eject this output sheet set. Similarly, the output sheet set  605  shows a second output result. The tab sheet set  601   b  shows the unnecessary tab sheets outputted after the output sheet set  605 . 
     As shown by the output sheet sets  603  and  605 , the tab sheet job shown in  FIG. 10  uses the two tab sheets for each copy. Since the number of divisions of the tab sheet  601  stored in the sheet-feeding cassette  317  is five divisions, when an index sheet of the first tab is used for the second copy, the third to fifth divisions becomes unnecessary. Thus, the control unit  205  controls an ejecting operation so that the unnecessary tab sheets  601   a  and  601   b  of the unnecessary third to fifth divisions are automatically ejected every time the outputting of each copy is completed. 
     By realizing the function of the above remaining sheet removing operation, such an advantage is obtained that the user can omit a work for previously removing the unnecessary sheet from the purchased tab sheets. Further, by separating the ejecting destination of the output sheet sets  603  and  605  which are originally necessary for the user, and the ejecting destination of the tab sheets  601   a  and  601   b  which are unnecessary for the user, it can be simplified to pick up the output sheet set. 
     Next, a control flow of the remaining sheet removing operation will be described by using a flowchart of  FIG. 11 . 
       FIG. 11  is a flowchart showing a control flow of the remaining sheet removing operation in the printing apparatus  100 . A program executing this process is stored in the ROM  207 , and is executed under the control of the CPU  205   a  of the control unit  205 . 
     After receiving the printing execution request for the tab sheet job from the user, the CPU  205   a  controls to print one copy of such a tab sheet job (S 701 ). After that, it is determined whether the “remaining sheet removing operation” function is active (S 702 ), and when the function is active, the remaining sheet removing operation is continuously controlled. 
     To control the remaining sheet removing operation, the CPU  205   a  first determines whether it is completed to calculate the number of the remaining sheets to be forcibly ejected (S 703 ). When such a calculation is not completed, the number of the tab sheets to be utilized for one copy of such a tab sheet job is calculated. Here, it is assumed that “i” (“i” is a natural number) is the number of the tab sheets to be utilized for one copy of such a tab sheet job. 
     Next, the number of the remaining sheets to be forcibly ejected is calculated (S 705 ). Here, when it is assumed that “I” (“I” is a natural number) is the number of the divisions of the tab sheets stored in the sheet feeder, and mod(i/I) is a remainder obtained by dividing “I” by “i”, the number “M” of the remaining sheets to be forcibly ejected can be calculated with the following mathematical formula. 
         M =mod(( I −mod( i/I )/ I ) 
     When the calculation of the number of sheets is completed by this calculation formula, or when it is determined that such a calculation of the number of sheets is completed at S 703 , the CPU  205   a  determines whether the number of the remaining sheets to be forcibly ejected, as obtained by the calculation of the number of sheets, is equal to or more than one (S 706 ). When the number of the remaining sheets to be forcibly ejected is not equal to or more than one, the CPU  205   a  determines that it is not necessary to forcibly eject the remaining sheets, and continuously controls to print the tab sheets of the next copy. When the number of the remaining sheets to be forcibly ejected is equal to or more than one, the calculated number of the remaining sheets are automatically ejected (S 707 ). 
     After that, the CPU  205   a  determines whether it is completed to control to print all of the copies (S 708 ), and repeats the above control until it is completed to control to print all of the copies. 
     &lt;Outline of Processes According to the Present Embodiment&gt; 
     Next, an outline of the control for the printing interruption according to the present embodiment will be described. 
     (A) First Printing Interrupt Case 
       FIG. 12  is a schematic view showing an example of the first printing interrupt case in which the process is interrupted because the sheet jam occurs while the tab sheet job is being processed in the system configuration shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     In this example of  FIG. 12 , a reference numeral  711  denotes a sheet output bundle of the tab sheet job, whose ejecting destination is designated as the stack tray Z- 2  of the saddle finisher  200 - 3   c , and a reference numeral  712  denotes the tab sheets (remaining sheet) to be forcibly ejected, whose ejecting destination is designated as the escape tray Xo of the large-capacity stacker  200 - 3   a . A reference numeral  713  denotes the sheets of the second copy of the tab sheet job, whose ejecting destination is designated as the stack tray Z- 2  of the saddle finisher  200 - 3   c.    
