JP2825243B2 - Image forming apparatus and image forming method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Purpose of the Invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to a laser printer for forming an image in accordance with image data sent from a host device, for example.
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electronic copying machine and an image forming method.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, a laser printer, an electronic copier, or the like as an image forming apparatus is connected to a computer, an image reading device, or the like as a host device, and receives an image based on image data sent from the host device. An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet as a forming medium is known.

The maximum width that can be printed by such an image forming apparatus is regulated by the width of a photosensitive drum provided inside the image forming apparatus, and a plurality of sizes of paper can be printed in any of the vertical and horizontal directions up to the maximum width. Can be supplied. When the paper is supplied, the paper is set in a paper feeding cassette (storage means) in a vertically long direction or a horizontally long direction so as to match the image forming direction and is supplied.

On the other hand, the paper feed cassette is configured to be large enough to hold the maximum size paper that can be used in the image forming apparatus, and the small size paper is set with one corner of the paper positioned at the origin. In general, it is supplied by means of a computer. Therefore, it is possible to set and supply the same size paper to the two paper cassettes in the longitudinal direction, respectively, and it is often used in such a state.

However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, when the paper cassette that stores the papers in which the image forming direction and the paper feeding direction match becomes empty, the fact that the paper is out of paper is displayed at that time, and the operation is stopped. Has become. Therefore, the maximum number of sheets on which an image can be formed is limited by the capacity of a sheet cassette, and when forming a large amount of images, frequent sheet replenishment is required, resulting in poor operability. Was.

In general, the image forming speed in the image forming apparatus is faster in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction. This is because, since the image forming speed, that is, the paper feeding speed is constant, the number of papers supplied per unit time can be increased by supplying the paper in the horizontal direction. However, the conventional image forming apparatus is
Since the image is formed in the direction specified by the operator, there is a drawback that when the image formation in the vertical direction is specified, the image forming speed is reduced, which is an obstacle to the increase in speed.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, the present invention relates to a conventional image forming apparatus,
When the storage unit that stores the image forming medium in which the image forming direction matches the feeding direction of the image forming medium is emptied, a message indicating that the image forming medium grows at that time is displayed and stopped. Therefore, the maximum number of image forming media on which images can be formed is limited by the capacity of the storage means. When forming a large amount of images, the image forming medium must be replenished frequently, Since the image formation is performed only in the direction specified by the operator, if the image formation in the vertical direction is specified, the image formation speed becomes slow, which is an obstacle to the speeding up. This is done to solve the drawback that the number of refills can be reduced by increasing the maximum number of image forming media on which images can be formed. In favor of horizontal direction by the image forming Te, easy to operate, and an object of the invention to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method in which the image forming can be faster.

[Configuration of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) An image forming apparatus according to the present invention forms an image on an image forming medium based on image data having a predetermined image forming direction. A plurality of storage means for storing the formation medium; a first detection means for respectively detecting a size of the image formation medium stored in the plurality of storage means; and an image formation medium stored in the plurality of storage means. A second detecting means for detecting the feeding direction of the image forming medium, a third detecting means for respectively detecting the presence or absence of the image forming medium in the plurality of storing means, and a detection result of the first detecting means. A first determining unit that determines whether there are a plurality of storage units that store image forming media of the same size suitable for forming an image based on the image data; and a first determining unit. If it is determined that there are a plurality of storage units for storing the image forming medium having a size suitable for image formation, one storage unit is selected from the plurality of storage units based on the result of the second detection unit. When the first selecting means to select, and when the first determining means determines that there are a plurality of storing means for storing the image forming medium of a size suitable for image formation, and the first selecting means, When there is no more image forming medium stored in the selected storing means, the image forming medium having the same size as the storing means selected by the first selecting means is stored. The image data is subjected to a rotation process in accordance with the second selecting means for selecting another storing means having a feeding direction different by 90 degrees and the storing means selected by the first and second selecting means, and the image data is subjected to the rotation. Image on image forming medium Are those composed of an image forming unit that forms.

