Image forming apparatus, image forming method and computer-readable storage medium

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for forming images on recording media of different sizes are provided. The image forming procedure may include reading setting information which includes the size of a substitute recording medium for each user from a memory and, when the size of the recording medium specified by the print instruction is not available, executing a print instruction by automatically changing the size of a recording medium to be used to the size of the substitute recording medium based on the setting information. Additional computer-readable storage media storing image forming procedures are also provided.

1 - 21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . An image forming apparatus comprising: 
 a memory configured to store setting information including at least a size of a substitute recording medium; and    an image forming part configured to carry out an image formation which forms image data on a recording medium, by changing a specified size of the recording medium that is to be used for the image formation to the size of the substitute recording medium based on the setting information stored in said memory when the specified size of the recording medium is unavailable,    wherein a number of substitute recording media used for the image formation depends on a ratio of the specified size of the recording medium and the size of the substitute recording medium when said ratio is represented by 1:n or n:1, where n is an integer.    
   
   
       23 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein a number of substitute recording media used for the image formation to form image data amounting to one page depends on said ratio.  
   
   
       24 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the image data amounting to one page are formed on the substitute recording media without changing an image size thereof.  
   
   
       25 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the image data amounting to one page are formed on two substitute recording media in two parts.  
   
   
       26 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the image data amounting to one page are formed on the substitute recording media by changing an image size thereof.  
   
   
       27 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein a start position on each substitute recording medium where the image formation starts is fixed when the size of the substitute recording medium is smaller than the specified size of the recording medium.  
   
   
       28 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the image forming part has a function of forming received image data on the substitute recording media, and is included in an apparatus selected from a group consisting of copying apparatuses, facsimile apparatuses, and composite apparatuses provided with multiple functions.  
   
   
       29 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the image forming part comprises: 
 a receiving part configured to receive the image data; and    an image forming unit configured to form the image data received by the receiving part on the recording media having the specified size if the specified size is available, and to form the image data on the substitute recording media if the specified size is unavailable.    
   
   
       30 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the image forming part comprises: 
 a processor configured to execute an instruction,    wherein the image forming unit forms the image data received by the receiving part on the recording media having the size specified by the instruction if the specified size is available, and to form the image data on the substitute recording media if the specified size is unavailable, when the processor executes the instruction.    
   
   
       31 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein n=2.  
   
   
       32 . An image forming apparatus comprising: 
 memory means for storing setting information including at least a size of a substitute recording medium; and    image forming means for carrying out an image formation which forms image data on a recording medium, by changing a specified size of the recording medium that is to be used for the image formation to the size of the substitute recording medium based on the setting information stored in said memory when the specified size of the recording medium is unavailable,    wherein a number of substitute recording media used for the image formation depends on a ratio of the specified size of the recording medium and the size of the substitute recording medium when said ratio is represented by 1:n or n:1, where n is an integer.    
   
   
       33 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein a number of substitute recording media used to form image data amounting to one page depends on said ratio.  
   
   
       34 . An image forming apparatus comprising: 
 a first tray configured to hold first recording media;    a second tray configured to hold second recording media having a size different from that of the first recording media such that a ratio of the sizes is represented by 1:n or n:1, where n is an integer; and    an image forming part configured to carry out an image formation which forms image data on a first recording medium when the size of the first recording medium is specified and the first recording medium is available, and forms the image data on a number of second recording media that depends on said ratio when the first recording medium is unavailable.    
   
   
       35 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein a number of second recording media used to form image data amounting to one page by the image forming part depends on said ratio.  
   
   
       36 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the image forming part forms the image data amounting to one page on the second recording media without changing an image size thereof.  
   
   
       37 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the image forming part forms the image data amounting to one page on two second recording media in two parts.  
   
   
       38 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the image forming part forms the image data amounting to one page on the second recording media by changing an image size thereof.  
   
   
       39 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein a start position on each second recording medium where the image formation starts is fixed when the size of the second recording medium is smaller than the specified size of the first recording medium.  
   
   
       40 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 34 , further comprising: 
 a processor part having a function of forming received image data on the second recording media by the image forming part, and included in an apparatus selected from a group consisting of copying apparatuses, facsimile apparatuses, and composite apparatuses provided with multiple functions.    
   
   
       41 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein the processor part comprises: 
 a processor configured to execute an instruction; and    a receiving part configured to receive image data.    
   
   
       42 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein n=2.  
   
   
       43 . An image forming method comprising: 
 reading setting information that includes at least a size of a substitute recording medium; and    carrying out an image formation which forms image data on a recording medium, by changing a specified size of the recording medium that is to be used for the image formation to the size of the substitute recording medium based on the setting information when the specified size of the recording medium is unavailable,    wherein a number of substitute recording media used for the image formation depends on a ratio of the specified size of the recording medium and the size of the substitute recording medium when said ratio is represented by 1:n or n:1, where n is an integer.    
   
