Patent ID: 6449064
Filing Date: 2002-09-10
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
An image forming apparatus, comprising:a plurality of memory devices, each respective memory device comprising: at least one image memory configured to store image data; and a dedicated controller allocated to said respective memory device and configured to control input and output operations for said image data to and from said at least one image memory; an image reading device configured to generate image data by reading an original document; at least one data input device configured to input image data generated by an external source; a plurality of input paths configured to transmit said image data generated by said image reading device and said image data input by said at least one data input device; and an image memory switching device configured to connect said plurality of input paths to said plurality of memory devices, to receive said image data generated by said image reading device and said image data input by said at least one data input device, and to switch said plurality of memory devices to transmit consecutive image data, which is consecutively sent through one of said plurality of input paths, to a same memory device among said plurality of memory devices when said image memory switching device receives said image data and said image data through said plurality of input paths.