According to an image forming method of the present invention, an image is formed on an image forming medium based on image data having a predetermined image forming direction. Based on the detection results of the first and second detection steps, respectively, a second detection step of detecting presence / absence of storage of the image forming medium in the plurality of storage units, and a detection result of the first and second detection steps. ,
A first selection step of selecting a storage unit for storing an image forming medium of a size suitable for image formation from the plurality of storage units, and a storage unit stored in the storage unit selected by the first selection step When there is no more image forming medium to be used, a second storing means for storing another image forming medium having the same size as that of the selected storing means, wherein the feeding direction of the image forming medium is different by 90 degrees. And the first step
And an image forming step of performing a rotation process on the image data to form an image on the image forming medium in accordance with the storage unit selected in the second selecting step.

(Operation) The present invention is directed to forming an image on an image forming medium based on image data having a predetermined image forming direction, wherein the image forming medium is stored in a plurality of storing means,
The size of the image forming medium stored in the plurality of storage means is detected by the first detection means, and the feeding direction of the image formation medium stored in the plurality of storage means is respectively detected by the second detection means. Detecting the presence or absence of the storage of the image forming medium in the plurality of storage units with the third detection unit, and forming an image based on the image data based on the detection result of the first detection unit. The first determining means determines whether there are a plurality of storage means for storing the same size image forming medium suitable for the image forming medium, and the first determining means determines the size of the image forming medium suitable for image formation. When it is determined that there are a plurality of storage units to be stored, one storage unit is selected from the plurality of storage units by the first selection unit based on the result of the second detection unit, and the first storage unit is selected. Image formation by means of judgment If it is determined that there are a plurality of storage units for storing the image forming medium of the selected size, and if there is no more image forming medium stored in the storage unit selected by the first selecting unit, This is for storing an image forming medium of the same size as the storing means selected by the first selecting means.
A different storage means having different degrees is selected by the second selection means, and the image data is subjected to a rotation process in accordance with the storage means selected by the first and second selection means. An image is formed on the image.

Further, the present invention relates to a method for forming an image on an image forming medium based on image data having a predetermined image forming direction, wherein the size and the feeding direction of the image forming medium stored in a plurality of storing means are respectively set. In the first detection step, the presence or absence of storage of the image forming medium in the plurality of storage units is detected in the second detection step, respectively.
Based on the detection result of the second detection step, a storage unit that stores an image forming medium of a size suitable for image formation is selected from the plurality of storage units in the first selection step, and the selected storage unit is selected. When there is no more image forming medium stored in the storage means, another storage medium in which the image forming medium having the same size as the selected storage means is stored, and the feeding direction of the image forming medium is different by 90 degrees. The means is selected in a second selection step, and the image data is subjected to a rotation process according to the storage means selected in the first and second selection steps to form an image on the image forming medium. It is like that.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 6 and 7 are an external perspective view and a schematic vertical sectional side view showing an internal configuration of a laser printer as an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a laser printer as an image forming apparatus, which has the following configuration. That is, in the figure, reference numeral 5 denotes a printer main body of the image forming apparatus 1, and a rear portion of the upper surface of the printer main body 5 is higher by one step, and a concave portion 6 as a paper discharge portion is formed in a central portion of the upper surface. A paper discharge tray 8 movably supported by a jogger 7 is mounted in the recess 6, and an operation panel 9 is provided on the right side of the recess 6 and three IC card insertion ports 11 are provided on the left side. It is in the installed state.

As shown in FIG. 5, the operation panel (selection means) 9 includes an LCD (liquid crystal) display 9a for displaying menu information, value information, and the like, and an LED display for displaying various states by LEDs (light emitting diodes). It comprises a switch 9b for instructing various operations. The above LED display 9b
Indicates whether the printer is connected to an external device, that is, “online” indicating an online / offline mode, “ready” indicating that the printer is operable, “data” indicating that image data is being transferred, It is composed of an "operator" requesting an operator call, a "service" requesting a serviceman call, and a "mode" indicating auto / manual.

