Back to results
US 8,619,273 B2Granted
Multifunction apparatus
AssigneeBrother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorTakaaki Mukai
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A configuration for an image reading device, an image forming device or a multifunction apparatus may include systems and arrangements for routing electrical flexible flat cables to reduce potential damage and noise. The positioning and connection points between various other components including reading portions, hinge members, a control circuit board and the like may also be configured to reduce size, noise and potential for damage.
Claims15
A multifunction apparatus configured to perform an image forming process where an image is formed on a recording medium and an image reading process where an image of a document is read, the multifunction apparatus comprising:
- a main unit including:
- an image forming unit configured to form an image on a recording medium;
- and
- a control circuit board configured to control the image forming unit and to perform controls for forming the image on the recording medium;
- an openable unit including:
- a document tray configured to receive placement of a document thereon;
- a feeder configured to feed the document received on the document tray along a feed path;
- and
- a reading portion disposed facing the feed path and configured to read an image of the document passing through the feed path;
- a hinge member disposed on both a rear side of the main unit and a rear side of the openable unit, the hinge member connecting the main unit and the openable unit such that the openable unit is pivotable around a rotation axis relative to the main unit, the rotation axis extending in a horizontal direction;
- and
- a flexible flat cable configured to transmit an output signal of the reading portion of the openable unit to the control circuit board of the main unit,
- wherein the control circuit board of the main unit is disposed generally parallel to a first side surface of the main unit and closer to the first side surface than to a second side surface of the main unit opposite the first side surface, wherein the first and second side surfaces are perpendicularly adjacent to the rear side of the main unit,
- wherein the reading portion of the openable unit is disposed closer to the first side surface of the main unit than to the second side surface of the main unit, and
- wherein, when viewed from the rear side of the main unit, at least a portion of the flexible flat cable extends vertically straightly between the openable unit and the main unit such that the hinge member and the at least a portion of the flexible flat cable are disposed closer to the first side surface of the main unit than to the second side surface of the main unit and the at least a portion of the flexible flat cable is disposed between the hinge member and the first side surface of the main unit.
12 more elements
A multifunction apparatus configured to perform an image forming process and an image reading process, the multifunction apparatus comprising:
- a main unit including a control circuit board configured to perform controls for forming an image on a recording medium;
- an openable unit;
- a supporting member disposed on both a rear side of the main unit and a rear side of the openable unit, the supporting member connecting the main unit and the openable unit such that the openable unit is pivotable around a rotation axis relative to the main unit;
- and
- a flexible flat cable configured to transmit an output signal from a reading portion of the openable unit to the control circuit board of the main unit,
- wherein the control circuit board of the main unit is disposed generally parallel to a first side surface of the main unit and closer to the first side surface than to a second side surface of the main unit opposite the first side surface, wherein the first and second side surfaces are perpendicularly adjacent to the rear side of the main unit,
- wherein the reading portion of the openable unit is disposed closer to the first side surface of the main unit than to the second side surface of the main unit, and
- wherein, when viewed from the rear side of the main unit, at least a portion of the flexible flat cable extends vertically between the openable unit and the main unit such that the hinge member and the at least a portion of the flexible flat cable are disposed closer to the first side surface of the main unit than to the second side surface of the main unit and the at least a portion of the flexible flat cable is disposed between the hinge member and the first side surface of the main unit.
5 more elements
A multifunction apparatus configured to perform an image forming process where an image is formed on a recording medium and an image reading process where an image of a document is read, the multifunction apparatus comprising:
- a main unit including:
- an image forming unit configured to form an image on a recording medium;
- and
- a control circuit board configured to control the image forming unit and to perform controls for forming the image on the recording medium;
- an openable unit including an image reading sensor configured to read an image of a document;
- a hinge member connecting a rear side of the main unit and a rear side of the openable unit such that the openable unit is pivotable around a rotation axis relative to the main unit, the rotation axis extending in a horizontal direction;
- a first flexible flat cable connected to a first electronic device of the openable unit and the control circuit board of the main unit, the first electronic device including the image reading sensor;
- and
- a second flexible flat cable connected to a second electronic device and the control circuit board of the main unit,
- wherein the hinge member is disposed closer to a first side surface of the main unit than to a second side surface of the main unit opposite to the first side surface, wherein the first side surface and the second side surface are perpendicularly adjacent to the rear side of the main unit, and
- wherein the first flexible flat cable and the second flexible flat cable extend vertically between the hinge member and the first side surface of the main unit, in parallel with each other side by side and facing in a same direction.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.