Image reading apparatus including height adjustment mechanism without increasing overall size thereof

An image reading apparatus includes a document bed on which a document is placed, an automatic document feeder (an example of an opening/closing member) configured to be opened/closed with respect to the document bed, a rotational supporting section provided at one end of the document bed and rotatably supporting the automatic document feeder with respect to the document bed, and a height adjustment mechanism that adjusts the height of the automatic document feeder relative to the document bed. The rotational supporting section has a holding section fixed to the document bed and a rotary fulcrum section attached to the holding section and being movable in the up-down direction relative to the holding section. The height adjustment mechanism adjusts the height of the rotary fulcrum section relative to the holding section to adjust the height of the automatic document feeder relative to the document bed and overlaps the holding section and the rotary fulcrum section in the vertical direction.

The present application is based on, and claims priority from JP Application Serial Number 2021-042108, filed Mar. 16, 2021, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an image reading apparatus in which an opening/closing member such as a document bed cover is mounted to be opened/closed with respect to a document bed.

2. Related Art

An image reading apparatus such as scanner has been known. The image reading apparatus includes a document bed on which a document is placed, and a document bed cover that presses the document placed on the document bed. This type of image reading apparatus may include an automatic document feeder onto the document bed cover which automatically feeds the document. In either case, the document bed cover is openably attached to the document bed via a hinge mechanism.

For example, JP-A-2014-30144 discloses an opening/closing apparatus (hinge mechanism) that openably and vertically movably supports a document pressing member (document bed cover) on an image reading apparatus having a document mounting bed (an example of the document bed). The opening/closing apparatus includes an attachment section fixed to the document pressing member, a hinge reception member that vertically movably supported by the image reading apparatus and vertically movably supports a sliding section of the attachment section, and a hinge height adjustment mechanism (an example of a height adjustment mechanism) that changes the height of the hinge reception member relative to the image reading apparatus. The height adjustment mechanism is disposed below the hinge reception member.

However, In the image reading apparatus described in JP-A-2014-30144, since the height adjustment mechanism is disposed below the hinge reception member, the hinge mechanism (opening/closing apparatus) itself becomes large in height. The increased height of the hinge mechanism disadvantageously increases the image reading apparatus in height.

SUMMARY

An image reading apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure to solve the above-described problem includes: a document bed on which a document is placed; an opening/closing member configured to be opened/closed with respect to the document bed; a rotational supporting section provided at one end of the document bed and configured to support the opening/closing member to rotate with respect to the document bed; and a height adjustment mechanism that adjusts a height of the opening/closing member relative to the document bed. The rotational supporting section includes: a holding section fixed to the document bed; and a rotary fulcrum section attached to the holding section and configured to be moved in the up-down direction relative to the holding section. The height adjustment mechanism adjusts a height of the rotary fulcrum section relative to the holding section to adjust the height of the opening/closing member relative to the document bed and overlaps the holding section and the rotary fulcrum section in a vertical direction.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

An embodiment will be described below with reference to figures. A multifunctional printer that is an example of a medium transport apparatus has a plurality of functions including an image reading function (scanning function) of outputting an image of a read document as image data, a copy function of printing the image of the read document on a medium, and a print function of printing characters and images on a medium. The multifunctional printer may include a facsimile function.

In the figures, the multifunctional printer11is assumed to be placed on a horizontal installation plane F. Of the Z axis orthogonal to the installation plane F of the multifunctional printer11, the side on the multifunctional printer11relative to the installation plane F is defined as +z-side, and the opposite side to the +z-side is defined as −z-side. Of the in-plane direction of the installation plane F, two orthogonal axes are defined as X axis and Y axis. Directions that are parallel to the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis are defined as X axis direction, Y axis direction, and Z axis direction, respectively. The X axis direction includes both +X direction and −X direction. The Y axis direction includes both +Y direction and −Y direction. The Z axis direction includes both +Z direction and −Z direction. The Z axis direction parallel to the Z axis is also referred to as vertical direction Z. The X axis direction is width direction when the multifunctional printer11is viewed from the front face. Thus, the direction parallel to the X axis is also referred to as width direction X. The front face described herein of the multifunctional printer11is a face located on the side where an operation section14operated by the user to provide an instruction to the multifunctional printer11is provided. The Y axis is parallel to the depth direction of the multifunctional printer11. Thus, the Y axis direction is also referred to as depth direction Y.

Configuration of Multifunctional Printer

As illustrated inFIG.1, the multifunctional printer11includes a body12shaped like a rectangular prism, and an image reading apparatus20disposed on the body12. The image reading apparatus20includes a document bed21on which a document is placed, and an automatic document feeder22(Auto Document Feeder (ADF)) that is an example of an opening/closing member provided to be opened/closed with respect to the document bed21. The automatic document feeder22is configured to be opened/closed about a rotary fulcrum with respect to the document bed21. The automatic document feeder22has a function of automatically feeding the document. The document bed21is fixed to an upper end of the body12. The automatic document feeder22in the present embodiment is mounted integrally with a document bed cover23. That is, a lower portion of the automatic document feeder22, which is opposed to the document bed21, serves as the document bed cover23. For this reason, the document bed cover23is opened/closed by the automatic document feeder22rotating about the rotary fulcrum with respect to the document bed21.

The body12constitutes a printer section13. The multifunctional printer11has the configuration in which the printer section13, the document bed21, and automatic document feeder22are stacked from the bottom in the vertical direction Z. The multifunctional printer11is installed on the installation plane F with a plurality of casters12B provided on the bottom of the body12being grounded.

The image reading apparatus20can read images of texts and pictures that are recorded on a document D. The automatic document feeder22has a document tray24on which the document D (two-dot chain line inFIG.1) can be placed. The image reading apparatus20performs, as a mode of reading the document D, a feeding mode of reading the document D fed by the automatic document feeder22from the document tray24, and a flat bed mode of reding the document D placed on the document bed21(refer to FIG.3). The automatic document feeder22includes an ejection tray25on which the document D read according to the feeding mode. In reading the document D according to the flat bed mode, the document D is placed on an upper face of the document bed21exposed when the automatic document feeder22is opened, and the automatic document feeder22is closed to press the document D with the document bed cover23. According to the flat bed mode, the image reading apparatus20reads the document D on the document bed21.

An upper portion of a front face12F of the body12is provided with the operation section14used to provide an instruction to the multifunctional printer11. The operation section14may be an operation panel having a display section14A. The display section14A may a screen formed of a touch panel, for example. The touch panel is a display panel that can be touched to provide an instruction to the multifunctional printer11. The operation section14may have operation buttons or may be configured of only operation buttons. In this example, a face opposed to the face (for example, the panel face) of the operation section14in the body12is the front face.

The multifunctional printer11includes cassettes15(medium storage sections) that stores a plurality of media. The cassettes15store the plurality of stacked media. The multifunctional printer11includes the cassette15consisting of a plurality of tiers (four tiers in the example inFIG.1) disposed in the lower portion of the body12so as to be stacked in the vertical direction Z. The plurality of cassettes15are removably inserted into the body12. The cassette15each have a handle15A used to be drawn by the user. The number of cassettes15may be set to any number, not limited to four, including one, two, three, five, and six. The multi-tier cassettes15may be additional units optionally added wholly or in part.

