The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 09, 2014
Filed:
Aug. 01, 2008
Tasuku Kohara, Kanagawa, JP;
Takashi Inoue, Saitama, JP;
Kazuo Koike, Kanagawa, JP;
Kenichi Yamada, Kanagawa, JP;
Taisuke Omi, Kanagawa, JP;
Tsuyoshi Endoh, Kanagawa, JP;
Tasuku Kohara, Kanagawa, JP;
Takashi Inoue, Saitama, JP;
Kazuo Koike, Kanagawa, JP;
Kenichi Yamada, Kanagawa, JP;
Taisuke Omi, Kanagawa, JP;
Tsuyoshi Endoh, Kanagawa, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
The height of an image reading unit or an operating panel in an image forming apparatus is adjusted to facilitate their operation depending on the physical characteristics of a user, such as his height or use of a wheel chair. A second operating panel and a second automatic document feeder (ADF) are disposed on the side of the image forming apparatus, so that a user on a wheel chair can access them easily. The second ADF houses plural sheet trays that are configured to open or close together. When the sheet trays are closed, a first operating panel disposed at the top of the apparatus is activated while the second operating panel on the side is deactivated. When the sheet trays are open, the second operating panel is activated while the first operating panel is deactivated.