Image copying apparatus

Claim 2

An image copying apparatus comprising: discriminating means for discriminating a direction at which one or more original(s) have been placed on a scanner, the scanner providing first and second original images with a relative orientation therebetween from the original(s); deciding means for deciding a first angle of rotation of the first original image, and for deciding a second angle of rotation of the second original image; and image forming means for forming the first original image onto a first face of a recording paper at the first angle of rotation, and for forming the second original image onto a second face of the recording paper at the second angle of rotation, wherein said deciding means decides the first and second angles of rotation based upon the discriminated direction of the original(s) and based upon whether the first original image or the second original image is to be formed, so that a relative orientation between the first and second original images formed onto the first and second faces of the recording paper, respectively, is the same as the relative orientation between the first and second original images irrespective of the direction of the original(s) and regardless of how the recording paper is handled by said image forming means.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising detecting means for detecting a paper direction in which a recording paper has been set, wherein said deciding means selects 0° as the first and the second angles of rotation in a case where both the direction at which the original(s) have been placed on the scanner and the paper direction are lengthwise.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising detecting means for detecting a paper direction in which a recording paper has been set, wherein said deciding means selects 0° as the first angle of rotation of the first original image and 180° as the second angle of rotation of the second original image in a case where both the direction at which the original(s) have been placed on the scanner and the paper direction are sideways.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising detecting means for detecting a paper direction in which a recording paper has been set, wherein said deciding means selects 90° as the first angle of rotation of the first original image and 270° as the second angle of rotation of the second original image in a case where the direction at which the original(s) have been placed on the scanner is sideways and the paper direction is lengthwise.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising detecting means for detecting a paper direction in which a recording paper has been set, wherein said deciding means selects 90° as the first and second angles of rotation of the first and the second original images, respectively, in a case where the direction at which the original(s) have been placed on the scanner is lengthwise and the paper direction is sideways.

Claim 7

The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a memory functionally connected to said image forming means for storing the first or the second original image, and means for accessing said memory in an order which corresponds to one of the first and second angles of rotation decided by said deciding means.

Claim 8

The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising detecting means for detecting a paper direction in which a recording paper has been set, wherein said apparatus forms an image without using said memory if the direction at which the original(s) have been placed on the scanner and the paper direction coincide.

Claim 9

The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising read-out means for reading out the original image by scanning thereof, wherein said apparatus detects the direction at which the original(s) have been placed on the scanner by a pre-scanning performed by said read-out means.

Claim 10

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image forming means forms an image by an electro-static recording method.

Claim 11

The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for generating a pulse-width modulated signal having a pulse-width which corresponds to a pixel density, and said image forming means comprises means for emitting light based upon said pulse-width modulated signal.

Claim 12

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus forms a color image.

Claim 13

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second original images are on respective first and second faces of a single original.

Claim 14

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second original images are on a first face of respective first and second originals.

Claim 15

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the original(s) have been placed on the scanner such that an upper portion of the original(s) contacts a prescribed position of the scanner, said deciding means decides the first and second angles of rotation based upon the discriminated direction of the original(s) and whether the first original image or the second original image is to be formed, so that upper portions of the first and second original images formed onto the first and second faces of the recording paper, respectively, are positioned on a same portion of the recording paper, irrespective of the direction of the original(s) and regardless of whether the recording paper has been fed width-wisely or length-wisely.

Claim 16

The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means for detecting a direction in which the recording paper has been set; and means for setting a binding direction of the recording paper, wherein said deciding means selects one from 0°, 90°, 180° and 270° as the first and second angles of rotation further based upon the set binding direction of the recording paper.

Claim 17

The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said deciding means selects 0° as the first and second angles of rotation of the first and the second original images, respectively, in a case where both the direction at which the original(s) have been placed on the scanner and the paper directions are lengthwise and the set binding direction of the recording paper is lengthwise.

Claim 18

The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said apparatus forms a color image.

Claim 19

The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a memory functionally connected to said image forming means for storing the first or the second original image, and means for accessing said memory in an order which corresponds to one of the first and second angles or rotation decided by said deciding means.

Claim 20

The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said apparatus forms an image without using said memory if the direction at which the originals have been placed on the scanner and the paper direction coincide.

Claim 21

The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said deciding means selects 0° as the first angle of rotation of the first original image and 180° as the second angle of rotation of the second original image in a case where both the direction at which the original(s) have been placed on the scanner and the paper direction are lengthwise, and the set binding direction of the recording paper is widthwise.

Claim 22

The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said deciding means selects 0° as the first and second angles of rotation of the first and the second original images, respectively, in a case where both the direction at which the original(s) have been placed on the scanner and the paper direction are sideways, and the set binding direction of the recording paper is widthwise.

Claim 23

The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said deciding means selects 0° as the first angle of rotation of the first original image and 180° as the second angle of rotation of the second original image in a case where both the direction at which the original(s) have been placed on the scanner and the paper direction are sideways, and the set binding direction of the recording paper is lengthwise.

