U.S. patent application number 11/771066 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-03 for image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Masahisa Kato.
Application Number | 20080001343 11/771066 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38875781 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080001343 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kato; Masahisa |
January 3, 2008 |
Image Reading Apparatus And Image Forming Apparatus
Abstract
An image reading apparatus includes: a main body; an operation
panel; a document feeding tray movable between first and second
positions and having a placing surface on which a document is
placed; a document conveying plate guiding the document; and a
reading unit reading an image of the document. The placing surface
includes first and second placing portions. In the first position,
a first inferior angle formed by the first placing portion and a
line is smaller than a second inferior angle formed by the line and
the second placing portion. The line is perpendicular to a
predetermined plane and passes through a boundary between the first
and second placing portions. In the second position, the first
placing portion covers at least a part of the operation panel, and
the second placing portion is positioned substantially flush with a
conveying surface of the document conveying plate.
Inventors: |
Kato; Masahisa; (Nagoya-shi,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BAKER BOTTS LLP;C/O INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEPARTMENT
THE WARNER, SUITE 1300, 1299 PENNSYLVANIA AVE, NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20004-2400
US
|
Assignee: |
BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI
KAISHA
Nagoya-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
38875781 |
Appl. No.: |
11/771066 |
Filed: |
June 29, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
271/3.14 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 1/00525 20130101;
H04N 2201/0081 20130101; H04N 1/0062 20130101; H04N 2201/0093
20130101; H04N 1/00551 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
271/3.14 |
International
Class: |
B65H 5/22 20060101
B65H005/22; B65H 83/00 20060101 B65H083/00; B65H 85/00 20060101
B65H085/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 30, 2006 |
JP |
2006-182542 |
Claims
1. An image reading apparatus comprising: a main body to be placed
on a predetermined plane; an operation panel provided on a surface
of the main body; a document feeding tray that is movable between a
first position and a second position and has a placing surface on
which a document is placed when the document feeding tray is in the
first position; a document conveying plate having a conveying
surface on which the document fed from the document feeding tray is
guided in a conveying direction; and a reading unit that reads an
image of the document guided from the document conveying plate,
wherein the placing surface of the document feeding tray includes a
first placing portion and a second placing portion and is bent at a
boundary between the first placing portion and the second placing
portion, the second placing portion positioned downstream of the
first placing portion in the conveying direction, wherein when the
document feeding tray is in the first position, the second placing
portion is positioned substantially flush with the conveying
surface of the document conveying plate, wherein when the document
feeding tray is in the first position, the first placing portion is
positioned across a virtual line from the second placing portion
and extends from the boundary in a direction away from the
predetermined plane, where the virtual line is defined as a line
that is perpendicular to the predetermined plane and passes through
the boundary between the first placing portion and the second
placing portion, wherein when the document feeding tray is in the
first position, a first inferior angle formed by the first placing
portion and the virtual line is smaller than a second inferior
angle formed by the virtual line and the second placing portion,
and wherein when the document feeding tray is in the second
position, the first placing portion covers at least a part of the
operation panel.
2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when
the document feeding tray is in the second position, the second
placing portion covers at least a part of the document feeding
plate.
3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
document feeding tray is rotatable around an axis that is
substantially parallel to the predetermined plane and is
substantially orthogonal to the conveying direction.
4. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
document feeding tray including the first placing portion and the
second placing portion is integrally formed.
5. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when
the document feeding tray is in the second position, the first
placing portion is disposed substantially parallel to the operation
panel.
6. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each
of the first placing portion and the second placing portion is
substantially flat.
7. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
operation panel is disposed to be downwardly inclined forward,
wherein the document feeding tray in the first position is
positioned rearward of the operation panel.
