Abstract: Disclosed is a drawing apparatus including: a base member; and a drawing member that is attached so as to be capable of being drawn and pressed in a reciprocating direction with respect to the base member, wherein the base member has a couple application mechanism that applies a couple for correcting skewing of the drawing member with respect to the reciprocating direction to the drawing member as a reaction of a force by which the drawing member is pressed, and wherein the couple application mechanism is configured so that a distance between action lines of two forces generating the couple becomes large as a pressing amount of the drawing member with respect to the base member increases.

Abstract: Disclosed is a drawing apparatus including: a base member; and a drawing member that is attached so as to be capable of being drawn and pressed in a reciprocating direction with respect to the base member, wherein the base member has a couple application mechanism that applies a couple for correcting skewing of the drawing member with respect to the reciprocating direction to the drawing member as a reaction of a force by which the drawing member is pressed, and wherein the couple application mechanism is configured so that a distance between action lines of two forces generating the couple becomes large as a pressing amount of the drawing member with respect to the base member increases.

Abstract: A reading apparatus includes a main body that includes an original document plate and a reading portion configured to read an image from the original document, and an operation portion that is attached in the original document plate. The operation portion includes: a front face casing portion; and a rear face casing portion that is engaged with the front face casing portion at an operation surface. An upper end portion of the operation portion is as high as the original document plate or higher than the original document plate, and in an engaging portion of the front face casing portion and the rear face casing portion at the upper end portion, an upper edge of the front face casing portion has a shorter distance to the lower end portion of the operation portion than the upper edge of the rear face casing portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a drawing apparatus including: a base member; and a drawing member that is attached so as to be capable of being drawn and pressed in a reciprocating direction with respect to the base member, wherein the base member has a couple application mechanism that applies a couple for correcting skewing of the drawing member with respect to the reciprocating direction to the drawing member as a reaction of a force by which the drawing member is pressed, and wherein the couple application mechanism is configured so that a distance between action lines of two forces generating the couple becomes large as a pressing amount of the drawing member with respect to the base member increases.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus including a scanner unit openable and closable with respect to a printer body unit for simultaneously achieving smooth opening/closing movement and the downsizing of the apparatus. The printing apparatus includes a first gear member provided in the printer body unit and a second gear member which is attached to the scanner unit so as to be swingable with respect to the scanner unit and which is in mesh with the first gear member. When the scanner unit opens or closes with respect to the printer body unit, the second gear member swings with respect to the scanner unit while retaining a meshing state with the first gear member.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including a scanner unit configured to be openable on an apparatus front side with respect to a printer unit due to a first hinge portion on an apparatus rear side, a cover to cover a feed port configured to be openable due to a second hinge portion on the apparatus front side of the feed port, wherein a rotation axis of the first hinge portion is positioned on the apparatus rear side of a rotation axis of the second hinge portion in an apparatus depth direction. Interlocking with an operation to open the scanner unit, the cover moves while a portion thereof is in contact with a surface of the paper feed tray or the sheet placed thereon to open the cover in an interlocking manner.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus including a scanner unit openable and closable with respect to a printer body unit for simultaneously achieving smooth opening/closing movement and the downsizing of the apparatus. The printing apparatus includes a first gear member provided in the printer body unit and a second gear member which is attached to the scanner unit so as to be swingable with respect to the scanner unit and which is in mesh with the first gear member. When the scanner unit opens or closes with respect to the printer body unit, the second gear member swings with respect to the scanner unit while retaining a meshing state with the first gear member.

Abstract: An image reading and recording apparatus includes an image recording unit and an image reading unit supported to be pivotally movable above the image recording unit and configured to be opened and closed by being pivotally moved relative to the image recording unit. The apparatus includes a stay including an opening portion formed thereon, a rotor inserted in the opening portion of the stay, a first cam surface provided on an inner peripheral portion of the opening portion, and a second cam surface provided on an outer peripheral portion of the rotor. The rotor rotates due to abutment of the first cam surface and the second cam surface with each other. The image reading unit is held in a first opened state with a first open angle, due to meshed engagement of the first cam surface and the second cam surface with each other.

Abstract: An image reading and recording apparatus includes an image recording unit and an image reading unit supported to be pivotally movable above the image recording unit and configured to be opened and closed by being pivotally moved relative to the image recording unit. The apparatus includes a stay including an opening portion formed thereon, a rotor inserted in the opening portion of the stay, a first cam surface provided on an inner peripheral portion of the opening portion, and a second cam surface provided on an outer peripheral portion of the rotor. The rotor rotates due to abutment of the first cam surface and the second cam surface with each other. The image reading unit is held in a first opened state with a first open angle, due to meshed engagement f the first cam surface and the second cam surface with each other.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including a scanner unit configured to be openable on an apparatus front side with respect to a printer unit due to a first hinge portion on an apparatus rear side, a cover to cover a feed port configured to be openable due to a second hinge portion on the apparatus front side of the feed port, wherein a rotation axis of the first hinge portion is positioned on the apparatus rear side of a rotation axis of the second hinge portion in an apparatus depth direction. Interlocking with an operation to open the scanner unit, the cover moves while a portion thereof is in contact with a surface of the paper feed tray or the sheet placed thereon to open the cover in an interlocking manner.

