Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6785508
-
Patent Number
6,785,508
-
Date Filed
Friday, March 14, 200321 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, August 31, 200419 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 399 110
- 399 107
- 399 401
- 399 124
- 399 388
- 271 902
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A duplex printing apparatus having a developing unit forming an image onto paper being conveyed, a settling unit fixing the image on the paper, a discharging roller selectively conveying the paper with the fixed image in an alternate direction, includes a feed frame disposed such that a front side faces the developing unit to guide the conveyance of the paper being picked up, a back plate disposed on a rear side of the feed frame to guide the paper reversed from the discharging unit for a duplex printing operation, a duplex unit guiding the paper to between the rear side of the feed frame and the back plate, and a feeding roller module having a feeding roller disposed on a lower portion of the feed frame to convey both the paper fed for a single-side printing operation and the reversed paper for the duplex printing operation.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2002-17905, filed Apr. 2, 2002, in the Korean Industrial Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a duplex printing apparatus, and more particularly, to a duplex printing apparatus with a reduced duplex printing path and a reduced occurrence of a paper jam.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1
is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a conventional duplex printing apparatus.
Referring to
FIG. 1
, a pickup roller
11
is rotated to pick up a paper sheet
13
from a stack of paper in a paper cassette
12
. The picked up paper sheet
13
is passed through a returning guide
14
and conveyed to a developing unit
15
. As the paper sheet
13
is passed through the developing unit
15
, an image is developed on the paper sheet
13
. Then the paper sheet
13
is passed through a settling unit
16
where the image is settled (fixed) under high temperature and pressure. The paper sheet
13
is then passed through registration rollers
17
to rotate a second returning guide
18
forward. Accordingly, the paper sheet
13
is passed through a discharge roller
19
and discharged out.
During a duplex printing operation, when an end of the paper
13
is passed through the second returning guide
18
, a paper sensor (not shown) detects the end of the paper
13
. Accordingly, a controller (not shown) rotates the discharge roller
19
in an alternative direction (a forward direction or a reverse direction) a predetermined time after the detection of the end of the paper
13
, thereby reversing a conveying direction of the paper
13
before the end of the paper
13
is completely passed through the discharge roller
19
. Accordingly, the paper
13
is passed through a rear side of the second returning guide
18
and transferred to a returned paper conveying path
20
that includes the returning roller
21
, and then fed back to the returning guide
14
for the duplex printing operation.
In the construction described above, a problem occurs when a paper passing path for the duplex printing operation is relatively long, and when a duplex printing time is lengthened.
Moreover, as the paper passing path is lengthened, components like paper registration rollers and paper guides are additionally required, and the number of the components increases. As a result, the possibility of occurrence of a paper jam also increases.
Furthermore, as the paper passing path is lengthened, a size of the printing apparatus becomes large.
Also, for the duplex printing operation, a user usually purchases another separate duplex printing unit as an option to mount the duplex printing unit at a side of the printing apparatus. This again causes problems of an unnecessarily lengthened paper passing path, in addition to an inconvenience for the user to purchase and mount the separate duplex printing unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a duplex printing apparatus having an improved structure that has a reduced paper conveying path and requires a simpler structure.
Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.
In order to accomplish the above and/or other aspects of the invention, a duplex printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a developing unit forming an image onto paper being conveyed, a settling unit pressing (fixing) the image on the paper, a discharging roller selectively conveying the paper with the image settled thereon in an alternate direction, a feed frame disposed such that a front side faces the developing unit to guide the conveyance of the paper being picked up, a back plate disposed on a rear side of the feed frame to guide the paper reversed from the discharging unit for the duplex printing operation, a duplex unit guiding the paper, which is passed through the settling unit and reversed from the discharging unit between the rear side of the feed frame and the back plate, and a feeding roller module comprising a feeding roller disposed on a lower portion of the feed frame to convey both the paper fed for a single-side printing operation and the reversed paper for the duplex printing operation toward the developing unit, and a plurality of paper feeding paths for guiding the paper therealong to the feeding roller.
The plurality of paper feeding paths include first and second paper feeding paths for guiding the paper fed from a plurality of built-in paper cassettes to the feeding roller, a third paper feeding path for guiding the paper reversed between the back plate and the feed frame to the feeding roller, and a fourth paper feeding path for guiding the paper fed from an external paper cassette to the feeding roller.
The fourth paper feeding path is formed between the first and the second paper feeding paths and the third paper feeding path.
The feeding roller module further includes a first registration roller unit disposed in contact with the feeding roller to convey the paper fed through the first and the second paper feeding paths, and a second registration roller unit formed between the first and the second paper feeding paths and the fourth paper feeding path to convey the paper fed through the third and the fourth paper feeding paths between the first registration roller unit and the feeding roller.
The first, the second, the third and the fourth paper feeding paths are disposed around the feeding roller and are formed by a plurality of guiding members that are disposed on a side bracket supporting the feed frame.
