Image forming apparatus for forming image in copy mode and mode other than copy mode

An image forming method for an image forming apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

• forming images on copy-modes sheets in a copy image-forming mode, in which the images are based on image data from the image forming apparatus, and for forming images on non-copy-mode sheets in a non-copy image-forming mode, in which the images are based on image data from an external apparatus;
• storing the copy-mode sheets and the non-copy-mode sheets, using a plurality of storage means;
• setting at least one of the plurality of storage means as copy-mode storage means for normally storing the copy-mode sheets and for setting at least another one of the plurality of storage means as non-copy-mode storage means for normally storing the non-copy-mode sheets;
• and
• controlling the image forming apparatus to prohibit non-copy-mode sheets from being stored in the copy-mode storage means set in said setting step regardless of the presence or absence of the sheets, and to permit copy-mode sheets to be stored in the non-copy-mode storage means set in said setting step unless non-copy-mode sheets have already been stored therein.

A control method for an image forming apparatus which forms an image on a copy-mode sheet in a copy image-forming mode, in which the image is based on image data from the image forming apparatus, or forms an image on a non-copy-mode sheet in a non-copy image-forming mode, in which the image is based on image data from an external apparatus, discharges one of the copy-mode sheet and the non-copy-mode sheet to at least one of a plurality of storage means, said method comprising the steps of:

• setting at least one of said plurality of storage means as copy-mode storage means for normally storing the copy-mode sheets and setting at least another one or said plurality of storage means as non-copy-mode storage means for normally storing the non-copy-mode sheets;
• preventing discharge of the non-copy-mode sheet to the copy-mode storage means regardless of the presence or absence of the sheets;
• permitting discharge of the copy-mode sheet mode to the non-copy-mode storage means;
• and
• preventing discharge of the copy-mode sheet to the non-copy-mode storage means when a non-copy-mode sheet is present therein.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image forming unit for forming images on copy-mode sheets in a copy image-forming mode, in which the images are based on image data from said image forming apparatus, and for forming images on non-copy-mode sheets in a non-copy image-forming mode, in which the images are based on image data from an external apparatus;
• a plurality of storage units, which are used for storing the copy-mode sheets and the non-copy-mode sheets;
• a setting unit for setting at least one of said plurality of storage units as a copy-mode storage unit for normally storing the copy-mode sheets and for setting at least another one of said plurality of storage units as a non-copy-mode storage unit for normally storing the non-copy-mode sheets;
• and
• a controller for controlling the storing of the copy-mode sheets and the non-copy-mode sheets into said copy-mode and non-copy-mode storage units that are set by said setting unit respectively,
• wherein said controller is capable of prohibiting the non-copy-mode sheets from being stored in said copy-mode storage unit regardless of the presence or absence of the sheets, and of permitting the copy-mode sheets to be stored in said non-copy-mode storage unit unless the non-copy-mode sheets have already been stored therein.

An image forming method comprising:

• an image forming step, of forming images on copy-mode sheets in a copy image-forming mode, in which the images are based on image data from as image forming apparatus, and of forming images on non-copy-mode sheets in a non-copy image-forming mode, in which the images are based on image data from an external apparatus;
• a storage step, of storing copy-mode sheets and non-copy-mode sheets, using a plurality of storage units;
• a setting step, of setting at least one of said plurality of storage units as a copy-mode storage unit for normally storing the copy-mode sheets and of setting at least another one of said plurality of storage units as a non-copy-mode storage unit for normally storing the non-copy-mode sheets;
• and
• a control step, for controlling the storing of the copy-mode sheets and the non-copy-mode sheets in said copy-mode and non-copy-mode storage units that are set in said setting step respectively,
• wherein said control step is capable of prohibiting the non-copy-mode sheets from being stored in said copy-mode storage unit regardless of the presence or absence of the sheets, and of permitting the copy-mode sheets to be stored in said non-copy-mode storage unit unless the non-copy-mode sheets have already been stored.