Patent Publication Number: US-9405265-B2

Title: Option kit adaptor and image forming apparatus employing the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is related to, and claims the priority benefit of, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0042537, filed on Apr. 9, 2014, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     One or more embodiments relate to an option kit adaptor, on which option kits providing an image forming apparatus with additional functions are installed, and an image forming apparatus adopting the option kit adaptor. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Additional functions of an image forming apparatus may be realized by installing an option kit on the image forming apparatus, for example, a printer, a copy machine, etc. For example, a fax kit may be installed on a main body of the image forming apparatus to perform a facsimile function. 
     To perform an additional operation as above, a user may disassemble a main body of an image forming apparatus partially, and may directly install a mechanical structure for installing an option kit on the image forming apparatus and an electrical connecting structure for electrically connecting the option kit to a main controller in the main body of the image forming apparatus. However, the user may break the internal structures of the image forming apparatus or may install the mechanical and electrical connecting structures in a wrong location, and thus, the image forming apparatus may be damaged. 
     An installation member, including a mechanical structure for installing an option kit on a main body of an image forming apparatus and an electrical connecting structure for electrically connecting the option kit to a main controller of the image forming apparatus, may be provided in advance. The user may install the option kit on the installation member to perform additional functions. However, a plurality of installation members may be necessary to realize a plurality of additional functions. That is, since option kits for realizing the additional functions may have different types of mechanical structures and electrical connecting structures, a plurality of installation members of various types may have to be provided in the image forming apparatus. Therefore, a structure of the main body of the image forming apparatus becomes complicated and a size of the image forming apparatus may be increased. The user may have to find an appropriate installation member for an option kit of a particular kind to install the option kit in the image forming apparatus. 
     SUMMARY 
     One or more embodiments of an exemplary embodiment include an option kit adaptor on which two or more option kits may be installed. 
     One or more embodiments of an exemplary embodiment include an image forming apparatus having a simple installation structure to install two or more option kits. 
     One or more embodiments of an exemplary embodiment include an image forming apparatus of a small size in which two or more option kits are installed. 
     Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments. 
     According to one or more embodiments, an image forming apparatus includes a printing unit to print images on a recording medium, an installation member having an accommodation space, and an adaptor, on which two or more option kits are loaded, detachably attached to the accommodation space of the installation member. 
     The image forming apparatus may include a main control unit to control operations of the image forming apparatus, and an option interface unit to connect the two or more option kits to the main control unit when the adaptor is installed in the installation member. 
     The option interface unit may include two or more connecting portions that are respectively connected to the two or more option kits. 
     The adaptor may include a guide rail, and the installation member may include a guide unit to support the guide rail so as to guide the adaptor to the accommodation space. 
     The image forming apparatus may include a housing having an installation hole, wherein a cover that is removable is disposed on the installation hole. The adaptor may include a fixing bracket that blocks the installation hole. The fixing bracket may include a connecting hole to connect the two or more option kits to the outside. 
     The fixing bracket may include a fixing hole to fix the adaptor. 
     The two or more option kits may include at least two of a fax card, a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) card, and a network card. 
     According to one or more embodiments, an option kit adaptor that may be detachably attached to an image forming apparatus through an installation hole formed in the image forming apparatus, the option kit adaptor includes a first member; a second member forming a first accommodation space, in which a first option kit is installed, with the first member, and a third member forming a second accommodation space, in which a second option kit is installed, with the first member. 
     The option kit adaptor may include a fixing bracket to block the installation hole. 
     The fixing bracket may include fixing holes to fix the option kit adaptor to the image forming apparatus. 
     The option kit adaptor may include a ground bracket to ground the first option kit and the second option kit. 
     The option kit adaptor may include a guide rail that is guided by a guide unit of an installation member in the image forming apparatus. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a partially exploded perspective view of an exemplary image forming apparatus; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an exemplary mounting hole and a cover; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary state in which an adaptor is mounted on an image forming apparatus via the mounting hole; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of an adaptor according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an exemplary mounting member on which the adaptor of is mounted; and 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram of an exemplary image forming apparatus on which two option kits are installed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. In this regard, the embodiments may have different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the descriptions set forth herein. Accordingly, the embodiments are described below, by referring to the figures, to explain aspects of the present description. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Expressions such as “at least one of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list. 
     Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus  1  according to an embodiment. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the image forming apparatus  1  includes a printing unit  2 . The printing unit  2  may print images on a recording medium P in various printing methods, for example, an inkjet method, a thermal transfer method, an electrophotographic method, etc. The printing unit  2  according to an embodiment prints color images by using the electrophotographic method. 
     The printing unit  2  includes a plurality of developing units  10  and a plurality of developing agent receiving units  20  in which a developing agent may be accommodated. The plurality of developing units  10  and the plurality of developing agent receiving units  20  may be connected to each other respectively through a plurality of developing agent supplying paths  15 . The developing agents accommodated in the plurality of developing agent receiving units  20  may be respectively supplied to the plurality of developing units  10  via the plurality of developing agent supplying paths  15 . The plurality of developing agent receiving units  20  and the plurality of developing units  10  may be independently replaced. 
     To perform a full-color printing operation, the plurality of developing units  10  may include developing units  10 C,  10 M,  10 Y, and  10 K to respectively develop cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) colors. The plurality of developing agent receiving units  20  may include developing agent receiving units  20 C,  20 M,  20 Y, and  20 K respectively including C, M, Y, and K developing agents that are to be supplied respectively to the plurality of developing units  10 C,  10 M,  10 Y, and  10 K. However, one or more embodiments are not limited thereto, and more developing agent receiving units  20  and developing units  10  to receive and develop other developing agents of various colors such as light magenta and white may be provided. The image forming apparatus including the plurality of developing units  100 ,  10 M,  10 Y, and  10 K and the plurality of developing agent receiving members  20 C,  20 M,  20 Y, and  20 K are described. Unless otherwise specified, references with Y, M, C, and K refer to elements for developing Y, M, C, and K developing agents, respectively. 
     Each of the developing units  10  includes a photosensitive body  11 . The photosensitive body  11  according to an embodiment may have a cylindrical shape, on which a photosensitive layer is formed, however, one or more embodiments are not limited thereto. A charging roller  12  charges the photosensitive body  11  to have a uniform surface potential. A charging brush, a corona charger, and the like may be used instead of the charging roller  12 . A developing roller  13  supplies a developing agent in the developing unit  10  to the photosensitive body  11 . 
     Although not illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the developing unit  10  may include a charging roller cleaner to remove impurities such as the developing agent or dust attached to the charging roller  12 , a cleaning member to remove the developing agent remaining on a surface of the photosensitive body  11  after an intermediate transfer process that will be described later, and a regulating member to regulate the amount of the developing agent supplied to a developing region where the photosensitive body  11  and the developing roller  13  face each other. 
     When a dual-component development method is used, a magnetic carrier may be accommodated in the developing unit  10 , and the developing roller  13  is separated tens to hundreds of μm from the photosensitive body  11 . Although not illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the developing roller  13  may be a magnetic roller, or may include a developing sleeve and a magnetic roller disposed in the developing sleeve. The developing agent supplied from one of the developing agent receiving units  20  to the developing unit  10  is attached to a surface of the magnetic carrier. The magnetic carrier may be carried to the developing region where the photosensitive body  11  and the developing roller  13  face each other while being attached to the surface of the developing roller  13 . Only the developing agent may be supplied to the photosensitive body  11  by a developing bias applied between the developing roller  13  and the photosensitive body  11  so as to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive body  11  into a visible image. If a mono-component development method that does not include a carrier is used, the developing roller  13  may rotate in contact with the photosensitive body  11  or may rotate while being separate by tens to hundreds of μm from the photosensitive body  11 . 
     When the dual-component development method is used, the developing unit  10  may include an agitating/conveying member that mixes and agitates the developing agent supplied from the developing agent receiving unit  20  with the carrier in the developing unit  10  to supply the mixture to the developing roller  13 . When the mono-component development method is used, the developing unit  10  may include a conveying member that agitates the developing agent introduced from the developing agent receiving unit  20  and conveys the developing agent to the developing roller  13 . 
     The developing method of the image forming apparatus according to an embodiment is described above, however, one or more embodiments are not limited thereto, and the developing method may be variously modified. 
     A light scanning unit  40  irradiates light that may be modulated in correspondence with image information to the photosensitive body  11  to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive body  11 , and examples of the light scanning unit  40  may include a laser scanning unit (LSU) using a laser diode as a light source or a light scanning unit using a light-emitting diode (LED) as a light source. 
     The images formed on the photosensitive bodies  11  of the plurality of developing units  10 C,  10 M,  10 Y, and  10 K may be temporarily transferred on an intermediate transfer belt  30 . A plurality of intermediate transfer rollers  50  are disposed to face the photosensitive bodies  11  of the plurality of developing units  10 C,  10 M,  10 Y, and  10 K with the intermediate transfer belt  30  interposed therebetween. An intermediate transfer bias may be applied to the plurality of intermediate transfer rollers  50  to transfer the images formed on the photosensitive bodies  11  to the intermediate transfer belt  30 . A corona transfer unit or a transfer unit of a pin scorotron may be used instead of the intermediate transfer roller  50 . 
     A transfer roller  60  may be located facing the intermediate transfer belt  30 . A transfer bias may be applied to the transfer roller  60  to transfer the image transferred on the intermediate transfer belt  30  to a recording medium P. 
     According to an embodiment, the image formed on the photosensitive body  11  is intermediately transferred to the intermediate transfer belt  30 , and then, is transferred to the recording medium P that passes between the intermediate transfer belt  30  and the transfer roller  60 . However, embodiments are not limited thereto. That is, the recording medium P passes between the intermediate transfer belt  30  and the photosensitive body  11  so that the image is directly transferred to the recording medium P. According to an embodiment, the transfer roller  60  is not provided. 
     A fusing device  80  applies heat and/or pressure to the image transferred onto the recording medium P to fuse the image in the recording medium P. The fusing device  80  is not limited to the example illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     According to an embodiment, the light scanning unit  40  irradiates a plurality of light rays that are modulated according to image information of each color to the photosensitive bodies  11  of the plurality of developing units  10 C,  10 M,  10 Y, and  10 K to form electrostatic latent images on the photosensitive bodies  11 . The electrostatic latent images on the photosensitive bodies  11  of the plurality of developing units  10 C,  10 M,  10 Y, and  10 K are developed into visible images by the C, M, Y, and K developing agents supplied from the plurality of developing agent receiving units  20 C,  20 M,  20 Y, and  20 K to the plurality of developing units  100 ,  10 M,  10 Y, and  10 K. The visible images may be intermediately transferred to the intermediate transfer belt  30 , for example, sequentially. The recording medium P loaded in a paper feed unit  70  may be conveyed along a paper feeding path  91  to a region where the transfer roller  60  and the intermediate transfer belt  30  face each other. The image formed on the intermediate transfer belt  30  may be transferred to the recording medium P by the transfer bias applied to the transfer roller  60 . When the recording medium P passes through the fusing device  80 , the image is fixed on the recording medium P due to the heat and pressure. The recording medium P, on which the fusing of the image has finished, is discharged to a discharge unit  93 . If a duplex printing is performed, a selection device  90  guides the recording medium P that has passed through the fusing device  80  so that the image may be printed on a surface thereof to a duplex printing path  92 . Accordingly, the recording medium P may be supplied between the intermediate transfer belt  30  and the transfer roller  60  again, and another image is transferred to a rear surface of the recording medium P. The recording medium P passes through the fusing device  80  again, and, may be discharged to the discharge unit  93  by the selection device  90 . 
     The image forming apparatus  1  may include a scanner unit  3 . The scanner unit  3  may include a document feeding unit  3 - 1  and a scanning unit  3 - 2 . 
     The scanning unit  3 - 2  includes a scanning member  320  to read images from a document. The scanning member  320  irradiates light to the document and receives light reflected by the document to read the images on the document. The scanning member  320  may be a contact-type image sensor (CIS) or a charge-coupled device (CCD). 
     The scanner unit  3  according to an embodiment is a combined-type scanner device, in which both a flatbed type scanning operation and a document feed type scanning operation are possible. The scanning unit  3 - 2  includes a platen glass  330 , on which a document may be placed in order to read images from the document in the flatbed type scanning operation. The scanning unit  3 - 2  may include a scanning window  340  in order to read images from the document in the document feed type scanning operation. The scanning window  340  may be, for example, a transparent member. 
