Machine element or mechanism – Mechanical movements – Reciprocating or oscillating to or from alternating rotary
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-13
2001-06-19
Bucci, David A. (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Mechanical movements
Reciprocating or oscillating to or from alternating rotary
C359S896000, C359S196100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247374
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a locking mechanism for fixing a carriage automatically, and especially to a locking mechanism for fixing a scanning module of a flatbed scanner automatically when the scanning module is returned to a specific position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Among the various kinds of flatbed scanners on the market, most of them have locking mechanisms, no matter whether the scanning modules are in the kinds of the charge-coupled devices (CCD) or contact image sensor (CIS). For the current technique, all locking mechanisms are manually controlled. In other words, when the scanning module of a scanner is returned to a specific position, usually the threshold position, the user has to manually control the locking mechanism to fix the scanning module.
In addition, there is no sensor detecting whether the scanning module is properly fixed or not. If the scanning module is not properly fixed and someone moves or shakes the scanner inadvertently, the transmitting device and the scanning module of the scanner will be damaged and the accurate position of the mirror sets will be shifted.
If there is a locking mechanism that can fix the scanning module automatically, the damage resulting from an improper operation can be prevented. It is therefore attempted by the applicant to deal with the above situation encountered with the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THEE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a locking mechanism for fixing a carriage at a specific position automatically. The locking mechanism is adapted to be used in a scanner, preferably a flatbed scanner. The locking mechanism includes a fixing device for securing the carriage at the specific position, and a transmitting device for driving the carriage to be secured to the fixing device in a first instance and detaching the carriage from the fixing device in a second instance.
According to the present invention, the carriage is a scanning module, preferably a charged-coupled device (CCD) or a contact image sensor (CIS). The specific position is the threshold position of the carriage, and the carriage has a rib at one end thereof.
The transmitting device of the present invention includes a driving device, a rotatable gear wheel driven by the driving device, a first belt mounted between the carriage and the gear wheel for driving the carriage to move in response to the rotation of the gear wheel, and a second belt mounted between the gear wheel and the fixing device for driving the fixing device to fix the carriage in response to the rotation of the gear wheel. The carriage is moved toward the fixing device when the driving device is actuated in a direction in the first instance and is moved away from the fixing device when the driving device is actuated in the other direction in the second instance.
In accordance with the present invention, the driving device is a motor having a driving pinion, and the gear wheel has a plurality of teeth for engaging with the driving pinion of the motor. In addition, the gear wheel includes an upper portion for being surrounded by the second belt and a lower portion for being surrounded by the first belt. The upper portion of the gear wheel has a diameter smaller than that of the lower portion.
The fixing device of the present invention includes a rotatable cam and a locking member. The cam is connected to the gear wheel through the second belt and driven by the second belt. The locking member is adjacent to the cam for preventing relative rotation of the cam and securing the carriage therein.
According to the present invention, the fixing device further includes a base for securing the locking member and the cam thereon. The locking member includes a detachable upper portion with a helical ramp at its lower end and a lower portion with a helical ramp at its upper end corresponding to that of the upper portion. The upper portion of the locking member has a first recess for engaging with a rib of the cam to prevent relative rotation of the cam, and has a second recess for engaging a rib of the carriage to secure the carriage therein.
In accordance with the present invention, the upper portion of the locking member is rotated longitudinally upwardly at a specific angle, preferably 90 degrees, for engaging the second recess of the locking member with the rib of the carriage when the rib of the carriage is moved toward and biases against the upper portion of the locking member in the first instance. The upper portion of the locking member is rotated longitudinally downwardly for detaching the rib of the carriage from the second recess of the locking member when the driving device is actuated in the other direction in the second instance.
The present invention may best be understood through the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
REFERENCES:
patent: 5444690 (1995-08-01), Childers, III et al.
patent: 5760926 (1998-06-01), Howard et al.
patent: 5767977 (1998-06-01), Thelen et al.
patent: 5791792 (1998-08-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 5907413 (1999-05-01), Han
patent: 5973866 (1999-10-01), Tseng
patent: 6043908 (2000-03-01), Takeuchi
Bucci David A.
Coleman Sudol Sapone P.C.
Hansen Colby
Mustek Systems Inc.
Sapone William J.
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