Image reading device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9363396-B2
Application number	US-201414227755-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2014
Priority date	Sep 27, 2013
Publication date	Jun 7, 2016
Grant date	Jun 7, 2016

Abstract

An image reading device includes a support portion having a cover surface and an opposing first support surface, the support portion pivotable between open and closed positions, wherein in the closed position, the cover surface is an upper cover of the image reading device. The image reading device further includes a second support portion pivotable between open and closed positions, wherein in the closed position, the second support portion is positioned below the support portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image reading device comprising:
a housing defining a conveying path;
a reading unit positioned along the conveying path;
a first support portion comprising a plurality of plate members;
a second support portion comprising a plurality of guide portions;
wherein the first support portion is positioned at a first end of the conveying path;
wherein the second support portion is positioned at a second end of the conveying path opposite to the first end; and
wherein the second support portion comprises first and second surfaces, the first and second surfaces positioned opposite to each other,
wherein the first and second support portions are pivotable together between first and second positions thereby maintaining a relative orientation of the first and second support portions, wherein in the first position the first support portion and the first surface are sheet support surfaces positioned to support a sheet that is conveyed along the conveying path and at opposing ends of the conveying path, and in the second position the second surface is an upper cover of the image reading device,
wherein each of the plurality of guide portions protrudes from the first surface of the second support portion and includes an end portion, and each of the plurality of plate members is positioned above the first surface and extends from the end portion of the guide portion in a direction parallel to a rotational axis of the second support portion, and
wherein each of the plurality of plate members is attached to a corresponding one of the plurality of guide portions.

2. The image reading device according to claim 1 , further comprising a first sheet mount surface,
wherein one of the first sheet mount surface and the first support portion is located upstream from the other of the first sheet mount surface and the first support portion in a conveyance direction, wherein an end portion of the first sheet mount surface is located adjacent to an end portion of the first support portion, wherein an upper surface of the end portion of the upstream one of the first sheet mount surface and the first support portion is located at a position forward of an upper surface of the end portion of the downstream one of the first sheet mount surface and the first support portion in a direction that is perpendicular to and extending from at least one of the sheet support surfaces.

3. The image reading device according to claim 2 , wherein the first sheet mount surface is positioned below an upper edge of the housing of the image reading device, and wherein the first support portion is movable between first and second positions, the first support portion positioned below the upper edge of the housing and above the first sheet mount surface when the first support portion is in the second position.

4. The image reading device according to claim 1 , further comprising a second sheet mount surface,
wherein one of the second sheet mount surface and the second support portion is located upstream from the other of the second sheet mount surface and the second support portion in a conveyance direction, wherein an end portion of the second sheet mount surface is located adjacent to an end portion of the second support portion, wherein an upper surface of the end portion of the upstream one of the second sheet mount surface and the second support portion is located at a position forward of an upper surface of the end portion of the downstream one of the second sheet mount surface and the second support portion in a direction that is perpendicular to and extending from at least one of the sheet support surfaces.

5. The image reading device according to claim 1 , wherein the guide portion has a first wall and a second wall, the first wall and the second wall spaced apart to form a width; and
wherein the plate member is supported by the first wall and the second wall.

6. The image reading device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of plate members has a held portion; and
wherein each of the plurality of guide portions has a holding portion for supporting the held portion.

7. The image reading device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of plate members is press-fitted in the corresponding one of the plurality of guide portions, and the plate member is press-fit in a direction orthogonal to the first surface of the second support portion.

8. The image reading device according to claim 1 , wherein the first support portion has a length shorter than a length of the second support portion in a direction along the conveying path.

9. The image reading device according to claim 1 , wherein in the first position, an upstream end of the first support portion is located more downstream than an upstream end of the second support portion.

10. The image reading device according to claim 1 , wherein the first support portion comprises first and second surfaces, the first and second surfaces positioned opposite to each other, and the first surface is the sheet support surface, the second surface has a rib protruding toward the second support portion, wherein in the first position, the second surface of the first support portion is positioned above the first surface of the second support portion.

11. The image reading device according to claim 1 , wherein the first support portion is a color that is different from a color of the first surface of the second support portion.

12. The image reading device according to claim 1 , further comprising a lock portion for locking the second support portion in the second position.

13. The image reading device according to claim 1 , wherein the first end of the conveying path defines a sheet feeding portion and the second end of the conveying path defines a discharge portion of the image reading device.

14. An image reading device comprising:
a housing defining a conveying path;
a reading unit positioned along the conveying path;
a support portion having a cover surface and an opposing first support surface, the support portion pivotable between open and closed positions about an axis orthogonal to a conveying direction, wherein in the closed position, the cover surface is an upper cover of the image reading device and in the open position the opposing first support surface forms a sheet support surface at an end of the conveying path;
a second support portion pivotable between open and closed positions in the same direction as the first support surface, wherein, in the open position, the second support portion forms a second sheet support surface at an opposite end of the conveying path from the first support surface, the first and second sheet support surfaces positioned at opposite ends of the conveying path to support a sheet that is conveyed along the conveying path;
wherein the support portion includes a plurality of guide portions each protruding from the opposing first support surface and including an end portion;
wherein the second support portion includes a plurality of plate members each positioned above the opposing first support surface in the open position and extending from the end portion of the guide portion in a direction parallel to a rotational axis of the second support portion,
wherein each of the plurality of plate members is attached to the corresponding one of the plurality of guide portions, and
wherein in the closed position, the second support portion is positioned below the support portion.

15. The image reading device according to claim 14 , wherein the second support portion is pivotable about the axis.

16. The image reading

Assignees

• Brother Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Sakakibara Arisa
• Akimatsu Takayuki

Classifications

• H04N1/00559 Primary

  Mounting or support of components or elements (H04N1/00538 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04N1/00599

  Using specific components (details of components related to handling thin or filamentary material B65H) · CPC title

• H04N1/00551

  Top covers or the like · CPC title