Image Recording Apparatus

Abstract

Disclosed is a recording apparatus including a recording portion which records an image on a recording medium, a feeding mechanism which feeds the medium along a feed path extending from a recording-medium supply position to a recording-medium ejection position via a recording point where the recording portion performs the recording of the image, a reading portion which reads the image recorded on the medium fed along the feed path, and a position controller which controls a position of at least one of the medium and the reading portion such that the medium as located at a reading point for the reading portion in the feed path is selectively placed in one of a first position allowing the reading portion to read the image recorded on the recording medium and a second position at which the recording medium is away from the reading portion farther than when at the first position.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-53319, which was filed on Mar. 6, 2009, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium, and particularly to an image recording apparatus including a reading portion that reads an image recorded on a recording medium.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] There is known an image recording apparatus including a recording portion and a reading portion, and accordingly having both a function to record an image on a recording medium and a function to read an image recorded on a recording medium. Such an image recording apparatus can be made relatively small in size by arranging the recording portion and the reading portion along a same feed path of recording medium, for instance as compared to an arrangement where a feed path of recording medium to the recording portion is formed separately and independently of a feed path of recording medium to the reading portion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] However, in a case where the focal length of the reading portion disposed along the same feed path as the recording portion is relatively small, a recording medium may contact with the reading portion while being fed along the feed path. Hence, the image recording apparatus has a disadvantage such that contact of a recording medium with the reading portion leads to damage to or deterioration of the reading portion. Further, where the reading portion is of contact type such as CIS (Contact Image Sensor), reading of an image from a recording medium is performed with the recording medium contacted with the reading portion. In the image recording apparatus using a reading portion of contact type, even when only recording is performed on a recording medium, that is, even when reading therefrom is not performed, the recording medium is contacted with the reading portion. This makes the problem of damage to or deterioration of the reading portion more serious in the case of a contact-type reading portion.

[0007] This invention has been developed in view of the above-described situations, and it is an object of the invention, therefore, to provide an image recording apparatus with both a function to record an image and a function to read an image, which is relatively small in size and capable of preventing damage to or deterioration of the reading portion.

[0008] To attain the above object, the invention provides an image recording apparatus including a recording portion, a feeding mechanism, a reading portion, and a position controller. The recording portion records an image on a recording medium. The feeding mechanism feeds the recording medium along a feed path extending from a recording-medium supply position to a recording-medium ejection position via a recording point where the recording portion performs the recording of the image. The reading portion reads the image recorded on the recording medium fed along the feed path by the feeding mechanism. The position controller controls a position of at least one of the recording medium and the reading portion such that the recording medium as located at a reading point for the reading portion in the feed path is selectively placed in one of a first position allowing the reading portion to read the image recorded on the recording medium and a second position at which the recording medium is away from the reading portion farther than when at the first position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The above and other objects, features, advantages and technical and industrial significance of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of an inkjet printer according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a control routine executed in the printer;

[0012] FIGS. 3A and 3B are enlarged views of a part of FIG. 1 encircled by dashed line, in which FIG. 3A shows a state where the printer is in a normal recording mode and FIG. 3B shows a state where the printer is in a recording-quality check mode;

[0013] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a control routine executed in an inkjet printer according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[0014] FIGS. 5A and 5B are enlarged views of a part of the printer of the second embodiment corresponding to the part encircled by dashed line in FIG. 1, in which FIG. 5A shows a state where the printer is in a normal recording mode and FIG. 5B shows a state where the printer is in a recording-quality check mode;

[0015] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control routine executed in an inkjet printer according to a third embodiment of the invention; and

[0016] FIGS. 7A and 7B are enlarged views of a part of the printer of the third embodiment corresponding to the part encircled by dashed line in FIG. 1, in which FIG. 7A shows a state where the printer is in a normal recording mode and FIG. 7B shows a state where the printer is in a recording-quality check mode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Hereinafter, there will be described presently preferred embodiments of the invention, by referring to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] Referring first to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3B, there will be described an image recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention, in the form of an inkjet printer. FIG. 1 shows a general structure of the inkjet printer, which is generally denoted by reference numeral 1.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, the inkjet printer 1 has a housing 1a having the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. An internal space of the housing 1a is vertically divided into three sub spaces denoted by reference signs A, B and C from top to bottom. In the sub space A are disposed four inkjet recording heads 10, a controller 100, a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) 50, and others. The four inkjet recording heads 10, which correspond to a recording portion, eject droplets of magenta, cyan, yellow and black inks, respectively. The controller 100 controls operation of various portions of the printer 1. The CIS 50, which corresponds to a reading portion, reads an image recorded on a recording sheet P as a recording medium. In the sub spaces B and C are respectively disposed a sheet supply unit 1b and an ink tank unit 1c, both of which are detachably inserted in the housing 1a along a main scanning direction. The housing 1a has a top plate whose upper side corresponds to a sheet ejection position where a sheet ejection portion 131 is disposed. A recording sheet P is rejected out of the internal space of the housing 1a onto the sheet ejection portion 131 through an opening 130. The sheet ejection position and the sheet ejection portion 131 respectively correspond to a recording-medium ejection position and a second medium accommodating portion.

[0020] The ink tank unit 1c includes four main tanks 121 respectively storing the inks of the four different colors corresponding to the four recording heads 10. The main tanks 121 are connected with the respectively corresponding recording heads 10 via tubes (not shown) or others. The sheet supply unit 1b has a sheet supply tray 123 corresponding to a first medium accommodating portion and a pickup roller 125. The sheet supply tray 123 is capable of storing a plurality of recording sheets P, and the pickup roller 125 is attached to the sheet supply tray 123. Recording sheets P placed in the sheet supply tray 123 are one by one supplied or fed out of the sheet supply tray 123 by the pickup roller 125, from a topmost one. Each recording sheet P fed out of the sheet supply tray 123 is fed to a belt feeding mechanism 122 by being nipped between a feeding roller pair 126 while guided by guides 127a, 127b.

[0021] The belt feeding mechanism 122 includes two belt rollers 6, 7, an endless feeder belt 8, a tensioner roller 9, and a support frame 11. The feeder belt 8 is wound around the belt rollers 6, 7. The tensioner roller 9 is biased downward and held in contact with an inner circumferential surface of a lower part of the feeder belt 8 so as to apply a tension to the feeder belt 8. The support frame 11 supports the belt rollers 6, 7 and the tensioner roller 9 such that the rollers 6, 7, 9 are rotatable. When the controller 100 controls the belt roller 7 serving as a drive roller to rotate clockwise as seen in FIG. 1, the feeder belt 8 travels or circulates, which in turn rotates the belt roller 6 as a driven roller clockwise as seen in FIG. 1.

