Abstract: The invention includes at least one swingable elastic locking bar mounted on the chassis of the scanner, and the end of the elastic locking bar is provided with a contact member having a low friction coefficient, and let the contact member on the elastic locking bar contact the top cover of the frame body of the scanner. Thus, the chassis may be rigidly rested on the top cover or on the glass mounted on the top cover to move, thereby providing a good scanning effect of an arbitrary angle. The swingable action of the elastic locking bar may efficiently absorb the tolerance produced during fabrication and assembly of the top cover and the bottom housing of the frame body of the scanner, thereby assuring stability of the optical travel path.

Abstract: A book scanner for scanning a book having first and second inner surfaces and a ridge. The scanner includes a transparent platen for supporting the first inner surface, a housing, and a scanning module. The housing has a housing platen for supporting the second inner surface, and the housing and transparent platen are connected to define a first angle smaller than 180 degrees. The module is moved along a direction parallel to the ridge to scan the first inner surface. The module includes a lighting device having first and second sections. The two sections define a second angle smaller than 180 degrees; and the second section has a second end, and a first end closer to a first plane containing the transparent platen than the second end. The bent second section may provide extra light rays to compensate the brightness and thus enhance the edge image quality.

Abstract: A multi-function peripheral which facilitates maintenance includes a scanner unit, a printer unit and a support assembly. The support assembly includes a top platen, on which the scanner unit is placed, a bottom platen, on which the printer unit is placed, and a vertical support column for connecting the top platen to the bottom platen. The top platen is capable of being rotated about the vertical support column relative to the bottom platen, or the vertical support column is retractable to enlarge a buffer space above the printer unit and to facilitate the maintenance of the printer unit.

Abstract: A scanning module disposed on one side of a transparent platen of a scanner for scanning a document disposed on the reverse side of the transparent platen is provided. The scanning module comprises a base, a lamp, a holder and an optical sensing component. The lamp for illuminating the document comprises a first section and a second section. The first section extends substantially parallel to a plane of the transparent platen. A first end of the second section is connected to one end of the first section. The shortest distance between a second end of the second section and the transparent platen is greater than that between the first section and the transparent platen. The holder is disposed on the second section for fixing the lamp to the base. The optical sensing component is used for receiving the light reflected by the document and converting that into an image signal.

Abstract: A duplex/simplex automatic sheet feeder includes a sheet input tray, a sheet output tray, a first sheet-feeding path, a temporary storage region, a first sheet-feeding mechanism, a second sheet-feeding path and a second sheet-feeding mechanism. The temporary storage region and the first sheet-feeding mechanism are configured such that in a simplex feeding mode a sheet from the first sheet-feeding path is transferred to the sheet output tray through the temporary storage region, and in duplex and simplex feeding modes the sheets in the sheet output tray are arranged in the same order as in the sheet input tray.

Abstract: A duplex hinge device includes a hinge body having a first end and a second end, a first mounting plate hinged to the first end, and a second mounting plate hinged to the second end. A scanning unit for scanning a to-be-scanned document and generating a print signal is fixed to the hinge body. A printing unit for receiving the print signal and printing a to-be-printed document is fixed to the second mounting plate. A cover for pressing the to-be-scanned document placed on the scanning unit is fixed to the first mounting plate. The duplex hinge device also has a mechanism for locking itself at a plurality of positions.

Abstract: An automatic clean device includes a base body, a transmission element, a cleaning element and an elastic member. Wherein the transmission element and the cleaning element are disposed on the base body, the elastic member has an end connected to the cleaning element. With the cooperation of the transmission element and the elastic member, the cleaning element is able to oscillate reciprocatedly and alternately touch a photoconductor of the laser-type image/data recording device. By this way, the cleaning element is able to clean the toner that is remained on the surface of the photoconductor.

Abstract: A sheet feeding mechanism includes an auto document feeder roller (ADF roller), a pad, an elastic element and an adjusting device. The pad is pressed against the ADF roller by the elastic force of the elastic element. The adjusting device is used to adjust the deformation of the elastic element for adjusting the elastic force of the elastic element, and the friction between the pad and the ADF roller is changed. Before the document feeding process, the user can adjust the adjusting device to provide an applicable friction force. Herewith plural sheets can be fed one by one.

Abstract: A sheet separating device for an image input/output apparatus includes a ADF roller, a multi-layer pad and a spring. The spring forces elastically the multi-layer pad to contact the surface of the ADF roller. The multi-layer pad is composed of a first pad layer and a second pad layer superposed on the first pad layer in a stepped condition, and the second pad layer contacts the ADF roller in a pressed-over way. In separating sheets, the first pad layer and the second pad layer respectively separate sheets for two stages of action so that the probability of single sheet picking may be increased greatly. The first stage and the second stage of sheet separation are sequent and successive, not affecting the speed of sheet movement or the time needed for scanning or printing an image.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a housing, a cover and a sensing device. The cover is mounted on the housing, and the sensing device is disposed between the housing and the cover. The sensing device includes a light sensor and a reflecting mirror. The light sensor is mounted on the inside surface of the cover, and the reflecting mirror is mounted on the housing opposite the light sensor. As a signal light is being emitted from the light-emitting unit of the light sensor, the signal light is reflected from the reflecting mirror or a document and received by the receiving unit of the light sensor. The reflected signal light will then be transformed to a signal voltage which, according to its value, indicates the using status of the sheet feeder, such as ‘without document’, ‘document present’ or ‘cover open’, such that the number of the sensors on the sheet feeder can be reduced and the manufacturing costs can be lessened.

