Abstract:
An image forming apparatus includes: a document loading tray that loads a document; a document transport path that transports the document; an image reading unit that is disposed in the document transport path and reads an image of the document; a document output tray into which the document that has been transported on the document transport path is ejected; a recording medium loading tray into which a recording medium is loaded; a recording medium transport path on which the recording medium is transported; an image recording unit that is disposed in the recording medium transport path and records an image on the recording medium; and a recording medium output tray into which the recording medium that has been transported on the recording medium transport path is output. The recording medium loading tray is disposed between the document loading tray and the document output tray.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-066491 filed on Mar. 14, 2008. 
       BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A first aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus including: a document loading tray that loads a document; a document transport path that transports the document; an image reading unit that is disposed in the document transport path and reads an image of the document; a document output tray into which the document that has been transported on the document transport path is ejected; a recording medium loading tray into which a recording medium is loaded; a recording medium transport path on which the recording medium is transported; an image recording unit that is disposed in the recording medium transport path and records an image on the recording medium on the basis of image signals of the image that the image reading unit has read or input signals from the outside; and a recording medium output tray into which the recording medium that has been transported on the recording medium transport path is output, the recording medium loading tray being disposed between the document loading tray and the document output tray. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is a general diagram showing the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus pertaining to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a general diagram showing the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus pertaining to a first modification; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a general diagram showing an example of a state where a platen glass is opened in the image forming apparatus pertaining to the first modification; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a general diagram showing the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus pertaining to a second modification; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a general diagram showing an example of a state where a platen glass is opened in the image forming apparatus pertaining to the second modification; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a general diagram showing a configuration where the image forming apparatus pertaining to the second modification is disposed with a conveyance path that conveys, in a transverse direction, a recording medium on which an image has been recorded; 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a general diagram showing a configuration where a second image recording unit has been added to the image forming apparatus pertaining to the second modification; 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a general diagram showing a configuration where a recording medium housing component is attached to a lower portion of an apparatus body of the image forming apparatus pertaining to the second modification; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a general diagram showing a configuration where a recording medium housing component and a recording medium output tray are disposed between a document housing component and a document output tray in the image forming apparatus pertaining to the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    Below, an example of an exemplary embodiment pertaining to the present invention will be described on the basis of the drawings. 
         [0015]    (Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus Pertaining to Present Exemplary Embodiment) 
         [0016]    The configuration of an image forming apparatus  10  pertaining to the present exemplary embodiment will be described.  FIG. 1  is a general diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus  10  pertaining to the present exemplary embodiment. It will be noted that  FIG. 1  and drawings indicated below show a vertical direction of the apparatus by arrows in the drawings. 
         [0017]    The image forming apparatus  10  pertaining to the present exemplary embodiment is disposed with an apparatus body  11  and a platen cover  13  that serves as an example of an open/close component that is disposed in the upper portion of the apparatus body  11  and is capable of being opened and closed with respect to the apparatus body  11 . 
         [0018]    Further, the image forming apparatus  10  pertaining to the present exemplary embodiment is disposed with an image reading mechanism  12  that reads an image of a document and an image recording mechanism  14  that records an image on a recording medium P such as paper. 
         [0019]    First, the image reading mechanism  12  will be described. 
         [0020]    The image reading mechanism  12  is disposed with a document housing component (document loading tray)  16  in which a document is housed, a document conveying component  18  that conveys the document that is housed in the document housing component  16 , an image reading unit  20  that is capable of moving with respect to a document that has been placed in a fixed position and reading an image of that document and, with respect to a document that is conveyed by the document conveying component  18 , is capable of reading image of that document in a predetermined position, and a document output tray  32  into which a document that has been conveyed by the document conveying component  18  is ejected. 
         [0021]    The document housing component  16  is disposed with a holder  22  for placing a document. A document is placed in this holder  22  with its reading surface, which becomes a reading target, face up, and the document is housed in the document housing component  16 . 
