Patent ID: 8243339
Filing Date: 2012-08-14
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A multifunction apparatus comprising: an image recording unit that records an image on a recording medium; and an image reading unit that can read an image from an original placed on an original placement surface, the image reading unit being configured to move into a plurality of positions in relation to the image recording unit, and the image reading unit is configured to read an image from the original placed on the original placement surface in the plurality of positions; a first connection member having a first end rotatably connected to the image reading unit, and a second end rotatably connected to the image recording unit; and a second connection member having a first end rotatably connected to the image reading unit, and a second end that is detachable with respect to the image recording unit; wherein a movement of the image reading unit into a different position requires that the second end of the second connection member to be disengaged from the image recording unit; wherein the image reading unit is configured to be secured in the plurality of positions, the plurality of positions including at least a first position and a second position; wherein in the first position, the image reading unit is positioned substantially at an angle in relation to the image recording unit; wherein in the second position, the image reading unit is positioned substantially parallel with the image recording unit; wherein the image reading unit is configured such that one of the ends of the image reading unit is in a predetermined direction that is moveable in a direction departing from the image recording unit and is inclinable in the predetermined direction; wherein the multifunction apparatus is configured such that a proportion of a portion of the image reading unit that is substantially within an area above the image recording unit as compared to a portion of the image reading unit that is not substantially within the area above the image recording unit can be changed by changing the position of the image reading unit in relation to the image recording unit; wherein when the image reading unit is displaced from the second position to the first position, a dimension in the horizontal direction of the entire multifunction apparatus is reduced; wherein when the image reading unit is displaced from the first position to the second position, a dimension in the vertical direction of the entire multifunction apparatus is reduced, and the displacement changes the angular positioning between the image reading unit and the image recording unit independently of a horizontal positioning between the image reading unit and the image recording unit; wherein when the image reading unit is in the first position, a first portion of the image reading unit is substantially within an area above the entire image recording unit; wherein when the image reading unit is in the second position, the first portion of the image reading unit is substantially not within the area above the entire image recording unit; and wherein the image reading unit has an original placement surface which is larger than the area above the entire image recording unit.