Patent ID: 6768887
Filing Date: 2004-07-27
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
A support mechanism for detachably supporting a functional unit in a connection bay formed in a housing of an apparatus, said support mechanism comprising:a base plate for supporting the functional unit; an operating device provided on a bottom of the base plate and the operating device being freely turnable; a threaded shaft provided as an integral part of the operating device; a threaded hole formed in a bottom of the functional unit for receiving the threaded shaft and securing the functional unit to the base plate; and a biasing member elastically forcing the threaded shaft toward the threaded hole; wherein the base plate supports the functional unit between an exposed position where the functional unit is separated from and drawn out of the connection bay such that the functional unit is exposed to an exterior of the housing and an accommodated position where the functional unit is fitted in the connection bay, the biasing member biases the threaded shaft through the base plate such that a far end of the threaded shaft is guided toward the threaded hole, and the operating device is hidden inside the housing of said apparatus when the base plate is set to the accommodated position.