# US 2014/0153021 A1 · Image forming apparatus and image forming method

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- Number: US 2014/0153021 A1
- Document ID: US20140153021A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/092,884
- Filed: 2013-11-27
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-12-04
- Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
- Inventors: Hiroshi Matsumoto
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140153021A1

## CPC

- H04N 1/00912: {Arrangements for controlling a still picture apparatus or components thereof not otherwise provided for}
- G06K 15/10: by matrix printers {(G06K15/028 takes precedence)}
- H04N 1/00278: {with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer}
- H04N 1/17: the scanning speed being dependent on content of picture
- H04N 1/233: {according to characteristics of the data to be reproduced, e.g. number of lines}
- H04N 1/2369: {Selecting a particular reproducing mode from amongst a plurality of modes, e.g. paper saving or normal, or simplex or duplex}
- H04N 1/38: Circuits or arrangements for blanking or otherwise eliminating unwanted parts of pictures (H04N1/387 takes precedence)
- H04N 1/1911: {Simultaneously or substantially simultaneously scanning picture elements on more than one main scanning line, e.g. scanning in swaths}
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS

## Abstract

An image forming apparatus divides image data into a plurality of image regions in a sub-scanning direction and performs predetermined processing on the image data of each divided image region so as to form an image on a recording medium. The image forming apparatus includes: a detection unit that detects whether the image data of the image region is blank data; a storage unit that stores the image data of the image region that has been subjected to detection; and a control unit that controls whether to cause the detection unit to perform the detection depending on a predetermined printing mode.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An image forming apparatus comprising:
a storage unit that stores a predetermined amount of image data that is sequentially input;
a detection unit that detects whether the image data is blank data;
a control unit that controls whether to cause the detection unit to perform detection depending on a predetermined printing mode, wherein
if the predetermined printing mode is a printing mode in which the detection unit is caused to perform the detection and when the detection unit does not detect the blank data, then the control unit performs control so as to perform image formation according to the image data, and
if the predetermined printing mode is a printing mode in which the detection unit is not caused to perform the detection, then the control unit performs control so as to sequentially perform image formation according to the image data.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the predetermined printing mode is a printing mode in which the detection unit is caused to perform the detection and when the detection unit detects the blank data, then the control unit performs control so as to convey a recording medium by a conveyance amount corresponding to the blank data.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing mode in which the detection unit is not caused to perform the detection is a copy printing mode.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing mode in which the detection unit is not caused to perform the detection is a security printing mode.

### Claim 5

An image forming method comprising:
a storing step of storing a predetermined amount of image data;
a detection step of detecting whether the image data is blank data;
a first control step of controlling whether to execute the detection step depending on a predetermined printing mode;
a second control step of performing control so as to perform image formation according to the image data if the predetermined printing mode is a printing mode in which the detection step is caused to be executed according to the first control step and when the blank data is not detected in the detection step; and
a third control step of performing control so as to sequentially perform image formation according to the image data if the predetermined printing mode is a printing mode in which the detection step is not caused to be executed according to the first control step.