Abstract:
An inkjet multi-function machine having cooperating scanning and printing functions, and more particularly, an inkjet multi-function machine in which a scanner is engaged with a printing carriage to communicate common motion, in addition to providing scanning specific motions. The inkjet multi-function machine includes a scanner fixing unit comprising a scanner position adjuster for fixing and supporting the scanner, wherein the scanner is movable between a first rotational direction and elevated position for scanning a document, and a second rotational direction and elevated position for scanning a sheet of paper, wherein the scanner can move together with the carriage when the carriage moves, and at the same time, selectively move between the first and the second directions and elevated positions.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2003-38440, filed on Jun. 13, 2003, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to an inkjet multi-function machine having scanning and printing functions, and more particularly, to an inkjet multi-function machine in which a scanner is installed on a carriage for reciprocating a print head in right and left directions along a carriage shaft to thereby allow the print head and the scanner to perform both scanning and printing operations using one driving apparatus for driving the carriage.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    Conventional attempts to improve office efficiency and realize office automation have included equipment improvements such as multi-function machines in which various functions, for example, copying, printing, and faxing functions are incorporated in a single body.  
           [0006]    Such a multi-function machine is usually provided with a scanner unit having a scanner to scan a document, and a printer unit having a print head or a developing device as an image forming apparatus. Generally, the scanner unit and the printer unit are constructed such that they are separately operated to perform scanning and printing operations, respectively.  
           [0007]    Referring to FIG  1 , a partial cross sectional view is provided to illustrate a general inkjet multi-function machine  1  having both scanning and printing functions.  
           [0008]    The inkjet multi-function machine  1  comprises a scanner unit  10  to scan documents D, and a printer unit  50  to print data on sheets of paper P.  
           [0009]    The scanner unit  10  is provided with a document loading frame  11  comprising a document supply tray for loading documents D, a document sensor  14  to detect whether the documents D are loaded, a document pickup roller  12  to pick up the documents D according to the operation of the document sensor  14 , and a document friction pad  13  coming in contact with the document pickup roller  12  at a predetermined pressure to separate and feed documents D one at a time by the friction force therebetween. The scanner unit  10  is further provided with a document feed roller  15  to align a leading end of the documents D, then feed the documents D toward a white roller  18  and thereby bring the documents D into contact with a document guide frame  21  and into an opposing position relative to a scanner  17 . Still further, the scanner unit  10  is provided with a scanner  17  to read data from the documents D delivered by the white roller  18 , and a document discharge roller  19  to discharge the documents D from the scanner  17  to the outside of the machine.  
           [0010]    The printer unit  50  is provided with a paper cassette  52  to stack sheets of paper P, and a paper pickup roller  53  to pick up a sheet of paper P one at a time from the paper cassette  52 . The printer unit  50  is further provided with a paper feed roller  54  to align a leading end of the paper P picked up by the paper pickup roller  53  and to feed the sheet of paper P towards a carriage through a paper register sensor  55 . Still further, the printer unit  50  is provided with a carriage  58  to reciprocate an ink cartridge  56  in right and left directions, and a paper discharge roller  61  to discharge the sheet of paper P printed by the print head  57  to the outside of the machine. The ink cartridge  56  has a print head  57  to jet ink onto the sheet of paper P fed by the paper feed roller  54 .  
           [0011]    In such a conventional multi-function machine  1 , the scanner  17  and the print head  57  can be independently driven since the scanner unit  10  and the printer unit  50  are constructed to be completely separated from each other. However, since the scanner and print head are respectively driven by separate driving units, there are problems in that machine weight and size are increased, and machine structure becomes more complicated.  
           [0012]    Also, in the conventional multi-function machine  1 , since the scanner  17  of the scanner unit  10  is used only in the scanning operation, separate sensors are required if the multi-function machine  1  is designed such that during the printing operation of the printer unit  50 , functions for detecting head characteristic such as a dot size, a nozzle error and the like, as well as detecting the size and the skew extent of the paper are to be performed.  
           [0013]    If the additional separate sensors are installed, the fabrication cost of the multi-function machine  1  is increased still further, thereby adversely effecting the competitive price thereof.  
           [0014]    Accordingly, a need exists for a system and method to allow a print head and scanner to perform scanning and printing operations with a minimum of required driving apparatus and sensors.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0015]    Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an inkjet multi-function machine in which a scanner is installed on a carriage for reciprocating a print head in right and left directions along a carriage shaft to thereby allow the print head and the scanner to perform scanning and printing operations, respectively, by using the single driving apparatus provided for driving the carriage. By using the single driving apparatus, the present invention thereby reduces weight and size of the machine, and further simplifies the structure of the machine.  