8. An image forming apparatus comprising: a main body to be placed
on a predetermined plane; an operation panel provided on a surface
of the main body; a recording medium feeding unit that is provided
in a lower portion of the main body and separates one at a time a
plurality of sheets of a recording medium placed in a stacked
manner; a conveying passage having a substantially U-shaped portion
in cross section to convey the recording medium fed from the
recording medium feeding unit; a recording unit that records an
image on the recording medium conveyed from the conveying passage;
a discharge portion for discharging the recording medium conveyed
from the recording unit; and a image reading apparatus disposed
above the recording unit, wherein the image reading apparatus
comprises: a document feeding tray that is movable between a first
position and a second position and has a placing surface on which a
document is placed when the document feeding tray is in the first
position; a document conveying plate having a conveying surface on
which the document fed from the document feeding tray is guided in
a conveying direction; and a reading unit that reads an image of
the document guided from the document conveying plate, wherein the
placing surface of the document feeding tray includes a first
placing portion and a second placing portion and is bent at a
boundary between the first placing portion and the second placing
portion, the second placing portion positioned downstream of the
first placing portion in the conveying direction, wherein when the
document feeding tray is in the first position, the second placing
portion is positioned substantially flush with the conveying
surface of the document conveying plate, wherein when the document
feeding tray is in the first position, the first placing portion is
positioned across a virtual line from the second placing portion
and extends from the boundary in a direction away from the
predetermined plane, where the virtual line is defined as a line
that is perpendicular to the predetermined plane and passes through
the boundary between the first placing portion and the second
placing portion, wherein when the document feeding tray is in the
first position, a first inferior angle formed by the first placing
portion and the virtual line is smaller than a second inferior
angle formed by the virtual line and the second placing portion,
and wherein when the document feeding tray is in the second
position, the first placing portion covers at least a part of the
operation panel.
9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, further
comprising a cradle provided on an upper surface of the main body,
to place a handset in a standing state, wherein when a downstream
side in the conveying direction is defined as a front side in a
plan view, the cradle is located to position the handset so that,
in a side view, an upper portion of the handset is situated to a
frontward of the document feeding tray in the first position.
10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein an
opening portion and a door are provided on an upper surface of the
main body and blow the document feeding tray of the first position,
wherein the opening portion is located above at least a part of the
recording unit, and wherein the door is rotatably attached to the
main body to selectively expose and close the opening portion when
the document feeding tray is in the second position.
11. An image forming apparatus comprising: a main body to be placed
on a predetermined plane; a recording medium feeding unit that is
provided in a lower portion of the main body and separates one at a
time a plurality of sheets of a recording medium placed in a
stacked manner; a conveying passage having a substantially U-shaped
portion in cross section to convey the recording medium fed from
the recording medium feeding unit; a recording unit that records an
image on the recording medium conveyed from the conveying passage;
a discharge portion for discharging the recording medium conveyed
from the recording unit, in a first conveying direction; a document
conveying plate that is disposed above the recording unit and
guides a document in a second conveying direction; a reading unit
that reading an image of the document guided from the document
conveying plate; an operation panel unit disposed above the reading
unit; and a document feeding tray that is disposed on an upper
surface of the main body and feeds a document to a document
introducing port formed between the document conveying plate and
the operation panel, wherein the document feeding tray is movable
between a first position and a second position, wherein the
document feeding tray in the second position covers at least a part
of an upper surface of the operation panel and the document feeding
port, and wherein when the document feeding tray is in the first
position, an orthogonal projection of the document feeding tray
onto the predetermined plane is entirely positioned within a
contour of the main body.
12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the
document feeding tray has a placing surface on which the document
is placed, the placing surface having a first placing portion and a
second placing portion, the second placing portion positioned
downstream of the first placing portion the second conveying
direction, and wherein the placing surface is bent at a boundary
between the first placing portion and the second placing portion in
cross section, so that the first placing portion and the second
placing portion forms an obtuse angle.
13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, further
comprising a cradle provided on an upper surface of the main body,
to place a handset in a standing state, wherein when a downstream
side in the second conveying direction in plan view is defined as a
front side, the cradle is located to place an upper portion of the
handset in a side view is situated to the front side of the
document feeding tray in the first position.
14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein an
opening portion and a door are provided on an upper surface of the
main body and blow the document feeding tray of the first position,
wherein the opening portion is located above at least a part of the
recording unit, and wherein the door is rotatably attached to the
main body to selectively expose and close the opening portion when
the document feeding tray is in the second position.
15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein when
the document feeding tray is in the second position, the second
placing portion covers at least apart of the document feeding
plate.
16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the
document feeding tray is rotatable around an axis that is
substantially parallel to the predetermined plane and is
substantially orthogonal to the conveying direction.
17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the
document feeding tray is integrally formed.
