Abstract:
An image forming apparatus having an image reading table includes a document glass installed on an upper side of the image reading table, to support a document; an image reading sensor installed under the document glass, to perform an image reading operation; a cover to selectively cover the document glass; an automatic document feeder (ADF) to feed a document along an image reading path, past the image reading sensor; a document discharging plate to support a document discharged from the ADF; a first guide member; a guide film attached to the first guide member; and an image forming part to form the image on a printable medium. The guide film includes a first guide film portion and a second guide film portion, the first guide film portion is in planar contact with the document glass and the second guide film portion guides the document toward the ADF.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 12/692,300, filed Jan. 22, 2010, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 11/289,498, filed Nov. 30, 2005, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,719,730 on May 18, 2010, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein. This application claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. §119 from Korean Patent Application No. 2005-4792 filed on Jan. 19, 2005 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire content of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image reader for use therein, and more particularly, to an image reader for use in an image forming apparatus to minimize the size of a scanning portion, via an Auto Document Feeder (ADF) scanning area and a flatbed scanning area, and a method for checking the contamination of a guide film. 
         [0004]    2. Related Art 
         [0005]    Generally, an image reader is included as part of an image forming apparatus, such as, a printer, a facsimile machine, a photocopier and a multi-functional product, for reading an image of a document, via a flatbed scanning method, while moving an image reading sensor, and for reading the image of a document, via an ADF (Automatic Document Feeder) scanning method, while transferring the document with the image reading sensor being fixed. 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example image forming apparatus. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the image forming apparatus  1  includes an image reader  10  for reading an image of documents D 1  and D 2 ; an image former  30  for forming an image on a printable medium such as paper (P) on the basis of information read from the image reader  10 ; and a paper feeding mechanism  40  provided on a lower part of the image former  30  to feed individual sheets of paper from a paper feeding cassette  50  into the image former  30  for image formation. 
         [0007]    The image reader  10  includes an image reading table  11  having a platen glass  12  to accommodate different standard sized papers, and an automatic document feeder (ADF)  13  to automatically feed individual sheets of print media, such as document D 1  and document D 2 , from different trays, to be read by the image reader  10 . In addition, a housing is provided to house the image reader  10 , the image former  30 , the paper feeding mechanism  50 , the paper feeding cassette  70  and related components (not shown) along with a control and display panel  20  for controlling operation and providing visual display of operation. Typically, the image reader  10  utilizes two scanning methods, that is, an ADF scanning method for supplying an image reading sensor  14  at a predetermined location and then reading an image from a document D 1  while conveying the document D 1 , via an ADF  13 , and a flatbed scanning method for fixing a document D 2  on an image reading table  11  and then reading an image while moving an image reading sensor  14  in bi-directions (⇄). 
         [0008]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the image reader  10  also includes an ADF glass  15  provided in the ADF  13  for the ADF scanning, and a platen glass  15  provided on the image reading table  11  for the flat bed scanning. In addition, the image reader  10  further includes a guide member  16  located between the ADF glass  15  and the platen glass  12  for guiding to discharge the document D 1  fed from the ADF  13  to a document discharging plate  17 . 
         [0009]    However, there are several problems associated with the arrangement shown in  FIG. 1 . First, the width H 1  of the image reader  10  is increased and unnecessarily large, since the ADF scanning area A and the flatbed scanning area F are separated from each other. 
         [0010]    In addition, there has been another problem in that the width H 1  of the image reader  10  is not similar to or identical with a width H 2  of a lower part of the image former  30 . As a result, the product, i.e., image forming apparatus can be unstable since the image reader  10  can be much larger than the image former  30 , or vice versa. 
         [0011]    Further, there has been another problem in that, as the size of the image forming apparatus is increased, it is inconvenient to distribute and handle the product. That is, since the size of the image reader  10  is increased relative to the image former  30 , the size of the package box for the product, i.e., the image forming apparatus, must also increase, and unnecessary space within the box can be formed. Thus, it is difficult to efficiently package the product, and the product is likely to be easily damaged against impact during distribution. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0012]    Various aspects and example embodiments of the present invention advantageously provide an image reader for use in an image forming apparatus to minimize the size of the image forming apparatus by using a document glass for ADF scanning and a document glass for flatbed scanning as an integral member and using a guide film instead of a guide member. 
         [0013]    Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method for checking the contamination level of a guide film of an image reader for use in an image forming apparatus. 
         [0014]    In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading apparatus comprising a document glass installed on an upper side of an image reading table, a document being placed on an upper surface thereon; an image reading sensor provided under the document glass for performing an image reading operation; a cover for opening and closing the upper surface of the document glass; an automatic document feeder (ADF) for feeding the document along an image reading path to a predetermined location at which the image reading sensor is provided for an image reading operation; a document discharging plate for discharging the document fed through the ADF for the image reading operation; first and second guide members for guiding the document fed through the ADF to be discharged to the document discharging plate, the first and second guide members being installed at a predetermined interval to expose the document toward the image reading sensor for performing the image reading operation; and a guide film installed to cover the interval between the first and second guide members for guiding the document along the image reading path to be discharged to the document discharging plate. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the guide film may be made of transparent material. In addition, one end of the guide film is connected to an upper surface of the second guide member, and the other end of the guide film is projected under the first guide member, such that the guide film is elastically moved according to the opening and closing operations of the cover. 
         [0016]    Further, it is desirable to allow the guide film to be installed replaceable. To do this, a replaceable structure is constituted to allow a portion of the second guide member attached to the guide film to be detachably formed such that the portion attached to the guide film is replaced. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the second guide member may be additionally provided with an antistatic brush for removing static electricity of the document which passes through the guide film. The antistatic brush has a length corresponding to a width of the document. 
         [0018]    Furthermore, it is desirable to further include a contamination checking unit for checking whether the guide film is contaminated. The contamination checking unit comprises a first memory for storing basic scan data obtained under an initial condition that the document is not existed, a second memory for storing measured scan data obtained again under the condition that the document is not existed after performing the image reading operation of the document in a predetermined cycle, and a comparison processor for comparing the value stored in the first memory and the value stored in the second memory and determining whether the guide film is contaminated. In addition, an alarm unit is also included for providing a warning of a contamination state of the guide film. The alarm unit may be one of a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and a Light Emitting Diode (LED). 
         [0019]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading apparatus comprising an image reading part comprising a document glass installed on an upper side of an image reading body on which a document is placed on an upper surface thereof, an image reading sensor installed under the document glass for stopping after being transferred to a predetermined position or for reciprocation in a straight direction parallel to the document glass, a cover for opening and closing the upper surface of the document glass, an automatic document feeder (ADF) for feeding the document to the position to which the image reading sensor is fixed, a document discharging plate for discharging the document fed through the automatic document feeding unit, first and second guide members for guiding to allow the document fed through the ADF to be discharged to the document discharging plate, the first and second guide members being installed at a predetermined interval to expose the document toward the image reading sensor, and a guide film installed to cover the interval between the first and second guide members for guiding to allow the document to be discharged to the document discharging plate; and an image forming part for forming the image on a printable medium on the basis of information read by the image reading part. 
         [0020]    In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for checking contamination of a guide film of an image reading apparatus. Such a method comprises: saving basic scan data by performing an image reading operation under an initial condition that a document is not fed and the guide film is not contaminated; feeding the document through an automatic document feeding unit and then reading the image of the document guided through the guide film by means of an image reading sensor while transferring the document to a document discharging plate; determining whether process for reading the image of the document is reached a predetermined cycle; performing an image reading operation under the condition that the document is not fed if the operation for reading the image of the document is reached the predetermined cycle and obtaining a measured scan data about the contamination of the guide film; and comparing the basic scan data with the measured scan data and determining whether the guide film is contaminated. 
         [0021]    Preferably, in the step of determining whether the guide film is contaminated, an alarm generating step for warning the abnormal state if determining that the guide film is contaminated is further included. 