     It is completed to correctly eject, to the designated sheet-ejecting destination, the beginning three sheets of the tab sheet job for sheet-ejecting a series of such sheet output bundles (T 11 ), and for the next fourth sheet, the jam occurs in the saddle finisher  200 - 3   c  (T 12 ). In this case, since the jam occurs for the preceding fourth sheet, for the fifth and sixth sheets, which are simultaneously fed, a stagnant jam occurs in the saddle finisher  200 - 3   c , or the gluing-binding machine  200 - 3   b  (T 13 ). However, the subsequent tab sheet (remaining sheet) to be forcibly ejected can be ejected to the escape tray Xo of the designated large-capacity stacker  200 - 3   a  (T 14 ). The sheet of the tab sheet job for the second copy cannot be ejected to the designated sheet-ejecting destination (the stack tray Z- 2  of the saddle finisher  200 - 3   c ), so that the stagnant jam occurs in the printing apparatus (T 15 ). As described above, such a tab sheet job is interrupted. 
       FIG. 13  is a schematic view showing job restarting control after the printing interruption shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     In this example of  FIG. 13 , after the jam is eliminated from the printing interrupt condition shown in  FIG. 12 , the reprinting control is executed for the sheet output bundle of the first copy, which has not been normally ejected (T 16 ), next, the re-ejecting control is executed for the remaining sheet to be forcibly ejected, which has been normally ejected (T 17 ). Next, the printing control is executed again for the sheet output bundle of the second copy, which has not been ejected (T 18 ). 
     As described above, when the tab sheet is included in the preceding sheet output bundle not to be forcibly ejected, even if the ejecting for the tab sheet to be forcibly ejected is completed, the ejecting control is executed again. By executing such a control, the correct output sheet set can be provided to the user without the incorrect order of the tab sheet. That is, when the reprinting control is executed for only the sheet, whose ejecting is not correctly completed, after the jam is eliminated from the printing interrupt condition shown in  FIG. 12 , the following is processed in the example of  FIG. 12 . That is, since the remaining sheet to be forcibly ejected has been already correctly ejected, the ejecting control is not executed again after the jam is eliminated. As a result, the tab sheet in the incorrect order is outputted in the tab sheet job of the second copy. That is, if the tab sheet to be forcibly ejected, whose ejecting is completed, is not re-ejected, the order of the tab sheet to be used in the next copy becomes incorrect. 
     (B) Second Printing Interrupt Case 
       FIG. 14  is a schematic view showing an example of a second printing interrupt case in which the process is interrupted because the sheet jam occurs while the printing job other than the tab sheet job is being processed in the system configuration shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     In the job shown in  FIG. 14 , it is assumed as follows. The stack tray Z- 2  of the above saddle finisher  200 - 3   c  is designated as the ejecting destination of a sheet output bundle  721  of the beginning four pages. And, the escape tray Xo of the large-capacity stacker  200 - 3   a  is designated as the ejecting destination of a sheet output bundle  722  of the next two pages. Further, such a job outputs a plurality of the above sheet output bundles. 
     In the example of  FIG. 14 , it is normally completed to eject the beginning first to third sheets whose ejecting destination is designated to be the stack tray Z- 2  of the above saddle finisher  200 - 3   c  (T 21 ), and for the subsequent fourth sheet, the jam occurs in the saddle finisher  200 - 3   c  (T 22 ). In this case, the fifth and sixth sheets, which are simultaneously fed, can be normally ejected to the designated large-capacity stacker  200 - 3   a  (T 23 ). Since the sheets  723  of the second copy cannot be ejected to the designated ejecting destination (the stack tray Z- 2  of the above saddle finisher  200 - 3   c ), the stagnant jam occurs in the printing apparatus  100  (T 24 ). As described above, such a job is interrupted. 
       FIG. 15  is a schematic view showing the job restarting control after the printing interruption shown in  FIG. 14 . 