Claim 24

The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said deciding means selects 90° as the first and second angles of rotation of the first and the second original images, respectively, in a case where the direction at which the original(s) have been placed on the scanner is sideways and the paper direction is lengthwise, and the set binding direction of the recording paper is lengthwise.

Claim 25

The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said deciding means selects 90° as the first angle of rotation of the first original image and 270° as the second angle of rotation of the second original image in a case where the direction at which the original(s) have been placed on the scanner is sideways and the paper direction is lengthwise, and the set binding direction of the recording paper is widthwise.

Claim 26

The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said deciding means selects 90° as the first and second angles of rotation of the first and the second original images, respectively, in a case where the direction at which the original(s) have been placed on the scanner is lengthwise and the paper direction is sideways, and the set binding direction of the recording paper is widthwise.

Claim 27

The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said deciding means selects 90° as the first angle of rotation of the first original image and 270° as the second angle of rotation of the second original image in a case where the direction at which the original(s) have been placed on the scanner is lengthwise, and the paper direction is sideways, and the set binding direction of the recording paper is lengthwise.

Claim 28

The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising read-out means for reading out the original image by scanning thereof, wherein said apparatus discriminates the direction at which the originals) have been placed on the scanner by a pre-scanning performed by said read-out means.

Claim 29

The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said image forming means forms an image by an electro-static recording method.

Claim 30

The apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising means for generating a pulse-width modulated signal having a pulse-width which corresponds to a pixel density, and said image forming means comprises means for emitting light based upon said pulse-width modulated signal.

Claim 31

An image copying apparatus comprising: a scanner which includes a scanning surface and which generates first and second original images from one or more original(s) placed on the scanning surface, said scanner defining a prescribed position on the scanning surface against which the original(s) may be placed width-wisely or length-wisely; first detecting means for detecting whether the original(s) have been placed width-wisely or length-wisely at the prescribed position and for generating a placement direction signal in accordance with the detection; feed means for feeding a recording paper to an image forming station, said feed means including second detecting means for detecting whether the recording paper is fed width-wisely or length-wisely and for generating a paper direction signal in accordance with the detection; image forming means arranged at the image forming station for forming the first original image in accordance with a first scanning of the original(s) by said scanner on a first face of the recording paper, and for forming a second original image in accordance with a second scanning of the original(s) by said scanner on a second face of the recording paper; and deciding means for deciding first and second angles of rotation for rotating the first and second original images, respectively, said deciding means rotating the first and second original images based on the placement direction signal and the paper direction signal and based on whether the first original image or the second original image is to be formed, such that the first original image and the second original image are recorded on respective first and second faces of the recording paper such that a relative orientation between the first and second original images recorded on the first and second faces of the recording paper, respectively, is the same as the relative orientation between the first and second original images, irrespective of whether the original(s) have been placed width-wisely or length-wisely at the prescribed position, irrespective of whether the recording paper has been fed width-wisely or length-wisely, and regardless of how the recording paper is handled by said image forming means.

Claim 32

An image copying apparatus comprising: a scanner which includes a scanning surface and which generates first and second original images from one or more original(s) placed on the scanning surface, said scanner defining a prescribed position on the scanning surface against which the original(s) may be placed width-wisely or length-wisely; first detecting means for detecting whether the original(s) have been placed width-wisely or length-wisely at the prescribed position and for generating a placement direction signal in accordance with the detection; feed means for feeding a recording paper to an image forming station, said feed means including second detecting means for detecting whether the recording paper is fed width-wisely or length-wisely and for generating a paper direction signal in accordance with the detection; image forming means arranged at the image forming station for forming the first original image in accordance with a first scanning of the original(s) by said scanner on a first face of the recording paper, and for forming a second original image in accordance with a second scanning of the original(s) by said scanner on a second face of the recording paper; and deciding means for deciding first and second angles of rotation for rotating the first and second original images, respectively, said deciding means rotating the first and second original images based on the placement direction signal and the paper direction signal and based on whether the first original image or the second original image is to be formed, such that the first original image and the second original image are recorded on respective first and second faces of the recording paper such that a relative orientation between the first and second original images recorded on the first and second faces of the recording paper, respectively, is the same as the relative orientation between the first and second original images, irrespective of whether the original(s) have been placed width-wisely or length-wisely at the prescribed position, irrespective of whether the recording paper has been fed width-wisely or length-wisely, and regardless of how the recording paper is handled by said image forming means.

Claim 33

The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the first and second original images are on respective first and second faces of a single original.

Claim 34

The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the first and second original images are on a first face of respective first and second originals.

Claim 35

An image copying apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: means for detecting a direction in which the recording paper has been set; and means for detecting a size of the recording paper, wherein said deciding means selects one from among 0°, 90°, 180° and 270° as the first and second angles of rotation further based upon the detected size of the recording paper.

Claim 36

The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said deciding means selects 0° as the first and second angles of rotation of the first and the second original images, respectively, in a case where both the direction at which the original(s) have been placed on the scanner and the paper direction are lengthwise and the detected size of the recording paper is less than a predetermined size.