         [0022]    The document conveying component  18  is disposed with a feeding roll  24  that feeds the document that is housed in the document housing component  16  from the document housing component  16 . A separating mechanism  30  that separates, one sheet at a time, the document that has been fed from the document housing component  16  is disposed on the downstream side of the feeding roll  24 . The separating mechanism  30  is disposed with a conveying roll  26 , which imparts conveyance force to the document that has been fed by the feeding roll  24  from the front side of the document, and a separating pad  28 , which imparts conveyance resistance to the document that has been fed by the feeding roll  24  from the back side of the document. 
         [0023]    Thus, when plural documents are superimposed and fed from the document housing component  16 , the conveying roll  26  imparts conveyance force to the upper document (the first document), and conveyance resistance is imparted by the separating pad  28  to the lower documents (the second document on), whereby the documents are separated. In this manner, the superimposed documents are sorted and fed one sheet at a time by the feeding roll  24  and the separating pad  28 . 
         [0024]    A U-shaped conveyance path  34  for conveying the document that has been separated by the separating mechanism  30  to the document output tray  32  is formed in the document conveying component  18 . Conveying rolls  36  that convey the document and ejecting rolls  39  that eject the document to the document output tray  32  are disposed in this conveyance path  34 . 
         [0025]    The document output tray  32  is disposed with a holder  42  in which the document that has been ejected by the ejecting rolls  39  is placed, and the document that has been ejected by the ejecting rolls  39  is placed in the holder  42  with its reading surface face down and housed in the document output tray  32 . 
         [0026]    Further, the image forming apparatus  10  may also be configured such that the document housing component (document loading tray)  16 , a recording medium housing component (recording medium loading tray)  50 , the document output tray  32  and a recording medium output tray  56  are disposed in a tier-like manner in order to make it easy to handle housing of documents, replenishment of recording media, documents after ejection and recording media after ejection. The document output tray  32  is offset in the width direction of the document (direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction) with respect to the document housing component  16 , and the document output tray  32  and the document housing component  16  are disposed in a tier-like manner. It will be noted that when the image forming apparatus  10  is configured such that a person who handles the document from one side in the width direction of the document faces the apparatus (e.g., when an operating component for performing reading and the like is disposed on one side in the width direction of the document), the document output tray  32  is offset with respect to the document housing component  16  on that side. 
         [0027]    Further, the document output tray  32  may also be configured to be offset along the conveyance direction with respect to the document housing component  16  and is disposed in a tier-like manner. In this case, the document output tray  32  is disposed on the right side in  FIG. 1  with respect to the document housing component  16 . 
         [0028]    The image reading unit  20  is disposed with a light source (not shown), an optical system (not shown) such as a mirror and an imaging lens, and an image reading element (not shown) that is structured with a CCD or the like. 
         [0029]    A transparent member (called a platen glass A below)  38  such as a glass plate that transmits light that has been emitted from the light source of the image reading unit  20  is disposed in the conveyance path  34 . This platen glass A 38  forms a conveyance path surface of the conveyance path  34 , and the position where the platen glass A 38  is disposed is a reading position where the image reading unit  20  reads an image of the document that is conveyed on the conveyance path  34 . 
         [0030]    Thus, the document that is conveyed on the conveyance path  34  is irradiated with light from the light source of the image reading unit  20 , reflected light that has been reflected by the document is guided through the optical system to the image reading element, and an image is read by the image reading element. At this time, the image reading unit  20  is in a state where it is positioned and fixed in a predetermined position below the platen glass A 38 . 
         [0031]    A controller  43  is connected to the image reading unit  20 , and the controller  43  converts the image that the image reading unit  20  has read into image signals and sends the converted image signals to an image recording unit  54 . 
         [0032]    Further, in the image reading mechanism  12  pertaining to the present exemplary embodiment, an inversion path  44  for inverting a document of which an image on one side has been read and again sending that document back to the reading position is connected to the conveyance path  34 . A document of which an image on one side has been read is inverted by the ejecting rolls  39 , is conveyed on the inversion path  44 , and is again sent to the reading position. 
         [0033]    Further, the image reading mechanism  12  is disposed, below the platen cover  13 , with a transparent member  40  (called a platen glass B below) such as a glass plate that transmits light that has been emitted from the light source of the image reading unit  20 . A document is placed on this platen glass B 40  in a state where its reading surface is face down after the platen cover  13  has been opened. The document is disposed in a fixed position as a result of being placed in a predetermined position on the platen glass B 40 . 
