Image recording system utilizing a plurality of recording units

An image recording system comprising:

• a plurality of recording units for recording on a plurality of recording media;
• a plurality of holders each associated with one of said plurality of recording units for holding said recording media;
• and
• means for selecting at least one of said recording units for recording;
• said recording units being selected for recording by said selecting means according to a predetermined priority, and the capacities of said holders being set according to said priority.

An image recording system comprising:

• a plurality of recording units for recording on a plurality of recording media;
• means for setting a recording number;
• means for detecting if each of said recording units is in a usable condition;
• and
• means for selecting at least one of said recording units to be used for recording according to an output from said detecting means, said selected recording unit or units performing recording a number of times equal to the number set by said setting means.

An image recording system comprising:

• a plurality of recording units for recording on a plurality of recording media;
• a plurality of holders each associated with one said recording unit for holding said recording media;
• means for detecting the amount of said recording media held in each of said holders;
• and
• means for selecting at least one said recording unit to be used for recording according to an output from said detecting means.

An image recording system comprising:

• a plurality of recording units for recording on a plurality of recording media;
• means for generating a plurality of pieces of recording data;
• and
• data selecting means for selectively supplying said plurality of pieces of data to said plurality of recording units, said data selecting means further selecting data from said plurality of pieces of recording data, and selecting at least one of said recording units to which the selected data is supplied.

An image recording system comprising:

• a plurality of recording units for recording on a plurality of recording media;
• and
• means for generating recording data to be recorded by said recording units;
• each of said plurality of recording units having first recording measn for recording said data in a first color, and a least one of said recording units having second recording means for recording said data in a second color.

An image recording system comprising:

• a plurality of recording units for recording on a plurality of recording media;
• and
• means for generating recording data for said recording units;
• at least one of said recording units being operable to record said recording data generated by said generating means in a different color from the colors in which other recording units record.

An image recording system comprising:

• a first recording unit for recording first image data on a recording medium;
• a second recording unit for recording second image data on another recording medium;
• first and second main feeding means, each associated with one of said recording units, respectively for feeding said recording medium and said other recording medium to said first and second recording units and exhausting said respective recording media after recording;
• and
• auxiliary feeding means for feeding said recording medium to said second recording unit after recording thereon by said first recording unit.

An image recording system comprising:

• means for electrically reading an image of an original and generating an output signal representative thereof;
• means for operating on an output signal from said reading means to generate a plurality of image signals representing different color data;
• means for recording color images based on said plurality of image signals from said operating means;
• and
• selecting means for selectively supplying said plurality of image signals to said recording means.

An image recording system comprising:

• a plurality of recording units for recording on a plurality of recording members;
• and
• means for selecting at least one of said recording units according to a predetermined priority;
• said plurality of recording units each accommodating a recording agent for image recording on the recording member in an amount corresponding to said priority.

An image recording system comprising:

• means for electrically reading an image of an original;
• means for converting image information representing the image read by said reading means to a digital signal;
• a plurality of recording units for recording an image based on the digital signal from said converting means;
• and
• means for selecting a number of said plurality of recording units to be enabled for image recording;
• said selected number of recording units being simultaneously operable for image recording.

An image recording system comprising:

• means for electrically reading an image of an original;
• means for storing data representing the image read by said reading means;
• and
• a plurality of recording units each for recording an image based on the same image data from said storage means.