[0022] An upper part of the feeder belt 8 is supported by a platen 19 such that an outer circumferential surface of the feeder belt 8 extends parallel to lower surfaces of the four recording heads 10 with a gap therebetween. In the lower surface of each of the recording heads 10 are arranged a large number of ejection openings through which the ink is ejected in the form of minute droplets. The four recording heads 10 each long in the main scanning direction are arranged in an auxiliary scanning direction and supported on the housing 1a via a frame 2.

[0023] The outer circumferential surface of the feeder belt 8 is coated with a silicone layer exhibiting a low adhesion such that a recording sheet P fed to the belt feeding mechanism 122 and pressed against the outer circumferential surface of the feeder belt 8 by a pressing roller 4 is then fed in the auxiliary scanning direction as indicated by bold black arrows in FIG. 1 while held on the outer circumferential surface of the feeder belt 8 by the adhesion thereof.

[0024] When a recording sheet P thus held on the feeder belt 8 passes immediately under the four recording heads 10, that is, a recording point where the recording sheet P is opposed to the ejection openings arranged in the lower surfaces of the recording heads 10, droplets of the inks of different colors are sequentially ejected from the ejection openings of the recording heads 10 onto the recording sheet P so as to form a color image on the recording sheet P. Thereafter, the recording sheet P is separated from the surface of the feeder belt 8 by a separation plate 5, and fed upward by being nipped between an upstream roller pair 71 and then between a downstream roller pair 72 while guided by a guide pair 61 and a guide 62, to be ejected onto the sheet ejection portion 131 through the opening 130 formed in an upper portion of the housing 1a. The roller pairs 71, 72 respectively correspond to a first feeding member and a second feeding member.

[0025] In the printer 1, a recording sheet P is fed by a feeding unit, which corresponds to a feeding mechanism, along a feed path. The feeding unit includes the pickup roller 125, the feeding roller pair 126, the belt feeding mechanism 122, and the upstream and downstream roller pairs 71, 72. The feed path extends from the sheet supply tray 123 disposed in the sub space B as a recording-medium supply position to the sheet ejection portion 131 through the recording point under the recording heads 10.

[0026] Among the guides 127a, 127b, 61, 62 disposed to guide the recording sheet P fed along the feed path, the guides 127a, 127b, 61 are constituted each by a pair of plates that are disposed to be opposed to the recording sheet P from two opposite sides such that one of the plates is opposed to a first surface of the recording sheet P on which an image is recorded by the recording heads 10 and the other plate is opposed to a second surface of the recording sheet P opposite to the first surface. The guide 62 is constituted by a single plate disposed to be opposed to the second surface of the recording sheet P. The size of each of the plates constituting the guides 127a, 127b, 61, 62 is determined in order that the guides 127a, 127b, 61, 62 can guide a recording sheet P of a maximum width that the printer 1 is meant to handle.

[0027] The guide 62 extends upward from a position near the roller pair 71 such that a lower portion thereof extends vertically and an upper portion thereof curves toward the opening 130. The CIS 50 is disposed on an inner side of the curve of the upper portion of the guide 62, and opposed to a guide surface (i.e., a left-side surface as seen in FIG. 1) of the guide 62 with a spacing therebetween.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, the guide 62 extends straight and vertically upward from the downstream side of the upstream roller pair 71, and then curves to the side of the CIS 50 and toward the upstream side of the downstream roller pair 72. The recording sheet P is fed by the upstream roller pair 71 along the guide 62 vertically upward and then along the curve of the guide 62 to the downstream roller pair 72. Thus, a portion of the feed path of the recording sheet P between the roller pairs 71, 72 is defined solely by the guide 62. Therefore, the guide 62 is constituted by a single plate that limits a displacement of the recording sheet P fed between the roller pairs 71, 72 in a direction away from the CIS 50, and allows a displacement of the recording sheet P fed between the roller pairs 71, 72 in a direction toward the CIS 50.

[0029] The CIS 50 is a reading unit of contact type, and has a reading surface 50a provided by a glass material. To read an image on a surface of a recording sheet P, the surface of the recording sheet P is contacted with the reading surface 50a. The CIS 50 is fixed in position inside the printer 1 in an inclined orientation such that the reading surface 50a faces the curve, or the upper portion, of the guide 62, that is, the reading surface 50a constitutes a right side of the reading unit 50 and faces obliquely upward, as seen in FIG. 1.

[0030] The roller pair 72 is disposed between an upper end of the guide 62 and the opening 130. More specifically, the position where the roller pair 72 is disposed is above the roller pair 71, which is disposed near a lower end of the guide 62, and horizontally closer to the CIS 50 than the roller pair 71. Each of the rollers of the roller pairs 71, 72 has a rotation axis perpendicular to a surface of the sheet on which FIG. 1 is presented, like the pickup roller 125 and the feeding roller pair 126. Further, like the feeding roller pair 126, each of the roller pairs 71, 72 operates to feed a recording sheet P by nipping the recording sheet P from two opposite sides and rotates in contact with the recording sheet P. Each of the roller pairs 71, 72, 126 is such that one of the two rollers as a drive roller rotates under control of the controller 100, and the other roller as a driven roller in direct or indirect contact with the drive roller (i.e., with or without a recording sheet nipped between the roller pair) rotates with the rotation of the drive roller.

[0031] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, there will be described a control routine of the printer 1 executed by the controller 100.

[0032] The controller 100 can receive an instruction to perform a normal recording operation (hereinafter referred to as "the normal recording instruction") or an instruction to perform a test recording operation (hereinafter referred to as "the test recording instruction"). For instance, such instructions are received from a personal computer connected with the printer 1 via an interface of the printer 1.

[0033] When the controller 100 receives the normal recording instruction, the controller 100 executes a normal recording control routine according to which an image reading operation for reading an image by the CIS 50 is not performed. That is, the controller 100 controls various portions of the printer 1 in a normal recording mode, i.e., to feed a recording sheet P from the sheet supply tray 123 to the recording point under the recording heads 10, drive the recording heads 10 so as to form an image on the recording sheet P based on normal recording data included in the normal recording instruction, and then feed the recording sheet P with the image thereon from the recording point to the sheet ejection portion 131.

