Sheet conveyance apparatus and sheet conveyance system

Abstract

A sheet conveyance apparatus includes: a cutting section that cuts, in a conveyance direction, a sheet on which images are printed to divide the sheet into multiple effective sheets; a conveyance section capable of individually conveying the effective sheets divided by the cutting section; a conveyance operation switching mechanism capable of switching a conveyance operation of the effective sheets conveyed by the conveyance section; and a hardware processor that controls the conveyance operation switching mechanism. Based on at least either information on image formation on the effective sheets or information on cutting of the sheet into the effective sheets, the hardware processor controls the conveyance operation switching mechanism to switch the conveyance operation of the effective sheets.

1 . A sheet conveyance apparatus comprising:
 a cutting section that cuts, in a conveyance direction, a sheet on which images are printed to divide the sheet into multiple effective sheets;   a conveyance section capable of individually conveying the effective sheets divided by the cutting section;   a conveyance operation switching mechanism capable of switching a conveyance operation of the effective sheets conveyed by the conveyance section; and   a hardware processor that controls the conveyance operation switching mechanism, wherein   based on at least either information on image formation on the effective sheets or information on cutting of the sheet into the effective sheets, the hardware processor controls the conveyance operation switching mechanism to switch the conveyance operation of the effective sheets.   
     
     
         2 . The sheet conveyance apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 when the effective sheets include an unnecessary effective sheet that is unnecessary as a finished product, the hardware processor causes the conveyance operation switching mechanism to switch the conveyance operation of the unnecessary effective sheet such that the unnecessary effective sheet is distinguishable from other necessary effective sheets, based on the information on image formation on the effective sheets.   
     
     
         3 . The sheet conveyance apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 based on the information on image formation on the effective sheets, when the effective sheets include an effective sheet of a first job and an effective sheet of a second job, the hardware processor causes the conveyance operation switching mechanism to switch the conveyance operation of the effective sheet of the second job such that the effective sheet of the second job is distinguishable from the effective sheet of the first job.   
     
     
         4 . The sheet conveyance apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 based on the information on cutting, when there is no gap between adjacent effective sheets among the effective sheets, the hardware processor causes the conveyance operation switching mechanism to switch the conveyance operation such that a gap is formed between the adjacent effective sheets.   
     
     
         5 . The sheet conveyance apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 based on the information on cutting, when the effective sheets have different sheet widths, the hardware processor causes the conveyance operation switching mechanism to switch the conveyance operation of the effective sheets for each sheet width.   
     
     
         6 . The sheet conveyance apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 in switching the conveyance operation, the conveyance operation switching mechanism differentiates conveyance timings or conveyance paths of the effective sheets.   
     
     
         7 . The sheet conveyance apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the conveyance operation switching mechanism includes a pair of speed control rollers or a pair of speed control belts that are arranged in parallel in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the effective sheets and that are rotatable at independently adjustable rotation speeds.   
     
     
         8 . The sheet conveyance apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the conveyance operation switching mechanism is a mechanism that holds the effective sheets and moves the effective sheets in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction or a conveyance guide that conveys the effective sheets in different directions.   
     
     
         9 . A sheet conveyance system comprising:
 an image forming apparatus that forms images on a sheet; and   the sheet conveyance apparatus according to  claim 1  that cuts, in the conveyance direction, the sheet on which the images are formed by the image forming apparatus.