Hinge apparatus for cover of image forming apparatus

• US 8,315,549 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2009
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh, Ryan
• Application Number:
  US12/458,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20090274502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 399/377, 399/379, 399/380, 162/77, 163/03, 163/25, 355/25, 358/497, 358/498
• US Class Current: 399/377
• 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. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a main body having a document platen on which a document can be placed;

a scanner cover to open and close an upper side of the document platen; and

a hinge apparatus pivotably supporting the scanner cover to the main body,

wherein the hinge apparatus comprises;

a hinge body, with a void therein and a supporting bracket, movable in an opening in the main body;

a pressure device, including a pusher movable within the void, which is biased toward a first end of the hinge body via a spring; and

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

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

wherein the pusher is formed as a single piece, and

wherein a top surface portion of the pusher establishes direct contact with the hinge cam.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the hinge body has a pair of supporting brackets extend from sidewalls of the hinge body, and the hinge cam is pivotally connected to the supporting brackets via a hinge shaft; and

a center of the hinge shaft is positioned at a predetermined interval toward a direction of a document platen of the main body of the image forming apparatus from a pressure central line of the hinge cam and the pusher.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, 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 the main body of the 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 platen of the main body of the image forming apparatus.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, 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.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hinge body is adapted to guide the pusher up and down within the void of the hinge body.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein guide slots are formed in sidewalls of the hinge body to guide an upward and downward movement of the pusher within the void of the hinge body.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, 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.

8. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the hinge cam has a hinge shaft; and

a center of rotation of the hinge shaft is offset by a predetermined distance from a line along which a center of the pressure device moves so that rotation of the hinge cam is inhibited when the pressure device moves.

9. The image forming apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the scanner cover opens and closes an upper side of the document platen; and

the center of rotation of the hinge shaft is located at the predetermined distance in a direction toward the document platen from the center line of the pressure device.

10. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein an upper end of the spring is supported by a spring support provided on the pusher.

11. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein a lower end of the spring is supported by a spring support provided on the hinge body.

12. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hinge body is formed as a single piece and has a pair of supporting brackets integrally extending from sidewalls of the hinge body to pivotably support the hinge cam via a hinge shaft.

13. The image forming apparatus of claim 12, wherein a center of rotation of the hinge shaft is offset by a predetermined distance from a pressure central line of the hinge cam and the pusher.

14. The image forming apparatus of claim 13, wherein the center of rotation of the hinge shaft is offset by the predetermined distance from the pressure central line of the hinge cam and the pusher so that rotation of the hinge cam is inhibited.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supporting bracket integrally formed with the hinge body is configured to rotatably support the hinge cam via a hinge shaft.

16. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a main body having a document platen on which a document can be placed;

a scanner cover to open and close an upper side of the document platen; and

a hinge apparatus pivotably supporting the scanner cover to the main body,

wherein the hinge apparatus comprises;

a hinge body, with a void therein and a supporting bracket, movable in an opening in the main body;

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

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

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

wherein the supporting bracket integrally formed with the hinge body is configured to rotatably support the hinge cam via a hinge shaft.

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 16, 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.

18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a center of the hinge shaft is positioned at a predetermined interval toward a direction of the document platen of the main body of the image forming apparatus from a pressure central line of the hinge cam and the pusher.

19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the hinge body has two supporting brackets, and wherein the first protrusion comprises a plurality of protrusions located at lower parts of the two supporting brackets such that when the hinge body is inserted into a coupling hole formed in the main body of an image forming apparatus, the protrusions are caught at the main body of the image forming apparatus and the two supporting brackets are positioned above a document platen of the main body of the image forming apparatus.

20. The image forming apparatus according to claim 19, wherein guide slots are formed in sidewalls of the hinge body to guide an upward and downward movement of the pusher within the void of the hinge body.

21. The image forming apparatus according to claim 16, 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.

22. The image forming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the hinge body comprises a second protrusion to limit an amount of the hinge body that can move out of the opening formed in the main body of the image forming apparatus.

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

24. The image forming apparatus of claim 16, wherein a center of rotation of the hinge shaft is offset by a predetermined distance from a line along which a center of the pressure device moves so that rotation of the hinge cam is inhibited when the pressure device moves.

25. The image forming apparatus of claim 24, wherein:

the scanner cover opens and closes an upper side of the document platen; and

the center of rotation of the hinge shaft is located at the predetermined distance in a direction toward the document platen from the center line of the pressure device.

26. The image forming apparatus of claim 16,

the pressure device is biased toward a first end of the hinge body via a spring;

and

an upper end of the spring is supported by a spring support provided on the pusher.

27. The image forming apparatus of claim 16,

the pressure device is biased toward a first end of the hinge body via a spring;

and

a lower end of the spring is supported by a spring support provided on the hinge body.

28. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a main body having a document platen on which a document can be placed;

a scanner cover to open and close an upper side of the document platen; and

a hinge apparatus pivotably supporting the scanner cover to the main body,

wherein the hinge apparatus comprises;

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

a pressure device, including a pusher movable in the void, which is biased toward a first end of the hinge body via a spring; and

a hinge cam, coupled to the scanner cover, rotatably connected to the supporting bracket, and slidably engaging the pressure device,

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

wherein the pusher is formed as a single piece, and

wherein a top surface portion of the pusher establishes direct contact with the hinge cam.