[0034] In the normal recording mode, the controller 100 controls the roller pairs 71, 72 to rotate at a same speed. After the recording sheet P with the image having been recorded thereon is fed to a position where a leading edge of the recording sheet P reaches the upstream roller pair 71, the recording sheet P is fed upward along the guide 62 by being nipped between the upstream roller pair 71. Then, after reaching the downstream roller pair 72, the recording sheet P is fed along the guide 62 in a direction as indicated by bold arrows in FIG. 3A by being nipped between each of the roller pars 71, 72 rotating at a same speed, to be ejected onto the sheet ejection portion 131 from the side of its leading edge. A two-dot chain line in FIG. 3A indicates this phase of the feed path of recording sheet.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 3A, while the recording sheet P is fed by being nipped between the roller pairs 71, 72, the rotation speeds of the roller pairs 71, 72 are the same. Thus, the recording sheet P substantially does not bend or warp toward the outer side of the guide 62 (i.e., rightward as seen in FIG. 3A). Further, the recording sheet P substantially does not bend or warp toward the inner side and off the guide 62 (i.e., leftward as seen in FIG. 3A) of the guide 62 at a portion of the feed path between the roller pairs 71, 72, but conforms to the curve of the guide 62. Even while the leading edge of the recording sheet P is located in the portion of the feed path between the roller pairs 71, 72, the rigidity of the recording sheet P prevents downward slacking or sagging thereof and keeps its shape in side view conforming to the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3A.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 3A, in the normal recording mode the CIS 50 is held separated from and does not contact the recording sheet P fed along the two-dot chain line.

[0037] On the other hand, when the controller 100 receives the test recording instruction, the controller 100 executes a control routine illustrated in FIG. 2, which will be hereinafter referred to as a recording-quality check processing routine.

[0038] The recording-quality check processing routine begins with step S10 in which the controller 100 controls various portions of the printer 1 to record test recording data included in the test recording instruction. That is, the controller 100 controls in a recording-quality check mode, i.e., controls to feed a recording sheet P for the test recording operation from the sheet supply tray 123 to the recording point under the recording heads 10, drive the recording heads 10 so as to form an image on the recording sheet P based on the test recording data, and then feed the recording sheet P with the image recorded thereon from the recording point through between the guide pair 61 and along the guide 62 by nipping the recording sheet P between the roller pair 71.

[0039] The test recording data is a kind of data different from the normal recording data, and may be printable by ejecting ink droplets from all the ejection openings of all the recording heads 10, for instance. The width and length of the image printed based on the test recording data may be determined as desired.

[0040] The processing of step S10 may be implemented simultaneously with that of step S11 and the following steps. That is, it may be configured such that while step S11 and the following steps are implemented, the test recording operation is implemented based on the test recording data by operating the recording heads 10 and others.

[0041] Then, step S11 is implemented in which the controller 100 determines whether a leading edge of the recording sheet P reaches the downstream roller pair 72. This determination may be made on the basis of a detection signal from a sheet sensor (not shown) disposed in the vicinity of the roller pair 72, or a change in the rotation load of the roller pair 72, for instance. When it is determined that the leading edge of the recording sheet P does not reach the downstream roller pair 72, a negative decision (NO) is made in step S11 and the controller 100 repeats step S11. The recording sheet P is fed along the same feed path as in the normal recording mode which is shown in FIG. 3A, until its leading edge reaches the downstream roller pair 72.

[0042] When it is determined that the leading edge of the recording sheet P reaches the downstream roller pair 72, an affirmative decision (YES) is made in step S11 and the routine goes to step S12, in which the controller 100 controls rotations of the roller pairs 71, 72 with the rotation speed of the downstream roller pair 72 set lower than that of the upstream roller pair 71. Thus, after the leading edge of the recording sheet P reaches the roller pair 72, the recording sheet P gradually sags or bends vertically downward at the portion of the feed path between the roller pairs 71, 72 by gravitation and a difference in rotation speed between the roller pairs 71, 72, as the recording sheet P is fed by being nipped between the roller pairs 71, 72.

[0043] The routine then goes to step S13 in which the controller 100 determines whether the surface of the recording sheet P is contacted with the reading surface 50a of the CIS 50, as shown in FIG. 3B. This determination may be made based on a signal from the CIS 50, for instance. When it is determined that the surface of the recording sheet P is not contacted with the reading surface 50a of the CIS 50, a negative decision (NO) is made in step S13 and the controller 100 repeats step S13.

[0044] When it is determined that the surface of the recording sheet P is contacted with the reading surface 50a of the CIS 50, an affirmative decision (YES) is made in step S13 and the routine goes to step S14, in which the controller 100 controls the rotation speeds of the roller pairs 71, 72 to become same. In the next step S15, the controller 100 controls the CIS 50 to read the image printed on the recording sheet P, i.e., a result of the test recording operation.

[0045] That is, the recording sheet P is fed in a direction indicated by bold arrows in FIG. 3B by being nipped between the roller pairs 71, 72 rotating at a same speed, with the recording sheet P bent downward at the portion of the feed path between the roller pairs 71, 72 into contact with the reading surface 50a of the CIS 50, as shown in FIG. 3B. While the recording sheet P is fed in this way, the image reading operation is implemented, i.e., the CIS 50 reads the image or the result of the test recording operation on the recording sheet P and sends data corresponding to a result of the image reading operation to the controller 100.

[0046] Thereafter, the routine goes to step S16 in which the controller 100 determines whether it is necessary to adjust the operation of the recording heads 10, based on the data representative of the result of the test recording operation sent from the CIS 50. For instance, in a case where blurring of a dot formed with an ink droplet is recognized in the image formed as the result of the test recording operation, the controller 100 determines that it is necessary to adjust the operation of the recording heads 10 so as to reduce the size and/or amount of an ink droplet ejected from one of the ejection openings corresponding to the dot blurring, or of ink droplets ejected from all the ejection openings. More specifically, in this case, it is necessary to adjust operation of an actuator of the recording heads 10, for instance. In another case where a defective dot or a blank dot due to defective ejection or non-ejection of an ink droplet is recognized in the image formed as the result of the test recording operation, the controller 100 determines that it is necessary to adjust the operation of the recording heads 10 by implementing a maintenance operation such as flushing operation.