As illustrated inFIG.1, a side face12S of the body12is provided with a first cover16, a second cover17, and a third cover18in the opened/closed state. The covers16to18have handles respective handles16A to18A used to be opened/closed by the user. The covers16to18each are opened/closed to resolve a medium jam that may occur on a transport path in the body12. The first cover16includes an opening/closing feeding tray19on which the medium can be placed. The user uses a handle19A to open the feeding tray19, enabling the medium placed on the feeding tray19to be fed. The covers16to18along with a frame and an exterior of the body12constitute a housing12A of the printer section13.

As illustrated inFIG.1, a record section30that performs recording on the medium (refer toFIG.2) is disposed in the housing12A. A transport section (not illustrated) that transports the medium fed from the cassette15and the medium fed from the feeding tray19along the transport path (not illustrated) is provided in the housing12A. The record section30performs recording on the medium at a record position in the middle of the transport path. A liquid supply source31that contains ink that is an example of liquid is housed in the housing12A. The record section30has a liquid ejection head30H that performs recording on the medium using liquid such as ink supplied from the liquid supply source31. The front face12F of the housing12A is provided with a window32at an area corresponding to the liquid supply source31. The user can view the residual quantity of the liquid supply source31through the window32. The liquid supply source31is constituted of a plurality of tanks or cartridges that contains different types of liquid such as ink.

A concave ejection section33is provided between the body12and the image reading apparatus20. The ejection section33includes an ejection tray34that constitutes the bottom of the election section. The recorded medium ejected through an ejection port (not illustrated) is stacked on an upper face of the ejection tray34.

The multifunctional printer11includes a control section (not illustrated) in the body12. The control section controls the printer section13and the image reading apparatus20. The control section includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a storage, which are not illustrated. The control section controls the automatic document feeder22and a reading section45(refer toFIG.3) to allow the image reading apparatus20to read the document D. The control section controls the record section30and the transport section (not illustrated) to allow the printer section13to transport the medium and perform recording on the medium.

Configuration of Image Reading Apparatus

Next, detailed configuration of the image reading apparatus20will be described.

As illustrated inFIG.2, the image reading apparatus20includes the substantially rectangular prism-shaped document bed21, and the automatic document feeder22disposed above the document bed21in the vertical direction Z. The document bed21includes a housing26having a framework (not illustrated) and an exterior. The automatic document feeder22is configured to be opened/closed with respect to the housing26of the document bed21. The automatic document feeder22includes a feeding mechanism27that feeds the document D placed on the document tray24and ejects the document D read in the middle of the feeding path onto the ejection tray25. The document tray24includes a pair of edge guides28capable of adjusting the position of the placed document D in the width direction. The pair of edge guides28is configured to be slidable in the width direction of the document D. A bottom of the automatic document feeder22serves as the document bed cover23. In other words, the automatic document feeder22is mounted on the document bed cover23.

The automatic document feeder22sequentially feeds a plurality of documents D set on the document tray24by the feeding mechanism27one by one, and sequentially ejects the read document D onto the ejection tray25. The feeding mechanism27has a housing27A with an opened feeding port27B. A feeding roller and a transport roller that are disposed on the feeding path and a driving source such as a motor for the rollers (both are not illustrated) are provided in the housing27A. The housing27A may build a reading section (not illustrated) such as a line sensor that reads the document D being transported.

As illustrated inFIG.3, the image reading apparatus20includes a pair of hinge mechanisms41,42that are provided at one end (end on the side of the depth direction Y) of the document bed21, and rotates the automatic document feeder22that is an example of the opening/closing member with respect to the document bed21. The automatic document feeder22is openably/closeably coupled to the document bed21via the pair of hinge mechanisms41,42. Specifically, the document bed cover23that mounts the automatic document feeder22is openably/closeably coupled to the document bed21via the pair of hinge mechanisms41,42. Thereby, the automatic document feeder22is opened or closed via the hinge mechanisms41,42between a closed state where an upper face21A of the document bed21is covered and an opened state where the upper face21A of the document bed21is exposed. The automatic document feeder22can hold the plurality of degrees of opening by using the function of the hinge mechanisms41,42. The largest degree of opening is a predetermined value within a range of, for example, 50 to 90 degrees.

As illustrated inFIG.3, the document bed21includes a rectangular glass plate43assembled to an opening26A opened to the upper face of the housing26, and a reading window44formed of a small glass assembled at a position adjacent to the glass plate43in the width direction X. The glass plate43and the reading window44are held on the upper face of the housing26with a predetermined shape of frame26B that presses their perimeters. The document bed21includes the moveable reading section45that can move in the width direction X below the glass plate43. A sensor46capable of detecting the document bed cover23is provided at the back of the upper face of the housing26. The sensor46can detect the opened/closed state of the document bed cover23.

A document pressing face47that presses the document D placed on the glass plate43in an area opposed to the glass plate43is formed on the back face of the document bed cover23. The document pressing face47exhibits, for example, white, and functions as a background plate read as the background of the document D on the glass plate43. A reading path48, in which the document D fed from the feeding mechanism27is temporarily exposed, is formed on the back face of the document bed cover23in the area corresponding to the reading window44. According to the flat bed mode, the document D is read by reading an image of the document D on the glass plate43while the reading section45moves in the width direction X (sub scanning direction). According to the feeding mode, an image of the document D transported by the feeding mechanism27is read by the reading section45that waits at the position corresponding to the reading window44through the reading path48. The image reading apparatus20may have the double reading function of reading both surfaces of the document D using a reading section (not illustrated) in the housing27A and the reading section45in the document bed21.

The reading section45has a carriage provided to be movable in the width direction X along a rail installed in the housing26, and a line sensor and a light source (both are not illustrated) that are mounted on the carriage. The light source illuminates a reading area of the document D set on the document bed21with light. The reading section45reciprocates in the width direction X via an endless belt rotated normally and reversely by driving of an electric motor that is an example of a driving source.

When reading the document D fed from the feeding mechanism27of the automatic document feeder22, the reading section45waits at the position opposed to the reading window44, and reads the document D exposed in the reading path48during transport through the reading window44. The document D placed on the glass plate43of the document bed21is read by the reading section45moving in the width direction X while being pressed with the document pressing face47of the document bed cover23. The longitudinal direction of the reading section45is main scanning direction and the width direction X that is the moving direction of the reading section45is sub scanning direction.

At least one of the hinge mechanisms41,42in the present embodiment is a hinge mechanism40having a below-mentioned height adjustment mechanism90. Of the pair of hinge mechanisms41,42, at least one hinge mechanism41located on the side of the feeding mechanism27may be the hinge mechanism40having the height adjustment mechanism90. In this case, both of the pair of hinge mechanisms41,42may be the hinge mechanism40having the height adjustment mechanism90, or only one hinge mechanism41located on the side of the feeding mechanism27may be the hinge mechanism40having the height adjustment mechanism90. Only the other hinge mechanism42that is not located on the side of the feeding mechanism27may be the hinge mechanism40having the height adjustment mechanism90.

