Multifunction apparatus

• US 8,237,995 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2007
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): ZHU, RICHARD Z
• Application Number:
  US11/677,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20070195381A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,994 Days
• Field of Search: 358/474, 358/296, 163/27
• US Class Current: 358/474
• 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 an engagement portion;

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

a stopper mounted to said second unit and pivotal relative to said second unit, the stopper including a first abutting portion and a second abutting portion;

wherein when the second unit is closed relative to said first unit, if the lid is pivoted relative to said second unit in a first opening direction, the lid moves into abutting contact with the stopper causing said stopper to pivot to a first position where the first abutting portion abuts said second unit preventing the lid from further pivoting; and

wherein when the lid is closed relative to said second unit, if said second unit is pivoted relative to said first unit in a second opening direction, said stopper pivots together with said second unit to a second position where the second abutting portion moves into sliding contact with the engagement portion of the first unit and then into abutting contact with the engagement portion of the first unit preventing the second unit from further pivoting.

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

3. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an urging member that urges said stopper against the lid.

4. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lid is pivoted about a first axis in the first opening direction to cause 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 first opening direction, said stopper pivots about the third axis together with said second unit to the second position.

5. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first unit includes a surface and an engagement portion.

6. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when said stopper pivots, a portion of said stopper describes a curve with a predetermined gap between the portion of said stopper and the surface.

7. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the portion of said stopper is convex and the surface is concave.

8. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 6, wherein when the lid has been pivoted by a predetermined angle, if said second unit is pivoted to the second position, the portion of said stopper abuts the engagement portion.

9. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the portion of said stopper has a recess complementary to the engagement portion.

10. A multifunction apparatus including two units, comprising:

a first unit;

a second unit pivotally mounted to said first unit;

a lid pivotally mounted to said second unit and including a recess formed in the lid;

a stopper pivotally mounted to said second unit;

wherein when said lid is pivoted relative to said second unit in a first opening direction, the recess does not move into engagement with said stopper;

wherein when said second unit and said lid are pivoted together relative to said first unit in a second opening direction, the recess moves into engagement with said stopper so that said stopper is caught in the recess, preventing the lid from further pivoting;

wherein said stopper has a first portion and a second portion and is pivotally supported on said second unit at a point between the first portion and the second portion, the first portion having a weight larger than the second portion; and

wherein when said stopper is caught in the recess, the second portion is caught in the recess.

11. A multifunction apparatus including two units, comprising:

a first unit including an engagement portion;

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, said stopper including a first abutment portion and a second abutment portion;

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

wherein when the lid is pivoted in the first opening direction, the stopper pivots while maintaining a predetermined substantially fixed distance between a portion of the second abutment portion and the engagement portion;

wherein when said second unit is pivoted in a second opening direction, said stopper pivots together with said second unit to a second position where said stopper moves into engagement with the engagement portion so that the second abutment portion abuts said lid to prevent the second unit from further pivoting.

12. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the engagement portion includes a surface that faces a part of the second abutment portion when said stopper pivots, and a surface that abuts the second abutment portion.

13. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 12, wherein when said stopper pivots, a portion of said stopper describes a curve with a predetermined gap between the portion of said stopper and the surface.

14. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the portion of said stopper is convex and the surface is concave.

15. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 13, wherein when the lid has been pivoted by a predetermined angle, if said second unit is pivoted to the second position, the portion of said stopper abuts the engagement portion.

16. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the portion of said stopper has a recess substantially complementary to the engagement portion.