# US 12,181,825 B2 · Printer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,181,825 B2 - Document ID: US12181825B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/584,560 - Filed: 2022-01-26 - Published: 2022-05-12 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2019-07-30 - Assignees: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Hiroyuki Shingai; Shohei Ichikawa; Kazutoshi Nakamura; Shota Shinoya - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12181825B2 ## CPC - B41J 3/546: {Combination of different types, e.g. using a thermal transfer head and an inkjet print head} - G03G 15/6579: {Refeeding path for composite copying} - B41J 2/01: Ink jet - B41J 2/17509: {Whilst mounted in the printer} - B41J 2/1752: {Mounting within the printer} - B41J 13/0018: {in the sheet input section of automatic paper handling systems} - B41J 13/0036: {in the output section of automatic paper handling systems} - B41J 13/0045: {concerning sheet refeed sections of automatic paper handling systems, e.g. intermediate stackers (printing on both faces B41J3/60)} - B41J 29/02: Framework - B41J 29/13: Cases or covers - B65H 29/58: Article switches or diverters - G03G 15/6573: {Feeding path after the fixing point and up to the discharge tray or the finisher, e.g. special treatment of copy material to compensate for effects from the fixing} - G03G 21/1604: {Arrangement or disposition of the entire apparatus} - G03G 21/1609: {for space saving, e.g. structural arrangements} - G03G 21/1619: {Frame structures} - G03G 21/1633: {using doors or covers (G03G21/1638 takes precedence)} - G03G 21/1839: {Means for handling the process cartridge in the apparatus body} - B41J 2/2103: {Features not dealing with the colouring process per se, e.g. construction of printers or heads, driving circuit adaptations} - G03G 2215/00421: Discharging tray, e.g. devices stabilising the quality of the copy medium, postfixing-treatment, inverting, sorting - G03G 2215/0043: Refeeding path (G03G2215/00421 takes precedence) - G03G 2221/183: Process cartridge - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES ## Abstract A printer includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet by an electrophotographic method, and a recording unit configured to record an image on a sheet by an inkjet method. An image recording position of the recording unit is located above an image forming position of the image forming unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A printer comprising: a photosensitive drum on which a toner image to be transferred onto a sheet is formed on a face of the photosensitive drum; and a recording head configured to eject ink onto a sheet, wherein the recording head is located above the photosensitive drum, the photosensitive drum is configured to form the image on the sheet conveyed along a first path, the recording head is configured to record the image on the sheet red along a second path, the printer further comprises a reverse roller that is provided on the first path, disposed downstream of the photosensitive drum in a conveyance direction, configured to convey the sheet to both a downstream side and an upstream side in conveyance direction, the first path is connected to the second path at a connection position between the photosensitive drum and the reverse roller on the first path, the reverse roller is configured to convey the sheet to the downstream side in the conveyance direction and then convey the sheet to the upstream side in the conveyance direction so as to convey the sheet to the second path, and the recording bead is disposed above the reverse roller. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The printer according to claim 1, wherein the second path has a curved path that is curved into a U shape and extends from the connection position to the image recording position of the recording head. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The printer according to claim 2 further comprising: a discharge tray to which the sheet that passed through the second path is discharged, wherein the reverse roller is configured to convey the sheet to a lower side of the discharge tray and the downstream side in the conveyance direction, and then convey the sheet to the upstream side in the conveyance direction, so as to convey the sheet toward the second path. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The printer according to claim 1, further comprising a discharge tray to which the sheet conveyed to the downstream side in the conveyance direction by the reverse roller is discharged. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The printer according to claim 4, wherein the sheet that passed through the second path is discharged to the discharge tray. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The printer according to claim 1, wherein the first path is connected to a return path at a position between the photosensitive drum and the reverse roller on the first path, and the return path is a path for returning the sheet to a position upstream of the photosensitive drum on the first path, and the reverse roller conveys the sheet to the return path by conveying the sheet to the upstream side in the conveyance direction based on a determination that a trailing end of the sheet is located at a first position on the first path, or the second path by conveying the sheet to the upstream side in the conveyance direction based on a determination that a trailing end of the sheet is located at a second position that is a position different from the first position on the first path. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The printer according to claim 1 further comprising: a flapper movable between a first position where the sheet conveyed to the upstream side in the conveyance direction by the reverse roller is guided to the return path and a second position where the sheet conveyed to the upstream side in the conveyance direction by the reverse roller is guided to the second path; and an actuator configured to switch a position of the flapper between the first position and the second position, wherein the first path is connected to the return path at a position between the photosensitive drum and the reverse roller on the first path, and the return path is a path for returning the sheet to a position upstream of the photosensitive drum on the first path. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The printer according to claim 1 further comprising: a flapper movable between a first position where the flapper intersects with the first path and the sheet conveyed to the upstream side in the conveyance direction by the reverse roller is guided to the second path and a second position where the flapper does not intersect with the first path and the sheet is conveyable along the first path, wherein the first path is connected to the return path at a position between the photosensitive drum and the reverse roller on the first path, and the return path is a path for returning a sheet to a position upstream of the image forming position of the photosensitive drum on the first path, the flapper is moved to the second position when a sheet conveyed along the first path comes into contact with the flapper, and after a leading end of the sheet conveyed along the first path comes into contact with the flapper, the flapper is moved to the first position by a weight of the flapper when a trailing end of the sheet conveyed along the first path passes through the flapper, and the sheet conveyed along the first path is guided to the return path when the sheet is conveyed to the upstream side in the conveyance direction by the reverse roller in a state in which the sheet comes into contact with the flapper and the flapper is moved to the second position, and the sheet conveyed along the first path is guided to the second path when the sheet is conveyed to the upstream side in the conveyance direction by the reverse roller in a state in which a trailing end of the sheet passes through the flapper and the flapper is moved to the first position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The printer according to claim 1, wherein the photosensitive drum is configured to form the image on the sheet conveyed along the first path, and the recording head is configured to records the image on the sheet conveyed along the second path, and a maximum distance between rollers adjacent to each other in the conveyance direction among a plurality of sheet conveyance rollers disposed on the second path is smaller than a maximum distance between rollers adjacent to each other in the conveyance direction among a plurality of sheet conveyance rollers disposed on the first path. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The printer according to claim 1 further comprising: a most downstream roller that is located at a most downstream side in the conveyance direction of a sheet on the first path; and a re-conveyance roller that is disposed on a re-conveyance path and configured to conveys a sheet toward the second path, wherein the photosensitive drum is configured to form an image on the sheet conveyed along the first path, the recording head is configured to record an image on the sheet conveyed along the second path, the second path is connected to the re-conveyance path for guiding the sheet conveyed along the second path to the second path again, and the re-conveyance roller is disposed at a position different from a position of the most downstream roller in the conveyance direction of a sheet conveyed by the most downstream roller. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The printer according to claim 1 further comprising: a housing that houses the photosensitive drum and the recording head; a first sheet tray that supports the sheet to be supplied the photosensitive drum; and a second sheet tray that supports the sheet to be supplied to the image recording position of the recording head, wherein the first sheet tray is disposed at one side portion of the housing, and the second sheet tray is disposed at the other side that is opposite to the one side of the housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The printer according to claim 1 further comprising: a discharge tray to which the sheet conveyed along the first path and the sheet conveyed along the second path are discharged, wherein the photosensitive drum is configured to form the image on the sheet conveyed along the first path, and the recording head is configured to record the image on the sheet conveyed along the second path. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The printer according to claim 12 further comprising: a housing that houses the photosensitive drum and the recording head, wherein the housing includes an opening provided on a front face of the printer, and a discharge space to which the sheet conveyed along the first path and the sheet conveyed along the second path are discharged toward the opening, and the discharge tray defines a lower side of the discharge space. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The printer according to claim 13, wherein the housing has a cut-out portion in a width direction orthogonal to a discharge direction of the sheet, and the cut-out portion is recessed toward an upstream side in the discharge direction at a position adjacent to the discharge tray. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The printer according to claim 13, wherein the front face of the housing has a first face on which the opening is formed, and a second face located below the first face, and the first face is located upstream of the second face in the discharge direction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The printer according to claim 13, wherein the housing includes a first housing that defines at least an upper side of the discharge space, and a second housing located below the first housing, and the first housing is movable between a first position and a second position where a distance between the first housing and the discharge tray is larger than a distance between the first housing and the discharge tray at the first position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The printer according to claim 12, wherein the discharge tray is colored with a color different from a color of an outer face of the housing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The printer according to claim 12 further comprising: a first most downstream roller that is located at a most downstream side in the conveyance direction of the sheet on the first path and that is configured to discharge the sheet to the discharge tray; and a second most downstream roller that is located at a most downstream side in the conveyance direction of a sheet on the second path and that is configured to discharge the sheet to the discharge tray, wherein a distance between the second most downstream roller and a downstream end in the conveyance direction of the discharge tray is shorter than a distance between the first most downstream roller and the downstream end in the conveyance direction of the discharge tray. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The printer according to claim 1, wherein the photosensitive drum and the recording head are configured to form an image on a sheet conveyed along a conveyance path, and the conveyance path includes a first curved path that extends upward from the photosensitive drum and is curved into a U shape, and a second curved path that is located downstream of the first curved path in the conveyance direction, extends upward toward the recording head, and is curved into a U shape. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The printer according to claim 1, wherein the recording head records an image on a sheet conveyed through the photosensitive drum. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The printer according to claim 20 further comprising: a fixing roller that is disposed downstream of the photosensitive drum in the conveyance direction, and fixes an image on the sheet on which the image was formed by the photosensitive drum; and a conveyance roller that is disposed downstream of the fixing roller in the conveyance direction and conveys the sheet to the recording head, wherein a distance from the fixing roller to the conveyance roller in the conveyance direction is larger than a maximum size of the sheet on which the image is recorded by the recording head. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The printer according to claim 1 further comprising: a first sheet tray that is configured to holds a first sheet to be supplied to the first path; a first discharge roller that is disposed downstream of the photosensitive drum in the conveyance direction of the sheet on the first path and configured to discharge the first sheet; a second sheet tray that supports a second sheet to be supplied to the second path; and a second discharge roller that is disposed downstream of the recording head in the conveyance direction on the second path and configured to discharge the second sheet, wherein the photosensitive drum is configured to form the image on the first sheet conveyed along the first path, and the recording head records the image on the second sheet conveyed along the second path. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The printer according to claim 1 further comprising: a sheet tray that holds the sheet; a first sheet feeding roller configured to feed the sheet from the sheet tray to the first path; and a second sheet feeding roller configured to feed the sheet from the sheet tray to the second path, wherein the photosensitive drum forms the image on the sheet conveyed along the first path, and the recording head records the image on the sheet conveyed along the second path. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The printer according to claim 1 further comprising: a housing that houses the photosensitive drum and the recording head; a first cover configured to open and close a first opening formed in the housing; a first operation portion for opening and closing the first cover; a second cover configured to open and close a second opening formed in the housing; and a second operation portion for opening and closing the second cover, wherein toner is configured to be replenished to a toner containing portion that contains toner in an open state of the first cover, ink is configured to be replenished to an ink containing portion that contains ink in an open state of the second cover, and the first operation portion and the second operation portion are disposed at one side of the housing in a horizontal direction. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The printer according to claim 24, wherein the toner containing portion includes a toner cartridge that is attachable and detachable through the first opening, and the ink containing portion includes an ink cartridge that is attachable and detachable through the second opening. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The printer according to claim 24 further comprising: a discharge tray to which the sheet on which the image is formed by the photosensitive drum or the sheet on which the image is recorded by the recording head is discharged, wherein the horizontal direction is a direction orthogonal to the discharge direction of a sheet, and the first operation portion and the second operation portion are located at positions different from the discharge tray in the horizontal direction. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The printer according to claim 1 further comprising: a housing that houses the photosensitive drum and the recording head; a first cover configured to open and close a first opening formed in the housing; a first operation portion for opening and closing he first cover; a second cover configured to open and close a second opening formed in the housing; and a second operation portion for opening and closing the second cover, wherein toner is configured to be replenished to a toner containing portion that contains toner in an open state of the first cover, ink is configured to be replenished to an ink containing portion that contains ink in an open state of the second cover, and the first operation portion is disposed at one side of the housing in the horizontal direction, and the second operation portion is disposed at the other side of the housing in the horizontal direction. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The printer according to claim 1 further comprising: a housing that houses the photosensitive drum and the recording head; and a cover configured to open and close an opening formed in the housing, wherein the recording head includes a recording head configured to eject ink onto the sheet, and an ink containing portion that contains ink to be supplied to the recording head, and ink is replenishable to the ink containing portion in an open state of the cover. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The printer according to claim 28, wherein the ink containing portion includes an ink cartridge that is attachable and detachable through the opening. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) The printer according to claim 1 further comprising: an upper face cover that constitutes an upper face of the housing for housing the photosensitive drum and the recording head and is configured to be moved between a first position where a path along which the sheet on which the image is recorded by the recording head is conveyed is exposed and a second position where the path is covered. ### Claim 31 A printer comprising: an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet by an electrophotographic method; and a recording unit configured to record an image on a sheet by an inkjet method, wherein an image recording position of the recording unit is located above an image forming position of the image forming unit, the image forming unit is configured to form the image on the sheet conveyed along a first path, the recording unit is configured to record the image on the sheet conveyed along a second path, the printer further comprises a reserve roller that is provided on the first path, disposed downstream of the image forming unit in a conveyance direction, configured to convey the sheet to both a downstream side and an upstream side in the conveyance direction, the side path is connected to the second path at a connection position between the image forming unit and the reserve roller on the first path, the reserve roller is configured to convey the sheet to the downstream side in the conveyance direction and then convey the sheet to the upstream side in the conveyance direction so as to convey the sheet to the second path, and the image recording position of the recording unit is located above the reserve roller. ### Claim 32 A printer comprising: a photosensitive drum on which a toner image to be transferred onto a sheet is formed on a face of the photosensitive drum; and a recording head configured to eject ink onto a sheet, wherein the recording head is located above the photosensitive drum, the photosensitive drum is configured to form the image on the sheet conveyed along a first path, the recording head is configured to record the image on the sheet conveyed along a second path, the printer further comprises a reverse roller that is provided on the first path, disposed downstream of the photosensitive drum in a conveyance direction, configured to convey the sheet to both a downstream side and an upstream side in the conveyance direction, the first path is connected to the second path at a connection position between the photosensitive drum and the reverse roller on the first path, the reverse roller is configured to convey the sheet to the downstream side in the conveyance direction and then convey the sheet to the upstream side in the conveyance direction so as to convey the sheet to the second path, the first path is connected to a return path at a position between the photosensitive drum and the reverse roller on the first path, and the return path is a path for returning the sheet to a position upstream of the photosensitive drum on the first path, and the reverse roller conveys the sheet to the return path by conveying the sheet to the upstream side in the conveyance direction based on a determination that a trailing end of the sheet is located at a first position on the first path, or the second path by conveying the sheet to the upstream side in the conveyance direction based on a determination that a trailing end of the sheet is located at a second position that is a position different from the first position on the first path.