Patent ID: 7742716

Claim:
An image forming system comprising: an image forming mechanism configured to form an image on a sheet of a transfer material and to transport a plurality of sheets including the sheet having the image formed thereon through a transport path provided in the image forming mechanism; a post-processor configured to receive the plurality of sheets transported from the image forming mechanism, the post-processor including, a stapling tray provided inside the post-processor and configured to store therein the plurality of sheets transported from the image forming mechanism through a transport path provided in the post-processor, and a stapler configured to staple two or more of the plurality of sheets stored in the stapling tray; a transporter to transport the plurality of sheets through the image forming mechanism and the post-processor along the transport paths provided in the image forming mechanism and the post processor; a display configured to display information to an operator; and a controller configured to, determine a first stopping condition of whether the number of the plurality of sheets transported to the stapling tray exceeds a reference number, detect a second stopping condition of whether a cumulative thickness of the plurality of sheets stored in the stapling tray provided in the post-processor exceeds a reference thickness, stop further image formation by the image forming mechanism when at least one of the first and second stopping conditions is satisfied, and display an instruction via the display to request the operator to manually remove the plurality of sheets stored in the stapling tray when at least one of the first and second stopping conditions is satisfied.