           [0016]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an inkjet multi-function machine in which a scanner is capable of performing operations of detecting head characteristics such as a dot size, a nozzle error and the like, as well as detecting the size and the skew extent of the paper during the printing operation without using separate sensors and thereby further reducing the fabrication cost of the machine.  
           [0017]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, to achieve the above objects and other features, the present invention provides an inkjet multi-function machine comprising a scanner unit having a scanner to scan a document, a printer unit having a carriage to move a print head for jetting ink onto a sheet of paper so as to perform the printing operation, and a scanner fixing unit.  
           [0018]    The embodiment provides a scanner fixing unit comprising a scanner position adjuster for fixing and supporting the scanner which is further movable between a first position for scanning the document and a second position for scanning the sheet of paper. The scanner fixing unit further comprises a fixer for fixing the scanner position adjuster on the carriage and thereby mounting the scanner on the carriage, wherein the scanner fixing unit fixes the scanner on the carriage allowing the scanner to move together with the carriage when the carriage moves. At the same time, the scanner fixing unit can selectively move the scanner between the first and the second positions.  
           [0019]    In an embodiment of the present invention, the scanner position adjuster may further comprise a rotating member fixing the scanner and rotating the scanner between a first and a second direction, the first direction being an orientation where a sensing face of the scanner is directed toward a scan surface of the document, and the second direction being an orientation where the sensing face of the scanner is directed toward a print surface of the paper. The scanner position adjuster may still further comprise a lifting member for ascending and descending the rotating member to maintain the scanner at an appropriate sensing distance with respect to at least one of the document and the sheet of paper.  
           [0020]    The rotating member is comprised of a first driving motor having a first rotating axis immovably fixing the scanner thereon, and the lifting member is comprised of a lifting belt fixing the first driving motor thereon. The rotating member is further comprised of a driving pulley and a driven pulley for supporting both ends of the lifting belt, respectively, and rotating the lifting belt to ascend and descend the first driving motor fixed on the lifting belt. The rotating member is still further comprised of a second driving motor having a second rotating axis connected with an axis of the driving pulley.  
           [0021]    The fixer may be comprised of a plurality of brackets installed on the carriage to rotatably support ends of an axis of the driven pulley and ends of the axis of the driving pulley, respectively, wherein the axis of the driving pulley is connected with the second rotating axis of the second driving motor.  
           [0022]    In yet another embodiment, the scanner position adjuster may comprise a rotating and lifting member fixing the scanner such that the scanner is rotatable between a first and a second direction, the first direction being an orientation where the sensing face of the scanner is directed toward a scan surface of the document, and the second direction being an orientation where the sensing face of the scanner is directed toward a print surface of the paper. The rotating and lifting member fixing the scanner allows the scanner to be rotatable and at the same time, to be ascendable or descendable thereby allowing the scanner to maintain an appropriate sensing distance with respect to at least one of the document and the sheet of paper.  
           [0023]    The rotating and lifting member may be comprised of a third driving motor having a third rotating axis, and a lifting part fixing the scanner at the third rotating axis to ascend or descend the scanner according to the rotating operation of the third rotating axis. The lifting part may be comprised of a circular disk and a bar immovably fixing the scanner at a radial outer end thereof and fixed vertically to the third rotating axis at an end of the third rotating axis.  
           [0024]    Also, the fixer may be comprised of at least one fixing bracket formed at the third driving motor, and at least one screw member fixing the fixing bracket at the carriage. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]    The above aspects and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which:  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 1 is a partial cross sectional view of a general inkjet multi-function machine;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 2 is a partial cross sectional view of an inkjet multi-function machine having a scanner fixing unit in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIGS. 3 and 4 are partial perspective views illustrating the operation of the scanner fixing unit of the inkjet multi-function machine shown in FIG. 2;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view illustrating a rotating member of a scanner position adjuster of the scanner fixing unit shown in FIG. 2; and  
         [0030]    [0030]FIGS. 6 and 7 are partial perspective views illustrating the operation of a modified scanner fixing unit that is applied to the inkjet multi-function machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0031]    Hereinafter, an inkjet multi-function machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0032]    Referring to FIG. 2, a partial cross sectional view is provided to illustrate an inkjet multi-function machine  100  having scanning and printing functions in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0033]    The inkjet multi-function machine  100  comprises a scanner unit  101  having a scanner  117  to scan a document D, a printer unit  150  having a carriage  158  to reciprocate two ink cartridges  156  (as shown in greater detail in FIGS. 3 and 4), each having a print head  157  for jetting ink onto a sheet of paper P in right and left directions to thereby perform the printing operation. The scanner unit  101  further comprises a scanner fixing unit  200  for fixing the scanner  117  on the carriage  158  to allow the scanner  117  to move together with the carriage  158  when the carriage  158  moves, and at the same time, selectively moving the scanner  117  between a first position (as shown in FIG. 4) for scanning the document D, and a second position (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) for scanning the sheet of paper P, as occasion demands.  
