JPH07321971A - Picture reader/recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a picture reader/recorder which is simplified in its configuration so that work such as the cleaning or the exchange of parts, etc., can be performed collectively, and contributes to the reduction of manufacturing cost, and simultaneously, stabilizes the reliability of a device and the transportability of an original. CONSTITUTION:A contact type image sensor 4 for reading an original picture, an exchangeable recording head cartridge 18 to record an ink image on a sheet P based on the image information read our by the contact type image sensor 4, and an openable front cover 27 to form an original discharge port 29 to cover the contact type image sensor 4 and the recording head cartridge 18 at their vicinity are provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reading / recording apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile machine, and more particularly to an image reading / recording apparatus having a recording means adopting a replaceable ink jet recording system. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ink jet recording apparatus is used as a recording means in an image reading / recording apparatus such as a facsimile machine and a copying machine. This ink jet recording apparatus is an apparatus for ejecting ink onto a sheet such as recording paper for recording by using pressure generated by bubbles from a thin nozzle based on image data from a control unit. Therefore, as recording is continued, the amount of ink in the device decreases. Therefore, generally, when the ink is used up, the user replaces the cartridge containing the ink and replenishes it. Therefore, an opening / closing mechanism is usually installed on the exterior of the device to allow the user to freely replace the cartridge.

Further, the reading means provided in the image reading and recording apparatus carries out line reading of the image of the original by feeding the original while the sensor is in close contact with the original. For this reason, the surface of the sensor is often rubbed with the original and often becomes dirty. If the surface of the sensor becomes dirty, it adversely affects the read image. Also, with respect to the white reference for determining the reading slice level, if the sensor surface is soiled, it adversely affects the read image. Therefore, the conventional image reading / recording apparatus has a structure that allows the user to easily clean the sensor surface and the white reference.

For example, a facsimile apparatus shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 will be described. This facsimile device is equipped with a reading device A and a recording device B, and their configurations will be described below. In FIG. 6, the structure of the reading device A will be described first. Reference numeral 51 denotes a document stacking table for stacking documents, and 52 and 53 separate the plurality of documents stacked on the document stacking table 51 one by one. The document separation pressing piece and the document separation roller to be conveyed. Reference numeral 54 denotes a contact-type image sensor for reading the image of the original, which is pressed by the reading roller 55 facing the image sensor. The contact image sensor 54 photoelectrically converts the original image separated and conveyed by the original separating roller 53 and reads it. The reading roller 55 conveys the document to the downstream side while bringing the document into close contact with the contact type image sensor 54. Reference numerals 56 and 57 denote upper and lower document guides, which form a document conveyance path after image reading. The upper original guide 56 is formed integrally with the operation panel 58, and the original separating and pressing piece 52 and the reading roller 55 are attached to the upper original guide 56 side. The lower original guide 57 holds the contact image sensor 54 and the original separating roller 53. The operation panel 58 and the upper manuscript guide 56 are configured to be opened and closed around the support portion 59, and the user can open the operation panel 58 and the upper manuscript guide 56 as shown in FIG. Reading roller 55 and contact image sensor
It becomes possible to clean the surface of 54.

Next, the structure of the recording apparatus B will be described. Reference numeral 60 is a sheet conveying unit, which is composed of the following elements. Reference numeral 61 denotes a sheet holder, which stacks and stores sheets such as recording sheets. A pickup roller 62 separates and feeds the sheets stacked on the sheet holder 61 one by one in cooperation with the separation claw 63.

