Image forming apparatus having a preview function for preventing an image on a display prior to printing

Claim 2

An image forming apparatus comprising: reading means for reading an image of an original; mode setting means for setting an image forming mode for the image of the original read by said reading means and a parameter in the image forming mode; processing means for processing the image of the original read by said reading means in accordance with the image forming mode set by said mode setting means; image forming means for forming the image processed by said processing means on a recording sheet; and preview means for displaying on a display unit the image processed by said processing means without forming the image on the recording sheet, wherein said preview means displays the processed image in the same order of forming images, if the image forming mode set by said mode setting means is a specific mode in which an order of forming images is changed according to a content of the parameter.

Claim 3

An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said specific mode is a mode of continuously forming different images on at least two recording sheets.

Claim 4

An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said specific mode is a mode of continuously forming the images of right and left pages of an opened book original.

Claim 5

An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said specific mode is a mode of dividing the original into a plurality of blocks, enlarging an image of each block, and forming each image on a different recording sheet.

Claim 6

An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said specific mode is a mode of forming the image of the original on the front and back surfaces of a recording sheet by using an original feeder.

Claim 7

An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising interception instructing means for entering an instruction of temporarily intercepting a continuous display, by said preview means, of a plurality of processed images.

Claim 8

An image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising resume instructing means for entering an instruction of resuming the continuous display intercepted upon an input from said interception instructing means.

Claim 9

An image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said preview means terminates the continuous display if said interception instructing means enters a further input under the condition that the continuous display is being intercepted.

Claim 10

An image forming apparatus comprising: reading means for reading an image of an original; mode setting means for setting an image forming mode for the image of the original read by said reading means; processing means for processing the image of the original read by said reading means in accordance with the image forming mode set by said mode setting means; image forming means for forming the image processed by said processing means on a recording sheet; and preview means for displaying on a display unit the image processed by said processing means without forming the image on a recording sheet, wherein said preview means concurrently displays a plurality of processed images to be continuously formed, if the image forming mode set by said mode setting means is a specific mode of continuously forming at least two different images on different surfaces of recording sheets.

Claim 11

An image forming apparatus comprising: reading means for reading an image of an original; mode setting means for setting an image forming mode for the image of the original read by said reading means; processing means for processing the image of the original read by said reading means in accordance with the image forming mode set by said mode setting means; image forming means for forming the image processed by said processing means on a recording sheet; and preview means for displaying on a display unit the image processed by said processing means without forming the image on a recording sheet, wherein said preview means concurrently displays a plurality of processed images to be continuously formed, if the image forming mode set by said mode setting means is a specific mode of continuously forming at least two different images on different surfaces of recording sheets.

Claim 12

An image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein said specific mode is a mode of continuously forming different images on at least two recording sheets.

Claim 13

An image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein said specific mode is a mode of continuously forming the images of right and left pages of an opened book original.

Claim 14

An image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein said specific mode is a mode of dividing the original into a plurality of blocks, enlarging an image of each block, and forming each image on a different recording sheet.

Claim 15

An image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein said specific mode is a mode of forming the image of the original on the front and back surfaces of a recording sheet by using an original feeder.

Claim 16

An image forming apparatus comprising: reading means for reading an image of an original; mode setting means for setting an image forming mode for the image of the original read by said reading means; processing means for processing the image of the original read by said reading means in accordance with the image forming mode set by said mode setting means; image forming means for forming the image processed by said processing means on a recording sheet; preview means for displaying on a display unit the image processed by said processing means without forming the image on a recording sheet; and switching means for switching between a first mode and a second mode, said first mode displaying a plurality of processed images one image at a time in the same order of forming an image and said second mode displaying the plurality of processed images at the same time, if the image forming mode set by said mode setting means is a specific mode of continuously forming at least two kinds of images.

Claim 17

An image forming apparatus comprising: reading means for reading an image of an original; mode setting means for setting an image forming mode for the image of the original read by said reading means; processing means for processing the image of the original read by said reading means in accordance with the image forming mode set by said mode setting means; image forming means for forming the image processed by said processing means on a recording sheet; preview means for displaying on a display unit the image processed by said processing means without forming the image on a recording sheet; and switching means for switching between a first mode and a second mode, said first mode displaying a plurality of processed images one image at a time in the same order of forming an image and said second mode displaying the plurality of processed images at the same time, if the image forming mode set by said mode setting means is a specific mode of continuously forming at least two kinds of images.