     In a document feed type scanning operation, the scanning member  320  may be disposed under the scanning window  340 . In a case of a flatbed type scanning operation, the scanning member  320  may be transferred in a sub-scanning direction S, that is, a lengthwise direction of the document, by a transfer unit (not illustrated) under the platen glass  330 . When the flatbed type scanning operation is applied, the platen glass  330  may need to be exposed to the outside in order to place the document on the platen glass  330 . To do this, the document feeding unit  3 - 1  may be rotated with respect to the scanning unit  3 - 2 . 
     The document feeding unit  3 - 1  moves the document so that the scanning member  320  may read an image recorded on the document and discharges the document that has been read. To do this, the document feeding unit  3 - 1  includes a document feeding path, and the scanning member  320  reads the image from the document that is fed through the document feeding path. The document feeding path may include a supply path  351 , a scanning path  352 , and a discharge path  353 . The scanning member  320  may be disposed on the scanning path  352 , and the image recorded on the document is read by the scanning member  320  while the document passes through the scanning path  352 . The supply path  351  is a path to supply the document to the scanning path  352 , and the document loaded in a supply tray  361  is supplied to the scanning path  352  via the supply path  351 . The discharge path  353  is a path to discharge the document that has passed through the scanning path  352 . Therefore, the document loaded in the supply tray  361  is transferred along the supply path  351 , the scanning path  352 , and the discharge path  353 , and then, is discharged to a discharge tray  362 . 
     An automatic document feed (ADF) unit  310  separates documents loaded in the supply tray  361  one-by-one and supplies the document to the supply path  351 . The ADF unit  310  may include a first ADF roller  311  and a second ADF roller  312  that are engaged with each other to rotate in opposite directions to each other. The first ADF roller  311  rotates in a direction in which the document is transferred to the supply path  351 , and the second ADF roller  312  rotates in an opposite direction thereto. If two or more documents are supplied between the first and second ADF rollers  312  and  312 , the first and second ADF rollers  311  and  312  may separate only one document by using a difference between frictional forces and supply the document to the supply path  351 . Supply rollers  313  and  314  to transfer the document may be disposed on the supply path  351 . A feeding roller  315  to transfer the document may be disposed on the scanning path  352  to face the scanning member  320 . A discharge roller  316  to discharge the document, on which the reading operation is finished, may be disposed on the discharge path  353 . For duplex scanning, the document, a surface of which has been read, may be supplied to the scanning path  352  again via a re-supply path  354 . A re-supply roller  317  may be disposed on the re-supply path  354 . Each of the supply rollers  313  and  314 , the discharge roller  316 , and the re-supply roller  317  may include a pair of rollers that are rotated while engaged with each other to transfer the document. One roller of the pair of rollers may be a driving roller and the other may be a driven roller that may be rotated by being compressed by the driving roller. Although not illustrated in  FIG. 1 , one or more sensors to sense the document may be disposed on the document feeding path. 
       FIG. 2  is a partially exploded perspective view of the image forming apparatus  1  illustrated from a rear of the image forming apparatus  1 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , the image forming apparatus  1  includes a main control unit  210 . The main control unit  210  controls operations of the image forming apparatus  1 , which include printing processes and image reading processes. The main control unit  210  may be electrically connected to the components of the image forming apparatus  1  to transmit/receive control signals to control operations of the components to/from the components. According to an embodiment, the main control unit  210  may be configured as a central processing unit (CPU) or a circuit board including the CPU. Each of elements included in the main control unit  210  may be realized by software stored in a memory of the main control unit  210 , or electrical circuits. 
     The image forming apparatus  1  according to an embodiment has a printing function, and a scanning function. Functions of the image forming apparatus  1  may be expanded when an option kit is installed on the image forming apparatus  1 . For example, functions such as a facsimile function using one or more telephone wires, a Wi-Fi communication function to connect to an external device or an external host via wireless communication, or a network communication function to connect to an external device or an external host via wired communication may be added as a function of the image forming apparatus  1 . To do this, one or more option kits may be installed to the image forming apparatus  1 . The user may expand the functions of the image forming apparatus  1 , for example, by buying and installing an option kit on the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     According to an embodiment of the image forming apparatus  1 , two or more option kits, namely, first and second option kits  510  and  520 , (see, for example,  FIG. 5 ) may be installed by using one installation structure. To do this, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the image forming apparatus  1  may include an adaptor  400  on which two or more option kits, namely, first and second option kits  510  and  520 , (see, for example,  FIG. 5 ) may be installed, an installation member  230  on which the adaptor  400  may be installed, and an option interface unit  220  to form an electric interface between the first and second option kits  510  and  520  (see, for example,  FIG. 5 ) and the main control unit  210 . 