Here, the reason why at least the hinge mechanism41located on the side of the feeding mechanism27is set as the hinge mechanism40having the height adjustment mechanism90is that the weight of the automatic document feeder22is biased toward the feeding mechanism27. Since a larger load is exerted on the hinge mechanism41located on the side of the feeding mechanism, the height adjustment of the hinge mechanism41is required. A deviation between two positions in height of the document bed cover23supported by the hinge mechanisms41,42causes a torsion of the document bed cover23. Thus, when the document bed cover23is opened or closed, an excessive load due to the torsion may be exerted on the hinge mechanism41. In addition, when the document bed cover23is closed, it may be difficult that the document pressing face47uniformly presses the entire document D on the document bed21. For this reason, by adjusting the height of at least the portion of the document bed cover23on the side of the feeding mechanism27using the height adjustment mechanism90, the document bed cover23supported by the pair of hinge mechanisms41,42is assembled to the document bed21in parallel.

As illustrated inFIG.4, the housing26includes a front cover26F that forms its front and both sides, and a rear cover29that forms its rear. The rear cover29that covers an opening26C is fixed to the back face of the document bed21. The rear cover29is fixed by fastening screws49. In the state where the rear cover29is attached, heads of the screws49is exposed on the surface of the rear cover29with faced in the depth direction Y (back face-side). The operator can loosen the screws49to remove the rear cover29. The rear cover29may be fixed by use of a locking arrangement such as snap-fit.

FIG.6illustrates the state where the rear cover29is removed. As illustrated inFIG.6, in the state where the rear cover29is removed, the structure on the back face-side in the housing26is exposed through the opening26C. A part of a frame50constituting the housing26, and a part of the hinge mechanisms41,42are exposed through the opening26C. The frame50has a bottom frame51, a rear frame52, a side frame53, and a front frame (not illustrated), and is shaped like a closed-end square cylinder having an upwardly opened opening (not illustrated). The glass plate43(refer toFIG.3) is assembled to the area corresponding to the opening of the frame50.

The pair of hinge mechanisms41,42are fixed to the rear frame52at their lower ends with screws (not illustrated) and to a support frame (not illustrated) constituting the document bed cover23at their upper ends with screws (not illustrated). Of the pair of hinge mechanisms41,42, the hinge mechanism40having the height adjustment mechanism90has a holding section70and a rotary fulcrum section80held by the holding section70. The rotary fulcrum section80is fixed to the holding section70at a predetermined relative height. The holding section70is fixed to the rear frame52with a screw (not illustrated), and the rotary fulcrum section80is fixed to a support frame (not illustrated) constituting the document bed cover23with a screw (not illustrated). In the state where the rear cover29is removed, an adjustment section91of the height adjustment mechanism90is exposed through the opening26C. The screws49fixing the rear cover29are fastened into a plurality of respective threaded holes52A formed on the rear frame52at intervals in the width direction X.

As illustrated inFIG.5, in the state where the rear cover29is removed, the adjustment section91of the height adjustment mechanism90of the hinge mechanism40is exposed through the opening26C. Specifically, as illustrated inFIG.5, an adjustment screw95constituting the adjustment section91is exposed with a screw head95A faced the back face (depth direction Y). When the degree of flatness or the closing condition of the document bed cover23is worsened, the operator such as the user or serviceman operates the adjustment screw95exposed when the rear cover29is removed to adjust the height of the document bed cover23supported by the hinge mechanism40using a tool such as screwdriver. Specifically, the height of the document bed cover23fixed to the rotary fulcrum section80is adjusted by operating the adjustment screw95with the tool to adjust the height of the rotary fulcrum section80relative to the holding section70. This height adjustment can adjust the degree of parallelization or the like of the document bed cover23with respect to the document bed21. Since the holding section70and the rotary fulcrum section80are fixed at the predetermined relative height with screws61,62, the screws61,62are loosened as necessary, enabling the rotary fulcrum section80to move relative to the holding section70in the Z axis direction and then, the adjustment screw95are operated.

Configuration of Hinge Mechanism

Next, referring toFIGS.7,8, and so on, detailed configuration of the hinge mechanism40having the height adjustment mechanism90will be described. Here,FIG.7illustrates an assembled state of the hinge mechanism40, andFIG.8illustrates a disassembled state of the hinge mechanism40. InFIGS.7to11, a direction parallel to an axis of a shaft section83, which is the rotary fulcrum of the hinge mechanism40, is defined as an axial direction X1, a direction orthogonal to the axial direction X1 and in which the height of the rotary fulcrum section80is adjusted using the height adjustment mechanism90is defined as a height direction Z1, and a direction in which the adjustment screw95of the adjustment sections91is moved with a tool such as screwdriver is defined as an adjustment direction Y1. InFIGS.7,8, and so on, the adjustment direction Y1 is a direction in which the adjustment screw95is pushed. In the state where the hinge mechanism40is assembled to the document bed21and the document bed cover23, the axial direction X1 is parallel to the width direction X, the height direction Z1 is parallel to the vertical direction Z, and the adjustment direction Y1 is parallel to the depth direction Y.

The hinge mechanism40provided at one end of the document bed21includes a rotational supporting section60rotatably supports the automatic document feeder22with respect to the document bed21, and the height adjustment mechanism90that adjusts the height of the automatic document feeder22relative to the document bed21. The rotational supporting section60includes the holding section70fixed to the document bed21, and the rotary fulcrum section80that is attached to the holding section70and is vertically movable with respect to the holding section70. The height adjustment mechanism90adjusts the height of the rotary fulcrum section80relative to the holding section70, thereby adjusting the height of the automatic document feeder22relative to the document bed21. The height adjustment mechanism90moves the holding section70relative to the rotary fulcrum section80.

As illustrated inFIG.7, the hinge mechanism40includes the substantially square cylindrical holding section70fixed to the housing26, and the rotary fulcrum section80inserted into the cylinder of the holding section70and assembled thereto.

The holding section70includes holding section body71formed by bending a predetermined shape of plate member into a predetermined shape including at least three planes of a square cylinder. When the holding section body71is viewed in plan view, of four planes forming the square cylinder, one plane other than substantially U-shaped three planes is almost opened. A substantially rectangular horizontal member72is fixed to this opened portion to form a cylindrical shape. The holding section70has a pair of extension sections74that extend to be closer to each other above the horizontal member72. The holding section70has a guide hole75that forms the square cylinder.

A pair of attachment sections73that horizontally extends to be away from each other are formed at a lower end of the holding section body71. The attachment sections73has screw insertion holes73A into which respective screws (not illustrated) for fixing the holding section70of the hinge mechanism40to the rear frame52are inserted.

The horizontal member72has a pair of long holes72A having a longitudinal direction as the height direction Z1 (refer toFIG.8). The two screws61are inserted into the pair of long holes72A. The pair of extension sections74has a pair of long holes74A having a longitudinal direction as the height direction Z1 (refer toFIG.8). The two screws61are inserted into the pair of long holes74A.

The rotary fulcrum section80has a square cylindrical sliding section81and a rotation frame82rotatably coupled to an upper end of the sliding section81. The outer dimension of the square cylindrical sliding section81is almost equal to the inner dimension of the guide hole75. That is, the square cylindrical sliding section81and the guide hole75are each formed such that the sliding section81can be inserted into the guide hole75. The sliding section81is inserted into the guide hole75, resulting in that the rotary fulcrum section80is coupled to the holding section70to be slidable in the vertical direction Z.

