Hinge Device
First Claim
1. A hinge device for open/closably connecting an upper unit to an upper surface of a lower unit, the hinge device comprising:
- a first mounting member, for attachment to the upper surface of the lower unit;
a second mounting member, to which the upper unit is attachable;
a rotary shaft connecting said first mounting member and said second mounting member, for rotatively supporting said second mounting member with respect to said first mounting member;
a compression spring provided in between said first mounting member and said second mounting member;
a casing member supporting the end of said compression spring alongside said first mounting member;
a brake member having a cam surface for coming into contact with said casing member to brake opening/closing of the upper unit with respect to the upper surface of the lower unit; and
shift means for vertically shifting said brake member, said compression spring, and said second mounting member.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A first mounting member fastens to a lower unit such as an image reading apparatus, and a second mounting member fastens to an upper unit such as a document feeder; a rotary shaft (hinge pin) rotatably connects the first and second mounting members. The first mounting member is provided with a compression spring, and with a brake member having a cam surface that engages the spring. A shift mechanism vertically shifts the brake member, compression spring, and second mounting member unitarily. Alternatively, the shift mechanism adjusts the height-level position where a pressing engager provided on one end of the compression spring and the cam surface engage, and the axle-support position of the rotary shaft. A hinge open/closably connecting the upper unit and lower unit can by a simple structure be easily adjusted heightwise, enabling continually stable opening/closing operations without exerting changes to the spring or other hinge components.
22 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A hinge device for open/closably connecting an upper unit to an upper surface of a lower unit, the hinge device comprising:
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a first mounting member, for attachment to the upper surface of the lower unit; a second mounting member, to which the upper unit is attachable; a rotary shaft connecting said first mounting member and said second mounting member, for rotatively supporting said second mounting member with respect to said first mounting member; a compression spring provided in between said first mounting member and said second mounting member; a casing member supporting the end of said compression spring alongside said first mounting member; a brake member having a cam surface for coming into contact with said casing member to brake opening/closing of the upper unit with respect to the upper surface of the lower unit; and shift means for vertically shifting said brake member, said compression spring, and said second mounting member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A hinge device for open/closably connecting an upper unit to a lower unit, the hinge device comprising:
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a first mounting member, for attachment to the lower unit; a second mounting member, for attachment to the upper unit; a rotary shaft connecting said first mounting member and said second mounting member; a compression spring disposed on said second mounting member, for swinging said first and second mounting members, with said rotary shaft as center, in the direction in which said spring widens; a casing member supporting one end of said compression spring, and having a pressing engager; and a brake member having a cam surface for on said pressing engager to restrict the elastic force of the compression spring;
whereinsaid brake member and said rotary shaft are supported on said first mounting member for free position adjustment to vary the height position of the upper unit; and a shift means is provided in between said brake member and said first mounting member, for shifting vertically in the height direction the axle-support position of said rotary shaft, and the position where said pressing engager and said cam surface engage. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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Specification