JPH04322548A - Split enable type device provided with lock mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a damage to the device in the case of opening the device without release of a lock means in the split enable device such as a picture reader in which the device is split into a lower unit and an upper unit and provided with the lock means holding the closing state. CONSTITUTION:When an opening force of a prescribed value or over is exerted to an upper unit 62 and since a lock mechanism 67 supported to a lower unit 56 is moved in a direction C in which the retaining force is released by the opening force, the lock is automatically released.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a divisible device having a locking mechanism, and more particularly to an image reading device having a document reading system such as a facsimile machine, a copying machine, and an image reader.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image reading device is configured to transport a document at a predetermined speed to an optical reading system using a conveyance means in a document reading system, read the content, and transmit image information to a recording system. ing.

[0003] The above document reading system is divided into an upper document table (upper unit) and a lower document table (lower unit), with the document conveyance path as the boundary, and one end of the upper document table is rotatable to one end of the lower document table. During normal operation, the other end of the upper document table is positioned and fixed to the other end of the lower document table. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the positioning and fixing is performed by a locking member 4 rotatably attached to both ends of the shaft 3 via a lower document table 1, a bearing (not shown), a torsion coil spring 2, and a shaft 3, and a locking member 4 rotatably attached to both ends of the shaft 3. This is done by embossing 6 at both ends of the stand 5. The upper document table 1 is released from the lower document table 5 by operating a release button 8 attached to the upper document table 1 with a screw and a tension spring 7 in the A direction. When the release button 8 is operated in method A, the portion 4a of the lock member 4 is pushed by the pressing portion 8a of the release button 8, rotates in the direction E, and is removed from the embossing 6 on the upper document table. Therefore, the upper document table 5 can rotate around one end of the lower document table 1. However, even if you try to forcibly open (rotate) the upper document table 5 without operating the release button 8, the shape of the locking member 4C resists the force in the F direction in the conventional case.
Since it only works in the opposite direction or in the F direction, it was impossible to open it without damaging it. Incidentally, the upper document table 5 is opened when the document is jammed or the like.

0004

However, in the conventional example described above, the upper document table is not released from the lower document table unless the release button is operated, and therefore, there are the following drawbacks.

[0005] When the original is jammed (when it is necessary to open the upper document tray), if the user tries to forcefully open the upper document tray without operating the release button, the upper document tray and the lower document tray The document table may be damaged or deformed, and the image reading device may lose its original function.

[0006]

[Means and effects for solving the problem] According to the present invention, when a load of a certain level or more is applied in the direction of releasing the upper unit, a means is provided for releasing the upper unit from the locking mechanism regardless of the operation of the release button. This prevents the upper and lower units from being damaged or deformed.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an image reading apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a facsimile image reading system will be described as an image reading device.

First, a schematic configuration of a facsimile apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be explained with reference to FIG.

The document reading system includes a lower document table 56 consisting of a preliminary conveyance roller 50, a separation roller 51, a paper feed roller 52, a contact type image sensor 53, a paper ejection roller 54, a lower document guide 55, and a preliminary conveyance roller 50. A pressure contact member 57 that presses the document, a separation piece 58 that presses the separation roller 51, a paper feed roller 59 that pairs with the paper feed roller 52, a platen 60 that brings the document into close contact with the contact type image sensor 53, and a pair with the paper discharge roller 54. It is composed of an upper document table 62 consisting of an egg-shaped paper discharge roller 61.

The original is fed to the downstream side by a preliminary conveyance roller 50 and a pressing member 57, separated one by one by a separation roller 51 and a separation piece 58, and then separated by a paper feed roller 52 and a paper feed roller 59. The document is conveyed to the contact image sensor 53, the image of the document is read, and the document is discharged to a discharge tray (not shown) by the discharge roller 54 and the discharge roller 61.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper document table 62
The locking mechanism will be explained below.