         [0034]    The image reading unit  20  moves below the platen glass B 40  with respect to a document that has been placed on the platen glass B 40  and reads an image of that document. 
         [0035]    It will be noted that, in the present description, the platen glass A 38  and the platen glass B 40  are notated separately, but they may also be configured by a single transparent plate (glass or the like) that covers the range of the sizes of both platen glass plates. 
         [0036]    Next, the image recording mechanism  14  will be described. 
         [0037]    The image recording mechanism  14  is disposed with a recording medium housing component  50  in which a recording medium P such as paper is housed, a reading medium conveying component  52  that conveys the recording medium P that is housed in the recording medium housing component  50 , an image recording unit  54  that is capable of recording an image on the recording medium P that is conveyed on the recording medium conveying component  52  on the basis of an image that the image reading unit  20  has read, and a recording medium output tray  56  into which the recording medium P that has been conveyed by the recording medium conveying component  52  is ejected. 
         [0038]    The recording medium housing component  50  is disposed with a holder  58  for placing the recording medium P. The recording medium P is placed in this holder  58  and housed in the recording medium housing component  50 . It will be noted that the recording medium housing component  50  may also be integrated with the document housing component  16 . 
         [0039]    The recording medium conveying component  52  is disposed with a feeding roll  60  that feeds the recording medium P that is housed in the recording medium housing component  50  from the recording medium housing component  50 . A separating mechanism  62  that separates, one sheet at a time, the recording medium P that has been fed from the recording medium housing component  50  is disposed on the downstream side of the feeding roll  60 . The separating mechanism  62  is disposed with a conveying roll  64 , which imparts conveyance force to the recording medium P that has been fed by the feeding roll  60  from the front side of the recording medium P, and a separating pad  66 , which imparts conveyance resistance to the recording medium P that has been fed by the feeding roll  60  from the back side of the recording medium P. 
         [0040]    Thus, when plural recording media P are superimposed and fed from the recording medium housing component  50 , the conveying roll  64  imparts conveyance force to the upper recording medium P (the first recording medium P), and conveyance resistance is imparted by the separating pad  66  to the lower recording media P (the second recording medium P on), whereby the recording media P are separated. In this manner, the superimposed recording media P are sorted and fed one sheet at a time by the feeding roll  60  and the separating pad  66 . 
         [0041]    A U-shaped conveyance path  68  for conveying the recording medium P that has been separated by the separating mechanism  62  to the recording medium output tray  56  is formed in the recording medium conveying component  52 . Conveying rolls  74  that convey the recording medium P and ejecting rolls  70  that eject the recording medium P to the recording medium output tray  56  are disposed in this conveyance path  68 . 
         [0042]    The conveyance path  68  intersects the conveyance path  34  between the recording medium housing component  50  and the image recording unit  54 . The conveyance path  34  intersects the conveyance path  68  between the document housing component  16  and the image reading unit  20 . 
         [0043]    Further, the conveyance path  68  is shared with the conveyance path  34  at the portion of the reading position where the platen glass A 38  is disposed, and the recording medium P on which an image has been recorded by an inkjet recording head  53  is also conveyed to the reading position such that the image is readable by the image reading unit  20 . 
         [0044]    On the downstream side of this reading position, the conveyance path  68  and the conveyance path  34  branch and are respectively connected to the recording medium output tray  56  and the document output tray  32 . At the branch between the conveyance path  68  and the conveyance path  34 , a switching member  67  for switching the conveyance path to which the recording medium P and the document are guided is disposed. The distal end of the switching member  67  moves downward, closes the conveyance path  68  and opens the conveyance path  34 , whereby the document or the recording medium P is guided to the ejecting rolls  39  and the document output tray  32 . The distal end of the switching member  67  moves upward, closes the conveyance path  34  and opens conveyance path  68 , whereby the document or the recording medium P is guided to the ejecting rolls  70  and the recording medium output tray  56 . 