Four threaded holes81B are formed in a side face81A of the sliding section81of the rotary fulcrum section80at the positions corresponding to the four long holes72A,74A of the holding section70. The four screws61inserted into the long holes72A,74A are screwed into the respective threaded holes81B of the sliding section81, resulting in that the rotary fulcrum section80is fixed to the holding section70at the predetermined relative height.

As illustrated inFIG.8, the sliding section81is shaped like a square cylinder formed by bending a plate-like frame. The rotation frame82is rotatably coupled to the un upper end of the sliding section81via the shaft section83. The rotation frame82has a substantially Ω-shaped cross section when viewed from the Y direction, and further extends toward the adjustment direction Y1 than the shaft section83that is the rotational center. The rotation frame82has a pair of attachment sections84that extend from its lower end to both sides in the axial direction X1, and an attachment face85formed of an upper face of the rotation frame82. The pair of attachment sections84have a plurality of screw insertion holes84A. A plurality of threaded holes85A is formed in the attachment face85. A rear end of the automatic document feeder22is fixed to the pair of attachment sections84with screws (not illustrated) inserted into the screw insertion holes84A. The support frame (not illustrated) constituting a part of the framework of the automatic document feeder22is fixed to the attachment face85with screws (not illustrated) screwed into the threaded holes85A.

The rotation frame82is biased toward the sliding section81to open the document bed cover23due to a biasing force of a spring not illustrated. A shaft-like stopper86is fixed to an upper portion of a rear end of the rotation frame82. The degree of opening of the rotation frame82is set to an extent that the stopper86abuts the side face81A of the sliding section81. A lift mechanism87is assembled to the rotary fulcrum section80. The lift mechanism87is supported on the sliding section81so as to move (lift) the rotation frame82in the vertical direction Z while keeping the document bed cover23horizontal when the thick document D such as book or magazine is placed on the document bed21. A rear end of the rotation frame82is drawn (downward) into the sliding section81by a spring (not illustrated) constituting the lift mechanism87.

As illustrated inFIG.8, a pair of protrusions88(only one is illustrated inFIG.8) are protrudingly provided on a pair of opposed side faces81C of the sliding section81in the axial direction X1. The pair of protrusions88have the function of suppressing a backlash of the sliding section81inserted into the guide hole75of the holding section70in the axial direction X1. Further, a pair of plate-like supported sections89(only one is illustrated inFIGS.7and8) extend outward from the side faces81C of the sliding section81above the pair of protrusions88. The pair of supported sections89constitute a part of the below-mentioned height adjustment mechanism90.

In the state where the height of the rotary fulcrum section80relative to the holding section70is adjusted by the height adjustment mechanism90, the four screws61inserted into the long holes72A,74A are screwed into the threaded holes81B. Thereby, the rotary fulcrum section80is fixed to the holding section70at the predetermined relative height. The shaft portions of the two screws62screwed into the threaded holes (not illustrated) of the horizontal member72press the side face81A of the sliding section81to define the sliding section81in the guide hole75in the depth direction Y.

Configuration of Height Adjustment Mechanism

Next, the configuration of the height adjustment mechanism90will be described. As illustrated inFIG.7, the height adjustment mechanism90is provided at one side of the holding section70. The height adjustment mechanism90has the function of adjusting the height of the rotary fulcrum section80relative to the holding section70.

As illustrated inFIG.7, the height adjustment mechanism90includes the above-mentioned adjustment section91, a rotator92that can rotate with respect to the holding section70, a shaft section93that is a rotary fulcrum for the rotator92, and a supporting section92A that supports a rotary fulcrum section80. The adjustment section91is provided to be movable in the adjustment direction Y1 orthogonal to the axial direction X1 in which the shaft section93as the rotary fulcrum extends. The adjustment section91contacts the rotator92in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction X1 to change the rotation amount of the rotator92. In this example, the rotator92has the supporting section92A that supports the rotary fulcrum section80. The operator moves the adjustment sections91, thereby changing the rotation amount of the rotator92and adjusting the height of the supporting section92A. As illustrated inFIG.9, when viewed from the axial direction X1, the shaft section93is provided closer to the back face-side than the center of the supported sections89in the depth direction Y.

As illustrated inFIG.7, the adjustment section91in this example is the adjustment screw95held in the state where the screw head95A oriented to one end. The adjustment screw95has the screw head95A and a shaft section95B having a screw portion on its outer circumference. The adjustment screw95is held in the state where the screw head95A faces the back face-side (depth direction Y) and the shaft section95B is screwed into a screw holding section96protruding from a side face of the holding section70.

As illustrated inFIG.7, the rotary fulcrum section80has the above-mentioned supported sections89supported by the supporting section92A. The supported sections89horizontally protrudes from the side face of the sliding section81. The supported sections89is plate-shaped.

The holding section70has a notches77that can hold the supported sections89. The dimension of the notches77in the adjustment direction Y1 is somewhat larger than the dimension of the supported sections89in the adjustment direction Y1. The supported sections89are held by the notches77, thereby defining the sliding section81with respect to the holding section70in the depth direction Y. The supported sections89are held by the notches77, resulting in that the automatic document feeder22is positioned with respect to the document bed21in the depth direction Y.

As illustrated inFIG.7, the hinge mechanism40includes a torsion coil spring94, which is an example of a biasing member attached between the rotator92and the holding section70. The torsion coil spring94applies a biasing force to rotate the rotator92in a first direction. The first direction in which the torsion coil spring94biases the rotator92is the clockwise direction inFIG.9. The torsion coil spring94is latched on a latch section97of the holding section70at one end94A, and is latched on the abutted section92B of the rotator92at the other end94B. The rotator92is biased to abut the adjustment section91at all times by the torsion coil spring94, and the adjustment section91receives the biasing force of the torsion coil spring94via the adjustment section91. Thus, to adjustment the height, the adjustment section91moves in the adjustment direction Y1 while resisting the biasing force of the torsion coil spring94, and moves in the opposite direction to the adjustment direction Y1 (−Y1-side) while receiving the biasing force of the torsion coil spring94. In this manner, the adjustment section91adjust the height while moving in the adjustment direction Y1 orthogonal to the axial direction X1 or the opposite direction to the adjustment direction Y1 (−Y1-side) to prohibit rotation of the rotator92in the first direction.

As illustrated inFIG.7, the adjustment section91is the adjustment screw95with the screw head95A oriented to one end. The rotator92has an abutted section92B at its lower end on the opposite side to the supporting section92A at its upper end across the shaft section93, and a tip of the shaft section95B of the adjustment screw95can abut the abutted section92B. The tip of the shaft section95B abuts the abutted section92B, allowing the adjustment screw95to prohibit rotation of the rotator92in the first direction by the torsion coil spring94. For example, the rotary fulcrum section80, at an intermediate position illustrated inFIG.10, pushes the adjustment screw95in the adjustment direction Y1 (+Y1-side). Then, the rotator92rotates in a second direction in which the rotary fulcrum section80moves toward a highest position illustrated inFIG.11, against the first direction that is the biasing direction of the torsion coil spring94. Here, the second direction is opposite to the first direction and corresponds to the counterclockwise direction inFIG.11. For example, the rotary fulcrum section80, at the intermediate position illustrated inFIG.10, pulls back the adjustment screw95in the opposite direction to the adjustment direction Y1 (−Y1-side). Then, the rotator92rotates in the first direction due to the biasing force of the torsion coil spring94while the abutted section92B abuts the shaft section95B of the adjustment screw95.

