BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a color image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an illustration showing the relation of a controller, an engine control part, and a sheet discharging device control part of the color image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 3(
a) and 3(b) are flowcharts showing the operations of a sheet discharging device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing the stapling/printing operation in the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a sheet discharging device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the sheet discharging device according to the second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing the stapling/printing operation in the second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a table showing sheet discharging reservation commands and processing time information from the sheet discharging device in the case of the first embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 9 is a table showing sheet discharging reservation commands and processing time information from the sheet discharging device in the case of the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 illustrates relationship between the sheet discharging device control part and the staple unit.