         [0034]    The scanner unit  101  is provided with a document loading frame  111  comprising a document supply tray, a document sensor  114 , a document pickup roller  112 , a document friction pad  113 , a document feed roller  115 , a white roller  118 , a scanner  117 , and a document discharge roller  119 . The printer unit  150  is provided with a paper cassette  152 , a paper pickup roller  153 , a paper feed roller  154 , a carriage  158 , and a paper discharge roller  161 .  
         [0035]    The description regarding the component parts of the scanner unit  101  and the printer unit  150 , except for the scanner  117  and the carriage  158 , will be omitted here as they are substantially identical to that of the conventional components that are described above with reference to FIG. 1.  
         [0036]    The scanner  117  is comprised of a rectangle-shaped body  130  rotatably fixed on the carriage  158  by the scanner fixing unit  200 . The scanner  117  is further comprised of a scanner glass  132  for transmitting light disposed at a side of a sensing face  130   a  of the rectangle-shaped body  130 , and a lamp  131  for emitting light onto the document D or the sheet of paper P through the scanner glass  132 . The scanner  117  is still further comprised of a lens  133  for focusing reflected light, (i.e. image data), from a scan surface of the document D or a print surface of the paper P after receiving light emitted from the lamp  131 . The scanner  117  is also comprised of a charge-coupled device (CCD) sensor  134  for transforming light energy received (i.e. image data) through the lens  133 , into an electric energy (i.e. voltage) to read the image data.  
         [0037]    Usually, the CCD sensor  134  which is used with the scanner  117  uses a size ranging from approximately 128 to approximately 160 dots.  
         [0038]    Accordingly, in an example where the document D is of an A4 size (i.e. 2251×3507: 300 dpi basis), the scanner  117  can scan the document D by dividing the document into approximately 22-27 shuttling blocks during the scanning operation.  
         [0039]    Also, the scanner  117  can detect head characteristics such as a dot size, a nozzle error and the like, as well as the size and the skew extent of the paper P, and alignment conditions such as a vertical alignment and a horizontal alignment of the print heads  157 , without using separate sensors when checking a state of the multi-function machine  100  according to a predetermined control routine during the printing operation, as will be described in greater detail below.  
         [0040]    As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and  4 , at a front side of the carriage  158  a cartridge receiving part  159  is formed for mounting the ink cartridges  156 , including the print heads  157 . At a rear side of the carriage  158  a toothed portion  167  is formed for engaging a driving belt  166  connected to a carriage driving motor (not shown), and a supporting bracket  169  supported on a carriage shaft  168  to be movable in the right and left directions by the driving belt  166 .  
         [0041]    Also, on one sidewall  160  of the carriage  158 , a scanner fixing unit  200  is installed for rotatably and liftably fixing the scanner  117 .  
         [0042]    The scanner fixing unit  200  comprises a scanner position adjuster  210  for fixing and supporting the scanner  117  to be movable between the first position (as shown in FIG. 4) and the second position (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3). The scanner fixing unit  200  further comprises a fixer  240  fixing the scanner position adjuster  210  on the one sidewall  160  of the carriage  158 , which allows the scanner position adjuster  210  to mount the scanner  117  on the carriage  158 .  
         [0043]    The first position (as shown in FIG. 4) is a position where the scanner  117  is positioned in a first direction at an ascent position, as described in greater detail below. The second position (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) is a position where the scanner  117  is positioned in a second direction at a descent position, as described in greater detail below. Here, the first direction comprises an orientation where the sensing face  130   a  of the body  130  of the scanner  117  is directed toward a scan surface of the document D. The second direction comprises an orientation where the sensing face  130   a  of the body  130  of the scanner  117  is directed toward a print surface of the paper P.  
         [0044]    The scanner position adjuster  210  is provided with a rotating member  220  for rotatably fixing the scanner  117 , and thereby serving to rotate the scanner  117  between the first and second directions, and a lifting member  230  for providing ascending and descending movement of the rotating member  220  having the scanner  117  fixed thereon.  
         [0045]    As shown in FIG. 5, the rotating member  220  is comprised of a first driving motor  221  having a first rotating axis  223  immovably fixed to the body  130  of the scanner  117  to rotate the scanner body. The first driving motor  221  is fixed on a lifting belt  231  of the lifting member  230 , described in greater detail below, using an appropriate fixing member (not shown) such as adhesive, rivets, screws and the like.  