As illustrated inFIG.11, the height adjustment mechanism90is configured such that the state where the adjustment screw95is pushed most in the adjustment direction Y1 (+Y1-side) becomes the state where the rotary fulcrum section80is located at the highest position. In other words, as the adjustment screw95is pushed in the adjustment direction Y1 (+Y1-side), the position of the rotary fulcrum section80becomes higher, and as the adjustment screw95is pulled back in the opposite direction (−Y1-side) to adjustment direction Y1, the position of the rotary fulcrum section80becomes lower. Thereby, in adjusting the height of the rotary fulcrum section80, by moving the adjustment screw95in the adjustment direction Y1 or the opposite direction (−Y1-side), the position of the rotary fulcrum section80can be made higher or lower, easily adjusting the height.

As illustrated inFIG.7, the height adjustment mechanism90overlaps the holding section70and the rotary fulcrum section80in the vertical direction Z. Hereinafter, this will be referred to as overlap condition. Here, the range of the height adjustment mechanism90in the vertical direction Z is the extend from the upper face of the supported section89to the lower end of the torsion coil spring94in the vertical direction Z. Specifically, the height adjustment mechanism90is constituted of the members assembled to the holding section70including the rotator92, the shaft section93, the torsion coil spring94, the adjustment screw95constituting the adjustment section91; and members of the holding section70including the screw holding section96, the latch section97, and the supported sections89of the rotary fulcrum section80. Among these members, the supported section89is located at the highest point and the lower end of the torsion coil spring94is located at the lowest point in the vertical direction Z. Thus, the range from the upper face of the supported sections89to the lower end of the torsion coil spring94is the range where the height adjustment mechanism90is present in the vertical direction Z. Although this range varies depending on the height adjustment of the rotary fulcrum section80with respect to the holding section70, the above-mentioned overlap condition needs to be satisfied at least once in the range from the lowest position (FIG.9) to the highest position (FIG.11) in the height of the rotary fulcrum section80relative to the holding section70. In the present embodiment, even when the height of the rotary fulcrum section80relative to the holding section70varies in the range from the lowest position (FIG.9) to the highest position (FIG.11), the above described overlap condition is always satisfied in the range of the height adjustment mechanism90in the vertical direction Z.

That is, when the height of the rotary fulcrum section80relative to the holding section70varies from the lowest position to the highest position, the lower end of the supported section89is located below (−z-side) the upper end of the holding section70, and the lower end of the torsion coil spring94is located above (+z-side) the lower end of the holding section70at all times. In other words, the entire height adjustment mechanism90overlaps the holding section70in the vertical direction Z at all times.

Since the supported section89is a part of the rotary fulcrum section80, irrespective of the relative height of the rotary fulcrum section80, the supported section89overlaps the rotary fulcrum section80at all times in the vertical direction Z. The lower end of the torsion coil spring94is located above (+z-side) the lower end of the rotary fulcrum section80at all times. For this reason, in the present embodiment, the entire height adjustment mechanism90overlaps the rotary fulcrum section80in the vertical direction Z at all times. As described above, in the hinge mechanism40in the present embodiment, the entire height adjustment mechanism90overlaps both the holding section70and the rotary fulcrum section80in the vertical direction Z at all times. For example, as illustrated inFIG.10, when the rotary fulcrum section80is located at the intermediate position, in the vertical direction Z, a range R3of the height adjustment mechanism90overlaps a range R1of the holding section70and a range R2of the rotary fulcrum section80. This overlap condition is satisfied inFIGS.9and11.

Actions of Embodiment

Actions of the present embodiment will be described below.

In assembling the multifunctional printer11in a factory, the housing26of the image reading apparatus20are assembled to an upper frame (not illustrated) of the body12by fastening a plurality of bolts or screws. Next, the pair of hinge mechanisms41,42are assembled to the back (back face-side) of the document bed21on both sides in the width direction X. The hinge mechanisms41,42each have the holding section70and the rotary fulcrum section80. The attachment sections73of the holding section70is fixed to the rear frame52of the housing26with a screw (not illustrated). In the present embodiment, at least one of the pair of hinge mechanisms41,42is the hinge mechanism40having the height adjustment mechanism90.

When the assembling of the pair of hinge mechanisms41,42to the document bed21is completed, the adjustment screw95is operated by using a tool such as screwdriver, the rotator92is adjusted to a rotational angle corresponding to, for example, the intermediate position. At this time, the rotational angle of the rotator92is adjusted by aligning the line of the side edge of the rotator92with a rotational scale78. The rotational angle of the rotator92corresponds to the rotation amount with respect to a reference angle of the rotator92. The reference angle is, for example, a rotational angle in the state where the rotary fulcrum section80is located at the lowest position.

After that, a support frame (not illustrated) constituting the document bed cover23is fixed to the rotation frame82constituting the rotary fulcrum section80of the hinge mechanisms41,42with screws. The document bed cover23that mounts the automatic document feeder22is fixed to the hinge mechanisms41,42in this manner and then, the height of the document bed cover23supported by the hinge mechanism40is adjusted using the height adjustment mechanism90. The operator operates the adjustment screw95of the height adjustment mechanism90by use of a tool to rotate the rotator92from the initial rotational angle, thereby adjusting the height of the rotary fulcrum section80relative to the holding section70. Details of the height adjustment operation of the rotary fulcrum section80will be described later.

When the height adjustment of the document bed cover23is completed, the front cover26F and the rear cover29are fixed to the document bed21with the screws49or the like. The multifunctional printer11thus manufactured is shipped.

For the assembling method of the hinge mechanism40, as long as the document bed cover23can be rotatably assembled to the document bed21, any assembling procedure can be appropriately selected. For example, the hinge mechanism40may be attached to the document bed cover23and then, the holding section70of the hinge mechanism40may be fixed to the rear frame52. The document bed cover23is fixed to the rotation frame82of the rotary fulcrum section80, and the holding section70is fixed to the rear frame52. Then, the sliding section81of the rotary fulcrum section80is inserted into the holding section70and then, the height of the rotary fulcrum section80relative to the holding section70is adjusted by the height adjustment mechanism90. According to such appropriate procedure, the hinge mechanism40may be assembled to the image reading apparatus20.

The multifunctional printer11thus shipped is used by the user. Before or after the use of the multifunctional printer11, it may be demanded to adjust the height of the document bed cover23supported by the hinge mechanism40for maintenance. In this case, the operator such as the user operates the height adjustment mechanism90of the hinge mechanism40to adjust the height of the supported document bed cover23for maintenance.

