Abstract:
A multi-function peripheral is able to process a plurality of functions such as printing, copying and scanning, and enables a power output device to selectively drive two different devices depending on required functions. The invention provides a switching mechanism, which can change delivery of power to the first device or the second device so that either the first device or the second device may be selected to process the desired function. The multi-function peripheral thus constructed does not need one dedicated power output device to match one working device and can reduce the number of power output devices required.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention relates to multi-function peripherals adopted for use in electronic equipment that has multiple functions, and particularly to electronic equipment that requires multiple power output devices to drive multiple corresponding working devices.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Office machines such as copiers, printers, facsimile machines and scanners have become indispensable information equipment in the office environment. All business and administrative tasks are closely tied to these machines. Each machine occupies a site. Adding it all together, they take a great deal of space and become a great burden to work environments. In addition, each machine has different functional properties, and the utilization rates for these single function office machines are also different. Some machines are not heavily used. But in order to meet the requirements of business, they still have to be bought and installed.  
           [0003]    In order to remedy the problems set forth above, Multi-Function Peripherals (MFPs) have been developed and introduced. These MFPs integrate the functions of copying, printing, FAX, scanning, etc. Users need to procure only one set of MFP to process multiple office tasks, saving a lot of space and cost. These MFPs often provide a simple operation interface and become an All-in-one device.  
           [0004]    Refer to FIGS. 1A and 1B for a conventional MFP. A conventional MFP, depending on different brands and machine types, integrates various functions, such as copying, printing, facsimile, scanning, etc. These functions are processed by different working devices. Take FIGS. 1A and 1B for instance. The MFP has a scanning device located on its upper side to process scanning operations. Coupling with microprocessor settings and matched communication lines, FAX operation may be processed after document scanning is completed. Inside the machine frame, there is also an inkjet working device. On one side of the machine frame there is a paper feeding device which is coupled with the inject working device to process document printing. This MFP should include at least a scanning device, an inkjet device and a paper feeding device. The scanning device includes a reciprocal Charge-Coupled Device (CCD), a transmission belt coupled with the CCD, and a driving motor coupled with the transmission belt to provide rotation power. The inkjet device includes a carrier, which carries an ink cartridge and can be moved reciprocally, a transmission belt coupled with the carrier and a driving motor coupled with the transmission belt to provide rotation power. The paper feeding device includes a rotary paper feeding barrel, a transmission gear set engaging with a paper feeding shaft, and a driving motor engaged with the transmission gear set to provide the rotation power.  
           [0005]    In the aforesaid MFP, the devices and the driving motor are coupled in a one-on-one fashion. The rotation power required by each device is provided by one driving motor. Such a design merely puts a scanner and an inkjet printer in a machine frame. While the electronic circuits are integrated, in terms of the mechanism, each device still operates independently. Hence they are not truly integrated. The components required by each working device remain the same. The size of the machine frame after the multiple functions are integrated is not substantially reduced. The driving motors still take a significant portion of the cost and occupy a great amount of space in the machine frame.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The primary object of the invention is to provide a multi-function peripheral (MFP) to integrate a plurality of working devices in a machine frame and employ one driving motor to selectively drive two working devices to reduce the cost and size of the MFP.  
           [0007]    The MFP of the invention integrates a plurality of devices, a plurality of transmission mechanisms that correspond to the devices, more than one power output device and one switching mechanism. Each working device includes a movement mechanism connected to a corresponding transmission mechanism. The switching mechanism and the power output device bridge two transmission mechanisms. Through the switching mechanism, the output power of the power output device may be selectively transmitted to one of the working devices to process desired operations.  
           [0008]    The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic views of the construction of conventional MFPs.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic views of a first embodiment of the invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4A is a fragmentary enlarged view of the first embodiment of the invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIGS. 4B and 4C are schematic views of the first embodiment in operation.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIGS. 5A and 5 b  are schematic views of a second embodiment of the invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6A is a fragmentary enlarged view of the second embodiment of the invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIGS. 6B and 6C are schematic views of the second embodiment in operation. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]    The invention aims at providing a multi-function peripheral (MFP) to integrate office business functions such as copying, printing, facsimile and scanning. The invention includes at least a scanning device, an inkjet device and a paper feeding device. The primary object of the invention is to use one driving motor to selectively actuate two devices (such as the scanning device and the paper feeding device). The following are embodiments of the invention to achieve the foregoing object.  
         [0018]    First Embodiment.  
         [0019]    The Technical Approach Adopted in the First Embodiment:  
         [0020]    A switching mechanism is employed to move the driving motor reciprocally to selectively connect to two devices.  
