Electrophotography – Document handling – Copy
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-10
2001-02-13
Grimley, Arthur T. (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Document handling
Copy
C399S402000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06188866
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a duplex (two-sided) image forming apparatus, which can selectively perform single-sided or double-sided image forming.
2. Description of Related Art
Duplex image forming is desirable in many situations in order to minimize the amount of recording media used. That is, as compared to single-sided image forming, the amount of used recording media can be cut in half because information is recorded on both sides thereof.
Several types of duplex copying apparatuses are known. In a typical duplex copying machine, conventional one-sided copying is first effected on the recording medium by a recording section, and then the recording medium is inverted and fed back through the recording section to effect the conventional one-sided copying on the reverse side.
However, duplex copiers of this type must be made sufficiently large to accommodate one or more paper supply cassettes as well as a refeeder section for holding the recording media, having been recorded on one side, to be refed to the image forming section.
Moreover, copying machines that are dedicated to single-sided copying are difficult to retrofit to enable double-sided recording.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a duplex image forming apparatus than can occupy relatively small space.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive and compact duplex image forming apparatus.
It is still another object of the p resent invention to provide a duplex image forming apparatus that can reverse a recording medium in a simple manner.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a simple, inexpensive mechanism to retrofit a single-sided image forming apparatus into a double-sided image forming apparatus.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a duplex image forming apparatus that can selectively effect either single-sided or double-sided image forming, as desired.
In one aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus selectively forms images on one or two sides of recording media and includes image forming means, receiving means, conveying means and controlling means. The image forming means forms images on the recording media. The receiving means receives a refeeder unit for receiving recording media having images formed on one side thereof by the image forming means. The conveying means conveys the recording media. The controlling means controls the image forming means and the conveying means. The controlling means enables the conveying means to convey recording media having images formed on one side thereof by the image forming means to the refeeder unit if the refeeder unit is mounted in the receiving means and the controlling means controls the conveying means to discharge recording media having images formed on one side thereof if the refeeder unit is not mounted in the receiving means.
In another aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus for selectively forming images on one or two sides of recording media includes an image forming engine, a port, a series of conveying rollers and guides, drivers and a microprocessor. The image forming engine forms images on the recording media. The port receives a refeeder unit for receiving recording media having images formed on one side thereof by the image forming engine. The series of conveying rollers and guides contact and convey the recording media, while the drivers drive the conveying rollers and guides. The microprocessor controls the image forming engine and the drivers of the conveying rollers and guides. The microprocessor enables the drivers of the conveying rollers and guides to convey recording media having images formed on one side thereof by the image forming engine to the refeeder unit if the refeeder unit is mounted in the port and the microprocessor controls the drivers of the conveying rollers and guides to discharge recording media having images formed on one side thereof if the refeeder unit is not mounted in the port.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, a refeeder unit is removably mountable in a single location of an image forming apparatus to enable two-sided image forming. The refeeder unit includes a tray, feeding means and an interface. The tray receives recording media having an image formed on one side thereof. The feeding means feeds the recorded recording media received on the tray. The interface is for connection with the image forming apparatus and indicates that the refeeder unit is mounted in the image forming apparatus.
In still another aspect of the present invention, a method for effecting image forming in an image forming apparatus operable in one-sided and two-sided image forming modes includes the step of effecting two-sided recording by mounting a refeeder unit at a predetermined location in the image forming apparatus, conveying a recording medium through an image forming area to have images formed on a first side thereof, conveying the recorded recording medium to the refeeder unit at the predetermined location, refeeding the recorded recording medium from the refeeder unit at the predetermined location through the image forming area to have images formed on a second side thereof, and discharging the recording medium having images formed on both sides thereof. The method further includes the step of effecting one-sided recording without the refeeder unit mounted in the image forming apparatus by conveying a recording medium through the image forming area to have images formed on a first side thereof and discharging the recorded recording medium.
In a further aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus selectively forms images on one or two sides of recording media and includes image forming means, receiving means, conveying means and controlling means. The image forming means forms images on the recording media. The receiving means selectively receives at a predetermined location one of a refeeder unit for receiving recording media having images formed on one side thereof by the image forming means and a media supply unit for storing unrecorded recording media for supply to the image forming means. The conveying means conveys the recording media. The controlling means controls the image forming means and the conveying means. In two-sided image forming, the controlling means controls the conveying means to convey recording media having images formed on one side thereof by said image forming means to the refeeder unit at the predetermined location.
In a still further aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus selectively forms images on one or two sides of recording media and includes an image forming engine, a port, a series of conveying rollers and guides, drivers and a microprocessor. The image forming engine forms images on the recording media. The port selectively receives one of a refeeder unit for receiving recording media having images formed on one side thereof by the image forming engine and a media supply unit for storing unrecorded recording media for supply to the image forming engine. A series of conveying rollers and guides contact and convey the recording media, while the drivers drive the conveying rollers and guides. The microprocessor controls the image forming engine and the drivers of the conveying rollers and guides. In two-sided image forming, the microprocessor controls the drivers of the conveying rollers and guides to convey recording media having images formed on one side thereof by the image forming engine to the refeeder unit received in the port.
These and other objects, aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3972612 (1976-08-01), Komori et al.
patent: 4538906 (1985-09-01), Brown
patent: 4639125 (1987-01-01), Okuda et al.
patent: 4708462 (1987-11-01), Stemmle
patent: 487
Canon Virginia, Inc.
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Grimley Arthur T.
Tran Hoan
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