     In the second printing interrupt case shown in  FIG. 14 , it is enough to execute the printing control again only for the sheet whose ejecting is not completed. On the other hand, if the reprinting control is also executed for the sheet whose ejecting is completed, the output sheet set is duplicated, and also, the extra control is executed, so that the high productivity cannot be maintained. 
     In other words, when the jam occurs, and when the normally-ejected sheet is the remaining sheet to be forcibly ejected, the control unit  205  controls to execute the reprinting or the re-ejecting after the jam is eliminated. Further, when the jam occurs, and when the normally-ejected sheet is not the remaining sheet to be forcibly ejected, the control unit  205  controls not to execute the reprinting or the re-ejecting after the jam is eliminated. By executing such a control, it is possible to suppress an inappropriate output result, and to maintain the high productivity. 
     (C) Third Printing Interrupt Case 
       FIG. 16  is a schematic view showing an example of a third printing interrupt case in which the process is interrupted because the sheet jam occurs when the printing control for the tab sheet job or the remaining sheet removing operation are executed in the system configuration shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     In this example of  FIG. 16 , a reference numeral  731  denotes the sheet output bundle of the tab sheet job whose ejecting destination is designated to be the stack tray Z- 2  of the above saddle finisher  200 - 3   c , and a reference numeral  732  denotes the tab sheets (remaining sheets) to be forcibly ejected, whose ejecting destination is designated to be the escape tray of the large-capacity stacker  200 - 3   a . A reference numeral  733  denotes the sheets of the second copy of the tab sheet job whose destination is designated to be the stack tray Z- 2  of the saddle finisher  200 - 3   c.    
     In the example of  FIG. 16 , it is completed to correctly eject the beginning four sheets of the tab sheet job to the designated sheet-ejecting destination (T 31 ), and for the subsequent fifth sheet, the jam occurs in the saddle finisher  200 - 3   c  (T 32 ). In this case, because the jam occurs for the preceding fifth sheet, for the sixth sheet, the stagnant jam occurs in the saddle finisher  200 - 3   c  or the gluing-binding machine  200 - 3   b  (T 33 ). However, the subsequent tab sheet (remaining sheet) to be forcibly ejected can be ejected to the escape tray Xo of the designated large-capacity stacker  200 - 3   a  (T 34 ). Since the sheet output bundle of the tab sheet job of the second copy cannot be ejected to the designated sheet-ejecting destination (the stack tray Z- 2  of the saddle finisher  200 - 3   c ), the stagnant jam occurs in the printing apparatus  100  (T 35 ). As described above, such a tab sheet job is interrupted. 
     When such an example of  FIG. 16  is compared with  FIG. 12 , the characteristic point of the third printing interrupt case is that in the preceding sheets rather than the remaining sheets to be forcibly ejected, all of the sheets, whose ejecting cannot be completed, are not the tab sheets. 
       FIG. 17  is a schematic view showing the job restarting control after the printing interruption shown in  FIG. 16 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 17 , such an example is shown that only the reprinting control for the sheet output bundle, whose ejecting is not normally completed, is executed after the jam is eliminated from the printing interrupt condition shown in  FIG. 16  (T 36  and T 37 ). In the above description, when the jam occurs, and when the normally-ejected sheet is the remaining sheet to be forcibly ejected, the control is executed so that the reprinting or the re-ejecting is executed after the jam is eliminated. However, such a case is also included in the present embodiment that, when the tab sheet is not included in the preceding sheet output bundle, whose ejecting is completed, the control is executed so that the sheet output bundle of the remaining sheet to be forcibly ejected, which is normally ejected, is not reprinted or re-ejected after the jam is eliminated. By controlling as described above, further higher productivity becomes able to be maintained. 
     For example, such a case is also included in the present embodiment that, when the jam occurs in the tab sheet job, the control is executed so that the unnecessary tab sheet is forcibly ejected just after the jam is eliminated so that the order of the tab sheet is corrected after the jam is eliminated. By controlling as described above, an appropriate output result becomes able to be constantly provided to the user without an extra user operation. 
