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US 6,185,010 B2Granted
Image forming system having separate printer unit and scanner unit, the printer unit including a power supply for both the printer and scanner units
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorAtsushi Watanabe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An image forming system including a printer unit connected to a scanner unit, each having their own housing. The scanner unit includes a display for displaying the states including error conditions of both the scanner unit as well as the printer unit. A user interface of the scanner unit inputs operation parameters and commands for the entire image forming system. The printer section includes an LED display section for displaying errors and the status of the printer unit. The printer unit and scanner unit are connected to each other using a single integrated cable.
Claims42
An image forming system, comprising:
- a printer unit, including:
- a power source, disposed within the printer unit, for receiving AC current from an external power supply, converting the AC current to a DC current, and outputting the DC current;
- a housing having at least four generally vertical surfaces including a front surface, a rear surface, and two side surfaces;
- a printer engine disposed within the housing of the printer unit;
- and
- a printer controller, disposed within the housing of the printer unit, which is connected to the printer engine and controls the printer engine;
- a printer display for displaying an error in and a status of the printer unit;
- a scanner unit, connected to the printer unit, including:
- a housing which is different from the housing of the printer unit;
- a scanner engine disposed within the housing of the scanner unit;
- a scanner controller disposed within the housing of the scanner unit which is connected to the scanner engine and controls the scanner engine;
- and
- an operation display formed in the housing of the scanner unit for displaying an error in and a status of both the scanner unit and the printer unit;
- and
- a support device different from the printer unit which includes a scanner unit support surface which supports the scanner unit using supports which are exterior to the printer unit, the printer unit being disposed under the scanner unit support surface, and the support device providing open access to the printer unit at the front surface and at least one of the side surfaces thereof,
- wherein the scanner unit receives DC current which is supplied from a conversion of AC current only from the power source of the printer unit.
13 more elements
An image forming system, comprising:
- a printer unit, including:
- a housing having at least four generally vertical surfaces including a front surface, a rear surface, and two side surfaces;
- a power source, disposed within the housing of the printer unit, for receiving AC current from an external power supply, converting the AC current to a DC current, and outputting the DC current;
- a printer engine disposed within the housing of the printer unit;
- and
- a printer controller, disposed within the housing of the printer unit, which is connected to the printer engine and controls the printer engine, the printer controller receiving DC current from the power source;
- a printer display for display for displaying an error in and a status of the printer unit;
- a scanner unit, connected to the printer unit, including:
- a housing which is different from the housing of the printer unit;
- a scanner engine disposed within the housing of the scanner unit;
- a scanner controller disposed within the housing of the scanner unit which is connected to the scanner engine and controls the scanner engine;
- and
- an operation display formed in the housing of the scanner unit for displaying an error in and a status of both the scanner unit and the printer unit;
- a support device different from the printer unit which includes a scanner unit support surface which supports the scanner unit using supports which are exterior to the printer unit, the printer unit being disposed under the scanner unit support surface, and the support device providing open access to the printer unit at the front surface and at least one of the side surfaces thereof,
- wherein the scanner unit receives DC current which is supplied from a conversion of AC current only from the power source of the printer unit.
12 more elements
An image forming system, comprising:
- a printer unit means, including:
- a housing means having at least four generally vertical surfaces including a front surface, a rear surface, and two side surfaces;
- a power source means, disposed within the housing of the printer unit means, for receiving AC current from an external power supply, converting the AC current to a DC current, and outputting the DC current;
- a printer engine means disposed within the housing means of the printer unit means;
- and
- a printer controller means, disposed within the housing means of the printer unit means, which is connected to the printer engine means and controls the printer engine means, the printer controller receiving DC current from the power source means;
- a printer display for displaying an error in and a status of the printer unit;
- a scanner unit means, connected to the printer unit means, including:
- a housing means which is different from the housing means of the printer unit means;
- a scanner engine means disposed within the housing means of the scanner unit means;
- a scanner controller means disposed within the housing means of the scanner unit means which is connected to the scanner engine means and controls the scanner engine means;
- and
- an operation display means formed in the housing of the scanner unit for displaying an error in and a status of both the scanner unit means and the printer unit means;
- and
- a support means for supporting the scanner unit means, the support means being different from the printer unit means which includes a support surface means for supporting the scanner unit means using support means which are exterior to the printer unit means, the printer unit means being disposed under the support surface means, and the support means, providing open access to the printer unit at the front surface and at least one of the side surfaces thereof,
- wherein the scanner unit means receives DC current which is supplied from a conversion of AC current only from the power source means of the printer unit means.
13 more elements
An image forming system, comprising:
- a printer unit, including:
- a housing having at least four generally vertical surfaces including a front surface, a rear surface, and two side surfaces;
- a power source, disposed within the housing of the printer unit means, for receiving AC current from an external power supply, converting the AC current to a DC current, and outputting the DC current;
- a printer engine disposed within the housing of the printer unit;
- and
- a printer controller, disposed within the housing of the printer unit, which is connected to the printer engine and controls the printer engine, the printer controller receiving DC current from the power source;
- a printer display for displaying an error in and a status of the printer unit;
- a scanner unit, connected to the printer unit, including:
- a housing which is different from the housing of the printer unit;
- a scanner engine disposed within the housing of the scanner unit;
- a scanner controller disposed within the housing of the scanner unit which is connected to the scanner engine and controls the scanner engine;
- and
- an operation display formed in the housing of the scanner unit for displaying an error in and a status of both the scanner unit and the printer unit;
- and
- a support device different from the printer unit which includes a scanner unit support surface which supports the scanner unit using supports which are exterior to the printer unit, the printer unit being disposed under the scanner unit support surface, and the support device providing open access to the printer unit at the front surface and at least one of the side surfaces thereof,
- wherein the scanner unit receives current only from the printer unit, and an electrical cable connecting the printer unit and the scanner unit is an only source of power to the scanner unit.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.