18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein when
the document feeding tray is in the second position, the first
placing portion is disposed substantially parallel to the operation
panel.
19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein each
of the first placing portion and the second placing portion is
substantially flat.
20. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the
operation panel is disposed to be downwardly inclined forward,
wherein the document feeding tray in the first position is
positioned rearward of the operation panel.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of
priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-182542, filed on
Jun. 30, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein
by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus
such as a scanner, as well as to an image forming apparatus such as
a scanner, a facsimile machine, a copier, etc.
BACKGROUND
[0003] JP-A-2003-92651 (hereinafter referred to as Document 1) and
JP-A-2002-320058 (hereinafter referred to as Document 2) disclose a
facsimile machine. The facsimile machine includes an operation unit
cover body is disposed on a front portion of an upper surface of a
main body case. On the surface of the operation unit cover body, an
operation panel is formed. An image reading unit is disposed within
the main body case, and an inkjet type image recording unit (a
printer unit) is disposed below the image reading unit. The
facsimile machine includes: a document tray on which a document is
placed, in order to feed the document to the image reading unit;
and a sheet feeding tray on which a plurality of sheets of
recording paper (sheets) are placed, in order to print and record
data such as a received image on the recording paper (sheet). The
document tray and the sheet feeding tray stand on the main body
case in the rear of the image reading unit. The document tray and
the sheet feeding tray are disposed substantially parallel to each
other and downwardly inclined toward the front side (i.e., upwardly
inclined toward the rear side).
[0004] In the above configuration, a document having been read and
a recording sheet having been printed are respectively discharged
toward a document discharge tray and a recording sheet discharge
tray. These trays are provided at the front surface of the main
body case and vertically separated from each other.
[0005] The facsimile machine includes a transceiver (a handset)
with a ten key numeric pad for a telephone set, in order to
communicate with (calling) a facsimile machine or a telephone of
the distant party. The handset is placed and laid on a cradle
provided on one side of the main body case (housing), so that the
longitudinal direction of the handset becomes substantially
parallel to the longitudinal direction of the main body case.
[0006] JP-A-2003-158592 (hereinafter referred to as Document 3)
discloses a facsimile machine includes a sheet feeding cassette
which can be inserted into a lower portion of a main body from the
front thereof. In the facsimile machine, a sheet printed in a
recording unit (not shown) is discharged to a recording sheet
discharge stacker protruding rearward from a rear portion of the
main body. In this facsimile machine, a document tray is disposed
upstream of the recording sheet discharge stacker, and the document
having been read during the course of passing through a reading
unit is discharged forward of the main body.
[0007] However, in case where the document tray and the sheet
feeding tray stand to be inclined rearward as described in
Documents 1 and 2, particularly an upper end portion of the tray is
situated rearward of a rear surface of the main body case.
Accordingly, in order to arrange the tray in a correct
rearwardly-inclined position where the rear-side tray exhibits its
function, it is necessary to keep a large space (a dead space)
between the rear surface of the main body case and a wall surface
of a room. That is, even when the main body case is formed to be
compact, a large space is necessitated when the image recording
apparatus (the facsimile machine) is in use.
[0008] In Patent Document 3, a recorded sheet is discharged
rearward of the main body. Hence, even in this case, a large space
is required between the rear surface of the main body case and the
wall surface of the room.
[0009] Moreover, in the facsimile machine disclosed in Patent
Documents 1 to 3, the document tray and the sheet feeding tray are
generally formed into a straight line in a side view. Accordingly,
when the rearwardly-inclined position is adopted, upper end
portions of the trays are distant from the rear surface of the main
body case in the side view.
[0010] Further, in case where the document tray and the sheet
feeding tray are left standing when the image recording apparatus
(the facsimile machine) is not in use, dust settles on surfaces
(upper surfaces) of the respective trays, the surface of the
operation panel, and the inlet to the document reading unit and the
sheet feeding unit, as well. Hence, there also arises a problem of
consumption of efforts induced by cleaning dust when the image
recording apparatus is used again.
