JP2007088681A - Connection mechanism and image reading apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent breaking of a feeding cable extended over two members. <P>SOLUTION: A connection mechanism 400 includes: a hinge part 410 for revolvably hinging a second member 112 to a first member 111, wherein the first and second members 111, 112 are arranged opposite to each other; a support part 420 for displaceably supporting the hinge part 410 along the opposed direction of the first and second members 111, 112; and a restricting part for restricting a displaceable range of the hinge part 410 supported by the support part 420. The support part 420 includes: a slide member 502 connected to the hinge part 410; and a holder member 801 for slidably supporting the slide member 502 along the opposed direction, and the restriction part is provided between the slide member 502 and the holder member 801 and engaged at a position at which the first and second members 111, 112 are apart from each other by a prescribed distance. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a coupling mechanism and an image reading apparatus.

  Conventionally, in an image reading apparatus in which a supporting member of a hinge member mounted on a document pressing member is inserted into a shaft hole on the apparatus main body side so that the document pressing member is supported on the apparatus main body so that the document pressing member can be opened and closed and moved up and down. A hook is provided at the end of the support leg, and a part of the blind cover insertion port is protruded to form a stopper, so that the support leg does not come out of the shaft hole when the hook hits this stopper. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1 below).

JP 2000-231163 A

  However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 described above has a problem that the thickness of the document that can be pressed by the document pressing member is limited within a range in which the document pressing member can be moved up and down. On the other hand, when the configuration is such that the document pressing member can be easily attached to and detached from the apparatus main body, the problem relating to the thickness limitation of the original can be solved, but it is easy to gain momentum when the document pressing member is removed. There is a problem that the power supply cable provided over the pressing member is easily disconnected.

  The coupling mechanism according to the present invention includes a hinge portion that pivotally couples a second member to a first member that is disposed opposite to the first member, and the hinge portion in a direction opposite to the first and second members. A holding portion that is held so as to be displaceable along with a restriction portion that restricts a displacement range of the hinge portion held by the holding portion.

  Therefore, the holding position of the hinge portion held by the holding member can be displaced according to the dimension along the opposing direction of the first and second members of the member interposed between the first and second members. it can. Thus, the member is interposed between the first and second members without being affected by the dimension along the opposing direction of the first and second members of the member interposed between the first and second members. It is possible to prevent the first and second members from being unexpectedly separated by reliably positioning the hinge portion and restricting the displacement range of the hinge portion by the restricting portion.

  Further, the holding portion in the connection mechanism according to the present invention includes a slide member connected to the hinge portion, and a holder member that holds the slide member slidably along the facing direction, and the restriction portion Is an engagement member that is provided between the slide member and the holder member and engages at a position where the first and second members are separated from each other by a predetermined distance.

  Therefore, the displacement of the hinge portion can be restricted only at the position where the first and second members are separated by a predetermined distance. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the first and second members from being unexpectedly divided without hindering the displacement of the hinge portion at a position until the first and second members are separated by a predetermined distance. Thereby, for example, disconnection of the power feeding cable provided across the first and second members can be prevented.

  Further, the engaging member in the connecting mechanism according to the present invention is a convex portion provided on the slide member and a concave portion provided on a movement locus of the convex portion in the holder member.

  Therefore, the displacement of the hinge portion can be regulated with a practically simple configuration. Thereby, manufacture of a connection mechanism can be facilitated.

  The image reading apparatus according to the present invention includes a main body housing provided with a document table for supporting a document, a document cover disposed opposite to the document table, and the document cover being rotatable with respect to the body housing. A hinge portion coupled to the main body housing, a holding portion that holds the hinge portion so as to be displaceable along a facing direction of the main body housing and the document cover, and a restriction that restricts a displacement range of the hinge portion held by the holding portion. And a section.

  Therefore, the position of the hinge portion held by the holding member can be displaced according to the thickness of the document to be read. As a result, the original cover is inadvertently pressed against the main body housing by reliably pressing the original against the main body housing without being affected by the thickness of the original and by restricting the displacement range of the hinge portion by the restricting portion. Can be prevented from being pulled out.

  Exemplary embodiments of a coupling mechanism and an image reading apparatus according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. This embodiment shows an application example to a multi-function machine having a coupling mechanism and an image reading apparatus according to the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a multifunction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. First, the external appearance of a multi-function peripheral equipped with a coupling mechanism and an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction peripheral 100 includes a scanner unit 110 as an image reading device, a printer unit 120, and an operation panel 150. The scanner unit 110 optically reads an image (graphics, text, photo, etc.) of a document and photoelectrically converts the optically read image to generate image data.

