Multi-function printer with a locking device and operational method thereof

• US 20080158589A1
• Filed: 03/19/2007
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Liu, Chin-Chia, Hsu, Ming-Hung, Su, Chiung-Yi
• Granted Patent: US 7,894,748 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00519 Constructional details not otherwise provided for, e.g. housings, covers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00554 Latches or hinges therefor

Abstract

A multi-function printer is provided. A trigger piece is fixed to the first module and stretched into a second module. A wedging piece is disposed in the second module and protruded from the second module. An actuating piece and a join piece are disposed in the second module. The actuating piece has a first end connected to the actuating piece and a second end positioned close to the trigger piece. When the three modules are stacked together, the trigger piece goes against the wedging piece and the actuating piece goes against a third module. When the first module is rotated, the trigger piece is separated from the wedging piece such that the wedging piece can be wedge with the third module. When the second module is rotated, the actuating piece drives the joint piece to wedge with the trigger piece.

Claims

1. A locking device, disposed in a multi-function printer, the multi-function printer comprising at least an auto document feeder (ADF), a scanner and a main body, the scanner being positioned on the main body and pivotally connected to the main body, the ADF being disposed on the scanner and pivotally connected to the scanner, the locking device, comprising:

a trigger piece, fixed to the ADF, and stretched into the scanner;

a wedging piece, disposed in the scanner and having one end protruding under the scanner;

an actuating piece, disposed in the scanner; and

a join piece, disposed in the scanner, the join piece having a first end connected to the actuating piece and a second end positioned close to the trigger piece;

wherein when the ADF is set onto the scanner and the scanner is set onto the main body, the trigger piece goes against the wedging piece and the actuating piece goes against the main body;

when the ADF is rotated relative to the scanner, the trigger piece is separated from the wedging piece along with the ADF such that the one end of the wedging piece is wedged with the main body and the scanner is locked to the main body;

when the scanner is rotated relative to the main body, the actuating piece is separated from the main body along with the scanner and the join piece is driven by the actuating piece to wedge with the trigger piece such that the scanner is locked to the ADF.

2. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein the wedging piece has a pivot, the other end of the wedging piece can be rotated relative to the pivot and when the trigger piece is separated from the other end of the wedging piece along with the ADF, the one end of the wedging piece is rotated to wedge with the main body.

3. The locking device according to claim 2, further comprising a spring connected to the wedging piece and an inner wall of the scanner for providing a pulling force to pull the wedging piece to wedge with the main body.

4. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein the actuating piece has a pivot, a first end and a second end of the actuating piece can be rotated relative to the pivot, the locking device comprising:

a spring connected to the actuating piece and the scanner for providing a pulling force to pull the first end of the actuating piece to protrude from the scanner;

when the actuating piece is separated from the main body along with the scanner, the first end of the actuating piece pulled by the spring is rotated to stretch out from the scanner and the second end of the actuating piece is rotated to drive the join piece to wedge with the trigger piece.

5. The locking device according to claim 4, wherein the first end of the join piece comprises a slide groove, the second end of the actuating piece slides along the slide groove.

6. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein the scanner has an opening, the trigger piece comprises a fan-shaped bump;

when the ADF is set onto the scanner, the fan-shaped bump of the trigger piece penetrates the opening and stretches into the scanner;

when the ADF is rotated relative to the scanner, one part of the fan-shaped bump is exposed between the ADF and the scanner and the other part of the fan-shaped bump remains in the scanner and fills the opening.

7. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein the scanner has an opening, the trigger piece comprises a protruding part, the wedge piece comprises a block plate disposed at the other end of the wedging piece, the block plate has the same shape as the opening;

when the ADF is set onto the scanner, the protruding part of the trigger piece penetrates the opening to go against the block plate of the wedging piece;

when the ADF is rotated relative to the scanner, the trigger piece is separated from the wedging piece along with the ADF, the block plate of the wedging piece is attached to a bottom of the opening.

8. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein the one end of the wedging piece is a hook, the locking device comprising a wedging part disposed in the main body for wedging with the wedging piece.

