Electronic apparatus having display device

In an electronic apparatus provided with a display device, hinge portions for rotatably holding the display device on the apparatus body are provided in two portions on the display device, and the display device is so arranged that it is rotatable in one direction about one hinge portion or rotatable in another direction about the other hinge portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus having a display 
device (image display apparatus) as a part of the apparatus body, for 
example like image recording apparatus such as electronic filing systems 
(magnetooptical disk systems), word processors, personal computers, 
microfilm readers, microfilm reader printers, etc. 
2. Related Background Art 
FIG. 18 shows schematic structure of an example of the electronic apparatus 
including a display device as a part of the apparatus body. The apparatus 
of this example is an electronic filing system. 
Reference numeral 80 designates the apparatus body and 1 a display device 
set on the front surface of the apparatus body. This example employs a 
thin display device such as a liquid crystal display device in order to 
construct the entire apparatus in a compact size. The display device is 
fixed in a fixed angular posture at a predetermined angle to the apparatus 
body 80. 
Numeral 2 denotes a document mount portion projecting this side from the 
front surface of apparatus below the display device 1. Sheet documents S 
are loaded on the document mount portion 2. The loaded documents S are fed 
one by one from the top by a sheet feed roller 3, and a document is 
separated by a separator composed of a reversing roller 4 and a feeding 
roller 5 to be drawn into the apparatus body 80. Alternatively, a document 
S may be supplied by hand through the document mount portion 2 into a 
sheet feed port 2a, so that the hand-supplied document is drawn into the 
apparatus body 80 by the sheet feed roller 3 and the separator 4, 5. 
The document S drawn into the apparatus body 80 is conveyed from bottom to 
top in the apparatus body 80 through a path of from a pair of guide plates 
12, 13, via a pair of conveying rollers 6, 7 and another pair of conveying 
rollers 8, 9 to a pinch-and convey belt apparatus 14, 15, and then is 
discharged onto a discharge tray portion 16 provided this side of the 
upper surface of the apparatus body 80. 
In the conveying process of this document first and second image reading 
units 10, 11 set on either side of the conveying path photoelectrically 
read image information on the front side and on the back side of the 
document at first and second reading positions A, B, respectively, between 
the paired conveying rollers 6, 7 and the paired conveying rollers 8, 9. 
The first and second image reading units 10, 11 each consist of a document 
illumination light source, mirrors for guiding image light, an imaging 
lens, and an image reading sensor such as CCD. 
The image information of the document photoelectrically read by the image 
reading units 10, 11 is recorded in a magnetooptical disk as a detachable 
recording medium in a magnetooptical recording apparatus 17. The recording 
medium may be one fixed in the apparatus body, such as a hard disk. At the 
same time, the thus read image information is displayed on the display 
apparatus 1, whereby whether reading is fine or not can be checked. 
Also, the image information recorded in the recording medium may be 
displayed on the display device 1 while retrieving it with necessity. The 
information may also be output as a hard copy by a printing mechanism not 
shown. 
Signals for retrieving information for retrieval and for operation of 
apparatus are supplied through a keyboard not shown and key switches 20 
activated according to the contents displayed on the display device 1. The 
key switches 20 are arranged in the front portion of display device 1 near 
the lower edge. 
Numeral 18 is an electrical-component portion including a print-circuit 
board etc. for controlling the power source and the apparatus. 
Although the display device 1 in the apparatus of the above example is set 
in the fixed angular posture at the predetermined angle on the front 
surface of the apparatus body 80, it is convenient if the display device 1 
is arranged as pivotable relative to the apparatus body 80 so as to 
properly adjust (or tilt) up and down (or, left and right) into an 
elevation posture or into a depression posture at an appropriate angle (or 
into a leftward posture or a rightward posture at an appropriate angle) in 
order to facilitate observation of the image displayed on the display 
device 1 in accordance with the operator's sitting height or conditions of 
illumination light, etc. 
FIG. 19 shows an apparatus in which the display device 1 is arranged to 
tilt into an elevation posture or into a depression posture at an 
appropriate angle as shown by a chain double-dashed line 1a or 1b about a 
support axis a on the upper edge side of the display device 1, and FIG. 20 
shows an apparatus in which the display device 1 is arranged to tilt into 
an elevation posture or into a depression posture at an appropriate angle 
as shown by a chain double-dashed line 1a or 1b about a support axis b on 
the lower edge side of the display device 1. 
