Abstract:
There is provided a reading/recording apparatus capable of ensuring that a reading device and a recording device do not collide when the apparatus is miniaturized to thereby protect the reading unit and the recording unit by having the reading device and the recording device share a moving space on a shared conveying path used as both a conveying for an original and a conveying for a recording sheet. The original is conveyed to a reading position on the shared conveying path. The reading unit is freely movable between the reading position and a reading standby position away from the reading position, and reads an image of the original at the reading position. The recording medium is conveyed to a recording position on the shared conveying path. The recording device moves within the same space on the shared conveying path as the reading unit, is freely movable between the recording position and a recording standby position away from the recording position, and records an image on the recording medium at the recording position. The operation of the recording unit is inhibited at the start of a reading operation by the reading unit.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a reading/recording apparatus and a reading/recording control method.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    In recent years, as terminal apparatuses have been made smaller in size, there have also been demands for miniaturization of information terminal apparatuses. In particular, in a reading/recording apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus for domestic use, a sheet conveying mechanism used for a reading operation and a sheet conveying mechanism used for a recording operation are completely separate from each other, so that a space where a reading unit reads an original (document) during transmission is separate from a space where a recording unit performs the recording operation during reception.  
           [0005]    [0005]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the construction of a conventional reading/recording apparatus. In this conventional reading/recording apparatus, recording sheets  301  are placed on a recording sheet holding member  303  and are fed sheet by sheet by a recording sheet feeding roller  304  and a separating mechanism. The fed recording sheet is conveyed to a recording section  306  by a conveying roller  305  and is discharged from the apparatus (in the direction shown by the arrow B in FIG. 10) by a discharge roller  307  while an image is being formed on the recording sheet by a recording section such as an inkjet cartridge.  
           [0006]    On the other hand, originals  302  are placed on an original holding member  308  and are set on a wedge-shaped abutting section formed of an original separating roller  309  and a separating arm  313 . When the original separating roller  309  rotates according to an image reading instruction, out of the originals held at the abutting section, only an original in contact with the original separating roller  309  is separated using friction and is conveyed.  
           [0007]    The separated and conveyed original  302  is further conveyed by an original feeding roller  310 , a discharge roller  312 , and opposing rollers while being held therebetween. While an image on the original  302  is being read by a contact image sensor  311 , the original  302  is discharged from the apparatus (in the direction shown by the arrow A in FIG. 10).  
           [0008]    For a reading/recording apparatus such as a copier or a facsimile apparatus, various functions and improvements have been implemented to make such apparatus more convenient to use, according to demands from customers. One of such demands is for miniaturization of the apparatus. For users who wish to make effective use of limited space, apparatus size is especially important when purchasing equipment.  
           [0009]    However, in the conventional reading/recording apparatus described above, the sheet conveying mechanism for the reading operation and the sheet conveying mechanism for the recording operation are completely separate from each other, that is, the space in which the reading unit reads the original during transmission is separate from the space in which the recording unit performs the recording operation during reception, so that it is necessary to provide separate physical spaces for the reading operation and the recording operation. This makes it difficult to miniaturize the apparatus.  
           [0010]    On the other hand, there is a known technique for reducing apparatus size by using a single reading/recording path mechanism with a shared conveying path on which both originals and recording sheets are conveyed. Specifically, by conveying originals using the same conveying mechanism used for conveying recording sheets, it is possible to omit a feed roller, discharge roller, original driving motor, original detecting sensor, and the like that are used for conveying originals. However, in the case of an inkjet reading/recording apparatus where recording is performed by moving the recording unit, it is necessary to drive the reading unit and the recording unit in different spaces, so that a sufficient reduction in apparatus size cannot be made.  
           [0011]    To further miniaturize a reading/recording apparatus, studies are being performed to make the reading unit freely movable between a reading position located on a shared conveying path for conveying originals and recording sheets and a reading standby position receded from the reading position where the reading unit waits until a read instruction is issued and make the recording unit that moves in the main scanning direction and the reading unit share a moving space. However, if it is simply arranged that the recording unit and the reading share a moving space, when a reading operation and a recording operation occur simultaneously, the reading unit and the recording unit collide, which in some cases results in damage.  