   
       44 . The image forming method as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein a number of substitute recording media used to form image data amounting to one page depends on said ratio.  
   
   
       45 . The image forming method as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein the image data amounting to one page are formed on the substitute recording media without changing an image size thereof.  
   
   
       46 . The image forming method as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein the image data amounting to one page are formed on two substitute recording media in two parts.  
   
   
       47 . The image forming method as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein the image data amounting to one page are formed on the substitute recording media by changing an image size thereof.  
   
   
       48 . The image forming method as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein a start position on each substitute recording medium where the image formation starts is fixed when the size of the substitute recording medium is smaller than the specified size of the recording medium.  
   
   
       49 . The image forming method as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein n=2.  
   
   
       50 . An image forming method adapted to an image forming apparatus having a first tray configured to hold first recording media, and a second tray configured to hold second recording media having a size different from that of the first recording media such that a ratio of the sizes is represented by  1  :n or n:  1 , where n is an integer, said image forming method comprising: 
 receiving image data; and    carrying out an image formation to form the received image data on a first recording medium when the size of the first recording medium is specified and the first recording medium is available, and to form the received image data on a number of second recording media that depends on said ratio when the first recording medium is unavailable.    
   
   
       51 . The image forming method as claimed in  claim 50 , wherein a number of second recording media used to form image data amounting to one page depends on said ratio.  
   
   
       52 . The image forming method as claimed in  claim 51 , wherein the image data amounting to one page are formed on the second recording media without changing an image size thereof.  
   
   
       53 . The image forming method as claimed in  claim 52 , wherein the image data amounting to one page are formed on two second recording media in two parts.  
   
   
       54 . The image forming method as claimed in  claim 51 , wherein the image data amounting to one page are formed on the second recording media by changing an image size thereof.  
   
   
       55 . The image forming method as claimed in  claim 51 , wherein a start position on each second recording medium where the image formation starts is fixed when the size of the second recording medium is smaller than the specified size of the first recording medium.  
   
   
       56 . The image forming method as claimed in  claim 50 , wherein n= 2 .  
   
   
       57 . A computer-readable storage medium which stores a program for causing a computer to form an image on a recording medium, said program comprising: 
 a procedure causing the computer to store setting information including at least a size of a substitute recording medium in a memory; and    a procedure causing the computer to carry out an image formation by forming image data on a recording medium, by changing a specified size of the recording medium to be used for the image formation to the size of the substitute recording medium based on the setting information stored in the memory when the specified size of the recording medium is unavailable,    wherein a number of substitute recording media used for the image formation depends on a ratio of the specified size of the recording medium and the size of the substitute recording medium when said ratio is represented by  1  :n or n:  1 , where n is an integer.    
   
   
       58 . The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in  claim 57 , wherein a number of substitute recording media used to form image data amounting to one page depends on said ratio.  
   
   
       59 . The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in  claim 58 , wherein the image data amounting to one page are formed on the substitute recording media without changing an image size thereof.  
   
   
       60 . The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in  claim 59 , wherein the image data amounting to one page are formed on two substitute recording media in two parts.  
   
   
       61 . The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in  claim 58 , wherein the image data amounting to one page are formed on the substitute recording media by changing an image size thereof.  
   
   
       62 . The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in  claim 58 , wherein a start position on each substitute recording medium where the image formation starts is fixed when the size of the substitute recording medium is smaller than the specified size of the recording medium.  
   
   
       63 . The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in  claim 57 , wherein the computer has a function of forming received image data on the substitute recording media, and is included in an apparatus selected from a group consisting of copying apparatuses, facsimile apparatuses, and composite apparatuses provided with multiple functions.  
   
   
       64 . The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in  claim 57 , wherein n=2.  
   
   
       65 . An image forming apparatus comprising: 
 a first tray configured to hold first recording media;    a second tray configured to hold second recording media having a size which is one-half that of the first recording media;    a receiving part configured to receive image data; and    an image forming part configured to carry out an image formation which forms received image data amounting to one page on a first recording medium when the first recording medium is available, and to form the received image data amounting to one page on two second recording media in two parts when the first recording medium is unavailable.    
   
   
       66 . An image forming apparatus comprising: 
 a memory configured to store setting information including a size of a first recording medium and a size of a second recording medium that is one-half the size of the first recording medium; and    an image forming part configured to carry out an image formation which forms image data on a recording medium based on the setting information so as to form image data amounting to one page on the first recording medium when the first recording medium is available, and to form the image data amounting to one page on two second recording media in two parts when the first recording medium is unavailable.