Opening and closing support device and business machine using the opening and closing support device

Abstract

To provide an opening and closing support device in which a first slide member and a pressure receiving member are not likely to be deformed by strong pressing force.SOLUTION: An opening and closing support device has: an attachment member that has a bottom plate part, both left and right side plate parts, and a rear plate part, wherein the rear plate part is attached to a device body side of a business machine; a support member that has a back plate part, both left and right side plate parts, and left and right holding plate parts, wherein both side plate parts are rotatably pivotally supported on both side plate parts of the attachment member using a first hinge shaft; a lift member that has left and right both side plate parts and left and right attachment plate parts; a pressure receiving member that is provided between both side plate parts of the attachment member; an actuation member that is provided on the second hinge shaft side of the lift member; a first slide cam member that is in contact with the pressure receiving member and provided inside the support member; a second slide cam member that is in contact with the actuation member and provided inside the support member; and an elastic member that is elastically provided between the first slide cam member and second slide cam member. The opening and closing support device is provided with a dissociation mechanism that dissociates the contact between the pressure receiving member and first slide cam member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an opening / closing support device suitable for use in attaching a cover body such as an original cover plate to the device body of office equipment such as a copying machine, a multifunction machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a scanner in an openable and closable manner, and to office equipment using this opening / closing support device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, as described in the following Patent Document 1, there has been provided a cover having a mounting member having a bottom plate, side plate portions, and a rear plate portion, the rear plate portion being attached to the main body of an office machine; a support member having a back plate portion, side plate portions hanging down from the back plate portion, and holding plate portions extending inward from the side plate portions, the side plate portions being rotatably supported to the side plate portions of the mounting member via a first hinge shaft; and a cover having a back plate portion, side plate portions hanging down from the back plate portion, and mounting plate portions extending outward from the tips of the side plate portions, the side plate portions being rotatably supported to the side plate portions of the support member via a second hinge shaft in a direction opposite to the support member. an opening / closing support device having a lifting member attached to the first hinge shaft side, a pressure-receiving member provided between both side plate portions of the mounting member, an operating member provided on the second hinge shaft side of the lifting member, a first slide cam member in contact with the pressure-receiving member and slidably provided inside the support member, a second slide cam member in contact with the operating member and slidably provided inside the support member, and an elastic member elastically provided between the first slide cam member and the second slide cam member, in a closed state with the lid body closed on the main body of the office equipment, the first slide cam member is pressed most strongly against the pressure-receiving member by the elastic member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-97363 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Office equipment such as copiers that have been assembled in a manufacturing factory and have an opening / closing support device installed are subjected to shaking and vibration due to various means of transportation on the way from the manufacturing factory to the end user, and are placed in a variety of temperature environments.Therefore, the opening / closing support device used in such equipment is also placed in a similar environment with the first slide cam member being strongly pressed against the pressure-receiving member, and there is a great possibility that the first slide cam member and the pressure-receiving member will become deformed.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an opening / closing support device in which there is no risk of the first slide member or pressure-receiving member being deformed by strong pressing force even when the opening / closing support device is placed in the above-mentioned state, and an office machine using this opening / closing support device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, the invention described in claim 1 of the present application comprises a mounting member having a bottom plate, left and right side plate portions, and a rear plate portion, the rear plate portion being mounted on a device body side of an office machine; a support member having a back plate portion, left and right side plate portions hanging down from the back plate portion, and left and right holding plate portions provided facing inward from the both side plate portions, the both side plate portions being rotatably supported on the both side plate portions of the mounting member via a first hinge shaft; a lift member having a back plate portion, left and right side plate portions hanging down from the back plate portion, and left and right mounting plate portions provided facing outward from the tips of the both side plate portions, the both side plate portions being rotatably supported on the both side plate portions of the support member via a second hinge shaft in a direction opposite to that of the support member, and the lift member being mounted on a cover side; and a pressure receiving member provided between the both side plate portions of the mounting member. The device has an actuating member provided on the second hinge shaft side of the lift member, a first slide cam member in contact with the pressure-receiving member and slidably provided inside the support member, a second slide cam member in contact with the actuating member and slidably provided inside the support member, and an elastic member elastically provided between the first slide cam member and the second slide cam member, and is characterized in that it is provided with a release mechanism for releasing contact between the pressure-receiving member and the first slide cam member.