Abstract: A sheet feeder capable of removing dust includes a sheet-feeding roller, a dust collecting box and a brush. The sheet-feeding roller transports a sheet along a sheet passageway. The dust collecting box is disposed at a side of the sheet-feeding roller. The dust collecting box has an adhesive layer for collecting and retaining paper flakes and dust coming from the sheet-feeding roller so as to prevent the paper flakes and the dust from being blown back to the sheet passageway. The brush in contact with the sheet-feeding roller brushes the paper flakes and the dust away from the sheet-feeding roller and into the dust collecting box.

Abstract: The present invention provides a scanner including a housing defining two mounting holes. An elastic rib is located beside each of the two mounting holes to provide a retaining action. A paper cover is pivotally mounted on the housing and has two locking hooks. Each locking hook is mounted in a respective mounting hole of the housing. Thus, the height of the paper cover can be adjusted according to the variation of depth of the locking hook in the mounting hole. In addition, the locking hook is retained by the elastic rib and the catch plate of the mounting hole, such that the paper cover cannot be removed easily, thereby preventing the paper cover from being lost.

Abstract: A duplex hinge device includes a hinge body having a first end and a second end, a first mounting plate hinged to the first end, and a second mounting plate hinged to the second end. A scanning unit for scanning a to-be-scanned document and generating a print signal is fixed to the hinge body. A printing unit for receiving the print signal and printing a to-be-printed document is fixed to the second mounting plate. A cover for pressing the to-be-scanned document placed on the scanning unit is fixed to the first mounting plate. The duplex hinge device also has a mechanism for locking itself at a plurality of positions.

Abstract: A multi-function peripheral which facilitates maintenance includes a scanner unit, a printer unit and a support assembly. The support assembly includes a top platen, on which the scanner unit is placed, a bottom platen, on which the printer unit is placed, and a vertical support column for connecting the top platen to the bottom platen. The top platen is capable of being rotated about the vertical support column relative to the bottom platen, or the vertical support column is retractable to enlarge a buffer space above the printer unit and to facilitate the maintenance of the printer unit.

Abstract: A duplex/simplex automatic sheet feeder includes a sheet input tray, a sheet output tray, a first sheet-feeding path, a temporary storage region, a first sheet-feeding mechanism, a second sheet-feeding path and a second sheet-feeding mechanism. The temporary storage region and the first sheet-feeding mechanism are configured such that in a simplex feeding mode a sheet from the first sheet-feeding path is transferred to the sheet output tray through the temporary storage region, and in duplex and simplex feeding modes the sheets in the sheet output tray are arranged in the same order as in the sheet input tray.

Abstract: An automatic clean device includes a base body, a transmission element, a cleaning element and an elastic member. Wherein the transmission element and the cleaning element are disposed on the base body, the elastic member has an end connected to the cleaning element. With the cooperation of the transmission element and the elastic member, the cleaning element is able to oscillate reciprocatedly and alternately touch a photoconductor of the laser-type image/data recording device. By this way, the cleaning element is able to clean the toner that is remained on the surface of the photoconductor.

Abstract: A continuously adjustable illuminating apparatus includes a base, a light source, a reflector and a continuously adjustable mechanism. The base has a through hole, and the light source movably passes through the through hole and emits light rays. The reflector surrounds the base and is mounted to the base to collect the light rays and reflects the light rays for output. The continuously adjustable mechanism may continuously move the light source so as to continuously adjust a relative position between the light source and the reflector.

Abstract: A book scanner for scanning a book having first and second inner surfaces and a ridge. The scanner includes a transparent platen for supporting the first inner surface, a housing, and a scanning module. The housing has a housing platen for supporting the second inner surface, and the housing and transparent platen are connected to define a first angle smaller than 180 degrees. The module is moved along a direction parallel to the ridge to scan the first inner surface. The module includes a lighting device having first and second sections. The two sections define a second angle smaller than 180 degrees; and the second section has a second end, and a first end closer to a first plane containing the transparent platen than the second end. The bent second section may provide extra light rays to compensate the brightness and thus enhance the edge image quality.

Abstract: A link type paper tray structure includes a base, two movable guides, and a link mechanism. The base is provided for receiving paper. The link mechanism is mounted on the base. The link mechanism may be used to control movable guides mounted on the base to move reciprocally. Thus, the paper tray has a lower cost of fabrication, may efficiently reduce noise during use, and may facilitating operation.

Abstract: A finely adjustable optical mechanism includes a base, a lens seat mounted on the base, a mirror set mounted on the base. A lens and an image sensor are mounted on the lens seat. A link is provided between the lens seat and the base. It is possible to move the lens seat relative to the base by rotating the link to move the lens seat or the base. Accordingly, the relatively positional relationship between the lens seat and the base can be finely adjusted.