Abstract: An image reading apparatus configured to reduce a force required for moving a document cover to an open position is provided. The image reading apparatus includes a document table having a top surface and a reading area and a document cover that is configured to pivot, around an axis extending in a first direction, between a closed position and an open position. The document cover includes a sheet. The top surface has a marginal area which is located outside of a reading area on a side opposite to the axis. The marginal area includes a contact area and a non-contact area which are arranged in the first direction. When the document cover is in the closed position, the top surface in the contact area contacts the sheet, and the top surface in the non-contact area does not contact the sheet.

Abstract: A cable wiring structure includes: a base member; a movable member configured to reciprocate in a first direction and in a second direction relative to the base member; a cable; a tension applying member, which is attached to the movable member and is movable in the first direction and in the second direction relative to the movable member, wherein when the movable member moves in the second direction, the tension applying member is coming in contact with an inner circumference of the curved portion to apply tension to the cable in response to movement of the movable member; and a load adjustment portion, which is configured to increase a load that is applied between the tension applying member and the movable member in a case where the movable member moves in the second direction as compared with a case where the movable member moves in the first direction.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus configured to reduce a force required for moving a document cover to an open position is provided. The image reading apparatus includes a document table having a top surface and a reading area and a document cover that is configured to pivot, around an axis extending in a first direction, between a closed position and an open position. The document cover includes a sheet. The top surface has a marginal area which is located outside of a reading area on a side opposite to the axis. The marginal area includes a contact area and a non-contact area which are arranged in the first direction. When the document cover is in the closed position, the top surface in the contact area contacts the sheet, and the top surface in the non-contact area does not contact the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a cover member made of resin and partially defining a conveying path, a roller member rotatably disposed on the cover member and configured to convey a sheet along the conveying path, an urging member disposed between the cover member and a rotary shaft of the roller member and urging the roller member toward the conveying path while one end of the urging member contacts the rotary shaft, and a plate member made of metal and disposed between the cover member and the urging member. The plate member includes a first segment extending along the cover member and contacting the other end of the urging member, a second segment extending from an edge of the first segment in a direction toward the conveying path, and a third segment extending from an edge of the second segment in a direction different from the second segment extending direction.

Abstract: A cable arrangement structure is provided with a movable body configured to reciprocally move relative to a base member, and a flexible cable transmitting electrical signals. One end of the flexible cable is fixedly connected to the base member, and another end is connected to the movable body. The flexible cable has a curved portion, and both ends of the flexible cable being located on a same side with respect to the curved portion. A tension applying unit configured to contact the curved portion of the flexible cable from an inner side of a curvature of the curved portion to apply tension to the flexible cable when the curved portion is located on a front direction of the movable body as moved. Application of the tension to the flexible cable is controlled in mechanical association with movement of the movable body.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus configured to reduce a force required for moving a document cover to an open position is provided. The image reading apparatus includes a document table having a top surface and a reading area and a document cover that is configured to pivot, around an axis extending in a first direction, between a closed position and an open position. The document cover includes a sheet. The top surface has a marginal area which is located outside of a reading area on a side opposite to the axis. The marginal area includes a contact area and a non-contact area which are arranged in the first direction. When the document cover is in the closed position, the top surface in the contact area contacts the sheet, and the top surface in the non-contact area does not contact the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus including two or more covers is described. The two or more covers are disposed relative to a sheet transport path. In one example, the two covers include two stacked covers that are movable relative to each other. In another example, the two covers include two side-by-side covers in which one pivots, permitting movement of the other side-by-side cover.

Abstract: A sheet-supply cassette including a main member open upward and adapted to store a plurality of recording sheets stacked on each other, each of which is separated from the other recording sheets, and is fed in a sheet-feed direction, by a sheet feeder; an inclined sheet-separate plate provided in a downstream-side portion of the main member as seen in the sheet-feed direction, and which cooperates with the sheet feeder to separate the each recording sheet from the other recording sheets; and a plurality of back-surface support portions which are formed integrally with the downstream-side portion of the main member, such that the back-surface support portions are distant from each other in a perpendicular direction substantially perpendicular to the sheet-feed direction. The inclined sheet-separate plate is detachably attached to the back-surface support portions such that a back surface of the inclined sheet-separate plate is supported by the back-surface support portions.

Abstract: A sheet conveyer device, including a main housing and a cover member, is provided. The cover member has a plane section made of a transparent material and is attachable to the main housing with a predetermined facing surface of the plane section set to face a predetermined plane of the main housing. An ornamental sheet can be detachably attached to the sheet conveyer device in a position between the predetermined plane and the cover member. The cover member includes an engaging piece, which is formed on a same side as the predetermined facing surface of the plane section and is engageable with an engageable section in the main housing. The engaging piece has a sheet holding rib and a clearance in between the predetermined facing surface and the sheet holding rib and holds a lateral end of the ornamental sheet in the clearance.

Abstract: A sheet-supply cassette including a main member which is open upward and which is adapted to store a plurality of recording sheets which are stacked on each other and each one of which is separated from the other recording sheets, and is fed in a sheet-feed direction, by a sheet feeder; an inclined sheet-separate plate which is provided in a downstream-side portion of the main member as seen in the sheet-feed direction, and which cooperates with the sheet feeder to separate the each recording sheet from the other recording sheets; and a plurality of back-surface support portions which are formed integrally with the downstream-side portion of the main member, such that the back-surface support portions are distant from each other in a perpendicular direction substantially perpendicular to the sheet-feed direction.