[0007] Furthermore, the release mechanism described in claim 2 is characterized in that it comprises a back plate portion attached to the back plate portion of the mounting member so as to be adjustable in the forward and backward directions, and a pressing member having left and right pressing plate portions extending from both sides of the back plate portion toward the first slide cam member.

[0008] The release mechanism described in claim 3 is also characterized in that it is composed of a first pressing member attached to the back plate portion of the mounting member, a back plate portion attached so as to be adjustable in the forward and backward directions relative to the first pressing member, and a second pressing member having left and right pressing plate portions extending from both sides of the back plate portion toward the first slide cam member.

[0009] The office equipment described in claim 4 is characterized in that it uses the opening / closing support device described in each of the above claims. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the invention described in claim 1, the release mechanism can arbitrarily release the pressure-contact state between the first slide cam member and the pressure-receiving member, thereby preventing the first slide cam member and the pressure-receiving member from being deformed due to the above-mentioned vibrations, shaking, and even changes in the temperature environment during the time that an office equipment such as a copier that has been fully assembled in a manufacturing factory is delivered to an end user.

[0011] According to the invention described in claim 2, the release mechanism can achieve the object of the present invention with a simple configuration that includes a back plate portion attached to the back plate portion of the mounting member so as to be adjustable in the forward and backward directions, and a pressing piece portion extending from both side portions of the back plate portion toward the first slide cam member.

[0012] According to the invention described in claim 3, the mounting member is further characterized by comprising a first pressing member attached to a back plate portion of the mounting member, a back plate portion attached so as to be movable in the front-to-rear direction relative to the first pressing member, and a second pressing member having left and right pressing plate portions extending from both sides of the back plate portion toward the first slide cam member.

[0013] According to the invention described in claim 4, by using the opening / closing support device configured as described above, it is possible to provide office equipment that is free from the risk of the opening / closing support device becoming misaligned due to vibration or shaking during transportation or changes in the temperature environment until it is delivered to the end user after completion of assembly. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are schematic external perspective views of a copying machine equipped with an opening / closing support device according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is an explanatory view showing the copying machine in a transporting state, and FIG. [Diagram 2] 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of an opening / closing support device according to the present invention; [Diagram 3] 3 is an external perspective view of the opening / closing support device shown in FIG. 2 in a transport state (fully closed). [Figure 4] 3 is an external perspective view of the opening and closing support device shown in FIG. 2 in a state of use (fully open) by a user. [Diagram 5] 3 is an external perspective view of the mounting member shown in FIG. 2, as viewed from the rear side. [Figure 6] 3A and 3B show the support member shown in FIG. 2, in which FIG. 3A is a left side view and FIG. 3B is a perspective view of FIG. 3A as viewed obliquely from below and in front. [Figure 7] 3A and 3B show the lift member shown in FIG. 2, in which (a) is a left side view and (b) is a perspective view of (a) as seen from the front. [Figure 8] 3A and 3B show a first slide cam member shown in FIG. 2, in which FIG. 3A is an external perspective view seen from above, and FIG. 3B is a perspective view seen from below. [Figure 9] 3A is an external perspective view of the second slide cam member shown in FIG. 2, (a) is a front view, (b) is a bottom view, (c) is a perspective view of the left inner surface, and (d) is a perspective view of the right inner surface. [Figure 10] 3A and 3B show a first pressing member of the release mechanism shown in FIG. 2, in which (a) is an external perspective view seen from the rear side, and (b) is a side view of (a). [Figure 11] 3A and 3B show a second pressing member of the release mechanism shown in FIG. 2, in which (a) is an external perspective view seen from the rear side, and (b) is a side view of (a). [Figure 12] 3A to 3C are diagrams illustrating a method for adjusting the release mechanism shown in FIG. 2, where (a) is an explanatory diagram before adjustment, (b) is an explanatory diagram during adjustment, and (c) is an explanatory diagram after adjustment. [Figure 13] 13A and 13B show the dissociation mechanism shown in FIG. 12, where (a) is a vertical cross-sectional view of FIG. 12A and (b) is a vertical cross-sectional view of FIG. 12C. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0016] The opening / closing support device 5 according to the present invention is equipped with a release mechanism 80, which will be described later. This release mechanism 90 is detachable from the opening / closing support device 5. For example, when an office machine 1 such as a copier or multifunction machine is transported, the release mechanism 90 is attached to each opening / closing support device 5, and when an end user uses the office machine 1, the release mechanism 90 can be removed from the opening / closing support device 5.