         [0021]    The Practical Technique and Method for the First Embodiment:  
         [0022]    Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the MFP  10  of the invention consists of a first working device  11 , a second working device  12 , a power output device  13  and a switching mechanism  14 . The first working device  11  includes a first movement mechanism  111  and a first transmission mechanism  112  connected to the first movement mechanism  111 . The second working device  12  includes a second movement mechanism  121  and a second transmission mechanism  122  connected to the second movement mechanism  121 . The switching mechanism  14  is movable reciprocally between the first transmission mechanism  112  and the second transmission mechanism  122 , and has a first position and a second position between the first transmission mechanism  112  and the second transmission mechanism  122 . The power output device  13  is located on the switching mechanism  14 . When the switching mechanism  14  is located at the first position, the output shaft  131  of the power output device  13  corresponds and connects to the first transmission mechanism  112 . When the switching mechanism  14  is located at the second position, the output shaft  131  of the power output device  13  corresponds and connects to the second transmission mechanism  122 . As mentioned above, when a user wants to use the first device  11 , s/he must move the switching mechanism  14  to the first position. The output shaft  131  of the power output device  13  then connects to the first transmission mechanism  112  of the first working device  11 , and the output power of the power output device  13  is transmitted through the first transmission mechanism  112  to the first movement mechanism  111  to drive the first movement mechanism  111 . When the user wants to use the second device  12 , s/he must move the switching mechanism  14  to the second position. The output shaft  131  of the power output device  13  then connects to the second transmission mechanism  122  of the second working device  12 , and the output power of the power output device  13  is transmitted through the second transmission mechanism  122  to the second movement mechanism  121  to drive the second movement mechanism  121 .  
         [0023]    Thus, by means of one power output device  13 , the first device  11  or the second device  12  may be driven. The first and the second transmission mechanisms  112  and  122  may be gear sets or transmission belt sets to drive the transmission mechanisms  112  and  122  to rotate or move reciprocally.  
         [0024]    Practical Approaches for Implementing the First Embodiment:  
         [0025]    Referring to FIG. 3, the MFP  10  of the invention includes a first device  11 , a second device  12  and a third device  15  to respectively process functions of paper feeding, scanning and inkjet printing. The first device  11  and the second device  12  share one power output device  13 . The third device  15  individually uses one power output device  13 . The power output device  13  is a driving motor, and preferably a step motor when adopted on the MFP of the invention.  
         [0026]    Referring to FIGS. 4A, 4B and  4 C, the first device  11  is a paper feeding device, and the first movement mechanism  111  is a paper feeding barrel. The first movement mechanism  111  has to rotate in one direction in a step moving manner to move paper individually from a paper cartridge (not shown in the drawings) to a corresponding location in the third device  15  (inkjet device) for printing operations, then move the printed paper leaving the paper exit (not shown in the drawings). The first transmission mechanism  112  for transmitting the rotation power to the first movement mechanism  111  is a gear set. The gear set engages with the first movement mechanism and has a connection gear  1121  engaging with a power source. The second device  12  is a scanning device. The second movement mechanism  121  is a CCD. The second movement mechanism  122  moves reciprocally to attain a parallel displacement so that the scanning operation may be done for documents located on the scanning platform (not shown in the drawings). The second transmission mechanism  122  includes a transmission belt  1221  coupled with a gear set. The second movement mechanism  121  is located on the transmission belt  1221 , which has one end coupling with a gear  1222 . The gear  1222  has a gear stem  1223  extended downwards. The other end of the gear stem  1223  is attached to a bevel gear  1224 , which in turn engages with a connection bevel gear  1225 . The connection bevel gear  1225  connects to a power source. The connection bevel gear  1225  is spaced from the connection gear  1121  at a selected distance.  
         [0027]    The switching mechanism  14  is a carrier in the MFP  10 , and may be moved to the first position and the second position. The power output device  13  is a driving motor anchored on the switching mechanism  14 . The power output device  13  has an output shaft  131  attached to a main gear  132 . When the switching mechanism  14  is moved to the first position, the main gear  132  of the power output device  13  engages with the connection gear  1121 . When the switching mechanism  14  is moved to the second position, the main gear  132  of the power output device  13  engages with the connection bevel gear  1125 . The switching mechanism  14  may be moved by an external force (such as through a push bar installed on the switching device  14  that can be moved by users) between the first position and the second position. A retaining pin or tenon (not shown in the drawings) may be used to border and anchor the first position or the second position. Movement of the switching mechanism  14  may also be driven by the movement displacement of the third device  15 .  
         [0028]    Referring to FIGS. 4B and 4C, when using the first device  11 , move the switching mechanism  14  to the first position. The main gear  132  of the power output device  13  engages with the connection gear  1121  of the first device  11 . The output power of the power output device  13  is transmitted through the output shaft  131 , the main gear  132 , the connection gear  1121  and the gear set to the first movement mechanism  111 . The first movement mechanism  111  rotates in a step moving manner to complete the paper feeding operation. When using the second device  12 , move the switching mechanism  14  to the second position. The main gear  132  of the power output device  13  engages with the bevel connection gear  1225  of the second device  12 . The output power of the power output device  13  is transmitted through the output shaft  131 , the main gear  132 , the bevel connection gear  1225 , the bevel gear  1224 , the gear stem  1223 , the gear  1222 , and the transmission belt  1221  to the second movement mechanism  121 . Thus the second movement mechanism  121  may be moved reciprocally to complete the scanning operation.  