As shown in FIG. 2, the upper document table 62 is rotatably fixed to one end of the lower document table 56 with screws, and both embossments 63 at the other end are attached to the lower document table 56 by bearings.
It is positioned and fixed to the lower document table 56 by a claw portion 67a of a locking member 67 rotatably attached via a shaft 65 and a torsion coil spring 66. The upper document table 62
A step screw 68 and a tension spring 69 are attached to the upper document table 62.
67 of the locking member 67 by pressing and moving the release button 70 attached in the direction B.
The part b is pushed by the part 70a of the release button 70 and rotates in the C direction, and is removed from the upper document table embossing 63, and becomes rotatable around one end of the lower document table 56.

As shown in FIG. 1, when an attempt is made to forcibly pull up the upper document table 62 in the release (D) direction without operating the release button 70, the lock member 67 has a shape (67C) on the lower surface of the lock member claw. (upwards by θ degrees), a force acts to rotate the locking member 67 in the C direction in response to a force in the D direction. Therefore, the upper document table 62 can be released from the lower document table 56 when the load exceeds a certain level. When the original document is jammed, the upper document table 62 is released from the lower document table 56 by operating the release button 70 in the direction B, and necessary measures are taken. After the treatment, by pressing down the upper document table in the opposite direction to the D direction, the embossing 63 rotates the locking member 67 to the left due to the shape of the locking member claw upper surface 67a (which is tilted downward by α degrees).
The document is positioned and fixed on the lower document table as shown in FIG. 1 without operating the release button.

Note that θ is approximately 12 degrees and α is approximately 25 degrees, but the angle is not limited to these.

[Other Embodiments] FIGS. 6 and 7 show the upper document table 1
Embosses 102 at both ends of the document 01 are positioned and fixed to elastic locking members 103 (not shown) attached to a lower document table. On the upper document table 101,
A release button 104 for releasing the embossing 102 from the lock member 103, a spring 105 that supports the release button 104, and a guide member 106 that holds the spring 105 are attached.

In normal operation, the release button 104
By pressing down in the G direction, the wedge portion 104a of the release button 104 pushes out the recessed portion 103b of the locking member 103 in the H direction, and releases the upper document table 101 from the lower document table. When the release button 104 is pushed and the forked portion 103a is pushed apart, the upper document table 101, which is released from the restraint, is raised by the spring force. The release button 104 is located at a position that does not inhibit the emboss 102 from rising.

Furthermore, if an attempt is made to forcefully release the upper document table 101 without operating the release button 104, and a force exceeding a certain level is applied in the opposite direction to the G direction, the forked portion of the elastic locking member 103 103a is the shape and embossing 102
As a result, the embossing 102 expands in the H direction and is released from the locking member 103. Therefore, even in such a configuration, the same effects as the present invention can be obtained.

[0018]

Effects of the Invention As explained above, by providing a means for releasing the upper unit from the locking mechanism regardless of the operation of the release button when a load exceeding a certain level is applied in the direction of releasing the upper unit, the upper unit can be released. It is possible to prevent damage or deformation of the lower unit, and there is an effect that the original function of a divisible device such as an image reading device will not be lost even if the user makes an erroneous operation.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a detailed view of the main parts of a locking mechanism embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a reading device equipped with a locking mechanism embodying the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front sectional view schematically showing a facsimile image reading device.

FIG. 4 is a front sectional view of another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view as well.

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the main parts of a conventional locking mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a reading device with a conventional locking mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

56 Lower document table 62 Upper document table 63　Top platen embossing 65 axis 66 Torsion coil spring 67 Lock member 68 step screw 69 Tension spring 70 Cancel button

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A locking mechanism for positioning and fixing an upper unit rotatably attached to one end of the lower unit to the other end of the lower unit, and a release mechanism for releasing the locking mechanism, the release mechanism In a splittable device equipped with a locking mechanism in which the upper unit is released from the locking mechanism by operating the upper unit, if a load of more than a certain level is applied in the upper unit release direction, the upper unit is released from the locking mechanism by operating the release mechanism. Regardless, a divisible device equipped with a locking mechanism, characterized in that a means for releasing the upper unit from the locking mechanism is provided.