           [0012]    For example, there is the risk that when a reading operation is performed, the reading unit is disposed at the reading position located on the shared conveying path. If on this occasion, a conveyed medium detecting sensor detects a conveyed medium on the shared conveying path, irrespective of the reading operation being performed, the conveyed medium will be erroneously detected as a recording sheet and the recording operation will start. Also, in the case where a recording operation is performed after the reading/recording apparatus has stopped with an original still present on the conveying path due to a jam, power failure, or any other reason, there is the risk of the original being damaged by the recording unit that moves in the main scanning direction.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0013]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a reading/recording apparatus and a reading/recording control method which are capable of ensuring that a reading device and a recording device do not collide when the apparatus is miniaturized to thereby protect the reading unit and the recording unit by having the reading device and the recording device share a moving space on a shared conveying path used as both a conveying path for an original and a conveying path for a recording sheet.  
           [0014]    To attain the above object, in a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reading/recording apparatus comprising a shared conveying path used as both a conveying path for an original and a conveying path for a recording medium, an original conveying device that conveys the original to a reading position on the shared conveying path, a reading device that is freely movable between the reading position and a reading standby position away from the reading position and reads an image of the original at the reading position, a recording medium conveying device that conveys the recording medium to a recording position on the shared conveying path, a recording device that moves within the same space on the shared conveying path as the reading device, is freely movable between the recording position and a recording standby position away from the recording position, and records an image on the recording medium at the recording position, and a control device that inhibits an operation of the recording device at a start of a reading operation by the reading device.  
           [0015]    According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to ensure that the reading device and the recording device do not collide when the apparatus is miniaturized to thereby protect the reading unit and the recording unit by having the reading device and the recording device share a moving space on a shared conveying path used as both a conveying for an original and a conveying for a recording medium.  
           [0016]    Preferably, the reading/recording apparatus comprises an operation mode storage device that stores an operation mode, and wherein the control device is responsive to the stored operation mode having been updated to a reading mode, for inhibiting recording of an image by the recording device.  
           [0017]    Also preferably, the recording device is freely movable in a main scanning direction-on the shared conveying path, and the control device causes the recording device to stay at the recording standby position away from the recording position during the reading operation by the reading device.  
           [0018]    Also preferably, the reading/recording apparatus comprises a rotary shaft extending in a main scanning direction, and wherein the reading device is freely rotatable about the rotary shaft between the reading position and the reading standby position, and the control device is responsive to the reading device having read an image of the original at the reading position on the shared conveying path, for causing the reading device to the reading standby position away from the reading position.  
           [0019]    Also preferably, the reading/recording apparatus comprises a conveyed medium detecting device that detects a conveyed medium on the shared conveying path, and a forcible discharging device operable when the conveyed medium has been detected on the shared conveying path by the conveyed medium detecting device at the start of the reading operation, to forcibly discharge the conveyed medium.  
           [0020]    According to this preferred form, it is possible to avoid damage to the original or the occurrence of a paper jam due to the recording device moving in a state where the original remains on the shared conveying path due to a paper jam, power failure, or other reason. Further, it is also possible to reduce the time spent on exclusive control operation of one of the reading device and the recording device within the shared moving space, thereby suppressing delays in reading and recording operations.  
           [0021]    More preferably, the reading/recording apparatus further comprises a notification device operable when the conveyed medium has been detected on the shared conveying path by the conveyed medium detecting device at the start of the reading operation, to issue a notification that the conveyed medium has been detected.  
           [0022]    To attain the above object, in a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reading/recording control method for a reading/recording apparatus including a shared conveying path used as both a conveying path for an original and a conveying path for a recording medium, a reading device that is freely movable between a reading position on the shared conveying path and a reading standby position away from the reading position and reads an image of the original, and a recording device that moves within the same space on the shared conveying path as the reading device, is freely movable between a recording position on the shared conveying path and a recording standby position away from the recording position, and records an image on the recording medium, the method comprises an original conveying step of conveying the original to the reading position, a reading step of reading an image of the original at the reading position by the reading device, a recording medium conveying step of conveying the recording medium to the recording position, a recording step of causing the recording device to record an image on the recording medium at the recording position, and a recording inhibiting step of inhibiting an operation of the recording device at a start of a reading operation by the reading device.  
           [0023]    According to the second aspect of the present invention, substantially the same effects as those by the first aspect described above can be provided.  
           [0024]    The above and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]    [0025]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a multifunction communication apparatus as a reading/recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal construction of the multifunction communication apparatus of FIG. 1;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the internal construction of the multifunction communication apparatus of FIG. 1 in a state where a recording unit is operating;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view&#39;showing the internal construction of the multifunction communication apparatus of FIG. 1 in the state where the recording unit is operating;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the internal construction of the multifunction communication apparatus of FIG. 1 in a state where the reading unit is operating;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view showing the internal construction of the multifunction communication apparatus of FIG. 1 in the state where the reading unit is operating;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the electrical construction of the multifunction communication apparatus of FIG. 1;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a control process for inhibiting a recording operation during a reading operation by the multifunction communication apparatus of FIG. 1;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 9 is a continued part of the flowchart of FIG. 8; and  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the construction of a conventional reading/recording apparatus. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0035]    The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment thereof.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a reading/recording apparatus according to the embodiment. The reading/recording apparatus according to the present embodiment is applied to a multifunction communication apparatus that has a facsimile communication function and a copying function. This multifunction communication apparatus has a casing  120  with a discharge opening  127  provided in a front side thereof and an original tray  11  provided on a rear side thereof. A handset  121 , a display  122 , an operating section  106 , an original discharge button (discharge key)  125 , and so forth are provided on an upper surface of the casing  120 .  
         [0037]    The display  122  displays the state of the multifunction communication apparatus, a telephone number, and so forth. The operating section  106  is comprised of a plurality of keys and is used to input a telephone number or various kinds of setting information and to give instructions for operations. The original discharge button  125  is pressed to discharge an original or a recording sheet.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal construction of the multifunction communication apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 shows a state where neither a recording sheet nor an original has been set and neither a reading unit nor a recording unit is operating, so that both the units are located in receded positions. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the internal construction of the multifunction communication apparatus of FIG. 1 in a state where the recording unit is operating. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view showing the internal construction of the multifunction communication apparatus of FIG. 1 in a state where the recording unit is operating. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the internal construction of the multifunction communication apparatus of FIG. 1 in a state where the reading unit is operating. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view showing the internal construction of the multifunction communication apparatus of FIG. 1 in a state where the reading unit is operating.  
         [0039]    In FIGS.  2  to  6 , reference numeral  1  designates an ink cartridge (the recording unit) that carries out recording,  3  a platen that is disposed in opposition to a surface of an original during a reading operation and to a surface of a recording sheet during a recording operation;  3   a  a platen supporting member that supports the platen  3 ;  8  a recording sheet tray on which recording sheets  2  are placed;  9  a pressing plate that presses the recording sheets  2  onto a recording sheet separating roller  19  when a recording sheet is to be separated;  10  a feed roller that feeds a conveyed medium (an original or a recording sheet) when reading or recording is carried out;  11  an original tray that holds originals,  13  a separating arm that separates an original  12 ;  15  an original separating roller that applies a force required to separate an original;  16  a pinch roller that supplements a driving force of the feed roller  10  during the feeding of the conveyed medium;  17  a discharge roller that discharges the conveyed medium out of the apparatus during reading and recording;  18  a spur that supplements a driving force of the discharge roller  17  when the conveyed medium is discharged;  19  a recording sheet separating roller that applies a force required to separate a recording sheet; and  21  a conveyed medium detecting sensor (paper edge sensor or “PES”) that detects the presence of a conveyed medium during reading and during recording.  
         [0040]    Further, reference numeral  22  designates a contact image sensor (CS) that carries out a reading operation;  23  an original lower guide member that guides an original  12 ;  24  a chassis;  25  a white reference determining member that determines a white reference level of an image read by the contact image sensor (CS)  22  during an operation that reads an original; and  26  a contact image sensor holder (CS holder) that supports the CS  22  and the white reference determining member  25 , and is also supported for free rotation with respect to the apparatus main body about a rotary shaft  26   a  extending in a main scanning direction. A reading unit  30  is comprised of the CS holder  26 , the CS  22 , and the white reference determining member  25 . During a reading operation, the CS holder  26  rotates to a reading position close to a recording section (that is, a recording position) on the platen  3 , and an image of the original that passes a shared conveying path is read by the CS  22 . On the other hand, during a recording operation, the CS holder  26  rotates away from the reading position on the platen  3  to a reading standby position, and a recording unit  1  that is freely movable on the platen  3  in the main scanning direction carries out a recording operation on the recording sheet that passes the shared conveying path.  
         [0041]    Reference numeral  27  designates an original detecting sensor (DS: document sensor) used for detecting the presence of an original on the original tray  11 . During a reading operation, a document is detected by the DS  27  and the PES  21  detects whether a conveyed medium (an original or a recording sheet) has passed a predetermined position on the shared conveying path. It should be noted that when the apparatus is in reading mode in response to a start request for a reading operation being issued, in which an original is conveyed, if the PES  21  is not turned on and the DS  27  remains on, it is judged that an abnormality has occurred during conveying of the original, and an original jam (hereinafter referred to as “a paper jam”) flag is set.  
         [0042]    The recording unit  1  is provided therein with an ink tank and an ink head (recording head), and records an image based on image information by injecting ink from the ink tank onto a recording sheet  2  through nozzles provided on the ink head. The recording unit  1  is detachably attached to a carriage  4  that is guided by a guide rail  7  that is formed in an inverted U-shape integrally with the top of the chassis  24  and a guide shaft  60  supported by side plates  24   a ,  24   b  at both ends of the chassis  24 . The carriage  4  is fixed to a carriage belt  63  and is driven by a carriage motor to move the recording unit  1  in the main scanning direction.  
         [0043]    The reading operation and recording operation of the multifunction communication apparatus with the above construction will be described next. First, when an original  12  is set on the original tray  11  during a reading operation, the original  12  is detected by the original detecting sensor (DS)  27  that is located near the original separating roller  15 .  
         [0044]    If the user gives an instruction for the start of a reading operation via the operating section  106  in a state where the original  12  has been detected by the original detecting sensor  27 , “reading mode” indicative of a reading operation being carried out is stored in a storage section  107  shown in FIG. 7 (described later) as an operation mode, and a reading operation is started. Under the control of a CPU  100  in FIG. 7, the original separating roller  15  is driven to cause one original  12  to be separated by the separating arm  13 , and the separated original is fed to the reading position.  
         [0045]    At the same time, the CS holder  26  is rotated about the rotary shaft  26   a  towards the platen  3  by the driving force of the feed roller  10 , to bring the CS  22  to the reading position. In this state, the feed roller  10  conveys the original  12  on the shared conveying path and the CS  22  reads an image from the original  12  until a trailing edge of the original  12  is detected by the PES  21 . The image read by the CS  22  is converted into image information by a predetermined method and the image information is stored in the storage section  107  shown in FIG. 7.  
         [0046]    When the reading of the image from the original  12  has been completed, the original  12  is discharged from the apparatus by the discharge roller  17 . When the user has given an instruction for a reading operation for a plurality of originals, after the discharging of an original has been completed, the next original  12  is separated and fed and an image of this next original  12  is read in the same way. When the reading of images has been completed for the number of originals  12  indicated by the user, the CS holder  26  is finally rotated to the reading standby position away from the reading position on the platen  3 , and the reading operation is completed.  
         [0047]    Next, in a recording operation, when the user gives an instruction for the start of a recording operation using the operating section  106 , if the CS holder  26  has been rotated to the reading position, before the recording operation starts, the CS holder  26  is receded from the reading position to the reading standby position. After this, “recording mode” indicative of a recording operation being carried out is stored in the storage section  107  shown in FIG. 7 as the operation mode. Consequently, the ink cartridge (recording unit)  1  can move in the main scanning direction at and in vicinity of the recording section on the platen  3 , so that recording can be carried out on the recording sheet  2  that passes on the shared conveying path.  
         [0048]    After this, recording sheets  2  are placed on the recording sheet tray  8  and when one recording sheet  2 , out of the recording sheets  2  that are pressed by the pressing plate  9 , has been separated by the recording sheet separating roller  19  under the control of the CPU  100  shown in FIG. 7, the recording sheet  2  is fed to the recording section (recording position) on the platen  3 .  
         [0049]    Next, until the trailing edge of the recording sheet  2  conveyed by the feed roller  10  is detected by the PES  21 , the recording unit  1  records an image on the recording sheet  2  based on image information stored in the storage section  107  shown in FIG. 7. When the recording of the image has been completed, the recording sheet is discharged from the apparatus by the discharge roller  17 . When a recording operation is to be performed for a plurality of recording sheets  2 , after the discharging of a recording sheet on which an image has been recorded has been completed, the processes for separating and feeding the next recording sheet  2  on which an image is to be recorded, recording an image, and discharging the recording sheet are repeated for the remaining number of sheets.  
         [0050]    Here, when the recording unit  1  is not performing a recording operation, the recording unit  1  stands by at a home position (recording standby position) (a position shown by the arrow A in FIG. 5) and a cap is placed over the recording head of the recording unit  1  to prevent clogging of the recording head caused by drying of the ink. When a recording operation is carried out, the cap is removed, the recording unit  1  is moved to a recovering operation position (a position shown by the arrow B in FIG. 3), and after an initialization operation, such as a recovering operation of the recording head, has been performed, the recording operation starts. Aside from the initialization operation of the recording unit  1  described above, even if no user instruction has been given via the operating section  106 , other initialization operations (such as a recovering operation of the ink cartridge  1  and a remaining ink detecting operation) are executed according to predetermined conditions. Also, as for the timing for carrying out a recording operation, the recording unit  1  starts an initialization operation when the PES  21  detects a recording sheet  2 .  
         [0051]    In this way, in the case where during a reading operation the reading unit  30  including the CS holder  26  moves in the same space in which the recording unit  1  moves during a recording operation, there was conventionally the danger that when a reading operation is carried out, an original  12  detected on the shared conveying path by the PES  21  is mistakenly identified as a recording sheet  2  and an unexpected recording operation would start. With the present embodiment, however, the above situation is avoided.  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the electrical construction of the multifunction communication apparatus of FIG. 1. This multifunction communication apparatus is comprised of the CPU  100 , a reading section  101  including the reading unit  30  that reads an original, a recording section  102  including the recording unit  1  that records an image on a recording sheet based on image information received via facsimile communication and/or image information of an original read by the reading unit  30 , a conveying section  103  that conveys originals and recording sheets along the shared conveying path, a conveyed medium detecting section  104  including the PES  21  and the DS  27 , a notification section  105  that gives a notification when a conveyed medium has been detected by the conveyed medium detecting section  104  and also notifies a user of various states of the apparatus, an operating section  106  that is operated by the user to input various information and to give instructions for operations of the apparatus, a communication control section  108  that controls transmission and reception of image information and communication carried out by the handset  121  via a telephone line, and the storage section  107 , with these various components being interconnected via a bus  111 . An operation mode such as “reading mode” or “recording mode” is stored in the storage section  107 , along with various states of the apparatus and image information based on images read by the reading unit  30 . A control program, described later, is also stored in a ROM inside the storage section  107 .  
         [0053]    [0053]FIGS. 8 and 9 are flowcharts showing the procedure of a control process for inhibiting a recording operation during a reading operation by the multifunction communication apparatus of FIG. 1. A control program for carrying out this process is stored in the ROM inside the storage section  107 , described earlier, and is repeatedly executed by the CPU  100  at predetermined time intervals.  