(i) However, in order to avoid, in the case of the apparatus of FIG. 19, 
interference between the apparatus body 80 and the lower edge of the 
display device moving back toward the apparatus with respect to the 
support axis a when the display device 1 is tilted into the depression 
posture 1b, or in order to avoid, in the case of FIG. 20, interference 
between the apparatus body 80 and the upper edge of the display device 
moving back toward the apparatus with respect to the support axis b when 
the display device 1 is tilted into the elevation posture la, a space for 
allowing the backward movement of display device is necessary in either 
case in a length L between the apparatus body 80 and the display device 1. 
Therefore, the display device 1 needs to be set the length L ahead of the 
apparatus body 80 as compared with the apparatus in which the display 
device 1 is set at the fixed angle so as not to tilt as shown in FIG. 18. 
Thus, the entire apparatus becomes apparently larger, which reduces the 
effect of the size reduction of the apparatus by using the thin display 
device 1 such as a liquid crystal display device. 
(ii) Where the document mount portion 2 and sheet feed port 2a are provided 
below the display device 1 to allow supply and discharge of document on 
the front surface side of apparatus as in the apparatus of this example in 
order to enhance the operability, and where the display device 1 is set 
the length L ahead of the apparatus body 80 as in above (i), there occurs 
a problem of degraded setting performance or hand supply performance of 
document S onto the document mount portion 2 or into the sheet feed port 
2a because of obstruction of the display device 1 jutting out above the 
document mount portion 2. 
Particularly, in the case of the apparatus in which the display device 1 is 
tilted about the support axis b on the lower edge side of the display 
device 1 as shown in FIG. 20, the lower edge of the display device 1 is 
fixed at the position, so that the lower edge is always an obstruction, 
which makes the problem pronounced. 
In the case of the apparatus in which the display device 1 is tilted about 
the support axis a on the upper edge side of display device 1 as shown in 
FIG. 19, the operator can move the display device 1 into the depression 
posture 1b to bring the lower edge of the display device 1 to that side of 
the document mount portion 2 so as not to be an obstruction. Thus, the 
above problem can be avoided to some extent upon setting the documents 
onto the document mount portion 2 or upon supplying the document by hand, 
though the operator is required to perform a troublesome operation to tilt 
the display device 1 into the depression posture 1b. This case, however, 
has another problem that the control of the key switches 20 is not easy, 
because the position of the key switches 20 arranged in the lower end 
portion of display device 1 is shifted to that side because of the tilting 
of display device 1. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an 
apparatus in which a display device can be tilted at a desired angle 
without causing the above problems as described in (i) and (ii), thus, 
without increasing the size of the entire apparatus and without degrading 
the operability of apparatus. 
The present invention is directed to an electronic apparatus having a 
display device, which has the following structural features. 
In an electronic apparatus having a display device as a part of the 
apparatus body, hinge portions for tilting the display device with respect 
to the apparatus body are provided on upper and lower sides of the display 
device, and the apparatus is characterized in that the display device is 
rotated about the hinge portion on the upper side to tilt the display 
device upward and the display device is rotated about the hinge portion on 
the lower side to tilt the display device downward. 
The hinge portions for tilting the display device each have a projecting 
portion having a shaft to become a support shaft for the display device, a 
U-shaped recess portion to be engaged therewith, a claw member arranged to 
slide to close an opening portion of the U-shaped recess portion, and 
control means for controlling a motion of the claw member in such a manner 
that, in a state where the display device is set on the both hinge 
portions on the upper and lower sides of apparatus, the claw member is 
allowed to slide to open the opening portion of the U-shaped recess 
portion so that only either one of the upper and lower shafts engaged with 
the U-shaped recess portions can be disengaged, and that, in a state where 
the display device is tilted while one of the upper and lower hinge 
portions is disengaged, the shaft, provided in the projecting portion, to 
become the support shaft is kept not to be disengaged from the engaged 
state with the U-shaped recess portion. 
The apparatus is further characterized in that the hinge portions for 
tilting the display device are arranged to freely rotate in a direction to 
tilt the display device through a ratchet mechanism etc. but keep the 
display device fixed in a returning direction unless it is released by 
releasing means. 
