Door shock absorber and image forming apparatus employing the same

• US 7,343,118 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2005
• Issued: 03/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: S-Printing Solution Co., Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Ahn, Byeong-hwa, Jeong, Heung-sup
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, SUSAN SHUK YIN
• Application Number:
  US11/175,444
• Publication Number:
  US 20060120756A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 399/107, 399/124, 292/DIG.15, 162/86, 16/54, 16/50, 493/46, 493/86, 493/87
• US Class Current: 399/124
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1633 using doors or covers G03G21/1638 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/169 Structural door designs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/15 Door, checks, floor

Abstract

A door shock absorber is provided to absorb noise and shock when a door is opened, and an image forming apparatus employing the same. The door shock absorber includes a first guide rail included in a door mounted on a case used as an outer covering. A first spring is contained by the first guide rail. A link has a first end hingedly connected to the inside of the case, and a second end connected to the first guide rail and able to move in the direction of the first guide rail. When the door is opened, the second end of the link moves in the direction of the first guide rail and compresses the first spring.

Claims

1. A door shock absorber, comprising:

a first guide rail included in a door mounted on a case used as an outer covering;

a first spring disposed in the first guide rail; and

a link having a first end hingedly connected to the inside of the case, and a second end connected to the first guide rail and able to move in the direction of the first guide rail,

wherein when the door is opened, the second end of the link moves in the direction of the first guide rail and elastically compresses the first spring.

2. The door shock absorber of claim 1, wherein the first guide rail further comprises

a first stopper that controls the movement of the second end of the link when the door is opened.

3. The door shock absorber of claim 1, wherein the first guide rail further comprises

a projection that allows the second end of the link to move back only when the pressure applied when the door is closed is higher than a predetermined level.

4. The door shock absorber of claim 1, further comprising

a second guide rail disposed in the case, and connected to the first end of the link, the first end of the link being able to pivot and move in the direction of the second guide rail.

5. The door shock absorber of claim 4, further comprising a second spring is disposed in the second guide rail.

6. The door shock absorber of claim 5, wherein

when the door is opened, the first end of the link moves in the direction of the second guide rail and elastically compresses the second spring.

7. The door shock absorber of claim 6, wherein

the link has a boss on the first end of the link that includes a first diameter and a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, is the boss being inserted in the second guide rail and able to move along the second guide rail.

8. The door shock absorber of claim 1, wherein

the second guide rail has a storing unit for storing the boss of the link on one side thereof, and when the door is opened, the boss pivots in the storing unit and moves in the direction of the second guide rail while the first diameter is out of the storing unit.

9. The door shock absorber of claim 7, wherein the second guide rail extends along a circular arc around a pivot axis of the door.

10. The door shock absorber of claim 7, wherein the second guide rail further comprises

a second stopper that controls the movement of the first end of the link when the door is opened.

11. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

a case including a door;

means for forming an image inside the case;

a door shock absorber to absorb noise and shock when the door is opened, wherein the door shock absorber includes

a first guide rail included in the door;

a first spring disposed in the first guide rail; and

a link having a first end hingedly connected to the inside of the case and a second end connected to the first guide rail and able to move in the direction of the first guide rail,

wherein when the door is opened, the second end of the link moves in the direction of the first guide rail and elastically compresses the first spring.

12. The image forming apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first guide rail further comprises

a stopper that controls the movement of the second end of the link when the door is opened.

13. The image forming apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first guide rail further comprises

a projection that allows the second end of the link to move back only when the pressure applied when the door is closed is higher than a predetermined level.

14. The image forming apparatus of claim 11, wherein the door shock absorber further comprises

a second guide rail included in the case and connected to the first end of the link, the link being able to pivot and move in the direction of the second guide rail.

15. The door shock absorber of claim 14, further comprising

a second spring disposed in the second guide rail,

wherein when the door is opened, the second end of the link moves in the direction of the second guide rail and elastically compresses the second spring.

16. The image forming apparatus of claim 15, wherein

the link has a boss on the first end of the link that includes a first diameter and a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, the boss being inserted in the second guide rail and able to move along the second guide rail.

17. The door shock absorber of claim 16, wherein

the second guide rail has a storing unit for storing the first diameter of the boss on one side of the link, and

when the door is opened, the boss pivots in the storing unit and moves in the direction of the pair of the second guide rail while the first diameter is out of the storing unit.

18. The image forming apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second guide rail extends along a circular arc around a pivot axis of the door.

19. The image forming apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second guide rail further comprises

a stopper that controls the movement of the first end of the link when the door is opened.

20. The image forming apparatus of claim 12, wherein

the first end of the link does not begin to move until the second end of the link is proximal the first stopper.