Claim 18

An image forming method used with an image forming apparatus having: reading means for reading an image of an original; mode setting means for setting an image forming mode for the image of the original read by said reading means and a parameter in the image forming mode; processing means for processing the image of the original read by said reading means in accordance with the image forming mode set by said mode setting means; image forming means for forming the image processed by said processing means on a recording sheet; and preview means for displaying on a display unit the image processed by said processing means without forming the image on a recording sheet, the image forming method comprising the steps of: a) setting an image forming mode; b) setting a parameter in the image forming mode set in said step a): c) setting a preview mode; d) reading an original image; e) processing the read original image in accordance with the set image forming mode; and f) displaying a plurality of images processed in said step e) in the same order of forming images by said preview means, if the set image forming mode is a specific mode in which an order of forming images is changed according to a content of the parameter.

Claim 19

An image forming method used with an image forming apparatus having: reading means for reading an image of an original; mode setting means for setting an image forming mode for the image of the original read by said reading means and a parameter in the image forming mode; processing means for processing the image of the original read by said reading means in accordance with the image forming mode set by said mode setting means; image forming means for forming the image processed by said processing means on a recording sheet; and preview means for displaying on a display unit the image processed by said processing means without forming the image on a recording sheet, the image forming method comprising the steps of: a) setting an image forming mode; b) setting a parameter in the image forming mode set in said step a): c) setting a preview mode; d) reading an original image; e) processing the read original image in accordance with the set image forming mode; and f) displaying a plurality of images processed in said step e) in the same order of forming images by said preview means, if the set image forming mode is a specific mode in which an order of forming images is changed according to a content of the parameter.

Claim 20

An image forming method according to claim 15 , wherein a continuous display in said step f) is temporarily interrupted in response to an input of an interruption command from an operator.

Claim 21

An image forming method according to claim 16 , wherein the temporarily intercepted continuous display is resumed in response to an input of a resumption command by the operator.

Claim 22

An image forming method according to claim 15 , wherein said specific mode is a mode of continuously forming different images on at least two recording sheets.

Claim 23

An image forming method according to claim 15 , wherein said specific mode is a mode of continuously forming the images of right and left pages of an opened book original.

Claim 24

An image forming method according to claim 15 , wherein said specific mode is a mode of dividing an original into a plurality of blocks, enlarging an image of each block, and forming each image on a different recording sheet.

Claim 25

An image forming method according to claim 15 , wherein said specific mode is a mode of forming the image of the original on the front and back surfaces of a recording sheet by using an original feeder.

Claim 26

An image forming method used with an image forming apparatus having: reading means for reading an image of an original; mode setting means for setting an image forming mode for the image of the original read by said reading means; processing means for processing the image of the original read by said reading means in accordance with the image forming mode set by said mode setting means; image forming means for forming the image processed by said processing means on a recording sheet; and preview means for displaying on a display unit the image processed by said processing means without forming the image on a recording sheet, the image forming method comprising the steps of: a) setting an image forming mode; b) setting a preview mode; c) reading an original image; d) processing the read original image in accordance with the set image forming mode; and e) displaying concurrently a plurality of image processed in said step d) on the display unit, if the set image forming mode is a specific mode of continuously forming at least different images on different surfaces of recording sheets.

Claim 27

An image forming method used with an image forming apparatus having: reading means for reading an image of an original; mode setting means for setting an image forming mode for the image of the original read by said reading means; processing means for processing the image of the original read by said reading means in accordance with the image forming mode set by said mode setting means; image forming means for forming the image processed by said processing means on a recording sheet; and preview means for displaying on a display unit the image processed by said processing means without forming the image on a recording sheet, the image forming method comprising the steps of: a) setting an image forming mode; b) setting a preview mode; c) reading an original image; d) processing the read original image in accordance with the set image forming mode; and e) displaying concurrently a plurality of image processed in said step d) on the display unit, if the set image forming mode is a specific mode of continuously forming at least different images on different surfaces of recording sheets.

Claim 28

An image forming method according to claim 22 , wherein said specific mode is a mode of forming the image of the original on the front and back surfaces of a recording sheet by using an original feeder.

Claim 29

An image forming method according to claim 22 , wherein said specific mode is a mode of continuously forming the images of right and left pages of an opened book original.

Claim 30

An image forming method according to claim 22 , wherein said specific mode is a mode of dividing the original into a plurality of blocks, enlarging an image of each block, and forming each image on a different recording sheet.

Claim 31

An image forming method used with an image forming apparatus having: reading means for reading an image of an original; mode setting means for setting an image forming mode for the image of the original read by said reading means; processing means for processing the image of the original read by said reading means in accordance with the image forming mode set by said mode setting means; image forming means for forming the image processed by said processing means on a recording sheet; and preview means for displaying on a display unit the image processed by said processing means without forming the image on a recording sheet, the image forming method comprising the steps of: a) setting an image forming mode; b) setting a preview mode; c) reading an original image; d) processing the read original image in accordance with a set image forming mode; e) displaying a plurality of images processed in said step d) on the same screen of the display unit at the same time, if the set image forming mode is a specific mode of continuously forming at least two kinds of images; and f) selectively switching between a first mode and a second mode in response to an input of a display switching command from an operator, said first mode displaying a plurality of images processed in said step d) in the same order of forming images and said second mode displaying the plurality of images processed in said step d) at the same time, if the set image forming mode is a specific mode of continuously forming at least two kinds of images.