[0047] When the controller 100 determines that it is necessary to adjust the operation of the recording heads 10, an affirmative decision (YES) is made in step S16 and the routine goes to step S17, in which the controller 100 adjusts the operation of the recording heads 10. As described above by way of example, the adjustment of the operation of the recording heads 10 may take the form of adjustment of the operation of an actuator in the case where the recording heads 10 employ a piezoelectric actuator, or implementation of the maintenance operation. The adjustment of the operation of the actuator may take the form of increasing or decreasing the drive voltage.

[0048] When the controller 100 determines that it is not necessary to adjust the operation of the recording heads 10, a negative decision (NO) is made in step S16 and this cycle of the routine terminates. On the other hand, when the controller 100 determines that it is necessary to adjust the operation of the recording heads 10 in step S16, the routine goes to step S17 to adjust the operation of the recording heads 10 and then this cycle of the routine terminates. The recording sheet P on which the test recording operation and the image reading operation have been performed is ejected onto the sheet ejection portion 131.

[0049] As described above, according to the present embodiment, the CIS 50 is disposed to be capable of reading an image recorded on a recording sheet P fed along the feed path extending from the sheet supply tray 123 to the sheet ejection portion 131 via the recording point under the recording heads 10. In other words, a same single path provides a feed path of recording sheet to the recording heads 10 and a feed path thereof to the CIS 50. This enables to make the printer 1 relatively small in size, compared to an arrangement where two separate feed paths are formed to serve as a feed path of recording sheet to the recording heads 10 and a feed path thereof to the CIS 50, respectively.

[0050] A position in the feed path where a recording sheet P is opposed to the reading surface 50a of the CIS 50 to allow the CIS 50 to read an image on the recording sheet P is defined as a reading point in the feed path. The controller 100 controls the position of a recording sheet P as located at the reading point. That is, at the reading point, a recording sheet P is selectively placed in one of a "readable position" and a "retracted position". When the recording sheet P is at the readable position, which is one example of a first position, the CIS 50 can read the image on the recording sheet P or the image is in focus on the CIS 50 to be read thereby. When the recording sheet P is at the retracted position, which is one example of a second position, the recording sheet P is away from the CIS 50 farther than when at the readable position. In this embodiment, the readable position is where the recording sheet P contacts the reading surface 50a of the CIS 50, as shown in FIG. 3B, and the retracted position is where the recording sheet P is separated or spaced from the CIS 50, as shown in FIG. 3A. In this way, the controller 100 controls the position of a recording sheet P as located at the reading point in the feed path such that when an image on the recording sheet P is to be read, the recording sheet P is placed in the readable position, and when an image is to be recorded on the recording sheet P, the recording sheet P is placed in the retracted position to prevent contact of the recording sheet P with the CIS 50, thereby preventing damage to or deterioration of the CIS 50.

[0051] The controller 100 changes the position of the recording sheet P toward the CIS 50 (i.e., to the position shown in FIG. 3B) to place the recording sheet P in the readable position, and changes the position of the recording sheet P away from the CIS 50 (i.e., to the position shown in FIG. 3A) to place the recording sheet P in the retracted position.

[0052] In this embodiment, the case where the normal recording operation and the recording-quality check processing routine are executed is described. However, it is not essential to execute the recording-quality check processing routine, and the embodiment may be modified as follows. That is, when the controller 100 receives the normal recording instruction, i.e., the instruction to perform the normal recording operation without performing the image reading operation for reading an image by the CIS 50, the controller 100 implements a control to have the roller pairs 71, 72 rotate at a same speed, and place in the non-read position the recording sheet P at the reading point in the feed path where the CIS 50 can read an image. On the other hand, when the controller 100 receives an image reading instruction, that is, an instruction to perform the image reading operation for reading an image by the CIS 50 without performing an image recording operation by the recording heads 10, the controller 100 controls the roller pair 72 to rotate at a speed lower than that of the roller pair 71, thereby placing in the readable position the recording sheet P at the reading point in the feed path. This inhibits the recording sheet P from contacting the CIS 50 when the normal recording operation is performed, thereby preventing the damage to or deterioration of the CIS 50.

[0053] Further, it is possible to continuously record an image on a recording sheet and then read the image while the recording sheet P is fed along the feed path extending from the sheet supply tray 123 to the sheet ejection portion 131.

[0054] The roller pairs 71, 72 of the feeding unit are arranged with a spacing therebetween along the feed path extending from the sheet supply tray 123 to the sheet ejection portion 131 via the recording point under the recording heads 10, such that the roller pairs 71, 72 are on the upstream and downstream sides of the reading point, respectively, with respect to a direction of the feed path. In order to switch the position of a recording sheet P from non-read (shown in FIG. 3A) to read (shown in FIG. 3B), the controller 100 adjusts the rotations of the roller pairs 71, 72 in step S12 of FIG. 2 so as to bend or warp toward the CIS 50 the recording sheet P at the portion of the feed path between the roller pairs 71, 72. As in a second embodiment of the invention described later, switching of the position of a recording sheet P from non-read to read to allow reading of an image on the recording sheet P may be achieved by an arrangement where the controller 100 controls or changes the position of the CIS 50, not the position of the recording sheet P, but such an arrangement involves a mechanism exclusively for displacing the CIS 50. Further, switching of the position of a recording sheet P from non-read to read may also be achieved by further another arrangement where a member (e.g., a sheet pressing member 80 in a third embodiment of the invention described later) exclusively for being pressed against a recording sheet P and a mechanism for displacing the member are disposed in the printer 1, and the position of the recording sheet P is controlled or changed such that the controller 100 operates to press the member against the recording sheet P with the CIS 50 fixed in position. In contrast to this arrangement involving the member exclusively for being pressed against a recording sheet P and the mechanism for displacing the member, this embodiment where the controller 100 controls or changes the position of the recording sheet P by utilizing the roller pairs 71, 72 of the feeding unit involves neither the member nor the mechanism for displacing the member. Thus, the complexity in structure and the manufacturing cost of the printer 1 are reduced, while downsizing of the printer 1 is facilitated.