     &lt;Process Flow According to the Present Embodiment&gt; 
     Next, a process flow of the printing apparatus  100  according to the present embodiment will be described by referring to  FIG. 18  and  FIG. 19 . 
     (A) Process in the Printing Interruption 
       FIG. 18  is a flowchart showing a process when the printing is interrupted in the printing apparatus  100  according to the present embodiment. Meanwhile, a program executing this process is stored in the ROM  207 , and is executed under the control of the CPU  205   a  of the control unit  205 . 
     The CPU  205   a  monitors whether or not the printing interrupt factor such as the sheet jam occurs (S 11 ), and when the sheet jam occurs, the printing process is interrupted (S 12 ). Next, the CPU  205   a  determines whether the interrupted job is a job (tab sheet job) which utilizes the ordered sheet, or the tab sheet (S 13 ). When the interrupted job is the tab sheet job, the CPU  205   a  receives a detection signal of a detecting component such as a photo sensor provided in, for example, the sheet-feeding path, and specifies a location in which the sheet jam occurs (S 14 ). 
     When the sheet jam as the interrupt factor occurs in the sheet-feeding path in a more downstream side in a sheet-feeding direction than the predetermined ejecting destination, the CPU  205   a  determines that the remaining sheet removing operation (sheet removing operation) for the remaining sheet can be executed. When the sheet jam occurs in the sheet-feeding path in a more upstream side (S 15 ), the CPU  205   a  determines that the remaining sheet removing operation cannot be executed. 
     When the remaining sheet removing operation cannot be executed, information indicating that the job requires the remaining sheet removing operation when the printing is restarted is held in the RAM  208 . On the other hand, when the remaining sheet removing operation can be executed, the remaining sheet removing operation is executed, and all of the remaining sheets to be ejected are ejected from the sheet-feeding cassette  317  of  FIG. 3  (S 17 ). Identification information indicating that the job does not require the remaining sheet removing operation when the printing is restarted is then held in the RAM  208  in association with the interrupted job (S 19 ). In the determination at S 13 , when the interrupted job is not the tab sheet job, identification information indicating that the job does not require the remaining sheet removing operation when the printing is restarted is also held in the RAM  208  in association with the interrupted job (S 19 ). 
     As described above, the CPU  205   a  holds the identification information in the RAM  208  so that the identification information can be referred to when the printing interrupt factor is eliminated, and the printing is restarted. 
     (B) Process in the Printing Restart 
       FIG. 19  is a flowchart showing a process when the printing is restarted in the printing apparatus  100  according to the present embodiment. 
     The printing restart for the interrupted job is controlled to be executed on such a condition that an execution instruction is received from the user through a user interface (the printing restart button  2003  of  FIG. 9 ) after the printing is interrupted. 
     When receiving the execution instruction for the printing restart from the user because the printing restart button  2003  is pressed, the CPU  205   a  monitors whether or not the printing interrupt factor such as the sheet jam is eliminated for the interrupted job (S 21 ). When the sheet jam is eliminated, the CPU  205   a  referred to the identification information held in the RAM  208  when the printing is interrupted (S 22 ). Next, the CPU  205   a  determines based on this identification information whether or not such an interrupted job is the job that requires the remaining sheet removing operation (S 23 ). 
     If the interrupted job is the job requiring the remaining sheet removing operation, the CPU  205   a  executes the removing operation until all of the remaining sheets to be removed are ejected from the sheet-feeding cassette  317  of  FIG. 3  (S 24 , S 25 ). This control is executed even when the execution instruction is not received from the user through the user interface after the printing is interrupted. 
     When it is completed to removed all of the remaining sheets from the sheet-feeding cassette  317 , the CPU  205  restarts the printing (S 26 ). That is, if the remaining sheet removing operation is not completed at the time when the printing is interrupted, the CPU  205   a  controls to execute the remaining sheet removing operation at the time when the printing is restarted. That is, if the CPU  205   a  has determined that the remaining sheet removing operation cannot be executed at S 15 , the process proceeds to S 18 , the determination is YES at S 23 , and the process proceeds to S 24 . 