SUMMARY
[0011] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is
provided an image reading apparatus including: a main body to be
placed on a predetermined plane; an operation panel provided on a
surface of the main body; a document feeding tray that is movable
between a first position and a second position and has a placing
surface on which a document is placed when the document feeding
tray is in the first position; a document conveying plate having a
conveying surface on which the document fed from the document
feeding tray is guided in a conveying direction; and a reading unit
that reads an image of the document guided from the document
conveying plate, wherein the placing surface of the document
feeding tray includes a first placing portion and a second placing
portion and is bent at a boundary between the first placing portion
and the second placing portion, the second placing portion
positioned downstream of the first placing portion in the conveying
direction, wherein when the document feeding tray is in the first
position, the second placing portion is positioned substantially
flush with the conveying surface of the document conveying plate,
wherein when the document feeding tray is in the first position,
the first placing portion is positioned across a virtual line from
the second placing portion and extends from the boundary in a
direction away from the predetermined plane, where the virtual line
is defined as a line that is perpendicular to the predetermined
plane and passes through the boundary between the first placing
portion and the second placing portion, wherein when the document
feeding tray is in the first position, a first inferior angle
formed by the first placing portion and the virtual line is smaller
than a second inferior angle formed by the virtual line and the
second placing portion, and wherein when the document feeding tray
is in the second position, the first placing portion covers at
least a part of the operation panel.
[0012] According to a second aspect of the invention, an image
forming apparatus including: a main body to be placed on a
predetermined plane; an operation panel provided on a surface of
the main body; a recording medium feeding unit that is provided in
a lower portion of the main body and separates one at a time a
plurality of sheets of a recording medium placed in a stacked
manner; a conveying passage having a substantially U-shaped portion
in cross section to convey the recording medium fed from the
recording medium feeding unit; a recording unit that records an
image on the recording medium conveyed from the conveying passage;
a discharge portion for discharging the recording medium conveyed
from the recording unit; and a image reading apparatus disposed
above the recording unit, wherein the image reading apparatus
comprises: a document feeding tray that is movable between a first
position and a second position and has a placing surface on which a
document is placed when the document feeding tray is in the first
position; a document conveying plate having a conveying surface on
which the document fed from the document feeding tray is guided in
a conveying direction; and a reading unit that reads an image of
the document guided from the document conveying plate, wherein the
placing surface of the document feeding tray includes a first
placing portion and a second placing portion and is bent at a
boundary between the first placing portion and the second placing
portion, the second placing portion positioned downstream of the
first placing portion in the conveying direction, wherein when the
document feeding tray is in the first position, the second placing
portion is positioned substantially flush with the conveying
surface of the document conveying plate, wherein when the document
feeding tray is in the first position, the first placing portion is
positioned across a virtual line from the second placing portion
and extends from the boundary in a direction away from the
predetermined plane, where the virtual line is defined as a line
that is perpendicular to the predetermined plane and passes through
the boundary between the first placing portion and the second
placing portion, wherein when the document feeding tray is in the
first position, a first inferior angle formed by the first placing
portion and the virtual line is smaller than a second inferior
angle formed by the virtual line and the second placing portion,
and wherein when the document feeding tray is in the second
position, the first placing portion covers at least a part of the
operation panel.
[0013] According to a third aspect of the invention, an image
forming apparatus including: a main body to be placed on a
predetermined plane; a recording medium feeding unit that is
provided in a lower portion of the main body and separates one at a
time a plurality of sheets of a recording medium placed in a
stacked manner; a conveying passage having a substantially U-shaped
portion in cross section to convey the recording medium fed from
the recording medium feeding unit; a recording unit that records an
image on the recording medium conveyed from the conveying passage;
a discharge portion for discharging the recording medium conveyed
from the recording unit, in a first conveying direction; a document
conveying plate that is disposed above the recording unit and
guides a document in a second conveying direction; a reading unit
that reading an image of the document guided from the document
conveying plate; an operation panel unit disposed above the reading
unit; and a document feeding tray that is disposed on an upper
surface of the main body and feeds a document to a document
introducing port formed between the document conveying plate and
the operation panel, wherein the document feeding tray is movable
between a first position and a second position, wherein the
document feeding tray in the second position covers at least a part
of an upper surface of the operation panel and the document feeding
port, and wherein when the document feeding tray is in the first
position, an orthogonal projection of the document feeding tray
onto the predetermined plane is entirely positioned within a
contour of the main body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a facsimile
machine when a document feeding tray is in a standing position;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the facsimile machine;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the facsimile machine
cut along a line III-III shown in FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a left side view of the facsimile machine when a
rear cover is opened and the document feeding tray is in a lying
position;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a side cross sectional profile when the rear cover
is opened and the document feeding tray is closed;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a rear view of the facsimile machine;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a plan view when the document feeding tray is in
the standing position;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a plan view when the document feeding tray is in
the lying position and the rear cover is closed; and
[0022] FIG. 9 is a plan view when the rear cover is opened, the
document feeding tray is in the lying position, and a U-shaped
sheet feeding passage member is removed.