In another electronic apparatus having a display device as a part of the 
apparatus body, hinge portions for tilting the display device with respect 
to the apparatus body are provided on left and right sides of the display 
device, and the apparatus is characterized in that the display device is 
rotated about the hinge portion on the left side to tilt the display 
device leftward and the display device is rotated about the hinge portion 
on the right side to tilt the display device rightward.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
&lt;Embodiment 1&gt; (FIG. 2 to FIG. 14) 
FIG. 2 is a perspective view to show an appearance of the apparatus of the 
present embodiment. The apparatus of this example is also an electronic 
filing system as the above-described apparatus in FIG. 18 was. FIG. 3 is a 
schematic, vertical cross-sectional side view of the apparatus. The same 
constituents and portions as those in the above-described apparatus in 
FIG. 18 are denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant 
description will be omitted. 
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 90 designates a keyboard, and signals for 
retrieving information for retrieval and for operation of apparatus are 
supplied through the keyboard 90 into the apparatus body. Also, the 
signals may be supplied through key switches 20 activated according to the 
contents displayed on the display device 1. Operations and functions for 
reading, recording, displaying, etc. of image information of document S 
are the same as those of the above-described apparatus of FIG. 18. 
The display device 1 is tilted in the manner as described with FIG. 1. The 
tilting mechanism is next described. 
FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the portion of the display 
device, which shows a state in which the display device 1 is held in the 
standard angular posture in which the display device 1 is hooked both on 
hinge portions 70A, 70B on the upper side and on the lower side on the 
front surface of the apparatus body 80. FIG. 5 is a plan view, partly 
broken, of the portion of the display device. 
FIG. 6 shows a state in which the display device 1 is released from the 
hooked state on the lower hinge portions 70B and then is rotated upward 
from the standard angular posture of FIG. 4 about the upper hinge portions 
70A so as to be tilted in the elevation posture at a desired angle. 
FIG. 7 shows a state in which the display device 1 is released from the 
hooked state on the upper hinge portions 70A and then is rotated downward 
from the standard angular posture of FIG. 4 about the lower hinge portions 
70B so as to be tilted in the depression posture at a desired angle. 
FIG. 8 is a front elevation of a front panel 80a of the apparatus body 80 
to which the display device 1 is mounted. There are a pair of upper hinge 
portions 70A, 70A in left and right portions on the upper edge side of the 
front panel 80a, and a pair of lower hinge portions 70B, 70B in left and 
right portions on the lower edge side, thus four hinge portions in total 
at the four corners of the front panel 80a. The hinge portions 70A, 70A 
and 70B, 70B have the same structure. 
FIG. 9 is a perspective view, partly broken, of one hinge portion. In 
detail, each hinge portion consists of a pair of left and right projecting 
portions (brackets) 71, 72, friction outer casings 74 arranged as opposed 
to each other on inner surfaces of distal end portions of the pair of left 
and right projecting portions 71, 72, inner rings 73a, 74a internally 
fitting with the friction outer casings 74, and a D-cut shaft (support 
shaft) 75 fixed between the inner rings 73a and 74a. Numeral 75a 
represents a D-cut surface of the shaft 75. Here, the D-cut surfaces 75a 
of support shafts 75, 75 of upper hinge portions 70A, 70A face up, while 
the D-cut surfaces 75a of support shafts 75, 75 of lower hinge portions 
70B, 70B face down. The inner rings 73a, 74a are rotatable with 
application of a certain load on the friction external casings 73, 74. 
Accordingly, the D-cut shaft 75 as a support shaft integral with the inner 
rings 73a, 74a is also rotatable with application of a certain load. 
FIG. 10 is a rear elevation of the display device 1. On a back panel 
55.sub.1 of a housing cover 55 of the display device 1 there are recess 
portions 55a, 55a and 55b, 55b having a U-shaped transverse cross section 
to be engaged with the hinge portions 70A, 70A and 70B, 70B at the four 
corners in correspondence with the hinge portions 70A, 70A and 70B, 70B 
provided at the four corners of the above-described front panel 80a of the 
apparatus body. The U-shaped recess portions have the same shape. 
FIG. 11 is an enlarged, transverse, cross-sectional side view of one 
U-shaped recess portion. Correspondently put into larger-diameter recess 
portions 55a.sub.1, 55a.sub.1 (55b.sub.1, 55b.sub.1) on the both end sides 
of each U-shaped recess portion are the distal ends of the pair of left 
and right projecting portions 71, 72 and the friction outer casings 73, 74 
of the hinge portion 70A (70B). Also, the D-cut shaft 75 is put into a 
middle recess portion 55a.sub.2 (55b.sub.2) in correspondence therewith. 
Further, 55a.sub.3 (55b.sub.3) is a portion correspondently associated 
with the D-cut surface 75a of the D-cut shaft 75. 
In the vertical, cross-sectional side view of the display device 1 of FIG. 
4 and the plan view, partly broken, of FIG. 5, numeral 50 designates a 
thin display using a liquid crystal etc., set in a front frame of the 
housing cover 55, and 51 a base to which the display 50 is fixed. The base 
is supported on the housing cover 55 by fixing it on inward bosses 55c 
integrally provided with the housing cover 55, in an incorporated manner. 
Numeral 54 denotes a slide plate disposed between the base 51 and the back 
panel 55.sub.1 of the housing cover 55. FIG. 12 is a rear elevation of the 
inside of the display device 1 to show the back side of the slide plate 
54, removing the back panel 55.sub.1 of the housing cover 55. 
This slide plate 54 is slidable in vertical directions of arrows a, b in 
FIG. 12 within the range of the length of elongate holes 54a, because 
stepped pins 52 provided at the four corners on the back surface of the 
base 51 are fit in the associated vertically elongate holes 54a provided 
at the four corners of the slide plate 54. 
A pair of claw members 57a, 57a extend upward on the both, left and right, 
sides in the upper edge portion of the slide plate 54, while a pair of 
claw members 57b, 57b extend downward in the both, left and right, edge 
portions on the lower edge side. 
As shown in FIG. 12, two, first and second, control levers 62, 63 are 
provided on upper and lower sides on the back surface and on the left side 
of the base 51 in FIG. 12. 
The first control lever 62 is rotatable clockwise or counterclockwise about 
a pin shaft 64 planted in the base 51, and one arm 62a is fit in a 
vertical window 55.sub.2 provided on the side wall of the housing cover 55 
so as to be exposed as a control knob to the outside. Another arm 62b is a 
bifurcated fork, and a first pin 66 planted on the back surface of the 
slide plate 54 is located between upper and lower legs 62b.sub.1 and 
62b.sub.2 of the bifurcated fork 62b. The first control lever 62 is always 
biased in the direction of counterclockwise rotation about the pin shaft 
64 by a spring 59, and is kept to be stopped in contact with a stopper pin 
68 in a free state. In this state, the upper surface of the lower leg 
62b.sub.2 of the bifurcated fork 62b is in contact with the lower surface 
of the first pin 66. 
The second control lever 63 is rotatable clockwise or counterclockwise 
about a pin shaft 65 planted in the base 51, and one arm 63a is fit in a 
vertical window 55.sub.3 provided on the side wall of the housing cover 55 
so as to be exposed as a control knob to the outside. Another arm 63b is a 
bifurcated fork, and a second pin 67 planted on the back surface of the 
slide plate 54 is located between upper and lower legs 63b.sub.1 and 
63b.sub.2 of the bifurcated fork 63b. The second control lever 63 is 
always biased in the direction of clockwise rotation about the pin shaft 
65 by a spring 60, and is kept to be stopped in contact with a stopper pin 
69 in a free state. In this state, the lower surface of the upper leg 
63b.sub.1 of the bifurcated fork 63b is in contact with the upper surface 
of the second pin 67. 
Numeral 51a denotes a louvering portion provided in the base 51 at a nearly 
middle position between the first and second control levers 62, 63 set on 
the upper side and on the lower side, and 61 a lock lever rockable back 
and forth about a pin 51b planted in the louvering portion 51a with 
respect to the slide plate 54. The lock lever 61 is always biased in the 
direction of counterclockwise rotation in FIG. 5 by a biasing spring not 
shown. 
Further, 54b, 54c (FIG. 12) are two, first and second, lock holes provided 
on the upper side and on the lower side in the slide plate 54, and a 
locking hook 61b at the distal end of one arm 61a of the lock lever 61 is 
to be engaged with or disengaged from either one of the two holes. 
(i) When the first and second control levers 62, 63 are in a free state, 
the slide plate 54 is kept at a middle height position where the first pin 
66 is received or stopped from descending by the upper surface of the 
lower leg 62b.sub.2 of the bifurcated fork 62b in the first control lever 
62, as shown in FIG. 12. 
Also, the lock lever 61 is in a state where the locking hook 61b is in 
contact with a portion of the back surface of the slide plate at the 
nearly middle position between the first and second lock holes 54b and 54c 
in the slide plate 54. 