         [0045]    The recording medium output tray  56  is disposed with a holder  72  in which the recording medium P that has been ejected by the ejecting rolls  70  is placed, and the recording medium P that has been ejected by the ejecting rolls  70  is placed in the holder  72  and housed in the recording medium output tray  56 . Moreover, the image forming apparatus  10  may also be configured such that the document housing component  16 , the recording medium housing component  50 , the document output tray  32  and the recording medium output tray  56  are disposed in a tier-like manner in order to make it easy to handle housing of documents, replenishment of recording media, documents after ejection and recording media after ejection. 
         [0046]    It will be noted that the recording medium output tray  56  may also be integrated with the document output tray  32 . 
         [0047]    Further, the recording medium output tray  56  is offset in the width direction of the recording medium P (direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction) with respect to the recording medium housing component  50 , and the recording medium output tray  56  and the recording medium housing component  50  are disposed in a tier-like manner. It will be noted that when the image forming apparatus  10  is configured such that a person who handles the document from one side in the width direction of the document faces the apparatus (e.g., when an operating component for performing reading operation and the like is disposed on one side in the width direction of the document), the recording medium output tray  56  is offset with respect to the recording medium housing component  16  on that side. 
         [0048]    Further, the recording medium output tray  56  may also be configured such that it is offset along the conveyance direction with respect to the recording medium housing component  50  and is placed in a tier-like manner. In this case, the recording medium output tray  56  is disposed on the right side in  FIG. 1  with respect to the recording medium housing component  50 . 
         [0049]    The image recording unit  54  is disposed with an inkjet recording head  53  which, as one example of a liquid droplet ejecting head that ejects liquid droplets, ejects ink droplets from nozzles to record an image on the recording medium P. The inkjet recording head  53  ejects ink droplets onto the recording medium P that has been conveyed to an image recording position below the inkjet recording head  53  and records an image. 
         [0050]    An ink tank  55  that supplies ink to the inkjet recording head  53  is disposed above the inkjet recording head  53 . 
         [0051]    A maintenance member  57  that performs maintenance of the inkjet recording head  53  is disposed below the inkjet recording head  53  facing an ejection surface of the inkjet recording head  53 . The maintenance member  57  includes a cap that covers the ejection surface of the inkjet recording head  53 , a cleaning member that cleans the ejection surface of the inkjet recording head  53 , and a suction device for sucking the ink inside the nozzles. 
         [0052]    Further, in the image recording mechanism  14 , an inversion path  65  for inverting the recording medium P on which an image has been recorded on one side and again sending that recording medium P back to the image recording position is connected to the conveyance path  68 . The recording medium P on which an image has been recorded on one side is conveyed as it is when the ejecting rolls  70  normally rotate, but by disposing a one-way gate just before the ejecting rolls  70 , the ejecting rolls  70  are caused, during back side printing, to reversely rotate immediately before the completion of ejection, whereby the recording medium P on which an image has been recorded on one side is conveyed on the inversion path  65  and is again sent to the image recording position. 
         [0053]    It will be noted that, in the image forming apparatus  10  pertaining to the present exemplary embodiment, the document housing component  16 , the document output tray  32 , the feeding roll  24 , the separating mechanism  30 , the recording medium housing component  50 , the recording medium output tray  56 , the feeding roll  60  and the separating mechanism  62  are disposed in the platen cover  13 , and these are opened and closed integrally with the platen cover  13 . The platen cover  13  rotates about a shaft component  15  and can be flipped up, so that by flipping up and opening the platen cover  13 , the upper surface of the platen glass B 40  is opened and documents such as a book can be placed on the platen glass B 40 . 
         [0054]    Moreover, the platen cover  13  may also employ automatic opening and closing. For example, the platen cover  13  can be configured such that the platen cover  13  is lifted up and opened when an operator places his/her hand over a sensor or configured such that the platen cover  13  is opened automatically after the image reading unit  20  has read an image of a document. 
         [0055]    Further, although the aforementioned opening and closing system is described as being a system where the platen cover  13  is flipped up by rotation, the system may also be one where the platen cover  13  moves by sliding. 
         [0056]    It will be noted that whether each component of the image reading mechanism  12  and each component of the image recording mechanism  14  is to be disposed in the platen cover  13  is optional, and it suffices as long as the image forming apparatus  10  is configured such that the upper surface of the platen glass B 40  is opened when the platen cover  13  is opened. 