Abstract: A sheet conveyer device, including a main housing and a cover member, is provided. The cover member has a plane section made of a transparent material and is attachable to the main housing with a predetermined facing surface of the plane section set to face a predetermined plane of the main housing. An ornamental sheet can be detachably attached to the sheet conveyer device in a position between the predetermined plane and the cover member. The cover member includes an engaging piece, which is formed on a same side as the predetermined facing surface of the plane section and is engageable with an engageable section in the main housing. The engaging piece has a sheet holding rib and a clearance in between the predetermined facing surface and the sheet holding rib and holds a lateral end of the ornamental sheet in the clearance.

Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus including two or more covers is described. The two or more covers are disposed relative to a sheet transport path. In one example, the two covers include two stacked covers that are movable relative to each other. In another example, the two covers include two side-by-side covers in which one pivots, permitting movement of the other side-by-side cover.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a cover member made of resin and partially defining a conveying path, a roller member rotatably disposed on the cover member and configured to convey a sheet along the conveying path, an urging member disposed between the cover member and a rotary shaft of the roller member and urging the roller member toward the conveying path while one end of the urging member contacts the rotary shaft, and a plate member made of metal and disposed between the cover member and the urging member. The plate member includes a first segment extending along the cover member and contacting the other end of the urging member, a second segment extending from an edge of the first segment in a direction toward the conveying path, and a third segment extending from an edge of the second segment in a direction different from the second segment extending direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an automatic document feeder (ADF) that transports a document is provided. The ADF unit includes a subtray that is openable and closable. When transporting a document, the subtray is opened and a document to be transported is fed into a space below a guide member. At this time, surfaces of the subtray and a main tray are used as a feed tray. The document that has been transported is discharged onto a guide member and is further transported onto the surface of the second tray. At this time, the surface of the second tray and the surface of the guide member are used as a discharge tray.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet feed tray, a chute having first and second guides, first and second rollers arranged on the first guide, first and second contact members protruded from the second guide and urged to contact the first and second rollers, respectively, and a sheet sensor arranged between the first roller and the second roller. A controller controls a motor to rotate the first and second rollers in a first direction in which the sheet is fed from the second roller to the first roller when the controller receives a signal from the sensor, and controls the motor to stop the rotation of the first and second rollers when the signal from the sensor is terminated, and then rotate the first and second rollers in a second direction in which the sheet is fed from the first roller to the second roller.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes: an arm member that is provided with a drive shaft at a base end thereof, the arm member being configured to swingably rotate around the drive shaft; a feed roller that is disposed at a leading end of the arm member, the feed roller feeding a sheet by being rotated while pressed on the uppermost sheet; and a transmission mechanism that is provided with one or more transmission rollers that transmit power provided from the drive shaft to the feed roller. Each of the transmission rollers is provided with a spindle that protrudes from both side faces thereof along an rotational axis. The arm member is provided with one or more pairs of bearing members for the respective transmission rollers, each of the pairs of the bearing members being faced with each other and being monolithically formed on the arm member.

Abstract: A printer having a switch gear, first driven gear and second driven gear. The switch gear has a spur gear and is slidable along a direction that is parallel to a rotation axis of the spur gear. The first driven gear has a first spur gear and a cylinder fixed to the first spur gear. The cylinder is concentric with respect to the first spur gear and extends along the above direction. A hole is formed on the second driven gear. The hole is concentric with respect to a second spur gear and extends along the above direction. The second driven gear is rotatably mounted on the first driven gear by inserting the cylinder of the first driven gear into the hole of the second driven gear. The switch gear slides between a first position for engagement with the first driven gear and a second position for engagement with the second driven gear along the above direction.

Abstract: A cable arrangement structure is provided with a movable body configured to reciprocally move relative to a base member, and a flexible cable transmitting electrical signals. One end of the flexible cable is fixedly connected to the base member, and another end is connected to the movable body. The flexible cable has a curved portion, and both ends of the flexible cable being located on a same side with respect to the curved portion. A tension applying unit configured to contact the curved portion of the flexible cable from an inner side of a curvature of the curved portion to apply tension to the flexible cable when the curved portion is located on a front direction of the movable body as moved. Application of the tension to the flexible cable is controlled in mechanical association with movement of the movable body.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus configured to reduce a force required for moving a document cover to an open position is provided. The image reading apparatus includes a document table having a top surface and a reading area and a document cover that is configured to pivot, around an axis extending in a first direction, between a closed position and an open position. The document cover includes a sheet. The top surface has a marginal area which is located outside of a reading area on a side opposite to the axis. The marginal area includes a contact area and a non-contact area which are arranged in the first direction. When the document cover is in the closed position, the top surface in the contact area contacts the sheet, and the top surface in the non-contact area does not contact the sheet.

Abstract: A printer is equipped with a supply roller for sending a piece of sheet from pieces of sheets stacked within a cassette; a pair of feed-in rollers for sending the piece of sheet supplied from the supply roller toward a printing region; and a sheet sensor provided between the supply roller and the pair of feed-in roller. The printer rotates the pair of feed-in rollers in a forward direction in a case that the sheet sensor detects presence of the sheet at a timing when it is found that printing data for a subsequent sheet is not stored within the printer. On the other hand, the printer rotates the supply roller in a reward direction when the sheet sensor detects non-presence of the sheet at the timing when it is found that the printing data for the subsequent sheet is not stored within the printer.