US4857963A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image forming apparatus
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1987-12-30
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Granted: 1989-08-15
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Expires: 2007-12-30
Abstract
Abstract An image forming apparatus including a main body provided with a section for forming an image on a copy paper, a paper supply section arranged below the main body for supplying the copy paper to the main body and a paper discharge section arranged below the main body for receiving the copy paper on which the image has been formed from the main body. The main body, the paper supply section and the paper discharge section are constituted separately and detachable from each other and are vertically arranged in an overlapped manner. The apparatus has a first conveyer for vertically transporting the copy paper from the paper supply section to the main body and a second conveyer for vertically transporting the copy paper from the main body to the paper discharge section. Therefore, the apparatus occupies the least possible mounting area.
Inventors
- 👤 Masatoki Sutou
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 04:24
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H5/00; B65H5/02; B65H5/021; B65H5/023; B65H39/00; B65H39/10; B65H39/11; B65H5/026; G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/65; G03G15/6502; G03G15/6529; G03G15/6538; G03G15/6552; B65H2408/00; B65H2408/10; B65H2408/11; B65H2408/111; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/00362; G03G2215/00367; G03G2215/00371; G03G2215/00379; G03G2215/00383; G03G2215/00417; G03G2215/00421; G03G2215/00535; G03G2215/0054; G03G2215/00544
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a main body provided with an image forming section for forming an image on a copy paper; a paper supply unit, positioned below said main body, for supplying the copy paper to said main body; and a paper discharge unit, positioned between said main body and said paper supply unit, including a paper tray means in communication with the exterior of the apparatus for receiving the copy paper with the image formed thereon; wherein said main body, said paper supply unit and said paper discharge unit, each of which has a generally box-shape, are vertically arranged in an overlapped relationship, and the paper discharge unit includes; a first conveyer means for vertically transporting the copy paper from said paper supply unit to said main body, and a second conveyer means for vertically transporting the copy paper from said main body to said paper tray means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a main body provided with an image forming section for forming an image on a copy paper; a paper supply unit, positioned below said main body, for supplying the copy paper to said main body; and a paper discharge unit, positioned between said main body and said paper supply unit, including a paper tray means in communication with the exterior of the apparatus for receiving the copy paper with the image formed thereon; wherein said main body, said paper supply unit and said paper discharge unit, each of which has a generally box-shape, are vertically arranged in an overlapped relationship, and the paper discharge unit includes; a first conveyer means for vertically transporting the copy paper from said paper supply unit to said main body, and a second conveyer means for vertically transporting the copy paper from said main body to said paper tray means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an automatic document feeder arranged at the upper surface of said main body for automatically feeding a document.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said paper discharge unit has a plurality of paper trays for receiving and sorting the copy papers thereon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second conveyer means has paper guide passages corresponding to said paper trays for selectively delivering the copy papers to any one of the paper trays.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said paper supply means has a plurality of paper storing portions for storing the copy papers with diferent sizes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main body, said paper supply unit and said paper discharge unit are detachable from each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
123 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a first box-shaped unit having an image forming section for forming an image on a copy paper; a second box-shaped unit, positioned below said first unit, for supplying the copy paper to the first unit; and a third box-shaped unit, positioned between said first and second units, including a paper tray in communication with the outside environment for receiving the copy paper formed with the image thereon, a first paper passage for vertically transporting the copy paper from said second unit to said first unit and a second paper passage for vertically transporting the copy paper from said first unit to said paper tray, wherein said first, second and third units are vertically arranged in an overlapped relationship.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
123 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a first box-shaped unit having an image forming section for forming an image on a copy paper; a second box-shaped unit, positioned below said first unit, for supplying the copy paper to the first unit; and a third box-shaped unit, positioned between said first and second units, including a paper tray in communication with the outside environment for receiving the copy paper formed with the image thereon, a first paper passage for vertically transporting the copy paper from said second unit to said first unit and a second paper passage for vertically transporting the copy paper from said first unit to said paper tray, wherein said first, second and third units are vertically arranged in an overlapped relationship.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said third unit includes a plurality of paper trays for receiving and sorting the copy papers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said second paper passage includes paper guide passages corresponding to said paper trays for selectively delivering the copy papers to any one of the paper trays.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second unit includes a plurality of paper storing portions for storing different size copy papers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first, second and third units are detachable from each other.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-08-14 | 1993-02-13 | 1993-08-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-08-14 | 1997-02-13 | 1997-08-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-08-14 | 2001-02-13 | 2001-08-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |