Image reading apparatus

An image reading apparatus includes: a main body including a document table; a document cover that includes a rear end portion supported by the main body, and a front end portion configured to be movable with respect to the main body; a conveyer that is disposed in the document cover and is configured to feed a document; and a reader that is provided in the main body. The document cover includes a lower layer portion having a wall surrounding front, rear, left and right of the conveyer and an upper layer portion covering over the conveyer. The lower layer portion includes a bottom having a shape covering the document table. The wall extends upward from an outer periphery of the bottom. The upper layer portion includes a grip portion which protrudes frontward from the upper layer portion.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-262902 filed on Nov. 30, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to an image reading apparatus.

The image reading apparatus called the flatbed type is equipped with a document cover that spreads over the document table. The document cover of this type has a grip portion which a user may utilize to open and close the document cover.

The document cover is formed with a concave in a front-end center thereof so that the concave may be used as a grip portion.

SUMMARY

However, where there are restrictions to the installation site of an image reading apparatus for example, it is in some cases difficult for a user to put an user's hand to the front-end center of the document cover depending upon a certain relationship of installation site and setup direction. In such a case, the document cover when opened and closed is problematically not well in the feeling of handling.

There are cases where the document cover like the above is equipped with an automatic conveyer (hereinafter, abbreviated as an ADF). The ADF of this kind, in many cases, is not symmetric in weight proportion left and right about a grip portion provided at a front-end center of the document cover, i.e. the ADF has a center of gravity deviated in any of left and right. When the document cover is opened and closed by using the grip portion provided at a front-end center thereof, the document cover might be distorted or not easily opened and closed because of a positionally deviated application of the ADF weight. This also incurs the problem the feeling of handling is not well in opening and closing the document cover.

An aspect of the present disclosure has been made in order to solve the problem and aims at providing an image reading apparatus capable of improving the feeling of handling in opening and closing the document cover.

The configuration adopted in the disclosure is described below.

An image reading apparatus comprising:

a main body comprising a document table;

a cover that comprises a rear end portion supported by the main body, and a front end portion configured to be movable with respect to the main body, the cover covering the document table in a close position in which the front end portion is lowered, and the document table being exposed in an open position in which the front end portion is lifted;

a conveyor that is disposed to the cover and is configured to convey a document along a conveyance path; and

a reader that is disposed in the main body, is configured to be movable in a moving direction and is configured to read an image of the document placed on the document table or conveyed by the conveyor,

wherein the cover comprises a lower layer portion having a wall surrounding front, rear, left and right of the conveyor and an upper layer portion covering over the conveyor,

wherein the lower layer portion comprises a bottom having a shape covering the document table,

wherein the wall extends upward from an outer periphery of the bottom,

wherein the upper layer portion comprises a grip portion which protrudes frontward from the wall.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

A embodiment according to the present disclosure will now be described by taking an example. In the present embodiment, a multifunction device having a function (of scanning) of an image reading apparatus and, in addition, other functions (e.g. printing, copying, facsimile transmission/reception, etc.) is exemplified as an example of an image reading apparatus.

In the following, various parts of a multifunction device are explained by use of directional indications of up, down, left, right, front and rear given in each figure. These directional indications are merely to briefly explain the relative positional relationship of various parts of a multifunction device but not intended to restrict the relative position to a site where to set up a multifunction device, the relative position of a multifunction device to a user, or the like.

Construction of the Multifunction Device

A multifunction device1includes a main body3and a document cover4mounted on the main body3. The main body3has a lower body3A and an upper body3B mounted on the lower body3A.

An operation unit6to be operated by a user is provided in a front upper region thereof. A paper cassette8is received in a lower part of the lower body3A, in which recording mediums before printing are to be placed. An output port9is provided in a position front of the main body2, below the controller6and above the paper cassette8, through which a printed recording medium is to be outputted.

The lower body3A includes, besides the operation unit6, a control section11, an image forming section12, a LAN communication section13and a PSTN communication section14, as shown inFIG. 2. The control section11has a CPU11A, a ROM11B, a RAM11C, an NVRRAM11D, an interface section11E and so on, which are well known. The CPU11A executes a predetermined process according to a control program stored in the ROM11B or RAM11C and thereby effects control over various sections of the multifunction device1.

