Image forming apparatus with ink jet and electrophotographic recording units

Claim 2

An image forming apparatus comprising a plurality of image forming means which form images according to different methods, wherein: one image forming means is arranged on an upstream side of the other image forming means in a transporting path of a recording medium; and the top end of the recording medium is introduced into second transporting means while image formation is being performed by said one image forming means when I>L stands, and the top end of the recording medium is introduced into the other image forming means when I≦L stands, where I represents a distance from the top end of the recording medium to the end of the an image recording area on which an image is formed by said one image forming means, and L represents a distance from a pair of rollers located on the downstream side in a transporting direction constituting first transporting means of said one image forming means to resist rollers of said other image forming means.

Claim 3

An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said one image forming means forms images according to an ink jet method and reads an original image as digital signals.

Claim 4

An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of said plurality of different image forming means comprises means for forming a multiple-color image and the other one comprises means for forming a mono-chrome image.

Claim 5

An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of said plurality of different image forming means comprises ink jet image forming means, and the other one comprises electrophotographic image forming means.

Claim 6

An image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a recording head employed in said ink jet image forming means has an electro-thermal converting member for generating thermal energy which causes film boiling in ink as an element for generating energy utilized to discharge the ink.

Claim 7

An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium guided by said second transporting means after image formation by said one image forming means when I>L stands is conveyed by said first and second transporting means by said one image forming means and then guided to said other image forming means by said second transporting means.

Claim 8

An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image forming apparatus is capable of performing an image formation in which an ink jet image forming area and an electrophotographing area are superimposed on the same recording medium and an image formation in which an ink jet image forming area and an electrophotographing area are not superimposed on the same recording medium.

Claim 9

An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said one image forming means reads an original image as a digital signal.

Claim 10

An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said one image forming means forms a multi-color image on the recording medium.

Claim 11

An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said other image forming means reads an original image as an analog signal.

Claim 12

An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said other image forming means forms a black and white image on the recording medium.

Claim 13

An image forming apparatus comprising: transporting means for transporting a recording medium; first image forming means for performing image formation by discharging ink on the recording medium in response to image formation information; second image forming means for performing transfer image formation on the recording medium by forming a latent image on a photo-sensitive member in response to image formation information; a pair of guiding members for guiding the recording medium transported from said first image forming means to said second image forming means; and fixing means for fixing an image formed on the recording medium by said second image forming means, wherein a transporting distance between said first image forming means and said second image forming means is shorter than the length of the recording medium, and a space is defined by said guiding members so that the recording medium can be curved in the space.

Claim 14

An image forming apparatus comprising: transporting means for transporting a recording medium; first image forming means for performing image formation by discharging ink on the recording medium in response to image formation information; second image forming means for performing transfer image formation on the recording medium by forming a latent image on a photo-sensitive member in response to image formation information; a pair of guiding members for guiding the recording medium transported from said first image forming means to said second image forming means; and fixing means for fixing an image formed on the recording medium by said second image forming means, wherein a transporting distance between said first image forming means and said second image forming means is shorter than the length of the recording medium, and a space is defined by said guiding members so that the recording medium can be curved in the space.

Claim 15

An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said second image forming means which effects image formation according to an electrophotographic image formation method reads an original image as analog signals.

Claim 16

An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, further including a movable member near one of said guiding members for restricting a curving state of the recording medium.

Claim 17

An image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said first image forming means effects image formation according to an ink jet image formation method in which an electric-thermal converting member is actuated in response to a signal, and thermal energy generated by said electric-thermal converting member is utilized to discharge ink for performing image formation.

Claim 18

An image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said first image forming means effects image formation according to the ink jet image formation method in which said first image formation means actuates said electric-thermal converting member in response to a signal, and ink is discharged from discharging ports for performing image formation by the growth of bubbles due to heat caused by film boiling generated by said electric-thermal converting member.

Claim 19

An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said first image forming means reads an original image as a digital signal.

Claim 20

An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said first image forming means forms a multi-color image on the recording medium.

Claim 21

An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said second image forming means reads an original image as an analog signal.

Claim 22

An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said second image forming means forms a black and white image on the recording medium.

Claim 23

An image forming apparatus having a plurality of image forming means, said apparatus comprising: ink jet image forming means for forming a multi-color image on a recording medium in response to image information; electrophotographic image forming means for forming a black and white image on the recording medium in response to image information; first conveying means for guiding the recording medium to said ink jet image forming means and exhausting the recording medium from said ink jet image forming means after image formation by said ink jet image forming means; second conveying means; and a switching mechanism for switching between a first conveying route for guiding the recording medium exhausted from said ink jet image forming means to said electrophotographic image forming means and a second conveying route for guiding the recording medium to said second conveying means.