         [0046]    Accordingly, when the first driving motor  221  rotates in one direction, for example, either in a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction, the body  130  of the scanner  117  fixed on the first rotating axis  223  moves into the first direction (as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) or into the second direction (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3).  
         [0047]    More specifically, in an example where the scanner  117  is initially positioned in the first direction as shown in FIG. 4, where the sensing face  130   a  of the body  130  of the scanner  117  is directed upward toward a scan surface of the document D, when the first driving motor  221  rotates at an angle of approximately 180° in the clockwise or the counterclockwise direction, the direction of the scanner  117  fixed on the first rotating axis  223  is changed into the second direction as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, where the sensing face  130   a  of the body  130  of the scanner  117  is directed downward toward a print surface of the paper P. In an example where the scanner  117  is initially positioned in the second direction as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the first driving motor  221  rotates at an angle of approximately 180° in the clockwise or the counterclockwise direction, the direction of the scanner  117  is changed into the first direction as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.  
         [0048]    This operation of the rotating member  220  is carried out at an initial position where the scanner  117  maintains an appropriate sensing distance with regards to the document D, that is, the ascent position (as shown in FIG. 4) where the scanner  117  is positioned at an upper part of the one sidewall  160  of the carriage  158  to assure the document D is maintained within a focal distance of the lens  133  of the scanner  117 .  
         [0049]    The lifting member  230  is comprised of a lifting belt  231  fixing the first driving motor  221  of the rotating member  220  thereon, a driving and a driven pulley  233  and  236 , respectively, supporting both ends of the lifting belt  231  and allowing the belt  231  to rotate over each pulley and thereby allow the belt  231  to move the first driving motor  221  attached thereto. Specifically, the belt movement over each pulley serves to ascend and descend the first driving motor  221  fixed on the lifting belt  231 . The lifting member  230  is further comprised of a second driving motor  235  having a second rotating axis (not shown) coaxially connected with an axis  234  of the driving pulley  233 .  
         [0050]    Alternatively, in another embodiment of the present invention, rather than providing the lifting belt  231  and the driving and the driven pulleys  233  and  236 , the lifting member  230  can be comprised of a rack (not shown) fixing the first driving motor  221  of the rotating member  220  thereon and installed to be upwardly and downwardly guided along the one sidewall  160  of the carriage  158  by a guide (not shown), and having a pinion engaging with an array of teeth provided by the rack to ascend and descend the first driving motor  221  fixed on the rack. In this embodiment, the lifting member  230  can be further comprised of a driving motor (not shown) coaxially connected with an axis of the pinion to drive the pinion and being fixed on the one sidewall  160  of the carriage  158 .  
         [0051]    The lifting member  230  functions to ascend and descend the scanner  117  into the ascent position (as shown in FIG. 4) or into the descent position (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3). As briefly described above, the ascent position is a position where the first driving motor  221  of the rotating member  220  fixing the scanner  117  is maintained at the upper part of the one sidewall  160  of the carriage  158  adjacent the document D to allow the scanner  117  to maintain the appropriate sensing distance with regard to the document D, that is, to allow the document D to be within the focal distance of the lens  133 . The descent position is a position where the first driving motor  221  is maintained at a lower part of the one sidewall  160  of the carriage  158  adjacent the sheet of paper P to allow the scanner  117  to maintain an appropriate sensing distance with regard to the sheet of paper P.  
         [0052]    More specifically, after the direction of the scanner  117  is changed by the rotating member  220  into the second direction for scanning paper from the first direction for scanning documents, when the second driving motor  235  rotates a predetermined number of rotations in one direction, the lifting belt  231  supported on the driving pulley  233  rotates in the same direction, and thereby the first driving motor  221  fixed on the lifting belt  231  descends downward.  
         [0053]    As a result, the scanner  117  fixed on the first rotating axis  233  of the first driving motor  221  moves to the descent position and as a result, is positioned at the lower part of the one sidewall  160  of the carriage  158 .  
         [0054]    To prevent the scanner  117  from being contaminated by ink jetted from the print head  157  in the printing operation, the operation of moving the scanner  117  while oriented in the second direction into the descent position is carried out only when the state of the multi-function machine  100  is checked according to a predetermined control routine at the beginning of the printing operation.  
         [0055]    The result is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, wherein after checking the state of the multi-function machine  100 , the scanner  117  is positioned in the second direction at the descent position where the sensing face  130   a  of the body  130  of the scanner  117  is directed toward a print surface of the paper P. When the second driving motor  235  rotates a predetermined number of rotations in the other direction, the lifting belt  231  supported on the driving pulley  233  rotates in the same direction, and thereby the first driving motor  221  fixed on the lifting belt  231  ascends upward. As a result, the scanner  117  fixed on the first rotating axis  233  of the first driving motor  221  returns to the ascent position and as a result, is positioned at the upper part of the one sidewall  160  of the carriage  158 .  
