Image producing apparatus having a port for connection to external devices

An image producing apparatus comprises a table which is provided over the upper surface of a top plate in a body thereof for placing an external device. Besides, the apparatus also comprises a connector unit which is located adjacent to the table for connection to the external device. Thus, the connection of the external device will be simplified, and besides, the external device can be operated with ease when the external device is connected to the apparatus. Furthermore, the apparatus is provided with a stationary swiveling mechanism, so that a user can easily turn a side of the body, where a sheet of paper is jammed, to the front.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an image producing apparatus, such as a 
copier or a printer, provided with a port for connection to external 
devices including a personal computer, and to an image producing apparatus 
having a structure capable of swiveling at its stationary location. 
In general, such an image producing apparatus, namely a printer, has a port 
provided on a back or side wall thereof for connection (by cables or 
infrared ray) to external devices. As the printer is placed adjacent to a 
desired external device such as a note computer by a user, its port is 
connected to the external device for printing operation. If the printer 
has such a trouble that a sheet of paper is jammed up in a paper passage 
route located on any other side than the (front) side to which an 
operation panel is mounted, the user has to access to the side where the 
paper is jammed. For ease of turning the side where the paper is jammed to 
the user or the front, the printer has commonly casters. 
Any conventional type of the printers having its port for connection to 
external devices located on the back or side wall can be connected to a 
desired external device such as a note computer with much difficulty. Such 
an external device has to be placed temporarily on a table or the like for 
connecting its cable to the printer and this will be troublesome. The 
printer equipped with casters also requires an extra size of installation 
space for allowing its rotating action on the casters. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image producing 
apparatus capable of easily connecting to a desired external device and, 
when connected to the external device, allowing ease of operation of the 
external device. It is another object of the present invention to provide 
an image producing apparatus which allows a user to turn its side, where a 
sheet of paper is jammed, to the front with no need of having an extra 
space for rotating the apparatus with its casters. 
According to one aspect of the present invention, an image producing 
apparatus having a port to which an external device is connected, 
comprises: a body which includes an image producing unit inside thereof; 
and, a table which is disposed at a top surface of the body, and on which 
an external device is mounted; wherein the connection port is located 
adjacent to the table. 
In the above-described construction, the apparatus allows an external 
device to be placed on the table provided on the body while its connecting 
to the printer and thus handled with ease. Also, the connection of the 
external device is made through the connecting port located adjacent to 
the table and will thus be simplified. 
According to another aspect of the present invention, an image producing 
apparatus having a structure capable of swiveling at its stationary 
location, comprises: a body which includes an image producing unit inside 
thereof; a base member which is located on a bottom of the body; and, a 
joint means for joining the body to the base member such that the body is 
rotatable in a horizontal direction. 
In the above-described construction, the apparatus allows the body to 
horizontally swivel about the joint means at a stationary location on the 
base, whereby a user can easily turn a side of the body, where a sheet of 
paper is jammed, to the front with no need of having an extra space for 
rotating the apparatus with its casters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
Some embodiments of an image producing apparatus according to the present 
invention will be described referring to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 
is a perspective view of the entire structure of a printer showing a first 
embodiment of the present invention. The printer 100 has a body 1 of a 
box-like shape. The body 1 comprises a printing unit (an image producing 
unit) 2 such as a laser, a paper feed unit 3, and a top plate 4. A table 6 
is provided over the upper surface 4a of the top plate 4 for placing a 
note computer (an external device) 5. Also, a connector unit (a connecting 
terminal) 7 having a group of connecting ports for connection to the note 
computer 5 is provided on the upper surface 4a opposite to the table 6. 
More specifically, the connector unit 7 includes a serial port 8 and a 
parallel port 9 for connection by cables to the note computer 5, an 
infrared port 10 for infrared communication, and a power supply outlet (a 
receptacle) 11. A paper discharge recess 12 (a paper stack) is provided on 
the upper surface 4a so that the paper printed by a printing unit 2 in 
response to an output command of the note computer 5 can be received by 
the paper discharge recess 12. 
The note computer 5 is placed on the table 6 provided over the upper 
surface 4a of the top plate 4 when being connected to the printer 100 and 
can thus be handled with much ease. Also, since no extra table for placing 
the note computer 5 is provided beside the printer 100, a marginal space 
about the printer 100 is eliminated. Moreover, the ports 8, 9, and 10 and 
the power supply outlet 11 are located on the connector unit 7 adjacent to 
the table 6 hence allowing prompt connection to the note computer 5. 
