Abstract:
A mounting apparatus for a duplex module of a printer, includes a bracket, a left lock hung on a left portion of the bracket, a right lock hung on a right portion of the bracket; and a left transmission module and a right transmission module movably mounted on the bracket. The duplex module is secured to the bracket. The left transmission module abuts the left lock. The right transmission module abuts the right lock. The left transmission module and the right transmission module move synchronously to move the left lock and the right lock synchronously to attach the duplex module to the printer or detach the duplex module from the printer.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to mounting apparatuses, and more particularly to a mounting apparatus for a duplex module of a printer. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Duplex printing is a desirable feature in printing systems. The advantages of duplex printing include reducing the sheets of paper required as compared to one-side (simplex) printing, and generating print sets with layouts resembling that of professionally printed books. The sheets of paper may be jammed in a duplex module when duplex printing a sheet of paper. As such the duplex module may need to be detached. However, the duplex module is usually mounted in the printer via screws. It may be tedious to detach the screws and re-attach the screws one by one to disassemble or assemble the duplex module. 
         [0005]    Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is an exploded and isometric view of an embodiment of a mounting apparatus for a duplex module of a printer. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an assembled view of the mounting apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.” 
         [0011]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a mounting apparatus for a duplex module of a printer in accordance with an embodiment is shown. The mounting apparatus includes a first bracket  10 , a second bracket  20 , a transmission assembly  30 , a left lock  70 , and a right lock  80 . The duplex module is mounted on the first bracket  10  and the second bracket  20 . 
         [0012]    The first bracket  10  includes a rear plate  11 , a left side plate  12 , and a right side plate  13 . The left side plate  12  is perpendicularly connected to a left edge of the rear plate  11 . The right side plate  13  is perpendicularly connected to a right edge of the rear plate  11 . The rear plate  11  defines a receiving hole  111 . A restricting piece  112  is connected to the rear plate  11  and aligned to the receiving hole  111 . A bottom edge of the rear plate  11  forms a plurality of clasps  113 . 
         [0013]    The second bracket  20  includes a front plate  21  and a top plate  23 . A pair of synchromesh gears  211  is pivotally mounted on the front plate  21 . A pair of first pivot holes  212  is defined in the front plate  21  and located above the pair of synchromesh gears  211 . An opening  231  is defined in the top plate  23 . The opening  231  is aligned with the pair of synchromesh gears  211 . The top plate  23  defines a plurality of engaging holes  232  corresponding to the plurality of clasps  113 . A pair of second pivot holes  25  is defined in a left portion of the second bracket  20 . A pair of third pivot holes  26  are defined in a right portion of the second bracket  20 . 
         [0014]    The transmission assembly  30  includes a left transmission module  40  and a right transmission module  50 . The left transmission module  40  includes a left pressing block  41 , a first left lever  42 , a left transmission lever  43 , and a second left lever  44 . A left gear  421  is connected to a middle portion of the first left lever  42 . The left gear  421  includes a first shaft  422 . A pair of first axles  441  is equipped on a middle portion of the second left lever  44 . 
         [0015]    The right transmission module  50  includes a right pressing block  51 , a first right lever  52 , a right transmission lever  53 , and a second right lever  54 . A right gear  521  is connected to a middle portion of the first right lever  52 . The right gear  521  includes a second shaft  522 . A pair of second axles  541  is equipped on a middle portion of the second right lever  54 . 
         [0016]    The left lock  70  is generally a piece and can be elastically bent. An upper portion of the left lock  70  can be mounted on the left side plate  12  of the first bracket  10 . A pair of first hooks  71  is connected to a lower portion of the left lock  70 . 
         [0017]    The right lock  80  is generally a piece of plate and can be elastically bent. An upper portion of the right lock  80  can be mounted on the right side plate  13  of the first bracket  10 . A pair of second hooks  81  is connected to a lower portion of the right lock  80 . 
         [0018]    A first spring  91  can be mounted between the left pressing block  41  and the right pressing block  51 . A second spring  92  can be mounted between the second left lever  44  and the left lock  70 . A third spring  93  can be mounted between the second right lever  54  and the right lock  80 . 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , during assembly, the left pressing block  41  and the right pressing block  51  are placed between the rear plate  11  and the restricting piece  112 . The first spring  91  is sandwiched between the left pressing block  41  and the right pressing block  51 . 