         [0056]    After the scanner  117  moves into the ascent position, the first driving motor  221  of the rotating member  220  rotates at an angle of approximately 180° in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction, and the direction of the scanner  117  returns to the first direction where the sensing face  130   a  of the body  130  of the scanner  117  is directed toward a scan surface of the document D.  
         [0057]    The fixer  240  fixing the scanner position adjuster  210  on the carriage  158  is comprised of a first and second bracket  241  and  243 , and a third and fourth bracket  245  and  247 , respectively, formed in a spaced-apart relation with each other to rotatably support the ends of the axis  234  of the driving pulley  233 , and the ends of the axis  237  of the driven pulley  236  at the upper and lower parts of the one sidewall  160  of the carriage  158 .  
         [0058]    On the second bracket  243  supporting one end of the axis  234  of the driving pulley  233 , the second driving motor  235  is fixed by a fixing member (not shown) such as screws.  
         [0059]    Referring again to FIG. 2, the inkjet multi-function machine  100  of the embodiment of the present invention further comprises a controller  190  controlling the operation of the scanner unit  101  and the printer unit  150 .  
         [0060]    In addition to controlling the operation of the scanner unit  101  and the printer unit  150 , the controller  190  also functions to detect the head characteristics such as the dot size, the nozzle error and the like, as well as the size and the skew extent of the paper P. The controller  190  further functions to detect alignment conditions, such as the vertical alignment and the horizontal alignment of the print head  157  by comparing information including an angle, a size and a state of letters or figures printed by the print head  157 .  
         [0061]    The controller  190  still further functions to detect a twist of the paper P, and a width of the paper P, which are sensed through the scanner  117  at the beginning of the printing operation with data previously input therein including data to print. The controller  190  further functions to transmit the detected results to a device, such as a PC or the like, and at the same time, if detecting an abnormality, to inform an outside user of the detection by displaying an indication message through a display part (not shown) of a control panel (not shown) or providing an alarm through a speaker (not shown).  
         [0062]    Thus, in the scanning operation the inkjet multi-function machine  100  of the present invention scans data from the scan surface of the document D through the scanner  117  mounted on the carriage  158  while the carriage  158 , having the ink cartridge  156  with the print head  157  mounted thereon, is reciprocated in the right and left directions along the carriage shaft  168  by the driving belt  166 . The scanner  117  is positioned in the first direction at the ascent position, as shown in FIG. 4, and then transmits the scanned data to the controller  190  to print through the print unit  150  or to transmit to the PC or the like.  
         [0063]    Also, in checking the state of the multi-function machine  100  according to the predetermined control routine at the beginning of the printing operation, the inkjet multi-function machine  100  of the embodiment of the present invention shown senses information including the angle, the size and the state of letters or figures printed by the print head  157 , also the twist of the paper P, and the width of the paper P through the scanner  117 .  
         [0064]    While the carriage  158  is reciprocated in the right and the left directions, after the first driving motor  221  rotates at an angle of approximately 180° to thereby change the direction of the scanner  117  from the first direction to the second direction, the second driving motor  235  of the lifting member  230  rotates a predetermined number of rotations to thereby move the scanner  117  from the ascent position to the descent position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The controller then compares the sensed information with data previously input therein including data to print, and then transmits the compared result to a PC or the like, and at the same time, if an abnormality is detected, the controller informs an outside user of the detection by displaying an indication message through the display part of the control panel or a monitor of the PC, or providing an alarm through a speaker.  
         [0065]    Here, it should be noted that in the embodiment of the inkjet multi-function machine  100  of the present invention described above, the operation of checking the state of the multi-function machine  100  is explained as collectively performed according to the predetermined control routine at the beginning of the printing operation. However, the present invention is not limited to this control routine of the embodiment described above. For example, instead of collectively performing the operation of checking the state of the multi-function machine  100  according to the predetermined control routine, in yet another embodiment of the present invention the operation of checking the state of the multi-function machine  100  can be performed only when required, that is, when a user inputs a check command. The user can input such a check command for a portion of subjects, or all subjects regarding the checking of the multi-function machine  100 , including the head characteristics, the size of paper, the skew extent of the paper and the like, through an operating button on the control panel, the PC or the like.  
