Image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, image processing method, and program product thereof

An image forming apparatus for forming an image based on image data, the image data forming apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of image forming sections for forming images in different colors on image carriers arranged for each of the image forming sections;
• a plurality of memories for storing image data of respective colors, the memories being arranged for each of the image forming sections;
• color determining means for determining that an image formation based on image data stored in the memories should be executed in multi-color mode or monochrome mode;
• readout signal generating means for generating a plurality of readout signals for the respective memories with different timing in case a multi-color image is to be formed, and generating a plurality of readout signals for the respective memories simultaneously in case a monochrome image is to be formed;
• readout means for reading out image data of respective colors from the memories in accordance with readout signals from the readout signal generating means;
• first control means for controlling to operate the plurality of the image forming sections in accordance with image data read out by the readout means and form a color image;
• monochrome-image-data forming means for forming monochrome image data in accordance with image data of respective colors read out by the readout means;
• and
• second control means for controlling to operate one of the plurality of the image forming sections in accordance with monochrome image data formed by the monochrome-image-data forming means and form a monochrome image.

An image processing method for handling image data, the image processing method comprising steps of:

• determining that an image based on image data is to be outputted in multi-color or monochrome;
• reading out a plurality of image data of respective colors with timing which differs by respective colors in case a multi-color image is to be outputted, and reading out a plurality of image data of respective colors simultaneously in case a monochrome image is to be outputted;
• and
• forming monochrome image data in accordance with image data of respective colors read out at the precedent step in case a monochrome image is to be outputted.

An image forming method for forming image based on image data, the image forming method comprising steps of:

• determining that an image based on image data is to be formed in multi-color or monochrome;
• reading out a plurality of image data of respective colors with timing of which differs by respective colors in case a multi-color image is to be formed, and reading out a plurality of image data of respective colors simultaneously in case a monochrome image is to be formed;
• forming monochrome image data in accordance with image data read out at precedent step in case a monochrome image is to be formed;
• and
• forming a multi-color image by controlling a plurality of image forming sections to operate in accordance with the plurality of the image data of respective colors read out at precedent step in case a multi-color image is to be formed, and forming a monochrome image by controlling one of the plurality of the image forming sections to operate in accordance with the plurality of the image data of respective colors read out at precedent step in case a monochrome image is to be formed.

A computer program product used for executing image data processing by an image processing apparatus, the computer program product comprising:

• a computer readable medium;
• and
• a computer program stored on the computer readable medium, the computer program comprising steps of:
• determining that an image based on image data is to be outputted in multi-color or monochrome;
• reading out a plurality of image data of respective colors with timing which differs by colors in case a multi-color image is to be formed in accordance with the precedent determining step, and reading out a plurality of image data of respective colors simultaneously in case a monochrome image is to be formed in accordance with the precedent determining step;
• and
• forming monochrome image data in accordance with image data of respective color read out at the precedent reading out step in case a monochrome image is to be outputted.