Image forming method

Abstract

An image forming method applied to an image forming apparatus including an image inputting unit for inputting image data, a memory for storing the image data inputted from the image inputting unit, and a printer for forming the image data on an image forming medium. At a start of image forming processing on the image data inputted from the image inputting unit, if the printer is performing any other processing, all the image data inputted by the image inputting unit is stored in the memory. The printer performs image forming processing on the image data stored in the memory after completing performing the other processing.

1 . Cancelled  
   
   
       2 . An image forming method applied to an image forming apparatus having a scanner for reading a document image, an interface for receiving image data via a communication network, a memory for storing image data input by the scanner or interface, a printer for forming the image data on an image forming medium, and an operation panel by which an operation condition of a copying job for reading out a document image to form an image on the image forming medium and a start instruction of the copying job are input, the method comprising: 
 judging, based on the requested operation condition of the copying job, whether the copying job is a sequential type operation condition in which images are formed on the image forming medium by forming an image by the printer every time image data of a document sheet is input by the scanner, or a completed type operation condition in which after whole image data of all document sheets is stored in the memory by the scanner, the image data is read out from the memory to form images on the image forming medium by the printer;    reading, even if the copying job is indicated to be a sequential type operation condition, the whole image data of all document sheets of the copying job to store the read image data in the memory by the scanner before the printer forms images on the image forming medium of the copying job, if the printer is performing image forming processing of image data of another job stored in the memory; and    starting to form images on the image forming medium of the image data of the copying job stored in the memory by the printer after the image forming processing of the another job is completed.    
   
   
       3 . An image forming method according to  claim 2 , further comprising feeding the document sheets of the copying job sequentially with an automatic document feeder (ADF).  
   
   
       4 . An image forming method according to  claim 3 , wherein the sequential type operation condition involves a one-side reading and one-side printing of document sheets fed by the ADF.  
   
   
       5 . An image forming method according to  claim 2 , wherein the another job is a print job.  
   
   
       6 . An image forming method according to  claim 5 , wherein the copying job and the print job are registered in a printing queue.  
   
   
       7 . An image forming method according to  claim 6 , further comprising assigning the copying job in the printing queue to a position immediately after the print job under image forming processing regardless of whether additional print jobs have been created before the copying job.  
   
   
       8 . An image forming apparatus comprising: 
 a scanner for reading a document image;    an interface for receiving image data via a communication network;    a memory for storing image data input by the scanner or interface;    a printer for forming the image data on an image forming medium;    an operation panel by which an operation condition of a copying job for reading out a document image to form an image on the image forming medium and a start instruction of the copying job are input; and    a controller configured to: 
 judge, based on the requested operation condition of the copying job, whether the copying job is a sequential type operation condition in which images are formed on the image forming medium by forming an image by the printer every time image data of a document sheet is input by the scanner, or a completed type operation condition in which after whole image data of all document sheets is stored in the memory by the scanner, the image data is read out from the memory to form images on the image forming medium by the printer;  
 read, even if the copying job is indicated to be a sequential type operation condition, the whole image data of all document sheets of the copying job to store the read image data in the memory by the scanner before the printer forms images on the image forming medium of the copying job, if the printer is performing image forming processing of image data of another job stored in the memory; and  
 start forming images on the image forming medium of the image data of the copying job stored in the memory by the printer after the image forming processing of the another job is completed.  
   
   
   
       9 . An image forming apparatus according to  claim 8 , further comprising an automatic document feeder (ADF) for feeding the document sheets of the copying job sequentially.  
   
   
       10 . An image forming apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the sequential type operation condition involves a one-side reading and one-side printing of document sheets fed by the ADF.  
   
   
       11 . An image forming apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the another job is a print job.  
   
   
       12 . An image forming apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the copying job and the print job are registered in a printing queue.  
   
   
       13 . An image forming apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the copying job is assigned in the printing queue to a position immediately after the print job under image forming processing regardless of whether additional print jobs have been created before the copying job.  
   
   
       14 . An image forming method applied to an image forming apparatus having a scanner for reading a document image, an interface for receiving image data via a communication network, a memory for storing image data input by the scanner or interface, a printer for forming the image data on an image forming medium, and an operation panel by which an operation condition of a copying job for reading out a document image to form an image on the image forming medium and a start instruction of the copying job are input, the method comprising: 
 starting printing of a print job by the printer;    starting the copying job while the printer is printing the print job, wherein the copying job is a sequential type operation condition in which images of the copying job are formed on the image forming medium by actuating the printer every time image data of a document is input by the scanner;    reading whole image data of all document sheets of the copying job to store the read image data in the memory by the scanner before the printer forms images on the image forming medium;    completing the printing of the print job; and    starting printing of the copying job stored in the memory by the printer after the printing of the print job is completed.    
   
   
       15 . An image forming method according to  claim 14 , further comprising feeding the document sheets of the copying job sequentially with an automatic document feeder (ADF).  
   
   
       16 . An image forming method according to  claim 15 , wherein the sequential type operation condition involves a one-side reading and one-side printing of document sheets fed by the ADF.  
   
   
       17 . An image forming method according to  claim 14 , wherein the copying job and the print job are registered in a printing queue.  
   
   
       18 . An image forming method according to  claim 17 , further comprising assigning the copying job in the printing queue to a position immediately after the print job under image forming processing regardless of whether additional print jobs have been created before the copying job.  
   
   
       19 . An image forming apparatus comprising: 
 a scanner for reading a document image;    an interface for receiving image data via a communication network;    a memory for storing image data input by the scanner or interface;    a printer for forming the image data on an image forming medium;    an operation panel by which an operation condition of a copying job for reading out a document image to form an image on the image forming medium and a start instruction of the copying job are input; and    a controller configured for: 
 starting printing of a print job by the printer;  
 starting the copying job while the printer is printing the print job, wherein the copying job is a sequential type operation condition in which images of the copying job are formed on the image forming medium by actuating the printer every time image data of a document is input by the scanner;  
 reading whole image data of all document sheets of the copying job to store the read image data in the memory by the scanner before the printer forms images on the image forming medium;  
 completing the printing of the print job; and  
 starting printing of the copying job stored in the memory by the printer after the printing of the print job is completed.  
   
   
   
       20 . An image forming apparatus according to  claim 19 , further comprising an automatic document feeder (ADF) for feeding the document sheets of the copying job sequentially.  
   
   
       21 . An image forming apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the sequential type operation condition involves a one-side reading and one-side printing of document sheets fed by the ADF.  
   
   
       22 . An image forming apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the copying job and the print job are registered in a printing queue.  
   
   
       23 . An image forming apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the copying job is assigned in the printing queue to a position immediately after the print job under image forming processing regardless of whether additional print jobs have been created before the copying job.