       Action of Present Exemplary Embodiment 
       [0057]    Next, the action of the preceding exemplary embodiment will be described. 
         [0058]    In the image forming apparatus  10  pertaining to the present exemplary embodiment, when an operator wishes to read an image of a document, the operator either places the document on the platen glass B 40  or houses the document in the document housing component  16 . 
         [0059]    The image reading unit  20  moves with respect to a document that has been placed on the platen glass B 40  and reads an image of that document. The image reading unit  20  is fixed in a position relative to the platen glass A 38  with respect to a document that has been housed in the document housing component  16  and reads an image of that document as a result of the document being moved by the document conveying component  18 . 
         [0060]    After an image of the document has been read the operator removes the document that has been placed on the platen glass B 40  from the top of the platen glass B 40  or removes the document that has been ejected into the document output tray  32  from the document output tray  32 . 
         [0061]    Moreover, when an operator wishes to copy the image of the document, the operator houses the recording medium P in the recording medium housing component  50 . The image recording unit  54  records the image on the recording medium P on the basis of the image that the image reading unit  20  has read. 
         [0062]    After the image has been recorded on the recording medium P, the operator removes the recording medium P that has been ejected into the recording medium output tray  56  from the recording medium output tray  56 . 
         [0063]    Here, in the present exemplary embodiment, the document housing component  16 , the document output tray  32 , the recording medium housing component  50  and the recording medium output tray  56  are consolidated on the side of the document that has been placed on the platen glass B 40 , that is, above the image reading unit  20 , when seen from the image reading unit  20 , and it becomes possible to perform, above the image reading unit  20 , all of the work of placing the document on the platen glass B 40 , the work of housing the document in the document housing component  16 , the work of removing the document from the document output tray  32 , the work of housing the recording medium P in the recording medium housing component  50  and the work of removing the recording medium P from the recording medium output tray  56 . 
         [0064]    Thus, operability when handling the document and the recording medium P improves. Further, visibility when viewing the document and the recording medium P from above the image reading unit  20  improves. Moreover, the apparatus space on the lower side of the image reading unit  20  is made compact. 
         [0065]    It will be noted that, in the present exemplary embodiment, the document of which an image has been read can be guided to the ejecting rolls  70  by the switching member  67 . Thus, that document can be inverted by the ejecting rolls  70 , conveyed on the inversion path  65  and sent to the image recording position so that the image that the image reading unit  20  has read can be recorded on the back side of the document. It will be noted that “back side of the document” refers to the surface on the opposite side of the surface on which is recorded the image that the image reading unit  20  has read. 
         [0066]    Further, in the present exemplary embodiment, the recording medium P on which an image has been recorded by the inkjet recording head  53  is also conveyed to the reading position so that the image is capable of being read by the image reading unit  20 , and the image that the inkjet recording head  53  has recorded can be read and evaluated by the controller  43 . Moreover, this evaluation result can be fed back to image recording of the inkjet recording head  53  so that the image quality can be evaluated. For example, the controller  43  can evaluate whether or not there are defects in the image and detect clogging of the nozzles of the inkjet recording head  53 , evaluate the image density and writing position (ejection position) between each color and perform adjustment of the image density and the writing position between each color, and evaluate and position positional shifting of the images that have been recorded on the front side and the back side of the recording medium P. 
         [0067]    Further, in the image forming apparatus  10  pertaining to the present exemplary embodiment, the controller  43  may also be configured to control the feeding and ejection of the document and the recording medium P. For example, when a document is housed in the document housing component  16 , the controller  43  can be configured to ensure that document is given priority over the recording medium P which is housed in the recording medium housing component  50  and is fed to thereby perform image reading of the document before image recording on the recording medium P. Further, the controller  43  may also be configured to switch between feeding of the document and feeding of the recording medium P one sheet or several sheets at a time. 
