Duplex image forming apparatus with removable refeeder cassette

An image forming apparatus for selectively forming images on one or two sides of recording media, said apparatus comprising:

• image forming means for forming images on the recording media;
• receiving means for receiving a refeeder unit for receiving recording media having images formed on one side thereof by said image forming means;
• conveying means for conveying the recording media;
• and
• controlling means for controlling said image forming means and said conveying means, wherein said controlling means enables said conveying means to convey recording media having images formed on one side thereof by said image forming means to the refeeder unit if the refeeder unit is mounted in said receiving means and said controlling means controls said conveying means to discharge recording media having images formed on one side thereof if the refeeder unit is not mounted in said receiving means.

A refeeder unit being removably mountable in a single location of an image forming apparatus to enable two-sided image forming, a media supply unit being alternately removably mountable in the single location of the image forming apparatus, said refeeder unit comprising:

• a tray for receiving recording media having an image formed on one side thereof;
• feeding means for feeding the recorded recording media received on said tray;
• and
• an interface for connection with the image forming apparatus, said interface for indicating that said refeeder unit is mounted in the image forming apparatus.

An image forming apparatus for selectively forming images on one or two sides of recording media, said apparatus comprising:

• image forming means for forming images on the recording media;
• receiving means for selectively receiving at a predetermined location one of a refeeder unit for receiving recording media having images formed on one side thereof by said image forming means and a media supply unit for storing unrecorded recording media for supply to said image forming means;
• conveying means for conveying the recording media;
• and
• controlling means for controlling said image forming means and said conveying means, wherein in two-sided image forming, said controlling means controls said conveying means to convey recording media having images formed on one side thereof by said image forming means to the refeeder unit at the predetermined location.

An image forming apparatus for selectively forming images on one or two sides of recording media, said apparatus comprising:

• an image forming engine, said image forming engine forming images on the recording media;
• a port for selectively receiving one of a refeeder unit for receiving recording media having images formed on one side thereof by said image forming engine and a media supply unit for storing unrecorded recording media for supply to said image forming engine;
• a series of conveying rollers and guides contacting and conveying the recording media;
• drivers driving said conveying rollers and guides;
• and
• a microprocessor controlling said image forming engine and said drivers of said conveying rollers and guides, wherein in two-sided image forming, said microprocessor controls said drivers of said conveying rollers and guides to convey recording media having images formed on one side thereof by said image forming engine to the refeeder unit received in said port.