Multifunctional apparatus having facsimile and copying functions wherein both functions share the same conveying path when reading and printing data

There is provide a reading/recording apparatus capable of ensuring that a reading device and a recording device do not collide when the apparatus is miniaturized to thereby protect the reading unit and the recording unit by having the reading device and the recording device share a moving space on a shared conveying path used as both a conveying path for an original and a conveying path for a recording sheet. The original is conveyed to a reading position on the shared conveying path. The reading unit is freely movable between the reading position and a reading standby position away from the reading position, and reads an image of the original at the reading position. The recording medium is conveyed to a recording position on the shared conveying path. The recording unit moves within the same space on the shared conveying path as the reading unit, is freely movable between the recording position and a recording standby position away from the recording position, and records an image on the recording medium at the recording position. The reading unit is moved from the reading position to the reading standby position after a reading operation by the reading unit has been completed.