Flatbed-type scanner having a cover for an original document which can adjust height automatically

• US 5,812,285 A
• Filed: 09/27/1996
• Issued: 09/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microtek International Incorporated (Zoetis Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Microtek International Incorporated (Zoetis Incorporated)
• Inventors: Chang, Zi Ching, Lin, Tzi Chi
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Edward L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HASKINS, TWYLER LAMB
• Application Number:
  US08/722,801
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 358/497, 399/362, 399/380, 355/75, 355/25
• US Class Current: 358/497
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 27/6228 Platen covers
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/605 Holders for originals or exposure platens for photographic purposes in general G03B
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/10 using flat picture-bearing surfaces H04N1/113, H04N1/195 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0422 Media holders, covers, supports, backgrounds; Arrangements to facilitate placing of the medium H04N2201/0406 - H04N2201/0412, H04N2201/0434 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0434 specially adapted for scanning pages of a book

Abstract

A cover for a flatbed-type scanner is provided with a pair of supporting arms for supporting horizontal axial bodies which are captured in recesses at edges of the main body of the scanner and permitted to move vertically in the recesses so as to permit vertical movement of the cover. The cross-sections of the axial bodies have a length which is greater than the width, and the recesses have openings defined by resilient members to have a width that is greater than the length of the cross-sections and less than the width of the cross-sections to enable the axial bodies to be inserted into the recesses upon rotation of the cover and to subsequently prevent unintentional removal of the axial bodies from the recesses as the cover is moved vertically to accommodate different thicknesses of documents while maintaining a substantially horizontal orientation.

Claims

1. A flatbed-type scanner having a cover for a document placed on a main body of the scanner, the height of the cover being automatically adjustable to accommodate different thickness documents, wherein the cover has at least one supporting arm which is connected to a horizontal axial body;

at least one recess is formed in an edge of the main body of the scanner for accommodating the supporting arm and the horizontal axial body connected therewith to permit vertical movement within the recess and therefore vertical movement of the cover, and at least one resilient member is provided adjacent the recess for preventing unintentional removal of the horizontal axial body from the recess.

2. A flatbed-type scanner as claimed in claim 1, wherein a length of a cross-section of the horizontal axial body taken perpendicular to the axis of the body is longer than a width of the cross-section;

an opening is formed by the resilient support arm at the recess; and

the width of this opening is slightly smaller than the length of cross-section but slightly larger than the width of the cross-section to permit the axial body to be easily inserted into the recess by rotating the cover so that the axial body passes through the opening, the larger length of the cross-section preventing the axial body from passing back through the opening when the cover is in a horizontal state.

3. A scanner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporting arm is provided with a stepped portion for serving as a limit stopping means to prevent the cover from being opened excessively.