[0055] The inkjet printer 1 has the guide 62 that is disposed on the outer side (i.e., a side opposite to the CIS 50) of the portion of the feed path of recording sheet between the roller pairs 71, 72. The recording sheet P is bent at the portion of the feed path between the roller pairs 71, 72 by adjustment of the operations of the roller pairs 71, 72 (that correspond to amounts of feeding of the recording sheet P), but it is limited by the guide 62 that the recording sheet P bends to the outer side of the feed path. Hence, the recording sheet P can be reliably bent toward the CIS 50 at the portion of the feed path between the roller pairs 71, 72.

[0056] With respect to the direction of the feed path the roller pair 71 and the roller pair 72 are respectively disposed upstream and downstream of the reading point where the CIS 50 can read an image on a recording sheet P, i.e., where a recording sheet P is opposed to the reading surface 50a of the CIS 50, and the roller pair 72 is disposed above the roller pair 71 and horizontally closer to the CIS 50 than the roller pair 71. This arrangement is advantageous in that gravitation facilitates bending or warping toward the CIS 50 a recording sheet P at the portion of the feed path between the roller pairs 71, 72.

[0057] Since the CIS 50 is disposed downstream of the recording heads 10 with respect to the direction of the feed path, it is enabled to promptly read an image having just been recorded by the recording heads 10 so as to check the quality of the image or the performance of the recording heads 10, as described above with reference to FIG. 2.

[0058] As described above with respect to steps S15-S17, the controller 100 adjusts the operation of the recording heads 10 on the basis of the result of the test recording operation. This contributes to maintain an excellent recording quality.

[0059] Employing a reading unit of contact type such as the CIS 50 is advantageous over employing a reading unit of non-contact type in the following: as compared to the case of the non-contact type reading unit (i) the size of the printer 1 as a whole can be made small since a contact-type reading unit is small in size, (ii) a contact-type reading unit is available at low cost, (iii) a contact-type reading unit requires no warm-up time, making the start-up time of the printer 1 relatively short, (iv) the power consumption is low, and others.

[0060] The sheet supply tray 123 in the sub space B and the sheet ejection portion 131 on the upper side of the top plate of the housing 1a serve as a recording-medium supply position and a sheet ejection position, respectively, in both the case where the recording heads 10 records an image and the case where the CIS 50 reads an image. That is, irrespective of whether an image is to be recorded using the recording heads 10 or an image is to be read using the CIS 50, a recording sheet P as a recording medium is supplied from the sheet supply tray 123, and ejected onto the sheet ejection portion 131. In contrast, for instance in an arrangement where a pair of recording-medium accommodating portions are provided to serve as the recording-medium supply position in the recording and the reading of an image, respectively, or/and a pair of recording-medium ejection portions are provided to serve as the recording-medium ejection position in the recording and the reading of an image, respectively, a work operation and/or a control related to switching of the feed path is/are involved. This embodiment does not involve such a work operation and a control and thus can quickly or promptly implement an operation to record and/or read an image.

[0061] It is noted that in the first embodiment a portion of the controller 100 that operates to have the recording heads 10 implement the test recording operation based on the test recording data corresponds to a test-recording control portion, a portion of the controller 100 that operates to have the reading portion read the image on the recording sheet P as the result of the test recording operation corresponds to a test-image reading control portion, and a portion of the controller 100 that operates to adjust the operation of the recording heads 10 corresponds to a recording-portion adjusting portion.

[0062] Referring next to FIGS. 4 and 5, there will be described an inkjet printer according to a second embodiment of the invention. In the following description and the drawings of the second embodiment, members or parts and processings corresponding those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals or symbols, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0063] As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, an inkjet printer according to the second embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in that in place of the CIS 50, a CIS 250 which is not fixed in position, is horizontally displaceable by operating a solenoid 90, and has a reading surface 250a parallel to a vertical plane is disposed in the printer, and the controller 100 does not differentiate the rotation speeds of the roller pairs 71, 72 from each other in the recording-quality check processing routine.

[0064] In the second embodiment, an end of a movable portion 90a of the solenoid 90 is held in contact with a rear surface of the CIS 250 that is opposite to the reading surface 250a. When the recording-quality check processing routine is not implemented, for instance when the printer is in the normal recording mode, the CIS 250 is located at an original position off the feed path as shown in FIG. 5A. When at the original position, the CIS 250 does not contact, or is held off of, a recording sheet P fed along a two-dot chain line in FIG. 5A. As described later, when the recording-quality check processing routine is implemented, the CIS 250 is displaced rightward from the original position shown in FIG. 5A to an advanced position shown in FIG. 5B, by operating the solenoid 90 to extend its movable portion 90a rightward as seen in FIG. 5B. The advanced position is where the reading surface 250a of the CIS 250 becomes parallel to a surface of a recording sheet P being fed along the same feed path as in the normal recording mode.

[0065] In the first embodiment, the position of the CIS 50 is invariant between the normal recording mode and the recording-quality check mode, but the feed path of recording sheet is varied or differentiated between the two modes around the reading point where a recording sheet P is opposed to the reading surface 50a and the CIS 50 reads an image thereon. On the other hand, according to the second embodiment, the feed path is not differentiated around the reading point but the position of the CIS 250 is differentiated between the two modes.

[0066] That is, the controller 100 changes the position of the CIS 50 toward the recording sheet P (i.e., the advanced position shown in FIG. 5B) to place the recording sheet P in the readable position, and changes the position of the CIS 50 away from the recording sheet P (i.e., the original position shown in FIG. 5A) to place the recording sheet P in the retracted position.

[0067] In addition to the guide 62, the inkjet printer of the second embodiment has a guide 63 opposed to the guide 62 via the feed path. Like the guide 62, the guide 63 is constituted by a plate. The guide 63 has an opening in its lengthwise central portion. When at its advanced position, the CIS 250 is accommodated in the opening in the guide 63.

[0068] In the second embodiment, the controller 100 executes a recording-quality check processing routine illustrated in FIG. 4, instead of that of FIG. 2, upon receiving the test recording instruction.

[0069] The recording-quality check processing routine begins with step S21 in which the controller 100 operates the solenoid 90 to extend the movable portion 90a so as to displace the CIS 250 from the original position shown in FIG. 5A to the advanced position shown in FIG. 5B. Then, the routine goes to step S10 in which the controller 100 implements the same processing of the test recording operation as in the first embodiment, while the CIS 250 is held at the advanced position. In the following step S13, the controller 100 determines whether the surface of the recording sheet P contacts the reading surface 250a of the CIS 250.