DESCRIPTION
[0023] An embodiment of the present invention will be described
with reference to the drawings
[0024] A main body 2 of the facsimile machine 1 is an
injection-molded product formed of a synthetic resin. As shown in
FIGS. 3 and 5, an image recording unit (hereinafter called a
"recording unit") 7 is provided in a lower portion of the main body
2. On a front surface of the main body 2, an opening portion as an
insertion port 2a is formed. A sheet feeding cassette 3 can be
inserted or removed (can be loaded and unloaded in a substantially
horizontal direction) into or from a cassette accommodation portion
located in the bottom of the main body 2 by way of the insertion
port 2a. The part of the main body 2 where the insertion port 2a is
formed is hereinafter referred to as a "front side" or a "forward
direction." With reference to this definition, the front side, left
and right sides, and a rear side (a depth side) of the apparatus
are designated.
[0025] In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a direction
in which the sheet feeding cassette 3 is removably inserted is
called a sub-scanning direction (the direction along the Y axis),
and a direction in which a carriage 5 (described later) is
reciprocated is called a main scanning direction (the direction
along the X axis). As shown in FIG. 5, the sheet feeding cassette 3
includes an accommodating portion 3a capable of accommodating a
stack of sheets each of which serves as a recording medium. The
sheet feeding cassette 3 may accept the sheets cut into an A4-size,
a letter size, a legal size, etc.
[0026] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, an inclined separation plate 8
for separating sheets is disposed in the vicinity of a deep-side
end of the image recording unit along the direction of insertion of
the sheet feeding cassette 3. A sheet feeding passage member 9 has
a substantially U-shaped portion when viewed from the left or right
side. The sheet feeding passage member 9 is provided in the main
body 2 so as to be adjacent to the upper side of the inclined
separation plate 8 (see FIGS. 3 and 5).
[0027] A sheet feeding roller 6b serving as sheet feeding means is
provided at a position above the sheet feeding cassette 3. A drive
shaft 6c is provided at an upper end portion of a sheet feeding arm
6a in the sheet feeding means. The sheet feeding arm 6a is
vertically rotatable about the drive shaft 6c. The sheet feeding
arm 6a is attached to the sheet feeding roller 6b, and the sheet
feeding roller 6b is provided at the lower end of the sheet feeding
arm 6a. By means of synergistic operation of the sheet feeding
roller 6b and the inclined separation plate 8, sheets P stacked on
the sheet feeding cassette 3 and serving as recording media are
separately fed one at a time. The sheet P is distributed to the
recording unit 7 disposed at a position above the sheet feeding
cassette 3 by way of the sheet feeding passage member 9, and the
recording unit 7 performs image recording for the sheet P.
Subsequently, the recorded sheet P is sent to a discharge portion
10, which is a space above the sheet feeding cassette 3, and
discharged to the outside of the main body 2 by way of a discharge
port 10a shared with the insertion port 2a (see FIG. 5).
