Image forming apparatus and image forming method for both side copying

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a scanner that reads an original document. A cover is moveable between a closed position covering the scanner and an open position not covering the scanner. A processor determines whether the cover is in the open position. The processor determines, from a first image data, a region other than a first document region corresponding to the first surface of the original document. The region other than the first document region is eliminated from first image data. The processor determines, from a second image data, a region other than a second document region corresponding to the second surface of the original document is determined. The region other than the second document region from the second image data is eliminated. A printing image is generated. A printer prints the generated printing image on a single surface of a recording medium.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a scanner configured to generate image data by reading a region including a surface of an original document;   a cover moveable between a closed position covering the scanner and an open position not covering the scanner;   a processor configured to:
 determine whether the cover is in the open position, and 
 when the cover is determined to be in the open position, perform image processing including:
 determining, from a first image data which was generated by the scanner reading a first surface of the original document, a region other than a first document region corresponding to the first surface of the original document, 
 eliminating the region other than the first document region from the first image data, 
 determining, from a second image data which was generated by the scanner reading a second surface of the original document, a region other than a second document region corresponding to the second surface of the original document, 
 eliminating the region other than the second document region from the second image data, and 
 generating, for printing on a single surface of a recording medium, a printing image including: 
 
 the first image data with the region other than the first document region eliminated, and the second image data with the region other than the second document region eliminated; and 
   a printer configured to print the printing image on a single surface of a recording medium.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a display device, wherein   when the cover is determined to not be in the open position, the processor controls the display device to display a guide screen instructing a user to open the cover.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an opening-closing sensor configured to output a signal to the processor indicating whether the cover is in the open position.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the processor generates the printing image in which the first image data with the region other than the first document region eliminated and the second image data with the region other than the second document region eliminated are disposed according to respective designated disposition positions.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive, in advance, an input from a user designating the respective disposition positions.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the processor generates the printing image in which the first image data with the region other than the first document region eliminated and the second image data with the region other than the second document region eliminated are respectively disposed at designated magnifications.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive, in advance, an input from a user designating the respective magnifications.   
     
     
         8 . An image forming method comprising the steps of:
 determining whether a cover of a scanner is in an open position; and   when the cover is determined to be in the open position, performing an image processing including:
 generating, with the scanner, a first image data by reading a region including a first surface of an original document, 
 determining, from the first image data, a region other than a first document region corresponding to the first surface of the original document, 
 eliminating, from the first image data the region other than the first document region corresponding to the first surface of the original document, 
 generating, with the scanner, a second image data by reading a region including a second surface of the original document, 
 determining, from the second image data, a region other than a second document region corresponding to the second surface of the original document, eliminating, from the second image data a region other than a second document region corresponding to the second surface of the original document; 
 generating, for printing on a single surface of a recording medium, a printing image including: the first image data with the region other than the first document region eliminated, and the second image data with the region other than the second document region eliminated, and 
 printing the printing image on a single surface of a recording medium. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 when the cover is determined to not be in the open position, displaying, on a display device, a guide screen instructing a user to open the cover.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein whether the cover is in the open position is determined based on a signal output from an opening-closing sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the printing image is generated so that the first image data with the region other than the first document region eliminated and the second image data with the region other than the second document region eliminated are disposed according to respective designated disposition positions. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the respective disposition positions are designated by a user. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the printing image is generated so that the first image data with the region other than the first document region eliminated and the second image data with the region other than the second document region eliminated are respectively disposed at designated magnifications. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the respective magnifications are designated by a user. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer readable medium containing a program causing an image forming apparatus to perform an image forming method comprising the steps of:
 determining whether a cover of a scanner is in an open position; and   when the cover is determined to be in the open position, performing an image processing including:
 generating, with the scanner, a first image data by reading a region including a first surface of an original document, 
 determining, from the first image data, a region other than a first document region corresponding to the first surface of the original document, 
 eliminating, from the first image data the region other than the first document region corresponding to the first surface of the original document, 
 generating, with the scanner, a second image data by reading a region including a second surface of the original document, 
 determining, from the second image data, a region other than a second document region corresponding to the second surface of the original document, eliminating, from the second image data a region other than a second document region corresponding to the second surface of the original document; 
 generating, for printing on a single surface of a recording medium, a printing image including: the first image data with the region other than the first document region eliminated, and the second image data with the region other than the second document region eliminated, and 
 printing the printing image on a single surface of a recording medium. 
   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory recording medium according to  claim 15 , the method further comprising:
 when the cover is determined to not be in the open position, displaying, on a display device, a guide screen instructing a user to open the cover.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory recording medium according to  claim 15 , wherein whether the cover is in the open position is determined based on a signal output from an opening-closing sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory recording medium according to  claim 15 , wherein the printing image is generated so that the first image data with the region other than the first document region eliminated and the second image data with the region other than the second document region eliminated are disposed according to respective designated disposition positions. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory recording medium according to  claim 18 , wherein the respective disposition positions are designated by a user. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory recording medium according to  claim 15 , wherein the printing image is generated so that the first image data with the region other than the first document region eliminated and the second image data with the region other than the second document region eliminated are respectively disposed at predetermined magnifications.