         [0054]    First, it is determined whether an original has been detected by the original detecting sensor (DS)  27  located near the original separating roller  15  (step S 1 ). When an original  12  has not been detected, the processing in the step S 1  is repeated.  
         [0055]    On the other hand, when an original  12  has been detected, it is determined whether an instruction for reading operation has been given by the user via the operating section  106  (step S 2 ). When an instruction for a reading operation has not been given, the process returns to the step S 1 . On the other hand, when an instruction for a reading operation has been given, the operation mode is updated to “reading mode” and is stored in an operation mode region in the storage section  107  (step S 3 ).  
         [0056]    Then, it is determined whether a conveyed medium has been detected on the shared conveying path by the PES  21  (step S 4 ). When a conveyed medium has been detected, the feed roller  10  and the discharge roller  17  forcibly discharge the conveyed medium (step S 5 ). This conveyed medium is determined to be a conveyed medium that has been present on the shared conveying path before the reading operation started, hence is not to be read, and is, therefore, forcibly discharged in the step S 5 . Then, the notification section  105  notifies the user that the operation of the recording unit  1  is inhibited (step S 6 ), and after this, control is provided to inhibit the recording unit  1  from operating (step S 7 ). On the other hand, when no conveyed medium has been detected by the PES  21  in step S 4 , the process proceeds directly to the step S 6  and the processing in the steps S 6  and S 7  is carried out in the same way. As a result, according to the detection by the PES  21 , the recording unit  1  is inhibited from carrying out an operation (such as an operation where the conveyed medium is identified as a recording sheet and the recording unit  1  is moved in the main scanning direction) that is not intended by the user.  
         [0057]    After control has been carried out to inhibit the operation of the recording unit  1  in the step S 7 , preparations are made for the start of a reading operation. First, the driving force of the feed roller  10  is used to rotate the CS holder  26  to the reading position near the recording section on the platen  3 , with the original separating roller  15  also being driven to separate one original  12  using the separating arm  13  (step S 8 ) and the separated original being conveyed to the reading position (step S 9 ). When the original  12  has been conveyed to the reading position, one line of an image on the original  12  is read by the CS  22  (step S 10 ), and after one line of the image has been read, the original  12  is fed the equivalent of one line forwards by the feed roller  10  (step S 11 ).  
         [0058]    It is then determined whether the PES  21  has detected the trailing edge of the original  12  (step S 12 ). When the trailing edge of the original  12  has not been detected, the processing in the step S 10  and the processing in the step S 11  are repeated in that order until the trailing edge of the original  12  is detected. On the other hand, when the trailing edge of the original  12  has been detected in the step S 12 , the original  12  is discharged from the apparatus by the discharge roller  17  (step S 13 ) and the present process is terminated.  
         [0059]    As described above, according to the multifunction communication apparatus of the present embodiment, when the reading unit  30  and the recording unit  1  move within a shared space on a shared conveying path used for conveying both originals and recording sheets, a recording operation is inhibited during a reading operation. As a result, it is possible to avoid an erroneous operation where an original is mistakenly identified as a recording sheet and the recording unit  1  moves in the main scanning direction. It is, therefore, possible to prevent the reading unit  30  and the recording unit  1  from colliding.  
         [0060]    Moreover, by forcibly discharging an original when the original has been detected on the shared conveying path by the PES  21  before a reading operation starts, it is possible to avoid damage to the original or the occurrence of a paper jam due to the recording unit  1  moving in a state where the original remains on the shared conveying path due to a paper jam, power failure, or other reason. It is also possible to reduce the time spent on exclusive control operation of one of the reading unit  30  and the recording unit  1  within the shared moving space, thereby suppressing delays in reading and recording operations.  
         [0061]    The present invention is not limited to the above described embodiment and can be applied to any construction that can achieve the functions described in the appended claims or the functions of the construction of the above described embodiment.  
         [0062]    For example, although the present invention is applied to a multifunction communication apparatus with a facsimile communication function and a copying function in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to a facsimile apparatus, a copier, or the like, and can be applied to a variety of appliances that can perform a reading operation for an original and a recording operation.