[0028] As shown in FIG. 5, the recording unit 7 is supported by a
pair of left and right side plates (not shown) in a main frame 11
that is formed from metal into the shape of a frame and which has
an opened upper surface. The recording unit 7 includes a first
guide member 12, a second guide member 13, the carriage 5, a timing
belt (not shown), a CR (carriage) motor (not shown), a plate-shaped
platen 16, and a tape scale (not shown). Each of the first guide
member 12 and a second guide member 13 has a horizontally-oriented
plate-shaped form that is extending in the direction along the X
axis (i.e., the main scanning direction). The carriage 5 is
supported (mounted) on the guide members 12 and 13 in a slidable
manner to allow a reciprocally movement. On a lower surface of the
carriage 5, an inkjet recording head (not shown) is provided. The
timing belt (not shown) serves as an endless belt passed around
pulleys in parallel to the upper surface of the second guide member
13 in order to reciprocally actuate the carriage 5. The CR
(carriage) motor drives the timing belt. As an example of the CR
motor, a DC motor is described in the embodiment. However, the CR
motor may also be another motor, such as a stepping motor. The
plate-shaped platen 16 supports the sheet P conveyed over the lower
surface of the inkjet recording head. The tape scale (not shown) is
a component of an optical linear encoder. The optical linear
encoder is arranged to extend along the main scanning direction and
detects a position and a moving velocity of the carriage 5 in the
direction of the X axis (the main scanning direction). With respect
to the sheet conveying direction in which the sheet P passes over
the platen 16, the first guide member 12 is disposed at an upstream
position and the second guide member 13 is disposed at a downstream
position.
[0029] A pair of registration rollers 17 which exhibit both a
conveying effect and a registration effect are disposed upstream of
the platen 16 with respect to the conveying direction. The pair of
registration rollers 17 include a drive roller and a driven roller.
The registration rollers convey the sheet P to a space between a
nozzle plane provided on the lower surface of the recording head
and the platen 16. A pair of sheet discharge rollers 18 are
arranged downstream of the platen 16. The pair of sheet discharge
rollers 18 include: a spur positioned to contact with an upper
surface of the sheet P; and a drive roller for driving the lower
surface of the sheet P. The recorded sheet P is conveyed to the
sheet discharge portion 10 by means of the pair of sheet discharge
rollers 18.
[0030] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, an operation panel 20 is provided
at a front portion of the upper surface of the main body 2. An
operation panel 20 includes various operation buttons 20a such as a
ten key numeric pad; and a liquid crystal display unit 20b. This
operation panel 20 is downwardly inclined to the front, and hinged
to the main body 2 by a hinge 21 that is provided at a front end
portion of the operation panel 20. Accordingly, the operation panel
20 can be pivoted in the vertical direction and freely opened and
closed with respect to the main body 2.
[0031] An image reader 22 is placed at a position below the
operation panel 20 and placed in the main body 2. Specifically, as
shown in FIG. 5, a document conveying plate 23 is arranged at a
position above and forward of the recording unit 7 in the main body
2, so as to become substantially parallel to the operation panel 20
(downwardly inclined toward the front). The image reader includes a
document feeding roller 24, a document separation plate (a
separation pad) 25, a pair of document conveying rollers 26, an
image scanner 27 for reading a document, and a pair of document
discharge rollers 28 disposed downstream of the image scanner,
which are disposed along the document conveying plate 23 in
sequence from upstream to downstream with respect to the document
conveying direction (a feeding direction). The image scanner (a
contact image sensor: CIS) 27 contains a CCD (a solid-state imaging
device) having a longitudinal side in a direction (the main
scanning direction or the direction along the X axis) perpendicular
to a paper plane of FIG. 5. The image scanner 27 corresponds to a
reading unit configured to read a document in the copier function
and the facsimile function. Since the pair of document conveying
rollers 26 are disposed upstream of an image scanner 27, and a pair
of document discharge rollers 28 are disposed downstream of the
image scanner 27, the document can be stably conveyed.
[0032] The document conveying plate 23 is disposed at a position
facing the lower surface of the operation panel 20, so as to extend
toward the upstream side. A space between the operation panel 20
and the document conveying plate 23 acts as a document feeding port
29. A document discharge port 30 as an opening portion provided in
the front portion of the main body 2 is positioned downstream of
the pair of document discharge rollers 28. A document discharge
tray 31 extending toward the front of the main body 2 is provided
subsequently to the document discharge port 30 and is vertically
rotatable. The document separation plate (the separation pad) 25
facing to the upper surface of the document feeding roller 24, a
driven roller (a pinch roller) of the pair of document conveying
rollers 26, a driven roller (a pinch roller) of the pair of
document discharge rollers 28, and a document pressing plate 32
facing to the upper surface of the image scanner 27 are attached to
the lower surface of the operation panel 20.
