IMAGE SCANNING APPARATUS

• US 20170155782A1
• Filed: 11/30/2016
• Published: 06/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: IGARASHI, Hitoshi, TAMAI, Kensuke, OKAZAWA, Yoshiyuki
• Granted Patent: US 9,986,116 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/0054 Covers, e.g. for protection
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/1028 for maintaining the hinge in two or more positions, e.g. intermediate or fully open
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/1064 with a coil spring perpendicular to the pivot axis
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1261 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2999/00 Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00554 Latches or hinges therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00557 Connection or assembly of components or elements H04N1/00538 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence

Abstract

An image scanning apparatus includes a document table that forms a document mounting surface, a cover body that covers and uncovers the document table, and a hinge mechanism which has an angle retainer that retains an opening angle of the cover body and which allows the cover body to be lifted up and down. The hinge mechanism includes a case that is inserted into an insertion portion provided in the document table so that the case is displaceable in lift up/down directions of the cover body. The case includes an arm portion which extends in a direction that includes a lift up/down direction component and which is elastically deformable in a direction that intersects the lift up/down directions. The arm portion elastically contacts a contact portion provided in the insertion portion so that the cover body is retained in position in the lift up/down directions.

Claims

1. An image scanning apparatus comprising:

a document table having a document mounting surface on which a document is mounted;

a cover body that covers and uncovers the upper surface of the document table; and

a hinge mechanism which has an angle retainer that retains an opening angle of the cover body and which allows the cover body to be lifted up and down relative to the document mounting surface,

wherein the hinge mechanism includes a case that is inserted into an insertion portion provided in the document table so that the case is displaceable in lift up/down directions of the cover body, and

wherein the case includes an arm portion which extends in a direction that includes a lift up/down direction component and which is elastically deformable in a direction that intersects the lift up/down directions, and

wherein the arm portion elastically contacts a contact portion provided in the insertion portion so that the cover body is retained in position in the lift up/down directions.

2. The image scanning apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the arm portion is provided with a rib formed in a direction that includes a lift up/down direction component, and

wherein the rib contacts the contact portion so that the arm portion elastically deforms.

3. The image scanning apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein a distal end of the arm portion is a free end, and a site on the arm portion which contacts the contact portion shifts toward the free end as the cover body is displaced in a lift-up direction, and

wherein the rib has such a shape that a thickness of the rib at the site that contacts the contact portion in a direction that intersects the lift up/down directions increases as the cover body is displaced in the lift-up direction.

4. The image scanning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arm portion is provided with a restriction portion that restricts the case from slipping out of the insertion portion.

5. The image scanning apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the cover body covers and uncovers the upper surface of the document table by pivoting about a pivot shaft, and

wherein the arm portion is provided on a side portion of the case which faces in an axis direction of the pivot shaft.

6. The image scanning apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the arm portion is provided on each of two opposite side portions of the case which face in axis directions of the pivot shaft.

7. The image scanning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each arm portion is formed from a resin material integrally with the case.