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a schematic external perspective view of a copying machine 1 as an example of an office machine equipped with the opening / closing support devices 5, 5 according to the present invention, (a) showing the state of transportation, and (b) showing the state of use by an end user. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of the opening / closing support device 5 according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the opening / closing support device shown in FIG. 2 in the state of transportation (fully closed), and FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the opening / closing support device 5 shown in FIG. 2 in the state of use (fully open). In each drawing, three mutually orthogonal axes are defined as the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, the X-axis direction is the left-right direction, the Y-axis direction is the front-rear direction, and the Z-axis direction is the up-down direction. The front side is abbreviated as (F) and the rear side is abbreviated as (R). Note that FIG. 1(a) and FIG. 3 show the opening / closing support device 5 in the state of transportation with the release mechanism attached, and FIG. 1(b) and FIG. 4 show the opening / closing support device 5 in the state of use by an end user with the release mechanism 90 removed.

[0018] 1, a copier 1 as an example of an office machine using a pair of opening / closing support devices 5, 5 is transported with an original cover 4 as a cover closed against a contact glass 3 as shown in Fig. 1(a). Fig. 1(b) shows a state where the original cover 4 as an example of a cover is open against a main body 2 of the copier at an installation site of an end user.

[0019] The pair of opening / closing support devices 5, 5 are both indicated by the reference symbol 5, but they may have the same structure or may have different structures on the left and right. In the following explanation, the opening / closing support device 5 on the left side will be explained, and the explanation of the opening / closing support device 5 on the right side will be omitted.

[0020] 2, the opening / closing support device 5 has a mounting member 10 constituting a base, a support member 20, a lift member 30, an elastic member 40 consisting of a pair of compression springs 43, 44, and an elasticity adjustment part 60. The mounting member 10 is attached to the copier body 2 via a mounting button 6.

[0021] The support member 20 has its left and right side plates 22 and 23 rotatably attached to the left and right side plates 12 and 13 of the mounting member 10 via a first hinge shaft 81. The lift member 30 is fitted to the exterior of the support member 20, and is attached to the free end of the support member 20 via a second hinge shaft 82 at its left and right side plates 32 and 33 to the left and right side plates 22 and 23 of the support member 20 so as to be rotatable in the opposite direction to the support member 20. An original cover plate 4 is attached to the lift member 30. An elastic member 40 is fitted inside the support member 20. The elastic member 40 is slidably housed inside the support member 20 and is elastically installed between a first slide cam member 41 that is in contact with a pressure-receiving member 83 attached between the left side plate portion 12 and the right side plate portion 13 of the mounting member 10, and a second slide cam member 42 that is also slidably housed inside the support member 20 and provided between the left side plate portion 32 and the right side plate portion 33 of the lift member 30. An elasticity adjustment portion 60 is arranged on the elastic member 40.

[0022] As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the lift member 30 is urged to rotate in the direction of opening the original cover 4 when the operating member 84 is pushed by the second slide cam member 42, to which the elastic force of the elastic member 40 acts, and is also urged to rotate in the direction of overlapping with the support member 20, with the second hinge shaft 82 as a fulcrum.

[0023] Fig. 5 is an external perspective view of the mounting member 10 shown in Fig. 2, seen from the rear side. The structure of the mounting member 10 will be described with reference to Figs.

[0024] The mounting member 10 has a bottom plate portion 11 having a rectangular flat shape, a left plate portion 12 and a right plate portion 13 as side plate portions provided on the left and right sides of the bottom plate portion 11, respectively, and a rear plate portion 14 provided at the rear end of the bottom plate portion 11 between the left plate portion 12 and the right plate portion 13. The left plate portion 12, the right plate portion 13 and the back plate portion 14 are integrally formed by bending together with the bottom plate portion 11. In addition, a mounting hole 14b is formed in the back plate portion 14 corresponding to an insertion hole 94a of a first pressing member 91 described later.

[0025] The bottom plate portion 11 is formed with an insertion hole 11a through which a screw (not shown) is inserted, and an engagement hole 11b through which two holes with different inner diameters communicate. The mounting member 10 is prevented from coming off in the vertical direction by inserting the mounting button 6 on the copier body 2 side into the large diameter hole of the engagement hole 11b and then retracting it so that it engages with the small diameter hole. As shown in Figure 13, there is a gap between the head 6a of the mounting button 6 and the surface of the bottom plate portion 11.

