Facsimile and static presentation processing – Facsimile – Picture signal generator
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-15
2001-12-04
Grant, II, Jerome (Department: 2624)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Facsimile
Picture signal generator
C399S053000, C271S160000, C355S033000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06327055
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, which has a plurality of record medium supplying units such as detachable paper supplying trays or the like, and on which an image reading apparatus can be attached or mounted at a position where the paper supplying tray is detached, and the image reading apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is an image forming system by use of a personal computer, in which a printer is connected to the personal computer. As one type of such an image forming system, there is a system in which an exclusive image reading apparatus separated from the printer is connected to the personal computer in order to read an image printed on a sheet, a photograph or the like.
In order to improve simplifying and space-saving the image forming system as a whole, there is a system using a serial printer in which an image reading apparatus is attached to a printer head portion.
However, in case that the above mentioned exclusive image reading apparatus is employed, there is such a problem that it is necessary to ensure a layout space for the image reading apparatus besides a layout space for the printer.
Further, in case that the exclusive image reading apparatus is added to the image forming system consisting of the personal computer and the printer, there is such a problem that an initial setting up operation becomes troublesome as a cable for the image reading apparatus should be connected to a connector provided on a rear portion of the personal computer, a power supply for the image reading apparatus is ensured and so on.
By employing a printer on which the image reading apparatus is mounted on the printer head portion thereof, the above explained problems of the space and the connecting operation etc., may be solved. However, in this case, there is such a problem for the user, who has already purchased the printer, that it is necessary to replace the existing printer with a new type, resulting in a significant loss.
Furthermore, there is such a problem for the maker, who manufactures the printers, that there are raised a large number of changing points on the structure with respect to the printer of the type which has been manufactured, resulting in a significant increase of the cost in case of mounting the image reading apparatus on the printer head portion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is proposed in view of the above mentioned problems. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus and an image reading apparatus, which requires no or little extra space and no or little troublesome connecting operation and which can efficiently use hardware resources even in case of adding the image reading apparatus to an existing image forming system.
The above object of the present invention can be achieved by a first image forming apparatus provided with: a main body unit including a controller and an image forming device for forming an image on a record medium under a control of the controller, and having an attachment portion; a detachable record medium supplying unit detachably attached to the attachment portion and including a record medium accommodation device for accommodating the record medium and a record medium transporting device for transporting the record medium from the record medium accommodation device; and a detachable image reading unit detachably attached to the attachment portion instead of the detachable record medium supplying unit and including a reading device for reading image information on an original and an original transporting device for transporting the original to the reading device.
According to the first image forming apparatus, when the detachable record medium supplying unit is attached to the attachment portion of the main body unit, the record medium accommodated in the record medium accommodation device is transported by the record medium transporting device, on the side of the detachable record medium supplying unit. Then, the record medium is supplied from the detachable record medium supplying unit to the main body unit. Then, the image is formed on the supplied record medium by the image forming device under the control of the controller, on the side of the main body unit. On the other hand, when the detachable record medium supplying unit is detached and, instead of it, the detachable image reading unit is attached to the attachment portion of the main body unit, the original is transported by the original transporting device. Then, the image information on the original is read by the reading device.
Accordingly, in case of attaching the detachable record medium supplying unit to the attachment portion, a normal image forming process is performed. On the other hand, in case of attaching the detachable image reading unit to the attachment portion, an image reading process is performed.
In this manner, since the detachable image reading unit, which can be attached and detached to the attachment portion for the detachable record medium supplying unit and which can exchange the record medium supplying unit, is employed, it is possible to reduce the layout space for the image reading apparatus and also omit a troublesome connection operation.
In one aspect of the first image forming apparatus, the first image forming apparatus is further provided with: a driving device for driving the record medium transporting device by engaging with the record medium transporting device when the detachable record medium supplying unit is attached to the attachment portion, and for driving the original transporting device by engaging with the original transporting device when the detachable image reading unit is attached to the attachment portion.
According to this aspect, when the detachable record medium supplying unit is attached to the attachment portion, the record medium transporting device is engaged with the driving device. Then, the record medium transporting device is driven by the driving device to transport the record medium. On the other hand, when the detachable image reading unit is attached to the attachment portion, the original transporting device is engaged with the driving device. Then, the original transporting device is driven by the driving device to transport the original. Accordingly, by commonly use the driving device in this manner, the structure of the image reading unit as well as the image forming apparatus on the whole can be simplified, and the cost can be reduced.
In another aspect of the first image forming apparatus, at least one of the detachable record medium supplying unit and the detachable image reading unit comprises an identification device, and the controller identifies whether the detachable record medium supplying unit or the detachable image reading unit is attached to the attachment portion on the basis of the identification device.
According to this aspect, when the detachable record medium supplying unit or the detachable image reading unit is attached to the attachment portion, the attached unit can be identified by the identification device. Therefore, it is possible to perform the process appropriate for the attached unit in the image forming apparatus.
In another aspect of the first image forming apparatus, the first image forming apparatus is further provided with at least one non-detachable record medium supplying unit fixedly attached to the main body unit at a position other than the attachment portion. The controller controls the image forming device to form the image on the record medium supplied from the non-detachable record medium supplying unit on the basis of the image information read by the reading device when the detachable image reading unit is attached to the attachment portion.
According to this aspect, when the detachable image reading unit is attached to the attachment portion and the image reading process is started by the reading device, the image is formed on the record medium, which is supplied from the non-detachable record medium
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Grant II Jerome
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
Worku Negussie
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