ATTACHMENT FOR USE IN IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS TO CONNECT EXTERNAL DEVICE THERETO

Abstract

An apparatus for image formation is disclosed which includes an imaging device forming images on record media; a housing defining a front face, a rear face, both side faces, a top face and a bottom face, to thereby house the imaging device; a recessed portion configured so as to be openable at selected at least one of the front face, the both side faces and the top face of the housing; and an attachment mechanism allowing a data-storable external storage device to be attached to the apparatus for electrical connection thereto, the attachment mechanism being in a position allowing the external storage device, when attached to the attachment mechanism, to be accommodated within the recessed portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a mid-sectional view illustrating a laser printer 1 constructed according to a first illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein the laser printer 1 is configured to incorporate an image reader 300;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the exterior of the laser printer 1 depicted in FIG. 1, with the image reader 300 being omitted in the illustration, FIG. 2 also illustrating the features of a laser printer 1 constructed according to a second illustrative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a USB memory device 200 to be attached to the laser printer depicted in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the exterior of the laser printer 1 depicted in FIG. 2, with the USB memory device 200 being attached to the laser printer 1;

FIG. 5 is, for illustration of the laser printer 1 constructed according to the second illustrative embodiment of the invention, a combined view of a mid-sectional view illustrating a first portion of the laser printer 1 which is located on the left-hand side with respect to line C, and a side view illustrating a second portion of the laser printer 1 which is located on the right-hand side with respect to line C, the first portion being located on the front side with respect to line C when viewing a right-hand side face 100c depicted in FIG. 2, the second portion being located on the rear side with respect to line C when viewing the right-hand side face 100c, FIG. 5 also illustrating the features of a laser printer 1 constructed according to a third illustrative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, except that the USB memory device 200 has been attached to the laser printer 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a paper feed tray 20 included in a laser printer 1 constructed according to a fourth illustrative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, except that the USB memory device 200 has been attached to the paper feed tray 20;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a laser printer 1 constructed according to a fifth illustrative embodiment of the invention, with a manual feed tray 120 being in an open position:

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9, except that the USB memory device 200 has been attached to a certain area inside the laser printer 1; and

FIG. 11 is a side view illustrating the relative geometry among the USB memory device 200, a paper outlet 74, and a paper exit tray 63, all depicted in FIG. 1.

Claims

1. An apparatus for image formation, comprising: an imaging device forming images on record media;a housing defining a front face, a rear face, both side faces, a top face and a bottom face, to thereby house the imaging device;a recessed portion configured so as to be openable at selected at least one of the front face, the both side faces and the top face of the housing; andan attachment mechanism allowing a data-storable external storage device to be attached to the apparatus for electrical connection thereto, the attachment mechanism being in a position allowing the external storage device, when attached to the attachment mechanism, to be accommodated within the recessed portion.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recessed portion is defined by and on the selected at least one face of the housing, the recessed portion acts as a media exit section configured to have a wall-like structure and an exit tray,the wall-like structure has a media outlet allowing the record media to exit the media outlet into the exit tray after the imaging device forms images on the record media,the exit tray is used for storage of the record media in stack after the record media exits the media outlet into the exit tray, andthe attachment mechanism is disposed on the wall-like structure at a predetermined distance away from a reference plane of the exit tray, which is larger than a distance between the media outlet and the reference plane of the exit tray.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recessed portion includes a recessed handle defined by and on the selected at least one face of the housing, at least for carrying the apparatus.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a feed tray for use in feeding the record media to the imaging device before the imaging device forms images on the record media, wherein the feed tray is configured to be insertable into and extractable from the housing,the feed tray has a front face defining at least in part the selected at least one face of the housing when the feed tray is inserted in the housing,the recessed portion is defined by and on the front face of the feed tray, andthe recessed portion acts as a recessed handle at least for extracting the feed tray from the housing.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the attachment mechanism is disposed at the feed tray.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an openable member situated selectively in an open position and a closed position, the openable member, when situated in the closed position, occluding the recessed portion.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a feed tray for use in feeding the record media to the imaging device before the imaging device forms images on the record media, wherein the feed tray is configured to be insertable into and extractable from the housing,the recessed portion is defined within the housing when the feed tray is inserted in the housing, andthe openable member belongs to the feed tray.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the attachment mechanism is disposed at the feed tray.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the recessed portion includes a recessed handle defined by and on the selected at least one face of the housing, at least for extracting the feed tray from the housing.

10. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the openable member includes an openable cover pivotably coupled to the housing.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a feed tray for use in feeding the record media to the imaging device before the imaging device forms images on the record media, wherein the feed tray is pivotably coupled to the housing, andthe feed tray acts as the openable member.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the feed tray has a front face and a rear face as viewed when the feed tray is situated in the closed position, and the recessed portion is defined within the housing when the feed tray is situated in the closed position.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the attachment mechanism is disposed at a predetermined position within the housing, which is located opposing to the rear face of the feed tray situated in the closed position.

14. An apparatus for image formation, comprising: an imaging device forming images on sheets;a housing that houses the imaging device;a sheet outlet through which the sheets pass to exit the apparatus after image formation by the imaging device;a sheet exit tray formed integrally with the housing to store the sheets after exiting the sheet outlet; andan attachment mechanism allowing a data-storable external storage device to be detachably attached to the apparatus for electrical connection thereto, whereinthe sheet exit tray is configured to have a recessed portion in a position allowing an user to access the recessed portion, the sheet exit tray storing the sheets in stack on the recessed portion, andthe attachment mechanism is in a position allowing the user to access the external storage device, when attached to the attachment mechanism at least temporarily, and allowing the external storage device, when attached to the attachment mechanism, to be accommodated within the recessed portion, without interfering with storage of the sheets on the recessed portion.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the attachment mechanism is disposed in the vicinity of the sheet outlet.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the external storage device is elongated-plate shaped, and the attachment mechanism is oriented in a direction allowing the external storage device, when attached to the attachment mechanism, to be generally in parallel to a path in which the sheets travel from the sheet outlet to the sheet exit tray.

17. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the external storage device is elongated-plate shaped, and the attachment mechanism is oriented in a direction allowing the external storage device, when attached to the attachment mechanism, to be generally in parallel to a surface of an uppermost one of the sheets stacked on the sheet exit tray.