Original cover closer and office equipment having the same

• US 8,973,218 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2014
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kem HongKong Limited
• Original Assignee: Kem HongKong Limited
• Inventors: Yabukoshi, Kentaro, Kondo, Tetsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): DELISLE, ROBERTA S
• Application Number:
  US14/159,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20140201946A1
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 162/81, 162/82, 162/84, 162/86, 162/87, 162/94, 163/04, 163/11, 16325-326, 163/27, 163/52
• US Class Current: 16/286
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/12 with two parallel pins and one arm
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1261 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/638 Cams; Ramps
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/73 Single use of elements
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/608 for machines

Abstract

To provide an original cover closer which prevents inner components from exposure to the outside, when the original cover is opened, and from smears of grease on the end of the original lying on the contact glass, the original cover closer comprises the attaching member, the supporting member assembled by rotatably coupling its own both side plates to the both side plates of the attaching member, the lifting member assembled by rotatably coupling its own both side plates to the both side plates of the supporting member, the pressure bearing member provided between the both side plates of the attaching member, a second slider in contact with the pressure bearing member, and slidably housed between the both side plates of the supporting member; an actuating member attached to the side on which the both side plates of the attaching member rotate via said second hinge pin; a first slider in contact with the actuating member, held by the holding pieces and slidably housed between the both side plates of said supporting member, and a compression coil spring resiliently provided between the first slider and the second slider, wherein a cover member is fixed to the supporting member, for covering at least in part areas of components such as the actuating member, the first slider and the second slider which are exposed to the outside.

Claims

1. An original cover closer for supporting an original cover of office equipment on a main body, said original cover being openable and closable with respect to said main body,

said original cover closer comprising:

an attaching member comprising a bottom plate attached to the main body of office equipment and both side plates erected from both sides of the bottom plate;

a supporting member comprising an upper plate, both side plates provided to hang down perpendicular to both sides of said upper plate, and holding pieces provided by inwardly folding respective sections of said both side plates, said supporting member being assembled by rotatably coupling both side plates thereof to the both side plates of the attaching member via a first hinge pin;

a lifting member for being attached to said original cover, said lifting member comprising an upper plate and both side plates provided to hang down perpendicular to both sides of said upper plate, said both side plates of said lifting member being coupled to the free end side of said supporting member via a second hinge pin, such that said lifting member is rotatable in a direction opposite to the direction in which said supporting member rotates;

a pressure bearing member provided between the both side plates of the attaching member;

a second slider in contact with said pressure bearing member, said second slider being held by said holding pieces and housed between said both side plates of said supporting member, such that said second slider is slidable;

an actuating member attached to the side on which said both side plates of said attaching member rotate via said second hinge pin;

a first slider in contact with said actuating member, said first slider being held by said holding pieces and housed between the both side plates of said supporting member, such that said first slider is slidable; and

a compression coil spring resiliently provided between the first slider and the second slider,

a cover member being fixed to said supporting member, for covering at least in part areas of said actuating member, said first slider and said second slider which are exposed to the outside, as well as that of said compression coil spring which is exposed to the outside.

2. An original cover closer according to claim 1, wherein attaching pieces are provided on both sides of said cover member in order to fix said cover member to said supporting member, and said attaching pieces are attached to said second hinge pin, edge portions of said attaching pieces being in contact with a lower surface of an upper plate of said supporting member.

3. An original cover closer according to claim 1, wherein said cover member is configured such that it is attached to said upper plate or said both side plates of said supporting member through welding, attaching screws and rivet pins.

4. An original cover closer according to claim 1, wherein said cover member comprises a first cover portion covering a part on the side of an upper portion of said first slider and a part on the side of an upper portion of said second hinge pin, a second cover portion raised from the first cover portion and formed by folding a part of the first cover portion about 45°

, a third cover portion raised from said second cover portion and formed by folding a part of said second cover portion about 90°

relative to said first cover portion, and attaching pieces formed by folding both end portions of said first cover portion, said attaching pieces being attached to said second hinge pin.

5. An original cover closer according to claim 1, wherein said cover member comprises a first cover portion covering a part on the side of an upper portion of said first slider, a second cover portion formed by folding a part of the first cover portion substantially perpendicular to the first cover portion, said second cover portion covering said compression coil spring, as is exposed to the outside from between said holding pieces, as well as from between said first slider and said second slider, and attaching pieces formed by folding both end portions of said first cover portion, said attaching pieces being attached to said second hinge pin.

6. Office equipment wherein an original cover comprising an original cover closer according to claim 1 is used.

7. An original cover closer for supporting an original cover of office equipment on a main body, said original cover being openable and closable with respect to said main body,

said original cover closer comprising:

an attaching member comprising a bottom plate, a leg portion hanging down to a direction perpendicular to said bottom plate and capable of being inserted into an attaching hole provided on said main body, such that said leg portion is detachable from said attaching hole and attachable to the latter, and both side plates erected from both sides of said bottom plate;

a supporting member comprising an upper plate, a top plate provided on one end of said upper plate, both side plates provided to hang down perpendicular to both sides of said upper plate, and holding pieces provided by inwardly folding respective sections of said both side plates, said supporting member being assembled by rotatably coupling both side plates thereof to said both side plates of said attaching member via a hinge pin;

a pressure bearing member provided between said both side plates of said attaching member;

a slider in contact with said pressure bearing member, said slider being housed between said both side plates of said supporting member, such that said slider is slidable; and

a compression coil spring housed inside said supporting member and resiliently provided between said slider and said top plate,

a cover member being so fixedly provided in said supporting member that said cover member covers at least a part of said slider exposed to the outside and apart of the compression coil spring exposed to the outside.

8. Office equipment wherein an original cover comprising an original cover closer according to claim 7 is used.