Image Reading Apparatus

Abstract

An image reading apparatus configured to reduce a force required for moving a document cover to an open position is provided. The image reading apparatus includes a document table having a top surface and a reading area and a document cover that is configured to pivot, around an axis extending in a first direction, between a closed position and an open position. The document cover includes a sheet. The top surface has a marginal area which is located outside of a reading area on a side opposite to the axis. The marginal area includes a contact area and a non-contact area which are arranged in the first direction. When the document cover is in the closed position, the top surface in the contact area contacts the sheet, and the top surface in the non-contact area does not contact the sheet.

1 . An image reading apparatus comprising:
 a document table including a document glass configured to receive a document thereon, the document glass having a reading area;   an image reader disposed under the document table, the image reader being configured to read an image of the document in the reading area of the document glass; and   a document cover configured to pivot relative to the document table around an axis extending in a first direction between a closed position where the document glass of the document table is covered and an open position where the document glass of the document table is exposed, the document cover including a contacting member, the contacting member being configured to have face-to-face contact with the document glass of the document table in the reading area when the document cover is in the closed position,   wherein the document glass of the document table has a marginal area which is located outside of the reading area on a far side opposite to a near side relative to the axis of the document cover,   wherein the marginal area of the document glass of the document table extends in the first direction and includes a contact area, a first non-contact area, and a second non-contact area,   wherein, when the document cover is in the closed position, the contacting member of the document cover is configured to contact the document glass of the document table in the contact area of the marginal area and not to contact the document glass of the document table in the first non-contact area and the second non-contact area of the marginal area,   wherein the contact area is disposed between the first non-contact area and the second non-contact area in the marginal area of the document glass of the document table such that the first non-contact area, the contact area, and the second non-contact area are arranged in the first direction,   wherein the document cover further includes a handle portion disposed on a distal side relative to the axis of the document cover and the handle portion extends in the first direction, and   wherein, when the document cover is in the closed position, the first non-contact area, the second non-contact area, and the contact area disposed between the first non-contact area and the second non-contact area, which are included in the marginal area of the document glass of the document table, are located in an area corresponding to a length of the handle portion in the first direction.   
     
     
         2 . The image reading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the contacting member of the document cover includes a protrusion corresponding to the contact area in the marginal area of the document glass. 
     
     
         3 . The image reading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the contacting member of the document cover includes a protrusion located on the distal side and having a flat surface to face the document table, and the contacting member of the document cover is configured such that a distal end of the flat surface of the protrusion relative to the axis of the document cover contacts the document glass in the contact area of the marginal area when the document cover is in the closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The image reading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the document cover further includes a cushion disposed facing the contacting member on an opposite side of the document glass of the document table when the document cover is in the closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The image reading apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the contacting member of the document cover further includes a further protrusion that is symmetrically opposite to the protrusion corresponding to the contact area in the marginal area of the document glass relative to a center of the contacting member. 
     
     
         6 . The image reading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the contacting member of the document cover includes a protrusion protruding toward the document glass, the protrusion corresponding to the contact area in the marginal area of the document glass. 
     
     
         7 . The image reading apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the contacting member of the document cover including the protrusion is integrally formed. 
     
     
         8 . The image reading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the contacting member of the document cover includes a downward protrusion, the protrusion corresponding to the contact area in the marginal area of the document glass. 
     
     
         9 . The image reading apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the contacting member of the document cover including the protrusion is integrally formed. 
     
     
         10 . The image reading apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the contacting member of the document cover is configured such that, when the document cover is in the closed position, the protrusion contacts the document glass of the document table and the contacting member is located apart from the document glass of the document table in the first non-contact area and the second non-contact area of the marginal area. 
     
     
         11 . The image reading apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the contacting member of the document cover including the protrusion is integrally formed. 
     
     
         12 . The image reading apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the contacting member of the document cover is configured such that a proximal end of the flat surface of the protrusion of the contacting member relative to the axis of the document cover contacts the document glass in the marginal area when the document cover is in the closed position. 
     
     
         13 . An image reading apparatus comprising:
 a document table including a document glass configured to receive a document thereon, the document glass having a reading area;   an image reader disposed under the document glass, the image reader being configured to read an image of the document in the reading area of the document glass; and   a document cover configured to pivot relative to the document table around an axis extending in a first direction between a closed position where the document glass of the document table is covered and an open position where the document glass of the document table is exposed, the document cover including a contacting member, the contacting member being configured to have face-to-face contact with the document glass of the document table in the reading area when the document cover is in the closed position,   wherein the document glass of the document table has a marginal area which is located outside of the reading area on a far side opposite to a near side relative to the axis of the document cover,   wherein the marginal area of the document glass of the document table extends in the first direction and includes a contact area, a first non-contact area, and a second non-contact area,   wherein, when the document cover is in the closed position, the contacting member of the document cover is configured to contact the document glass of the document table in the contact area of the marginal area and not to contact the document glass of the document table in the first non-contact area and the second non-contact area of the marginal area,   wherein the contact area is disposed between the first non-contact area and the second non-contact area in the marginal area of the document glass of the document table such that the first non-contact area, the contact area, and the second non-contact area are arranged in the first direction, and   wherein the first non-contact area, the second non-contact area, and the contact area disposed between the first non-contact area and the second non-contact area are located in a central portion of the marginal area of the document glass of the document table in the first direction.   
     
