Compact image forming apparatus

Details Compact image forming apparatus Compact image forming apparatus

1999-12-13

2001-03-27

Chen, Sophia S. (Department: 2852)

Electrophotography

Document handling

C358S497000, C399S107000, C399S380000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06208828

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having the functions of reading an original image recorded on an original sheet, which is placed on an original mount, and forming an image on a sheet to be conveyed.
2. Description of the Related Art
The art is replete with examples of copiers, printers, facsimiles, and apparatus combining combinations thereof all utilizing an image forming apparatus.
One such known image forming apparatus has flatbed original reading means (a flatbed scanner) for reading the image of an original placed on an original mount. In such apparatus, a pressure plate for holding the original placed on the original mount is adapted to be freely pivotally opened and closed.
Thus, in the general image forming apparatus, the following systems are found. A reading portion disposed at the topmost part of the main unit of the apparatus, an image forming portion placed under the said reading portion, with a recording sheet discharging outlet additionally placed thereunder.
This design, however, has certain numerous drawbacks, described as follows.
When a recording sheet printed or recorded with data is discharged by means of shortening the sheet conveying path in a design such as that common in the aforementioned prior art, a discharged-sheet tray is usually provided on the left or right side thereof, under the reading portion, so as to improve operability. Alternatively, a recording sheet discharged from the image forming portion can be often turned over and discharged between the reading portion and the image forming portion. Thus, in the former case, the discharged-sheet tray protrudes from the left or right side of the apparatus, and in the latter case, the entire apparatus is increased in longitudinal size. In either case, the size of the apparatus is large, an obvious drawback.
Moreover, as part of the maintenance of the image forming portion, a toner cartridge or an ink cartridge is usually exchanged with a new one supplied from an upper part of the image forming portion. It is therefore necessary, in order to facilitate the exchange of the cartridge, to either deviate the image forming portion or the reading portion from the main unit to a place where these elements do not interfere with each other, or to incline one of them. The conventional apparatus thus has another drawback in that the size of its main unit must be increased still more and that doing so is complicated.
Accordingly, a compact image forming apparatus for personal use, to be installed on a desk, has yet to be realized.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is accomplished to eliminate the drawbacks of the above described prior art. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, compact enough to be installable on a desk, offering ease of use as well as high operability.
To achieve the foregoing object, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus that comprises original reading means for reading an original image, sheet supporting means placed under said original image reading means, for supporting a sheet on which an image is formed, image forming means for forming an image, placed under said original reading means and said sheet supporting means, and sheet discharging means for discharging a sheet above the original reading means, upon which sheet an image has been formed by the image forming means.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5185659 (1993-02-01), Itagaki et al.
patent: 5790922 (1998-08-01), Takano
patent: 5812285 (1998-09-01), Lin et al.
patent: 5884117 (1999-03-01), Tanoue et al.
patent: 5918100 (1999-06-01), Tanaka et al.
patent: 6006064 (1999-12-01), Hashimoto
patent: 5-167754 (1993-07-01), None
patent: 7-154517 (1995-06-01), None

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Compact image forming apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Compact image forming apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Compact image forming apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2528165