The feeding roller module includes a main gear coaxially disposed with respect to the feeding roller to rotate the feeding roller, and the main gear and each of a first and second power transmission gears mesh to transmit a power to a reverse feeding registration roller guiding the paper for a duplex driving operation and to a pickup roller picking up the paper from the external paper cassette, respectively.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
FIG. 1
is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a conventional duplex printing apparatus;
FIG. 2
is a schematic view showing a duplex printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3
is a cross-sectional view showing a feeding roller module of
FIG. 2
; and
FIG. 4
is a perspective view showing the feeding roller module of FIG.
3
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention to referring to the figures.
The present invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Referring to
FIG. 2
, a duplex printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a printer body
30
in which a plurality of paper cassettes
31
,
32
are mounted, a developing unit
35
forming an image on paper picked up and conveyed from the paper cassettes
31
,
32
, a setting unit
40
, a discharging unit
50
discharging the printed paper outside the printer body
30
, a feed frame
60
, a back plate
70
, a duplex unit
80
and a feeding roller module
90
.
The paper cassettes
31
,
32
are disposed on respective ones of a plurality of steps (positions) in the printer body
30
to accommodate the paper having one of various sizes.
For an external supply of the paper, a removable paper cassette
33
is also connected to a side of the printer body
30
. The removable paper cassette
33
is pivotally connected to the side of the printer body
30
, and a pick-up roller
33
a
picks up the paper from the removable paper cassette
33
.
The developing unit
35
is disposed in a printing path and includes a photosensitive drum
35
a
and develops the image onto the conveyed (picked-up) paper. The construction of the developing unit
35
is well-known, and accordingly, the description thereof will be omitted. The paper conveyed to the developing unit
35
is then passed between the photosensitive drum
35
a
and a transfer roller
63
. The transfer roller
63
is rotatably disposed on the feed frame
60
.
The settling unit
40
is disposed in the printing path above the developing unit
35
to press and thus settle (fix) the image on the paper that has been passed through the developing unit
35
. As is well-known, the settling unit
40
includes a pressure roller
41
and a backup roller
43
. The backup roller
43
and the pressure roller
41
are rotatably disposed in a housing
45
.
The discharge unit
50
is formed in a discharge path of the paper that has been passed through the settling unit
35
. The discharge unit
50
includes a first discharge roller
51
and a second discharge roller
53
. The first and second discharge rollers
51
,
53
are spaced-apart by a predetermined distance from each other and are rotatable in an alternate direction (a forward direction or a reverse direction) by a proper driving source. Idle rollers
52
,
54
are rotated while being in contact with the discharge rollers
51
,
53
, respectively. The first and the second discharge rollers
51
,
53
are formed on an upper bracket
55
while the idle rollers
52
,
54
are formed on a lower bracket
56
. The respective upper and lower brackets
55
,
56
guide the conveyance of the paper that is discharged/reversed.
Accordingly, for a duplex printing operation, the discharge rollers
51
,
53
are reverse-rotated to return the paper to the developing unit
35
through a reverse feeding path (duplex printing path) before a trailing end of the paper, which has been passed through the settling unit
40
, is completely passed through the first discharge roller
51
.
The feed frame
60
is disposed opposite to the developing unit
35
and between the printing path and the reverse feeding path to guide either the picked-up paper or the reversed paper for the duplex printing operation. On a front side of the feed frame
60
, the transfer roller
63
is disposed to rotate while being in contact with the photosensitive drum
35
a.
On a rear side of the feed frame
60
, the back plate
70
is disposed. The back plate
70
guides the paper reversed from the discharge unit
50
for the duplex printing operation. More specifically, the reversed paper is passed between the back plate
70
and the rear side of the feed frame
60
. The back plate
70
can be connected to the rear side of the feed frame
60
by a proper fastener like screws. In order to convey the reversed paper, a reversing roller
65
and a reverse feeding registration roller
75
are formed at the feed frame
60
and the back plate
70
, respectively.
The duplex unit
80
guides the paper, which has been passed through the settling unit
40
and reversed from the discharging unit
50
, to be fed between the feed frame
60
and the back plate
70
. The duplex unit
80
includes a guide frame
81
formed on an upper portion of the feed frame
60
to be disposed opposite to the settling unit
40
at a predetermined distance, and a pivoting lever
83
pivotally disposed on the settling unit
40
. The guide frame
81
is disposed opposite to the housing
45
of the settling unit
40
at a predetermined distance.
The pivoting lever
83
pivots upward by the paper that is passed through the settling unit
40
. After the paper is completely passed, the pivoting lever
83
is returned to its original position by weight. Accordingly, the paper reversed from the discharging unit
50
is guided by the pivoting lever
83
to be fed between the settling unit
40
and the guide frame
81
. The pivoting lever
83
is connected to a sensor (not shown) that detects whether the paper has been passed through the settling unit
40
. With a detected paper passing time being set as a reference, the first and the second discharging rollers
51
,
53
are reverse-rotated a predetermined time after the paper passing time, to return the paper to the developing unit
35
at a proper time.