29. The image forming apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the hinge cam includes a body portion connected to the scanner cover so as to pivotably connect the scanner cover to the main body.

30. The image forming apparatus of claim 29, 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.

31. The image forming apparatus of claim 30, wherein a center of the hinge shaft is offset from a pressure central line of the pressure device.

32. The image forming apparatus of claim 31, wherein a center of the hinge shaft is located toward the document platen compared to a pressure central line of the pressure device.

33. The image forming apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the void of the hinge body extends in the longitudinal direction of the opening in the main body.

34. The image forming apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the hinge body is movable in an upward direction and a downward direction within the opening in the main body.

35. The image forming apparatus according to claim 28, 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.

36. The image forming apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the hinge body further comprises a second protrusion to limit an amount the hinge body moves upwardly out of the opening in the main body.

37. The image forming apparatus of claim 28, wherein:

the hinge cam has a hinge shaft; and

a center of rotation of the hinge shaft is offset by a predetermined distance from a line along which a center of the pressure device moves so that rotation of the hinge cam is inhibited when the pressure device moves.

38. The image forming apparatus of claim 37, wherein:

the scanner cover opens and closes an upper side of the document platen; and

the center of rotation of the hinge shaft is located at the predetermined distance in a direction toward the document platen from the center line of the pressure device.

39. The image forming apparatus of claim 28, wherein an upper end of the spring is supported by a spring support provided on the pusher.

40. The image forming apparatus of claim 28, wherein a lower end of the spring is supported by a spring support provided on the hinge body.

41. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a main body having a document platen on which a document can be placed;

a scanner cover to open and close an upper side of the document platen; and

a hinge apparatus pivotably supporting the scanner cover to the main body,

wherein the hinge apparatus comprises;

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, coupled to the scanner cover, rotatably connected to the supporting bracket, and slidably engaging the pressure device,

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

wherein the supporting bracket integrally formed with the hinge body is configured to rotatably support the hinge cam via a hinge shaft.

42. The image forming apparatus according to claim 41, 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.

43. The image forming apparatus of claim 41, wherein:

the hinge cam has a hinge shaft; and

a center of rotation of the hinge shaft is offset by a predetermined distance from a line along which a center of the pressure device moves so that rotation of the hinge cam is inhibited when the pressure device moves.

44. The image forming apparatus of claim 43, wherein:

the cover opens and closes an upper side of the document platen; and

the center of rotation of the hinge shaft is located at the predetermined distance in a direction toward the document platen from the center line of the pressure device.

45. The image forming apparatus of claim 41,

the pressure device is biased toward a first end of the hinge body via a spring;

and

an upper end of the spring is supported by a spring support provided on the pusher.

46. The image forming apparatus of claim 41,

the pressure device is biased toward a first end of the hinge body via a spring;

and

a lower end of the spring is supported by a spring support provided on the hinge body.

47. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a main body having a document platen on which a document can be placed;

a scanner cover to open and close an upper side of the document platen; and

a hinge apparatus pivotably supporting the scanner cover to the main body,

wherein the hinge apparatus comprises;

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, coupled to the scanner cover, rotatably connected to the supporting bracket, and slidably engaging the pressure device,

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

wherein the supporting bracket integrally formed with the hinge body is configured to rotatably support the hinge cam via a hinge shaft, and

wherein a center of rotation of the hinge shaft is offset by a predetermined distance from a line along a center of the pressure device.

48. The image forming apparatus according to claim 47, 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.

49. The image forming apparatus of claim 47, wherein the center of rotation of the hinge shaft is located at the predetermined distance in a direction toward the document platen from the center line of the pressure device.

50. The image forming apparatus of claim 47,

the pressure device is biased toward a first end of the hinge body via a spring;

and

an upper end of the spring is supported by a spring support provided on the pusher.

51. The image forming apparatus of claim 47,

the pressure device is biased toward a first end of the hinge body via a spring;

and

a lower end of the spring is supported by a spring support provided on the hinge body.

52. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a main body having a document platen on which a document is placed;

a scanner cover to open and close an upper side of the document platen; and

a hinge apparatus pivotably supporting the scanner cover to the main body,

wherein the hinge apparatus comprises;

a hinge body inserted into a coupling hole provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus, the hinge body movable in an up and down direction in the coupling hole, the hinge body including a housing chamber having an upper side opening, and a pair of supporting brackets provided adjacent to the upper side opening;

a hinge cam of which a portion is coupled to the scanner cover, and of which another portion is rotatably coupled to the supporting brackets of the hinge body; and

a pressure device comprising a pusher disposed to slide in the housing chamber of the hinge body, a pressure spring applying pressure to the pusher such that an upper surface of the pusher is in contact with a facing surface of the hinge cam,

wherein a locking protrusion protrudes from the pusher so as to prevent the release of the pusher from the housing chamber, the locking protrusion slidably engaging with a guide slot formed on the hinge body, the guide slot restricting an up and down sliding movement of the locking protrusion, and

wherein the hinge body is formed as a single plastic-melded piece having the pair of supporting brackets integrally extending from sidewalls of the hinge body to pivotably support the hinge cam via a hinge shaft.

53. The image forming apparatus of claim 52, wherein a center of rotation of the hinge shaft is offset by a predetermined distance from a pressure central line of the hinge cam and the pusher.

54. The image forming apparatus of claim 53, wherein:

the pusher is formed as a single piece, and

a top surface portion of the pusher establishes direct contact with the hinge cam.