Hinge apparatus for cover of image forming apparatus

• US 8,676,110 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2013
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• 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 D
• Application Number:
  US14/030,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20140016978A1
• Time in Patent Office: 181 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 first body, with a void therein, movable in an opening in the main body;

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

a second body, coupled to the scanner cover, rotatably connected to the first body, and movably engaging the pressure device; and

a hinge shaft rotatably connecting the second body to the first body,

wherein a center of the hinge shaft is located at a predetermined distance toward a direction of the document platen from a central line, along which a center of the pressure device and the second body move, and

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

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second body is made of a lubricating resin.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the lubricating resin is selected from a group consisting of polyethylene, polybutylene terephthalate, and polyamide.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressure device comprises:

a pusher; and

a biasing element which biases the pusher toward the first end of the first body.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the pusher is made of a lubricating resin.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the lubricating resin is selected from a group consisting of polyethylene, polybutylene terephthalate, and polyamide.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein an upper end of the biasing element is supported by a first support provided on the pusher.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a lower end of the biasing element is supported by a second support provided on the first body.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main body is provided with a hooking portion for catching a second protrusion of the first body.

10. 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 first body, with a void therein, movable in an opening in the main body;

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

a second body, coupled to the scanner cover, rotatably connected to the first body, and movably engaging the pressure device; and

a hinge shaft rotatably connecting the second body to the first body,

wherein a center of the hinge shaft is located at a predetermined distance toward a direction of the document platen from a central line along which a center of the second body moves, and

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

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the main body is provided with a hooking portion for catching the protrusion of the first body.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, the second body is made of a lubricating resin.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the lubricating resin is selected from a group consisting of polyethylene, polybutylene terephthalate, and polyamide.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the pressure device comprises:

a pusher; and

a biasing element which biases the pusher toward the first end of the first body.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the pusher is made of a lubricating resin.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the lubricating resin is selected from a group consisting of polyethylene, polybutylene terephthalate, and polyamide.

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein an upper end of the biasing element is supported by a first support provided on the pusher.

18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a lower end of the biasing element is supported by a second support provided on the first body.

19. 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 first 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 first body;

a second body, coupled to the scanner cover, rotatably connected to the supporting bracket, and movably engaging the pressure device; and

a hinge shaft rotatably connecting the second body to the supporting bracket of the first body,

wherein a center of the hinge shaft is located at a predetermined distance toward a direction of the document platen from a central line, along which a center of the pressure device and the second body move.

20. The image forming apparatus according to claim 19, the second body is made of a lubricating resin.

21. The image forming apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the lubricating resin is selected from a group consisting of polyethylene, polybutylene terephthalate, and polyamide.

22. The image forming apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the pressure device comprises:

a pusher; and

a biasing element which biases the pusher toward the first end of the hinge body.

23. The image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the pusher is made of a lubricating resin.

24. The image forming apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the lubricating resin is selected from a group consisting of polyethylene, polybutylene terephthalate, and polyamide.

25. The image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein an upper end of the biasing element is supported by a first support provided on the pusher.

26. The image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein a lower end of the biasing element is supported by a second support provided on the hinge body.

27. The image forming apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the first body comprises a protrusion to limit an amount the first body moves out of the opening in the main body, and the main body is provided with a hooking portion for catching the protrusion of the first 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 first 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 first body;

a second body, coupled to the scanner cover, rotatably connected to the supporting bracket, and movably engaging the pressure device;

a hinge shaft rotatably connecting the second body to the supporting bracket of the first body,

wherein a center of the hinge shaft is located at a predetermined distance toward a direction of the document platen from a central line, along which a center of the pressure device and the second body move, and

wherein the second body has at least one protrusion connecting the second body to the supporting bracket of the first body.

29. The image forming apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the supporting bracket has two opposite holes, the second body has two protrusions inserted rotatably into the two opposite holes respectively.

30. The image forming apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the first body comprises a protrusion to limit an amount the first body moves out of the opening in the main body, and the main body is provided with a hooking portion for catching the protrusion of the first body.

31. The image forming apparatus according to claim 28, the second body is made of a lubricating resin.

32. The image forming apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the lubricating resin is selected from a group consisting of polyethylene, polybutylene terephthalate, and polyamide.

33. The image forming apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the pressure device comprises:

a pusher; and

a biasing element which biases the pusher toward the first end of the hinge body.

34. The image forming apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the pusher is made of a lubricating resin.

35. The image forming apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the lubricating resin is selected from a group consisting of polyethylene, polybutylene terephthalate, and polyamide.

36. The image forming apparatus according to claim 33, wherein an upper end of the biasing element is supported by a first support provided on the pusher.

37. The image forming apparatus according to claim 33, wherein a lower end of the biasing element is supported by a second support provided on the hinge body.