In this state, the upward claw members 57a, 57a on the upper edge side of 
the slide plate 54 are in a shift state to close approximately lower 
halves of the opening portions of the associated upper U-shaped recess 
portions 55a, 55a. Also, the downward claw members 57b, 57b on the lower 
edge side of the slide plate 54 are positioned in a state to close 
approximately upper halves of the opening portions of the associated lower 
U-shaped recess portions 55b, 55b. 
(ii) In this state of FIG. 12, when the control knob 62a of the first 
control lever 62 is moved upward against the spring 59 by finger, the 
first control lever 62 is rotated clockwise about the pin shaft 64 to 
lower the bifurcated fork 62b. With it, the first pin shaft 66, thus, the 
slide plate 54 descends (or moves in the direction of b) by its own 
weight, before it reaches a stopped state where the upper edges of the 
vertically elongate holes 54a at the four corners of the slide plate 54 
are in contact with the upper surfaces of the stepped pins 52. 
The descending motion b of the slide plate 54 causes the first lock hole 
54b on the upper side to face the locking hook 61b of the lock lever 61, 
so that the locking hook 61b drops into the first lock hole 54b to be 
engaged therewith, thus keeping the slide plate 54 locked at the down 
position. 
In the descent state of the slide plate 54, the upward claw members 57a, 
57a are lowered to make the upper U-shaped recess portions 55a, 55a 
completely open. On the other hand, because the downward claw members 57b, 
57b are also lowered, the opening portions of the lower U-shaped recess 
portions 55b, 55b are completely closed by the claw members 57b, 57b. 
(iii) In the state of FIG. 12, when the control knob 63a of the second 
control lever 63 is moved downward against the spring 60 by finger, the 
second control lever 63 is rotated counterclockwise about the pin shaft 65 
to raise the bifurcated fork 63b. On the way of rise of the bifurcated 
fork 63b the upper surface of the lower leg 63b.sub.2 of the bifurcated 
fork 63b comes to contact the lower surface of the second pin 67. 
Subsequently rotating the second control lever 63 counterclockwise against 
the weights of the spring 60 and slide plate 54, the slide plate 54 
ascends (or moves in the direction of a), before it reaches a stopped 
state where the lower edges of the vertically elongate holes 54a at the 
four corners of the slide plate 54 are in contact with the lower surfaces 
of the stepped pins 52. 
The above ascending movement a of the slide plate 54 causes the second lock 
hole 54c on the lower side to face the locking hook 61b of the lock lever 
61, so that the locking hook 61b drops into the second lock hole 54c to be 
engaged therewith, thus keeping the slide plate 54 locked at the up 
position. 
In the ascent state of the slide plate 54, the upward claw members 57a, 57a 
are raised to make the upper U-shaped recess portions 55a, 55a completely 
closed by the claw members 57a, 57a. On the other hand, because the 
downward claw members 57b, 57b are also raised, the opening portions of 
the lower U-shaped recess portions 55b, 55b are kept completely open. 
(a) Mounting of the display device 1 onto the apparatus body 80 
A mounting operation of the display device 1 onto the apparatus body 80 is 
carried out as follows. As described in above (ii), the operation of the 
first control lever 62 lowers (or moves in the direction of b) the slide 
plate 54 so as to completely open the upper U-shaped recess portions 55a, 
55a of the display device 1. 
Matching the upper U-shaped recess portions 55a, 55a the opening portions 
of which are open, with the upper hinge portions 70A, 70A of the front 
panel 80a in the apparatus body 80, the upper U-shaped recess portions 
55a, 55a are hooked on the upper hinge portions 70A, 70A, as shown in FIG. 
13. 
Then a jig such as a screwdriver is put into the hole 55.sub.4 provided in 
the back panel 55.sub.1 of the housing cover 55 of the display device 1 to 
push the other arm 61c of the lock lever 61. This rotates the lock lever 
61 clockwise about the pin 51b against the spring biasing it in the 
direction of counterclockwise rotation, so that the locking hook 61b 
leaves the first lock hole 54b to release locking at the descent position 
of the slide plate 54. This locking release causes the slide plate 54 to 
ascend (or move in the direction of a) with counterclockwise rotation of 
the first lever 62 due to the spring 59 and then to return to the middle 
height position of FIG. 12. 