Claim 37

The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said deciding means selects 0° as the first angle of rotation of the first original image and 180° as the second angle of rotation of the second original image in a case where both the direction at which the original(s) have been placed on the scanner and the paper direction are lengthwise and the detected size of the recording paper is greater than a predetermined size.

Claim 38

The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said deciding means selects 0° as the first and second angles of rotation of the first and the second original images, respectively, in a case where both the direction at which the original(s) have been placed on the scanner and the paper direction are sideways and the detected size of the recording paper is greater than a predetermined size.

Claim 39

The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said deciding means selects 0° as the first angle of rotation of the first original image and selects 180° as the second angle of rotation of the second original image in a case where both the direction at which the originals have been placed on the scanner and the paper direction are sideways and the detected size of the recording paper is less than a predetermined size.

Claim 40

The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said deciding means selects 90° as the first angle of rotation of the first original image and 270° as the second angle of rotation of the second original image in a case where the direction at which the original(s) have been placed on the scanner is sideways and the paper direction is lengthwise, and the detected size of the recording paper is less than a predetermined size.

Claim 41

The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said deciding means selects 90° as the first and second angles of rotation of the first and the second original images, respectively, in a case where the direction at which the original(s) have been placed on the scanner is sideways and the paper direction is lengthwise, and the detected size of the recording paper is greater than a predetermined size.

Claim 42

The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said deciding means selects 90° as the first angle of rotation of the first original image and 270° as the second angle of rotation of the second original image in a case where the direction at which the original(s) have been placed on the scanner is lengthwise and the paper direction is sideways, and the detected size of the recording paper is greater than a predetermined size.

Claim 43

The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said deciding means selects 90° as the first and second angles of rotation of the first and the second original images, respectively, in a case where the direction at which the original(s) have been placed on the scanner is lengthwise and the paper direction is sideways, and the detected size of the recording paper is less than a predetermined size.

Claim 44

An image copying method, comprising the steps of: (a) discriminating a direction at which one or more original(s) have been placed on a scanner, the scanner providing first and second original images with a relative orientation therebetween from the original(s); (b) deciding a first angle of rotation of the first original image, and a second angle of rotation of the second original image; and (c) forming the first original image onto a first face of a recording paper at the first angle of rotation, and forming the second original image onto a second face of the recording paper at the second angle of rotation, wherein in said step of deciding, the first and second angles of rotation are decided based upon the direction of the original(s) and based upon whether the first original image or the second original image is to be formed, so that a relative orientation between the first and second original images formed onto the first and second faces of the recording paper, respectively, is the same as the relative orientation between the first and second original images, irrespective of the direction of the original(s) and regardless of how the recording paper is handled in said forming step.

Claim 45

An image copying method, comprising the steps of: (a) discriminating a direction at which one or more original(s) have been placed on a scanner, the scanner providing first and second original images with a relative orientation therebetween from the original(s); (b) deciding a first angle of rotation of the first original image, and a second angle of rotation of the second original image; and (c) forming the first original image onto a first face of a recording paper at the first angle of rotation, and forming the second original image onto a second face of the recording paper at the second angle of rotation, wherein in said step of deciding, the first and second angles of rotation are decided based upon the direction of the original(s) and based upon whether the first original image or the second original image is to be formed, so that a relative orientation between the first and second original images formed onto the first and second faces of the recording paper, respectively, is the same as the relative orientation between the first and second original images, irrespective of the direction of the original(s) and regardless of how the recording paper is handled in said forming step.

Claim 46

The method according to claim 42, wherein when the original(s) have been placed on the scanner such that an upper portion of the original(s) contacts a prescribed position of the scanner, said deciding step decides the first and second angles of rotation based upon the discriminated direction of the original(s) and whether the first original image or the second original image is to be formed, so that upper portions of the first and second original images formed onto the first and second faces of the recording paper, respectively, are positioned on a same portion of the recording paper, irrespective of the direction of the original(s) and regardless of whether the recording paper has been fed width-wisely or length-wisely.

Claim 47

The method according to claim 42, further comprising the step of determining a size of the recording paper, wherein in said step of deciding, one from among 0°, 90°, 180° and 270° is selected as one of the first and second angles of rotation further based upon the detected size of the recording paper.

Claim 48

The method according to claim 42, further comprising the step of setting a binding direction of the recording paper, wherein in said step of deciding, one from among 0°, 90°, 180° and 270° is selected as one of the first and second angles of rotation further based upon the set binding direction of the recording paper.

Claim 49

The method according to claim 42, further comprising the steps of: (d) storing the first or the second original image in a memory; and (e) accessing said memory in an order which corresponds to one of the first and second angles of rotation decided in said step of deciding.

Claim 50

The method according to claim 42, wherein an image is formed by an electro-static recording method in said step of forming.

Claim 51

The method according to claim 42, wherein a color image is formed by said method.

Claim 52

The method according to claim 42, wherein the first and second original images are on respective first and second faces of a single original.

Claim 53

The method according to claim 42, wherein the first and second original images are on a first face of respective first and second originals.