         [0066]    Further, in the embodiment of the present invention described above, as a matter of convenience for explanation purposes, the first driving motor  221  of the rotating member  220  is illustrated and explained as being driven only when the scanner  117  is positioned at the ascent position. But if necessary, the first driving motor  221  can be constructed to be driven when the scanner  117  is positioned at the descent position, at an intermediate position between the ascent position and the descent position, or when in motion between the ascent position and the descent position. Particularly, if the first driving motor  221  of the rotating member  220  is driven at the intermediate position, the body  130  of the scanner  117  fixed on the first rotating axis  223  is less likely to be bumped against the document guide frame  121  (as shown in FIG. 2) positioned at an upper side thereof and the paper guide frame  171  positioned at a lower side thereof, and can be smoothly rotated in the range substantially equal to a height of the carriage  158 , thereby enhancing the degree of freedom in design.  
         [0067]    Also, the inkjet multi-function machine  100  of the embodiment of the present invention is explained as being comprised of only the scanner unit  101  and the printer unit  150 , but if necessary, the machine  100  can be constructed to further include a facsimile unit for transmitting and receiving data without greatly modifying or changing the structure of the embodiment of the multi-function machine  100  described above.  
         [0068]    The operation of the inkjet multi-function machine  100  according to the embodiments of the present invention constructed as above is described in greater detail below with reference to FIGS. 2 through 5.  
         [0069]    First, a copying process in which the scanning and the printing operation are simultaneously performed is explained as follows.  
         [0070]    As shown in FIG. 4, at an initial state when the multi-function machine  100  is turned on, the scanner  117  is positioned in the first direction where the sensing face  130   a  of the body  130  is directed toward the scan surface of the document D, and at the ascent position where the first driving motor  221  of the rotating member  220  fixing the scanner  117  is maintained at the upper part of the one sidewall  160  of the carriage  158  to allow the document D to be within the focal distance of the lens  133 .  
         [0071]    Under this condition, when documents D are loaded into the document loading frame  111  constituting a document supply tray, the documents D operate the document sensor  114  which turns “ON”, so that the controller  190  drives a scanner unit-driving motor (not shown) to rotate the document pickup roller  112 .  
         [0072]    As a result, the document pickup roller  112  picks up the documents D one by one by using a friction force of the document friction pad  113  coming in contact with the document pickup roller  112  at a predetermined pressure, and thereafter conveys the picked-up documents D to the document feed roller  115 .  
         [0073]    After that, when a leading end of the picked-up document D operates a document register sensor  116  while passing through the document feed roller  115  after alignment, which is also achieved by the document feed roller  115 , the controller  190  stops the scanner unit-driving motor to stop the conveyance of the document D.  
         [0074]    At this time, when the user pushes a copying button (not shown), the controller  190  drives a printer unit-driving motor (not shown) to rotate the paper pickup roller  153 , and thereby sheets of paper P stacked in the paper cassette  152  are picked up sheet by sheet by the paper pickup roller  153 , and then conveyed to the paper feed roller  154 .  
         [0075]    When a leading end of the picked-up sheet of paper P operates a paper register sensor  155  while passing through the paper feed roller  154  after alignment, which is also achieved by the paper feed roller  154 , the controller  190  begins to count a time elapsing from a point of time when the paper register sensor  155  operates. At the same time, the controller  190  drives the scanner unit-driving motor to make the document feed roller  115  and the white roller  118  convey the document D to the scanner  117 , and directs the paper feed roller  154  to convey the sheet of paper P to the print head  157 .  
         [0076]    Thereafter, when a predetermined period of time lapses from the point of time when the paper register sensor  155  operates, that is, when both the document D passes over the scanner  117  by means of the document feed roller  155  and the white roller  118 , and the sheet of paper P passes below the print head  157 , the controller  190  moves the carriage  158  in the right and left directions in order to carry out the scanning and the printing operations.  
         [0077]    As a result, the scanner  117  mounted on the carriage  158  scans data from the document D while moving with the carriage  158 , and thereafter transmits the scanned data to the controller  190 . The controller  190  directs the printing of data scanned by the scanner  117  by jetting ink onto the sheet of paper P through the print head  157  of the ink cartridge  156  moving in the right and the left directions together with the carriage  158 .  
         [0078]    After the scanning and the printing operations are finished, a rear end of the document D passes by the document register sensor  116  which turns it “OFF”. The controller  190  then checks whether there are any remaining documents loaded in the document loading frame  111  through the document sensor  114 . If there is no next document, the controller  190  controls the machine  100  to discharge the document D and the sheet of paper P through the document discharge rollers  119  and the paper discharge roller  161 , respectively, and finishes the printing operation. If there are any remaining documents, the controller  190  directs the machine  100  to repeat the operations described above.  
         [0079]    Next, the printing operation is explained as follows.  
         [0080]    When a printing command is input, such as those received from an outside device such as, for example, a PC or the like, the controller  190  rotates the first driving motor  221  of the rotating member  220  to an angle of approximately 180° according to a previously input control routine. As a result, the scanner  117  is displaced from the first direction where the sensing face  130   a  of the body  130  is directed toward the scan surface of the document D, to the second direction where the sensing face  130   a  of the body  130  is directed toward the print surface of the sheet of paper P.  