The switch 9c includes, for example, a menu key, a value key, an input key, a numeric keypad (not shown), and the like. The menu key is composed of two keys of “next item” and “previous item”, and a plurality of menu information displayed on the left half of the LCD display 9a is incremented every time the “next item” key is pressed, Each time the "previous item" key is pressed, it is decremented and displayed, and these display operations are cyclically repeated. The above value keys are also composed of two keys, "next item" and "previous item".
A plurality of value information corresponding to the menu information displayed in the left half of is incremented each time the “Next item” key is pressed, and decremented and displayed each time the “Previous item” key is pressed. It is to be repeated cyclically. The operator selects a desired operation by operating the menu key and the value key, and instructs a predetermined operation by pressing an input key, and gives a predetermined value to the image forming apparatus 1. I have.

A paper output tray 12 is provided on the front side of the printer main body 5, and a manual feed tray 13 is provided on the rear side. A sheet detector 26 is provided at the bottom of the manual feed tray 13 to detect that a sheet P as an image forming medium has been inserted into the manual feed tray and notify a CPU 50 described later.

As shown in FIG. 7, a drum-shaped photoconductor 15 as an image carrier is provided substantially at the center of the printer body 5, and a charging device 16 and a laser are provided around the photoconductor 15. An optical system 17, a developing device 18, a transfer device 19, a peeling device 20, a cleaning device 21, and a charge removing device 22 are sequentially arranged.

Further, a photoconductor 15 and a transfer device are provided in the printer body 5.
An image support transporting path 24 extending in the forward direction through an image transfer section 23 formed between the printer main body 5 and the printer main body 5 is formed.
The paper feed rollers 28a, 28b, 28c and the transfer roller pairs 29a, 29 are fed from the paper feed cassettes 25a, 25b, 25c stored at the bottom inside.
The paper P automatically fed through b, 29c, or the like, or the paper P manually fed from the manual feed tray 13 via the pair of transfer rollers 29d is guided to the image transfer unit 23.

Each of the above paper feed cassettes (storage means) 25a, 25b, 25c
For example, it is configured as shown in FIG. That is,
The paper P is a box-shaped paper feed cassette 25a, 25b, 25c.
When the sheet P is stored, the lever 70 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow in the drawing.
The sheet P is pressed by moving the lever 72 in the direction of arrow CD in the direction of arrow AB. Pressing members 71 and 73 are fixed to the ends of the levers 70 and 72, respectively. When the levers 70 and 72 are moved and set at the outer peripheral position of the sheet P, these pressing members 71 and 73 are fixed.
A plurality of position detection switches (first and second determination means) 80,... Provided corresponding to the slide paths are pressed, and the detection signals from the position detection switches 80,. To be sent to the CPU 50. Thus, the CPU 50 can know the current positions of the levers 71 and 72, and recognizes the size and direction of the currently set sheet P from the position information of the levers 70 and 72. Has become.

Above each of the paper feed cassettes 25a, 25b, and 25c, paper sensors (detection means) 26a, 26b, and 26c that detect the presence or absence of paper P based on the presence or absence of reflected light are provided, respectively. When P runs out, a signal to that effect is notified to a CPU 50 described later.

Further, an aligning roller pair 30 is disposed upstream of the image transfer section 23 of the image support transport path 24, and a fixing device 31, a paper discharge selector 32, and a paper discharge roller pair 33 are disposed downstream. I have.

At the end of the image support transport path 24, a branch transport path 35 having a pair of paper discharge rollers 34 for guiding the paper P sorted by the paper discharge selector 32 to the concave portion 6 as a paper discharge section.
Are formed.

In FIG. 6, 40 is a lower cover, 41 is a front cover,
42 is an upper cover, 43 is an openable right cover (door), 44 is a left cover, 45 is a right cover open / close lever, and 46 is an upper unit open / close lever. Also, 47 and 49 shown in FIG. 7 are substrates on which a printer circuit for controlling the operation of the printer itself is mounted, and 48 is a printer control circuit for controlling the operation of the printer circuits 47 and 49, forming a printer control unit. It is a substrate. Three connectors (not shown) are attached to the ends of the board constituting the printer control section 48 to form the IC card insertion slot 11 so that the IC cards 65, 66, and 67 can be inserted. Has become.

Thus, when forming an image, the photoconductor 15 is driven to rotate and charged uniformly by the operation of the charging device 16,
Next, exposure corresponding to the image signal is performed on the photoconductor 15 by the laser optical system 17 to form an electrostatic latent image. Next, the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 15 is developed by a developing device 18 using a two-component developer including a toner and a carrier, and is sent to the image transfer unit 23 as a developer image.