         [0068]    Moreover, in order to make it easy to handle housing of documents, replenishment of recording media, documents after ejection and recording media after ejection, the image forming apparatus  10  pertaining to the present exemplary embodiment may also be configured such that the recording medium housing component  50  is offset in the width direction of the recording medium P with respect to the document housing component  16 , the document output tray  32  is offset in the width direction of the recording medium P with respect to the recording medium housing component  50 , and the recording medium output tray  56  is offset in the width direction of the recording medium P with respect to the document output tray  32 , so that the document housing component  16 , the recording medium housing component  50 , the document output tray  32  and the recording medium output tray  56  are disposed in a tier-like manner. It will be noted that the direction in which these components are offset in this configuration may be a direction along the conveyance direction. 
         [0069]    Further, a unit (casing)  21  that includes the platen glass B 40  and the image reading unit  20  may also be configured such that it can be pulled out from the apparatus body  11 . In this configuration, a document can be placed on the transparent member  40  and an image of that document can be read without having to open the platen cover  13 . 
         [0070]    Further, the unit (casing)  21  that includes the platen glass B 40  and the image reading unit  20  may also be configured such that it is detachably attached to the apparatus body  11 . This unit can be detached from the apparatus body  11  and used as an image forming apparatus that performs just recording of images. 
         [0071]    Further, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the image forming apparatus  10  may also be configured such that the recording medium housing component  50  and the recording medium output tray  56  are disposed between the document housing component  16  and the document output tray  32 . In this case, the document is conveyed from the holder  22  by the feeding roll  24  and the conveying roll  26 , passes a position facing the transparent member  38  and the image reading unit  20 , and is ejected into the document output tray  32  by the switching member  67 . Similarly, the recording medium P is conveyed from the holder  58  by the feeding roll  60  and the conveying roll  64 , an image is recorded on the recording medium P by the inkjet recording head  32 , and the recording medium P thereafter passes a position facing the transparent member  38  and is ejected into the recording medium output tray  56  by the switching member  67 . 
       First Modification of Image Forming Apparatus Pertaining to Present Exemplary Embodiment 
       [0072]    Next, the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus  100  pertaining to a first modification will be described.  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  are general diagrams showing the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus  100  pertaining to the first modification. 
         [0073]    The image forming apparatus  100  pertaining to the first modification is a modification where the disposed positions of each of the components in the above-described image forming apparatus  10  have been changed. It will be noted that the same reference numerals will be given to components that have the same functions as those of the above-described image forming apparatus  10  and that description of those components will be omitted. 
         [0074]    The image forming apparatus  100  pertaining to the first modification is a system where, as shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the unit (casing)  21  that includes the image reading unit  20 , the platen glass A 38  and the platen glass B 40  itself caused to move as an example of an open/close component that is disposed in the upper portion of the apparatus body  11  and is capable of being opened and closed with respect to the apparatus body  11 . 
         [0075]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , a document such as a book is placed with its reading surface face up below the transparent member  40 , whereby an image of that document is read. 
         [0076]    The document housing component  16 , the document output tray  32 , the recording medium housing component  50  and the recording medium output tray  56  are disposed in the apparatus body  11 . 
         [0077]    The document housing component  16 , the document output tray  32 , the recording medium housing component  50  and the recording medium output tray  56  are disposed in the order of the document housing component  16 , the recording medium housing component  50 , the document output tray  32  and the recording medium output tray  56  from below. 
         [0078]    In the first modification, the document housing component  16 , the document output tray  32 , the recording medium housing component  50  and the recording medium output tray  56  are consolidated on the side of the document that has been placed below the platen glass B 40 , that is, below the image reading unit  20 , when seen from the image reading unit  20 , and all of the work of placing the document below the platen glass B 40 , the work of housing the document in the document housing component  16 , the work of removing the document from the document output tray  32 , the work of housing the recording medium P in the recording medium housing component  50  and the work of removing the recording medium P from the recording medium output tray  56  are performed below the image reading unit  20 . 
         [0079]    Thus, operability when handling the document and the recording medium P improves. Further, the apparatus space on the upper side of the image reading unit  20  is made compact. Moreover, when a document such as a book is placed below the platen glass B 40 , the work of reading and creating an image of that document by the image reading unit  20  can be performed while the platen cover  13  is left open. 
