Patent ID: 7063317

Claim:
An image forming apparatus capable of sequentially feeding tab sheets of a predetermined tab sheet bundle, comprising: a first sheet feed device that feeds each of the tab sheets of the predetermined tab sheet bundle to an image transfer position via a first conveying path that conveys the tab sheet with the tab sheet being inverted; a second sheet feed device that feeds each of the tab sheets of the predetermined tab sheet bundle to the image transfer position via a second conveying path that conveys the tab sheet without the tab sheet being inverted; a first sheet discharge device that discharges each of the tab sheets of the predetermined tab sheet bundle in a face-up state to a first sheet discharge tray; a second sheet discharge device that discharges each of the tab sheets of the predetermined tab sheet bundle in a face-down state to a second sheet discharge tray; a page order-designating device that designates page order of tab sheets fed from said first sheet feed device and said second sheet feed device; a storage device that stores sheet management information indicating the page order designated for said first sheet feed device and said second sheet feed device by said page order-designating device in correlation with said first sheet feed device and said second sheet feed device; a tab sheet feed-instructing device that instructs feeding of the tab sheets; and a controller responsive to instruction of feeding of the tab sheets by said tab sheet feed-instructing device, for providing control to automatically select said first sheet feed device or said second sheet feed device that can feed tab sheets that enable a valid image transfer result to be obtained, according to a sheet discharge destination selected by a user for said first sheet discharge device or said second sheet discharge device and the page order designated for said first sheet feed device or said second sheet feed device, indicated by the sheet management information.