On the other hand, in synchronization with this developer forming operation,
25a, 25b, 25c, designated by the operation panel 9,
Alternatively, the sheet P taken out of the sheet cassette automatically selected in accordance with the presence or absence of the sheet P and the setting direction or the sheet P manually fed is sent to the image transfer unit 23 via the pair of aligning rollers 30, and The developer image formed on 15 is transferred to paper P by the operation of transfer device 19. Next, the paper P is peeled off from the photoreceptor 15 by the peeling device 20, passed through the image support transport path 24, and sent to the fixing device 31. Here, after the developer image is melted and fixed on the sheet P, the discharge direction is sorted by the sheet discharge selector 32 and discharged onto the upper discharge tray 8 or the front discharge tray 12.

After the transfer of the developer image onto the sheet P, the residual toner remaining on the photoreceptor 15 is cleaned by the cleaning device 21 to be ready for the next copying operation.

FIG. 4 shows a main part of an electric circuit of the printer control unit 48. In the figure, a CPU 50 controls the entire image forming apparatus 1. The ROM 51 stores a control program, and the CPU 50 operates according to the program. The ROM 51 stores data related to the paper P such as a personal identification number (ID number) to be collated at the time of data change, a top margin, a left margin, and a paper type. The RAM 52 is used as a page buffer for temporarily storing image data sent from the host device 58, and as a work buffer for the CPU 50.

The expansion memory 53 is a large-capacity memory used when the image data sent from the host device 58 is a large amount of data such as bitmap data and the RAM 52 cannot store one page of data. Video RAM54
Is used as a scan buffer for storing image data expanded into a bit image. The output is supplied to a serial-parallel conversion circuit 55. The serial-parallel conversion circuit 55 converts the image data, which is developed into a bit image in the video RAM 54 and transmitted as parallel data, into serial data, and sends the serial data to the printer circuits 47 and 49.

The host interface 57 includes, for example, a host device 58 such as a computer or an image reading device and the printer control unit.
Transfers data between the transfer lines 48 and 48, and a transfer line 59 connecting them has two types, a serial transfer line and a parallel transfer line. Then, it can be appropriately used depending on the type of data transferred to and from the host device 58. Further, the host interface 57 has a configuration having a plurality of input / output ports (not shown), so that a plurality of host devices 58 can be connected. As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 is accessed from the plurality of host devices 58 in a time-division manner, and forms images of various sizes.

The printer interface 60 mediates the transfer of control signal lines between the printer control unit 48 and the printer circuits 47 and 49, and receives signals from the above-described paper sensors 26a, 26b, 26c or the position detection switches 80,. The detection signal is also sent to the CPU 50 via the printer interface 60.

The operation panel control circuit 56 controls the display of the guidance message on the LCD display 9a of the operation panel 9 and the LED display 9b.
Control of turning on, off, and flashing of, or control of transmitting data input from the switch 9c to the CPU 50, and the like. The internal bus 61 is connected to the CPU 50, ROM 51, RAM 5
2, expansion memory 53, video RAM 54, operation panel control circuit 5
6, host interface 57, printer interface 6
0, and a bus for mutually exchanging information with the IC cards 65 to 67.

In addition, the IC card 65 to 67, non-volatile memory, for example static RAM equipped with battery backup, E ² PRO
M, EPROM, or mask ROM. These IC cards 65 to 67 are used as an extension memory of the device or as a load medium for programs and other data. The colors are color-coded according to the type of the memory and the function of the stored content.For example, a mask ROM type IC card in which fonts are recorded is blue, and a static RAM type IC card in which emulation is recorded is orange. It is colored like a color. Therefore, in the IC cards 65 to 67, the type of the memory and the type of the written data can be seen at a glance.

Next, an operation of automatically selecting a sheet P and forming an image in the above configuration will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

Here, the printing direction of the image forming apparatus 1 is set to portrait (portrait printing) as a default value, and the image data sent from the host device 58 is also assumed to be portrait image data.

First, the operator specifies the size of the paper P to be used on the operation panel 9. This is the paper P you want to use.
Is selected by selecting the paper feed cassettes 25a, 25b, and 25c in which is stored, and the operation is performed as follows. First, by operating the "next item" or "previous item" key in the menu of the operation panel 9, the display content of the message display area provided on the left side of the LCD display 9a is cyclically changed, and the paper size is changed. Message "PA
PER: ”. In this state, by operating the “next item” or “previous item” key of the value, the sheet P of a desired size is stored in the value display area provided on the right side of the LCD display 9a. "MAIN", "UPPER", "LOWER" indicating the position of the cassette or "MANUAL" indicating that manual feeding is to be performed is cyclically displayed, and an input key is pressed when a desired value is displayed.
As a result, the selected value is sent to the CPU 50 via the operation panel control circuit 56, decoded by the CPU 50, and stored in the designated sheet cassette area provided in the RAM 52 as the sheet cassette to be used.

When the printing operation is started in such a state, first,
The size of the sheet P stored in the sheet cassette stored in the designated sheet cassette area provided in the RAM 52 is checked. The determination of the paper size is performed by the CPU 50 analyzing the detection signal from the position detection switches 80,. That is, the sheet size is determined by the positions of the levers 70, 72 of the sheet cassettes 25a, 25b, 25c.
It is not clear whether they are stored in a, 25b, 25c.

Next, it is checked whether or not there is another sheet cassette having the same sheet size as the sheet size of the designated sheet cassette (step S1). This determination is also made by the CPU 50 analyzing the detection signals from the position detection switches 80,..., And it is not clear whether the paper P is actually stored. At this time, it is sufficient that there is a sheet set to the same sheet size as the sheet size of the designated sheet feeding cassette, and the setting direction is vertical as shown in FIG. Figure (b)
It does not matter whether it is a right horizontal landscape.

If it is determined in step S1 that there is no other paper cassette set to the same paper size as the paper size of the specified paper cassette, the process proceeds to step S6.
The paper cassette selected by the operation panel 9, that is, the paper cassette stored in the specified paper cassette area is designated,
When the paper sensors 26a, 26b, 26c detect that the paper P is set in the paper cassette, paper is fed from the paper cassette (step S6). In addition,
When it is detected that the sheet P does not exist in the designated sheet cassette, the image forming apparatus 1 turns on the “operator” lamp of the LED display 9 b of the operation panel 9 to indicate the fact and stops. I do.

Next, the image data received from the host device 58 and stored in the page buffer in the RAM 52 is printed (step S7). In this printing operation, the image data stored in the page buffer is converted into bit image data and transmitted to the video RAM 54 as a scan buffer. The video RAM 54 sends the bit image data to the serial-parallel conversion circuit 55 as parallel data. The serial-parallel conversion circuit 55 converts bit image data as parallel data into serial data and sends the serial data to the printer circuits 47 and 49. This allows
Image transfer unit in synchronization with the transmission of the bit image data
An image is formed on the paper P sent to the printer 23, and a series of print output processing ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1 that there is another paper cassette set to the same paper size as the paper size of the paper cassette specified by the operation panel 9, the process proceeds to step S2, and the process proceeds to step S2. It is checked whether there is a sheet cassette whose feed direction is set to be horizontally long. here,
If it is determined that there is no paper cassette in which the paper feeding direction is set to be landscape, the process proceeds to step S6, and in the same manner as described above, paper is fed from the paper cassette specified by the operation panel 9, and the printing operation is performed. Perform (Steps S6 and S7). Therefore, in this case, the printing operation is performed on the vertically supplied paper P.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2 that the paper feed direction is present in the paper cassette set to the landscape orientation, the process proceeds to step S3, and whether paper P exists in the paper cassette set to the landscape orientation is determined. Is checked.

Here, when it is determined that the paper P does not exist in the paper cassette set to the landscape orientation, the process branches to step S8, where the paper cassette set to the portrait orientation is designated, and paper feeding is performed in the same manner as described above. And perform the printing operation (Steps S6, S
7). Therefore, also in this case, the printing operation is performed on the vertically supplied paper P.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S3 that paper P is present in the paper cassette set to be landscape, step S4
Go to and specify the paper cassette set in landscape orientation,
Next, rotation processing is performed on the image data received from the host device 58 and stored in the page buffer of the RAM 52 (step S5). Next, paper is fed in the horizontal direction from the paper cassette in which the paper P set in the horizontal direction is stored (step S6). Next, printing of the image data subjected to the rotation processing in step S5 is performed (step S7). Since this printing operation is the same as described above, the description is omitted.