The sheet sent out from the sheet carrying unit 60 is carried to the recording section 65 by the carrying roller 64. The recording unit 65 is equipped with a recording head cartridge 68 in which a recording head 66 and an ink tank 67 are integrated. The recording head 66 discharges ink to a sheet based on the image information read by the reading device A to perform recording. Recording head cartridge 68
Is mounted on a carriage 69, and the carriage 69 is driven in the vertical direction (sheet width direction) by a drive mechanism (not shown).
It is configured to be movable. A platen roller 70 is arranged to face the recording head 66 and supports and conveys the sheet conveyed to the recording position. A sheet pressing member 71 presses the upper surface of the sheet onto the platen roller 70 so as to keep the distance between the sheet and the recording head 66 constant. 72
Is a discharge roller, which conveys and discharges the recorded sheet.
Reference numeral 73 is a spur that presses against the discharge roller, and is made of a material that does not stain the recording surface, such as stainless steel or plastic. 74 is a sheet discharge port for discharging the sheet to the outside of the apparatus.

Reference numeral 75 is a control unit for controlling the functions of the facsimile machine, such as transmission, reception, and copying. Reference numeral 76 denotes a front cover that constitutes the exterior of the apparatus. As shown in FIG. 7, the user can open the recording unit 65 and replace the recording head cartridge 68 by opening the front cover 76.

[0008]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional facsimile apparatus, the reading roller is used.
Since the open / close mechanism for cleaning the white background for reading 55 and the contact-type image sensor 54 and the open / close mechanism for the front cover 76 for replacing the recording head cartridge 68 are separately formed, there are the following problems. It was

(1) The structure becomes complicated by providing two opening / closing mechanisms on the main body of the apparatus. (2) In order to open and close the operation panel 58 around the support part 59,
The pressing forces of the document separation pressing piece 52 and the document separation roller 53, and the reading roller 55 and the contact type image sensor 54 vary, and the reliability and stability of the document transport system deteriorate. (3) The lock mechanism of the opening / closing portions of the reading device A and the recording device B and the division of the exterior parts increase the number of parts of the device itself, lower the assemblability, and increase the manufacturing cost.

The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and to perform work such as cleaning and replacement of parts collectively with a simplified structure, which contributes to reduction of manufacturing cost and of the apparatus. An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading / recording device which is stable in reliability and document transportability.

[0011]

The typical means for solving the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and applied to the embodiments described below are reading means for reading an original image and reading means by the reading means. A replaceable recording means for recording an image on a sheet based on image information; and an openable / closable exterior cover having a document discharge port for covering the reading means and the recording means in the vicinity thereof. To do.

[0012]

According to the above construction, the user can replace the recording means, for example, the ink cartridge, and the reading means, such as the reading roller and the contact image sensor, only by opening the outer cover by the user. It will be possible.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the image reading and recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a facsimile apparatus will be described as an example of an image reading / recording apparatus. FIG. 1 is a sectional explanatory view of a facsimile machine, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a state in which a front cover of the facsimile machine is opened, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a front cover of the facsimile machine is opened.

First, the schematic structure of the facsimile apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. This facsimile device is equipped with a reading device A provided on the upper side of the device and a recording device B provided on the lower side thereof, and the configuration thereof will be described below.

Referring to FIG. 1, first, the structure of the reading device A will be described. Reference numeral 1 is an original stacking table for stacking originals, and reference numerals 2 and 3 are plural originals stacked on the original stacking table 1. An original separation pressing piece and an original separation roller that separate and convey the sheets one by one. Reference numeral 4 denotes a contact-type image sensor as a reading unit for reading an original image, which is pressed against the reading roller 5 facing the image sensor. The contact-type image sensor 4 photoelectrically converts the original image separated and conveyed by the original separation roller 3 and reads it, and is held by the sensor holder 6. The sensor holder 6 is swingable around a support portion 7, and the holder 6 and the frame 8
The contact image sensor 4 is pressed against the reading roller 5 by being biased by a pressing spring 9 provided therebetween. The sensor holder 6 is provided with a pressing release lever 6a. When the pressing release lever 6a is pressed down, the holder 6 descends and the surface of the sensor 4 is exposed, so that cleaning can be performed. The reading roller 5 is white and is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in the figure by a driving unit (not shown) to convey the original document to the downstream side while keeping the original document in close contact with the contact type image sensor 4 and also to the background at the time of reading. Becomes

Reference numerals 10a and 10b denote upper and lower document guides for guiding the document separated by the document separating roller 3 to the reading position. Reference numeral 11 denotes an operation panel formed on the exterior of the device, which is provided with a numeric keypad, various function keys, and the like. Reference numeral 12 denotes an operation board arranged below the operation panel 11, and the operation board 12 transmits a signal to a control board described later.

