Image Processing Apparatus

• US 20140009052A1
• Filed: 07/05/2013
• Published: 01/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Ohama, Takashi, Osakabe, Yoshinori
• Granted Patent: US 8,908,233 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/326
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/13 Cases or covers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00551 Top covers or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00554 Latches or hinges therefor

Abstract

An image processing apparatus includes a cover configured to be movable between a first position, in which the top of the main body is covered, and a second position, in which the top of the main body is exposed; a supporting member configured to vertically move with respect to the main body so that the rotation center of the cover is moved between an ascent position and a descent position; a cam configured to rotate together with the cover such that a cam surface abuts on the main body, thereby vertically moving the supporting member, wherein the cam has a shape to displace the rotation center to the descent position when then the cover rotates to the first position and to displace the rotation center to the ascent position when the cover rotates to the second position so that interference of the cover is suppressed.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a main body comprising a first image processing unit;

a cover configured to be movable between a first position, in which the top of the main body is covered, and a second position, in which the top of the main body is exposed;

a supporting member configured to support the cover in a state where the cover is rotatable to the first position and the second position, and the supporting member configured to vertically move with respect to the main body so that the rotation center of the cover is moved between an ascent position and a descent position;

an opening that is formed on the main body; and

a cam configured to rotate together with the cover such that a cam surface, whose distance from the rotation center of the cam varies according to the rotation angle of the cam, abuts on the main body, thereby vertically moving the supporting member with respect to the main body,

wherein the cam has a shape to displace the rotation center to the descent position when then the cover rotates to the first position and to displace the rotation center to the ascent position when the cover rotates to the second position so that interference of the cover is suppressed.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein, after the cover starts to be moved from the first position to the second position, the cam surface of the cam does not abut on the main body until the cam reaches a predetermined rotation angle, and

wherein, when the cover is displaced to a position where the cam exceeds the predetermined rotation angle, the cam surface abuts on the main body side thus to raise the rotation center.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first image processing unit comprises a platen on which a document is mounted, and a reading unit which reads images of the document mounted on the platen while moving along the platen,

wherein the cover is moved to the first position and then covers the platen provided at the top of the main body, and

wherein the cover is moved to the second position and then exposes the platen.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein, on a surface of the cover facing the platen, an elastic member is provided to be elastically deformed.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein, the supporting member is configured to be inserted into an insertion portion formed on the main body and is supported to be vertically movable inside the insertion portion by the main body.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein, in at least one of the main body and the cam, a portion to be a contact surface contacting with the other is made of a material having a sliding property higher than other portions except for the portion to be the contact surface.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the main body comprises a second image processing unit provided below the first image processing unit, and

wherein the opening is an aperture connected from the outside of the main body to the second image processing unit.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7,

wherein the second image processing unit comprises an image forming unit to form images on recording media, and

wherein the opening is an aperture for feeding the recording media from the outside of the main body to the image forming unit.

9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the supporting members are provided at two positions which are at an upper portion of one side of a casing included in the main body, and the supporting members are separated from each other in a direction perpendicular to both of a direction perpendicular to the one side and a vertical direction, respectively,

wherein the lid is provided on the one side of the casing of the main body, and the lid is rotatable around the lower end of the lid serving as its rotation axis, and

wherein the lid is interposed between the supporting members away from each other in a direction perpendicular to both of a direction perpendicular to the one side and a vertical direction.