This maintenance is performed as follows. The operator removes the rear cover29from the document bed21of the image reading apparatus20. Specifically, the operator fastens the screws49a screw head of which is exposed from the rear cover29that covers the back face of the document bed21by use of a tool such as screwdriver, thereby removing the rear cover29. When the rear cover29is removed, as illustrated inFIGS.5and6, the adjustment section91of the hinge mechanism40is exposed. The operator operates the adjustment screw95exposed from the opening26C of the back face of the document bed21using a tool to adjust the height of the document bed cover23supported by the hinge mechanism40.

Height Adjustment Method Using Height Adjustment Mechanism

Next, the method of adjusting the height of the hinge mechanism40using the height adjustment mechanism90will be described.

In performing the height adjustment operation using the height adjustment mechanism90, both in manufacturing and maintenance of the multifunctional printer11(especially, the image reading apparatus20), the adjustment section91is exposed. For example, in assembling the image reading apparatus20in the factory, the height adjustment operation is performed before attachment of the rear cover29. On the other hand, when the operator such as the user performs the height adjustment operation of the multifunctional printer11for maintenance, the operator loosens the screws49with a tool to remove the rear cover29. This exposes the adjustment screw95.

During manufacturing of the image reading apparatus20, the adjustment screw95is located at an initial position. Fr convenience of description, the initial position of the adjustment screw95is assumed to be located at a second operational position corresponding to the intermediate position. When the operator such as the user adjusts the height of the hinge mechanism40for maintenance or the like, the height of the rotary fulcrum section80relative to the holding section70is located at a height at shipping, or a height adjusted at previous maintenance. Here, for convenience of description, the position of the adjustment screw95is assumed to be located at the second operational position corresponding to the intermediate position. When the height adjustment operation is performed using the adjustment screw95, the four screws61are detached and the two screws62are loosened.

When the adjustment screw95is located at the second operational position, the rotator92is located at the rotational angle illustrated inFIG.10. The operator operates the adjustment screw95by use of a tool to perform the height adjustment operation of the rotary fulcrum section80by the height adjustment mechanism90. For example, when the rotary fulcrum section80is raised from the intermediate position illustrated inFIG.10, the operator rotates the adjustment screw95in a pushing direction (+Y1 direction). Thereby, the shaft section95B of the pushed adjustment screw95pushes the abutted section92B of the rotator92, thereby rotating the rotator92about the shaft section93in the second direction inFIG.10(counterclockwise direction inFIG.10). Due to the rotator92in the second direction, the supporting section92A of the rotator92is displaced upward. The supporting section92A pushes the supported sections89upward. As a result, the rotary fulcrum section80is displaced upward with respect to the holding section70. Accordingly, the rotary fulcrum section80is adjusted with respect to the holding section70to be higher than the intermediate position. At this time, the adjustment amount of the height of the rotary fulcrum section80relative to the holding section70is adjusted by the operation amount of the adjustment screw95. At this time, the operator adjusts the height of the supported sections89while viewing a height scale79.

Inversely, when the rotary fulcrum section80is lowered to the position below the intermediate position, the operator rotates the adjustment screw95in the pulling direction (−Y1 direction). As a result, the shaft section95B of the adjustment screw95is pulled back, such that the rotator92rotates about the shaft section93in the first direction (clockwise direction inFIG.10) due to the biasing force of the torsion coil spring94. Due to this rotation of the rotator92in the first direction, the supporting section92A is displaced downward. As a result, the supported sections89lowers along with the supporting section92A. Thereby, the rotary fulcrum section80displaces downward with respect to the holding section70. Thus, the rotary fulcrum section80is adjusted relative to the holding section70to be located below the intermediate position. At this time, the adjustment amount of the height of the rotary fulcrum section80relative to the holding section70is adjusted by the operation amount of the adjustment screw95. At this time, the operator adjusts the height of the supported section89while viewing the height scale79.

By adjusting the height of the rotary fulcrum section80relative to the holding section70in this manner, the height of the document bed cover23and the automatic document feeder22that are supported by the hinge mechanism40is adjusted. That is, the height of the document bed cover23relative to the document bed21is adjusted. When the height of the rotary fulcrum section80relative to the holding section70is determined, the two screws62are fastened to position the sliding section81at the height. Further, the four screws61are inserted into the long holes72A,74A of the holding section70and screwed into the threaded holes81B of the sliding section81. In this manner, the rotary fulcrum section80is fixed to the holding section70at the adjusted relative height. As a result, the degree of parallelization and the closing condition of the document bed cover23with respect to the document bed21are adjusted.

In manufacturing of the image reading apparatus20, then, subsequent manufacturing steps are performed. In maintenance, when the height adjustment of the document bed cover23is completed, the rear cover29is attached to cover the opening26C. Then, the screws49are fastened by use of a tool to fix the rear cover29to the rear frame52. In this manner, the adjustment of the degree of parallelization of the document bed cover23with respect to the document bed21and the adjustment of the closing condition can be simply achieved merely by performing the opening/closing operation of the rear cover29and the operation of the screws61,62and the adjustment screw95.

The height adjustment mechanism90overlaps the holding section70and the rotary fulcrum section80in the vertical direction Z. For this reason, even if the height adjustment mechanism90is provided, the hinge mechanism40hardly becomes large in the vertical direction. Hence, the image reading apparatus20hardly becomes large in the vertical direction Z.

Effects of the present embodiment will be described below.

(1) The image reading apparatus20includes the document bed21on which the document D is placed, and the automatic document feeder22that is an example of the opening/closing member configured to be opened/closed with respect to the document bed21. The image reading apparatus20further includes the rotational supporting section60that is provided at one end of the document bed21and rotatably supports the automatic document feeder22with respect to the document bed21, and the height adjustment mechanism90that adjusts the height of the automatic document feeder22relative to the document bed21. The rotational supporting section60has the holding section70fixed to the document bed21, and the rotary fulcrum section80attached to the holding section70and being movable in the up-down direction relative to the holding section70. The height adjustment mechanism90adjusts the height of the rotary fulcrum section80relative to the holding section70to adjust the height of the automatic document feeder22relative to the document bed21. The height adjustment mechanism90overlaps the holding section70and the rotary fulcrum section80in the vertical direction Z. With this configuration, the height of the hinge mechanism40is adjusted while suppressing an increase in the size of the image reading apparatus20.

(2) The height adjustment mechanism90moves the rotary fulcrum section80relative to the holding section70. With this configuration, since the height adjustment mechanism90is configured to move the rotary fulcrum section80relative to the holding section70, the portion of the height adjustment mechanism90, which is located below the holding section70, can be further reduced or eliminated. Hence, an increase in the size of the portion configured of the holding section70, the rotary fulcrum section80, and the height adjustment mechanism90in the height direction can be further suppressed.