  FIG. 2 is a longitudinal side view showing the internal structure of the multifunction peripheral 100. Next, the internal structure of the multifunction peripheral 100 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the scanner unit 110 includes a scanner case 111, a transmissive document light source unit (hereinafter referred to as “TPU unit”) 112, a document table 113 as a document holding unit, a scanner carriage 114, A carriage guide 115. The scanner case 111 has a housing shape and is rotatably connected to the printer case 121 via a hinge (not shown). In this embodiment, the first member is realized by the scanner case 111. In the scanner case 111, each member for optically reading data written on a document is stored.

  The TPU unit 112 presses the document placed on the document table 113 against the document table 113 so as to cover the document from above. The TPU unit 112 is provided with a plate-like protective mat (not shown) having a size substantially the same as that of the document table 113 at a portion where the document is pressed. The TPU unit 112 is rotatably connected to the scanner case 111 via a connection mechanism (see FIG. 4). In this embodiment, the second member is realized by the TPU unit 112.

  The document table 113 is a plate-like member formed using an optically transparent glass material or the like, and is fixed so as to close an opening (not shown) formed in the upper part of the scanner case 111. A document is placed on the document table 113 by the user. The document may be an opaque document using paper or the like, or a transparent document using a transparent film or the like.

  The scanner carriage 114 is accommodated in the scanner case 111 and has various members for optically reading an image of a document. The scanner carriage 114 is provided so as to reciprocate along a carriage guide 115 arranged with the sub-scanning direction as a longitudinal direction. The scanner carriage 114 is reciprocated by a driving mechanism (not shown) configured by, for example, a motor and a driving belt connected to the motor.

  Although not shown, the scanner carriage 114 is mounted with a scanning circuit board on which a linear image sensor is mounted, a lens, a mirror, a light source, and the like as members for optically reading an image of a document. The light emitted from the light source mounted on the scanner carriage 114 toward the original is imaged on the light receiving surface of the linear image sensor via the mirror and the lens.

  A linear image sensor is an element that photoelectrically converts an optical image formed on the light-receiving surface and outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the amount of light received for each light-receiving element. The light-receiving element such as a photodiode performs main scanning. It is formed by being mounted on the scanning circuit board in a posture arranged in a straight line in the direction.

  Next, the printer unit 120 will be described. The printer unit 120 forms an image on a sheet based on image data transmitted from a PC (personal computer) or the like connected to the multifunction peripheral 100 via a network. As shown in FIG. 2, the printer unit 120 includes a printer case 121, an ASF unit 130, and a printing mechanism unit (see FIG. 3). The ASF unit 130 is provided in the vicinity of the paper feed opening 130 </ b> A, and includes a paper feed roller 131, a paper support plate 132, and a paper feed plate 133.

  The printer case 121 is provided with an opening 121 </ b> A that opens toward the scanner case 111. The opening 121 </ b> A can be exposed by rotating the scanner case 111 in a direction away from the printer case 121. For example, when maintaining each member stored in the scanner case 111. Exposed to. Each member for forming an image on a sheet based on image data is stored in the printer case 121.

  FIG. 3 is a longitudinal side view showing the ASF unit 130 and the printing mechanism section. Next, the ASF unit 130 and the printing mechanism unit will be described with reference to FIG. In the ASF unit 130 described above, the paper feed roller 131 is pivotally supported by the printer case 121 so as to be rotatable in the paper feed direction in the vicinity of the paper feed port 130A. The paper feed roller 131 rotates in response to a driving force from a motor provided in the ASF unit 130 or a motor (not shown), thereby feeding the paper pushed out by the paper feed plate 133 from the paper feed port 130A to the inside of the printer case 121. The sheet is pulled in and conveyed between a print head 144 and a platen 145, which will be described later.

  The paper support plate 132 is a plate-like member formed above the paper feed plate 133 and is connected to the upper end of the paper feed plate 133 by a hinge formed at the lower end of the paper support plate 132 so as to be opened and closed. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the paper support plate 132 is fed, the front surface of the paper supply plate 133 and the front surface of the paper support plate 132 have the same inclination angle with the front surface open. It is locked in the position to do. The paper support plate 132 supports the back surface of the paper bundle 122.