         [0081]    Subsequently, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the second driving motor  235  of the lifting member  230  rotates in one direction, for example, a counterclockwise direction for a predetermined number of rotations as directed by the controller  190 , the scanner  117  is moved to the lower part of the one sidewall  160  of the carrier  158  and positioned in the descent position where the sheet of paper P is maintained within the focal distance of the lens  133  of the scanner  117 .  
         [0082]    The paper pickup roller  153  is then rotated by the printer unit-driving motor and the sheets of paper P stacked in the paper cassette  152  are picked up sheet by sheet and then conveyed to the paper feed roller  154 .  
         [0083]    When a leading end of the picked-up sheet of paper P operates the paper register sensor  155  while passing through the paper feed roller  154  after alignment, which is also provided by the paper feed roller  154 , the controller  190  begins to count a time elapsing from a point of time the paper register sensor  155  operates.  
         [0084]    Thereafter, when a predetermined period of time lapses from the point of time the paper register sensor  155  operates, the controller  190  moves the carriage  158  in the right and left directions and at the same time, controls the print head  157  to print data by jetting ink onto the sheet of paper P fed by the paper feed roller  154  through the print head  157  of the ink cartridge  156  mounted on the carriage  158 .  
         [0085]    As the carriage  158  reciprocates in the right and the left directions along the carriage shaft  168 , the scanner  117  mounted on the carriage  158  senses an angle, a size, and a state of letters or figures printed by the print head  157 , and the twist of the paper P, and the width of paper P while moving together with the carriage  158 , and then transmits the sensed information to the controller  190 .  
         [0086]    The controller  190  detects alignment conditions such as a vertical alignment and a horizontal alignment of the print head  157 , head characteristic such as a dot size, a nozzle error and the like, as well as the size and the skew extent of the paper P, by comparing the information inputted from the scanner  117  with data previously input therein and data to print. The controller  190  then transmits the detected result to the PC or the like, and at the same time, if an abnormality is detected, the controller informs an outside user of the detection by displaying an indication message through the display part of the control panel or the monitor of the PC, or providing an alarm through the speaker.  
         [0087]    After the scanner  117  completes the operation of detecting the information, in order to return the scanner  117  to the original position and thereby prevent it from being contaminated by ink, the controller  190  drives the second driving motor  235  of the lifting member  230  to rotate in an opposite direction, that is, a clockwise direction. As a result, the scanner  117  fixed on the lifting belt  231  of the lifting member  230  returns from the descent position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, to the ascent position as shown in FIG. 4.  
         [0088]    Subsequently, when the first driving motor  221  of the rotating member  220  is rotated at an angle of approximately 180° by the controller  190 , the scanner  117  fixed on the first rotating axis  223  of the first driving motor  221  is displaced from the second direction where the sensing face  130   a  of the body  130  is directed toward the print surface of the sheet of paper P, to the first direction where the sensing face  130   a  of the body  130  is directed toward the scan surface of the document D.  
         [0089]    After that, when the printing of data is completed, the controller  190  discharges the sheet of paper P through the paper discharge roller  161  and the printing operation is finished.  
         [0090]    Next, the scanning operation is explained as follows.  
         [0091]    As with the copying process described above, when loaded into the document loading frame  111 , a document D then passes through the document pickup roller  112  and the document friction roller  113 , by the document sensor  114 , though the document feed roller  115 , and then operates the document register sensor  116 . The controller  190  then stops the scanner unit-driving motor to stop the conveyance of the document D.  
         [0092]    At this time, when a scanning button (not shown) is pushed by the user, or a scanning command is input through a device such as a PC or the like, the controller  190  drives the scanner unit-driving motor to direct the document feed roller  115  to convey the document D to the scanner  117 .  
         [0093]    After that, when the document passes over the scanner  117  by means of the document feed roller  115  and the white roller  118 , the carriage  158  reciprocates in the right and the left directions. The scanner  117  mounted on the carriage  158  thereby scans data from the document D while moving together with the carriage  158 , and then transmits the scanned data to the controller  190 .  
         [0094]    The controller  190  then transmits data scanned by the scanner  117  to the PC to store therein.  