Claim 24

An image forming apparatus having a plurality of image forming means, said apparatus comprising: ink jet image forming means for forming a multi-color image on a recording medium in response to image information; electrophotographic image forming means for forming a black and white image on the recording medium in response to image information; first conveying means for guiding the recording medium to said ink jet image forming means and exhausting the recording medium from said ink jet image forming means after image formation by said ink jet image forming means; second conveying means; and a switching mechanism for switching between a first conveying route for guiding the recording medium exhausted from said ink jet image forming means to said electrophotographic image forming means and a second conveying route for guiding the recording medium to said second conveying means.

Claim 25

An image forming apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said ink jet image forming means reads an original image as digital signals.

Claim 26

An image forming apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said electrophotographic image forming means reads an original image as analog signals.

Claim 27

An image forming apparatus according to claim 21, wherein a recording head employed in said ink jet image forming means has an electro-thermal converting member for generating thermal energy which causes film boiling in ink as an element for generating energy utilized to discharge the ink.

Claim 28

An image forming apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said ink jet image forming means forms a multi-color image on the recording medium.

Claim 29

An image forming apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said electrophotographic image forming means forms a black and white image on the recording medium.

Claim 30

An image forming apparatus having a plurality of image forming means, said apparatus comprising: ink jet image forming means for forming a multi-color image on a recording medium in response to image information; electrophotographic image forming means for forming a black and white image on the recording medium in response to image information; first conveying means for guiding the recording medium to said ink jet image forming means and exhausting the recording medium from said ink jet image forming means after image formation by said ink jet image forming means; second conveying means; and a switching mechanism for switching between a first conveying route for guiding the recording medium exhausted from said ink jet image forming means to said electrophotographic image forming means and a second conveying route for guiding the recording medium to said second conveying means, wherein said ink jet image forming means is arranged on an upstream side of said electrophotographic image forming means on a transporting path of the recording medium; and a top end of the recording medium is introduced into said second conveying means while image formation is being performed by said ink jet image forming means when I>L stands, and the top end of the recording medium is introduced into said electrophotographic image forming means when I≦L stands, where I represents a distance from the top end of the recording medium to the end of the an image recording area on which an image is formed by said ink jet image forming means, and L represents a distance from a pair of rollers of said first conveying means located on a downstream side in a conveying direction of said ink jet image forming means to resist rollers of said electrophotographic image forming means.

Claim 31

An image forming apparatus having a plurality of image forming means, said apparatus comprising: ink jet image forming means for forming a multi-color image on a recording medium in response to image information; electrophotographic image forming means for forming a black and white image on the recording medium in response to image information; first conveying means for guiding the recording medium to said ink jet image forming means and exhausting the recording medium from said ink jet image forming means after image formation by said ink jet image forming means; second conveying means; and a switching mechanism for switching between a first conveying route for guiding the recording medium exhausted from said ink jet image forming means to said electrophotographic image forming means and a second conveying route for guiding the recording medium to said second conveying means, wherein said ink jet image forming means is arranged on an upstream side of said electrophotographic image forming means on a transporting path of the recording medium; and a top end of the recording medium is introduced into said second conveying means while image formation is being performed by said ink jet image forming means when I>L stands, and the top end of the recording medium is introduced into said electrophotographic image forming means when I≦L stands, where I represents a distance from the top end of the recording medium to the end of the an image recording area on which an image is formed by said ink jet image forming means, and L represents a distance from a pair of rollers of said first conveying means located on a downstream side in a conveying direction of said ink jet image forming means to resist rollers of said electrophotographic image forming means.

Claim 32

An image forming apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said ink jet image forming means reads an original image as a digital signal.

Claim 33

An image forming apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said ink jet image forming means forms a multi-color image on the recording medium.

Claim 34

An image forming apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said electrophotographic image forming means reads an original image as an analog signal.

Claim 35

An image forming apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said electrophotographic image forming means forms a black and white image on the recording medium.

Claim 36

An image forming apparatus having a plurality of image forming means, said apparatus comprising: ink jet image forming means for forming a multi-color image on a recording medium in response to image information; electrophotographic image forming means for forming a black and white image on the recording medium in response to image information; first conveying means for guiding the recording medium to said ink jet image forming means and exhausting the recording medium from said ink jet image forming means; second conveying means; and a switching mechanism for switching between a first conveying route for guiding the recording medium exhausted from said ink jet image forming means to said electrophotographic image forming means and a second conveying route for guiding the recording medium to said second conveying means.

Claim 37

An image forming apparatus having a plurality of image forming means, said apparatus comprising: ink jet image forming means for forming a multi-color image on a recording medium in response to image information; electrophotographic image forming means for forming a black and white image on the recording medium in response to image information; first conveying means for guiding the recording medium to said ink jet image forming means and exhausting the recording medium from said ink jet image forming means; second conveying means; and a switching mechanism for switching between a first conveying route for guiding the recording medium exhausted from said ink jet image forming means to said electrophotographic image forming means and a second conveying route for guiding the recording medium to said second conveying means.

Claim 38

An image forming apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said ink jet image forming means reads an original image as digital signals.

