Patent ID: 8253998

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a reader connecting unit capable of being connected with a color original document reader that reads original documents in color mode and a monochrome original document reader that reads original documents in monochrome mode, wherein the reader connecting unit is connected only with one of the color original document reader and the monochrome original document reader; a control unit configured to be capable of exchanging a color image data generating circuit board substrate and a monochrome image data generating unit circuit board substrate, wherein the control unit is provided only with one of the color image data generating circuit board substrate and the monochrome image data generating circuit board substrate, the color image data generating circuit board substrate converts a format of color data received from the color original document reader connected to the reader connecting unit to a prescribed format, and generates image data from the converted format of color data, and the monochrome image data generating unit circuit board substrate converts a format of monochrome data received from the monochrome original document reader connected to the reader connecting unit to the prescribed format, and generates image data from the converted format of monochrome data; and an image forming unit that forms an image based on the image data, wherein the color image data generating circuit board substrate is provided when the color original document reader is connected to the reader connecting unit and the monochrome image data generating circuit board substrate is provided when the monochrome original document reader is connected to the reader connecting unit.