The image forming section12has an electrophotographic or inkjet print mechanism. The LAN communication section13is configured with a communication interface device compatible with wireless LANs and a communication interface device compatible with wired LANs. The PSTN communication section14is configured with various devices, including FAX modems and voice codecs, required in connection to public switched telephone networks (PSTNs).

The operation unit6has an input device (e.g. a touch panel, buttons and switches) which a user operates when giving various instructions to the multifunction device1and an output device (e.g. a liquid-crystal display) which informs a user of operation states, etc of the multifunction device1.

The upper body3B includes a reader20. The reader20is configured corresponding to a flatbed image scanner. Specifically, the reader includes a line image sensor21that has a plurality of reading elements, a carriage23that holds the image sensor21, a motor25, a gear mechanism27that is driven by the motor25, and a timing belt29that is driven by the gear mechanism27.

In the present embodiment, the image sensor21is given as a contact image sensor (CIS). The carriage23is coupled to the timing belt29. The motor25operates based on a drive signal received from a driver section11G for motors provided in the interface section11E of the control section11. The power generated by the motor25is delivered to the carriage23through the gear mechanism27and the timing belt29. As a result, the carriage23moves in a lateral direction ofFIG. 1together with the image sensor21.

The document cover1includes a conveyer30. The conveyer30is configured corresponding to an ADF (automatic conveyer). Specifically, the conveyer30includes feed rollers31-39that convey documents along a predetermined path, a motor41, a gear mechanism43that is operated by the motor41, and so on. The motor41operates based on a drive signal received from the driver section11G for motors provided in the interface section11E of the control section11. The power generated by the motor41is delivered to the feed rollers31-39through the gear mechanism43. Some of the feed rollers31-39are given as drive rollers that are directly driven by the gear mechanism43and some of the rest are given as follower rollers that rotate following the drive rollers or documents. Owing to cooperation of the conveyer30and the reader20, the multifunction device1functions as an ADF image scanner.

Details of the Main Body and Document Cover

The document cover4is attached on the main body3through first and second hinges51,52provided at a rear of the document cover4, as shown inFIG. 3A. On an upper surface of the main body3, slides53are provided to receive respective lower ends of the first and second hinges51,52therein, as shown inFIG. 3B. By the slides53, the first and second hinges51,52are supported slidable in the up-down direction relatively to the main body3.

A document table55of transparent glass is provided in the upper part of the main body3in a position where is covered by the document cover4when the document cover4is moved to its close position. The reader20is arranged below the document table55so that an image may be read out of a document placed on the document table55while moving the image sensor21along the document table55.

The first and second hinges51,52rotatably support the document cover4about a virtual axis Ar (seeFIGS. 3A and 4A) extending in the lateral direction. This allows the document cover4to open and close relatively to the main body3, as shown inFIG. 4A. The operation unit6is pivotally supported by the main body3about a virtual axis As (seeFIGS. 3A and 3B) extending in the lateral direction. This permits the operation unit6to be inclined desirably and adjusted in angle optimally for an individual user, which in turn improves the visibility of the display content on the operation unit6and the operability of the operation unit6.

The document cover4includes a lower layer portion61having wall61A surrounding front, rear, left and right of the conveyer30and an upper layer portion62covering over the conveyer30, as shown inFIG. 5. The lower layer portion61has a bottom that is shaped and dimensioned to cover the document table55, in which the wall61A extends upward from a periphery of the bottom. The upper layer portion62includes a grip portion54which protrudes frontward from the wall61A as shown inFIGS. 4A and 4B. The grip portion65is to be used by a user for moving the document cover4to the open position. The grip portion65extends from an end of the document cover to the end of the document cover in the lateral direction. That is, in the present embodiment, the grip portion54is provided at an entire width of the front side of the upper layer portion61.

The lower layer portion61has a first region A1where the wall61A is given a first height H1, a second region A2where the wall61A has a second height H2and a third region A3where a height of the wall61A is decreasing from the first region A1toward the second region A2, as shown inFIGS. 4B and 5.