Claim 32

An image forming method used with an image forming apparatus having: reading means for reading an image of an original; mode setting means for setting an image forming mode for the image of the original read by said reading means; processing means for processing the image of the original read by said reading means in accordance with the image forming mode set by said mode setting means; image forming means for forming the image processed by said processing means on a recording sheet; and preview means for displaying on a display unit the image processed by said processing means without forming the image on a recording sheet, the image forming method comprising the steps of: a) setting an image forming mode; b) setting a preview mode; c) reading an original image; d) processing the read original image in accordance with a set image forming mode; e) displaying a plurality of images processed in said step d) on the same screen of the display unit at the same time, if the set image forming mode is a specific mode of continuously forming at least two kinds of images; and f) selectively switching between a first mode and a second mode in response to an input of a display switching command from an operator, said first mode displaying a plurality of images processed in said step d) in the same order of forming images and said second mode displaying the plurality of images processed in said step d) at the same time, if the set image forming mode is a specific mode of continuously forming at least two kinds of images.

Claim 33

An image forming apparatus comprising: reading means for reading an image of an original; mode setting means for setting a mode for dividing the original into a plurality of areas, and forming images of the divided areas, of the original read by said reading means respectively on different recording sheets; processing means for determining the plurality of divided areas of the original to be read by said reading means, and processing the images of the divided areas of the original read by said reading means, in accordance with the mode set by said mode setting means; image forming means for forming the images of areas processed by said processing means on different recording sheets, respectively; and preview means for displaying on a display unit the image of each area processed by said processing means without forming the image on the recording sheet, wherein said preview means displays the images of the divided areas of the original to be divided and formed on the different recording sheets and executes a display for causing to recognize boundaries of the divided areas to be able to recognize how the original image is divided and subjected to image forming on the respectively different recording sheets, and wherein said image forming means performs the image forming on the respectively different recording sheets on a basis of the displayed contents by said preview means.

Claim 34

An image forming apparatus comprising: reading means for reading an image of an original; mode setting means for setting a mode for dividing the original into a plurality of areas, and forming images of the divided areas, of the original read by said reading means respectively on different recording sheets; processing means for determining the plurality of divided areas of the original to be read by said reading means, and processing the images of the divided areas of the original read by said reading means, in accordance with the mode set by said mode setting means; image forming means for forming the images of areas processed by said processing means on different recording sheets, respectively; and preview means for displaying on a display unit the image of each area processed by said processing means without forming the image on the recording sheet, wherein said preview means displays the images of the divided areas of the original to be divided and formed on the different recording sheets and executes a display for causing to recognize boundaries of the divided areas to be able to recognize how the original image is divided and subjected to image forming on the respectively different recording sheets, and wherein said image forming means performs the image forming on the respectively different recording sheets on a basis of the displayed contents by said preview means.

Claim 35

An apparatus according to claim 27 , wherein said preview means concurrently displays the processed images of the areas.

Claim 36

An apparatus according to claim 27 , wherein the display representing the division status of the input original is executed in response to an operator's instruction.

Claim 37

An image forming method comprising the steps of: a) causing to set a mode for dividing an original into a plurality of areas, and forming images of the divided areas of the read original respectively on different recording sheets; b) causing to determine the plurality of divided areas of the original to be read, in accordance with the mode set in said step a); c) causing to process the images of the divided areas of the read original d) causing the processed images of the areas to be formed on different recording sheets, respectively; and e) displaying the images of the divided areas of the original to be divided and formed on the different recording sheets and causing to recognize boundaries of the divided areas to be able to recognize how the original image is divided and subjected to image forming on the respectively different recording sheets.

Claim 38

An image forming method comprising the steps of: a) causing to set a mode for dividing an original into a plurality of areas, and forming images of the divided areas of the read original respectively on different recording sheets; b) causing to determine the plurality of divided areas of the original to be read, in accordance with the mode set in said step a); c) causing to process the images of the divided areas of the read original d) causing the processed images of the areas to be formed on different recording sheets, respectively; and e) displaying the images of the divided areas of the original to be divided and formed on the different recording sheets and causing to recognize boundaries of the divided areas to be able to recognize how the original image is divided and subjected to image forming on the respectively different recording sheets.

Claim 39

A method according to claim 30 , wherein said step e) causes the processed image of the areas to be concurrently displayed.

Claim 40

A method according to claim 30 , wherein said step e) is executed in response to an operator's instruction.