Referring to
FIGS. 3 and 4
, the feeding roller module
90
is disposed at a lower portion of the feed frame
60
to convey both the paper fed (picked up) for a single-side printing operation and the paper reversed for the duplex printing operation to the developing unit
35
. The feeding roller module
90
has a side bracket
91
disposed on a lower side of the feed frame
60
, a feeding roller
93
rotatably disposed on the side bracket
91
and a plurality of paper feeding paths for feeding the paper to the feeding roller
93
.
The feeding roller
93
is rotated by a driving source of the printer body
30
to convey the paper toward the developing unit
35
. In other words, whether the paper is fed from the paper cassettes
31
,
32
,
33
or reversed between the feed frame
60
and the back plate
70
, the paper is conveyed toward the developing unit
35
by the feed roller
93
.
The paper feeding paths include first and second feeding paths P
1
, P
2
for feeding the paper picked-up from the paper cassettes
31
,
32
to the feeding roller
93
, a third feeding path P
3
for guiding the reversed paper passed between the back plate
70
and the feed frame
60
to the feeding roller
93
, and a fourth feeding path (a portion of a duplex printing path) P
4
for guiding the paper picked up from the removable paper cassette
33
to the feeding roller
93
. The respective feeding paths P
1
˜P
4
are defined by a plurality of guide members
94
˜
98
formed on the side bracket
91
. The fourth feeding path P
4
is formed between the third and the second feeding paths P
3
, P
2
. Accordingly, all the paper fed into the feeding paths P
1
˜P
4
are conveyed toward the developing unit
35
while being in contact with the feeding roller
93
.
The feeding roller module
90
further includes a first registration roller unit
110
and a second registration roller unit
120
disposed on the side bracket
91
as shown in FIG.
3
. The first registration roller unit
110
is arranged between the first feeding path P
1
and the developing unit
35
. The first registration roller unit
110
includes a pair of first registration rollers
111
,
112
rotated while being in contact with the feeding roller
93
, and a first supporting bracket
113
supporting the first registration rollers
111
,
112
. The first registration rollers
111
,
112
are passive-driven and in contact with the feeding roller
93
to convey the fed paper.
The second registration roller unit
120
is disposed between the second feeding path P
2
and the fourth feeding path P
4
. The second registration roller unit
120
includes a pair of second registration rollers
121
,
122
each having one of different sizes and a second supporting bracket
123
supporting the second registration rollers
121
,
122
. The second registration rollers
121
,
122
convey the paper fed into the third and the fourth feeding paths P
3
, P
4
toward the developing unit
35
while being disposed in contact with the feeding roller
93
to be rotated.
Further, as shown in
FIG. 4
, a main gear
130
is disposed on the side bracket
91
to be connected with the feeding roller
93
. Here, the main gear
130
receives a power to drive the feeding roller
93
. A sub-gear
140
, which is coaxially disposed with respect to the main gear
130
, is connected to a first power transmission gear
141
transmitting the power to the pickup roller
33
a
that picks up the paper from the removable paper cassette
33
.
The sub-gear
140
is connected to a second power transmission gear
65
a
that transmits the power to a reverse conveying roller
65
and the reverse feeding registration roller
75
to convey the paper into a duplex printing path (the third feeding path P
4
).
In the duplex printing apparatus constructed as above according to this embodiment of the present invention, the paper is selectively picked up and fed from the paper cassettes
31
,
32
inside the printer body
30
or from the removable paper cassette
33
. The fed paper is guided to the feeding roller
93
through one of the feeding paths P
1
, P
2
, P
4
. The paper is then conveyed toward the developing unit
35
. As the paper is passed through the developing unit
35
and the transfer roller
63
, the image is developed on the paper, and the paper is passed through the settling unit
40
. After passed through the settling unit
40
, the paper is passed through the first discharging roller
51
. Then, as the paper is passed through the second discharging roller
53
about two-thirds of its length, the first and the second discharging rollers
51
,
53
are reverse-rotated. At this time, the paper is reversed when the trailing end of the paper is held by the first discharging roller
51
.
The reversed paper is guided by the pivoting lever
83
and fed between the guide frame
81
and the settling unit
40
. Continuously, the paper is fed between the back plate
70
and the feed frame
60
. Then, the paper is fed into the third feeding path P
3
and then to the feeding roller
93
. The feeding roller
93
rotates to convey the reversed paper back between the developing unit
35
and the transfer roller
63
so that another image can be formed on a non-printed side of the paper. After completion of the duplex printing operation, the paper is discharged out through the settling unit
30
, the first discharging roller
51
, and the second discharging roller
53
.