Next, the structure of the recording apparatus B will be described. C is a sheet conveying unit, which feeds a sheet holder 13 and a sheet holder 13 capable of accommodating several tens to 100 sheets P such as recording sheets. The pickup roller 14 and the separation claw 15 formed on the sheet holder 13 are provided. The pickup roller 14 is a sheet holder.
The sheets P stacked and accommodated in 13 are separated and fed one by one in cooperation with the separating claw 15.

The sheet P sent out from the sheet carrying unit C is carried to the recording unit D. The recording unit D is equipped with a recording head cartridge 18 as recording means in which the recording head 16 and the ink tank 17 are integrated. The recording head 16 includes the reading device A.
The recording is performed by ejecting ink onto the sheet P based on the image information read by. As a recording method in this apparatus, an inkjet recording method in which ink is ejected from the recording head 16 to perform recording is used. That is, this recording head has a fine liquid discharge port (orifice), a liquid passage and an energy acting portion provided in a part of this liquid passage, and energy generation for generating droplet forming energy for acting on the liquid in the acting portion. Equipped with means.

As the energy generating means for generating such energy, a recording method using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element, electromagnetic waves such as laser are irradiated to generate heat, and droplets are ejected by the action of the heat generation. There are a recording method using an energy generating means, a recording method using an energy generating means for heating a liquid and discharging the liquid by an electrothermal converter such as a heating element having a heating resistor.

Among them, a recording head used in an ink jet recording method for ejecting a liquid by thermal energy has a high density of liquid ejection ports (orifices) for ejecting recording liquid droplets to form ejection liquid droplets. Since they can be arranged, high resolution recording is possible. Among them, the recording head using the electrothermal converter as the energy generating means can easily be made compact, and has the advantages of the IC technology and the microfabrication technology, which have been remarkably improved in technology and reliability in the recent semiconductor field. This is advantageous because it can be used in two parts, high-density mounting is easy, and the manufacturing cost is low.

The recording head cartridge 18 is mounted on a carriage 19, and the carriage 19 is movable in the vertical direction (sheet width direction) in the drawing by a drive mechanism (not shown) provided in the frame 8. The carriage 19 is formed with an electrical contact with the recording head cartridge 18 and an attachment / detachment mechanism, and the recording head cartridge 18 is detachably mounted on the carriage 19. Further, the number of durable ink sheets of the recording head cartridge 18 is about 300 sheets of A4 original document, and when the ink is exhausted, the user replaces it with a commercially available cartridge.

A conveying roller 20a conveys the sheet P sent out by the pickup roller 14. 20
Reference numeral b is a sheet pressing member, and the sheet P and the recording head 16
The upper surface of the sheet P is pressed onto the conveying roller 20a by a spring force so as to keep a constant interval between the sheet P and the sheet. Reference numeral 21 denotes a platen, which is arranged to face the recording head 16 and supports the sheet P conveyed to the recording position at a predetermined height. A discharging roller 22 conveys and discharges the sheet P after recording. Denoted at 23 is a spur that presses against the discharge roller 22, and is made of a material that does not stain the recording surface, such as stainless steel or plastic. A sheet discharge port 24 is for discharging the sheet P to the outside of the apparatus.

Reference numeral 25 is a control board for controlling each function of transmission, reception, and copying of the facsimile, which is vertically arranged in the central portion of the apparatus from the reader A to the recorder B.
Reference numeral 26 is a power supply unit arranged in the lower rear part of the device, and supplies electric power to all electric parts in the device.

