Supports – Machinery support – Movable machine
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-29
2002-09-17
King, Anita (Department: 3632)
Supports
Machinery support
Movable machine
C358S474000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06450475
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention generally relates to a device for adjusting the position of a platform of a scanner, and more particularly relates to an adjusting device for a flatbed scanner. The device can precisely adjust the height of the platform so as to calibrate the depth of field of the scanner.
2. Related Art
Flatbed scanners have been the mainstream of scanners as peripheral devices of computers. Manufacturing processes for flatbed scanners are of known arts.
As shown in
FIG. 1
, a flatbed scanner mainly includes a lower case
76
having an opto-mechanic module
75
mounted therein; an upper case
70
mounted on the lower case
76
; and a platform
77
mounted on the upper case
70
for carrying the materials (such as documents or photos, not shown) to be scanned. The platform
77
is usually a transparent glass plate supported by a frame of the upper case
70
. The platform
77
enables the scanned material to be scanned by the opto-mechanic module
75
. In order to ensure good imaging, i.e., a suitable depth of field, the distance between the surface of platform
77
and the opto-mechanic module
75
must be well calibrated. An earlier method for calibrating the optical distance of the surface of platform
77
to the opto-mechanic module
75
is to test scanning and find out the correct position before fixing the platform
77
to the case. The process is rather bothersome.
An adjusting device is further shown in
FIG. 1
, which is disclosed by Taiwan Laid-open Patent No. 361,756. The platform adjusting device includes a screw hole
71
formed on the upper case
70
who has a platform
77
; and a hollow screw
73
engaged with the screw hole
71
. The hollow screw
73
has a lower end which stands on a support plate
72
that is fixed to the lower case
76
of the scanner. Finally, a fastening screw
74
passing through the hollow screw
73
will fasten the upper case
70
and the platform
77
to the support plate
72
, and fix these elements. When the fastening screw
74
was removed, the height of the platform
77
to the support plate
72
could be adjusted by turning the hollow screw
73
.
In the aforesaid adjusting device, the fastening screw
74
passing through the center hole of the hollow screw
73
to fasten the elements will prevent access to the top
78
of the hollow screw
73
where a fastening tool will be applied. So, it is inconvenient that the fastening screw
74
has to be removed from the device before adjusting the hollow screw
73
. Therefore, it will be quite bothersome for re-adjusting the height of the platform that the fastening screw
74
has to be removed since there are usually four adjusting devices at the four corners of the platform. Also, the screws are easy to lose. Furthermore, the adjusting devices are based on the support plates that are weak in structure and cause insufficient support to the platform.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an adjusting device for platform of scanner that can be easily used.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an adjusting device for platform of scanner that is simple in structure and easy to be used.
To achieve the aforesaid object, an adjusting device for platform of scanner according to the present invention mainly includes an exposed driving element for moving a supporting element of the platform. By first releasing a fastening screw, then turning with fingers the driving element from an exposed portion outside of the case, the position of the platform can be adjusted.
In a first embodiment of the present invention, an adjusting device for platform of scanner includes a nut incorporated with an exposed flange for turning, and a stud fixed on the lower base. The nut rotatively engaged on the stud to move vertically and adjust the height of the platform that is supported on the nut.
In a second embodiment of the present invention, an adjusting device for platform of scanner includes a driving slant element movably mounted on the lower case and activated by a screw exposed outwards; and a driven portion formed on the upper case that support the platform. By the function of the slant, the upper case and platform will be moved upward or downward to adjust its position according to a horizontal movement of the driving slant element.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
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patent: 3700313 (1972-10-01), Karr et al.
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patent: 4918956 (1990-04-01), Schoch
patent: 5427349 (1995-06-01), Obrecht
patent: 5838540 (1998-11-01), Wen-Shyong
patent: 6012697 (2000-01-01), Ohtomo et al.
patent: 6024330 (2000-02-01), Mroz et al.
patent: 6053590 (2000-04-01), Chang
patent: 6075242 (2000-06-01), Tsai et al.
patent: 6169622 (2001-01-01), Tsai et al.
patent: 05297651 (1993-11-01), None
Chen Jone-Nun
Lu I-Chang
Tsai Jenn-Tsair
Birch & Stewart Kolasch & Birch, LLP
King Anita
Mustek Systems Inc.
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