As described above, the duplex printing apparatus according to the present invention has a reduced paper conveying path for perform the duplex printing operation, and accordingly, the duplex printing operation is performed within a relatively shorter time.
Also, as the number of parts for the duplex printing function is reduced, a manufacturing cost decreases while a size of the duplex printing apparatus is also reduced.
As a paper reversing path is shortened and becomes simpler, the possibility of occurrence of a paper jam is also reduced. More specifically, by providing a plurality of the feeding paths around the single feeding roller to feed the paper to the developing unit from each of the paper cassettes or the duplex printing path, a space utilization is improved, and an overall cost decreases as the number of parts is reduced.
Although a few preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in this embodiment without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
Claims
- 1. A duplex printing apparatus having a developing unit forming an image on paper being conveyed, a settling unit fixing the image on the paper, and a discharging roller selectively conveying the paper with the fixed image in an alternate direction, comprising:a feed frame disposed such that a first side of the feed frame faces the developing unit to guide the paper, which is newly picked up or reversed from the discharge roller, to the developing unit; a back plate disposed on a second side of the feed frame to guide the paper reversed from the discharging unit for a duplex printing operation; a duplex unit including a guide frame having a curved surface disposed opposite the settling unit guiding the paper, which is passed through the settling unit and reversed from the discharging unit, between the second side of the feed frame and the back plate; and a feeding roller module comprising a feeding roller disposed on a lower portion of the feed frame to convey both the paper fed for a single-side printing operation and the reversed paper for the duplex printing operation toward the developing unit, and a plurality of paper feeding paths guiding the paper therealong to the feeding roller.
- 2. The duplex printing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of built-in paper cassettes and an external paper cassette, and the paper feeding paths comprise:first and second paper feeding paths guiding the paper fed from the built-in paper cassettes to the feeding roller; a third paper feeding path guiding the paper reversed between the back plate and the feed frame to the feeding roller; and a fourth paper feeding path guiding the paper fed from the external paper cassette to the feeding roller.
- 3. The duplex printing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the fourth paper feeding path is formed between the first and the second paper feeding paths and the third paper feeding path.
- 4. A duplex printing apparatus having a developing unit forming an image on paper being conveyed, a settling unit fixing the image on the paper, and a discharging roller selectively conveying the paper with the fixed image in an alternate direction, comprising:a feed frame disposed such that a first side of the feed frame faces the developing unit to guide the paper, which is newly picked up or reversed from the discharge roller, to the developing unit; a back plate disposed on a second side of the feed frame to guide the paper reversed from the discharging unit for a duplex printing operation; a duplex unit guiding the paper, which is passed through the settling unit and reversed from the discharging unit, between the second side of the feed frame and the back plate; and a feeding roller module comprising a feeding roller disposed on a lower portion of the feed frame to convey both the paper fed for a single-side printing operation and the reversed paper for the duplex printing operation toward the developing unit, and a plurality of paper feeding paths guiding the paper therealong to the feeding roller, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of built-in paper cassettes and an external paper cassette, and the paper feeding paths comprise: first and second paper feeding paths guiding the paper fed from the built-in paper cassettes to the feeding roller, a third paper feeding path guiding the paper reversed between the back plate and the feed frame to the feeding roller, and a fourth paper feeding path guiding the paper fed from the external paper cassette to the feeding roller, and wherein the feeding roller module further comprises: a first registration roller unit disposed to be in contact with the feeding roller to convey the paper fed through the first and the second paper feeding paths, and a second registration roller unit formed between the first and the second paper feeding paths and the fourth paper feeding path to convey the paper fed through the third and the fourth paper feeding paths between the first registration roller unit and the feeding roller.
- 5. A duplex printing apparatus having a developing unit forming an image on paper being conveyed, a settling unit fixing the image on the paper, and a discharging roller selectively conveying the paper with the fixed image in an alternate direction, comprising:a feed frame disposed such that a first side of the feed frame faces the developing unit to guide the paper, which is newly picked up or reversed from the discharge roller, to the developing unit; a back elate disposed on a second side of the feed frame to guide the paper reversed from the discharging unit for a duplex printing operation; a duplex unit guiding the paper, which is passed through the settling unit and reversed from the discharging unit, between the second side of the feed frame and the back plate; and a feeding roller module comprising a feeding roller disposed on a lower portion of the feed frame to convey both the paper fed for a single-side printing operation and the reversed paper for the duplex printing operation toward the developing unit, and a plurality of paper feeding paths guiding the paper therealong to the feeding roller, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of built-in paper cassettes and an external paper cassette, and the paper feeding paths comprise: first and second paper feeding paths guiding the paper fed from the built-in paper cassettes to the feeding roller, a third paper feeding path guiding the paper reversed between the back plate and the feed frame to the feeding roller, and a fourth paper feeding path guiding the paper fed from the external paper cassette to the feeding roller, and wherein the first, the second, the third and the fourth paper feeding paths are disposed around the feeding roller and formed by a plurality of guiding members that are disposed on a side bracket supporting the feeding roller and the feed frame.