         [0022]    Further, preferably, in the alarm generating step, an alarm unit for the alarm generation is one of an LCD and an LED. 
         [0023]    Further, preferably, the predetermined cycle is determined when the number of the document processed by the image reading process is reached the base number of sheets. 
         [0024]    From the foregoing, according to the image reading apparatus and the image forming apparatus of the invention, there are various advantages in that the size of the image reading apparatus may be reduced by manufacturing integrally the document glass for ADF scanning and the document glass for flatbed scanning, that is, utilizing only a single document glass for both ADF scanning and flatbed scanning, thereby eliminating the use of a guide member, making an assembly easy and reducing the number of parts. 
         [0025]    Further, since the size of the image reading apparatus is reduced, in case of constituting a complex machine (that is, image forming apparatus) consisting of an image reading part S and an image forming part P, the width of the image reading part and the width of the image forming part are in balance, thereby to promote the stability of the product and accomplish well-balanced design. 
         [0026]    Furthermore, as described above, as it is possible to constitute a complex machine (that is, image forming apparatus) which makes a balance of the image reading part and the image forming part, the problem that the unnecessary space is occurred is resolved, thereby to efficiently package the product. 
         [0027]    In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, an image reader is provided for use in an image forming apparatus having an image reading table provided with a platen glass. Such an image reader comprises: an image reading sensor provided under the platen glass to perform an image reading operation; a cover rotatably fixed at a distal end of the image reading table to cover the platen glass, the cover including an automatic document feeder (ADF) to feed an individual sheet of a document along an image reading path, via an opening along an image reading direction of the image reading sensor, and a document discharging plate to receive the individual sheet of the document fed through and discharged from the ADF; inlet and outlet guide members installed at respective sides of the opening, and arranged inside the ADF to guide the individual sheet of the document along the image reading path; and a guide film installed to cover the opening between the inlet and outlet guide members, for guiding the individual sheet of the document along the image reading path to be discharged, via the document discharge plate. 
         [0028]    The guide film may be made of transparent material, and may be elastic such that, when the cover is closed, the guide film is pressed against the platen glass to seal the opening during the image reading operation, and when the cover is opened, the guide film is unfolded to release any foreign material accumulated thereon during the image reading operation. 
         [0029]    The guide film may be installed to be replaceable, and may be attached to an outlet guide member that has a detachable structure. 
         [0030]    An antistatic brush may also be provided for removing static electricity generated when the individual sheet of the document passes through the guide film. Such an antistatic brush has a length corresponding to a width of the individual sheet of the document. 
         [0031]    A contamination checking unit may also be provided for checking whether the guide film is contaminated. An alarm unit may further be provided for generating a warning indicating an abnormality when the guide film is contaminated by means of the comparison processor. Such a contamination checking unit comprises: a first memory for storing basic scan data obtained under an initial condition that the document is not existed; a second memory for storing measured scan data obtained again under the condition that the document is not existed after performing the image reading operation of the document in a predetermined cycle; and a comparison processor for comparing the value stored in the first memory and the value stored in the second memory and determining whether the guide film is contaminated. 
         [0032]    In addition to the example embodiments and aspects as described above, further aspects and embodiments of the present invention will be apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following descriptions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0033]    A better understanding of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of example embodiments and the claims when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, all forming a part of the disclosure of this invention. While the following written and illustrated disclosure focuses on disclosing example embodiments of the invention, it should be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and that the invention is not limited thereto. The spirit and scope of the present invention are limited only by the terms of the appended claims. The following represents brief descriptions of the drawings, wherein: 
           [0034]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a typical image forming apparatus; 
           [0035]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of an image reader for use in an image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of an example guide unit and guide film arrangement of the image reader shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 4  is a view for showing the guide unit and guide film arrangement of the image reader shown in  FIG. 2 , when a cover is rotated; 
           [0038]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of an image reader including a contamination checking unit for checking the contamination state of a guide film according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart of a process for checking the contamination state of a guide film of an image reader according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0040]      FIG. 7A  is a view for showing an example structure of a guide film according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0041]      FIG. 7B  is an enlarged view of the part “VII” shown in  FIG. 7A ; and 
           [0042]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view of an image forming apparatus having an image reader according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0043]    Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures. 
         [0044]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of an image reader for use in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the image reader  100  for use in an image forming apparatus includes an image reading table (body)  101 ; a document glass  103  formed on a surface of the image reading table  101 ; a cover  105  secured at a distal end of the image reading table  101  to rotate about the distal end between an open position and a closed position so as to cover the image reading table  101 ; a document discharging plate  107  arranged as part of the cover  105  to receive individual sheets of paper, such as document D 3 , from an ADF  120 , or document D 4  placed on the document glass  103 ; and an image reading sensor  109  arranged as part of the image reading table  101  underneath the ADF  120  for performing an image reading operation as the individual sheet of paper is being fed through the ADF  120  or being placed on the document glass  103 . 
         [0046]    Specifically, the document glass  103  is installed on an upper part of the image reading table  101 . The image reading sensor  109  is installed to read the image of a document D 3  fed through the ADF  120  after transferring to a fixing position within the image reading table  101  or to read the image of a document D 4  placed on an upper surface of the document glass  10 , while reciprocating in a straight line parallel to the document glass  103 . The cover  105  is installed to open and close the upper surface of the document glass  103 , and has a pressing member  111  for pressing an upper surface of the document D 4  placed on the document glass  103  on a lower part thereof. 
         [0047]    The ADF  120  includes a document feeding tray  121  for loading individual sheets of a document D 3 , and a transfer unit  123  for transferring the individual sheet of the document D 3  from the document feeding tray  121  for an image reading operation. 
         [0048]    The transfer unit  123  includes a pick-up roller  123   a  arranged for picking up the individual sheet of the document loaded on the document feeding tray  121 , transfer rollers  123   b  arranged for transferring the picked up document D 3  to the document glass  103  for an image reading operation, and discharge rollers  123   c  arranged for discharging the transferred document D 3  to the document discharging plate  207  after the image reading operation is completed. 
         [0049]    Furthermore, a guide unit  125  is also included for allowing the document D 3  fed from the document feeding tray  121  to be guided along an image reading path to the document discharging plate  107 . 
         [0050]    Here, the ADF 120  is provided on one side of an upper part of the cover  105 , and is installed to move according to the opening and closing operation of the cover  105 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of a guide unit and guide film arrangement shown in part “II”,  FIG. 2 , which explains the constitution of the guide unit  125  of the image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention, and  FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of the guide unit and guide film arrangement of an image reader  100 , shown in  FIG. 2 , when the cover  105  is open. 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the guide unit  125  includes an upper guide member  125   a  and lower guide members  125   b  and  125   c.  Here, the lower guide members  125   b  and  125   c  are installed at a predetermined interval L such that the transferred document D 3 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , is exposed to the image reading sensor  109 . In order to cover a part forming the predetermined interval L between first and second lower guide members  125   b  and  125   c,  the guide film  127  is additionally installed. 
         [0053]    Meanwhile, an antistatic brush  131  connected to a ground unit (not shown) is additionally installed on the second lower guide member  125   c  on which the document D 3  is discharged, via discharge rollers  123   c,  to the discharge plate  107 . Preferably, the antistatic brush  131  is constituted to have a length corresponding to a width of the transferred document D 3  and then removes static electricity generated from the document D 3  while the document D 3  passes through the guide film  127 . 
         [0054]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , one end of the guide film  127  is connected to an upper surface of the second lower guide member  125   c,  and the other end thereof is projected under the first lower guide member  127 , so as to move freely. Here, the guide film  127  may be attached by adhesive and the like on the upper surface of the second lower guide member  125   c.    
         [0055]    According to the embodiment of the present invention, if the cover  105  is closed, the guide film  127  is contacted with the document D 3  on an upper surface thereof and guides the document D 3  to the document discharging plate  107 , via discharge rollers  123   c.  On the other hand, if the cover  105  is opened, the guide film  127  is unfolded and then allows foreign materials, for example, paper particles (that is, small particles generated from the document D 3 ) or toner particles, which are possible to attach on the upper surface thereof, to be dropped therefrom, typically, by virtue of gravity and/or by virtue of the guide film  127  being elastic when the cover  105  is rotated about a distal end of an image reading table  101  from an closed position to an open position, or vice-versa. Herein, the toner particles denote toner particles dropped from the document by virtue of contact. 
         [0056]    Now, the operation principle of the image reader  100  for use in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described as follows. 
         [0057]    First, as for the ADF scanning method, the individual sheets of the document D 3  piled up on the document feeding tray  121  are picked up by the pick up roller  123   a  and then transferred to a location to which the image reading sensor  109  performs an image reading operation, via the transfer rollers  123   b,  and subsequently are discharged on the document discharging plate  107 , via the discharge rollers  123   c.    
         [0058]    At this time, the image reading sensor  109  stops at a position opposed to a part between the first and second lower guide members  125   b  and  125   c,  and then reads an image of the transferred document D 3 . While the document D 3  is transferred and in contacted with the guide film  127 , the static electricity may be generated; however, the static electricity can be removed by the antistatic brush  131 , while the document D 3  is in contact with the antistatic brush  131 . 
         [0059]    Now, as for the flatbed scanning method, after placing the document D 4  on the document glass  103 , the image reading sensor  109  reads the image of the document D 4  while the image reading sensor  109  is moving in an arrow direction (⇄) in the image reading table  101 . 
         [0060]    Meanwhile, if the cover  105  is opened, the guide film  127  which is passed between the first and second lower guide members  125   b  and  125   c  is unfolded, and, as a result, foreign materials accumulated on the guide film  127  can be advantageously dropped therefrom. 
         [0061]    Even though the guide film  127  is suspended in a cantilever type, the foreign materials on the guide film  127  are allowed to be dropped by force of gravity and/or by elasticity of the guide film  127  when the cover  105  is rotated about a distal end of an image reading table  101  from an closed position to an open position, or vice-versa. However, some foreign materials may still remain on the guide film  127 . In order to resolve this problem, a contamination checking unit  150  is further incorporated for periodically checking the contamination level of the guide film  127 . 
         [0062]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of an image reader further including a contamination checking unit  150  for checking the contamination level of the guide film  127  according to an embodiment of the present invention. For purposes of brevity, parts identical to the parts shown in  FIG. 2  are given same numerals and their detailed explanation is omitted. 
         [0063]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the contamination checking unit  150  includes a first memory  151  for storing basic scan data obtained under an initial condition that a document is not existed and being fed into the image reader  100  for an image reading operation, a second memory  153  for storing measured scan data obtained again under the condition that the document is not existed and being fed into the image reader  10  after performing the image reading operation of the document in a predetermined cycle, and a comparison processor  155  for comparing the value saved in the first memory  151  and the value saved in the second memory  153  and determining whether the guide film  127  is contaminated based on the comparison result. Here, the second memory  153  may be a flash memory or other storage devices. 
         [0064]    In case of determining that the guide film  127  is contaminated by means of the comparison processor  155 , an alarm unit  160  is further included for providing a warning of an abnormal state thereof. The alarm unit  160  may be applicable using various means such as Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), Light Emitting Diode (LED) and the like. Here, for the purpose of an alarm method, in case of applying to an image forming apparatus to be described in connection with  FIG. 8 , a printing message may be generated in lieu of the visual display of such an abnormality generated from the alarm unit  160 . 
         [0065]    Now, the process for checking whether the guide film  127  is contaminated by the contamination checking unit  150  will be described with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
         [0066]    Specifically,  FIG. 6  is a flow chart of a process for checking the contamination state of a guide film arranged in an image reader  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0067]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , firstly, an image reading operation is performed under a condition that the document D 3  is not fed and a guide film  127  is not contaminated, and then the basic scan data is obtained and saved in the first memory  151 . (S 10 ) 
         [0068]    Then, the document D 3  is fed from the ADF  120 , via transfer rollers  123   b,  and is transferred through the guide film  127  to the document discharging plate  107 , via discharge roller  123   c.  During this process, the normal image reading operation for reading the image of the document D 3  through the image reading sensor  109  is performed. (S 30 ) 
         [0069]    During continuously performing the image reading operation, the contamination checking unit  150  determines whether the image reading operation has reached a predetermined cycle. (S 50 ) Here, the cycle may be determined when the number of the document D 3  processed by the image reading operation has reached the base number of sheets. 
         [0070]    When the normal image reading operation has reached the predetermined cycle, the image reading operation is performed again under the condition that the document D 3  is not fed, and the measured scan data about the contamination level of the guide film  127  is obtained. The obtained scan data is saved in the second memory  153 . (S 70 ) 
         [0071]    Then, the comparison processor  155  compares the basic scan data with the measured scan data, and determines whether the guide film  127  is contaminated based on the comparison result. (S 90 ) 
         [0072]    If the guide film  127  is contaminated, the alarm unit  157  warns a user of the abnormal state such that the user takes proper steps to correct such an abnormality. (S 110 ) 
         [0073]    Meanwhile, as described above, in case of determining that the guide film  127  is contaminated using the contamination checking unit  150 , the user may replace the contaminated guide film  127  with a new guide film. 
         [0074]      FIG. 7A  is a view for showing an example structure of a guide film according to an embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 7B  is an enlarged view of the part “VII” shown in  FIG. 7A . 
         [0075]    Referring to  FIG. 7A  and  FIG. 7B , a guide film  127  may be made of transparent material and can exhibit a high degree of elasticity. As shown in  FIG. 7A , a first portion of the guide film  127  is adjacent to the document glass  103  and a second portion of the guide film  127  is attached to the second lower guide member  125   c.  A portion of the second lower guide member  125   c  attached to the guide film  127  has a detachable structure. The detachable structure consists of a hooking projection  125   e  formed on one part of the lower guide member  125   c  to which the guide film  127  is attached and a fitting recess  125   g  formed on the other part of the lower guide member  125   c  for receiving the hooking projection  125   e.  Here, the position of the hooking projection  125   e  may be replaced with that of the fitting recess  125   g.  From the foregoing, when the guide film  127  is contaminated or damaged, it may be easily replaced. 
         [0076]    Now, an image forming apparatus incorporating an image reader  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 8 . 
         [0077]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view of an image forming apparatus having an image reader  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0078]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , the image forming apparatus includes an image reading part S including an image reader  100  as shown in  FIG. 2 , and an image forming part P including an image former  300  for forming an image on an individual sheet of paper fed from a paper feeding cassette  500 , via a paper feeding mechanism  400 , by an electro photographic method on the basis of the image information which is read by the image reader  100 . 
         [0079]    The image forming part P includes an image former  300  for forming a toner image on a photosensitive body  301  by means of electric charge, exposure, and development; a transcription unit  320  for transcribing the toner image formed on the photosensitive body  301  to the paper P, a paper feeding mechanism  330  for receiving the paper P from the paper feeding cassette  500 , and feeding the same to the transcription unit  320 , a fixing unit  310  for fixing the image transcribed through the transcription unit  320  on the paper P, and a discharging unit  370  for discharging the paper P with the fixed image to a discharging part  350 . 
         [0080]    In  FIG. 8 , a reference number “ 200 ” indicates a control panel provided with a display panel and various control buttons for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus. 
         [0081]    While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, components of a guide unit  125 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , can be arranged differently as long as a guide film  127  is utilized in the manner described. Similarly, the contamination checking unit  150  and the alarm unit  160 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , can be incorporated into existing components of the image forming apparatus, such as a system controller. Moreover, such a system controller can be implemented as a chipset having firmware, or alternatively, a general or special purposed computer programmed to implement methods as described with reference to  FIG. 6 . Accordingly, it is intended, therefore, that the present invention not be limited to the various example embodiments disclosed, but that the present invention includes all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.