     An installation hole  102  to install the adaptor  400  may be formed in a housing  101  that forms an outer appearance of the image forming apparatus  1 . A cover  110  covers the installation hole  102 . The cover  110  may be removed in order to install the adaptor  400 .  FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the installation hole  102  and the cover  110 , and  FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating the adaptor  400  that may be installed on the image forming apparatus  1  via the installation hole  102 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , as illustrated by a dotted line, the cover  110  may be connected to an edge of the installation hole  102  by a plurality of connecting protrusions  112  to block the installation hole  102 . The cover  110  may be integrally formed with the housing  101 . Before installing the adaptor  400 , the cover  110  may be removed to open the installation hole  102  by cutting the plurality of connecting protrusions  112 . Since the housing  101  may be manufactured by, for example, a plastic molding process, the cover  110  may be easily removed by using a tool or applying a force to the cover  110 . The cover  110  that is removable in  FIG. 3  is an example, and embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, although not illustrated in the drawings, the cover  110  may be detachably coupled to the housing  101  in a screw coupling method or a snap fit coupling method. 
     When the cover  110  is removed, the installation hole  102  may be opened as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In addition, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the adaptor  400  may be pushed into the image forming apparatus  1  via the installation hole  102  so that the adaptor  400  may be installed in the image forming apparatus  1 . The adaptor  400  may be fixed in the image forming apparatus  1  by using coupling members, for example, screws S, through fixing holes  452  in a fixing bracket  450 . 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the adaptor  400 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , two option kits, namely, the first and second option kits  510  and  520 , may be installed on the adaptor  400 . The adaptor  400  includes a first member  410  and a second member  420  located at a side of the first member  410  (for example, a lower portion of the first member  410  in  FIG. 5 ) to form a first accommodation space  401 , in which the first option kit  510  is accommodated, with the first member  410 . The adaptor  400  may include a third member  430  located at the other side of the first member  410  (for example, an upper portion of the first member  410  in  FIG. 5 ) to form a second accommodation space  402 , in which the second option kit  520  is accommodated, with the first member  410 . 
     The adaptor  400  may include a ground bracket  440  to ground the first and second option kits  510  and  520 . The adaptor  400  may include the fixing bracket  450  to block the installation hole  102 , when the adaptor  400  is installed in the image forming apparatus  1 . The fixing bracket  450  may be integrally formed with, for example, the second member  420 , and may be coupled to the second member  420 . The fixing bracket  450  may include a connecting hole  451  to connect the first and second option kits  510  and  520  to the outside (for example, a telephone line or a network communication line). 
     The first option kit  510  may be disposed between the first and second members  410  and  420  and the second option kit  520  may be disposed between the first and third members  410  and  430 . The ground bracket  440  may be disposed to contact ground portions of circuit patterns in the first and second option kits  510  and  520 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , a screw S 1  and a screw S 2  may be coupled to each other, and thus, the first, second, and third members  410 ,  420 , and  430  may be coupled to one another, and at the same time, the first and second option kits  510  and  520  may be accommodated in the adaptor  400 . 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the installation member  230  in which the adaptor  400  is installed. Referring to  FIG. 6 , the installation member  230  may include an accommodation space  231 , in which the adaptor  400  is accommodated, and a fixing hook  232  fixed on the image forming apparatus  1 . For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the image forming apparatus  1  includes a supporting bracket  240  to support the main control unit  210 , and the fixing hook  232  may be fixed on the supporting bracket  240  after penetrating through the main control unit  210 . The option interface unit  220  may be located in the accommodation space  231  of the installation member  230 . 
