Image forming apparatus

• US 20040061765A1
• Filed: 09/29/2003
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Tanaami, Yasufumi, Kan, Shoichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,347,543 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/108
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/023 with reduced dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/13 Cases or covers
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/393 Devices for controlling or analysing the entire machine ; Controlling or analysing mechanical parameters involving printing of test patterns

Abstract

An image forming apparatus is featured with excellent operability of storage at the time of non-use, as well as excellent operability of charging the battery, in addition to such advantages as thin and battery-driven, and preferably suitable for portable use. A cradle provided for this image forming apparatus functions as a placement stand when an ink jet printer, which is provided with a battery charger mounted thereon, is inserted in the direction designated appropriately at the time of non-use. When the ink jet printer having the battery charger thus mounted thereon is contained in the cradle, the contact point portion of the battery charger and the contact terminal portion of the cradle are electrically connected. Therefore, the battery incorporated in the battery charger is charged when the AC adopter cable is inserted into the CDL-DCin jack of the cradle.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus capable of being contained in a container stand as a placement stand, said container being separate from said image forming apparatus.

2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is used in a mode of horizontal placement at the time of forming images, and capable of being contained in a mode of vertical placement at the time of non-use adopting the mode having said apparatus to be contained in said container stand.

3. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a battery; and

charging means for charging said battery, wherein the charging of said battery is conducted by containing the apparatus in said container stand at the time of non-use.

4. An image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said battery and said charging means are incorporated in a charging device structured to be attachable to and detachable from said image forming apparatus, and the charging of said battery is conducted by containing in said container stand said charging device in the status of being mounted on said image forming apparatus.

5. An image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein on the backside of said charging device, the contact point portion is provided, and the contact terminal portion is provided for said container stand, and said contact point portion and said contact terminal portion are electrically connected by containing said image forming apparatus having said charging device mounted thereon in said container stand.

6. An image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the contact point portion of said charging device, and said contact terminal portion of said container stand are arranged in the central portion of the connecting surface of said charging device and said container stand, respectively, and are in a symmetrical mode.

7. An image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said cradle is provided with a shutter mechanism for protecting said contact terminal portion, and said shutter mechanism retracts by containing said image forming apparatus having said charging device mounted thereon in said container stand.

8. An image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the load required for pressurizing said contact terminal portion to be in contact and retracting said shutter mechanism is smaller than the weight of said charging device alone.

9. An image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said charging device is provided with a portion to hide the DC jack for input use for said image forming apparatus, and when said image forming apparatus having said charging device mounted thereon is contained in said container stand, the structural portion of said container stand covers said jack for DC input use of said charging device.

10. An image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said battery is incorporated in said image forming apparatus, and said charging means is incorporated in said container stand, and said battery is charged when said image forming apparatus is contained in said container stand.

11. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein on the backside of said image forming apparatus the contact point portion is provided, and the contact terminal portion is provided for said container stand, and said contact point portion and said contact terminal portion are electrically connected by containing said image forming apparatus having said charging device mounted thereon in said container stand.

12. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the contact point portion of said image forming apparatus and said contact terminal portion of said container stand are arranged in the central portion of the connecting surface of said charging device and said container stand, respectively, and are in a symmetrical mode.

13. An image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said container stand is provided with a shutter mechanism for protecting said contact terminal portion, and said shutter mechanism retracts by containing said image forming apparatus having said charging device mounted thereon in said container stand.

14. An image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the load required for pressurizing said contact terminal portion to be in contact and retracting said shutter mechanism is smaller than the weight of said image forming apparatus.

15. An image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein either said charging device or said image forming apparatus is provided with indication means for showing the charging condition of said battery, and said indication means is structured to be recognizable even when said image forming apparatus is contained in said container stand.

16. An image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said indication means for showing the charging condition of the battery is recognizable even when said image forming apparatus is contained in said container stand in any direction, forward or backward, and said contact point portion and said contact terminal portion are electrically connectable.

17. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a recording sheet supply tray dually functioning as a cover capable of being open and closed with respect to said image forming apparatus is structured not to open when said image forming apparatus is contained in said container stand.

18. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image forming apparatus can be contained in said container stand in the status having an I/F cable connected thereto.