- 6. A duplex printing apparatus having a developing unit forming an image on paper being conveyed, a settling unit fixing the image on the paper, and a discharging roller selectively conveying the paper with the fixed image in an alternate direction, comprising:a feed frame disposed such that a first side of the feed frame faces the developing unit to guide the paper, which is newly picked up or reversed from the discharge roller, to the developing unit; a back plate disposed on a second side of the feed frame to guide the paper reversed from the discharging unit for a duplex printing operation; a duplex unit guiding the paper, which is passed through the settling unit and reversed from the discharging unit, between the second side of the feed frame and the back plate; and a feeding roller module comprising a feeding roller disposed on a lower portion of the feed frame to convey both the paper fed for a single-side printing operation and the reversed paper for the duplex printing operation toward the developing unit, and a plurality of paper feeding paths guiding the paper therealong to the feeding roller, wherein the apparatus comprises a registration roller and a pickup roller, and the feeding roller module comprises: a main gear coaxially disposed with respect to the feeding roller to be driven in relation with the feeding roller to be in mesh-engagement with the registration roller and the pickup roller to transmit a power to the registration roller guiding the reversed paper for a duplex driving operation and to the pickup roller picking up the paper from an external paper cassette.
- 7. A duplex printing apparatus having a printing body with a developing unit recording an image on a sheet, a settling unit fixing the image on the sheet, and a discharging unit receiving a recorded sheet from the settling unit, discharging the recorded sheet outside, and returning the recorded sheet to the developing unit, comprising:a back plate disposed adjacent to the discharging unit; a feed frame having a first side forming a printing path with the developing unit, a second side forming a duplex path with the back plate to receive the returned sheet from the discharging unit, and a third side disposed between the first side and the second side to couple the duplex path to the printing path; a feeding roller module having a feeding roller rotatably disposed on the third side to feed a new sheet introduced onto the feeding roller to the printing path and teed the returned sheet introduced onto the feeding roller from the duplex path to the printing path; and a guide frame having a curved surface disposed opposite the settling unit guiding the returned recording sheet to the duplex path.
- 8. The duplex printing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the new sheet is introduced onto a first surface of the feeding roller, and the returned sheet is introduced onto a second surface of the feeding roller.
- 9. The duplex printing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first surface and the second surface of the feeding roller are disposed on a half portion of a circumferential surface of the feeding roller in a rotational direction of the feeding roller.
- 10. The duplex printing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus comprises a cassette and a pickup roller picking up the new sheet to transfer the new sheet to the feeding roller, and wherein the feeding roller receives the new sheet from the pick up roller and guides the new sheet to the developing unit disposed on the printing path.
- 11. The duplex printing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus comprises a first built-in cassette, a second built-in cassette, and a removable external cassette all containing the new sheet, and the feeding roller module comprises:a first guide member disposed between the first built-in cassette and the feeding roller to guide the new sheet to be introduced onto a first portion of the surface of the feeding roller; a second guide member disposed between the second built-in cassette and the feeding roller to guide the new sheet to be introduced onto a second portion of the surface of the feeding roller; a third guide member guiding the returned sheet to be introduced onto a third portion of the surface of the feeding roller; and a fourth guide member disposed between the removable external cassette and the feeding roller to guide the new sheet to a fourth portion of the surface of the feeding roller.
- 12. The duplex printing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth guide members are disposed around the surface of the feeding roller in a rotational direction of the feeding roller.
- 13. The duplex printing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second guide member and the fourth guide member are disposed between the first and third guide members.
- 14. The duplex printing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the fourth guide member is disposed between the second guide member and the third guide member.
- 15. The duplex printing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first guide member and the second guide member comprise a common guide plate guiding the new sheet picked up form one of the first cassette and the second cassette.
- 16. The duplex printing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the third guide member and the fourth guide member comprise a common guide plate guiding one of the returned sheet and the new sheet picked up from the removable external cassette.
- 17. The duplex printing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the feeding roller module comprises:a registration roller disposed between the first guide member and the printing path to be rotated by the feeding roller to feed one of the returned sheet and the new sheet with the feeding roller.
- 18. The duplex printing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the feed frame comprises a transfer roller disposed on the first side of the feed frame to be rotated by the developing unit to feed the one of the new sheet and the returned sheet to the settling unit.
