MULTIFUNCTION APPARATUS

• US 20070195381A1
• Filed: 02/21/2007
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oki Data Corporation (OKI Electric Industry Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Oki Data Corporation (OKI Electric Industry Company Limited)
• Inventors: Yamazaki, Masato, Ueda, Hidenori
• Granted Patent: US 8,237,995 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/502
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00543 Allowing easy access, e.g. for maintenance or in case of paper jam H04N1/00538 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00551 Top covers or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00559 Mounting or support of components or elements H04N1/00538 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0091 Digital copier; digital 'photocopier' H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence

Abstract

A scanner is mounted on a printer. A printer lid is pivotally mounted to the printer, and is moveable to open and close. A scanner lid is pivotally mounted to the scanner, and is moveable to open and close. A printer locking member and a scanner locking member are pivotally mounted to the scanner. Opening the scanner lid causes the printer locking member to pivot to lock the scanner to the printer. Opening the printer lid causes the scanner locking member to pivot to lock the scanner lid to the scanner. A scanner having a lid is pivotally mounted on a printer. When the lid is pivoted to open, a stopper may pivot together with the lid and abut the scanner, thereby stopping the lid. The stopper may pivot together with the lid and the scanner and abuts the printer, stopping the lid and the scanner.

Claims

1. A multifunction apparatus including two units, comprising:

a first unit including a first lid pivotally mounted to said first unit, the first lid being moveable either to a first opening position or to a first closing position;

a second unit mounted to the first lid and including a second lid pivotally mounted to said second unit, the second lid being moveable either to a second opening position or to a second closing position;

a first locking member pivotally mounted to said second unit;

a second locking member pivotally mounted to said second unit;

wherein when the second lid is pivoted from the second closing position to the second opening position, said second lid disengages from the first locking member allowing said first locking member to engage said first unit to lock said second unit to said first unit;

wherein when the first lid is pivoted from the first closing position to the first opening position, the first lid allows said second locking member to disengage from said first unit such that said second locking member locks the second lid to said second unit.

2. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first urging member that urges said first locking member in such a direction that said first locking member engages said first unit, locking said second unit to said first unit, and a second urging member that urges said second locking member in such a direction that said second locking_member engages said second lid, locking said second lid to said second unit.

3. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first locking member includes a first end portion and a second end portion;

a second locking member includes a third end portion and a fourth end portion;

wherein when the second lid is pivoted from the second closing position to the second opening position, the second end portion disengages from said second lid causing said first locking member to pivot such that the first end portion engages said first unit to lock said second unit to said first unit;

wherein when the first lid is pivoted from the first closing position to the first opening direction, said fourth end portion disengages from said first unit causing said second locking member to pivot such that the third end portion engages the second lid to lock the second lid to said second unit.

4. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first end portion is a hook and the third end portion is a hook;

wherein said first unit includes a fifth engagement portion that engages the first engagement portion;

wherein said second unit includes a sixth engagement portion that engages the third end portion.

5. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said second locking member is one of a plurality of second locking members having corresponding third end portions;

wherein the sixth engagement portion includes stepped portions that engage the plurality of second locking members such that the third end portions move alternately into engagement with corresponding stepped portions in accordance with an angle formed between corresponding stepped portions and said first lid, the angle being formed when the first lid is pivoted from the first closing position to the first opening position.

6. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first unit is a printer and said second unit is a scanner.

7. A multifunction apparatus including two units, comprising:

a first unit;

a second unit pivotally mounted to said first unit, said second unit including a lid pivotally mounted to said second unit;

a stopper pivotally mounted to said second unit;

wherein when the lid is pivoted in an opening direction causing said stopper to pivot to a first position where said stopper abuts said second unit and the lid, preventing the lid from further pivoting;

wherein when said second unit is pivoted in an opening direction, said stopper pivots together with said second unit to a second position where said stopper prevents the second unit from further pivoting.

8. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said stopper includes:

a first engagement portion such that when said stopper pivots to the first position, the first engagement portion abuts said second unit to prevent the lid from pivoting further;

a second engagement portion such that when said stopper pivots to the second position, the second engagement portion abuts the first unit to prevent said second unit from pivoting further.

9. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said first unit is a printer and said second unit is a scanner.

10. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising an urging member that urges said stopper against the lid.

11. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when the lid is pivoted about a first axis in an opening direction causing said stopper to pivot about a second axis to the first position;

and

wherein when said second unit is pivoted about a third axis in the opening direction, said stopper pivots about the third axis together with said second unit to the second position.