Patent ID: 6348974
Filing Date: 2002-02-19
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
An image forming apparatus comprising:reading means for reading image information of an original; storage means for storing the image information read in the read means; deciding means for deciding on whether an access speed of the storage means is small or large; setting means for setting a first image forming mode if the access speed of the storage means is small, or setting a second image forming mode if the access speed of the storage means is large, based on the deciding means; selecting means for selecting one of the first and second image forming modes set by the setting means according to a decision by the deciding means; image forming means for forming an image on an image forming medium from the image information stored in the storage means in a selected image forming mode according to an output of the selecting means, wherein the image forming means comprises deleting means for deleting page image information from the storage means each time when a page image is formed, if the first image forming mode is selected, p1 wherein the image forming means comprises, in order to execute a first sort mode: means for sequentially producing a first copy and following plurality of copies of the original by sequentially reading all the pages of the original stored in the storage means to form an image on the image forming medium; and means for sequentially deleting image information of each page of the original from the storage means each time when print operation of the page is finished in the course where pages of the last copy of the predetermined number of the original are produced.