       Second Modification of Image Forming Apparatus Pertaining to Present Exemplary Embodiment 
       [0080]    Next, the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus  200  pertaining to a second modification will be described.  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  are general diagrams showing the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus  200  pertaining to the second modification. It will be noted that, in  FIG. 4 , the configurations of each of the components are simplified. Further, the same reference numerals will be given to components that have the same functions as those of the above-described image forming apparatus  10  and description of those components will be omitted. 
         [0081]    The image forming apparatus  200  pertaining to the second modification has a configuration that uses the conveying mechanisms of the document conveying component and the recording medium conveying component in common and a configuration that uses the ejecting rolls of the document or the recording medium in common. A separating roll  128  is disposed in place of the separating pad  28  of the image forming apparatus  10 . Further, a feeding roll  124  is disposed in place of the feeding roll  24  and the conveying roll  26  of the image forming apparatus  10 . The feeding roll  124  feeds the document from the document housing component  16 , cooperates with the separating roll  126  to sort (separate) superimposed documents, and conveys the documents one sheet at a time. 
         [0082]    The documents or recording media are separately housed in a housing component that is integrally configured. In the drawings, when the separating roll  128  rotates in the counter-clockwise direction, the document is fed, and when the separating roll  128  rotates in the clockwise direction, the recording medium fed. 
         [0083]    Further, the above-described configuration is an example that uses the conveying mechanisms of the document conveying component and the recording medium conveying component in common, so, for example, the conveying mechanism of the aforementioned recording medium conveying component may be used, a document may be placed on the recording medium in the recording medium housing component, and the conveying mechanism may be used in common. However, in this case, it becomes necessary to dispose a device that detects whether or not the medium that is conveyed is a document or a recording medium (e.g., a configuration that senses, by a photosensor or the like, whether or not there is a document between the documents and the recording media) and to switch the conveyance destination to the image reading unit when there is a document on the basis of the sensing result and switch the conveyance destination to the image recording unit when there is no document. 
         [0084]    In the image forming apparatus  200  pertaining to the second modification, the portion of the reading position where the transparent member  38  is disposed and the conveyance path on the downstream side (from the reading position to the document output tray  32  and the recording medium output tray  56 ) of that reading position are shared in common, and the conveyance path  34  and the conveyance path  68  are formed by one conveyance path. Further, the ejecting roll  39  and the ejecting roll  70  are shared, so the image forming apparatus  200  pertaining to the second modification is disposed with one pair of ejecting rolls  139 . 
         [0085]    A switching member  137  for switching the ejecting components to which the recording medium P and the document are guided is disposed downstream of the ejecting rolls  139 . The distal end of the switching member  137  moves downward, closes the recording medium output tray  56  and opens the document output tray  32 , whereby the document or the recording medium P is guided to the document output tray  32 . The distal end of the switching member  137  moves upward, closes the document output tray  32  and opens the recording medium output tray  56 , whereby the document or the recording medium P is guided to the recording medium output tray  56 . 
         [0086]    Further, the inversion path  44  and the inversion path  65  are also shared, so one inversion path  165  is disposed. The document or the recording medium P that has been inverted by the ejecting rolls  139  is sent to the conveyance path  68 . 
         [0087]    In the image forming apparatus  200  pertaining to the second modification, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the document housing component  16 , the document output tray  32 , the feeding roll  124 , the separating roll  128 , the recording medium housing component  50 , the recording medium output tray  56 , the feeding roll  60 , the ejecting rolls  139  and the switching member  137  are disposed in the platen cover  13 , and these are opened and closed integrally with the platen cover  13 . 
         [0088]    By employing the above configuration, it becomes possible to further make the apparatus compact and lower costs because the number of parts in the apparatus overall is reduced. 
         [0089]    Further, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the image forming apparatus  200  pertaining to the second modification may also be configured such that it is disposed with a conveyance path  76  that conveys, in a transverse direction, the recording medium P on which an image has been recorded by the inkjet recording head  53  of the image recording unit  54 . In the configuration shown in  FIG. 6 , a recording medium output tray  78  into which the recording medium P that has been conveyed along the conveyance path  76  is ejected is disposed in a side portion of the apparatus body  11  of the image forming apparatus  200 . In this configuration, the recording medium P on which an image has been recorded by the inkjet recording head  53  maintains a planar state without curving and is conveyed along the conveyance path  76  and ejected into the recording medium output tray  78 . It will be noted that, in this configuration, the recording medium P is conveyed from the right side to the left side in  FIG. 6 , but the image forming apparatus  200  may also be configured such that the recording medium P is housed in the recording medium output tray  78 , and the housed recording medium P is conveyed from the left side to the right side in  FIG. 6  and is ejected into the recording medium housing component  50 . 
