Hinge unit and image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus including the same

• US 9,203,995 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2014
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Original Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Muraoka, Toshinori
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNES, TED W
• Application Number:
  US14/303,750
• Publication Number:
  US 20150015920A1
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00543 Allowing easy access, e.g. for maintenance or in case of paper jam H04N1/00538 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00554 Latches or hinges therefor

Abstract

A hinge unit includes a support member, a mount member and a detachment restricting member. The support member configured to support a document pressor pressing a document to a document placing surface provided on a housing openably/closably with respect to the document placing surface. The mount member linked turnably to the support member and mounted removably to the housing. The detachment restricting member whose one end part is connected to the support member and including an engage movable member forming an engage part at another end. The detachment restricting member restricting the mount member from being detached from the housing in a case where the document pressor is closed, and allowing the mount member to detach from the housing in a case where the document pressor is opened.

Claims

1. A hinge unit comprising:

a support member configured to support a document pressor pressing a document to a document placing surface provided on a housing of an apparatus body openably/closably with respect to the document placing surface;

a mount member linked turnably to the support member and mounted removably to the housing; and

a detachment restricting member whose one end part is turnably connected to the support member and including an engage movable member forming an engage part which is hook-shaped at another end thereof;

wherein the detachment restricting member restricting the mount member from being detached from the housing by moving the engage part to an engage position where the engage part can abut against an engaged part formed on the housing in a case where the document pressor is closed, and allowing the mount member to detach from the housing by moving the engage part to a release position where the engage part cannot abut against the engaged part in a case where the document pressor is opened; and

the detachment restricting member further includes a hook guide provided in the mount member and guiding the engage movable member moving between the engage position and the release position.

2. The hinge unit according to claim 1, wherein an elastic member is provided at the one end of the engage movable member.

3. The hinge unit according to claim 1, wherein the engage movable member is formed bendingly and moves so as to draw a circular arc between the engage position and the release position.

4. The hinge unit according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the engage part and the engaged part is set at a maximum thickness of a document pressed to the document placing surface by the document pressor and whose images are to be read.

5. An image reading apparatus comprising:

a hinge unit including;

a support member configured to support a document pressor pressing a document to a document placing surface provided on a housing of an apparatus body openably/closably with respect to the document placing surface;

a mount member linked turnably to the support member and mounted removably to the housing; and

a detachment restricting member whose one end part is turnably connected to the support member and including an engage movable member forming an engage part which is hook-shaped at another end thereof;

wherein the detachment restricting member restricting the mount member from being detached from the housing by moving the engage part to an engage position where the engage part can abut against an engaged part formed on the housing in a case where the document pressor is closed, and allowing the mount member to detach from the housing by moving the engage part to a release position where the engage part cannot abut against the engaged part in a case where the document pressor is opened; and

the detachment restricting member further includes a hook guide provided in the mount member and guiding the engage movable member moving between the engage position and the release position.

6. The image reading apparatus according to claim 5, wherein an elastic member is provided at the one end of the engage movable member.

7. The image reading apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the engage movable member is formed bendingly and moves so as to draw a circular arc between the engage position and the release position.

8. The image reading apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a distance between the engage part and the engaged part is set at a maximum thickness of a document pressed to the document placing surface by the document pressor and whose images are to be read.

9. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a hinge unit including;

a support member configured to support a document pressor pressing a document to a document placing surface provided on a housing of an apparatus body openably/closably with respect to the document placing surface;

a mount member linked turnably to the support member and mounted removably to the housing; and

a detachment restricting member whose one end part is turnably connected to the support member and including an engage movable member forming an engage part which is hook-shaped at another end thereof;

wherein the detachment restricting member restricting the mount member from being detached from the housing by moving the engage part to an engage position where the engage part can abut against an engaged part formed on the housing in a case where the document pressor is closed, and allowing the mount member to detach from the housing by moving the engage part to a release position where the engage part cannot abut against the engaged part in a case where the document pressor is opened; and

the detachment restricting member further includes a hook guide provided in the mount member and guiding the engage movable member moving between the engage position and the release position.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein an elastic member is provided at the one end of the engage movable member.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the engage movable member is formed bendingly and moves so as to draw a circular arc between the engage position and the release position.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a distance between the engage part and the engaged part is set at a maximum thickness of a document pressed to the document placing surface by the document pressor and whose images are to be read.