Abstract: A switch device includes a pressing portion that has a first display portion and a second display portion, a holder having at least one cell corresponding to the pressing portion, a push switch, first and second light sources that respectively illuminate the first display portion and the second display portion from behind, a plate formed with the pressing portion so as to separate, in a cell, a space between the first light source and the first display portion from a space between the second light source and the second display portion, and a regulation portion formed on both sides of the plate in the cell. In the switching device, when an operator presses the pressing portion, part of the plate presses the push switch.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus comprises a reading unit including a sensor; a driving unit configured to move the reading unit to read an original placed on a platen; a feed unit configured to feed the original to move and read the original with respect to the reading unit being at rest in a predetermined position; a transfer unit configured to transfer a driving force of the driving unit to the feed unit while the reading unit is at rest in the predetermined position; and a switching unit configured to permit or restrict movement of the reading unit from the predetermined position.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a carriage, ink containers mounted in the carriage and including respective light emitters, a driving unit for moving the ink tanks, a light receiver receiving light from the light emitters, a light control unit controlling lighting the light emitter of a predetermined ink container, and a determining unit for determining whether the predetermined ink container is mounted at a correct position, based on the light emitted from the light emitter of the predetermined ink container at positions. When the driving unit does not move the carriage to a position where at least one of the ink containers is facing the light receiver, the determining unit determines whether the at least one of the ink containers is mounted at the correct position, based on the light received from the light emitters at a position adjacent to the facing position.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a document positioning plate configured to position a document thereon, a document pressing unit which is attached to the document positioning plate to be openable and closable, a reading sensor which is movably arranged in a main body of the apparatus and configured to read an image of the document positioned on the document positioning plate, and a restricting unit configured to engage with the reading sensor to restrict a movement of the reading sensor, wherein the restricting unit has a lever which is provided in the document pressing unit in a rotatable and storable manner and urged in a direction in which the lever is stored and restricts the movement of the reading sensor in a state that the document pressing unit is closed and the lever is inserted into the main body of the apparatus, and when the document pressing unit is opened from the restricting state, the lever is pulled out from the main body of the apparatus to release the restriction and urged to be stored

Abstract: A switch device includes a pressing portion that has a first display portion and a second display portion, a holder having at least one cell corresponding to the pressing portion, a push switch, first and second light sources that respectively illuminate the first display portion and the second display portion from behind, a plate formed with the pressing portion so as to separate, in a cell, a space between the first light source and the first display portion from a space between the second light source and the second display portion, and a regulation portion formed on both sides of the plate in the cell. In the switching device, when an operator presses the pressing portion, part of the plate presses the push switch.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a carriage, ink containers mounted in the carriage and including respective light emitters, a driving unit for moving the ink tanks, a light receiver receiving light from the light emitters, a light control unit controlling lighting the light emitter of a predetermined ink container, and a determining unit for determining whether the predetermined ink container is mounted at a correct position, based on the light emitted from the light emitter of the predetermined ink container at positions. When the driving unit does not move the carriage to a position where at least one of the ink containers is facing the light receiver, the determining unit determines whether the at least one of the ink containers is mounted at the correct position, based on the light received from the light emitters at a position adjacent to the facing position.

Abstract: According to the present invention, light is emitted by a light source at different emission intensities, and sensor output values are compared with threshold values at the individual emission intensities, so that the types of recording media having various reflection characteristics can be correctly determined.

Abstract: A recording apparatus and method for detecting the position of an ink container in the recording apparatus, whereby when an ink tank is correctly mounted within the recording apparatus, detection of the position of the ink container is performed in a timely manner, and whereby when in container is incorrectly mounted, the incorrect position as well as the color of the incorrectly mounted ink container are identified using light emitting portions of the ink containers.

Abstract: A recording apparatus including a movable carriage, wherein a plurality of mounting positions are arranged in a moving direction of the carriage, a light receiving portion capable of receiving light emitted by a light emitting portion of a plurality of liquid containers, a determining means for determining whether a correct liquid container is mounted at a mounting position based on a light receiving amount received by the light receiving portion, and a specifying means for specifying an incorrectly mounted liquid container based on the light receiving amount received by the light receiving portion, wherein the specifying means stops the carriage such that any mounting position with the incorrectly mounted liquid container is opposite the light receiving portion, and wherein if a plurality of liquid containers are determined to be incorrectly mounted, the light emitting portion of the incorrectly mounted liquid containers emit light in a specific order.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a document positioning plate configured to position a document thereon, a document pressing unit which is attached to the document positioning plate to be openable and closable, a reading sensor which is movably arranged in a main body of the apparatus and configured to read an image of the document positioned on the document positioning plate, and a restricting unit configured to engage with the reading sensor to restrict a movement of the reading sensor, wherein the restricting unit has a lever which is provided in the document pressing unit in a rotatable and storable manner and urged in a direction in which the lever is stored and restricts the movement of the reading sensor in a state that the document pressing unit is closed and the lever is inserted into the main body of the apparatus, and when the document pressing unit is opened from the restricting state, the lever is pulled out from the main body of the apparatus to release the restriction and urged to be stored