Patent ID: 7113846

Claim:
A sheet handling apparatus comprising: a receiving section that receives recording sheets transported from an image forming apparatus having an image forming section for forming an image on a sheet; a plurality of inserter trays for having insert sheets stacked thereon; a plurality of feeders that feed the insert sheets stacked on respective inserter trays; a sheet feeding controller that controls feeding of the insert sheets stacked on the plurality of inserter trays so that the insert sheets are inserted between the recording sheets transported from the image forming apparatus; a transporting device that transports recording sheets received from the image forming apparatus and insert sheets fed from at least one of said plurality of inserter trays to a discharge tray; and a sheet feeding mode setting device that sets one of a plurality of sheet feeding modes corresponding respectively to a plurality of stacking manners, wherein said sheet feeding modes include at least a first sheet feeding mode in which said sheet feeding controller controls said feeders to sequentially feed the insert sheets from a different one of said inserter trays every time an insert sheet is fed, and a second feeding mode in which said sheet feeding controller controls said feeders to sequentially feed the insert sheets from only one of the inserter trays unless the one inserter tray is empty.