         [0095]    Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a perspective view is provided illustrating a modified scanner fixing unit  200 ′ which is applied to the inkjet multi-function machine  100  of another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0096]    The scanner fixing unit  200 ′ comprises a scanner position adjuster  210 ′ provided for fixing and supporting the scanner  117  to be displaceable between a first position (as shown in FIG. 7) and a second position (as shown in FIG. 6), and a fixer  240 ′ provided for fixing the scanner position adjuster  210 ′ on one sidewall  160  of the carriage  158  and serving to mount the scanner  117  on the carriage  158 . The first position is a position where the scanner  117  is positioned in a first direction at an ascent position, and the second position is a position where the scanner  117  is positioned in a second direction at a descent position. Here, the first direction means an orientation where the sensing face  130   a  of the body  130  of the scanner  117  is directed toward the scan surface of the document D, and the second direction means an orientation where the sensing face  130   a  of the body  130  of the scanner  117  is directed toward the print surface of the paper P.  
         [0097]    The scanner position adjuster  210 ′ is comprised of a rotating and lifting member rotatably fixing the scanner  117  to rotate between the first direction (as shown in FIG. 7) and the second direction (as shown in FIG. 6) and at the same time, to ascend or descend the scanner  117  to allow the scanner  117  to maintain an appropriate sensing distance with respect to the document D or the sheet of paper P.  
         [0098]    The rotating and lifting member  210 ′ is provided with a third driving motor  221 ′ having a third rotating axis  223 ′, and a lifting part  230 ′ fixing the scanner  117  on the third rotating axis  223 ′ to ascend or descend the scanner  117  when the third rotating axis  223 ′ rotates.  
         [0099]    The lifting part  230 ′ is comprised of a circular disk  231 ′ immovably fixing the body  130  of the scanner  117  at a radial outer end thereof and fixed vertically to the third rotating axis  223 ′ at an end  223   a ′ thereof. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the scanner  117  is immovably fixed at the radial outer end of the circular disk  231 ′ by a fixing member such as a pin  251 .  
         [0100]    Alternatively, in another embodiment of the present invention, the lifting part  230 ′ can be comprised of a bar (not shown) immovably fixing the body  130  of the scanner  117  at a radial outer end thereof and fixed vertically to the third rotating axis  223 ′ at an end  223   a ′ of the third rotating axis thereof, instead of the circular disk  231 ′.  
         [0101]    Accordingly, when the third driving motor  221 ′ rotates, the circular disk  231 ′ fixed at the end  223   a ′ of the third rotating axis  223 ′ rotates, so that the scanner  117  fixed at the radial outer end of the circular disk  231 ′ ascends or descends to the ascent position or the descent position, and at the same time, the direction thereof changes between the first direction (as shown in FIG. 7) where the sensing face  130   a  of the body  130  of the scanner  117  is directed toward the scan surface of the document D, and the second direction (as shown in FIG. 6) where the sensing face  130   a  of the body  130  of the scanner  117  is directed toward the print surface of the paper P.  
         [0102]    That is, at a state where the scanner  117  is positioned in the first position as shown in FIG. 7, when the third driving motor  221 ′ rotates in one direction, for example, a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction, the scanner  117  is descended to the descent position by the movement of the circular disk  231 ′ and the direction thereof is displaced to the second direction as shown in FIG. 6. At a state where the scanner  117  is positioned in the second position as shown in FIG. 6, when the third driving motor  221 ′ rotates in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction, the scanner  117  is ascended to the ascent position and at the same time, the direction thereof is displaced to the first direction as shown in FIG. 7.  
         [0103]    Also, the fixer  240 ′ provided for fixing the scanner position adjuster  210 ′ on the one sidewall  160  of the carriage  158 , is comprised of a first and a second fixing bracket  241 ′ and  243 ′, respectively. The fixing brackets  241 ′ and  243 ′ are formed at the third driving motor  221 ′, and screw members  242  and  244  are provided for fixing the first and the second fixing bracket  241 ′ and  243 ′ to the one sidewall  160  of the carriage  158 .  
         [0104]    The description regarding the operation of the inkjet multi-function machine having the modified scanner fixing unit  200 ′ constructed as above will not be explained here as it is performed in the same manner as the operation of the inkjet multi-function machine  100  having the scanner fixing unit  200  described above with reference to FIGS. 2 through 4.  
         [0105]    As apparent from the foregoing description, it can be appreciated that the inkjet multi-function machine according to the embodiments of the present invention enables the print head and the scanner to perform the scanning and printing operations, respectively, by one driving apparatus provided for driving the carriage, thereby reducing weight and size, and simplifying structure by installing the scanner on the carriage provided for reciprocating the print head in right and left directions along the carriage shaft.  
         [0106]    Also, in the inkjet multi-function machine of the present invention, the operations of sensing the head characteristics such as the dot size, the nozzle error and the like, as well as the size and the skew extent of the paper, can be performed by the scanner without using separate sensors during the printing operation, thereby fabrication cost can also be reduced.  
         [0107]    Although only a few exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described in detail above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention should not be limited to the described exemplary embodiments, but various changes and modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the present invention without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.