Image processing apparatus and image processing method for proceesing reading blocks

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• an image reading unit that reads an original to obtain image data;
• a storage unit that stores therein image data;
• an image-data processing unit that processes the image data from either one of the image reading unit and the storage unit;
• and
• a control unit that controls the image reading unit, the storage unit, the image-data processing unit, and a connection between the units, wherein
• the image-data processing unit includes
• a first image processing block for processing the image data from the image reading unit, and
• a second image processing block for processing the image data from either one of the storage unit and the first image processing block, and
• the control unit can select either one of a first route in which the image data from the image reading unit is processed by both the first image processing block and the second image processing block and sent to the storage unit and a second route in which the image data processed by the first image processing block is stored in the storage unit and the image data from the storage unit is processed by the second image processing block and sent to the storage unit, switches a process performed by the second image processing block according to a result of a process by the first image processing block, and switches an input source to the second image processing block between the first image processing block and the storage unit according to a process content of the second image processing block.