         [0020]    The first shaft  422  of first left lever  42  is pivotally mounted in one of the pair of first pivot holes  212 . The left gear  421  meshes with one of the pair of synchromesh gears  211 . The pair of first axles  441  of the second left lever  44  are pivotally mounted in the pair of second pivot holes  25  of the second bracket  20 . The left transmission lever  43  is slidably located on the second bracket  20 . One end of the left transmission lever  43  abuts a bottom end of the first left lever  42 . Another end of the left transmission lever  43  abuts a rear end of the second left lever  44 . 
         [0021]    The second shaft  522  of the first right lever  52  is pivotally mounted in the other one of the pair of first pivot holes  212 . The right gear  521  meshes with the other one of the pair of synchromesh gears  211 . The pair of second axles  541  of the second right lever  54  are pivotally mounted in the pair of third pivot holes  26  of the second bracket  20 . The right transmission lever  53  is slidably located on the second bracket  20 . One end of the right transmission lever  53  abuts a bottom end of the first right lever  52 . The other end of the right transmission lever  53  abuts a rear end of the second right lever  54 . 
         [0022]    The plurality of clasps  113  of the first bracket  10  are engaged in the plurality of engaging holes  232  of the second bracket  20  to secure the first bracket  10  and the second bracket  20  together. A top end of the first left lever  42  is inserted through the opening  231  and abuts the left pressing block  41 . A top end of the first right lever  52  inserts through the opening  231  and abuts the right pressing block  51 . The upper portion of the left lock  70  is mounted on the left side plate  12  of the first bracket  10 . The second spring  92  is sandwiched between a front end of the second left lever  44  and the lower portion of the left lock  70 . The upper portion of the right lock  80  is mounted on the right side plate  13  of the first bracket  10 . The third spring  93  is sandwiched between a front end of the second right lever  54  and the lower portion of the right lock  80 . 
         [0023]    In work, the left pressing block  41  and the right pressing block  51  are pressed to move toward each other. The first spring  91  is elastically compressed. The left pressing block  41  moves to rotate the first left lever  42 . The right pressing block  51  moves to rotate the first right lever  52 . Because the left gear  421  and the right gear  521  mesh with the pair of synchromesh gears  211 , the first left lever  42  and the first right lever  52  are kept rotating in synch. The bottom end of the first left lever  42  pushes the left transmission lever  43  to move. The bottom end of the first right lever  52  pushes the right transmission lever  53  to move. The left transmission lever  43  pushes the rear end of the second left lever  44  to rotate the second left lever  44 . The right transmission lever  53  pushes the rear end of the second right lever  54  to rotate the second right lever  54 . The front end of the second left lever  44  abuts and pushes the lower portion of the left lock  70  via the second spring  92 . The second spring  92  is elastically compressed. The front end of the second right lever  54  abuts and pushes the lower portion of the right lock  80  via the third spring  93 . Therefore, the pair of first hooks  71  of the left lock  70  and the pair of second hooks  81  of the right lock  80  move towards each other in synch. 
         [0024]    To mount the duplex module, the first bracket  10  and the second bracket  20  are placed in a printer with the left pressing block  41  and the right pressing block  51  being pressed. The left pressing block  41  and the right pressing block  51  are then released. The pair of first hooks  71  and the pair of second hooks  81  move backward to engage the printer for mounting the first bracket  10  and the second bracket  20  on the printer. Therefore, the duplex module is mounted in the printer. 
         [0025]    To detach the duplex module, the left pressing block  41  and the right pressing block  51  are pressed to move toward each other. The pair of first hooks  71  of the left lock  70  and the pair of second hooks  81  of the right lock  80  move towards each other in synch to disengage the printer. Therefore, the duplex module is detached easily. 
         [0026]    In the mounting apparatus, the left gear  421  and the right gear  521  mesh with the pair of synchromesh gears  211 , so the left transmission module  40  and the right transmission module  50  work in synch, which keeps the pair of first hooks  71  and the pair of second hooks  81  moving synchronously. 
         [0027]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.