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a connector unit 7 of a printer 100 
according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In particular, 
the connector unit 7 of the second embodiment has a serial port 8 and a 
parallel port 9 thereof equipped with reel cords (connecting cables) 8a 
and 9a respectively. The reel cords 8a and 9a are rolled up in the 
connector unit 7 when the note computer 5 is not connected. In use, the 
reel cords 8a and 9a are drawn out in the direction denoted by the arrow 
and joined as connecting cables to the note computer 5 for data 
communication. The reel cords 8a and 9a remain urged in an opposite 
direction so that they can automatically be returned back to their reels 
in the connector unit 7 upon separated from the note computer 5. The 
second embodiment permits the printer 100 to be connected to the note 
computer 5 with no use of separate cables and will be easier in connection 
of the note computer 5 than the first embodiment. 
FIG. 3(a) illustrates the printer 100 and the note computer 5 connected to 
each other by cables while FIG. 3(b) shows the same connected by beams of 
infrared ray. The printer 100 shown in FIG. 3(a) hence includes an A/D 
(analog/digital) converter 22 for converting analog data supplied by an 
external AC source 21 to digital data, a controller 23 for processing 
input data in a bit-map format, and a printing unit 2. The DC current 
produced by A/D converter 22 is transferred to various components in the 
printer 100 and via the power supply outlet 11 to the note computer 5. The 
note computer 5 includes a controller unit 25 for controlling overall 
operations and a data transfer unit 26 for transmitting data to the 
printer 100 in cable-link communication. In case of the cable-link 
communication shown in FIG. 3(a), the data transfer unit 26 responding to 
a command from the controller unit 25 in the note computer 5 transmits 
printing data to the printer 100. The controller 23 in the printer 100 
receives the printing data from the data transfer unit 26 of the note 
computer 5 via its serial port 8 or parallel port 9 and after giving a 
series of relevant processes, transfers the data to the printing unit 2. 
The printer 100 shown in FIG. 3(b) includes, in addition to the above 
components, a light receiver/data converter unit 24 equipped with an 
infrared port 10. The note computer 5 is also added with a data generator 
unit 27 for generating data to be transferred to the printer 100 in 
optical data communication, and an optical transfer unit 28 for converting 
the data generated by the data generator unit 27 to an optical data and 
transmitting it to the printer 100. In the case of optical data 
communication shown in FIG. 3(b), the printing data is generated by the 
data generator 27 responding to a command from the control unit 25 and 
converted by the optical transfer unit 28 to the optical data in the note 
computer 5 before transferred to the printer 100. The light receiver/data 
converter unit 24 of the printer 100 receives the optical data from the 
optical transfer unit 28 at its infrared port 10, converts it to a data 
format operable in the controller 23, and transmits the data format to the 
printing unit 2. 
FIG. 4 illustrates a printer 100 provided with a stationary rotating 
mechanism showing a third embodiment of the present invention. The printer 
100 comprises a body 41 including a printing unit (an image producing 
unit) 42, a platform (a base member) 44 having locating members 43 
provided on a bottom thereof, and a joint mechanism (a joint means) 46 for 
joining between the platform 44 and a base 45 of the body 41. The joint 
mechanism 46 supports the body 41 so that the body 41 can swivel 
horizontally on the platform 44. In operation, a paper from a paper feed 
unit 47 is printed in the printing unit 42, conveyed along a paper passage 
route 48, and discharged to a discharge tray 49. An openable cover 50 is 
provided on the back of the body 41 for ease of removing a sheet of paper 
jammed up in the paper passage route 48. The printer 100 of this 
embodiment is so designed as to allow any sheet of paper jammed up in the 
paper passage route (a conveying passage) located on the side opposite to 
the operation panel side or front side to be easily removed. 
FIGS. 5(a), 5(b), and 5(c) show steps of eliminating paper jamming in the 
paper passage route 48 on the back side 41c of the body 41 which is 
opposite to the front side 41a where an operation panel 51 is mounted. If 
a sheet of paper is jammed up in the paper passage route 48 on the back 
side 41c (refer to FIG. 4), the body 41 is horizontally turned on the 
platform 44 by the user about a pivot of the joint mechanism 46. This is 
followed by opening the cover 50 at the back side 41c and removing the 
jammed sheet of paper from the paper passage route 48. 
Some modifications of the locating members 43 mounted to the bottom of the 
platform 44 are illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8. FIG. 6 shows the platform 44 
with rubber feet 61 employed as the locating members 43. FIG. 7 shows the 
platform 44 with four feet 62 formed integral with the platform 44 used as 
the locating members 43. Such shapes of the locating members 43 on the 
platform 44 permit the platform 44 to be seated steadily on the floor. 
