Hinge apparatus for cover of image forming apparatus

• US 20090274502A1
• Filed: 07/10/2009
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HP Printing Korea Co., Ltd. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Choi, Dong-Ha
• Granted Patent: US 8,315,549 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/380
• 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 apparatus for a cover of an image forming apparatus has a hinge body with supporting brackets, movably inserted into a coupling hole positioned in a main body of the image forming apparatus, a hinge cam connected to the cover and pivotably connected to the supporting brackets, and a pressure device disposed at the hinge body to press the hinge cam. Accordingly, the hinge apparatus can be implemented with a simple and easy assembly operation, since it is not a complicated structural connection among the component parts of the hinge apparatus.

Claims

1. A hinge apparatus comprising:

a hinge body having a hollow section;

a biasing member disposed in the hollow section of the hinge body;

a pusher biased toward a first end of the hinge body via the biasing member; and

a hinge cam rotatably coupled to the hinge body, and movably engaging the pusher,

wherein the hinge body comprises a first protrusion that protrudes outward to restrict an insertion range of the hinge body within a coupling hole formed in a main body of an image forming apparatus,

wherein a pair of supporting brackets extend from sidewalls of the hinge body, and the hinge cam is pivotably connected to the supporting brackets via a hinge shaft,

2. The hinge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a center of the hinge shaft is positioned at a predetermined interval toward a direction of a document glass of the main body of the image forming apparatus from a pressure central line of the hinge cam and the pusher.

3. The hinge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hinge body is adapted to guide the pusher up and down within the hollow section of the hinge body.

4. The hinge apparatus according to claim 3, wherein guide slots are formed in sidewalls of the hinge body to guide an upward and downward movement of the pusher within the hollow section of the hinge body.

5. The hinge apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the pusher comprises a guide member, and the hinge body is provided with a guide slot formed in sidewalls thereof to guide the guide member of the pusher within the hinge body.

6. The hinge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first protrusion comprises a plurality of protrusions located at lower parts of the supporting brackets such that when the hinge body is inserted into a coupling hole formed in a main body of an image forming apparatus, the protrusions are caught at the main body of the image forming apparatus and the supporting brackets are positioned above a document glass of the main body of the image forming apparatus.

7. The hinge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hinge body comprises a second protrusion to limit an amount of the hinge body that can move out of the coupling hole formed in the main body of the image forming apparatus.

8. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a main body of the image forming apparatus including components to scan a document and print a scanned image on a printing paper;

a document glass disposed on the main body for placing a document to be scanned;

a cover member to cover a document placed on the document glass; and

the hinge apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the hinge apparatus is coupled to the cover and the main body of the image forming apparatus.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a pair of coupling holes are formed in the main body of the image forming apparatus, each coupling hole adapted to receive at least a portion of the hinge body of the hinge apparatus.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a center of the hinge shaft is positioned at a predetermined interval toward a direction of the document glass of the main body of the image forming apparatus from a pressure central line of the hinge cam and the pusher.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first protrusion comprises a plurality of protrusions located at lower parts of the supporting brackets such that when the hinge body is inserted into a coupling hole formed in a main body of an image forming apparatus, the protrusions are caught at the main body of the image forming apparatus and the supporting brackets are positioned above a document glass of the main body of the image forming apparatus.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein guide slots are formed in sidewalls of the hinge body to guide an upward and downward movement of the pusher within the hollow section of the hinge body.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the pusher comprises a guide member, and the hinge body is provided with a guide slot formed in sidewalls thereof to guide the guide member of the pusher within the hinge body.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the hinge body comprises a second protrusion to limit an amount of the hinge body that can move out of the coupling hole formed in the main body of the image forming apparatus.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the hinge cam includes a body portion connected to the cover member so as to pivotably connect the cover member to the main body.

16. A hinge apparatus for pivotably connecting a cover to a main body of an image forming apparatus, the hinge apparatus comprising:

a hinge body with a void therein and a supporting bracket;

a pressure device, movable in the void, and biased toward a first end of the hinge body; and

a hinge cam rotatably connected to the supporting bracket, and movably engaging the pressure device,

wherein the hinge body comprises a first protrusion to limit an amount the hinge body moves into an opening in the main body.

17. The hinge apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the hinge cam includes a body portion connected to the cover so as to pivotably connect the cover to the main body.

18. The hinge apparatus of claim 17, wherein the hinge cam and the supporting bracket are provided with a shaft hole, respectively, wherein a hinge shaft is inserted through the respective shaft holes, to pivotably connect the hinge cam to the supporting bracket.

19. The hinge apparatus of claim 18, wherein a center of the hinge shaft is offset from a pressure central line of the pressure device.

20. The hinge apparatus of claim 19, wherein a center of the hinge shaft is located toward the document glass compared to a pressure central line of the pressure device.

21. The hinge apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the void of the hinge body extends in the longitudinal direction of the opening in the main body.

22. The hinge apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the hinge body is movable in an upward direction and a downward direction within the opening in the main body.

23. The hinge apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the hinge body further comprises a second protrusion to limit an amount the hinge body moving upwardly out of the opening in the main body.

24. The hinge apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the pressure device comprises a guide member, and the hinge body is provided with a receiving member corresponding to the guide member to guide a movement of the pressure device.

25. A hinge apparatus for pivotally attaching a cover to a main body of an image forming apparatus, the cover for covering a document placed on a document glass of a scanning unit of the image forming apparatus, the hinge apparatus comprising:

a hinge body comprising a housing chamber and supporting brackets, the hinge body adapted to be inserted into an opening in the main body of the image forming apparatus;

a hinge cam pivotably connected to the supporting brackets;

a pressure device movably disposed within the hinge body,

wherein the cam part and the supporting bracket are provided with a shaft hole, respectively, and the hinge apparatus further comprises a hinge shaft inserted through the respective shaft holes, to pivotably connect the cam part to the supporting brackets,

wherein a center of the hinge shaft is located toward the document glass compared to a pressure central line of the pressure device.

26. The hinge apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the pressure device comprises:

a pusher movably disposed within the hinge body; and

an elastic member disposed within the hinge body to press the pusher against the hinge cam.