     On the other hand, if it is determined based on the identification information indicating that such an interrupted job is the job not requiring the remaining sheet removing operation, the CPU  205   a  skips the processes at S 24  and S 25 , and proceeds to S 26  to restart the printing. 
     That is, when the interrupted job is the job which utilizes the disordered sheet and does not utilize the ordered sheet (tab sheet), the CPU  205  executes as follows. That is, the CPU  205  controls to restart the printing of such an interrupted job without executing the remaining sheet removing operation so that the disordered sheet is not removed from the sheet-feeding cassette used by such a job at the time when the printing is restarted. That is, the process proceeds through S 13 , S 19  and S 23  and directly to S 26 . Even when the interrupted job is the job utilizing the tab sheet, and if the remaining sheet removing operation is completed at the time when the printing is interrupted, the CPU  205  controls to restart the printing of such an interrupted job without executing the remaining sheet removing operation at the time when the printing is restarted. That is, the process proceeds from S 17  to S 19 , and the determination becomes NO at S 23 , so that the process does not proceed to S 24 , but directly proceeds to S 26 . 
     Meanwhile, the ordered sheet is at least any of the sheet with a tab portion, or the sheet which is previously provided with a page number. 
     &lt;Advantages According to the Present Embodiment&gt; 
     The present embodiment has the following advantages. 
     (1) When an interrupted job is a job utilizing the tab sheet (the ordered sheet), the removing operation is executed for the tab sheet remaining in the sheet-feeding cassette. Thereby, such a mechanism can be provided that, even if an interrupted job is a job utilizing a tab sheet, a disordered tab sheet which is not intended by the user is prevented from being supplied from the sheet-feeding cassette after the interruption. 
     (2) When a job utilizing the tab sheet is interrupted, the removing operation for the tab sheet is executed so that the remaining tab sheet is removed from the sheet-feeding cassette utilized in such a job. If this removing operation is not completed at the time when the printing is interrupted, the removing operation for the tab sheet is executed at the time when the printing of such a job is restarted. On the other hand, when the removing operation for the tab sheet is completed at the time when the printing is interrupted, the control is executed so that the printing of such a job is restarted without executing the removing operation for the tab sheet at the time when the printing of such a job is restarted. Thereby, the printing can be rapidly restarted in a less wasteful operation. 
     (3) The printing system  1000  of the present embodiment receives a first job which utilizes at least an ordered sheet (a tab sheet, or the like) in the printing, and a second job which utilizes a disordered sheet in the printing, and does not utilize the ordered sheet in the printing. When the interrupted job is the first job, the control is executed so that the printing of the first job is restarted after the sheet removing operation is executed so as to remove the ordered sheet from the sheet-feeding cassette utilized in the first job. When the interrupted print job is the second job, the control is executed so that the printing of the second job is restarted without executing the sheet removing operation so as not to remove the disordered sheet from the sheet-feeding cassette utilized in the second job. Thereby, a less wasteful and rapid printing restart can be realized for both cases where an interrupted job is a job utilizing an ordered sheet, and where such a job is a job utilizing a disordered sheet. 
     &lt;Modified Example of the Process According to the Present Embodiment&gt; 
     The process of the present invention is not limited to the process according to the above embodiment described in  FIG. 18  and  FIG. 19 , and a variety of modifications can be executed. The following is, for example, the modified example. 
       FIG. 20  and  FIG. 21  are flowcharts showing modified examples of the process in the printing apparatus  100  of the above embodiment. A program for executing this process is stored in the ROM  207 , and is executed under the control of the CPU  205   a  of the control unit  205 . 
       FIG. 20  is a flowchart showing a procedure of the sheet-feeding and ejecting control for each sheet. 
     After the printing execution request is received from the user, the sheet-feeding control is executed for each sheet according to the above paper-handling control (S 31 ). When the supplied sheet can be normally fed without a jam while such a supplied sheet is being fed to the designated ejecting destination, such a sheet to be controlled is directly ejected to the designated sheet-ejecting destination (S 34 ), and the sheet-feeding and ejecting control for such a sheet is completed. 