The ascent of the slide plate 54 to the middle height position causes the 
upward claw members 57a, 57a of the slide plate 54 to close approximately 
lower half portions of the opening portions of the upper U-shaped recess 
portions 55a, 55a, as shown in FIG. 14, thereby stopping unhooking of the 
upper U-shaped recess portions 55a, 55a from the hinge portions 70A, 70A. 
Next, the second control lever 63 is rotated to raise (or move in the 
direction of a) the slide plate 54, as in above (iii). This raises the 
downward claw members 57b, 57b so as to leave the opening portions of the 
lower U-shaped recess portions 55b, 55b, thereby completely opening the 
opening portions of the lower U-shaped recess portions 55b, 55b. Then the 
display device 1 is rotated to the front panel 80a of the apparatus body 
80 about the upper hinge portions 70A, 70A to make hooking engagement 
between the lower U-shaped recess portions 55b, 55b and the lower hinge 
portions 70B, 70B. 
At this time, the pin 76 provided on the front panel 80a of the apparatus 
body 80 matches with the hole 55.sub.4 provided on the back panel 55.sub.1 
of the housing cover 55 in the display device 1, so that the distal end of 
the pin 76 goes into the display device 1, whereby the distal end of the 
pin 76 pushes the other arm 61c of the lock lever 61. This causes the lock 
lever 61 to rotate clockwise about the pin 51b against the spring biasing 
it in the direction of counterclockwise rotation, so that the locking hook 
61b leaves the second lock hole 54c, thus releasing the locking at the 
ascent position of the slide plate 54. 
This locking release causes the slide plate 54 to descend (or move in the 
direction of b) by its own weight and then to return to the middle height 
position of FIG. 12. This descent of the slide plate 54 to the middle 
height position causes the downward claw members 57b, 57b of the slide 
plate 54 to close approximately upper halves of the opening portions of 
the lower U-shaped recess portions 55b, 55b, thereby stopping unhooking of 
the lower U-shaped recess portions 55b, 55b from the lower hinge portions 
70B, 70B. 
After completion of the above operation, the upper and lower claw members 
57a, 57a and 57b, 57b come to stop disengagement of the upper U-shaped 
recess portions 55a, 55a from the upper hinge portions 70A, 70A and 
disengagement of the lower U-shaped recess portions 55b, 55b from the 
lower hinge portions 70B, 70B, whereby the display device 1 is mounted and 
held in the standard angular posture as shown in FIG. 4 on the front panel 
80a of the apparatus body 80. 
Employing inverse procedures to the above operation, another possible 
method is such that hooking engagement is first made between the lower 
U-shaped recess portions 55b, 55b of the display device 1 and the lower 
hinge portions 70B, 70B, and hooking engagement is next made between the 
upper U-shaped recess portions 55a, 55a and the upper hinge portions 70A, 
70A, whereby the display device 1 is mounted and held in the standard 
angular posture as shown in FIG. 4 on the front panel 80a of the apparatus 
body 80. 
(b) Tilting operation of the display device 1 into the elevation posture 
For tilting the display device 1 from the state of standard angular posture 
thereof of FIG. 4 relative to the apparatus body 80 into the elevation 
posture at a desired angle as shown in FIG. 6, the second control lever 63 
is first rotated as in above (iii) to raise (or move in the direction of 
a) the slide plate 54 so as to make the opening portions of the lower 
U-shaped recess portions 55b, 55b completely open, whereby the 
disengagement stop is released between the lower U-shaped recess portions 
55b, 55b and the lower hinge portions 70B, 70B, and then the display 
device 1 is rotated into the elevation posture at a desired angle about 
the upper hinge portions 70A, 70A. 
In this case, the rotation of the display device 1 into the above elevation 
posture causes the display device 1 to go away from the pin 76 on the 
apparatus body 80, so that the press on the arm 61c of lock lever 61 is 
released and the locking hook 61b drops into the second lock hole 54c in 
the slide plate 54 thus raised (or moved in the direction of a) to lock 
the slide plate 54 at the ascent position. 
This locking keeps the opening portions of the upper U-shaped recess 
portions 55a, 55a completely closed by the upward claw members 57a, 57a, 
as shown in FIG. 6. 
Since the support shafts 75, 75 of the upper hinge portions 70A, 70A are 
rotatable with application of a certain load, as described previously, the 
display device 1 is stably held overcoming its own weight at the position 
of elevation posture as adjusted at a desired angle about the support 
shafts 75, 75. 