- 19. A duplex printing apparatus having a printing body with a developing unit recording an image on a sheet, a settling unit fixing the image on the sheet, and a discharging unit receiving a recorded sheet from the settling unit, discharging the recorded sheet outside, and returning the recorded sheet to the developing unit, comprising:a back plate disposed adjacent to the discharging unit; a feed frame having a first side forming a printing path with the developing unit, a second side forming a duplex path with the back plate to receive the returned sheet from the discharging unit, and a third side disposed between the first side and the second side to couple the duplex path to the printing path; and a feeding roller module having a feeding roller rotatably disposed on the third side to feed a new sheet introduced onto the feeding roller to the printing path and feed the returned sheet introduced onto the feeding roller from the duplex path to the printing path, wherein the feeding roller module comprises: a side bracket having a hole accommodating the feeding roller, a new sheet guide member mounted on the side bracket to guide the new paper to be introduced onto a first surface of the feeding roller to the printing path, and a returned sheet guide member mounted on the side bracket to guide the returned sheet to be introduced onto a second surface of the feeding roller.
- 20. A duplex printing apparatus having a printing body with a developing unit recording an image on a sheet, a settling unit fixing the image on the sheet, and a discharging unit receiving a recorded sheet from the settling unit, discharging the recorded sheet outside, and returning the recorded sheet to the developing unit, comprising:a back plate disposed adjacent to the discharging unit; a feed frame having a first side forming a printing path with the developing unit, a second side forming a duplex path with the back plate to receive the returned sheet from the discharging unit, and a third side disposed between the first side and the second side to couple the duplex path to the printing path; and a feeding roller module having a feeding roller rotatably disposed on the third side to feed a new sheet introduced onto the feeding roller to the printing path and feed the returned sheet introduced onto the feeding roller from the duplex path to the printing path, wherein the feeding roller module comprises: a side bracket having a hole accommodating the feeding roller; and a registration roller unit disposed adjacent to the hole to face a surface of the feeding roller to feed one of the returned sheet and the new sheet.
- 21. The duplex printing apparatus of claim 20, wherein the feeding roller module comprises:a new sheet guide member mounted on the side bracket to communicate with the first portion of the cylindrical surface of the feeding roller to guide the new paper to be introduced onto the first portion of the cylindrical surface of the feeding roller; and a returned sheet guide member mounted on the side bracket to communicate with the second portion of the cylindrical surface of the feeding roller to guide the returned sheet to be introduced onto the second portion of the cylindrical surface of the feeding roller.
- 22. A duplex printing apparatus having a printing body with a developing unit recording an image on a sheet, a settling unit fixing the image on the sheet, and a discharging unit receiving a recorded sheet from the settling unit, discharging the recorded sheet outside, and returning the recorded sheet to the developing unit, comprising:a back plate disposed adjacent to the discharging unit; a feed frame having a first side forming a printing path with the developing unit, a second side forming a duplex path with the back plate to receive the returned sheet from the discharging unit, and a third side disposed between the first side and the second side to couple the duplex path to the printing path; and a feeding roller module having a feeding roller rotatably disposed on the third side to feed a new sheet introduced onto the feeding roller to the printing path and feed the returned sheet introduced onto the feeding roller from the duplex path to the printing path, wherein a registration roller unit comprises: a registration roller rotatably mounted on the registration roller unit to be in contact with the feeding roller, being rotated by the feeding roller, and feeding the one of the returned sheet and the new sheet with the feeding roller.
- 23. A duplex printing apparatus having a printing body with a developing unit recording an image on a sheet, a settling unit fixing the image on the sheet, and a discharging unit receiving a recorded sheet from the settling unit, discharging the recorded sheet outside, and returning the recorded sheet to the developing unit, comprising:a back plate disposed adjacent to the discharging unit; a feed frame having a first side forming a printing path with the developing unit, a second side forming a duplex path with the back plate to receive the returned sheet from the discharging unit, and a third side disposed between the first side and the second side to couple the duplex path to the printing path; and a feeding roller module having a feeding roller rotatably disposed on the third side to feed a new sheet introduced onto the feeding roller to the printing path and feed the returned sheet introduced onto the feeding roller from the duplex path to the printing path, wherein the feeding roller comprises a cylindrical surface, and the feeding roller module comprises: a first registration roller disposed to be in contact with a first portion of the cylindrical surface of the feeding roller, being rotated by the feeding roller, and feeding one of the returned sheet and the new sheet with the feeding roller, and a second registration roller unit disposed to be in contact with a second portion of the cylindrical surface of the feeding roller, being rotated by the feeding roller, and feeding the returned sheet with feeding roller.
- 24. The duplex printing apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first portion of the cylindrical surface and the second portion of the cylindrical surface are disposed on the circumferential surface of the feeding roller in a rotational direction of the feeding roller.
