Image forming apparatus for forming an image by transferring an image onto an intermediate transfer member, image forming method, and storage medium

A method for controlling an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a sheet by transferring an image generated based on input image data onto an intermediate transfer member page by page and further transferring the image transferred onto the intermediate transfer member onto the sheet, the method comprising:

• transferring, by a transfer unit, an image of a first page onto the intermediate transfer member based on the input image data;
• determining whether the image of a second page, which follows the first page, can be transferred side by side with the image of the first page in a time in which the intermediate transfer member having the transferred image of the first page is rotated to move a transfer position for the image of the second page on the intermediate transfer member to a predetermined position;
• controlling, if a result of the determination is negative and delay information has been received, the image of the second page to be transferred side by side with the image of the first page after rotating the intermediate transfer member at least one revolution after transferring the image of the first page onto the intermediate transfer member;
• and
• controlling, if the result of the determination is negative and the delay information has not been received, the transferred image of the first page to be transferred onto the sheet, without transferring the image of the second page side by side with the transferred image of the first page, after transferring the image of the first page onto the intermediate transfer member.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a sheet by transferring an image generated based on input image data onto an intermediate transfer member page by page and further transferring the image transferred onto the intermediate transfer member onto the sheet, cause the image forming apparatus to perform operations comprising:

• transferring, by a transfer unit, an image of a first page onto the intermediate transfer member based on the input image data;
• determining whether the image of a second page, which follows the first page, can be transferred side by side with the image of the first page in a time in which the intermediate transfer member having the transferred image of the first page is rotated to move a transfer position for the image of the second page on the intermediate transfer member to a predetermined position;
• controlling, if a result of the determination is negative and delay information has been received, the image of the second page to be transferred side by side with the image of the first page after rotating the intermediate transfer member at least one revolution after transferring the image of the first page onto the intermediate transfer member;
• and
• controlling, if the result of the determination is negative and the delay information has not been received, the transferred image of the first page to be transferred onto the sheet, without transferring the image of the second page side by side with the transferred image of the first page, after transferring the image of the first page onto the intermediate transfer member.

An image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a sheet by transferring an image generated based on input image data onto an intermediate transfer member page by page and further transferring the image transferred onto the intermediate transfer member onto the sheet, the image forming apparatus comprising:

• a transfer unit configured to transfer images to the intermediate transfer member;
• a control unit configured to cause the transfer unit to transfer an image of a first page to the intermediate transfer member based on the input image data, and to rotate the intermediate transfer member at least one revolution after transferring the image of the first page onto the intermediate transfer member without transferring an image of a second page;
• and
• a determination unit configured to determine whether the transfer unit can transfer the image of the second page, which follows the first page, side by side with the image of the first page in a time in which the intermediate transfer member having the transferred image of the first page is rotated at least one revolution,
• wherein the control unit is configured to control, if a result of the determination by the determination unit is positive, the transfer unit to transfer the image of the second page side by side with the image of the first page, and configured to control, if the result of the determination by the determination unit is negative, the transfer unit to transfer the transferred image of the first page onto the sheet without transferring the image of the second page side by side with the image of the first page.