[0070] When the controller 100 determines that the surface of the recording sheet P contacts the reading surface 250a, an affirmative decision (YES) is made in step S13 and the routine goes to step S15, in which the controller 100 controls the CIS 250 to read the image as a result of the test recording operation that is recorded on the recording sheet P. In the following steps S16 and 17, the controller 100 implements the same operation-adjustment processing as in the first embodiment. Then, the routine goes to step S22 in which the controller 100 operates the solenoid 90 to retract the movable portion 90a so as to displace the CIS 250 from the advanced position shown in FIG. 5B to the original position shown in FIG. 5A.

[0071] As described above, according to the second embodiment, the controller 100 controls the position of the CIS 250 such that a recording sheet P as located at the reading point in the feed path, where the recording sheet P is opposed to the reading surface 250a of the CIS 250 and the CIS 250 can read an image on the recording sheet P, is selectively placed in one of a readable position shown in FIG. 5B and a retracted position shown in FIG. 5A. In this embodiment, the readable position to allow the CIS to read an image on a recording sheet P is where the contact surface 250a of the CIS 250 contacts the recording sheet P, as shown in FIG. 5B, and the retracted position where the recording sheet P is farther away from the CIS than at the reading point is where the recording sheet P is separated or spaced from the CIS 250, as shown in FIG. 5A. In this way, the controller 100 controls to place a recording sheet P in the readable position when an image on the recording sheet P is read, and in the retracted position when an image is recorded on the recording sheet P so as to prevent contact between the recording sheet P and the CIS 250, thereby preventing damage to or deterioration of the CIS 250, like in the first embodiment.

[0072] Further, the first and second embodiments have the following arrangements in common: the CIS 50, 250 is disposed to be capable of reading an image having been recorded on a recording sheet P being fed along the feed path extending from the sheet supply tray 123 to the sheet ejection portion 131 via the recording point under the recording heads 10; the CIS 50, 250 is disposed downstream of the recording heads 10 with respect to the direction of the feed path; the controller 100 adjusts the operation of the recording heads 10 on the basis of the result of the test recording operation; as a reading unit, the CIS 50, 250 which is of contact type is employed; and the sheet supply tray 123 and the sheet ejection portion 131 are used in both recording and reading of an image. Therefore, the second embodiment can enjoy a part of the effects of the first embodiment that derives from the arrangements common with the first and second embodiments.

[0073] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, there will be described an inkjet printer according to a third embodiment of the invention. In the following description of the third embodiment, members or parts and processings corresponding to those of the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals or symbols and detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0074] In the inkjet printer of the third embodiment, a CIS 350 is disposed in the printer in place of the CIS 50. The CIS 350 is fixed in position like the CIS 50 in the first embodiment, but the CIS 350 differs from the CIS 50 in that a reading surface 350a of the CIS 350 is parallel to a vertical plane. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the printer of the third embodiment includes a sheet pressing member 80 that is horizontally displaceable by operating a solenoid 390.

[0075] The sheet pressing member 80 is a cylindrical member having a rotation axis perpendicular to the sheet on which FIGS. 7A and 7B are presented. The sheet pressing member 80 is disposed to be opposed to the reading surface 350a of the CIS 350, and is supported by a main body of the printer to be rotatable relative to the main body. A rear portion of the sheet pressing member 80 away from the reading surface 350a is held in contact with an end of a movable portion 390a of the solenoid 390. When the printer is not in the recording-quality check mode, e.g., when the printer is in the normal recording mode, the sheet pressing member 80 is located at an original position shown in FIG. 7A. The original position is on an opposite side to the CIS 50 of the feed path of recording sheet in the normal recording mode. When at the original position, the sheet pressing member 80 does not contact with and is held off of the recording sheet P fed along a two-dot chain line in FIG. 7A. When the printer is in the recording-quality check mode, the solenoid 390 is operated to extend the movable portion 390a leftward as seen in FIG. 7A, thereby displacing the sheet pressing member 80 from the original position shown in FIG. 7A to an advanced position shown in FIG. 7B. At the advanced position, the sheet pressing member 80 is in the feed path of recording sheet in the normal recording mode, and is opposed to the reading surface 350a of the CIS 350 with a spacing therefrom that corresponds to a thickness of the recording sheet P.

[0076] Thus, according to the third embodiment, the position of the CIS 350 and the rotation speeds of the roller pairs 71, 72 are invariant between the normal recording mode and the recording-quality check mode, but the feed path of recording sheet is varied or differentiated, using the sheet pressing member 80, around the reading point in the feed path where the CIS 350 reads an image on the recording sheet P.

[0077] The inkjet printer of the third embodiment has a pair of guides 162, 163, in place of the guide 62. The guide pair 162, 163 has an opening in its central portion. When located at the advanced position, the sheet pressing member 80 is accommodated in this opening. The guides 162, 163 are each a plate-like member and disposed to be opposed to two opposite surfaces of the recording sheet P being fed, respectively.

[0078] In the printer of the third embodiment, the controller 100 implements a recording-quality check processing routine illustrated in FIG. 6, instead of that in FIG. 2, upon receiving a test printing instruction.

[0079] The recording-quality check processing routine begins with step S31 in which the controller 100 operates the solenoid 390 to extend its movable portion 390a so as to displace the sheet pressing member 80 from the original position shown in FIG. 7A to the advanced position shown in FIG. 7B. Then, the processing routine goes to step S10 in which the controller 100 implements the same processing of the test recording operation as in the first embodiment, while the sheet pressing member 80 is held at the advanced position. In the following step S13, the controller 100 determines whether the surface of the recording sheet P contacts the reading surface 350a of the CIS 350.

[0080] When the surface of the recording sheet P contacts the reading surface 350a, an affirmative decision (YES) is made in step S10 and the routine goes to step S15, in which the controller 100 controls the operation of the CIS 350 so as to read the image recorded on the recording sheet P as the result of the test recording operation. In the following steps S16 and 517, the controller 100 implements the same operation-adjustment processing as in the first embodiment. Then, the routine goes to step S32 in which the controller 100 operates the solenoid 390 to retract the movable portion 390a so as to displace the sheet pressing member 80 from the advanced position shown in FIG. 7B to the original position shown in FIG. 7A.