[0033] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a document feeding tray 33 is
provided for placing a document G which may contain a plurality of
sheets. A base end portion of the document feeding tray 33 is
attached to the main body 2 (such as a top portion of the document
conveying plate 23) by way of a hinge 34. The hinge 34 allows the
document feeding tray 33 to be rotatable in the front and rear
directions so that the document feeding tray 33 is freely opened
and closed with respect to the main body 2. That is, the document
feeding tray 33 is rotatable around an axis that is substantially
parallel to a plane on which the main body 2 is placed and that is
substantially orthogonal to the document conveying direction. The
document feeding tray 33 includes a first placing surface 33b (a
first placing portion) and a second placing surface 33c (a second
placing portion). Each of the first placing surface 33b and the
second placing surface 33c is substantially flat. The document
feeding tray 33 is bent at a boundary portion 33a between the first
placing surface 33b and the second placing surface 33c. The
document feeding tray 33 is formed to have an obtuse angle (an
angle .theta.3) between the first placing surface 33b and the
second placing surface 33c, in a direction where the placing
surfaces approach each other. The document feeding tray 33
including the first placing surface 33b and the second placing
surface 33c may be integrally formed.
[0034] The document feeding tray 33 is selectively movable between
a lying position (second position) and a standing position (first
position). As shown in FIG. 5, when the document feeding tray 33 is
in the lying position, the document feeding tray 33 covers the
entire upper surface of the operation panel 20 under which the
document feeding port 29 and the image reader 12 are provided. As
shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, when the document feeding tray 33 is in the
standing position, the document G can be placed on the document
feeding tray 33. As a result, the document feeding tray 33 can
perform both functions: a function of a document placing unit for
placing the document G that is to be read; and a function of a
dust-proof member for covering the upper surface of the document
feeding port 29 and the upper surface of the operation panel 20
when the apparatus is not in use. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, when
the document feeding tray 33 is in the lying position, the
operation panel 20 is covered with the first placing surface 33b,
and the document conveying plate 23 and the document feeding port
29 are covered with the second placing surface 33c.
[0035] Here, a virtual straight line S is assumed as a line that
passes through the boundary portion 33a and that is perpendicular
to a mount plane on which the main body 2 is placed. An angle
.theta.1 (a first inferior angle) is assumed as a contained angle
formed by the first placing surface 33b and the virtual straight
line S when the document feeding tray 33 is in a standing position.
An angle .theta.2 (a second inferior angle) is assumed as another
contained angle formed by the virtual straight line S and the
second placing surface 33c when the document feeding tray 33 is in
a standing position. The first angle .theta.1 is smaller than the
second angle .theta.2, and the second placing surface 33c is
arranged in a plane substantially flush with the surface of the
document conveying plate 23.
[0036] According to this structure, the first placing surface 33b
urges an end of the document to be inserted into the reading unit.
Since the second placing surface 33c is positioned in a plane
substantially flush with the document conveying plate 23, the
document is smoothly guided from the second placing surface 33c to
the document conveying plate 23.
[0037] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the document feeding tray 33 is
provided so as to situate within a projected area of the main body
2 when viewed from above regardless of whether it is in the
standing position or in the lying position.
[0038] The document discharge tray 31 is made of a transparent
resin plate. As shown in FIG. 5, the document discharge tray 31 is
upwardly rotatable around the front portion of the main body 2, so
that the document discharge tray 31 can be folded so as to be
disposed substantially parallel to the upper surface of the
operation panel 20. The hinge 21 may be used for rotating the
document discharge tray 31. Subsequently, the document feeding tray
33 can be brought into the lying position so as to become
substantially parallel to the upper surface of the folded document
discharge tray 31. The liquid crystal display unit 20b in the
operation panel 20 can be observed through a window 33d provided in
the center of the document feeding tray 33. This window 33d may be
omitted.
[0039] The document feeding tray 33 is bent at an angle .theta.3
between the first placing surface 33b and the second placing
surface 33c, in side cross section. Namely, the document feeding
tray 33 is bent at an obtuse angle (an angle .theta.3 ranges from
120.degree. to 145.degree. or thereabouts) and at an intermediate
position in the direction for conveying the document G, in side
cross section. When the main body 2 is viewed from the side, the
upper end of the document feeding tray 33 in a standing position is
assumed to situate towards the front as compared with the rear
surface of the main body 2. When the document feeding tray 33 is in
the standing position, the second placing surface 33c is
substantially flush with the document conveying plate 23. The first
placing surface 33b is disposed rearward of the apparatus with
reference to the virtual straight line S.
