Optical: systems and elements – Miscellaneous
Reexamination Certificate
2003-04-29
2004-03-02
Phan, James (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Miscellaneous
C359S196100, C074S089390
Reexamination Certificate
active
06700717
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This Application claims priority to Taiwan Patent Application No. 091210829 entitled “Scanning Apparatus and Locking Device of Scanning Apparatus”, filed Jul. 16, 2002.
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a locking apparatus for switching between a lock state and unlock state of a sliding device, and more particularly, to a locking apparatus of a scanning apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Image processing is important to the storage, management, access, and execution of information. The most used image-catching devices are scanners, which are necessary facilities for scanning pictures, texts, and photos and saving them as graphic files.
Among the inner components of an optical scanner, the carriage is the most important component. The carriage includes many delicate and expensive optical components and can be easily damaged by impacts and shocks. However, when moving the scanner, users usually neglect to prevent the carriage from damage.
In order to avoid damaging the scanner during transportation, a carriage-fixing device has been used to fix the carriage. Before moving the scanner, users have to push or rotate such conventional carriage-fixing device to lock the carriage.
A scanner with this kind of scanning module locking device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,973,866, including a housing
12
, a scanning module
14
, and a locking device
16
, as shown in FIG.
1
. The locking device
16
includes a protruding member
20
, a C-shaped shaft sink
22
, an elastic bottom
24
, a recess
26
, a blocking member
28
, and a sliding member
30
. The blocking member
28
includes a shaft
32
, and a hook
34
. The sliding member
30
includes a sliding panel
40
and an elastic arm
44
.
As shown in
FIG. 2
, when the scanning module
14
is positioned at a predetermined position of the housing
12
, the sliding member
30
is moved to a locking position. Meanwhile, the elastic arm
44
rotates the blocking member
28
to engage the hook
34
and the C-shaped shaft sink
22
. The scanning module
14
is then locked in the scanner. As shown in
FIG. 3
, when intending to use the scanner, a user moves the sliding member
30
of the sliding panel
40
from a locking position to another position. When the sliding member
30
is moved from the locking position, the elastic arm
44
reversely rotates the blocking member
28
and so the hook
34
separates from the protruding member
20
. Then the scanning module
14
is free to horizontally move in the scanner to proceed with the scanning steps.
Although the locking apparatus
16
can lock the scanning module
14
, users may still neglect the actuation of the locking apparatus
16
when moving the scanner and accidentally cause damages. Furthermore, the user may forget to unlock the locking apparatus
16
so as to prevent the scanner from working.
Therefore, there exists a need for a locking apparatus without specific actuation steps, to avoid the damage and inconvenience mentioned above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the disadvantages of the prior art, the present invention provides a locking apparatus for switching between a lock state and an unlock state of a sliding device in a system. The system has a plug and a socket. The sliding device has a shaft.
The present invention includes a sliding member, a spring, a hook, and a connecting member. The sliding member is movably disposed within the socket and is coupled to the spring. The hook has an end part and a bending portion for locking the shaft. The connecting member is respectively coupled to the sliding member and the end part of the hook. As the plug is plugged into the socket, the locking apparatus unlocks the shaft. As the plug is pulled out from the socket, the locking apparatus locks the shaft.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5973866 (1999-10-01), Tseng
patent: 6247374 (2001-06-01), Tseng
Baker & Botts L.L.P.
Lite-On Technology Corporation
Phan James
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