         [0090]    Further, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the image forming apparatus  200  may also be configured such that it is disposed with an image recording unit  94  in addition to the image recording unit  54 . The image recording unit  94  is, similar to the image recording unit  54 , disposed with an inkjet recording head  73  and a maintenance member  77 . 
         [0091]    In this configuration, the recording medium P on whose front side an image has been recorded by the inkjet recording head  53  is inverted by the conveyance path  68 , an image is recorded on the back side of the recording medium P by the inkjet recording head  73 , and the recording medium P is ejected into the recording medium output tray  56 . 
         [0092]    It will be noted that the image recording unit  94  is not only for recording an image on the back side of the recording medium P on which an image has been recorded on one side but may also be used for recording an image on one side of the recording medium P as in the following configuration. In this case, images can be recorded on the recording medium P at the same time by the image recording unit  54  and the image recording unit  94 . 
         [0093]    In the configuration where the image forming apparatus  200  is disposed with the image recording unit  94 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , the image forming apparatus  200  may also be configured such that it is disposed with a conveyance path  80  for conveying the recording medium P in the transverse direction to the inkjet recording head  73 . In this configuration, a recording medium housing component  82  in which the recording medium P that is sent to the conveyance path  80  is housed is disposed in a side portion of the apparatus body  11  of the image forming apparatus  200 . In this configuration, the recording medium P that is housed in the recording medium housing component  82  maintains a planar state without curving, is conveyed along the conveyance path  80 , an image is recorded by the inkjet recording head  73 , and the recording medium P is ejected into the recording medium output tray  56 . 
         [0094]    It will be noted that, in this configuration, the recording medium P is conveyed from the left side to the right side in  FIG. 7 , but the image forming apparatus  200  may also be configured such that the recording medium P is housed in the recording medium output tray  56 , and the housed recording medium P is conveyed from the right side to the left side in  FIG. 7  and is ejected into the recording medium housing component  82 . 
         [0095]    Further, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the image forming apparatus  200  may also be configured such that a recording medium housing component  84  is attached to the lower portion of the apparatus body  11 . The recording medium housing component  84  is detachably attached to the lower portion of the apparatus body  11  as an option. In the configuration shown in  FIG. 8 , the image recording unit  94  is disposed, the recording medium P that is housed in the recording medium housing component  84  is fed from the recording medium hosing component  84 , an image is recorded by the inkjet recording head  73  of the image recording unit  94 , and the recording medium P is ejected into the recording medium output tray  56 . In a configuration where the image forming apparatus  200  does not include the image recording unit  94  but is disposed with just the image recording unit  54 , a conveyance path that conveys the recording medium P to the image recording unit  54  is formed. 
         [0096]    It will be noted that the present invention is not limited to the preceding exemplary embodiment and that various modifications, changes and improvements are possible. 
         [0097]    For example, the configuration shown in  FIG. 6  that includes the conveyance path  80  and the recording medium output tray  78 , the configuration shown in  FIG. 7  that adds the image recording unit  94  and the configuration shown in  FIG. 8  that includes the recording medium housing component  84  are applicable not only to the image forming apparatus  200  pertaining to the second modification but also to the image forming apparatus  10  pertaining to the present exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  and the image forming apparatus  100  pertaining to the first modification shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0098]    In the description of the present exemplary embodiment, there is applied an image forming system that uses an inkjet recording head as the image recording unit, but the image recording unit is not limited to this and there may also be used an image recording unit or the like that uses an electrophotographic system, for example. 
         [0099]    Further, when the document loading tray (document housing component), the document output tray, the recording medium loading tray (recording medium housing component) and the recording medium output tray are arranged in a vertical direction, the document loading tray, the document output tray, the recording medium loading tray and the recording medium output tray may be disposed so as to be at least partially superimposed one another. 
         [0100]    The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.