The upper layer portion62is a shape conforming to the height of the wall61A of the lower layer portion61and made generally horizontally fiat in its top surface in ranges corresponding respectively to the first and second regions A1, A2. In the range corresponding to the third region A3, the top surface is slanted descending in a direction from the first region A1toward the second region A2. The spacing between the upper layer portion62and the document table55is given, in the first region A1, nearly equal to the height H1of the wail61and, in the second region A2, nearly equal to the height H2of the wall61. Thus, the spacing between the upper layer portion62and the document table55(or upper surface of the main body3) is given smaller in the range corresponding to the second region A2than the range corresponding to the first region A1.

In the document cover4, the greater part of the conveyer30is arranged deviated left. Thus, the conveyer30has a center of gravity G falling within a range overlapping with the first region A1without an overlap with the second region A2.

With regard to the first and second hinges51,52, the first hinge51is provided left with respect to the center of gravity G of the document cover4whereas the second hinge52is provided right with respect to the center of gravity G of the document cover4. Moreover, the second hinge52is provided in a position closer to the geometric center in the lateral direction of the multifunction device1than the first hinge51and off the second region A2. The operation unit6is provided in a range overlapping with the first region A1with respect to the lateral direction.

Effects

According to the above multifunction device1, the upper layer portion62includes the grip portion65which protrudes frontward from the wall61A. The grip portion65is used by an user to open and close the document cover4. The grip portion65has a width to be maximally taken equal to that of the document cover4in the lateral direction. Due to this, user's hand may easily access any part of the grip portion even in a position deviated toward a left or right end, as compared to the configurationwa with a recess formed in a front-end center of the document cover4.

Owing to an improved freedom of access with the hand, a user is allowed to bring a user's hand to a desired position. In case it is not easy to put a hand to a vicinity of a center of the document cover4, there is an improved capability of putting hand to another position. This improves the easiness to handle the document cover4during opening and closing thereof. Meanwhile, it is also possible to put a hand in a position closer to the center of gravity G of the conveyer30. This suppresses the document cover4from being distorted and improves the feeling of handling during opening and closing the document cover4.

In the first region A1of the document cover4which mainly bears the weight of the conveyer30, the spacing between the upper layer portion62and the document table55is taken greater so that a user may easily rut the user's hand there. Conversely, in the second region A2which less bears the weight of the conveyer30, the spacing between the upper layer portion62and the document table55is taken smaller so that it is not easy for a user to put the user's hand there as compared with the first region. In case a user opens or closes the document cover4with the user's hand put in a desired position, the hand is naturally in a position closer to the center of gravity G of the conveyer30during open or close operation. Thus, a user, even if not aware of whereabouts of the center of gravity G of the conveyer30, may enjoy well the feeling of handling.

In the multifunction device1, the document cover4has a center of gravity G existing in a position deviated closer to the left end of the multifunction device1and farther from the right end thereof with respect to a center thereof in the lateral direction. For this reason, the second hinge52is provided in a position closer to the geometric center, in the lateral direction, of the multifunction device1than the first hinge51. Thus, the first and second hinges51,52may be arranged equally close to the center of gravity G of the document cover4. This permits the document cover4to open and close smoothly.

In the multifunction device1, the second hinge52is provided in a position off the second region A2. Thus, the first hinge51and the second hinge52are not required to be spaced excessively. Instead, the first hinge51and the second hinge52may be arranged in positions balanced about and close to the center of gravity G of the document cover4. This makes it easy to open and close the document cover4.

The operation unit6is provided in a range overlapping with the first region A1, in Which range spacing is ensured sufficient between the conveyer30and the upper layer portion62. Thus, there is less possibility that the hand hits the operation unit6when the document cover4is opened or closed. This improves the easiness to handle of the document cover4during opening and closing thereof.

In the multifunction device1, the operation unit6may be swung and adjusted at an angle easy to operate. In such an adjustment, the operation unit6may be manually swung in a place where a space is ensured sufficient between the conveyer30and the upper layer portion62. This improves the easiness to handle of the operation unit6during swinging thereof.

In addition, in the multifunction device1, the upper layer portion62is shaped with a slant surface. The conveyer30is improved in appearance as compared to a configuration having a step formed in a slant surface.

Other Embodiments

Although the embodiment was described so far, the invention is not limited to the above concrete one embodiment but may be carried out variously in other embodiments.