[0026] When the opening / closing support device 5 is equipped with an automatic document feeder (ADF), if the installation positions in the front-to-rear direction of the left and right opening / closing support devices 5, 5 are misaligned, the document fed from the ADF may jam and not be discharged to the document discharge tray. For this reason, a front-to-rear position adjustment mechanism T is provided to adjust the installation position of the document cover plate 4 in the front-to-rear direction.

[0027] 2, the front-rear direction adjustment plate 15 constituting the support position adjustment mechanism T has a U-shaped groove 15c formed in a screw receiving plate portion 15b standing up in the vertical direction. Also, a screw hole 14a corresponding to the U-shaped groove 15c is formed in the rear plate portion 14. The recessed groove 16a of the adjustment screw 16 fits into the U-shaped groove 15c, and the screw shaft portion 16b is screwed into the screw hole 14a.

[0028] The left side plate portion 12 and the right side plate portion 13 of the mounting member 10 are formed symmetrically. At the rear end portions of the left side plate portion 12 and the right side plate portion 13, bearing holes 12a, 13a are formed facing each other along the X-axis direction. As shown in FIG. 5, key grooves 12b, 13b are formed in the bearing holes 12a, 13a along the X-axis direction. As shown in FIG. 2, bearings 17b, 17b having flanges 17a, 17a are attached from the outside to the bearing holes 12a, 13a, respectively, by matching a key (not shown) with the key grooves 12b, 13b. The left and right bearings 17b, 17b are inserted into the bearing holes 12a, 13a until the flanges 17a, 17a abut against the outer surfaces of the left side plate portion 12 and the right side plate portion 13.

[0029] A first hinge shaft 81 passes through each of the left and right bearings 17b. Spacers 17c, 17c are attached to both ends of the first hinge shaft 81 from the outside of each bearing 17b. The penetrating ends of the first hinge shaft 81 that pass through each spacer 17c, 17c are inserted into shaft holes 22a, 23a formed in the left plate portion 22 and the right plate portion 23 of the support member 20 and fixed by caulking or the like. Therefore, the first hinge shaft 81 is journaled by the left and right bearings 17b, respectively, and rotates integrally with the support member 20. The pair of spacers 17c, 17c create a gap between the left side plate portion 12 and right side plate portion 13 of the mounting member 10 and the left side plate portion 22 and right side plate portion 23 of the support member 20, allowing the left and right left pressing plate portions 100 and 101 of the second pressing member 98 to be slidably inserted therethrough.

[0030] Between the rear ends of the left side plate portion 12 and the right side plate portion 13 of the mounting member 10, first pin holes 18 to which a pressure-receiving member 83 is attached and fixed are formed facing each other along the X-axis direction and closer to the front side than the bearing holes 12a, 13a. The pressure-receiving member 83 and the first hinge shaft 81 are arranged side by side.

[0031] Fig. 6 shows the support member 20 shown in Fig. 2, where (a) is a left side view and (b) is a perspective view of (a) as seen obliquely from below and in front. The structure of the support member 20 will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6.

[0032] In Fig. 6, the support member 20 has a back plate 21 formed in a rectangular flat plate shape, a left plate 22 and a right plate 23 as side plate parts suspended from both left and right ends of the back plate 21 along the X-axis direction, and a left holding plate 24 and a right holding plate 25 as holding plate parts formed inward from the tips of the left plate 22 and the right plate 23, and is formed in a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape. In Fig. 4, the internal space 26 of the support member 20 also accommodates an elastic member 40 slidably along the Z-axis direction.

[0033] The left and right plate portions 22 and 23 are formed symmetrically, bent inward at right angles relative to the back plate portion 21 and extend along the Z-axis direction. The short left and right holding plate portions 24 and 25 are bent at right angles from the tips of the left and right plate portions 22 and 23 in the X-axis direction so as to face each other. An opening 27 for maintenance is formed between the left and right holding plate portions 24 and 25 which face each other.

[0034] The support member 20 is fitted to the mounting member 10 as shown in FIG. 3. The left and right plate portions 22 and 23 of the support member 20 are formed with shaft holes 22a and 23a at their rear sides to which the first hinge shaft 81 is fixed by crimping, and shaft holes 22b and 23b are formed opposite to each other to support the second hinge shaft 82 penetrating the tip side. Both ends of the second hinge shaft 82 are fixed by crimping to the first shaft holes 32a and 33a formed opposite to each other in the left and right plate portions 32 and 33 of the lift member 30 fitted to the support member 20. The lift member 30 is rotatable relative to the support member 20 via the second hinge shaft 82, and is rotatable relative to the mounting member 10 together with the support member 20 via the first hinge shaft 81.