Reference numeral 27 denotes a front cover which constitutes an exterior formed on the front surface of the apparatus, and covers the front side of the recording apparatus B from the reading apparatus A. As shown in FIG. 2, the front cover 27 is attached so as to be openable and closable around a support portion 28 on the recording apparatus B side. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the front cover 27 is opened. As shown in FIG.
A document discharge port 29 is formed at a position corresponding to the document discharge portion of the reading device A with the state where 27 is closed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the state in which the front cover 27 is opened. As is apparent from the figure, when the front cover 27 is opened, the reading roller 5, the contact image sensor 4, the recording head cartridge 18 are provided. Is exposed to the outside, so that the user can directly touch it.
Therefore, the following is possible.

First, the recording head cartridge 18 is replaced when the ink in the cartridge is exhausted, and the second is the cleaning of the reading roller 5 and the contact image sensor 4. When the front cover 27 is opened, the reading roller 5 is exposed on the front side of the apparatus, and the contact release type image sensor 4 is pushed down by pushing down the pressure release lever 6a provided on the sensor holder 6 to expose the sensor surface for cleaning. It will be possible.

Since the reading roller 5 and the contact-type image sensor 4 are rubbed against the original to be soiled, this cleaning must be performed at regular intervals. If the reading roller 5 is left dirty without doing this, the white reference cannot be taken well, and when a semi-transparent original such as a trace paper is read, the read image on the reading roller 5 becomes dirty. It will come out. Contact image sensor 4
If is left dirty, the dust on the sensor surface may be read when the image is read.
According to the present invention, the above-mentioned front cover has been conventionally used for cleaning and exchanging work by operating separate opening / closing parts.
By opening 27 at one place, two tasks are possible. As a result, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) Since there is only one opening / closing section, the mechanical system is simplified and the design load is reduced. (2) Since it is not necessary to open the upper document guide 10a for cleaning the reading roller 5 and the contact image sensor 4, unlike the conventional case, the document of the document separation pressing piece 2 caused by the loosening of the lock portion due to repeated opening and closing. There is no change in the urging force on the separation roller 3, so that the separation performance can be maintained and the reliability of the apparatus can be improved. Further, since the upper and lower document guides 10a and 10b can be fixed, the strength does not decrease. (3) Since the lock mechanism for the upper original guide 10a is eliminated, the number of parts can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. (4) It is possible to integrate an exterior component, which has been a separate component for unlocking the upper original guide 10a up to now, with an exterior component such as another side plate, and improve the strength of the exterior.

The present invention, as described above, uses the front cover.
Since the reading roller 5 and the contact-type image sensor 4 are arranged immediately inside the 27, replacement of the recording head cartridge 18 and cleaning of the reading roller 5 and the contact-type image sensor 4 can be performed by one opening / closing operation of the front cover 27. It has become possible.

[Other Embodiments]

Next, another example of the image reading and recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. Since the schematic structure of the facsimile apparatus is the same as that of the above-described embodiment, the same members are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is cited, and the characteristic portions will be mainly described below.

In the present embodiment, the present invention is also applicable to the reading apparatus A having a configuration in which a document conveying roller pair and a document discharging roller pair are arranged on the upstream side and the downstream side of the contact type image sensor 4 in the document conveying direction. It shows that it is applicable. Hereinafter, the configuration except for the reading device A and the front cover 27 is the same as that of the above-described embodiment, and therefore the description will be focused on these components.

In FIG. 4, a document transport roller pair 30 and a document discharge roller pair 31 are arranged upstream and downstream of the reading roller 5 and the contact image sensor 4 in the document transport direction. The document conveying roller pair 30 and the document discharging roller pair 31 are driven and transmitted by a driving source (not shown) to convey the documents to the downstream side. The driven-side document discharging roller 31b of the document discharging roller pair 31 is rotatably supported by a front cover 27 constituting the exterior of the front surface of the apparatus, and the driving-side document discharging roller 31a is supported by the reading apparatus A. The driving force is transmitted from a driving source (not shown) to be rotationally driven.

