The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 16, 2021
Filed:
Apr. 16, 2019
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus that is capable of reducing influence of a failure on execution of a print job even if a post-processing apparatus that has a sheet stacking unit breaks down. Post-processing apparatuses are connected at a downstream side of an image forming apparatus in a sheet conveyance direction and apply post-processes to the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus. A specifying unit specifies an available downstream-most apparatus from among the post-processing apparatuses. A setting unit can set a forced discharge mode in which a sheet is discharged to the downstream-most apparatus when the downstream-most apparatus is not provided with a sheet stacking unit. When the forced discharge mode is set, apparatuses at an upstream side of the downstream-most apparatus are controlled so as to discharge a sheet to the downstream-most apparatus and the downstream-most apparatus is controlled so as to discharge the sheet outside the apparatus.