     The installation member  230  may include a guide portion  233  that supports the adaptor  400  so that the adaptor  400  may slide in an installation direction A and is guided to the accommodation space  231  when the adaptor  400  is installed. For example, the adaptor  400  may include a guide rail  460  extending in the installation direction A, and the guide portion  233  may be formed as a recess extending in the installation direction A to support the guide rail  460 . The guide portion  233  may include, for example, a first protrusion  233 - 1  and a second protrusion  233 - 2  that protrude from opposite walls  234  of the installation member  230  and are separated by a predetermined interval from each other. A surface  461  of the guide rail  460  is supported by the first protrusion  233 - 1  and the other surface  462  thereof may be supported by the second protrusion  233 - 2 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the option interface unit  220  includes a connecting portion  223  that is electrically connected to connectors  511  and  521  disposed on the first and second option kits  510  and  520 . The option interface unit  220  according to an embodiment connects the two or more option kits, namely, the first and second option kits  510  and  520 , to the main control unit  210 . As an example, the connection portion  223  includes a first connection portion  221  and a second connection portion  222 . The first connection portion  221  is connected to the connector  511  of the first option kit  510 , and the second connection portion  222  is connected to the connector  521  of the second option kit  520 . The first and second connection portions  221  and  222  may have any kind of structures, provided that they are electrically connected to the connectors  511  and  521 , respectively, and a scope is not limited by the structures of the first and second connection portions  221  and  222 . For example, the first and second connection portions  221  and  222  according to an embodiment may be connected to the connectors  511  and  512  in a male-and-female coupling method. The option interface unit  220  may be disposed on a circuit board forming the main control unit  210 . Also, although not illustrated in the drawings, the option interface unit  220  may be separated from the main control unit  210  and may be connected to the main control unit  210  via a signal line. The option interface unit  220  may be formed as a circuit board including the first and second connection portions  221  and  222  and may be coupled to the main control unit  210 . 
     Processes of installing the first and second option kits  510  and  520  in the image forming apparatus  1  by using the above configuration are described. 
     The adaptor  400  is prepared. The adaptor  400  may be provided to a user in a preliminary assembled state. Otherwise, the adaptor  400  may be provided to the user in a disassembled state. The first and second option kits  510  and  520  may be respectively inserted between the first and second members  410  and  420  and between the first and third members  410  and  430 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The adaptor  400  may be assembled by using the screws S 1  and S 2 . The adaptor  400  may be provided to the user in a state where the first and second option kits  510  and  520  are installed thereon. 
     Next, the installation hole  102  may be opened. The installation hole  102  may be opened by cutting the connecting protrusions  112 , by removing the screws, or by releasing the snap fit connecting structure. 
     Next, the adaptor  400  may be inserted into the image forming apparatus  1  through the installation hole  102 . The guide rail  460  of the adaptor  400  may be supported by the guide portion  233  of the installation member  230 . When the adaptor  400  is inserted in the installation member  230 , the connectors  511  and  521  of the first and second option kits  510  and  520  are respectively connected to the first and second connection portions  221  and  222  of the option interface unit  220 . 
     Next, the adaptor  400  may be fixed in the image forming apparatus  1  by using, for example, a screw S, and then, the installation of the adaptor  400  is finished. 
     According to an exemplary configuration, the installation member  230 , including a kind of guide portion  233  and the option interface unit  220  including two connecting portions, for example, the first and second connecting portions  221  and  222 , may be provided in the image forming apparatus  1  so that the adaptor  400  including the first and second option kits  510  and  520  may be installed in the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     The two option kits, namely, the first and second option kits  510  and  520 , may be installed in the image forming apparatus  1  through different installation holes. Two installation holes to install the two option kits, namely, the first and second option kits  510  and  520 , in the image forming apparatus  1 , two covers respectively covering the two installation holes, and two installation members corresponding to the first and second option kits  510  and  520  may be necessary. Also, if the option kits have different external sizes, guide portions formed in the two installation members may have to be formed in different structures. Therefore, the number of components in the image forming apparatus  1  may be increased and costs for components and manufacturing costs may be increased. 
     If two installation members respectively corresponding to the first and second option kits  510  and  520  are provided with the first and second option kits  510  and  520  separately from the image forming apparatus  1  in order to reduce the number of components, the image forming apparatus  1  may have to be partially disassembled before installing the first and second option kits  510  and  520 , and, the two installation members are installed in the image forming apparatus  1 . Therefore, processes of installing the first and second option kits  510  and  520  become complicated and internal components of the image forming apparatus  1  may be damaged during disassembling and assembling processes. 
