Hinge apparatus for cover of image forming apparatus

• US 10,306,087 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2018
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HP Printing Korea Co., Ltd. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: HP Printing Korea Co., Ltd. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Choi, Dong-ha
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh, Ryan D
• Application Number:
  US16/018,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20180302522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 336 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/13 Cases or covers
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/00 Additional features or accessories of hinges edge protecting devices E06B3/88
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/02 Lubricating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/08 Friction devices between relatively-movable hinge parts E05D7/086 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/02 with one pin
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/00 Hinges or pivots of special construction used for special suspension arrangements E05D15/00; so as to be self-closing E05F1/06, E05F1/12; with means for raising wings before being turned E05F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1261 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/00 Braking devices, e.g. checks; Stops; Buffers construction of pneumatic or liquid braking devices E05F3/00; braking devices, buffers or end stops on drawers for tables, cabinets or like furniture A47B88/473; combined with devices for holding wings open E05C17/00; devices for limiting opening of wings or for holding wings open by a movable member extending between frame and wing E05C17/04
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/638 Cams; Ramps
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/608 for machines
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/34 with only one kind of movement E06B3/48 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/605 Holders for originals or exposure platens for photographic purposes in general G03B
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00519 Constructional details not otherwise provided for, e.g. housings, covers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00554 Latches or hinges therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00557 Connection or assembly of components or elements H04N1/00538 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00559 Mounting or support of components or elements H04N1/00538 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

A hinge for a cover of an image forming apparatus has a hinge housing to be movably positioned into an opening in a body of the image forming apparatus, a hinge cam to couple to the cover and to pivotably couple to the hinge housing to support pivoting of the cover.

Claims

1. A hinge couplable to a glass cover of an image forming apparatus, the hinge comprising:

a hinge housing to be insertable into and withdrawable from an opening in a body of the image forming apparatus,

the hinge housing including a housing chamber and a pressure device movable by pressing and depressing within the housing chamber; and

a hinge cam to couple to the glass cover and pivotably coupled to the hinge housing to support pivoting of the glass cover while the hinge cam slidably contacts the pressure device to press and depress the pressure device within the housing chamber to control the pivoting.

2. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the hinge housing further comprises:

a pair of first protrusions, each first protrusion respectively extending from upper portions of a pair of opposing first walls of the hinge housing to interfere with a corresponding pair of opposing first portions of the opening in the body of the image forming apparatus to limit an insertion range of the hinge housing in the opening.

3. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the hinge cam comprises a center of rotation offset by a distance from a line along which a center of the pressure device moves to control pivoting of the hinge cam.

4. The hinge according to claim 1, further comprising:

a hinge shaft rotatably coupling the hinge cam to the hinge housing to pivotably support the hinge cam while slidably contacting the pressure device.

5. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the hinge housing comprises a pair of support brackets extending from the first walls of the hinge housing to pivotably support the hinge cam to slidably contact the pressure device.

6. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the pressure device comprises:

a pusher coupled to the hinge housing, and

at least one pressure spring coupled to the pusher and to the housing chamber to bias the pusher in the slidable contact with the hinge cam, and to support the pressing and depressing of the pressure device.

7. The hinge according to claim 6, wherein a first end of the pressure spring is supported by a spring support provided on the pusher and a second end of the pressure spring is supported by a spring support provided in the housing chamber.

8. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the hinge further comprises:

a second protrusion extending from a lower portion of the first wall of the hinge housing to interfere with a second portion of the opening in the body of the image forming apparatus so as to limit a withdrawal range of the hinge housing out of the opening in the body of the image forming apparatus.

9. A hinge couplable to a glass cover of an image forming apparatus, the hinge comprising:

a hinge housing to be movably positioned into an opening in a body of the image forming apparatus,

the hinge housing including a housing chamber including a biasing device; and

a hinge cam to couple to the glass cover and pivotably coupled to the hinge housing to pivotably support the hinge cam to slidably contact the biasing device biased against the hinge cam to press and depress the biasing device.

10. The hinge according to claim 9, wherein the high housing further comprises:

a plurality of protrusions extending from upper portions of walls of the hinge housing and a protrusion extending from a lower portion of a wall among the walls of the hinge house, to interfere with corresponding portions of the opening in the body of the image forming apparatus to limit an insertion and withdrawal range of the hinge housing in the opening.

11. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

a cover for a document glass; and

a hinge including,

a hinge housing to be insertable into and withdrawable from an opening in a body of the image forming apparatus,

the hinge housing including a housing chamber and a pressure device movable by pressing and depressing within the housing chamber, and

a hinge cam to couple to the glass cover and to pivotably couple to the hinge housing to support pivoting of the glass cover while the hinge cam slidably contacts the pressure device to press and depress the pressure device within the housing chamber.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the hinge housing further comprises:

a pair of first protrusions, each first protrusion respectively extending from upper portions of a pair of opposing first walls of the hinge housing to interfere with a corresponding pair of opposing first portions of the opening in the body of the image forming apparatus to limit an insertion range of the hinge housing in the opening.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the hinge cam comprises a center of rotation offset by a distance from a line along which a center of the pressure device moves to control pivoting of the hinge cam.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the hinge further comprises a hinge shaft rotatably coupling the hinge cam to the hinge housing to pivotably support the hinge cam while slidably contacting the pressure device.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the hinge housing comprises a pair of support brackets extending from the first walls of the hinge housing to pivotably support the hinge cam to slidably contact the pressure device.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the pressure device comprises:

a pusher coupled to the hinge housing, and

at least one pressure spring coupled to the pusher and to the housing chamber to bias the pusher in the slidable contact with the hinge cam, and to support the pressing and depressing of the pressure device.

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a first end of the pressure spring is supported by a spring support provided on the pusher and a second end of the pressure spring is supported by a spring support provided in the housing chamber.

18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the hinge further comprises:

a second protrusion extending from a lower portion of the first wall of the hinge housing to interfere with a second portion of the opening in the body of the image forming apparatus so as to limit a withdrawal range of the hinge housing out of the opening in the body of the image forming apparatus.