Claim 39

An image forming apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said ink jet image forming means forms a multi-color image on the recording medium.

Claim 40

An image forming apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said electrophotographic image forming means reads an original image as analog signals.

Claim 41

An image forming apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said electrophotographic image forming means forms a black and white image on the recording medium.

Claim 42

An image forming apparatus according to claim 32, wherein a recording head employed in said ink jet image forming means has an electro-thermal converting member for generating thermal energy which causes film boiling in ink as an element for generating energy utilized to discharge the ink.

Claim 43

An image forming apparatus including a plurality of different image forming means, said apparatus comprising: a first image forming section having a first recording medium conveying mechanism for guiding a recording medium to said first image forming section and exhausting the recording medium from said first image forming section; a second image forming section provided downstream of said first image forming section in a conveyance route of the recording medium, said second image forming section having a second recording medium conveying mechanism for guiding the recording medium to said second image forming section and exhausting said recording medium from said second image forming section; a third recording medium conveying mechanism provided downstream of said first image forming section in the conveyance route of the recording medium; and a guiding mechanism for guiding the recording medium to said third recording medium conveying mechanism when I>L and guiding the recording medium to said second image forming section when I≦L, where I is a distance between a leading end of the recording medium and a rear end of an image forming area of said first image forming section, and L is a distance between a conveying member provided downstream of the conveyance route of said first recording medium conveying mechanism and a conveying member provided downstream of the conveyance route of said second recording medium conveying mechanism.

Claim 44

An image forming apparatus including a plurality of different image forming means, said apparatus comprising: a first image forming section having a first recording medium conveying mechanism for guiding a recording medium to said first image forming section and exhausting the recording medium from said first image forming section; a second image forming section provided downstream of said first image forming section in a conveyance route of the recording medium, said second image forming section having a second recording medium conveying mechanism for guiding the recording medium to said second image forming section and exhausting said recording medium from said second image forming section; a third recording medium conveying mechanism provided downstream of said first image forming section in the conveyance route of the recording medium; and a guiding mechanism for guiding the recording medium to said third recording medium conveying mechanism when I>L and guiding the recording medium to said second image forming section when I≦L, where I is a distance between a leading end of the recording medium and a rear end of an image forming area of said first image forming section, and L is a distance between a conveying member provided downstream of the conveyance route of said first recording medium conveying mechanism and a conveying member provided downstream of the conveyance route of said second recording medium conveying mechanism.

Claim 45

An image forming apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said first image forming section reads an original image as a digital signal.

Claim 46

An image forming apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said first image forming section forms a multi-color image on the recording medium.

Claim 47

An image forming apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said second image forming section reads an original image as an analog signal.

Claim 48

An image forming apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said second image forming section forms a black and white image on the recording medium.

Claim 49

An image forming apparatus comprising: an ink jet image forming section for forming an image by discharging ink to a recording medium in response to image forming information, said ink jet image forming section having a first recording medium conveying mechanism for guiding a recording medium to said ink jet image forming section and exhausting the recording medium from said ink jet image forming section; an electrophotographic image forming section provided downstream of said ink jet image forming section in a conveyance route of the recording medium which is shorter than the length of the recording medium, said electrophotographic image forming section having a second recording medium conveying mechanism for guiding the recording medium to said electrophotographic image forming section and exhausting the recording medium from said electrophotographic image forming section; a guiding mechanism for guiding the recording medium from said ink jet image forming section to said electrophotographic image forming section, said guiding mechanism having a space in which said recording medium is capable of being curved; and a control mechanism for introducing the recording medium to said second recording medium conveying mechanism in accordance with termination of image formation by said ink jet image forming section.

Claim 50

An image forming apparatus comprising: an ink jet image forming section for forming an image by discharging ink to a recording medium in response to image forming information, said ink jet image forming section having a first recording medium conveying mechanism for guiding a recording medium to said ink jet image forming section and exhausting the recording medium from said ink jet image forming section; an electrophotographic image forming section provided downstream of said ink jet image forming section in a conveyance route of the recording medium which is shorter than the length of the recording medium, said electrophotographic image forming section having a second recording medium conveying mechanism for guiding the recording medium to said electrophotographic image forming section and exhausting the recording medium from said electrophotographic image forming section; a guiding mechanism for guiding the recording medium from said ink jet image forming section to said electrophotographic image forming section, said guiding mechanism having a space in which said recording medium is capable of being curved; and a control mechanism for introducing the recording medium to said second recording medium conveying mechanism in accordance with termination of image formation by said ink jet image forming section.

Claim 51

An image forming apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said ink jet image forming section reads an original image as a digital signal.

Claim 52

An image forming apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said ink jet image forming section forms a multi-color image on the recording medium.

Claim 53

An image forming apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said electrophotographic image forming section reads an original image as an analog signal.

Claim 54

An image forming apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said electrophotographic image forming section forms a black and white image on the recording medium.