[0040] Even when the document G is placed on the placing surfaces
33b, 33c of the document feeding tray 33 in the standing position
and when an intermediate portion of the document G in the feeding
direction of the document G is bent under its own weight, the bent
intermediate portion does not contact the boundary portion 33a of
the document feeding tray 33. Hence, as compared with a document
feeding tray having a downwardly convex carved shape in side cross
section, the conveying resistance (sliding resistance) during
feeding of the document G can be reduced without providing
elongated ribs on the placing surface of the document feeding tray
33 along the sheet feeding direction. As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of
side guide plates 35 for guiding the respective side edges of the
document G are provided on the document conveying plate 23 in the
vicinity of the document feeding port 29.
[0041] A handset cradle 37 is provided in a form of a recess in one
side area on the upper surface (on one side of the location where
the document feeding tray 33 is disposed) of the main body 2. The
handset cradle 37 receives a cordless handset 36 (a transceiver
having operation buttons such as a ten key numeric pad) in a
standing state. As shown in FIG. 2, The handset cradle 37 is
provided such that, when the main body 2 is viewed from the side,
the handset 36 placed in the handset cradle 37 in a standing state
is situated toward the front as compared with the document feeding
tray 33 in the standing position (see FIGS. 2 and 3). A battery
charger (not shown) for the handset 36 is provided in the handset
cradle 37.
[0042] A rear side of the upper surface of the main body 2 is
formed to be downwardly inclined toward the back. A space (an
opening portion) of a size that allows a sheet conveying passage of
the recording unit 7 to be observed from above is formed at a
rearward position in the lateral center of the upper surface of the
main body 2 (a rearward position with reference to the position
where the document feeding tray 33 is disposed). As shown in FIGS.
5 and 9, a rear cover body 38 for covering this space is hinged to
the main body 2 by way of a hinge 39 provided on an upper portion
of the rear cover body 38. When a paper jam has occurred in the
sheet conveying passage including the recording unit 7, the sheet P
can be removed. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, the U-shaped sheet
feeding passage member 9 is also attached to be removable from the
back surface of the main body 2, thereby enabling removal of the
paper jam having occurred between the sheet feeding roller 6b and
the recording unit 7 (see FIGS. 6 and 9).
[0043] In the standby state or in the operating state of the
facsimile machine 1, when the document feeding tray 33 opened from
the upper surface of the operation panel 22 is lifted so as to
stand up as shown in FIG. 1, the upper end portion of the document
feeding tray 33 is situated toward the front as compared with the
rear surface of the main body 2 (see FIG. 3). Hence, the facsimile
machine 1 becomes operable even when the rear surface of the main
body 2 of the facsimile machine 1 is located close to a wall of a
room.
[0044] As mentioned above, the intermediate portion of the document
feeding tray 33 in the feeding direction of the document is bent at
an obtuse angle, and the angle .theta.4 with respect to the horizon
of the upper portion (first placing surface 33b) of the document
feeding tray 33 in the standing position is as large as about
70.degree. (see FIG. 3). In case where an intermediate portion of
the document is bent because of its own weight when the document is
placed on the document feeding tray 33, the bent intermediate
portion of the document does not contact the boundary portion 33a
in the upper surface of the document feeding tray 33. Hence,
sliding resistance during feeding of the document is reduced, thus
preventing occurrence of a paper jam. Moreover, when the upper
surface of the operation panel 20 is covered with the linear
portion (corresponding to the upper portion of the document feeding
tray 33 in the standing position) of the document feeding tray 33
in the lying position in which the linear portion is inclined
downward toward the front, the boundary portion 33a as a bent
portion at an intermediate portion of the document feeding tray 33
prevents wasteful space between the operation panel 20 and the
document feeding tray 33.
[0045] When the main body 2 is viewed from the side, the document
feeding tray 33 in the standing position is situated rearward of
the handset 36 in the standing state. Hence, when the user picks up
or places the handset 36 from or on the handset cradle 37, the
user's fingers do not interfere with the side surface of the
document feeding tray 33, thereby enabling smooth handling of the
handset 36.
* * * * *