MULTIFUNCTION APPARATUS

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.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limiting the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a multifunction apparatus when a scanner cover and a printer cover are closed;

FIG. 2 illustrates an overall configuration of an image processing apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the scanner.

FIG. 4 illustrates a general configuration of a printer-locking lever;

FIG. 5 illustrates a general configuration of a scanner-locking lever;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a first engagement member;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second engagement member;

FIG. 8 illustrates the multifunction apparatus when the scanner cover is opened.

FIG. 9 is a front view illustrating the printer-locking lever when the scanner cover is opened;

FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating the scanner-locking lever when the scanner cover is opened;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the printer-locking lever when the scanner cover is opened;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating the scanner-locking lever when the scanner cover is opened.

FIG. 13 illustrates the multifunction apparatus when the printer cover is opened;

FIG. 14 illustrates the printer-locking lever when the printer cover is opened;

FIG. 15 illustrates the scanner locking lever when the printer cover is opened;

FIG. 16 illustrates a multifunction apparatus of a second embodiment when a scanner cover and a printer cover are closed;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a scanner-locking lever when the scanner cover is opened;

FIG. 18 illustrates a general configuration of a printer-locking lever;

FIG. 19 illustrates a general configuration of printer-locking levers;

FIG. 20 illustrates the multifunction apparatus when the scanner cover is opened through a predetermined angle;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of an engagement piece;

FIG. 22 illustrates the scanner-locking lever when a relatively thin original is placed on a flat bed;

FIG. 23 illustrates the scanner locking levers when the printer cover 21 is opened through an angle after the relatively thin original is placed on the flat bed.

FIG. 24 illustrates the scanner-locking lever when the printer cover is opened completely after the original is placed on the flat bed;

FIG. 25 illustrates the printer-locking lever when the printer cover is opened completely after the original is placed on the flat bed;

FIG. 26 illustrates the printer-locking lever when the relatively thick original is placed on the flat bed;

FIG. 27 illustrates the scanner-locking lever when the relatively thick original is place don the flat bed;

FIG. 28 illustrates the scanner-locking levers when the printer cover 21 is opened through an angle after the relatively thick original is placed on the flat bed;

FIG. 29 illustrates the scanner-locking lever when the scanner cover is completely opened;

FIG. 30 illustrates the printer-locking lever when the printer cover is completely opened;

FIG. 31 is a perspective view illustrating a multifunction apparatus;

FIG. 32 is a front view of the multifunction apparatus;

FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line X-X of FIG. 32;

FIG. 34 is a rear view of the multifunction apparatus;

FIG. 35 is a top view of the multifunction apparatus;

FIG. 36 is a cross sectional side view of the multifunction apparatus;

FIG. 37 illustrates a partial cross sectional side view illustrating a pertinent portion of the multifunction apparatus of a third embodiment;

FIG. 38 is a perspective view of a stopper of the third embodiment;

FIG. 39 is a first figure illustrating the operation of the multifunction apparatus;

FIG. 40 is an enlarged view of FIG. 39 illustrating the operation of the stopper;

FIG. 41 is a second figure illustrating the operation of the multifunction apparatus;

FIG. 42 illustrates the locus of the stopper;

FIG. 43 is a partial cross-sectional view of a pertinent portion of a multifunction apparatus of a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 44 is a first figure illustrating the operation of the multifunction apparatus of the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 45 is a second figure illustrating the operation of the multifunction apparatus of the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 46 is a front view of a multifunction apparatus of a fifth embodiment;

FIG. 47 is a first figure illustrating the operation of the multifunction apparatus;

FIG. 48 is a second figure illustrating the operation of the multifunction apparatus;

FIG. 49 is a third figure illustrating the operation of the multifunction apparatus;

FIG. 50 is a first figure illustrating a positioning lever of the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 51 is a fourth figure illustrating the operation of the multifunction apparatus; and

FIG. 52 is a second figure illustrating the positioning lever.

Claims

1. A multifunction apparatus including two units, comprising: a first unit including a first lid pivotally mounted to said first unit, the first lid being moveable either to a first opening position or to a first closing position;a second unit mounted to the first lid and including a second lid pivotally mounted to said second unit, the second lid being moveable either to a second opening position or to a second closing position;a first locking member pivotally mounted to said second unit;a second locking member pivotally mounted to said second unit;wherein when the second lid is pivoted from the second closing position to the second opening position, said second lid disengages from the first locking member allowing said first locking member to engage said first unit to lock said second unit to said first unit;wherein when the first lid is pivoted from the first closing position to the first opening position, the first lid allows said second locking member to disengage from said first unit such that said second locking member locks the second lid to said second unit.

2. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first urging member that urges said first locking member in such a direction that said first locking member engages said first unit, locking said second unit to said first unit, and a second urging member that urges said second locking member in such a direction that said second locking_member engages said second lid, locking said second lid to said second unit.

3. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first locking member includes a first end portion and a second end portion; a second locking member includes a third end portion and a fourth end portion;wherein when the second lid is pivoted from the second closing position to the second opening position, the second end portion disengages from said second lid causing said first locking member to pivot such that the first end portion engages said first unit to lock said second unit to said first unit;wherein when the first lid is pivoted from the first closing position to the first opening direction, said fourth end portion disengages from said first unit causing said second locking member to pivot such that the third end portion engages the second lid to lock the second lid to said second unit.

4. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first end portion is a hook and the third end portion is a hook; wherein said first unit includes a fifth engagement portion that engages the first engagement portion;wherein said second unit includes a sixth engagement portion that engages the third end portion.

5. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said second locking member is one of a plurality of second locking members having corresponding third end portions; wherein the sixth engagement portion includes stepped portions that engage the plurality of second locking members such that the third end portions move alternately into engagement with corresponding stepped portions in accordance with an angle formed between corresponding stepped portions and said first lid, the angle being formed when the first lid is pivoted from the first closing position to the first opening position.

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

7. A multifunction apparatus including two units, comprising: a first unit;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;wherein when the lid is pivoted in an opening direction causing said stopper to pivot to a first position where said stopper abuts said second unit and the lid, preventing the lid from further pivoting;wherein when said second unit is pivoted in an opening direction, said stopper pivots together with said second unit to a second position where said stopper prevents the second unit from further pivoting.

8. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said stopper includes: a first engagement portion such that when said stopper pivots to the first position, the first engagement portion abuts said second unit to prevent the lid from pivoting further;a second engagement portion such that when said stopper pivots to the second position, the second engagement portion abuts the first unit to prevent said second unit from pivoting further.

9. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said first unit is a printer and said second unit is a scanner.

10. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising an urging member that urges said stopper against the lid.

11. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when the lid is pivoted about a first axis in an opening direction causing 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 opening direction, said stopper pivots about the third axis together with said second unit to the second position.