Patent Publication Number: US-2007115629-A1

Title: Multifunction machine and supporting structure thereof

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The invention relates to a multifunction machine and a supporting structure thereof, and in particular relates to a multifunction machine maintaining a predetermined opening angle using a supporting structure.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Referring to  FIG. 1A , a conventional multifunction machine  10  comprises a printing device  11  and a scanning device  12 . When an ink cartridge is empty, a user opens the scanning device  12  (the upper layer of the multifunction machine  10 ) to replace the empty ink cartridge with a full ink cartridge. However, no supporting structure keeps the scanning device  12  open, thus, one hand of a user supports the scanning device  12  and the other does the replacement of the ink cartridge which is very inconvenient.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
      A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention provides a multifunction machine comprising a printing device, a scanning device and a supporting structure therebetween. The supporting structure comprises a supporting element and a guide groove. The guide groove comprises at least a stop block having a stop surface. When the scanning device moves from a closed position to an open position, the connecting end in the guide groove passes the stop block and is then propped against the stop surface for keeping the scanning device open at a predetermined angle. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
      The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
       FIG. 1A  is schematic view of a conventional multifunction machine which the scanning device closes;  
       FIG. 1B  is schematic view of a conventional multifunction machine showing the scanning device as it opens;  
       FIG. 2  is schematic view of a multifunction machine of the invention showing the scanning device as it closes;  
       FIG. 3A  is schematic view of a multifunction machine of the invention showing the scanning device as it opens;  
       FIG. 3B  is an enlarged view of  FIG. 3A ;  
       FIG. 4A  is a cross-sectional view along  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIGS. 4B-4F  show the process of a scanning of a multifunction machine closing; and  
       FIG. 5  shows another embodiment of a multifunction machine. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION  
      The following description is of the best-contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is best determined by reference to the appended claims.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 A, the multifunction machine  20  comprises a printing device  21  and a scanning device  22 . An ink cartridge (not shown) is installed in the printing device  21 . The printing device  21  comprises a guide groove  211 . A supporting element  23  connected between the printing device  21  and the scanning device  22  comprises two connecting ends  231  and  232 . The connecting end  231  and scanning device  22  are connected on a pivot. The connecting end  232  is installed movably in the guide groove  211 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 3B and 4A , two stop blocks  24  are installed in two sides of the guide groove  211 .  FIG. 4A , a sectional view along  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 , shows the scanning device  22  in a closed state. The guide groove  211  comprises a hollow  25  and a first elastic element  26 . The stop block  24  and first elastic element  26  are installed in the hollow  25 . The first elastic element  26  is under the stop block  24  to provide an elastic force F 1  to push the stop block  24  upward to protrude from the guide groove  211  where the stop block  24  is at a first position. In this embodiment, the first elastic element  26  is a spring, but the invention is not limited to a spring.  
      Referring to  FIG. 4B , when an empty ink cartridge is replaced with a new one. A user exerts a force F 2  to open the scanning device  22 , thereby causing the supporting element  23  to move. The connecting end  232  moves along an arrow B in the guide groove  211  and forces a force F 3  to the stop block  24 . Because the force F 31 , a vertical component of the force F 2 , is greater than the elastic force F 1  from the first elastic element  26 , the stop block is pressed to sink in the hollow  25  for the connecting end  232  to pass thereon. A second position where stop block  24  locats is shown by  FIG. 4C .  
      Referring  FIG. 4D , after the supporting element  23  passes the stop block  24 , an elastic force F 1  from the first elastic element  26  pushes the stop block  24  upward to protrude from the guide groove  211  again, therefore the stop block  24  returns to the first position. Because the connecting end  232  is propped against a stop surface  241  of the stop block  24  protruding from the guide groove  211 , the scanning device  22  stays open and a user can then stop the force F 2  exerted thereon. Moreover, the force F 1  from the first elastic element  26  is greater than the weight W of the scanning device  22  for propping up the connecting end  232 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 4E , when a user closes the scanning device  22 , a force F 1  exerted thereon and then affects the supporting element  23  to move and the connecting end  232  to slide along an arrow C in the guide groove  211 . The stop block  24  is moved by the force F 5 . Because the force F 51 , a vertical component of the force F 5 , is greater than the elastic force F 1  from the first elastic element  26 , the stop block is pressed to sink in the hollow  25 (the second position shown by  FIG. 4F ) for the connecting end  232  to pass thereon. The connecting end  232  continues moving along the arrow C until the scanning device  22  closes.  
      Referring to  FIG. 5 ,the printing device  21  further comprises a second elastic element  27  installed in the guide groove  211  and connected between one end of the guide groove  211  and the connecting end  232 . The second elastic element  27  is a compression spring or an extension spring to cushion movement of the connecting end  232  in the guide groove  211  to avoid breakage of the connecting end  232 .  
      While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.