Facsimile apparatus

• US 5,140,438 A
• Filed: 02/08/1990
• Issued: 08/18/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Kurahashi, Yoshiyuki, Yamamoto, Masanori
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Sr., Edward L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Grant, II, Jerome
• Application Number:
  US07/477,036
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 358/400, 358/401, 358/468, 358/474, 358/486, 358/494, 358/296, 358/498, 358/493, 358/476, 358/297, 358/298, 358/299, 358/300, 358/301, 358/302, 358/496, 346/145, 361/391, 379/100
• US Class Current: 358/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00538 Modular devices, i.e. allowing combinations of separate components, removal or replacement of components

Abstract

In a facsimile apparatus, a recording section unit has a clamshell structure in which an upper portion can be opened upwardly with respect to a lower portion. The recording section unit is disposed on a reading section unit and an image processing section unit arranged horizontally which are provided adjacently to one another, and the upper portion of the recording section unit can be opened and closed independently of the lower portion, the reading section unit, and the image processing section unit.

Claims

1. A facsimile apparatus comprising;

a first unit,

a second unit provided on the first unit,

a third unit provided on the second unit and connected to the second unit so as to make pivotal movement upwardly with respect to the second unit,

a reading means for reading an image of an original and generating a first image signal according to the image of the original, said reading means being contained in the first unit,

a signal processing means for transmitting the first image signal through a telephone network, and receiving a second image signal through the telephone network, said signal processing means being contained in the first unit, and

a recording means for reproducing an image on a recording material from the second image signal, which includes a transport path for transporting said recording material, transport means provided along the transport path for transporting the recording material, and an image forming means for reproducing the image from the second image signal, the transport path and the transport means being contained in the second unit and the image forming means being contained in the third unit.

2. A facsimile apparatus comprising;

a first unit having a reading means for reading an original and generating a first image signal according to the image of the original, and a signal processing means for transmitting the first image signal through a telephone network and receiving a second image signal through the telephone network,

a second unit provided on the first unit and having a transport path for transporting a recording material and transport means provided along the transport path for transporting the recording material, and

a third unit provided on the second unit so as to make pivotal movement upwardly with respect to the second unit, and having an image forming means for reproducing an image on the recording material according to the second image signal.

3. A facsimile apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first unit is connected to the second unit through a rotating shaft and performs pivotal movement about the rotating shaft.

4. A facsimile apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first unit has a first containing portion for containing the reading means and a second containing portion for containing the signal processing means, the first containing portion being capable of making pivotal movement in a horizontal direction with respect to the second containing portion while contacting at one end thereof with the second containing portion.

5. A facsimile apparatus comprising;

a first unit having a first containing portion and a second containing portion, the first containing portion being capable of making pivotal movement in a horizontal direction while contacting at one end thereof with the second containing portion,

a second unit superposed on the first unit,

a reading means for reading an image of an original and generating a first image signal, said reading means being contained in the first containing portion of the first unit,

a signal processing means for transmitting the first image signal through a telephone network and receiving a second image signal through the telephone network, said signal processing means being contained in the second containing portion of the first unit, and

a recording means for reproducing an image on a recording material from the second image signal, and including a transport path for transporting the recording material, transport means provided along the transport path for transporting the recording material, and an image forming means for reproducing an image on the recording material from the second image signal, the transport path, the transport means and the image forming means being contained in the second unit.

6. A facsimile apparatus comprising;

a first unit having a first containing portion in which a reading means for reading an image of an original and generating a first image signal is contained, and a second containing portion in which a signal processing means for receiving a second image signal through a telephone network and transmitting the first image signal through the telephone network, is contained the first containing portion being capable of making pivotal movement in a horizontal direction while contacting at one end thereof with the second containing portion.

a second unit provided on the first unit and having a recording means for reproducing an image on a recording material from the second image signal, the recording means having a transport path for transporting the recording material, transport means provided along the transport path and for transporting the recording material and an image forming means for reproducing an image from the second signal.

7. A facsimile apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first containing portion is connected through a hinge to the second containing portion and can make pivotal movement in a horizontal direction.

8. A facsimile apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein a roller member for making the first containing portion smoothly move in a horizontal direction is provided at one end portion of the bottom surface of the first containing portion.

9. A facsimile apparatus comprising;

a reading means for reading an image of an original and generating a first image signal according to the image of the original,

an original holding means for holding an original for transmission, the original holding means being provided in the reading means,

an original guide means provided on the original holding surface of the original holding means and having a guide member which extends in an original transport direction and is movable in a direction perpendicular to the original transport direction,

an original guide member adjusting means provided in the original holding means so as to move the original guide member in the direction perpendicular the original transport direction,

a signal processing means for transmitting the first image signal through a telephone network and receiving a second image signal through the telephone network, and

a recording means for reproducing an image on a recording material from the second image signal.

10. A facsimile apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the original holding means has a holding plate for holding the original thereon and the guide member is provided on the holding plate.

11. A facsimile apparatus comprising;

a first unit having

a reading means for reading an image of an original and generating a first image signal according to the image of the original,

an original holding means provided adjacent to the reading means for holding an original;

an original guide means provided on the original holding surface of the original holding means and having a guide member which extends in an original transport direction and is movable in a direction perpendicular to the original transport direction;

an original guide member adjusting means provided on the original holding means so as to move the original guide member in the direction perpendicular to the original transport direction; and

a signal processing means for transmitting the first image signal through a telephone network and receiving a second image signal through the telephone network, and

a second unit superposed on the first unit and having a recording means for reproducing an image on a recording material from the second image signal.

12. A facsimile apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the original holding means has a holding plate for holding the original thereon, and the original guide member is slidable in the direction perpendicular to the original tranport direction.

13. A facsimile apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein a groove is provided in the inside of the holding plate, and the original guide member adjusting means has a lever passing the groove and extending in a direction of the width of the original.

14. A facsimile apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the original guide member is connected to the original guide member adjusting means.

15. A facsimile apparatus comprising:

a first unit having a recording means for reproducing an image on a recording material from a first image signal, the recording means having a transport path for transporting the recording material, transport means provided along the transport path for transporting the recording material and an image forming means for reproducing the image on the recording material from the first image signal; and

a second unit having a first containing portion in which a reading means for reading an image of an original and generating a second image signal is contained, and a second containing portion in which a signal processing means for receiving the first image signal through a telephone network and transmitting the second image signal through the telephone network is contained, the first containing portion being movable from a first position to a second position in a horizontal direction thereof, and the first containing portion being under the first unit in the first position and being at the outside of the first unit in the second position.

16. A facsimile apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the first containing portion further contains a supply means for supplying the original to the reading means integrally with the reading means.

17. A facsimile apparatus comprising:

a first unit having a reading means for reading an original and generating a first image signal according to the image of the original, and a signal processing means for transmitting the first image signal through a telephone network and receiving a second image signal through the telephone network; and

a second unit provided upwardly with respect to said first unit, and having a recording means for reproducing an image on a recording material from the second image signal.

18. A facsimile apparatus comprising:

a reading means for reading an original and generating a first image signal according to the image of the original; and

a recording means including a transport path provided upwardly with respect to said reading means for transporting the recording material, transport means provided along the transport path for transporting the recording material, and an image forming means provided upwardly with respect to said transport path for reproducing an image on the recording material from a second image signal received through a telephone network.

19. A facsimile apparatus as claimed in claim 18, further comprising:

a signal processing means provided downwardly with respect to the transport path for transmitting the first image signal through the telephone network and receiving the second image signal through the telephone network.