Image forming apparatus having a compact size

Abstract

An image forming apparatus having a compact size includes a printing medium supplying unit to hold printing media and to supply a printing medium, an image forming unit disposed above the printing medium supplying unit to form images on a printing medium, and a printing medium feeding part substantially formed in a letter “C” shape, having a part which extends to the image forming unit and which is inclined in a downward direction along a printing medium moving direction to feed the printing medium from the printing medium supplying unit to the image forming unit.

1 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a printing medium supplying unit to hold and supply printing media;   an image forming unit disposed above the printing medium supplying unit to form images on one of the printing media supplied from the printing medium supplying unit; and   a printing medium feeding part having a substantially “C” shape, having a part which extends to the image forming unit and which is inclined in a downward direction along a printing medium moving direction to feed the printing medium from the printing medium supplying unit to the image forming unit in the downward direction toward the printing medium supplying unit.   
     
     
         2 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a case holding the printing medium supplying unit, the image forming unit, and the printing medium feeding part; and   an auxiliary printing medium supplying unit disposed between a top surface of the case and a top end of the printing medium feeding part to supply another printing medium to the image forming unit.   
     
     
         3 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a discharging unit disposed above the printing medium supplying unit to discharge the one printing medium through a side of the case.   
     
     
         4 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a printing medium supporting part disposed between the discharging unit and the side of the case to support the one printing medium and the another printing medium discharged from the discharging unit.   
     
     
         5 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the printing medium supporting part is inclined downward along a printing medium discharging direction so as to support the one printing medium on an incline. 
     
     
         6 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a case;   a printing medium supplying unit disposed at a lower portion of the case to hold and supply printing media;   an image forming unit disposed above the printing medium supplying unit within the case to form images on one of the printing media held by the printing medium supplying unit;   a printing medium feeding part within the case having a feeding roller to feed the one printing medium from the printing medium supplying unit to the image forming unit and a printing medium feeding path that connects the feeding roller with the image forming unit and which is inclined in a downward direction to feed the one printing medium down to the image forming unit;   a fixing unit within the case to fix images formed by the image forming unit onto the printing medium;   a discharging unit to discharge the one printing medium with the fixed images outside of the case; and   a controller to control the printing medium supplying unit, the image forming unit, the feeding roller, the fixing unit, and the discharging unit in order to perform printing operations.   
     
     
         7 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 an auxiliary printing medium supplying unit disposed between a top surface of the case and the feeding roller to supply another printing medium to the image forming unit.   
     
     
         8 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the auxiliary printing medium supplying unit comprises a printing medium entrance formed at a back area of the top surface of the case. 
     
     
         9 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the auxiliary printing medium supplying unit further comprises a door to selectively open or close the printing medium entrance. 
     
     
         10 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the image forming unit is disposed so that a height from a bottom surface of the case to a part of the image forming unit at which images are transferred onto the one printing medium is lower than a height from the bottom surface of the case to a top end of the feeding roller. 
     
     
         11 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the height from the bottom surface of the case to the top end of the feeding roller is approximately 90 mm or less. 
     
     
         12 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the height from the bottom surface of the case to the part of the image forming unit at which images are transferred onto the printing medium is approximately 60 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein a top surface of the case is formed in a plane substantially parallel to a bottom surface of the case. 
     
     
         14 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the height from the bottom surface of the case to the top surface of the case is approximately 150 mm or less. 
     
     
         15 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the discharging unit is disposed above the printing medium supplying unit at a side of the fixing unit to discharge the one printing medium through a side of the case. 
     
     
         16 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a printing medium supporting part formed between the discharging unit and the side of the case to support the one printing medium discharged from the discharging unit.   
     
     
         17 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the printing medium supporting part is inclined in a downward direction along a printing medium discharging direction so as to support the one printing medium on an incline. 
     
     
         18 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the fixing unit is disposed so that a height from a bottom surface of the case to a part of the fixing unit through which the printing medium passes is substantially the same height as a height from the bottom surface of the case to a part of the image forming unit at which images are transferred onto the one printing medium. 
     
     
         19 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the discharging unit is disposed so that a height from a bottom surface of the case to a part of the discharging unit through which the one printing medium passes is higher than a height from the bottom surface of the case to a part of the fixing unit through which the one printing medium passes. 
     
     
         20 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the controller is disposed above the discharging unit near a side of the case through which the one printing medium is discharged. 
     
     
         21 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the image forming unit is disposed so that a height from a bottom surface of the case to a part of the image forming unit through which the printing medium passes is lower than a height from the bottom surface of the case to a top end of the feeding roller. 
     
     
         22 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the top surface of the case is formed in a plane substantially parallel to a bottom surface of the case. 
     
     
         23 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the discharging unit is disposed above the printing medium supplying unit at a side of the fixing unit to discharge the printing medium through a side of the case. 
     
     
         24 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the fixing unit is disposed so that a height from a bottom surface of the case to a part of the fixing unit through which the one printing medium passes is substantially the same height as a height from the bottom surface of the case to a part of the image forming unit through which the one printing medium passes. 
     
     
         25 . An image forming apparatus, comprising:
 a printing medium supplying unit to store at least one printing medium;   an image forming unit disposed above the printing medium supplying unit to form images on the printing medium supplied from the printing medium supplying unit;   a printing medium feeding path along which the printing medium moves from the printing medium supplying unit to the image forming unit by feeding the printing medium in a downward direction toward the printing medium supplying unit.   
     
     
         26 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein the printing medium feeding path includes a curved printing medium feeding part having a “C” shape. 
     
     
         27 . An image forming apparatus, comprising:
 a case having a bottom side;   a printing medium supplying unit at the bottom side to store at least one printing medium;   a feeding roller in the case disposed above the printing medium supplying unit to feed the printing medium from the printing medium supplying unit;   an image forming unit disposed below the feeding roller and above the printing medium supplying unit to form images on the printing medium fed from the feeding roller; and   a fixing unit in the case to fix images formed by the image forming unit onto the printing medium.   
     
     
         28 . The image forming apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the image forming unit and the fixing unit are both located a substantially equal distance above the bottom side of the case. 
     
     
         29 . The image forming apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the substantially equal distance is approximately 60 mm. 
     
     
         30 . The image forming apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the feeding roller is located approximately 90 mm above the bottom side. 
     
     
         31 . The image forming apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the image forming unit and the fixing unit are both located a substantially equal distance above the bottom side. 
     
     
         32 . The image forming apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the substantially equal distance is approximately 60 mm. 
     
     
         33 . The image forming apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 a printing medium feeding path along which the printing medium moves from the printing medium supplying unit to the image forming unit; and   a printing medium feeding part along a portion of the printing medium feeding path, which is substantially formed in a letter “C” shape.   
     
     
         34 . The image forming apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein a distance between the bottom side of the case and a top side of the case is approximately 150 mm. 
     
     
         35 . The image forming apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the top side of the case is substantially coplanar to the bottom side of the case. 
     
     
         36 . The image forming apparatus of  claim 27 , further comprising a controller to control the printing medium supplying unit, the feeding roller, the image forming unit, and the fixing unit in order to perform printing operations.