The front cover 27 covers the front side of the recording device B from the reading device A. Above front cover 27
As shown in FIG. 5, is mounted so as to be openable and closable around a support portion 28 on the recording apparatus B side. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the front cover 27 is opened. As shown in FIG. 4, with the front cover 27 closed, a document discharge port 29 is formed at a position corresponding to the document discharge portion of the reading device A. There is.

Upper and lower document guides 32 forming the document transport path 32
The document bundle inserted between a and 32b is separated and conveyed one by one by the document separation pressing piece 2 and the document separation roller 3, and then conveyed by the document conveyance roller pair 30 to the reading position. The image of the original conveyed by the pair of original conveying rollers 30 is read by the contact image sensor 4, and the original is conveyed to the downstream side while the original is brought into close contact with the contact image sensor 4 by the opposing reading roller 5. The contact type image sensor 4 is biased upward by the pressing spring 9 with the same configuration as that of the above-described embodiment. The document after the image is read is conveyed by a pair of document discharge rollers 31 and is discharged to the outside of the apparatus through a document discharge port 29 formed at a position corresponding to the document discharge portion of the front cover 27.

The document discharge roller 31b is pressed against the document discharge roller 31a when the front cover 27 is closed, and moves together with the front cover 27 when the front cover 27 is opened as shown in FIG. To do.

Therefore, when the front cover 27 is opened, the reading roller 5 and the contact image sensor 4 are exposed to the outside, and the user cleans the reading roller 5 and the contact image sensor 4, and further the recording head cartridge. It is possible to replace 18 and obtain the same effect as in the above embodiment.

In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the ink jet recording system is used as the recording means, but the electrothermal converter is energized according to the recording signal, and the thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter is applied to the ink. It is more preferable that the ink is ejected from the ejection port for recording by the growth and contraction of the bubbles generated in the ink by utilizing the film boiling that occurs.

With regard to its typical structure and principle, it is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4740796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type, but in the case of the on-demand type in particular, it is arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path holding the liquid (ink). By applying at least one drive signal to the electrothermal transducer, which corresponds to the recorded information and gives a rapid temperature rise beyond nucleate boiling,
This is effective because heat energy is generated in the electrothermal converter to cause film boiling on the heat acting surface of the recording head, and as a result, bubbles in the liquid can be formed in a one-to-one correspondence with this drive signal. Due to the growth and contraction of the bubbles, the liquid is ejected through the ejection openings to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make this drive signal into a pulse shape because bubbles can be grown and contracted immediately and appropriately, so that particularly excellent liquid ejection can be achieved.

As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. If the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise on the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the discharge port, the liquid passage and the electrothermal converter (the linear liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications. The present invention also includes configurations using US Pat. Nos. 4,558,333 and 4,459,600, which disclose configurations in which the heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.

Further, JP-A-59-123670, which discloses a structure in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy are disclosed. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No.
The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration is based on Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-138461. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be surely and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Also in the above-mentioned serial type recording head, the recording head fixed to the carriage or mounted on the carriage enables electrical connection with the apparatus main body and supply of ink from the apparatus main body. A replaceable chip type recording head or the like may be used.

Further, it is preferable to add a recovery means for the recording head, a preliminary auxiliary means, etc., which are provided as a constituent of the recording apparatus of the present invention, because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, these are capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or suctioning means for the recording head, preheating means by electrothermal conversion type or other heating element or a combination thereof, and recording. It is also effective to perform a stable recording by performing a preliminary discharge mode in which another discharge is performed.

Regarding the type or number of recording heads mounted on the carriage, for example, only one is provided corresponding to a single color ink, or a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities are supported. And a plurality of them may be provided. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to a recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but may be a combination of a plurality of recording heads integrally formed, but a mixed color of different colors or a mixed color It is also applicable to a device with at least one of the full colors according to

In addition, although the ink is explained as a liquid in the above-mentioned embodiments, it is an ink which solidifies at room temperature or lower and softens or liquefies at room temperature, or in the ink jet recording system. 30 inks
Generally, the temperature is controlled in the range of ℃ or more and 70 ℃ or less to control the temperature of the ink so that the viscosity of the ink is in the stable ejection range. good. In addition, it is possible to prevent the temperature rise due to thermal energy from being positively used as the energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or to use the ink that solidifies when left standing for the purpose of preventing ink evaporation. However, in any case, heat is applied such as ink that is liquefied by application of heat energy according to the recording signal and liquid ink is ejected, or that begins to solidify when it reaches the recording sheet. It is also applicable when using an ink that has the property of being liquefied for the first time by energy.

