IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress reduction in the productivity (printing speed) of an image formation apparatus by making the sheet feeding start interval between copies at the stapling shorter than that of the conventional technique.SOLUTION: An image formation apparatus includes a printing unit, a sheet feeding unit, a printing control unit, and a post-processor. The post-processor includes: a processing tray on which sheets are accumulated; an alignment and discharge unit which performs alignment and discharge; a staple unit which staples a sheet bundle of the processing tray; and a detection sensor. In a case of staple continuous printing of continuously printing a plurality of copies by performing stapling to each copy, the printing control unit recognizes the time allowance from the discharge detection of the sheet bundle of a measurement object to the detection of arrival of the first sheet of the next copy of the measurement object by the detection sensor. The printing control unit determines the inter-correction part time based on the time allowance.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11 【課題】ステープル時の部間での給紙開始間隔を従来よりも短くし、画像形成装置の生産性（印刷速度）の低下を抑える。【解決手段】画像形成装置は、印刷部、給紙部、印刷制御部、後処理装置を備える。後処理装置は、用紙が積まれる処理トレイ、整合と排出を行う整合排出ユニット、処理トレイの用紙束にステープルを行うステープルユニット、検知センサーを含む。各部にステープルを行って複数部を連続して印刷するステープル連続印刷のとき、印刷制御部は検知センサーが計測対象部の用紙束の排出検知から計測対象部の次の部の最初の用紙の到達を検知するまでの余裕時間を認識する。印刷制御部は余裕時間に基づき補正部間時間を定める。【選択図】図１１