  When the paper support plate 132 is not fed, the paper support plate 132 can be folded toward the front side of the multifunction peripheral 100 around the hinge formed at the lower end of the paper support plate 132. The paper support plate 132 folded in this way is locked when the upper front surface of the paper support plate 132 comes into contact with the TPU unit 112, thereby closing the space connected to the paper feed port 130A. The sheet feeding plate 133 is a plate-like member provided at a position where the sheet bundle 122 can be supplied to the sheet feeding opening 130 </ b> A, and holds the sheet bundle 122. The sheet feeding plate 133 swings with the rotation of the motor, and pushes the lower end of the sheet bundle 122 toward the sheet feeding port 130A, thereby sliding the sheet to the sheet feeding port 130A.

  The printing mechanism unit 140 includes a printer carriage 141, an ink cartridge 142, a guide rod 143, a print head 144, a platen 145, a paper discharge roller 146, a stacker 147, and the like. The printer carriage 141 stores the ink cartridge 142 in a removable manner. The printer carriage 141 is locked by a belt that is driven by a motor provided in the printing mechanism unit 140, and is supported by the guide rod 143 via the belt as the motor rotates, so that the axial direction of the guide rod 143 is achieved. Reciprocate.

  The ink cartridge 142 is a container in which each color ink is stored, and is detachably stored in the printer carriage 141. The ink stored in the ink cartridge 142 is supplied to the nozzles of the print head 144 through the ink passage. The guide rod 143 is a rod-shaped member fixed to the printer case 121 and supports the printer carriage 141 so as to be slidable in the lateral width direction of the multifunction peripheral 100.

  The print head 144 is provided below the printer carriage 141, and fixes the ink supplied from the ink cartridge 142 to the paper by an inkjet method. The print head 144 is provided with a nozzle for discharging ink, an ink passage, and the like. The print head 144 reciprocates in the axial direction of the guide rod 143 together with the printer carriage 141. In this embodiment, an ink jet printing unit is used, but an electrostatic image forming system using a laser or the like, a sublimation system, an impact system, or the like may be used.

  The platen 145 is a bar-like member that is located below the print head 144 and has a flat surface above it, and is fixed to the printer case 121. The plane formed above the platen 145 is in sliding contact with the paper and positions the paper at a position slightly away from the print head 144.

  The paper discharge roller 146 is provided to be rotatable in the paper discharge direction in the vicinity of the paper discharge port 140A. The paper discharge roller 146 rotates by driving a motor or the like provided in the printing mechanism unit 140, thereby pulling out the printed paper and discharging it from the paper discharge port 140A to the outside of the printer case 121. The paper discharged to the outside of the printer case 121 by the paper discharge roller 146 is deposited on the upper surface of the stacker 147 supported by the printer case 121 so as to be swingable.

  The operation panel 150 is provided on the front side of the printer case 121 and receives various processing requests such as image reading processing and printing processing for the multifunction peripheral 100 when operated by the user. The operation panel 150 is provided with a liquid crystal panel 151, a plurality of push buttons 152, and the like. The liquid crystal panel 151 displays a setting menu, an operation menu, a processing status, and the like. The user requests the MFP 100 for processing by pressing a push button 152 corresponding to the processing request.

  Although not shown, the multifunction device 100 includes a control unit that drives and controls each unit included in the multifunction device 100. The control unit includes a CPU for centrally driving and controlling the scanner unit 110, a CPU for centrally driving and controlling the printer unit 120, and various control programs executed by these CPUs. Is constituted by a ROM that stores the data, a RAM that functions as a work area of the CPU, and the like. For example, the control unit performs predetermined image processing on the image of the document read by the scanner unit 110.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view (No. 1) showing an appearance of the coupling mechanism. Next, the connecting mechanism described above will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the coupling mechanism 400 includes a hinge part 410 and a holding part 420. The hinge part 410 connects the TPU unit 112 to the scanner case 111 so as to be rotatable. The holding part 420 holds the hinge part 410 in a displaceable manner along the facing direction of the TPU unit 112 and the scanner case 111 (see FIG. 8). FIG. 4 shows the states of the scanner case 111 and the TPU unit 112 when waiting, for example, when a thin original is to be read.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the hinge part 410. As shown in FIG. 5, the hinge portion 410 is provided on the TPU unit 112 side. The hinge part 410 includes a support member 501 and a slide member 502. The support member 501 rotatably supports the slide member 502 by inserting a shaft member (see FIG. 6) into a bearing hole 503 provided in the slide member 502.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the support member 501. As shown in FIG. 6, the support member 501 is attached to the TPU unit 112 and includes a shaft member 601 and a contact member 602. The shaft member 601 is provided so as to protrude along the rotational axis direction of the TPU unit 112 with respect to the scanner case 111. The contact member 602 is in contact with an urging member (see FIG. 7) provided on the slide member 502.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the slide member 502. In FIG. 7, the state which looked at the slide member 502 in FIG. 5 from the back surface side is shown. As shown in FIG. 7, the slide member 502 has a long plate shape, and has a convex portion 701 that protrudes from the slide member 502 within the rotation surface of the slide member 502.