When the display device 1 is returned from the elevation posture at the 
desired angle to the standard angular posture of FIG. 4, the display 
device 1 is reversely rotated about the upper hinge portions 70A, 70A. The 
lower U-shaped recess portions 55b, 55b with the opening portions being 
open come to engage with the lower hinge portions 70B, 70B. When the 
display device 1 is fully rotated back, the pin 76 pushes the lock lever 
61 so as to force the locking hook 61b out of the second lock hole 54c, 
which releases the locking at the ascent position of the slide plate 54 to 
bring the slide plate 54 back to the middle height position. The return of 
the slide plate 54 to the middle height position brings the lower U-shaped 
recess portions 55b, 55b and the lower hinge portions 70B, 70B into the 
disengagement stop state through the downward claw members 57b, 57b. 
Namely, the display device 1 in the elevation posture at the desired angle 
of FIG. 6 is returned into the mount state in the standard angular posture 
of FIG. 4. 
(c) Tilting operation of the display device into the depression posture 
For tilting the display device 1 from the state of standard angular posture 
thereof of FIG. 4 relative to the apparatus body 80 into the depression 
posture at a desired angle as shown in FIG. 7, the first control lever 62 
is first rotated as in above (ii) to lower (or move in the direction of b) 
the slide plate 54 so as to make the opening portions of the upper 
U-shaped recess portions 55a, 55a completely open, whereby the 
disengagement stop is released between the upper U-shaped recess portions 
55a, 55a and the upper hinge portions 70A, 70A, and then the display 
device 1 is rotated into the depression posture at a desired angle about 
the lower hinge portions 70B, 70B. 
In this case, the rotation of the display device 1 into the above 
depression posture causes the display device 1 to go away from the pin 76 
on the apparatus body 80, so that the press on the arm 61c of lock lever 
61 is released and the locking hook 61b drops into the first lock hole 54b 
in the slide plate 54 thus lowered (or moved in the direction of b) to 
lock the slide plate 54 at the descent position. 
This locking keeps the opening portions of the lower U-shaped recess 
portions 55b, 55b completely closed by the downward claw members 57b, 57b, 
as shown in FIG. 7. 
Since the support shafts 75, 75 of the lower hinge portions 70B, 70B are 
rotatable with application of a certain load, as described previously, the 
display device 1 is stably held overcoming its own weight at the position 
of depression posture as adjusted at a desired angle about the support 
shafts 75, 75. 
When the display device 1 is returned from the depression posture at the 
desired angle to the standard angular posture of FIG. 4, the display 
device 1 is reversely rotated about the lower hinge portions 70B, 70B. The 
upper U-shaped recess portions 55a, 55a with the opening portions being 
open come to engage with the upper hinge portions 70A, 70A. When the 
display device 1 is fully rotated back, the pin 76 pushes the lock lever 
61 so as to force the locking hook 61b out of the first lock hole 54b, 
which releases the locking at the descent position of the slide plate 54 
to bring the slide plate 54 back to the middle height position. The return 
of the slide plate 54 to the middle height position brings the upper 
U-shaped recess portions 55a, 55a and the upper hinge portions 70A, 70A 
into the disengagement stop state through the upward claw members 57a, 
57a. Namely, the display device 1 in the depression posture at the desired 
angle of FIG. 7 is returned into the mount state in the standard angular 
posture of FIG. 4. 
&lt;Embodiment 2&gt; (FIG. 15 and FIG. 16) 
The present embodiment employs a ratchet mechanism in the hinge portion 70A 
(70B) for supporting the display device 1 on the front panel 80a of the 
apparatus body 80, whereby the support shaft 75 can freely rotate only in 
one direction. FIG. 15 is a broken side view of a hinge portion, and FIG. 
16 a broken plan view thereof. 
The support shaft 75 of the hinge portion 70A is set between left and right 
projecting portions (brackets) 71, 72 so as to be rotatable about a shaft 
158. Ratchets 156, 156 are incorporated with the support shaft 75. Numeral 
157 designates a plate spring having a pawl 157a, the base of which is 
mounted on a seat 154a of the projecting portion 71, 72. 
