Image forming apparatus having writing space mode

Abstract

An image forming apparatus in which there can be set a writing space mode in which document images in a preset number are printed on a half of a single paper sheet, thus forming a writing space on the other half of the paper sheet. This image forming apparatus is arranged to print document images in a preset number on a half of a single paper sheet when the writing space mode has been set as a copying mode.

1 - 4 . (canceled) 
   
   
       5 . An image forming apparatus, comprising:
 a setting section to be used by an operator for setting, as a copying mode, a writing space mode in which a document image in a preset number are printed on a half of a single paper sheet, thus forming a writing space for a comment on the other half of the paper sheet;   a document top side setting section arranged to accept the operator's input designating a position of a top side of a document;   a document direction judging section arranged to determine a direction of the document;   a layout determination section arranged to determine a layout of the document image and the writing space on a paper sheet based on the operator's input accepted by the document top side setting section and the direction of the document judged by the document direction judging section; and   an image forming section for printing the document image in the preset number on a half of a single paper sheet, in accordance with the layout determined by the layout determination section, when the writing space mode has been set as a copying mode.   
   
   
       6 . An image forming apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the setting section includes means to be used by the operator for setting whether or not a page separating line is put on the paper sheet when the writing space mode has been set, and   the image forming section includes means for printing a page separating line at each boundary between adjacent document images printed on a paper sheet and at each boundary between a document image printed on the paper sheet and the writing space, when the writing space mode has been set as a copying mode and it has been set to put a page separating line.   
   
   
       7 . An image forming apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the setting section includes means to be used by the operator for setting whether or not rules are put in the writing space when the writing space mode has been set, and   the image forming section includes means for printing rules in the writing space formed on the paper sheet when the writing space mode has been set as a copying mode and it has been set to put rules in the writing space.   
   
   
       8 . An image forming apparatus, comprising:
 a consolidation mode setting section for setting, as a copying mode, a consolidation mode in which a preset plurality of documents are consolidatedly printed on a single paper sheet and in which a separating line is put at each boundary between adjacent document images on the paper sheet, the consolidation mode being arranged such that the printing area of a paper sheet is divided into sub-areas of which number corresponds to the preset document number, and that each document image is printed in each sub-area;   means for judging for each pair of two adjacent sub-areas of the printing area of a paper sheet, whether or not both adjacent sub-areas of each pair result in a blank portion when the consolidation mode has been set by the consolidation mode setting section and the number of documents to be printed on a single paper sheet is smaller than the preset number; and   an image forming section for forming, on a single paper sheet, an image in which a plurality of documents are being consolidatedly assembled and in which a separating line is being put at each boundary between adjacent document images, when the consolidation mode has been set as a copying mode, the image forming section including means arranged not to put a separating line at the boundary between two adjacent sub-areas when the judging means has judged that these two adjacent sub-areas result in the blank portion.