Image reading apparatus

• US 8,994,997 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2013
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Chen, Xingjing
• Primary Examiner(s): Riley, Marcus T
• Application Number:
  US13/946,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20140029050A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/00 Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern G03G16/00, G03G17/00 take precedence ; xerographic printers for data processors per se G06K15/14
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/605 Holders for originals or exposure platens for photographic purposes in general G03B
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/40 Details not directly involved in printing, e.g. machine management, management of the arrangement as a whole or of its constitutive parts computer driven print job management G06F3/1237
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00 Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00342 with a radio frequency tag transmitter or receiver storage of additional information in an RFID tag attached to an image bearing paper sheet H04N1/32138
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00493 Particular location of the interface or console
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00496 Constructional details of the interface or console not otherwise provided for, e.g. rotating or tilting means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00557 Connection or assembly of components or elements H04N1/00538 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00559 Mounting or support of components or elements H04N1/00538 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00564 Constructional details relating to ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00588 to the scanning position H04N1/00572, H04N1/00594 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/1065 Support or mounting of the flat picture-bearing surface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/006 Using near field communication, e.g. an inductive loop
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/02483 Housing or part of the housing, e.g. bottom plate H04N2201/02481 takes precedence

Abstract

An image reading apparatus a chassis, a sheet supporting unit disposed on the chassis configured to receive a sheet of a document placed thereon, a reading unit movably disposed on the chassis and configured to read an image on the sheet placed on the sheet supporting unit while moving in a predetermined direction, a reference member provided at a side portion of the sheet supporting unit, the sheet being placed on the sheet supporting unit such that one end of the sheet contacts the reference member, and an electrostatic capacitive touch key unit disposed on a side portion of the chassis is provided. Additionally, the reference member and the electrostatic capacitive touch key unit are arranged at opposite side portions, in the predetermined direction, of the chassis.

Claims

1. An image reading apparatus comprising:

a chassis;

a sheet supporting unit disposed on the chassis, wherein the sheet supporting unit includes a surface configured to receive a sheet of a document placed thereon;

a reading unit movably disposed on the chassis, wherein the reading unit includes a scanner configured to read an image on the sheet placed on the sheet supporting unit while moving in a predetermined direction;

a reference member provided at a side portion of the sheet supporting unit, the sheet being placed on the sheet supporting unit such that one end of the sheet contacts the reference member;

an electrostatic capacitive touch key unit disposed on a side portion of the chassis;

a near field communication unit; and

a touch panel, wherein the touch panel is configured to be operated based on a change of pressure on a surface of the touch panel,

wherein the reference member and the electrostatic capacitive touch key unit are arranged at opposite side portions, in the predetermined direction, of the chassis,

wherein the touch panel is arranged between the reference member and the electrostatic capacitive touch key unit in the predetermined direction such that the touch panel is arranged nearer to the reference member than is the electrostatic capacitive touch key unit, and

wherein the near field communication unit is arranged between the reference member and the touch panel in the predetermined direction such that the near field communication unit is arranged nearer to the reference member than are both the touch panel and the electrostatic capacitive touch key unit.

2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the touch panel is disposed on a central portion, in the predetermined direction, of the chassis.

3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the near field communication unit is disposed on a same side portion as the reference member, in the predetermined direction, of the chassis.

4. The image reading apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the near field communication unit comprises:

a near field communication substrate, wherein the near field communication substrate is configured to perform near field communication;

a control substrate disposed to face the near field communication substrate, wherein the control substrate is configured to control the electrostatic capacitive touch key unit;

a shield plate disposed between the near field communication substrate and the control substrate, wherein the shield plate is configured to prevent input of extrinsic noise to the control substrate; and

a clearance adjusting member, wherein the clearance adjusting member includes an elastic member configured to adjust a clearance between the near field communication substrate and the shield plate.

5. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation panel including the electrostatic capacitive touch key unit, the operation panel comprising:

a panel cover supported by the chassis, on which the electrostatic capacitive touch key unit is disposed; and

a panel plate attached to the panel cover and disposed to cover the electrostatic capacitive touch key unit.

6. The image reading apparatus according to claim 5, wherein,

the panel cover is disposed to cover a peripheral portion of the electrostatic capacitive touch key unit;

and

the panel plate is disposed to cover a central portion of the electrostatic capacitive touch key unit.

7. The image reading apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a surface of the panel cover and a surface of the panel plate are on a same plane in a state where the panel plate is attached to the panel cover.

8. The image reading apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a panel front cover supported by the panel cover,

wherein an upper end surface of the panel front cover and the surface of the panel plate are on the same plane in the state where the panel plate is attached to the panel cover.

9. An image reading apparatus comprising:

a chassis;

a sheet supporting unit disposed on the chassis, wherein the sheet supporting unit includes a surface configured to receive a sheet of a document placed thereon;

a reading unit movably disposed on the chassis, wherein the reading unit includes a scanner configured to read an image on the sheet placed on the sheet supporting unit while moving in a predetermined direction;

a reference member provided at a side portion of the sheet supporting unit, the sheet being placed on the sheet supporting unit such that one end of the sheet contacts the reference member; and

an operation panel having a plurality of operating units including an electrostatic capacitive touch key unit, a near field communication unit, and a touch panel, wherein the operation panel is configured to be operated for setting the image reading apparatus, and wherein the touch panel is configured to be operated based on a change of pressure on a surface of the touch panel,

wherein the reference member and the electrostatic capacitive touch key unit are arranged at opposite side portions, in the predetermined direction, of the chassis,

wherein the touch panel is arranged between the reference member and the electrostatic capacitive touch key unit in the predetermined direction such that the touch panel is arranged nearer to the reference member than is the electrostatic capacitive touch key unit, and

wherein the near field communication unit is arranged between the reference member and the touch panel in the predetermined direction such that the near field communication unit is arranged nearer to the reference member than are both the touch panel and the electrostatic capacitive touch key unit.