[0081] The recording sheet P entering the spacing between the guides 162, 163 is contacted with an end of the sheet pressing member 80 and then directed along an outer surface of the sheet pressing member 80 into or in a spacing between the reading surface 350a of the CIS 350 and the sheet pressing member 80. Thus, the recording sheet P is fed along a feed path indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 7B. In this way, the sheet pressing member 80 functions to differentiate the feed path of recording sheet in the recording-quality check mode from that in the normal recording mode. Therefore, the size (e.g., the diameter and the length) and the shape of the sheet pressing member 80 are determined so as to enable the differentiation of the feed path between the recording-quality check mode and the normal recording mode as described above. In this embodiment, the sheet pressing member 80 is a cylindrical member having a diameter larger than those of the roller pairs 71, 72, and designed such that after an end of the sheet pressing member 80 is contacted with the recording sheet P, the sheet pressing member 80 directs the recording sheet P in the spacing between the reading surface 350a of the CIS 350 and the sheet pressing member 80 preventing the recording sheet P from being displaced or deviating rightward as seen in FIG. 7B.

[0082] According to the third embodiment, the controller 100 controls the position of the recording sheet P such that the recording sheet P as located at the reading point in the feed path, where the recording sheet P is opposed to the reading surface 350a of the CIS 350 to allow the CIS 350 to read an image on the recording sheet P, is selectively placed in one of a readable position shown in FIG. 7B and a retracted position shown in FIG. 7A. In this embodiment, the readable position is where the recording sheet P contacts the reading surface 350a of the CIS 350, as shown in FIG. 7B. In this embodiment, the retracted position where the recording sheet P is farther away from the CIS than at the reading point is where the recording sheet P is separated or spaced from the CIS 350, as shown in FIG. 7A. In this way, the controller 100 controls to place a recording sheet P in the readable position when an image thereon is to be read, and in the retracted position when an image is to be recorded thereon so as to prevent contact between the recording sheet P and the CIS 350, thereby preventing damage to or deterioration of the CIS 350, as in the first embodiment.

[0083] The controller 100 changes the position of the recording sheet P toward the CIS 50 (i.e., to the position shown in FIG. 7B) to place the recording sheet P in the readable position, and changes the position of the recording sheet P away from the CIS 50 (i.e., to the position shown in FIG. 7A) to place the recording sheet P in the retracted position.

[0084] Further, the first and third embodiments have the following arrangements in common: the CIS 50, 350 is disposed to be capable of reading an image having been recorded on a recording sheet P being fed along the feed path extending from the sheet supply tray 123 to the sheet ejection portion 131 via the recording point under the recording heads 10; the CIS 50, 350 is disposed downstream of the recording heads 10 with respect to the direction of the feed path; the controller 100 adjusts the operation of the recording heads 10 on the basis of the result of the test recording operation; as a reading unit, the CIS 50, 350 which is of contact type is employed; and the sheet supply tray 123 and the sheet ejection portion 131 are used in both recording and reading of an image. Therefore, the second embodiment can enjoy a part of the effects of the first embodiment that derives from the arrangements common with the first and third embodiments.

[0085] Although there have been described several embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of the embodiments, but may be otherwise embodied with various modifications and improvements that may occur to those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention defined in the appended claims.

[0086] For instance, as long as the reading unit can read an image recorded on a recording medium fed along a feed path extending via a recording point where the recording heads records an image, the sheet supply tray and/or the sheet ejection portion may be differentiated between the case of recording of an image using the recording heads and the case of reading of an image using the reading unit. That is, two sheet supply trays and/or two sheet ejection portions may be provided to be used in recording of an image and in reading of an image, respectively.

[0087] The reading unit may not necessarily be of contact type as the CISs 50, 250, 350, which reads an image while in contact with a recording surface of a recording medium on which an image is recorded. That is, a reading unit of a type having a relatively small focal length and reading an image while in the vicinity of, or slightly spaced from, a recording surface of a recording medium may be employed. When a reading unit of such a type is employed in the printer, the readable position is where a recording sheet P is slightly spaced from the reading surface 50a, 250a, 350a. Although this type of reading unit does not contact a recording medium when reading an image, the relatively small focal length can make the recording medium and the reading unit contact with each other while the recording medium is fed. Therefore, even where the invention is applied to a printer in which the reading unit is of such a non-contact type, the effect to prevent damage to or deterioration of the reading unit is enjoyed.

[0088] In the above-described embodiments, the recording sheet P is selectively placeable in one of the readable position to allow the CIS to read the image on the recording sheet P and the retracted position at which the recording sheet P is located away from the CIS farther than when at the readable position. However, the retracted position may be a position where the image recorded on the recording sheet P can be read by the CIS. That is, as long as a distance between the recording sheet P placed in the retracted position and the CIS is larger than a distance between the recording sheet P placed in the readable position and the CIS, it may or may not be arranged such that the CIS can read the image on the recording sheet P when the recording sheet P is in the retracted position. That is, by placing the recording sheet P in the retracted position, contact between the recording sheet P and the CIS is prevented, thereby preventing damage to or deterioration of the CIS.

[0089] In the above-described embodiments, the test recording operation is implemented based on the test recording instruction sent to the controller 100 from an external apparatus such as PC. However, the test recording operation may be implemented at a predetermined timing, e.g., when the printer 1 is turned on, when the number of recording sheets on which an image was recorded reaches a predetermined number, or when a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the printer 1 is turned on.

[0090] The test recording operation, the processing of reading the result of the test recording operation, and the operation-adjustment processing based on the result of the reading are not essential and may be omitted.

[0091] An image to be read by the reading unit is not limited to an image recorded in the test recording operation, but may be an image recorded in the normal recording operation, i.e., an image formed by the recording heads 10 based on the normal recording instruction. Further, a recording medium with an image already recorded thereon may be supplied from the recording-medium supply position so as to have the image read by the reading unit.

[0092] It is not essential to dispose the reading unit downstream of the recording heads with respect to the direction of the feed path, but the reading unit may be disposed upstream of the recording heads with respect to the direction of the feed path. Further, it is not essential to juxtapose the reading unit to the recording heads, and the reading unit may be disposed at a desired position in the printer as long as the reading unit can read an image on a recording medium fed along a feed path extending via a reading point where recording heads can record an image on a recording medium.

