Combined electrographic printer, copier, and telefax machine with duplex

Abstract

An electrographic printing apparatus is capable of functioning as a copier, printer, and telefax machine, and is also capable of duplex printing. The electrographic printing apparatus includes a photoconductive member in the form of a disposable cassette which is mounted at an angle in the housing. The apparatus include an optical print head which can receive information from a local or remote source to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive member and thus act as a printer. The apparatus also includes a device for scanning and digitizing an original document. When the digitized image is transmitted to the optical print head, a copy of the original document is produced. When the digitized image is transmitted over the telephone lines to a remote receiver, the apparatus functions as a telefax machine. The electrographic printing apparatus also includes a first paper path along which a sheet of paper travels and is imprinted on one side by the photoconductive member, and a second paper path which receives the sheet of paper from the first paper path, turns the paper over, and returns it to the first paper path for imprinting on a second side. A paper tray with sidewalls is also provided. The paper tray acts as an alignment correction system before a sheet of paper being duplex printed is imprinted on its second side. Alternatively, the paper tray can serve as a second source of paper for introducing paper into the apparatus.