HINGE ASSEMBLY AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME

• US 20150067986A1
• Filed: 09/12/2014
• Published: 03/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HP Printing Korea Co., Ltd. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: BANG, Jung-ho, LEE, Jung-hoon
• Granted Patent: US 9,538,031 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 16/321
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/0009 Adjustable hinges E05D7/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1261 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/638 Cams; Ramps
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/608 for machines
• 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 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/02495 Constructional details not otherwise provided for, e.g. for ease of assembly, allowing access to the scanning elements, integrated reinforcing members

Abstract

An image forming apparatus including a hinge assembly to mutually hinge-connect a main body and a cover unit of the image forming apparatus and the hinge assembly is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a main body, a cover unit configured to be disposed on an upper side of the main body to press a manuscript, and at least one hinge assembly configured to connect the cover unit to the main body, wherein the hinge assembly includes a first body detachably mounted on the main body, a second body of which a part is fastened to the cover unit and another part is hinge-connected with the first body, a pressing unit accommodated in the first body to press the second body upward, and a pressing force adjuster configured to adjust a hinge force between the first body and the second body.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a main body;

a cover unit configured to be disposed on an upper side of the main body to press a manuscript; and

at least one hinge assembly to connect the cover unit to the main body,

wherein the hinge assembly includes;

a first body detachably mounted on the main body;

a second body of which a part is fastened to the cover unit and another part is hinge-connected with the first body;

a pressing force adjuster configured to adjust a hinge force between the first body and the second body

2. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressing force adjuster comprises:

a pressing unit accommodated in the first body to keep applying a pressing force to the second body; and

an adjustment unit configured to adjust a pressing force of the pressing unit that is applied to the second body.

3. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pressing unit comprises:

a pushing member configured to press the second body; and

an elastic member configured to elastically support the pushing member in the first body,

wherein the adjustment unit adjusts a compressed degree of the elastic member.

4. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the adjustment unit comprises:

an elastic member support plate to support an end of the elastic member and elevatably accommodated in the first body; and

a height adjustment member mounted on the first body to adjust a height of the elastic member support plate.

5. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the height adjustment member comprises:

a body portion engaged with the elastic member support plate and fastened to the first body; and

a head portion which is integrally formed on the body portion and is exposed outside of the first body.

6. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the body portion comprises:

an engagement portion engaged with the elastic member support plate; and

a fastening portion screw-fastened to the first body and having a support plate seating surface to support the elastic member support plate.

7. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein an insert nut member is mounted on the first body to screw-fasten to the body portion of the height adjustment member.

8. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the adjustment unit further comprises a locking nut member engaged with the body portion of the height adjustment member.

9. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein a height checking opening permits the elastic member support plate to be shown to outside of the first body, and wherein a plurality of height indicating scales, which indicate the height of the elastic member support plate, are formed on the first body.

10. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the adjustment unit is detachably screw-fastened on the first body to support an end of the elastic member.

11. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the adjustment unit in a cap shape comprises:

a side portion on which screw threads for screw engagement with the first body are formed along an inner circumferential surface; and

a bottom portion to support the end of the elastic member.

12. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second body has a curved surface-shaped cam surface, and wherein a pushing portion, configured to press the cam surface of the second body, is formed to project from an upper surface of the pushing member.

13. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein a plurality of lubricant storage grooves, which are filled with lubricant, are formed on the pushing portion.

14. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the elastic member is composed of a coil spring.

15. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein a center axis of the coil spring is spaced apart for a predetermined distance from a rotation axis of the second body.

16. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first body is mounted on a hinge mount hole that is formed in the main body.

17. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein a first projection portion to limit an amount of insertion of the first body into the hinge mount hole is formed on the first body.

18. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein a secession prevention protrusion is formed inside the hinge mount hole, and a second projection portion, which is caught on the secession prevention protrusion when the cover unit is lifted up, is formed on the first body.

19. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the adjustment unit comprises:

an elastic member support plate which supports an end of the elastic member; and

a height adjustment member of which a part is pivotably accommodated in the first body, the height adjustment member adjusts height of the elastic member support plate according to rotation.

20. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the height adjustment member comprises:

a rotation cam portion which is disposed to contact a lower end of the elastic member support plate;

a rotation axis which passes through and is engaged to the rotation cam portion, and both ends are pivotably supported on the first body; and

a rotation knob which is engaged to an end of the rotation axis from outside of the first body, and rotates the rotation axis in a direction or a reverse direction; and

wherein the rotation cam portion moves the elastic member support plate according to rotation of the rotation knob to adjust a compressed degree of the elastic member.

21. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the first body comprises:

a first housing which is fastened to the main body; and

a second housing, in which the pressing unit and the elastic member support plate are accommodated, having the rotation axis which is slidably inserted into a lower end;

wherein the second housing is inserted inside the first housing, and the rotation axis and the rotation cam member are positioned on a lower side of the second housing.

22. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the second body has a cutting groove on the bottom portion so that an inner bottom portion is not interfered when the rotation cam member rotates.

26. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein the adjustment unit comprises:

an elastic member support plate to support a lower end of the elastic member and elevatably accommodated in the first body; and

a height adjustment member mounted on the first body to adjust a height of the elastic member support plate.

23. A hinge assembly mutually connecting an image forming apparatus main body to a cover unit which is disposed on the main body to press a manuscript, comprising:

a first body detachably mounted on the main body;

a second body of which a part is fastened to the cover unit and another part is hinge-connected with the first body; and

a pressing force adjuster to adjust a hinge force between the first body and the second body.

24. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 23, wherein the pressing force adjustment unit comprises:

a pressing unit accommodated in the first body to keep applying a pressing force on the second body; and

an adjustment unit to adjust a pressing force of the pressing unit that is applied to the second body.

25. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 24, wherein the pressing unit comprises:

a pushing member configured to press the second body; and

an elastic member configured to elastically support the pushing member in the first body,

wherein the adjustment unit adjusts a compressed degree of the elastic member.

27. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 25, wherein the adjustment unit is cap-shaped, and is detachably screw-fastened to the first body to support an end of the elastic member.

28. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 25, wherein the adjustment unit comprises:

an elastic member support plate to support an end of the elastic member; and

a height adjustment member accommodated in the first body so that a part of the member is rotatable to adjust a height of the elastic member support plate according to rotation.

29. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 28, wherein the height adjustment member comprises:

a rotation cam portion which is disposed to contact a lower end of the elastic member support plate;

a rotation axis which passes through and is engaged to the rotation cam portion, and both ends are pivotably supported on the first body; and

a rotation knob which is engaged to an end of the rotation axis from outside of the first body, and rotates the rotation axis in a direction or a reverse direction;

wherein the rotation cam portion moves the elastic member support plate according to rotation of the rotation knob in a direction or a reverse direction to adjust a compressed degree of the elastic member.

30. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 29, wherein the first body comprises:

a first housing which is fastened to the main body; and

a second housing, in which the pressing unit and the elastic member support plate are accommodated, having the rotation axis which is slidably inserted into a lower end;

wherein the second housing is inserted inside the first housing, and the rotation axis and the rotation cam member are positioned on a lower side of the second housing, and

wherein the second body has a cutting groove on the bottom portion so that an inner bottom portion is not interfered when the rotation cam member rotates.