The ink in such a case is described in JP-A-54-5.
As described in JP-A-6847 or JP-A-60-71260, a form in which it is opposed to an electrothermal converter in a state where it is held as a liquid or a solid substance in a concave portion or a through hole of a porous sheet. Also good. The most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

Further, the form of the above-mentioned image reading device is not limited to the facsimile device, but may be a form such as a copying device combined with another device such as a reader.

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention, only by the user opening the outer cover, the recording means, for example, the ink cartridge, etc., and the reading means, for example, the reading roller and the contact type image sensor are cleaned. Can be performed.

As a result, since the outer cover has only one opening and closing portion, the mechanical system is simplified and the design load is reduced. Further, since it is not necessary to open the upper document guide for cleaning the reading roller and the contact type image sensor as in the conventional case, the biasing force of the document separating pressing piece against the document separating roller caused by the loosening of the lock portion due to repeated opening and closing. , The separation performance can be maintained and the reliability of the device can be improved. Further, since the upper and lower document guides can be fixed, the strength does not decrease. Further, since the lock mechanism for the upper document guide is eliminated, the number of parts can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. In addition, the exterior parts, which are separate parts for the reading means and the recording means, can be integrated with the exterior parts such as other side plates, and the strength of the exterior is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram of a facsimile device.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a front cover of the facsimile device is opened.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a front cover of the facsimile device is opened.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram of a facsimile apparatus according to another example.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a front cover of the facsimile device is opened.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a conventional facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a front cover and an upper document guide of a conventional facsimile apparatus are opened.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A ... Reading device B ... Recording device C ... Sheet conveying unit D ... Recording unit P ... Sheet 1 ... Document stacking table 2 ... Document separation pressing piece 3 ... Document separation roller 4 ... Contact image sensor 6 ... Sensor holder 6a ... Press release Lever 7, 28 ... Supporting portion 8 ... Frame 9 ... Pressing springs 10a, 10b, 32a, 32b ... Upper / lower document guide 11 ... Operating portion 12 ... Operation board 13 ... Sheet holder 14 ... Pickup roller 15 ... Separation claw 16 ... Recording head 17 Ink tank 18 Recording head cartridge 19 Carriage 20a Transport roller 20b Sheet pressing member 21 Platen 22 Discharge roller 23 Spurs 24 Sheet discharge port 25 Control board 26 Power supply 27 Front cover 29 Original Ejection port 30: Document transport roller pair 31 ... Document discharge roller pair 32 ... Document transport path

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Naohiro Iwata 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A reading unit for reading a document image, a replaceable recording unit for recording an image on a sheet based on image information read by the reading unit, and a reading unit near the reading unit and the recording unit. An image reading / recording apparatus, comprising: an openable / closable outer cover having a document discharge port that covers the cover. 2. The image reading / recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reading unit is equipped with a reading roller and a reading sensor which presses the reading roller near the document discharge port formed in the outer cover. 3. The reading unit includes a reading roller, a reading sensor pressed against the reading roller, and a document discharging roller pair for feeding the document after image reading, in the vicinity of a document discharging port formed in the outer cover. The image reading / recording apparatus according to claim 1. 4. The image reading / recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit is an inkjet recording system for recording by ejecting ink in accordance with a signal based on image information. 5. The image reading and recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the recording unit includes an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy for ejecting ink. 6. The image according to claim 5, wherein the recording unit ejects the ink from the ejection port by utilizing the film boiling generated in the ink by the thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter. Reading and recording device.