When the pawl 157a at the distal end of plate spring 157 is meshed with the 
ratchet 156 as shown in FIG. 15, the ratchet 156 cannot rotate 
counterclockwise but can rotate only clockwise. Accordingly, when the 
U-shaped recess portion 55a on the display device 1 is engaged with the 
D-cut surface 75a of the support shaft 75 in the hinge portion 70A on the 
apparatus body 80, i.e., when the support shaft 75 and the display device 
1 are incorporated with each other, a motion is free in the direction to 
tilt the display device 1, but no motion is allowed in the returning 
direction. 
Accordingly, as compared with the apparatus of embodiment 1 as described 
above, the stiffness is increased in the direction to return the display 
device 1, and the operability is improved, because, in pressing a key 
switch 20 in the display device 1, there is no movement of the display 
device 1 even with a too strong force applied thereon. Further, the 
operability to tilt the display device 1 is also excellent, because it can 
be lightly moved in the direction to tilt. 
To return the display device 1 to the original state, the operator moves 
the control knob, as with the previously described apparatus of embodiment 
1, to move the slide plate 54, thus the claw members 57a, further upward 
from the state of FIG. 15. This motion causes the fore end 57a of the claw 
member 57a to push a portion 157b of the plate spring 157 so as to 
disengage the pawl 157a from the ratchet 156, whereby the support shaft 75 
becomes rotatable counterclockwise so as to allow the display device to be 
returned to the original position. 
Since the constitution, operation, etc. of the present embodiment except 
for the above are the same as those for the apparatus of embodiment 1, 
redundant description is omitted herein. 
&lt;Embodiment 3&gt; (FIGS. 17A to 17C) 
An apparatus of the present embodiment is so arranged that a C-shaped frame 
100 is provided on the front surface side of the apparatus body 80 with 
legs being connected at the lower ends thereof to the apparatus body 80 so 
as to be rotatable about lower hinge portions 70B and that the display 
device 1 is set in the C-shaped frame 100 with the upper side being 
connected to the frame 100 so as to be rotatable about an upper hinge 
portion 70A relative to the frame 100. The each lower hinge portion 70B is 
connected to the apparatus body 80 through a friction member so that the 
C-shaped frame 100 is stably held in a rotated state when it is rotated 
relative to the apparatus body 80. Also, the upper hinge portion 70A is 
connected to the frame 100 through a friction member so that a rotated 
state of the display device 1 is stably held when the display device 1 is 
rotated relative to the C-shaped frame 100. 
The display device 1 is held in the standard angular posture as shown in 
FIG. 17A when the C-shaped frame 100 is rotated about the lower hinge 
portions 70B to be folded onto the front surface of the apparatus body 80 
and when the display device 1 is rotated about the upper hinge portion 70A 
to be folded into the C-shaped frame 100. 
When the display device 1 is desired to be tilted into the elevation 
posture at a desired angle, the display device 1 folded in the C-shaped 
frame 100 is rotated upward to a desired angle about the upper hinge 
portion 70A while keeping the C-shaped frame 100 as folded on the front 
surface of the apparatus body 80, as shown in FIG. 17B. 
When the display device 1 is desired to be tilted into the depression 
posture at a desired angle, the C-shaped frame 100 is rotated downward to 
a desired angle about the lower hinge portion 70B while keeping the 
display device 1 as folded in the C-shaped frame 100, as shown in FIG. 
17C. 
As described above, according to the present invention, no space is 
required for avoiding interference with the apparatus body in tilting the 
display device, which permits the apparatus to be constructed 
approximately in the same size as the apparatus with the display device 
fixed, regardless of an amount of tilt. 
Where the display device 1 is provided with the control key switches 20 
etc. as in the apparatus shown by the embodiments, the key switches 20 
will never be drawn backward but come forward upon tilting, which would 
never degrade the operability of key switches 20. 
In that case, an amount of movement of the key switches 20 is about a half 
of that for example where the display device is arranged to be tilted only 
about the upper support shaft. 
The above embodiments were arranged with the upper and lower hinge portions 
provided for elevation or depression of the display device, but it is 
needless to mention that the same effects can be achieved by such an 
arrangement that the hinge portions are provided on the left and right 
sides so as to allow the display device to be rotated leftward or 
rightward. 
In embodiments 1 and 2, because the hinge portions (70A, 70B) and the 
U-shaped recess portions (55a, 55b) to be engaged with each other are 
relative, they may be reversed from the relation in the embodiments in 
such a manner that the hinge portions (70A, 70B) are provided on the 
display device 1 while the U-shaped recess portions (55a, 55b) on the 
apparatus body 80.