     According to the image forming apparatus  1  according to an embodiment, the adaptor  400  in which two option kits, namely, the first and second  510  and  520 , are installed in the image forming apparatus  1 . Therefore, there is no need to disassemble the image forming apparatus  1  and install the first and second option kits  510  and  520  in the image forming apparatus  1  to perform two or more additional operations may be simplified. Also, only one installation member  230  to install the adaptor  400  may be installed in the image forming apparatus  1  and the installation member  230  has only one guide portion  233 , and thus, an increase in the number of components in the image forming apparatus  1  may be reduced and the image forming apparatus  1  may be capable of performing two or more additional functions while optimizing an internal space of the image forming apparatus  1  to install the option kits. 
       FIG. 7  is a systemic block diagram of the image forming apparatus  1  in which two option kits, namely, the first and second option kits  510  and  520 , are installed. Referring to  FIG. 7 , the first option kit  510  is a single fax card and the second option kit  520  is a dual fax card. The image forming apparatus  1  may operate as a fax using two telephone lines (telephone line  1  and telephone line  2 ). The main control unit  210  may include a processor  211 , a memory  213 , and a user interface unit  214 . The processor  211  may be formed by an electric circuit including a CPU and controls overall operations of the image forming apparatus  1 . The processor  211  may be driven by, for example, software stored in the memory  213 , or may be driven by software provided from a host  4 . The user interface unit  214  may be connected to, for example, an input device (not illustrated) to input a manipulation command of the user and an output device (not illustrated) to display operational states of the image forming apparatus  1 . The user interface unit  214  receives the manipulation command of the user via the input device and transmits an output signal to the output device so as to display the operational state of the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     When the adaptor  400  in which the first and second option kits  510  and  520  is installed in the image forming apparatus  1  is loaded, the first and second option kits  510  and  520  may be respectively connected to the first and second connection portions  221  and  222  of the option interface unit  220  so as to exchange signals with the main control unit  210 . For example, the main control unit  210  receives installation signals of the first and second option kits  510  and  520  via an installation sensing unit  215 . When receiving the installation signals, the main control unit  210  recognizes that the two telephone lines are available. 
     The main control unit  210  receives image information provided from the host  4  and controls a printing unit  2  so as to print an image on the recording medium P. The main control unit  210  reads image information that is read from the document by using the scanner unit  3  and controls the printing unit  2  to print the read image information on the recording medium P. The main control unit  210  may control the first option kit  510  and/or the second option kit  520  to transmit the read image information via the telephone line  1  and/or the telephone line  2 . In addition, the main control unit  210  may control the first option kit  510  and/or the second option kit  520  to receive the image information via the local  1  and/or the local  2  and may control the printing unit  2  to print the image information on the recording medium P. 
     According to an embodiment, the first and second option kits  510  and  520  are the single fax card and the dual fax card; however, the embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, the first and second option kits  510  and  520  may be combinations of the single fax card, a Wi-Fi card, and a network card. 
     When the Wi-Fi card is installed, the image forming apparatus  1  may be connected to a router connected to an infrastructure network, that is, an access point (AP). The Wi-Fi card may have a Wi-Fi direct (WFD) function. The image forming apparatus  1  may function as a multi-functional apparatus supporting WFD. According to the WFD function, one of the WFD devices that are to form a wireless network performs as an AP, and the other WFD devices perform as stations that are wirelessly connected to the WFD device performing as the AP. Therefore, the WFD devices may form the wireless network without an AP connected to the infrastructure network. When the wireless network is formed between the WFD devices, wireless LAN devices such as Wi-Fi devices may recognize the WFD device performing as the AP as an AP and may be wirelessly connected to the WFD device. 
     When the network card is installed, the image forming apparatus  1  may be connected to the infrastructure network through wires. Therefore, the image forming apparatus  1  may perform as a network printer or a network scanner. 
     According to an embodiment, the adaptor  400  includes two option kits, namely, the first and second option kits  510  and  520 ; however, the embodiments are not limited thereto. Although not illustrated in the drawings, the adaptor  400  may have a structure in which three or more option kits may be accommodated. The option interface unit  220  may include three or more connection portions. 
     It should be understood that the exemplary embodiments described therein should be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each embodiment should typically be considered as available for other similar features or aspects in other embodiments. 
     While one or more embodiments have been described with reference to the figures, 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 as defined by the following claims.