  The convex portion 701 is provided at the distal end portion of the elastic member 703 formed by the notch portion 702 provided so as to surround three sides of the slide member 502 excluding one side on the bearing hole 503 side. On the bearing hole 503 side of the elastic member 703, an urging member 704 that comes into contact with the above-described contact member 602 is provided. The urging member 704 has a shape in which the cross-sectional shape along the rotation surface of the slide member 502 is substantially S-shaped (see FIGS. 9 to 11).

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view (No. 2) showing the appearance of the coupling mechanism 400. Next, the holding unit 420 will be described with reference to FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the holding unit 420 includes the above-described slide member 502 and a holder member 801 that holds the slide member 502 so as to be slidable. The holder member 801 includes openings 802 and 803. A slide member 502 is inserted into the opening 802.

  In the holder member 801, the opening 803 is provided on the slide locus of the convex portion 701 in the slide member 502. Here, an engaging member as a restricting portion is realized by the convex portion 701 and the opening portion 803. FIG. 8 shows the state of the scanner case 111 and the TPU unit 112 when a thick original such as a dictionary is to be read.

  FIGS. 9 and 10 are longitudinal side views (part 1) and (part 2) showing the holding part 420. FIG. Here, the operation of the coupling mechanism 400 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. 9 shows the holding part 420 when the connecting mechanism 400 in the state shown in FIG. 4 is cut, and FIG. 10 shows the holding part when the connecting mechanism 400 in the state shown in FIG. 8 is cut. 420 is shown. As described in FIG. 4, when a thin original is to be read, the TPU unit 112 is positioned in contact with the scanner case 111. In this case, as shown in FIG. 9, the slide member 502 is inserted deeply into the opening 802 in the holder member 801.

  Further, as described with reference to FIG. 8, when a thick original is to be read, the TPU unit 112 has a scanner case 111 corresponding to the thickness of the original along the opposing direction of the scanner case 111 and the TPU unit 112. It is positioned at a position away from. In this case, the slide member 502 slides in the holder member 801 from the scanner case 111 side to the TPU unit 112 side according to the position of the TPU unit 112.

  In this embodiment, since the projecting portion 701 is provided on the slide member 502 and the opening 803 is provided on the slide locus of the projecting portion 701, it is directed from the scanner case 111 side to the TPU unit 112 side. As shown in FIG. 10, the slide of the slide member 502 is regulated at a position where the convex portion 701 is caught by the opening 803.

  FIG. 11 is a vertical side view (No. 3) showing the holding portion 420. Here, the operation of the coupling mechanism 400 will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the urging member 704 is elastically deformed by urging the projecting portion 701 in the direction opposite to the projecting direction of the projecting portion 701, thereby opening 803. It is possible to release the catch of the convex portion 701 with respect to.

  Then, after releasing the catch of the convex portion 701 with respect to the opening 803, the slide member 502 is further slid from the scanner case 111 side toward the TPU unit 112 side, whereby the TPU unit 112 is removed from the scanner case 111. be able to. Since the urging member 704 is in contact with the contact member 602, the elastic member 703 removed from the holder member 801 receives the contact force from the contact member 602, and the shape shown in FIG. Return to.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, the position of the hinge unit 410 held by the holding unit 420 can be displaced with respect to the document table 113 according to the thickness of the document to be read. . Therefore, the original can be reliably pressed against the original table 113 without being influenced by the thickness of the original. As a result, the image of the document can be accurately read without being influenced by the thickness of the document.

  Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the elastic member 703 is elastically deformed, so that the protrusion 701 can be released from the opening 803. Therefore, the TPU unit 112 can be removed from the scanner case 111 in a state in which attention is paid to the power supply cable provided between the scanner case 111 and the TPU unit 112. Accordingly, even a document that is thicker than the slide range of the slide member 502 can be read without disconnecting the power supply cable.