FIG. 8 shows the platform 44 with a combination of movable casters 63 and 
setting adjuster 64 employed as the locating members 43. Each of the 
setting adjusters 64 (setting members) has a thread provided on the side 
thereof and its extension downwardly from the platform 44 can be adjusted 
by screwing in and out the platform 44. When the casters 63 are not in 
use, the setting adjusters 64 are lengthened so that their extension is 
greater than the height of the casters 63 beneath the platform 44. 
Accordingly, the platform 44 is seated on the setting adjusters 64 at a 
stationary location of the floor while the movable casters 63 being spaced 
from the floor. Also, the distance between the platform 44 and the floor 
can be controlled by adjusting the downward extension of the setting 
adjusters 84 from the platform 44. When the downward extension of the 
setting adjusters 64 from the platform 44 is decreased to set the casters 
63 directly on the floor, the printer 100 can be moved with the casters 63 
to a desired location. 
Arrangements of the stationary rotating mechanism for horizontally 
swiveling the body 41 in relation to the platform 44 are now explained. 
FIG. 9 illustrates an arrangement of the stationary rotating mechanism 
using a ball bearing. FIG. 10 shows another arrangement of the stationary 
rotating mechanism using rollers. The stationary rotating mechanism shown 
in FIG. 9 comprises an annular groove 45a provided in the lower surface of 
the base 45, a ball bearing 71, a recess 44a provided in the upper surface 
of the platform 44 for positioning the ball bearing 71, and a joint 
mechanism 46. When the base 45 is horizontally turned on the platform 44 
about a pivot 46a of the joint mechanism 46, the ball bearing 71 rotates 
along the groove 45a in the base 45. This action allows the base 45 to 
swivel smoothly at the stationary location. The stationary rotating 
mechanism shown in FIG. 10 comprises rollers 72 mounted to the lower 
surface of the base 45 and a joint mechanism 46. Equally, when the base 45 
is horizontally rotated on the platform 44 about a pivot 46a of the joint 
mechanism 46, the rollers 72 run on the platform 44 in the rotating 
direction of the base 45. This action allows the base 45 and thus the body 
41 to swivel smoothly at the stationary location. 
Arrangements of the base 45 of the body 41 are shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. 
FIG. 11 illustrates the base 45 joined at one side to a joint mechanism 46 
which acts as a pivot for swiveling motion at a stationary location and at 
the other side to the body 41 by retaining screws 73. Accordingly, the 
joint of the base 45 allows the body 41 to be spaced from the stationary 
rotating mechanism. FIG. 12 shows the base 45 joined directly with 
retaining screws 74 to the body 41 so that it serves as a bottom plate of 
the body 41. As the base 45 is joined to a joint mechanism 46 which acts 
as a pivot of the stationary rotating mechanism, the body 41 can directly 
swivel with the stationary rotating mechanism. 
Steps of removing a jammed sheet of paper from the paper passage route 48 
at one side of the body 41 next to the front side 41a (See FIG. 4) where 
the operation panel 51 (FIG. 5(a)) is mounted are explained referring to 
FIGS. 13(a) and 13(b). If the jammed sheet of paper is found at the side 
14b in the paper passage route 48, the body 41 is horizontally turned by 
the user about the pivot 46a of the joint mechanism 46 (FIG. 9) on the 
platform 44 at the stationary location and followed by opening a side 
cover 82 near the location of jamming 81 at the side 41b and removing the 
jammed sheet of paper away from the paper passage route 48. Since the body 
41 is allowed by the stationary rotating mechanism to swivel horizontally 
on the platform 44 about the joint mechanism 46, the user can easily 
access to the side 41b of the body 41 where a sheet of paper is jammed up 
at the location 81 without dislocating, if sited, obstacles 83 and 84 
about the area of installation. 
Although the connector unit 7 is provided with the infrared port 10 for 
optical data communication with infrared ray in the first and second 
embodiments, it may include a laser port for data communication with laser 
beams. The opening of the cover 50 at the back 41c or 82 at the side 14b 
is not limited to instant access to the paper passage route 48 (a 
conveying passage) in the third embodiment but may allow access to the 
printing unit (an image producing unit) 42. This makes the maintenance of 
the printing unit 42 simple and easy. 
It is understood that the present invention is not limited to the foregoing 
embodiments but various changes will be possible without departing from 
the scope of the present invention.