As described above, when printing the image data received from the host device 58, when two types of paper P of the same size are prepared in the portrait and landscape orientations, if one of the papers P disappears, the other The image data is rotated and printed on the sheet of paper P, so that a large amount of printing can be performed continuously and the operability is excellent.

Further, when two types of paper P of the same size are prepared in the portrait direction and the landscape direction, the paper P in the landscape direction is preferentially used, so that high-speed printing is possible.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the maximum number of image forming media on which images can be formed can be increased to reduce the number of times of replenishment, and the supply state of the image forming media can be reduced. By forming an image by giving priority to the horizontal direction, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method which are excellent in operability and can form an image at high speed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a flowchart for explaining the operation, FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the sheet feeding direction and the image forming direction, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the paper feed cassette, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of an electric circuit of a printer control unit, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of an operation panel, and FIG. FIG. 7 is an external perspective view of a laser printer as a forming apparatus, and FIG. 9 ... Operation panel (selection means), 9a ... LCD display, 9c
... Switches, 25a, 25b, 25c ... Paper cassettes (storage means), 26a, 26b, 26c ... Paper sensors (detection means), 50 ...
... CPU, 51 ... ROM, 52 ... RAM, 57 ... Host interface, 58 ... Host device, 60 ... Printer interface, 80 ... Position detection switch (first and second determination means), P ... ... paper (image forming medium).

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Satoshi Onuma 70 Yanagimachi, Yuki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Toshiba Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-61-76383 (JP, A) JP, A) JP-A-62-181155 (JP, A) JP-A-1-113260 (JP, A) JP-A-63-162255 (JP, A) JP-A-1-217516 (JP, A) Hei 2-44063 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B41J 5/30 B41J 21/00 G06R 21/00 378 G06F 15/00 516

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on an image forming medium based on image data having a predetermined image forming direction, a plurality of storing means for storing the image forming medium, and a plurality of storing means. First detecting means for respectively detecting the size of the image forming medium stored in the means, second detecting means for respectively detecting the feeding direction of the image forming medium stored in the plurality of storing means, A third detection unit that detects presence or absence of the image forming medium in the plurality of storage units, and an identical unit suitable for forming an image based on the image data based on a detection result of the first detection unit. First determining means for determining whether there are a plurality of storage means for storing the image forming medium having a size, and storing the image forming medium having a size suitable for image formation by the first determining means. When it is determined that there are a plurality of storage units, a first selection unit that selects one storage unit from among the plurality of storage units based on a result of the second detection unit; The image forming medium stored in the storing means selected by the first selecting means when it is determined that there is a plurality of storing means for storing the image forming medium having a size suitable for forming an image; When there is no more, the image forming medium of the same size as the storing means selected by the first selecting means is stored, and another storing means different in the feeding direction of the image forming medium by 90 degrees is selected. (2) an image forming unit that performs a rotation process on the image data to form an image on the image forming medium in accordance with the storage unit selected by the first and second selecting units; It is noted that An image forming apparatus. 2. An image forming method for forming an image on an image forming medium based on image data having a predetermined image forming direction, wherein the size and the feeding direction of the image forming medium stored in a plurality of storing means are determined. A first detection step of detecting each of the plurality of storage units, a second detection step of detecting whether or not the image forming medium is stored in the plurality of storage units, and a detection result of the first and second detection steps. A first selection step of selecting a storage unit for storing an image forming medium having a size suitable for image formation from the plurality of storage units; and a storage unit that is stored in the storage unit selected in the first selection step. When there is no more image forming medium to be stored, another storing means for storing the image forming medium having the same size as that of the selected storing means and in which the feeding direction of the image forming medium is different by 90 degrees is selected. (2) an image forming step of performing a rotation process on the image data to form an image on the image forming medium in accordance with the storage unit selected in the first and second selecting steps; An image forming method comprising: