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.

Description

[0001] The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 506,392, filed Feb. 18, 2000, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to an image forming method applied to an image forming apparatus, such as a digital copier, having not only a copying function but also a facsimile function or a printer function. [0003] Conventionally, the digital copier has a scanner, printer, memory, image processing section, etc. The scanner optically reads out a document and converts its image to an electric signal. The image processing section applies a variety of image processing to an image data read out by the scanner. The memory accumulates the image data to which the image processing is applied by an image processing section. The printer subjects the image data which is stored in the memory to a laser electrophotographic process to form an image. [0004] The digital copier thus configured can...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0026] An image forming method of the present invention applied to an image forming apparatus having image inputting means for inputting image data, a memory for storing image data inputted from the image inputting means and a printer for forming the image data on an image forming medium, the method comprising the steps of, when, at a start of image forming processing on image data inputted from the image inputting means, the printer performs any other processing, after inputting all image data as an object of the image forming processing by the image inputting means and storing the image data in the memory, enabling the printer to perform image forming processing on the image data stored in the memory.

Problems solved by technology

As set out above, the image forming apparatus poses a problem that it has to adopt any one of a first operation condition under which it is not possible to perform a parallel operation during image formation but it is possible to achieve a higher productivity and a second operation condition under which it is possible to perform the parallel operation during the image formation but it is not possible to achieve any higher productivity.

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