# US 9,521,282 B2 · Image forming apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,521,282 B2 - Document ID: US9521282B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/874,796 - Filed: 2015-10-05 - Published: 2016-01-28 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2012-05-07 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Hiroshi Kato; Atsushi Ogata; Daisuke Kaneko; Kazushi Ino; Tomoyuki Iwakoshi; Ichiro Yasumaru; Masaru Aoki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9521282B2 ## CPC - H04N 1/00525: {Providing a more compact apparatus, e.g. sheet discharge tray in cover} - G03G 15/602: {for transporting} - H04N 1/00578: {using at least part of a loop, e.g. using a return loop} - H04N 1/0058: {using at least one dead-end path, e.g. using a sheet ejection path} - H04N 1/00596: {using at least a part of the apparatus in common for transporting to or from a plurality of scanning positions, e.g. for reading and printing} - H04N 1/0062: {Removing sheets from a stack or inputting media} - H04N 1/123: {Using a dedicated sheet guide element} - G03G 2215/00189: original moving - H04N 1/12: using the sheet-feed movement {or the medium-advance or the drum-rotation movement} as the slow scanning component, {e.g. arrangements for the main-scanning}({sheet-feed movement by translatory movement of a flat picture-bearing surface H04N1/1008; main-scanning using oscillating or rotating mirrors H04N1/113; } using multi-element arrays H04N1/19) - H04N 2201/0091: Digital copier; digital 'photocopier' (H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract An image forming apparatus including: a sheet feeding portion configured to feed a sheet to a sheet conveying path; an image forming portion configured to form an image on the sheet; a sheet discharging portion configured to discharge the sheet; a sheet re-conveying path configured to guide the sheet on which the image has been formed to the sheet conveying path again; an original feeding portion configured to feed an original; an original feeding path configured to guide the original to the sheet re-conveying path; an image reading portion configured to read an image of the original; an original discharging path configured to guide the original guided along the sheet re-conveying path to an original discharging portion; and an original conveying portion configured to convey the original which has been guided along the original feeding path toward the original discharging path. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus comprising: a sheet feeding unit including a sheet stacking portion on which a sheet is stacked, an image forming unit configured to form an image on the sheet, and a sheet feeding unit configured to feed the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking portion to the image forming unit; and an original feeding unit including an original stacking portion on which an original is stacked, an image reading unit configured to read an image of the original, an original feeding unit configured to feed the original stacked on the original stacking portion to the image reading unit, an original discharging unit configured to discharge the original of which the image has been read by the image reading unit, and a discharged original stacking portion on which the original discharged by the original discharging unit is stacked, wherein the original stacking portion and the discharged original stacking portion are provided above the image forming unit, wherein a first conveyance path of the sheet feeding unit and a second conveyance path of the original feeding unit are connected together, and wherein the original stacking portion and the discharged original stacking portion are disposed on a same side with respect to the image forming apparatus. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an original conveying portion configured to convey the original from the original stacking portion to the discharged original stacking portion, wherein the original conveying portion comprises a forward and reverse rotatable roller configured to convey the original forwardly and reversely. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an original conveying portion configured to convey the original from the original stacking portion to the discharged original stacking portion, wherein the original conveying portion comprises an annular conveyance path configured to reverse a conveying direction of the original so as to convey the original toward the discharged original stacking portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a discharged sheet stacking portion to which the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming unit is discharged, wherein a direction in which the sheet is discharged to the discharged sheet stacking portion is the same as a direction in which the original is discharged to the discharged original stacking portion, and wherein a direction in which the original is fed from the original feeding unit is opposite to a direction in which the original is discharged to the discharged original stacking portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the original stacking portion and the discharged original stacking portion at least partly overlap each other as viewed vertically from above the image forming apparatus. ### Claim 6 An image forming apparatus comprising: a sheet stacking portion on which a sheet is stacked; an image forming unit configured to form an image on the sheet; a sheet feeding unit configured to feed the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking portion to the image forming unit; a sheet discharging unit configured to discharge the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming unit; an original stacking portion on which an original is stacked; an image reading unit configured to read an image of the original; an original feeding unit configured to feed the original stacked on the original stacking portion to the image reading unit; an original discharging unit configured to discharge the original of which the image has been read by the image reading unit; and a discharged original stacking portion on which the original discharged by the original discharging unit is stacked, wherein the original stacking portion and the discharged original stacking portion are provided above the image forming unit, and the original stacking portion and the discharged original stacking portion are disposed on a same side with respect to the image forming apparatus, and wherein a first conveying path through which the sheet fed by the sheet feeding unit and discharged by the sheet discharging unit passes and a second conveying path through which the original fed by the original feeding unit and discharged by the original discharging unit passes are connected together. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) An image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising an original conveying portion configured to convey the original from the original stacking portion to the discharged original stacking portion, wherein the original conveying portion comprises a forward and reverse rotatable roller configured to convey the original forwardly and reversely. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) An image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising an original conveying portion configured to convey the original from the original stacking portion to the discharged original stacking portion, wherein the original conveying portion comprises an annular conveyance path configured to reverse a conveying direction of the original so as to convey the original toward the discharged original stacking portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) An image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a discharged sheet stacking portion to which the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming unit is discharged, wherein a direction in which the sheet is discharged to the discharged sheet stacking portion is the same as a direction in which the original is discharged to the discharged original stacking portion, and wherein a direction in which the original is fed from the original feeding unit is opposite to a direction in which the original is discharged to the discharged original stacking portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) An image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the original stacking portion and the discharged original stacking portion at least partly overlap each other as viewed vertically from above the image forming apparatus. ### Claim 11 An image forming apparatus comprising: a sheet feeding unit including a sheet stacking portion on which a sheet is stacked, an image forming unit configured to form an image on the sheet, and a sheet feeding unit configured to feed the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking portion to the image forming unit; and an original feeding unit including an original stacking portion on which an original is stacked, an image reading unit configured to read an image of the original, an original feeding unit configured to feed the original stacked on the original stacking portion to the image reading unit, an original discharging unit configured to discharge the original of which the image has been read by the image reading unit, and a discharged original stacking portion on which the original discharged by the original discharging unit is stacked, wherein the original stacking portion and the discharged original stacking portion are provided above the image forming unit, wherein a first conveyance path of the sheet feeding unit and a second conveyance path of the original feeding unit are connected together, and wherein the original stacking portion and the discharged original stacking portion at least partly overlap each other as viewed vertically from above the image forming apparatus. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) An image forming apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising an original conveying portion configured to convey the original from the original stacking portion to the discharged original stacking portion, wherein the original conveying portion comprises a forward and reverse rotatable roller configured to convey the original forwardly and reversely. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) An image forming apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising an original conveying portion configured to convey the original from the original stacking portion to the discharged original stacking portion, wherein the original conveying portion comprises an annular conveyance path configured to reverse a conveying direction of the original so as to convey the original toward the discharged original stacking portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) An image forming apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a discharged sheet stacking portion to which the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming unit is discharged, wherein a direction in which the sheet is discharged to the discharged sheet stacking portion is the same as a direction in which the original is discharged to the discharged original stacking portion, and wherein a direction in which the original is fed from the original feeding unit is opposite to a direction in which the original is discharged to the discharged original stacking portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) An image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the original stacking portion and the discharged original stacking portion are disposed on a same side with respect to the image forming apparatus. ### Claim 16 An image forming apparatus comprising: a sheet stacking portion on which a sheet is stacked; an image forming unit configured to form an image on the sheet; a sheet feeding unit configured to feed the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking portion to the image forming unit; a sheet discharging unit configured to discharge the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming unit; an original stacking portion on which an original is stacked; an image reading unit configured to read an image of the original; an original feeding unit configured to feed the original stacked on the original stacking portion to the image reading unit; an original discharging unit configured to discharge the original of which the image has been read by the image reading unit; and a discharged original stacking portion on which the original discharged by the original discharging unit is stacked, wherein the original stacking portion and the discharged original stacking portion are provided above the image forming unit, wherein the original stacking portion and the discharged original stacking portion at least partly overlap each other as viewed vertically from above the image forming apparatus, and wherein a first conveying path through which the sheet fed by the sheet feeding unit and discharged by the sheet discharging unit passes and a second conveying path through which the original fed by the original feeding unit and discharged by the original discharging unit passes are connected together. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) An image forming apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising an original conveying portion configured to convey the original from the original stacking portion to the discharged original stacking portion, wherein the original conveying portion comprises a forward and reverse rotatable roller configured to convey the original forwardly and reversely. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) An image forming apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising an original conveying portion configured to convey the original from the original stacking portion to the discharged original stacking portion, wherein the original conveying portion comprises an annular conveyance path configured to reverse a conveying direction of the original so as to convey the original toward the discharged original stacking portion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) An image forming apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising a discharged sheet stacking portion to which the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming unit is discharged, wherein a direction in which the sheet is discharged to the discharged sheet stacking portion is the same as a direction in which the original is discharged to the discharged original stacking portion, and wherein a direction in which the original is fed from the original feeding unit is opposite to a direction in which the original is discharged to the discharged original stacking portion. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) An image forming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the original stacking portion and the discharged original stacking portion are disposed on a same side with respect to the image forming apparatus.