(3) The height adjustment mechanism90includes the rotator92that can rotate with respect to the holding section70, the shaft section93that is the rotary fulcrum of the rotator92, and the adjustment section91that changes the rotation amount of the rotator92. The adjustment section91is movable in the direction (adjustment direction Y1) orthogonal to the direction (axial direction X1) in which the axis of the shaft section93extends, and makes contact with the rotator92in the orthogonal direction to change the rotation amount of the rotator92. The rotator92has the supporting section92A that supports the rotary fulcrum section80. The adjustment section91is moved to change the rotation amount and the height of the supporting section92A is adjusted. With this configuration, the height of the rotational supporting section60is rotationally adjusted by the adjustment operation of moving the adjustment section91to rotate the rotator92, enabling downsizing and fine adjustment. For example, in the configuration in which the height of the rotary fulcrum section80is adjusted using the conversion mechanism for converting horizontal displacement into heightwise displacement, when it is attempted to make fine adjustment by decreasing the amount of horizontal displacement relative to the amount of heightwise displacement, for example, the inclination of the inclined face of a horizontally displaced member needs to be small. When the inclination of the inclined face is small, this member is likely to become large in the horizontal direction. On the contrary, the configuration in which displacement of the adjustment section91is converted into heightwise displacement by the rotation of the rotator92enables fine displacement of the rotary fulcrum section80in the height direction.

(4) The rotary fulcrum section80has the supported sections89supported by the supporting section92A. The holding section70has the notches77that can hold the supported sections89. The supported sections89are held by the notches77to position the automatic document feeder22with respect to the document bed21. With this configuration, the notches77can hold the supported sections89to achieve positioning in the predetermined direction (Y axis direction).

(5) The image reading apparatus20includes the torsion coil spring94that is attached between the rotator92and the holding section70and applies the biasing force to the rotator92so as to rotate in the first direction. The adjustment section91prevents the rotator92from rotating in the first direction while moving in the orthogonal direction (adjustment direction Y1) to adjust the height. With this configuration, since the rotator92is biased, positioning can be achieved in the state where the rotator92abuts the adjustment section91such as screw at all time, facilitating adjustment.

(6) The adjustment section91is the adjustment screw95with the screw head95A oriented to the one end. With this configuration, since the screw head95A is accessible from the back face-side of the apparatus, height adjustment is facilitated.

The embodiment can be changed to forms as in modification examples described above below. Further, the embodiment and the below-mentioned modification examples can be appropriately combined with each other to bring about a further modification example, and the below-mentioned modification examples can be appropriately combined with each other to bring about a further modification example.

The height adjustment mechanism is not limited to the rotational height adjustment mechanism90that rotates a rotator such as the rotator92. That is, the configuration is not limited to the configuration using the rotational mechanism that converts rotational displacement of the rotator into displacement in the height direction Z1. For example, as illustrated inFIG.12, the height adjustment mechanism may be a height adjustment mechanism100using a conversion mechanism that converts horizontal displacement to heightwise displacement. The hinge mechanism40illustrated inFIG.12includes the rotational supporting section60including the holding section70and the rotary fulcrum section80, and the height adjustment mechanism100. A hinge mechanism in this modified example has the same configuration as the hinge mechanism40in the embodiment except for the height adjustment mechanism100. For this reason, the configuration of the height adjustment mechanism100will be mainly described below. The height adjustment mechanism100illustrated inFIG.12includes a vertically movable slider101, a wedge-like guide member102having an upper inclined face102A parallel to an inclined face101A formed on a lower face of the slider101, and an adjustment section91that moves the guide member102in the horizontal direction. The slider101has a supporting section101B that supports the supported sections89of the rotary fulcrum section80. The slider101can be guided in a first rail103extending in the vertical direction Z and raise of lower in the height direction Z1. The adjustment section91moves in the adjustment direction Y1 crossing (for example, orthogonal to) the height direction Z1 in which the slider101raises and lowers. The adjustment section91is the adjustment screw95that is movable in the adjustment direction Y1. The inclined face101A of the slider101abuts the inclined face102A of the guide member102. The guide member102can be guided in a second rail104extending in the adjustment direction Y1 and move in the adjustment direction Y1. The adjustment screw95is held in the state where its shaft is screwed into the screw holding section96. A tip of the shaft section of the adjustment screw95is coupled to the guide member102to be relatively rotatable. The guide member102may be biased by a spring (not illustrated) as an example of a biasing member to lower the slider101.

When the operator pushes the adjustment screw95by use of a tool such as screwdriver, the guide member102moves in a +Y1 direction inFIG.12, resulting in that the guide member102further enters below the slider101to raise the slider101. This raises the rotary fulcrum section80having the supported sections89supported by the supporting section101B of the slider101. When the operator pulls back the adjustment screw95by operating the adjustment screw95with the tool, the guide member102moves in a −Y1 direction inFIG.12, resulting in that the guide member102enters less below the slider101to lower the slider101. This lowers the rotary fulcrum section80having the supported sections89supported by the supporting section101B of the slider101. In this manner, the operator uses the height adjustment mechanism100to adjust the height of the rotary fulcrum section80relative to the holding section70, thereby adjusting the height of the automatic document feeder22relative to the document bed21.

The height adjustment mechanism100overlaps the holding section70and the rotary fulcrum section80in the vertical direction Z. As illustrated inFIG.12, in the vertical direction Z, the range R3of the height adjustment mechanism90overlaps the range R1of the holding section70and the range R2of the rotary fulcrum section80. This overlap condition is satisfied irrespective of the height of the slider101. For this reason, even when the height adjustment mechanism100is provided, the hinge mechanism40including the holding section70, the rotary fulcrum section80, and the height adjustment mechanism100is unlikely to become large in the height direction. That is, as compared to the conventional hinge mechanism in which the height adjustment mechanism is disposed below the holding section70, the hinge mechanism40having such height adjustment mechanism100can suppress upsizing more easily. The conversion mechanism of the height adjustment mechanism100inFIG.12is merely an example, and may adopt any other mechanism capable of converting horizontal displacement into heightwise displacement. In addition, the height adjustment mechanism100that changes the height of the rotary fulcrum section80relative to the holding section70only needs to overlap the holding section70and the rotary fulcrum section80in the vertical direction Z. With such configuration, an increase in the size of the image reading apparatus20in the height direction can be suppressed, and the same effects as the effects (1) to (6) of the embodiment can be obtained.

In the embodiment, the entire height adjustment mechanism90overlaps the holding section70and the rotary fulcrum section80in the vertical direction Z and however, a part of the height adjustment mechanism90may overlap the holding section70and the rotary fulcrum section80in the vertical direction Z. For example, the entire height adjustment mechanism90may overlap the holding section70in the vertical direction Z and a part of the height adjustment mechanism90overlap the rotary fulcrum section80in the vertical direction Z. Also with this configuration, an increase in the size of the image reading apparatus20to which the hinge mechanism40is assembled in the height direction can be suppressed. A part of the height adjustment mechanism90may overlap the holding section70in the vertical direction Z and a part or whole of the height adjustment mechanism90may overlap the rotary fulcrum section80in the vertical direction Z. In this case, as long as the height adjustment mechanism90overlaps the holding section70in the vertical direction Z in the state where a part of the lower end of the height adjustment mechanism90is located above or the same level as the lower end of the holding section70, an increase in the size of the image reading apparatus20to which the hinge mechanism40is assembled in the height direction can be suppressed.

For example, in the embodiment, by shortening the sliding section81of the rotary fulcrum section80, only a part of the height adjustment mechanism90may overlap the rotary fulcrum section80in the vertical direction Z (hereinafter referred to as configuration A).

For example, in the embodiment, by extending a portion located above the shaft section93of the rotator92in the vertical direction Z, only a part of the height adjustment mechanism90may overlap the holding section70in the vertical direction Z (hereinafter referred to as configuration B).