- 25. A duplex printing apparatus having a printing body with a developing unit recording an image on a sheet, a settling unit fixing the image on the sheet, and a discharging unit receiving a recorded sheet from the settling unit, discharging the recorded sheet outside, and returning the recorded sheet to the developing unit, comprising:a back plate disposed adjacent to the discharging unit; a feed frame having a first side forming a printing path with the developing unit, a second side forming a duplex path with the back plate to receive the returned sheet from the discharging unit, and a third side disposed between the first side and the second side to couple the duplex path to the printing path; and a feeding roller module having a feeding roller rotatably disposed on the third side to feed a new sheet introduced onto the feeding roller to the printing path and feed the returned sheet introduced onto the feeding roller from the duplex path to the printing path, wherein the apparatus comprises a first built-in cassette, a second built-in cassette, and a removable external cassette all containing the new sheet, and the feeding roller module comprises: a first guide member disposed between the first built-in cassette and the feeding roller to guide the new sheet to be introduced onto a first portion of the surface of the feeding roller, a second guide member disposed between the second built-in cassette and the feeding roller to guide the new sheet to be introduced onto a second portion of the surface of the feeding roller, a third guide member guiding the returned sheet to be introduced onto a third portion of the surface of the feeding roller, and a fourth guide member disposed between the removable external cassette and the feeding roller to guide the new sheet to a fourth portion of the surface of the feeding roller, and wherein the feeding roller module comprises a side bracket mounted with the first, second, third, and fourth guide members in a single body.
- 26. The duplex printing apparatus of claim 25, wherein the side bracket comprises a hole accommodating the feeding roller.
- 27. The duplex printing apparatus of claim 26, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth guide members form a first path of the new sheet, a second path of the new path, a third path of the returned sheet, and a fourth path of the new sheet, respectively, all communicating with the hole.
- 28. A duplex printing apparatus having a printing body with a developing unit recording an image on a sheet, a settling unit fixing the image on the sheet, and a discharging unit receiving a recorded sheet from the settling unit, discharging the recorded sheet outside, and returning the recorded sheet to the developing unit, comprising:a back plate disposed adjacent to the discharging unit; a feed frame having a first side forming a printing oath with the developing unit, a second side forming a duplex path with the back plate to receive the returned sheet from the discharging unit, and a third side disposed between the first side and the second side to couple the duplex path to the printing path; and a feeding roller module having a feeding roller rotatably disposed on the third side to feed a new sheet introduced onto the feeding roller to the printing path and feed the returned sheet introduced onto the feeding roller from the duplex path to the printing path, wherein the apparatus comprises a first built-in cassette, a second built-in cassette, and a removable external cassette all containing the new sheet, and the feeding roller module comprises: a first guide member disposed between the first built-in cassette and the feeding roller to guide the new sheet to be introduced onto a first portion of the surface of the feeding roller, a second guide member disposed between the second built-in cassette and the feeding roller to guide the new sheet to be introduced onto a second portion of the surface of the feeding roller, a third guide member guiding the returned sheet to be introduced onto a third portion of the surface of the feeding roller, and a fourth guide member disposed between the removable external cassette and the feeding roller to guide the new sheet to a fourth portion of the surface of the feeding roller, and wherein the feeding roller module comprises: a registration roller unit disposed between the second guide member and the fourth guide member to feed one of the returned sheet and the new sheet picked up from the removable external cassette with the feeding roller.
- 29. A duplex printing apparatus having a printing body with a developing unit recording an image on a sheet, a settling unit fixing the image on the sheet, and a discharging unit receiving a recorded sheet from the settling unit, discharging the recorded sheet outside, and returning the recorded sheet to the developing unit, comprising:a back plate disposed adjacent to the discharging unit; a feed frame having a first side forming a printing path with the developing unit, a second side forming a duplex path with the back plate to receive the returned sheet from the discharging unit, and a third side disposed between the first side and the second side to couple the duplex path to the printing path; and a feeding roller module having a feeding roller rotatably disposed on the third side to feed a new sheet introduced onto the feeding roller to the printing path and feed the returned sheet introduced onto the feeding roller from the duplex path to the printing path, wherein the apparatus comprises a first built-in cassette, a second built-in cassette, and a removable external cassette all containing the new sheet, and the feeding roller module comprises: a first guide member disposed between the first built-in cassette and the feeding roller to guide the new sheet to be introduced onto a first portion of the surface of the feeding roller, a second guide member disposed between the second built-in cassette and the feeding roller to guide the new sheet to be introduced onto a second Portion of the surface of the feeding roller, a third guide member guiding the returned sheet to be introduced onto a third portion of the surface of the feeding roller, and a fourth guide member disposed between the removable external cassette and the feeding roller to guide the new sheet to a fourth portion of the surface of the feeding roller, and wherein the apparatus comprises a pickup roller picking up the new sheet from the removable external cassette and a reverse conveying roller disposed on the second side of the feed frame to feed the returned sheet, and the feeding roller module comprises: a main gear rotating the feeding roller, the pickup roller, and the reverse conveying roller.
