US 5,862,446 AGranted

Drive switching mechanism for use in image input apparatus

AssigneeMita Industrial Co., Ltd.

InventorsMasahiro Hashizume, Atsushi Yoshihara, Masami Shibahara

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Abstract

This invention relates to a drive switching mechanism for use in an image input apparatus. While a pivotable gear is set on the side of a document feeder, a displacement restricting mechanism of the drive switching mechanism restricts a displacement of the pivotable gear toward an image scanner. With this arrangement, even if the pivotable gear is caused to move toward the image scanner while set on the side of the document feeder, a stopper of the displacement restricting mechanism restricts such movement to maintain an engaged state of the pivotable gear with a drive gear of the document feeder. Accordingly, a driving force of a motor rotatable in the opposite direction (forward and backward) can securely be transmitted to the drive gear of the document feeder via a non-pivotable gear and the pivotable gear. The same operation and effect as on the side of the document feeder is obtainable on the side of the image scanner.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A drive switching mechanism for use in an image input apparatus having a motor rotatable in a forward direction and a reverse direction, a document feeder for feeding an original document upon receiving a driving force of the motor, and an image scanner for scanning an image of the original document upon receiving the driving force of the motor, the mechanism comprising:

link means pivotal about a first axis;
first drive transmission means rotatably mounted on the link means for rotation about the first axis upon receiving the driving force of the motor;
second drive transmission means rotatably mounted on the link means for rotation about a second axis in association with the rotation of the first drive transmission means;
load supplier means interposed between the second drive transmission means and the link means for exerting a resistance force between the link means and the second drive transmission means to swing the link means together with the second drive transmission means around the first axis in a direction following the rotation of the motor so that the second drive transmission means is selectively set on the document feeder side or the image scanner side;
and
displacement restricting means for restricting the displacement of the second drive transmission means toward the image scanner during supply of the driving force of the motor to the document feeder via the first drive transmission means and the second drive transmission means when the second drive transmission means is set on the side of the document feeder, and for restricting the displacement of the second drive transmission means toward the document feeder during supply of the driving force of the motor to the image scanner via the first drive transmission means and the second drive transmission means when the second drive transmission means is set on the side of the image scanner.

3 more elements

Apparatus having a drive switch mechanism comprising:

a support structure;
a motor rotatable mounted on the support structure for rotary movement in a forward and a reverse direction;
a first operable device operable to receive the driving force of said motor;
a second operable device operable to receive the driving force of said motor;
a link member pivotable mounted on said support structure for pivotable movement about a pivot axis;
a first drive transmission element rotatably mounted on said link member for rotation about a first axis which is coincident with said pivot axis, said first drive transmission element being driven by said drive motor;
a second drive transmission element rotatably mounted on said link member for rotation about a second axis, said second drive transmission element being driven by said first drive transmission element;
a load supplier interposed between the second drive transmission element and the link member exerting a resistance force between the second drive transmission element and the link member to effect pivoting of the link member together with the second drive transmission element around said pivot axis in a direction corresponding to the direction of rotation of the second drive transmission element so that the second drive transmission element is operable to engage and drive said first operable device or said second operable device depending on the rotational direction of the drive motor;
and
a restricting device for selectively restricting displacement of the second drive transmission element when said second drive transmission element drives said first operable device or for restricting displacement of the second drive transmission element when said second drive transmission element drives the second operable device.

7 more elements

Apparatus having a drive switch mechanism comprising:

a support structure;
a motor rotatable mounted on the support structure for rotary movement in a forward and a reverse direction;
at least one operable device operable to receive the driving force of said motor;
a link member pivotable mounted on said support structure for pivotable movement about a pivot axis;
a first drive transmission element rotatably mounted on said link member for rotation about a first axis which is coincident with said pivot axis, said first drive transmission element being driven by said drive motor;
a second drive transmission element rotatably mounted on said link member for rotation about a second axis, said second drive transmission element being driven by said first drive transmission element;
a load supplier interposed between the second drive transmission element and the link member exerting a resistance force between the second drive transmission element and the link member to effect pivoting of the link member together with the second drive transmission element around said pivot axis in a direction corresponding to the direction of rotation of the second drive transmission element so that the second drive transmission element is operable to drive said at least one operable device;
and
a restricting device for selectively restricting displacement of the second drive transmission element when said second drive transmission element drives said at least one operable device.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.