For example, both the configuration A and the configuration B in the above-mentioned two modification examples may be adopted such that only a part of the height adjustment mechanism90overlaps the rotary fulcrum section80in the vertical direction Z and only a part of the height adjustment mechanism90overlaps the holding section70in the vertical direction Z.

In the embodiment, a portion located above the shaft section93that is the rotary fulcrum of the rotator92may be pushed by the adjustment section91(for example, the adjustment screw95) moving in the adjustment direction Y1. The conversion mechanism for converting displacement at the operation of the adjustment section91into displacement in the vertical direction Z may be limited to the rotational type using the rotator92and the sliding type using a wedge-like member, and may be a lever type using the action of a lever. For example, a lever having a fulcrum at its lower side is disposed, an adjustment screw is provided at a power point of the lever, and a slider that is displaceable in the vertical direction Z is provided at an action point of the lever. The advancing or retreating direction of the adjustment screw is the vertical direction Z, and the moving direction of the slider is also the vertical direction Z. With this configuration, the height of the rotary fulcrum section80relative to the holding section70can be adjusted by operating the adjustment screw with a head oriented upward is exposed when the rear cover29is opened, by use of a tool to raise or lower the slider via the lever.

Three or more hinge mechanisms40that couples the document bed21to the document bed cover23may be provided. Only one of the three or more hinge mechanisms may be the hinge mechanism40having the height adjustment mechanisms90,100.

In the embodiment and modification examples, the hinge mechanism40has the height adjustment mechanism90or100and however, the height adjustment mechanism may be different from the hinge mechanism40in configuration. For example, the hinge mechanisms41,42are configured of the holding section70and the rotary fulcrum section80that is attached to the holding section70and provided to be movable in the up-down direction with respect to the holding section70. The height adjustment mechanism90includes a second holding section, a movable member that is attached to the second holding section and vertically movable with respect to the second holding section, a displaceable member provided to be displaceable with respect to the second holding section, an abutment section that abuts a supporting section provided at the displaceable member and provided at the movable member, and an adjustment section that vertically displaces the supporting section of the displaceable member. The second holding section is fixed to a position of the rear frame52of the document bed21to which the holding section70is fixed, which is different from the position where the holding section70is fixed, and the movable member is fixed to the document bed cover23. The supporting section of the displaceable member is displaced in the vertical direction Z by the adjustment section of the height adjustment mechanism, thereby adjusting the height of the opening/closing member (for example, the automatic document feeder22) relative to the document bed21. At this time, depending on the adjusted height of the opening/closing member relative to the document bed21, the hinge mechanisms41,42relatively moves the holding section70and the rotary fulcrum section80in the vertical direction Z. As described above, even if the hinge mechanisms41,42are distinct from the height adjustment mechanism, as long as the height adjustment mechanism overlaps the holding section70and the rotary fulcrum section80in the vertical direction Z, an increase in the size of the image reading apparatus20in the height direction can be suppressed.

The opening/closing member of the image reading apparatus20may be the document bed cover23without including the automatic document feeder22. That is, the image reading apparatus20may include the document bed21and the plate-like document bed cover23. With this configuration, the weight of the document bed cover23is reduced due to the absence of the automatic document feeder22. Thus, irrespective of the lowered need of height adjustment of the opening/closing member, by adopting the hinge mechanism40having the height adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting the height of the document bed cover23, an increase in the size of the image reading apparatus20in the height direction can be suppressed.

The image reading apparatus20is not limited to a part of the multifunctional printer11. The image reading apparatus20may be a flat bed-type pf scanner including the document bed21and the document bed cover23without having the printing function. In this case, the document bed cover23may be a scanner that mounts the automatic document feeder22.

Technical concepts and their actions and effects that derived from the above-described embodiment and modification examples will be described below.

(A) An image reading apparatus includes: a document bed on which a document is placed; an opening/closing member configured to be opened/closed with respect to the document bed; a rotational supporting section provided at one end of the document bed and rotatably supports the opening/closing member with respect to the document bed; and a height adjustment mechanism that adjusts a height of the opening/closing member relative to the document bed. The rotational supporting section includes: a holding section fixed to the document bed; and a rotary fulcrum section attached to the holding section and configured to be moved in the up-down direction relative to the holding section. The height adjustment mechanism adjusts a height of the rotary fulcrum section relative to the holding section to adjust the height of the opening/closing member relative to the document bed and overlaps the holding section and the rotary fulcrum section in a vertical direction. With this configuration, the height of the hinge mechanism is adjusted while suppressing an increase in the size of the image reading apparatus.

(B) In the above-described image reading apparatus, the height adjustment mechanism may move the rotary fulcrum section relative to the holding section. With this configuration, since the height adjustment mechanism is configured to move the rotary fulcrum section relative to the holding section, the portion of the height adjustment mechanism, which is located below the holding section, can be further reduced or eliminated. Hence, an increase in the size of the portion configured of the holding section, the rotary fulcrum section, and the height adjustment mechanism in the height direction can be further suppressed.

(C) In the above-described image reading apparatus, the height adjustment mechanism may include: a rotator configured to rotate with respect to the holding section; a rotary fulcrum of the rotator; and an adjustment section configured to be move in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which an axis of the rotary fulcrum extends, the adjustment section making contact with the rotator in the orthogonal direction to change an rotation amount of the rotator. The rotator may have a supporting section that supports the rotary fulcrum section, and the adjustment section may be moved to change the rotation amount and a height of the supporting section may be adjusted.

With this configuration, the height of the rotational supporting section is rotationally adjusted by the adjustment operation of moving the adjustment section to rotate the rotator, enabling downsizing and fine adjustment. For example, in the configuration in which the height of the rotary fulcrum section is adjusted using the conversion mechanism for converting horizontal displacement into heightwise displacement, when it is attempted to make fine adjustment by decreasing the amount of horizontal displacement relative to the amount of heightwise displacement, for example, the inclination of the inclined face of a horizontally displaced member needs to be small. When the inclination of the inclined face is small, this member is likely to become large in the horizontal direction. On the contrary, the configuration in which displacement of the adjustment section is converted into heightwise displacement by the rotation of the rotator enables fine displacement of the rotary fulcrum section in the height direction.

(D) In the above-described image reading apparatus, the rotary fulcrum section may have a supported section supported by the supporting section, the holding section may have a notch that can hold the supported section, and the supported section may be held by the notch to position the opening/closing member with respect to the document bed.

With this configuration, the notches can hold the supported sections to achieve positioning in the predetermined direction (Y axis direction).

(E) The image reading apparatus described above further includes a biasing member attached between the rotator and the holding section and applying a biasing force to the rotator so as to rotate in a first direction, and the adjustment section may prevent the rotator from rotating in the first direction while moving in the orthogonal direction to adjust the height. With this configuration, since the rotator is biased, positioning can be achieved in the state where the rotator abuts the adjustment section such as screw at all time, facilitating adjustment.

(F) In the above-described image reading apparatus, the adjustment section may be an adjustment screw with a screw head oriented to the one end. With this configuration, since the screw head is accessible from the back face-side of the apparatus, height adjustment is facilitated.