9. A multi-function printer, comprising:

a first module;

a second module, disposed under the first module and pivotally connected to the first module;

a trigger piece, fixed to the first module and stretched into the second module;

a wedging piece, disposed in the second module and having one end protruding under the second module;

an actuating piece, disposed in the second module;

a join piece, disposed in the second module, the join piece having a first end connected to the actuating piece and a second end positioned close to the trigger piece; and

a third module, disposed under the second module, and pivotally connected to the second module;

wherein when the first module is set onto the second module and the second module is set onto the third module, the trigger piece goes against the wedging piece and the actuating piece goes against the third module;

when the first module is rotated relative to the second module, the trigger piece is separated from the wedging piece along with the first module such that the one end of the wedging piece is wedged with the third module and the second module is locked to the third module;

when the second module is rotated relative to the third module, the actuating piece is separated from the third module along with the second module and the join piece is driven by the actuating piece to wedge with the trigger piece such that the second module is locked to the first module.

10. The multi-function printer according to claim 9, wherein the wedging piece comprises a pivot, the other end of the wedging piece can be rotated relative to the pivot, and when the trigger piece is separated from the other end of the wedging piece along with the first module, the one end of the wedging piece is rotated to wedge with the third module.

11. The multi-function printer according to claim 10, further comprising a spring connected to the wedging piece and an inner wall of the second module for providing a pulling force to pull the wedging piece to wedge with the third module.

12. The multi-function printer according to claim 9, wherein the actuating piece has a pivot, a first end and a second end of the actuating piece can be rotated relative to the pivot, and when the actuating piece is separated from the third module along with the second module, the first end of the actuating piece is rotated to stretch out from the scanner and the second end of the actuating piece is rotated to drive the join piece to wedge with the trigger piece.

13. The multi-function printer according to claim 12, further comprising a spring connected to the actuating piece and the scanner for providing a pulling force to pull the first end of the actuating piece to protrude from the second module.

14. The multi-function printer according to claim 12, wherein the first end of the join piece comprises a slide groove, the second end of the actuating piece slides along the slide groove.

15. The multi-function printer according to claim 9, wherein the second module has an opening, the trigger piece comprises a fan-shaped bump;

when the first module is set onto the second module, the fan-shaped bump of the trigger piece penetrates the opening and stretches into the second module;

when the first module is rotated relative to the second module, one part of the fan-shaped bump is exposed between the first module and the second module and the other part of the fan-shaped bump remains in the second module and fills the opening.

16. The multi-function printer according to claim 9, wherein the second module has an opening, the trigger piece comprises a protruding part, the wedge piece comprises a block plate disposed at the other end of the wedging piece, the block plate has the same shape as the opening;

when the first module is set onto the second module, the protruding part of the trigger piece penetrates the opening to go against the block plate of the wedging piece;

when the first module is rotated relative to the second module, the trigger piece is separated from the wedging piece along with the first module, the block plate of the wedging piece is attached to a bottom of the opening.

17. The multi-function printer according to claim 9, wherein the one end of the wedging piece is a hook, the multi-function printer comprising a wedging part disposed in the third module for wedging with the wedging piece.

19. The method according to claim 12, wherein the step of rotating the scanner relative to the main body further comprises:

when the trigger piece is separated from the other end of the wedging piece along with the ADF, providing a pulling force to pull and rotate the one end of the wedging piece to wedge with the main body.

18. A method of operating a multi-function printer, the multi-function printer comprising an ADF, a scanner, a main body, a trigger piece, a wedging piece, an actuating piece and a join piece, the scanner being positioned on the main body and pivotally connected to the main body, the ADF being disposed on the scanner and pivotally connected to the scanner, the trigger piece being fixed to the ADF and stretched into the scanner, the wedging piece being disposed in the scanner and having one end protruding under the scanner, the actuating piece being disposed in the scanner, the join piece being disposed in the scanner and having a first end connected to the actuating piece and a second end positioned close to the trigger piece, the method comprising:

setting the scanner onto the main body and setting the ADF onto the scanner such that the trigger piece goes against the wedging piece and the actuating piece goes against the main body;

rotating the ADF relative to the scanner to separate the trigger piece from the wedging piece such that the one end of the wedging piece is wedged with the main body and the scanner is locked to the main body; and

rotating the scanner relative to the main body to separate the actuating piece from the main body such that the join piece is driven by the actuating piece to wedge with the trigger piece and the scanner is locked to the ADF.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the step of rotating the scanner relative to the main body further comprises:

when the actuating piece is separated from the main body along with the scanner, providing a pulling force to pull a first end of the actuating piece to protrude the scanner and rotate a second end of the actuating piece to drive the join piece to wedge with the trigger piece.