- 30. The duplex printing apparatus of claim 29, wherein the feeding roller module comprises:a first power transmission gear transmitting a rotational power from the main gear to the pick up roller; and a second power transmission gear transmitting the rotational power from the main gear to the reverse conveying roller.
- 31. The duplex printing apparatus of claim 29, wherein the back plate comprises:a reverse feeding registration roller being rotated by the reverse conveying roller to feed the returned sheet from the duplex path to the feeding roller.
- 32. A duplex printing apparatus having a printing body with a developing unit recording an image on a sheet, a settling unit fixing the image on the sheet, and a discharging unit receiving a recorded sheet from the settling unit, discharging the recorded sheet outside, and returning the recorded sheet to the developing unit, comprising:a back plate disposed adjacent to the discharging unit; a feed frame having a first side forming a printing path with the developing unit, a second side forming a duplex path with the back plate to receive the returned sheet from the discharging unit, and a third side disposed between the first side and the second side to couple the duplex path to the printing path; and a feeding roller module having a feeding roller rotatably disposed on the third side to feed a new sheet introduced onto the feeding roller to the printing path and feed the returned sheet introduced onto the feeding roller from the duplex path to the printing path, wherein the apparatus comprises a first built-in cassette, a second built-in cassette, and a removable external cassette all containing the new sheet, and the feeding roller module comprises: a first guide member disposed between the first built-in cassette and the feeding roller to guide the new sheet to be introduced onto a first portion of the surface of the feeding roller, a second guide member disposed between the second built-in cassette and the feeding roller to guide the new sheet to be introduced onto a second portion of the surface of the feeding roller, a third guide member guiding the returned sheet to be introduced onto a third portion of the surface of the feeding roller, and a fourth guide member disposed between the removable external cassette and the feeding roller to guide the new sheet to a fourth portion of the surface of the feeding roller, and wherein the first, second, third, and fourth guide members guide corresponding ones of the new sheet and the returned sheet in a tangential direction of the feeding roller.
- 33. A duplex printing apparatus having a printing body with a developing unit recording an image on a sheet, a settling unit fixing the image on the sheet, and a discharging unit receiving a recorded sheet from the settling unit, discharging the recorded sheet outside, and returning the recorded sheet to the developing unit, comprising:a back plate disposed adjacent to the discharging unit; a feed frame having a first side forming a printing path with the developing unit, a second side forming a duplex path with the back plate to receive the returned sheet from the discharging unit, and a third side disposed between the first side and the second side to couple the duplex path to the printing path; and a feeding roller module having a feeding roller rotatably disposed on the third side to feed a new sheet introduced onto the feeding roller to the printing path and feed the returned sheet introduced onto the feeding roller from the duplex path to the printing path, wherein the feed frame comprises a fourth side disposed between the first and second sides and opposite to the third side to face the settling unit and form an inlet of the duplex path with the second side and the back plate.
- 34. The duplex printing apparatus of claim 33, wherein the apparatus comprises a duplex unit disposed adjacent to inlet of the duplex path to guide the returned sheet from the discharge unit to the duplex path.
- 35. A duplex printing apparatus having a printing body with a developing unit recording an image on a sheet, a settling unit fixing the image on the sheet, and a discharging unit receiving the recorded sheet from the settling unit and discharging the recorded sheet outside or transferring the recorded sheet to the developing unit, comprising:a back plate disposed adjacent to the discharging unit; a feed frame disposed in the printing body to form a duplex path with the back plate and a printing path with the developing unit; a feeding roller rotatably disposed on the feed frame to feed a new sheet introduced onto a first portion of the surface of feeding roller to the printing path and the returned sheet introduced onto a second portion of the surface of the feeding roller from the duplex path to the printing path; and a side bracket having a hole receiving the feeding roller, a first guide member guiding the new sheet to the printing path through the first portion of the surface of the feeding roller, and a second guide member guiding the returned sheet from the duplex path to the printing path through the second portion of the surface of the feeding roller.
- 36. The duplex printing apparatus of claim 35, wherein the feed frame is disposed between the back plate and the developing unit.
- 37. The duplex printing apparatus of claim 36, wherein the back plate comprises a reverse feeding registration roller, and the feed frame comprises:a first side forming the printing path with the developing unit to receive one of the new sheet and the returned sheet; a second side forming the duplex path with the back plate to receive the returned sheet; a third side disposed between the first side and the second side and mounted with the feeding roller; a transfer roller disposed on the first side to be in contact with the developing unit to feed the one of the new sheet and the returned sheet to the settling unit; and a reverse conveying roller disposed on the second side to be in contact with the reverse feeding registration roller of the back plate to feed the returned sheet to the printing path through the feeding roller of the third side.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
2002-17905 |
Apr 2002 |
KR |
|
US Referenced Citations (5)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
04-140763 |
May 1992 |
JP |
08-048449 |
Feb 1996 |
JP |