     On the other hand, when the jam occurs for another preceding sheet while such a supplied sheet is being fed to the designated sheet-ejecting destination (S 32 ), it is determined whether such a sheet can be ejected to the designated sheet-ejecting destination (S 33 ). When such a sheet can be ejected, such a sheet is directly ejected to the designated sheet-ejecting destination (S 34 ). For example, in the system configuration of  FIG. 3 , when the sheet is controlled, whose sheet-ejecting destination is designated to be the escape tray Xo of the large-capacity stacker  200 - 3   a , the following is executed. That is, when the preceding sheet is not remaining in the feeding path to the escape tray Xo of the large-capacity stacker  200 - 3   a , and the control is executed so that the sheet-ejecting control is continued for such a sheet to the designated sheet-ejecting destination even if the jam occurs. 
     Next, it is determined whether such a sheet is the remaining sheet to be forcibly ejected (S 35 ). When such a sheet is not the remaining sheet, the sheet-feeding and ejecting control for such a sheet is directly completed. When it can be determined at S 35  that such a sheet is the remaining sheet, such a sheet is registered as the sheet for which the re-feeding and re-ejecting control is executed when the job is restarted (S 36 ). When it is determined at S 33  that such a sheet cannot be ejected to the designated sheet-ejecting destination, such a sheet is also registered as the sheet for which the re-feeding and re-ejecting control is executed when the job is restarted (S 36 ), and the sheet-feeding and ejecting control for such a sheet is completed. 
       FIG. 21  is a flowchart showing a procedure of the sheet-feeding and ejecting control for each sheet after the jam is eliminated. 
     When the jam occurs while the sheet-feeding and ejecting control for each sheet is being executed, after the jam is eliminated, the control is executed in a procedure shown in the flowchart of  FIG. 21 . 
     When the jam is eliminated, the sheet-feeding control is executed again for each sheet according to the paper-handling control. When the jam is eliminated, and the restarting instruction for the job is received from the user (S 41 ), it is determined whether the sheet to be controlled is registered at S 36  as the sheet for which the re-feeding and re-ejecting control is executed (S 42 ). When the sheet to be controlled is registered, the feeding and rejecting control for the sheet is executed again (S 43 ), and when the sheet to be controlled is not registered, the control for the sheet is terminated. 
     Meanwhile, the present embodiment may be also configured as follows. Instead of the control unit  205  provided in the printing apparatus  100 , a control unit (CPU) of an external apparatus such as the client PC  104  and the server PC  103 , which are applied as an information processing apparatus, executes a variety of determinations and controls of the above embodiment. Further, a plurality of such control units executes, as cooperating with each other, a variety of determinations and controls of a variety of the above embodiments. As described above, the present embodiment may be configured so that a variety of the above determinations and controls are realized by one CPU, or by a plurality of the CPUs as cooperating with each other. 
     It is to be understood that the object of the present invention may also be accomplished by supplying a system or an apparatus with a storage medium in which a program code of software which realizes the functions of the above described embodiment is stored, and causing a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus to read out and execute the program code stored in the storage medium. 
     In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of any of the embodiments described above, and hence the program code and the storage medium in which the program code is stored constitute the present invention. 
     Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy (registered trade mark) disk, a hard disk, a magnetic-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a CD-RW, a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, a DVD-RW, a DVD+RW, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, and a ROM. Alternatively, the program may be downloaded via a network. 
     Further, it is intended to encompass in the present invention the functions of the above described embodiment accomplished by executing a program code read out by a computer. In addition, it is also intended to encompass the case where an OS (operating system) or the like which executes on the computer performs a part or all of the actual operations based on instructions of the program code to provide for the functions of the above described embodiment. 
     Further, it is intended to encompass in the present invention the functions of the above described embodiment accomplished as follows: a program code read out from the storage medium is written into a memory provided on an expansion board inserted into a computer or in an expansion unit connected to the computer and a CPU or the like provided in the expansion board or the expansion unit performs a part or all of the actual operations based on instructions of the program code. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions. 
     This application claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-064577, filed on Mar. 13, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.