Image scanning and recording apparatus

An image scanning and recording apparatus comprising:

• a simultaneous plural recording beam generator to generate recording beams for n channels for recording n lines of data simultaneously on an image recording medium in a main scanning direction in an interlaced scanning fashion, wherein n is a number>=3 and said n channels being numbered 1,2 . . . n;
• a plurality of line buffers to supply the n lines of data to said simultaneous plural recording beam generator;
• and
• a write/read controller for controlling reading of said n lines of data from said plurality of line buffers simultaneously and writing of said n lines of data to said plurality of line buffers one line of data at a time successively in the sequence of scanning line numbers,
• wherein said write/read controller:
• assigns a sequential number N (N=1,2 . . . n) in each scan cycle to n lines of data to be written in the sequence of scanning line numbers,
• selects a line buffer from said plurality of line buffers for writing an Nth line of data (N=1,2 . . . n) using the following techniques:
• a) the line buffer which has stored data read into an Nth channel in a previous scan cvcle is selected for the Nth line of data if the line buffer is writable;
• b) a next writable buffer is selected if a line buffer cannot be selected using technique (a),
• writes the line of data to the selected buffer for an Nth line of data (N=1,2 . . . n) sequentially, and
• effects a read process to simultaneously read n lines of data to be supplied to respective channels in an interlaced fashion and transfers the n lines of data to the n channels.