  By the way, for example, when the TPU unit 112 is easily attached to and detached from the scanner case 111, it is easy to gain momentum when removing the TPU unit 112, and the power supply cable is easily disconnected by removing the TPU unit 112 vigorously. There was a problem that. On the other hand, according to this embodiment, the displacement of the hinge portion 410 from the scanner case 111 side to the TPU unit 112 side is restricted at a position where the convex portion 701 is caught by the opening 803. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the TPU unit 112 from being pulled out from the scanner case 111 vigorously. As a result, even if the document is thicker than the slide range of the slide member 502, the image of the document can be read without disconnecting the power supply cable.

  Further, according to this embodiment, the slide of the slide member 502 is restricted only at the position where the convex portion 701 is caught by the opening 803. Therefore, the slide member 502 inserted into the opening 802 of the holder member 801 can slide smoothly until the projection 701 is hooked on the opening 803. As a result, good operability can be maintained even when a thick original is read.

  Here, according to this embodiment, the slide member 502 and the holder member 801 do not always need to be in close contact with each other, and the slide member 502 and the holder member 801 are not in positions other than the position where the convex portion 701 is caught in the opening 803. A certain amount of gap may be formed between the two. For this reason, the slide member 502 can be smoothly slid with respect to the holder member 801 at a position other than the position where the convex portion 701 is caught in the opening 803, and the slide member 502 is rubbed against the holder member 801 during sliding. The generated noise can be reduced.

  Further, according to this embodiment, the slide of the slide member 502 is regulated by the projection 701 being hooked on the opening 803 by the projection 701 and the opening 803 opening on the movement locus of the projection 701. Therefore, the restricting portion can be realized with a practically simple configuration. Thereby, manufacture of the connection mechanism 400 can be facilitated and mass productivity can be improved.

  Further, according to this embodiment, the hinge portion 410 is divided into the support member 501 and the slide member 502. As a result, a portion that rubs when rotating the TPU unit 112 with respect to the scanner case 111 can be reduced, and noise (sound) generated by the rub between the support member 501 and the slide member 502 can be reduced. Further, the structure of the hinge part 410 can be simplified and the assembly work can be facilitated.

  Here, when the slide member 502 and the holder member 801 are formed using, for example, a resin material, they can be formed using injection molding or the like. As a result, the manufacturing of the slide member 502 and the holder member 801 can be facilitated and the mass productivity can be improved.

  Further, according to this embodiment, since the slide member 502 is covered with the holder member 801, the slide portion of the slide member 502 with respect to the holder member 801 is not exposed to the outside. As a result, it is possible to expect an effect of protecting the holding part 420 from an external impact or the like and maintaining the strength of the holding part 420.

1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a multifunction machine according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a vertical side view showing the internal structure of the multifunction machine. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal side view showing an ASF unit and a printing mechanism unit. The perspective view which shows the external appearance of a connection mechanism (the 1). The perspective view which shows a hinge part. The perspective view which shows a supporting member. The perspective view which shows a slide member. The perspective view which shows the external appearance of a connection mechanism (the 2). FIG. 3 is a longitudinal side view showing the holding portion (No. 1). The vertical side view which shows a holding | maintenance part (the 2). FIG. 6 is a longitudinal side view (part 3) illustrating the holding unit.

Explanation of symbols

111 1st member, 112 2nd member, 400 connection mechanism, 410 hinge part, 420 holding part, 502 slide member, 801 holder member

Claims (4)

A hinge portion for rotatably connecting the second member to the first member arranged oppositely;
A holding part that holds the hinge part so as to be displaceable along the opposing direction of the first and second members;
A restricting portion for restricting a displacement range of the hinge portion held by the holding portion;
A coupling mechanism comprising: The holding part is
A slide member connected to the hinge part, and a holder member that holds the slide member slidably along the facing direction;
The regulation part is
2. The coupling according to claim 1, wherein the coupling member is provided between the slide member and the holder member and engages at a position where the first and second members are separated from each other by a predetermined distance. mechanism. The engaging member is
The connection mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the connecting mechanism is a protrusion provided on the slide member and a recess provided on a movement locus of the protrusion in the holder member. A body housing provided with a document table for supporting the document;
A document cover disposed opposite to the document table;
A hinge portion for rotatably connecting the document cover to the main body housing;
A holding portion that holds the hinge portion so as to be displaceable along a facing direction of the main body housing and the document cover;
A restricting portion for restricting a displacement range of the hinge portion held by the holding portion;
An image reading apparatus comprising:

Images