     
         14 . The image reading apparatus according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the document cover further includes a handle portion disposed on a distal side relative to the axis of the document cover and the handle portion extends in the first direction, and   wherein, when the document cover is in the closed position, the first non-contact area, the second non-contact area, and the contact area disposed between the first non-contact area and the second non-contact area, which are included in the marginal area of the document glass of the document table, are located in the central portion of the marginal area corresponding to a length of the handle portion in the first direction.   
     
     
         15 . The image reading apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the contacting member of the document cover includes a protrusion corresponding to the contact area in the marginal area of the document glass. 
     
     
         16 . The image reading apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the contacting member of the document cover includes a downward protrusion corresponding to the contact area in the marginal area of the document glass. 
     
     
         17 . The image reading apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the document cover further includes a cushion disposed facing the contacting member on an opposite side of the document glass of the document table when the document cover is in the closed position. 
     
     
         18 . The image reading apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the contacting member of the document cover further includes a further protrusion that is symmetrically opposite to the protrusion corresponding to the contact area in the marginal area of the document glass relative to a center of the contacting member. 
     
     
         19 . The image reading apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the contacting member of the document cover is configured such that, when the document cover is in the closed position, the protrusion contacts the document glass of the document table and the contacting member is located apart from the document glass of the document table in the first non-contact area and the second non-contact area of the marginal area. 
     
     
         20 . An image reading apparatus comprising:
 a document table including a document glass configured to receive a document thereon, the document glass having a reading area;   an image reader disposed under the document glass, the image reader being configured to read an image of the document in the reading area of the document glass; and   a document cover configured to pivot relative to the document table around an axis extending in a first direction between a closed position where the document glass of the document table is covered and an open position where the document glass of the document table is exposed, the document cover including a contacting member, the contacting member being configured to have face-to-face contact with the document glass of the document table in the reading area when the document cover is in the closed position, the contacting member including a protrusion protruding toward the document glass,   wherein the document glass of the document table has a marginal area which is located outside of the reading area on a far side opposite to a near side relative to the axis of the document cover,   wherein the marginal area of the document glass of the document table extends in the first direction and includes a contact area, a first non-contact area, and a second non-contact area,   wherein, when the document cover is in the closed position, the contacting member of the document cover is configured to contact the document glass of the document table in the contact area of the marginal area and not to contact the document glass of the document table in the first non-contact area and the second non-contact area of the marginal area,   wherein the contact area is disposed between the first non-contact area and the second non-contact area in the marginal area of the document glass of the document table such that the first non-contact area, the contact area, and the second non-contact area are arranged in the first direction,   wherein the protrusion of the contacting member of the document cover is located on a distal side relative to the axis of the document cover,   wherein the protrusion of the contacting member of the document cover has a flat surface to face the document table, and the contacting member of the document cover is configured such that a distal end of the flat surface of the protrusion relative to the axis of the document cover contacts the document glass in the marginal area when the document cover is in the closed position.   
     
     
         21 . The image reading apparatus according to  claim 20 ,
 wherein the document cover further includes a handle portion disposed on the distal side relative to the axis of the document cover and the handle portion extends in the first direction, and   wherein, when the document cover is in the closed position, the contact area disposed between the first non-contact area and the second non-contact area in the marginal area of the document glass of the document table is located in an area corresponding to a length of the handle portion in the first direction.   
     
     
         22 . The image reading apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the contacting member of the document cover is configured such that a proximal end of the flat surface of the protrusion of the contacting member relative to the axis of the document cover contacts the document glass in the marginal area when the document cover is in the closed position. 
     
     
         23 . The image reading apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the protrusion of the contacting member of the document cover corresponds to the contact area in the marginal area of the document glass. 
     
     
         24 . The image reading apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the contacting member of the document cover is configured such that, when the document cover is in the closed position, the protrusion contacts the document glass of the document table and the contacting member is located apart from the document glass of the document table in the first non-contact area and the second non-contact area of the marginal area. 
     
     
         25 . The image reading apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the document cover further includes a cushion disposed facing the contacting member on an opposite side of the protrusion. 
     
     
         26 . The image reading apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the contacting member of the document cover further includes a further protrusion that is symmetrically opposite to the protrusion relative to a center of the contacting member, and the further protrusion protrudes toward the document glass when the document cover is in the closed position.