[0093] The structure of the feeding unit for feeding a recording medium may be variously modified. For instance, in the first embodiment, the roller pairs 71, 72 as a feeding member are disposed at respective positions, which are on the upstream and downstream sides of the reading unit with respect to the direction of the feed path, and differs vertically and horizontally from each other so as to facilitate bending of a recording medium toward the reading unit by utilization of gravitation. However, the positions of the roller pairs 71, 72 are not limited thereto but may be variously changed. Further, in place of the roller pairs 71, 72, a feeding member not a roller member, e.g., a sliding mechanism, may be employed. The guides 62, 162, 163, 63 may be omitted. Further, the guides 62, 162, 163, 63 may be shaped otherwise than as shown in FIGS. 1, 3A, 3B, 5A, 5B, 7A, 7B, that is, it is not essential to have the part of the guides 62, 162, 163, 63 between the roller pairs 71, 72 curve to surround the CIS 50, 250, 350.

[0094] Adjusting operations of a plurality of feeding members (roller pairs 71, 72) to bend the recording medium toward the reading unit at the portion of the feed path between the feeding members is not limited to adjusting an operation speed (e.g., rotation speed) thereof as in the first embodiment, but may be adjusting a direction of the operation (e.g., rotation) thereof, for instance. In the state where the recording sheet P is nipped between the upstream and downstream roller pairs 71, 72, the rotation direction of only the downstream roller pair 72 is reversed, that is, the downstream roller pair 72 is rotated in the direction to feed the recording sheet P to the downstream side, thereby bending the recording sheet P toward the reading portion.

[0095] In the second and third embodiments, a solenoid 90, 390 is employed as means for displacing the CIS 250 and the sheet pressing member 80. However, the means for displacing the CIS 250 and the sheet pressing member 80 is not limited to a solenoid, but the CIS 250 and the sheet pressing member 80 may be otherwise displaced.

[0096] In the first and second embodiments, a position controller operates to control the position or shape of the recording medium for selectively placing in one of the readable and retracted positions a recording medium as located at the reading point in the feed path. More specifically, in the first embodiment, a portion of the controller 100 that operates to control the position or shape of the recording medium around the reading point by adjusting the operations of the roller pairs 71, 72 of the feeding unit constitutes the position controller. In the third embodiment, a portion of the controller 100 that operates to control the position or shape of the recording medium around the reading point by use of the sheet pressing member 80 cooperates with the sheet pressing member 80 and the solenoid 390 to constitute the position controller. However, these modes are described by way of example only, and various other members and/or processings may be employed as the position controller.

[0097] In the above-described embodiments, the controller 100 controls the position of only one of the recording sheet P and the CIS 50 so as to make the recording sheet P selectively placeable in one of the readable position allowing the CIS to read the image and the retracted position at which the recording sheet is farther away from the CIS than at the readable position. However, this is not essential. For instance, the controller 100 may place the recording sheet P in the readable position by controlling the roller pairs 71, 72 to displace the recording sheet P toward the CIS 50, and at the same time controlling to displace the CIS 50 toward the recording sheet P. Such a control enables to quickly place the recording sheet P in the readable position.

[0098] The number of recording heads included in the image recording apparatus according to the invention may not be four, but may be any number at least one.

[0099] The type of the recording heads included in the image recording apparatus according to the invention may be either line or serial. Further, the recording heads may eject a liquid other than ink. It is not essential that the recording heads are of liquid ejection type, but other types of recording heads such as thermal, dot impact, and laser types of recording heads may be employed as long as the recording heads can record an image on a recording medium.

[0100] The invention is applicable to apparatuses other than printer, such as facsimile machine and copy machine.

Claims

1. An image recording apparatus comprising: a recording portion which records an image on a recording medium; a feeding mechanism which feeds the recording medium along a feed path extending from a recording-medium supply position to a recording-medium ejection position via a recording point where the recording portion performs the recording of the image; a reading portion which reads the image recorded on the recording medium fed along the feed path by the feeding mechanism; and a position controller which controls a position of at least one of the recording medium and the reading portion such that the recording medium as located at a reading point for the reading portion in the feed path is selectively placed in one of a first position allowing the reading portion to read the image recorded on the recording medium and a second position at which the recording medium is away from the reading portion farther than when at the first position.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position controller controls the recording medium at the reading point to be bent toward the reading portion such that the recording medium is placed in the first position.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the feeding mechanism includes a plurality of feeding members that operate to feed the recording medium and are disposed along the feed path with a spacing therebetween and on an upstream side and a downstream side of the reading point with respect to a direction of the feed path, and wherein the position controller bends the recording medium toward the reading portion between the feeding members, by adjusting operations of the feeding members.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the position controller adjusts amounts of feeding of the recording medium by the respective feeding members by adjusting the operations of the feeding members.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the position controller adjusts the amounts of feeding of the recording medium by the feeding members such that the amount of feeding by at least one of the plurality of feeding members that is located on the downstream side of the reading point with respect to the direction of the feed path is made lower than that by the rest of the plurality of feeding members that is located on the upstream side of the reading point.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a guide which limits a displacement of the recording medium away from the reading portion at the portion of the feed path between the feeding members.

7. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the feeding members include a first feeding member and a second feeding member disposed on the upstream side and the downstream side of the reading point, respectively, with respect to the direction of the feed path, the second feeding member being disposed above the first feeding member and horizontally closer to the reading portion than the first feeding member.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reading portion is disposed on the downstream side of the recording portion with respect to the direction of the feed path.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: a test-recording control portion which controls the recording portion to implement a test recording operation on the recording medium based on test recording data; a test-image reading control portion which controls the reading portion to read the image which is formed on the recording medium under the control by the test-recording control portion; and a recording-portion adjusting portion which adjusts the recording portion based on the image read by the reading portion under the control by the test-image reading control portion.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first position is where the recording medium contacts the reading portion.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a first medium accommodating portion disposed at the recording-medium supply position and a second medium accommodating portion disposed at the recording-medium ejection position that are used in the recording by the recording portion are also used in the reading by the reading portion.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the reading of the image from the recording medium by the reading portion is implemented, the position controller places the recording medium as located at the reading point in the first position.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the recording of the image on the recording medium by the recording portion is implemented and the reading by the image from the recording medium by the reading portion is not implemented, the position controller places the recording medium as located at the reading point in the second position.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position controller displaces the position of the reading portion toward and away from the recording medium to place the recording medium at the reading point in the first position and the second position, respectively.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position controller displaces the position of the recording medium toward and away from the reading portion to place the recording medium at the reading point in the first position and the second position, respectively.