For example, in the above embodiment, the image reader configured as a multifunction device was exemplified as one example of an image reading apparatus according to the invention, However, it is selective whether or not configured as a multifunction device, i.e. the present invention may be applied to a single function of an image reader, photocopier, facsimile machine or the like.

Further, in the present embodiment, the grip portion54is provided at an entire width of the front side of the upper layer portion61. However, the grip portion54may be formed partially at the front side of the upper layer portion61.

According to the image reading apparatus configured like this, part of the upper layer portion protrudes frontward of the wall of the lower layer portion and forms a grip portion, so that the document cover may be opened and closed by use of the grip portion. The upper layer portion usable as a grip portion may be made in a width nearly equal to that of the document cover, in the lateral direction. Thus, the document cover may be caught by the hand even at a position located deviated toward an end in the lateral direction as compared to the recess formed in a front-end center of the document cover.

Owing to an improved freedom of access with the hand, a user is allowed to bring the hand to a desired position. In the case it is not easy to bring the hand to a vicinity of an end center of the document cover for example, there is an improved capability of putting the hand to another position. This improves the easiness to handle in opening and closing operations. Meanwhile, it is also possible to put the hand in a position close to the center of gravity of the ADF. This suppresses the document cover from being distorted and improves the feeling of handling during opening and closing the document cover.

Incidentally, in the image reading apparatus according to the disclosure, various parts of the image reading apparatus are explained in their relative positional relationship by use of directional indications of up, down, left, right, front and rear. In case the image reading apparatus is assumed set up on a horizontal plane, those are defined as an up-down direction that is vertical of the horizontal plane, as front that is in a direction the grip portion protrudes and rear that is in the direction opposite thereto, and as a lateral direction that is orthogonal to both the up-down direction and the front-rear direction. However, these directions are not to regulate the relative position to an installation site of a multifunction device or the relative position between a multifunction device and a user. In case explained with a concrete example, an image reading apparatus may be used in such a state that the grip portion protrudes leftward as viewed from a user, for example. In such a direction of installation, an image reading apparatus could be fallen within the scope of the aspect of the disclosure in case various parts of the apparatus satisfy the relative positional relationship.

According to the above image reading apparatus, in the first region of the document cover which mainly bears the weight of the conveyer, the spacing between the upper layer portion and the document table is taken greater so that a user may easily put the user's hand there. Conversely, in the second region which less bears the weight of the conveyer, the spacing between the upper layer portion and the document table is taken smaller so that it is not easy for a user to put the user's hand there.

To this end, in case a user opens or closes the document cover with putting the hand in a user's desired position, the hand is naturally in a position close to the center of gravity of the conveyer during opening or closing operation. Thus, the document cover is made easy to open and close as compared to a structure that the hand is ready to be put to a position rather distant from the center of gravity of the conveyer.

In the above image reading apparatus, the center of gravity of the document cover is in a position deviated close to the left end and far from the right end with respect to the center between both ends. To meet this, the second hinge is provided in a position closer to the center between both ends than the first hinge. Thus, the first hinge and the second hinge may be arranged more equally close to the center of gravity of the document cover, as compared to the structure the first hinge and the second hinge are provided equally distant from the center between both ends. This makes it possible to open and close the document cover smoothly.

According to the above image reading apparatus, the second hinge is provided in a position off the second region. Thus, the first hinge and the second hinge are not required to be spaced excessively but may be arranged balanced in positions with respect to the center of gravity of the document cover and close in position to the center of gravity of the document cover. This makes it easy to open and close the document cover.

According to the above image reading apparatus, the operation unit is provided in the overlapping range with the first region, in which range a spacing is ensured sufficient between the conveyer and the upper layer portion. Thus, there is less possibility that the hand hits the operation unit when the document cover is opened or closed. This improves the easiness to handle in swinging the operation unit.

According to the above image reading apparatus, the operation unit may be swung and adjusted at an angle easy to operate. In such an adjustment, the operation unit may be swung manually in a place where spacing is ensured sufficient between the conveyer and the upper layer portion. This improves the easiness to handle in swinging the operation unit.

According to the above image reading apparatus, the upper layer portion is shaped with a slant surface. The conveyer is improved in appearance as compared to the structure formed with a step in a slant surface.