Electrophotography – Having particular structure
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-19
2001-11-27
Brase, Sandra (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Having particular structure
C399S183000, C399S367000, C399S377000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06324362
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copier or the like provided with both an original feeder such as an automatic document feeder and an area designating means such as a digitizer.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copier, there is often provided an automatic document feeder in order to increase the efficiency of reading originals. The automatic document feeder is generally mounted on the image forming apparatus to be able to rotate between a retracted position where it opens an original read-out station of the image forming apparatus on which an original is placed to be read out, and an operative position where it is positioned over the original read-out station and automatically feeds originals to the original read-out station. The automatic document feeder also functions as an original holder for holding an original on the original read-out station.
Further, it has been put into practice to form an image of only a selected part of the original by designating a part to be extracted or a part to be cancelled by the use of a digitizer. In the digitizer, a plurality of points on the original placed on an input face are designated by lightly touching the original with, for instance, a stylus pen, and he designated points are electrically detected, and the elected part of the original is determined on the basis of he designated points.
Conventionally, the automatic document feeder and the digitizer are separately provided above the original read-out out station, which increases the vertical dimension of the image forming apparatus. Though the size of the image forming apparatus can be reduced by installing the digitizer in a position away from the image forming apparatus, this approach is disadvantageous in that the digitizer becomes inconvenient and the space for installing the digitizer is necessary.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing observations and description, the primary object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which is provided with both an automatic document feeder and a digitizer and nevertheless can be small in size.
The image forming apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises an original read-out station which is provided on an image forming apparatus body and on which an original is placed and read out in a predetermined read-out position, an area designating means for designating an area of the original, and an original feeder means for feeding an original to the read-out position, and is characterized in that the original feeder means and the area designating means are mounted on the image forming apparatus body for rotation about respective axes between their respective operative positions where they are opposed to the original read-out station and their respective retracted positions where they are away from the original read-out station to open the original read-out station, and the original feeder means is provided with an area designating means receiving portion on the side which is opposed to the original read-out station when the original feeder means is in the operative position so that the area designating means is received in the area designating means receiving portion of the original feeder means when the original feeder means and the area designating means are both in their operative positions.
It is preferred that the original feeder means and the area designating means be coaxially mounted for rotation.
In this case, it is preferred that a locking means for connecting the area designating means to the original feeder means so that the area designating means and the original feeder means can be rotated integrally with each other.
Further, it is preferred that the original feeder means be mounted for rotation by a balanced hinge.
In this case, it preferred that the area designating means be also mounted for rotation by a balanced hinge.
Further, it is preferred that the area designating means be connected to the original feeder means by way of a damper which supports the area designating means with respect to the original feeder means under a damping effect.
In accordance with the present invention, since the area designating means is received in the area designating means receiving portion formed on the original feeder means, the area designating means and the original feeder means can be compactly mounted on the image forming apparatus body without substantially enlarging the overall size of the image forming apparatus.
Further, when the original feeder means and the area designating means are coaxially mounted, they can be smoothly rotated.
Further by locking the area designating means to the original feeder means by the locking means, the area designating means and the original feeder means can be easily rotated integrally with each other.
Further, when the original feeder means is supported for rotation by a balanced hinge, the weight of the original feeder means is supported by the balanced hinges, and accordingly rotation of the original feeder means is facilitated.
Further, when the area designating means is supported for rotation by a balanced hinge, the weight of the area designating means is supported by the balanced hinges, and accordingly rotation of the area designating means is facilitated.
Further, when the area designating means is connected to the original feeder means by way of a damper, abrupt rotation of the area designating means and the original feeder means can be prevented.
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patent: 4295732 (1981-10-01), Hull et al.
patent: 4812874 (1989-03-01), Kubota et al.
patent: 4829341 (1989-05-01), Sasaki et al.
patent: 4990952 (1991-02-01), Watanabe
patent: 4996561 (1991-02-01), Yoshimura et al.
patent: 5220393 (1993-06-01), Otomo
patent: 5881351 (1999-03-01), Shimotoso et al.
patent: 11-327221 (1999-11-01), None
Fukuda Mamoru
Hara Masashi
Yokoyama Tadakazu
Brase Sandra
Nixon & Peabody LLP
Riso Kagaku Corporation
Studebaker Donald R.
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