         [0029]    Second Embodiment:  
         [0030]    The Technical Approach Adopted in the Second Embodiment:  
         [0031]    The driving motor is stationary, and the switching unit is employed to selectively transmit power to the second device.  
         [0032]    The Practical Technique and Method for the Second Embodiment:  
         [0033]    Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the MFP  10 ′ of the invention consists of a first device  11 ′, a second device  12 ′, a power output device  13 ′ and a switching mechanism  14 ′. The first device  11 ′ includes a first movement mechanism  111 ′ and a first transmission mechanism  112 ′ connected to the first movement mechanism  111 ′. The working device  12 ′ includes a second movement mechanism  121 ′ and a second transmission mechanism  122 ′ connected to the second movement mechanism  121 ′. The switching mechanism  14 ′ is movable between the first transmission mechanism  112 ′ and the second transmission mechanism  122 ′, and has a first position and a second position between the first transmission mechanism  112 ′ and the second transmission mechanism  122 ′. The power output device  13 ′ connects to the switching mechanism  14 ′. When the switching mechanism  14 ′ is moved to the first position, the power output device  13 ′ transmits power to the switching mechanism  14 ′, and the switching mechanism  14 ′ connects to the first transmission mechanism  112 ′. When the switching mechanism  14 ′ is moved to the second position, the power output device  13 ′ transmits power to the switching mechanism  14 ′, and the switching mechanism  14 ′ connects to the second transmission mechanism  122 ′. As mentioned above, when using the first device  11 , move the switching mechanism  14 ′ to the first position. The power output device  13 ′ delivers the output power through the switching mechanism  14 ′ to the first transmission mechanism  112 ′, then through the first transmission mechanism  112 ′ to the first movement mechanism  111 ′ so that the first movement mechanism  111 ′ functions as intended. When using the second device  12 ′, move the switching mechanism  14 ′ to the second position. The power output device  13 ′ delivers the output power through the switching mechanism  14 ′ to the second transmission mechanism  122 ′, then through the output second transmission mechanism  122 ′ to the second movement mechanism  121 ′ so that the second movement mechanism  121 ′ functions as intended.  
         [0034]    Thus, while remaining stationary, the power output device  13 ′ may selectively drive the first device  11  ′ or the second device  12 ′ through the switching mechanism  14 ′.  
         [0035]    Practical Approaches for Implementing the Second Embodiment:  
         [0036]    As shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B and  6 C, the first device  11 ′, the first movement mechanism  11 ′, the second device  12 ′ and the second movement mechanism  121 ′ are the same as the first embodiment, thus details are omitted. The first transmission mechanism  112 ′ has a first connection bevel gear  1121 ′ connected to the power supply and a bevel gear  1122 ′ connected to a gear set. The second transmission mechanism  122 ′ has a second connection bevel gear  1225 ′ connected to the power supply. The first connection bevel gear  1121 ′ and the second connection bevel gear  1225 ′ are spaced from each other at a selected distance. The axes of the first and the second connection bevel gears  1121 ′ and  1225 ′ point in the same direction. The power output device  13 ′ is located between the first and the second connection bevel gears  1121 ′ and  1225 ′. The output shaft  131 ′ of the power output device  13 ′ couples with a main gear  132 ′. The switching mechanism  14 ′ includes a rocker arm  141 ′ and a driven gear  142 ′. The rocker arm  141 ′ has one end coupled with the output shaft  131 ′ upon which it rotates, and the other end pivotally engaged with the driven gear  142 ′. The driven gear  142 ′ engages with the main gear  132 ′. When the driven gear  142 ′ and the main gear  132 ′ are engaged, the rocker arm  141 ′ may be moved to the first position and the second position. At the first position, the driven gear  142 ′ engages with the first connection bevel gear  1121 ′. At the second position, the driven gear  142 ′ engages with the second connection bevel gear  1225 ′.  
         [0037]    Referring to FIGS. 6B and 6C, when using the first device  11 ′, move the switching mechanism  14 ′ to the first position. The driven gear  142 ′ engages with the first connection bevel gear  1121  ′ of the first device  11 ′, and the output power of the power output device  13 ′ is transmitted through the output shaft  131 ′, the main gear  132 ′, the driven gear&#39;  142 ′ of the switching mechanism  14 ′, the first connection bevel gear  1121 ′, the bevel gear  1122 ′ and the gear set to the first movement mechanism  111  ′. Hence the first movement mechanism  111  ′ rotates in a step moving manner to complete the paper feeding operation. When using the second device  12 ′, move the rocker arm  141 ′ of the switching mechanism  14 ′ to the second position. The driven gear  142 ′ engages with the second connection bevel gear  1225 ′ of the second device  12 ′, and the output power of the power output device  13 ′ is transmitted through the output shaft  131 ′, the main gear  132 ′, the driven gear  142 ′ of the switching mechanism  14 ′, the second connection bevel gear  1225 ′, the bevel gear  1224 ′, the gear stem  1223 ′, the gear  1222 ′, and the transmission belt  1221 ′ to the second movement mechanism  121 ′. Thus the second movement mechanism  121 ′ may be moved reciprocally to complete the scanning operation.  
         [0038]    While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.