[0035] Figure 7 shows the lift member 30 shown in Figure 2, where (a) is a left side view and (b) is a perspective view of (a). The configuration of the lift member 30 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 7.

[0036] 7, the lift member 30 has a back plate 31 formed in a rectangular flat plate shape, a left side plate 32 and a right side plate 33 as side plate parts vertically extending from both left and right ends of the back plate 31 along the X-axis direction, and a left mounting plate 34 and a right mounting plate 35 as mounting plate parts formed outward from the tips of the left side plate 32 and the right side plate 33, and is formed in a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape. The support member 20 is fitted inside an internal space 36 of the lift member 30.

[0037] The left side plate portion 32 and the right side plate portion 33 are bent inward at a right angle relative to the back plate portion 31 and extend along the Z-axis direction. The short left attachment plate portion 34 and the right attachment plate portion 35 are bent outward at a right angle along the X-axis direction from the tips of the left side plate portion 32 and the right side plate portion 33. The original cover plate 4 is attached to the left attachment plate portion 34 and the right attachment plate portion 35.

[0038] The lift member 30 is mounted on the support member 20 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The first shaft holes 32a, 33a to which the second hinge shaft 82 is fixed by crimping are formed facing each other on the front sides of the left side plate portion 32 and the right side plate portion 33 of the lift member 30. The second shaft holes 32b, 33b to which the operating member 84 is fixed by crimping are formed facing each other between the front sides of the left side plate portion 32 and the right side plate portion 33. The first shaft holes 32a, 33a and the second shaft holes 32b, 33b are formed at a predetermined interval along the Z-axis direction. The first shaft holes 32a, 33a are formed between the back plate portion 31 and the second shaft holes 32b, 33b.

[0039] The lifting member 30 is fitted to the support member 20, and the shaft end of a second hinge shaft 82 passing through the shaft holes 22a, 23a of the support member 20 is fixed by crimping to the first shaft holes 32a, 33a. The lifting member 30 is tiltable relative to the support member 20 via the second hinge shaft 82. After the elastic member 40 is inserted into the support member 20, the shaft end of the operating member 84 is fixed by crimping to the second shaft holes 32b, 33b.

[0040] 7, a screw hole 38 penetrating the back plate 31 of the lift member 30 is provided in the back plate 31. A height adjustment screw 39 is screwed into the screw hole 38, and the screw end abuts against the outer surface of the back plate 21 of the support member 20. When the height adjustment screw 39 is screwed in, the lift member 30 tilts downward and forward together with the original cover 4, and when the height adjustment screw 39 is rewound to the opposite side, the lift member 30 tilts upward and forward together with the original cover 4.

[0041] That is, the lift member 30 is disposed so as to be able to accommodate the support member 20 within the internal space 36, and is relatively rotatable via the second hinge shaft 82. As described above, except when a thick original is placed on the contact glass 3, the lift member 30, which is integral with the original cover 4, overlaps with the support member 20 due to the spring force of the elastic member 40. With the original cover 4 placed on the contact glass 3, it is required that the surface of the original cover 4 be horizontal in the front-to-rear direction relative to the surface of the contact glass 3. For this reason, the horizontality of the original cover 4 in the front-to-rear direction can be adjusted by adjusting the height adjustment screw 39.

[0042] Fig. 8 shows the first slide cam member 41 shown in Fig. 2, where (a) is an external perspective view seen from the top side, (b) is a perspective view seen from the bottom side, and Fig. 9 shows the second slide cam member 42 shown in Fig. 2, where (a) is an external perspective view seen from the front side, (b) is a bottom view, (c) is a perspective view looking at the left inner surface, and (d) is a perspective view looking at the right inner surface. The configuration of the elastic member 40 will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 9.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 2, the elastic member 40 has a first slide cam member 41 as a first elastic member receiving portion, a second slide cam member 42 as a second elastic member receiving portion, a first compression spring 43 and a second compression spring 44 as the elastic member 40, and an elasticity adjustment portion 60 described later. The elastic member 40 is elastically installed between the first slide cam member 41 and the second slide cam member 42 that face each other. The first compression spring 43 is housed inside the second compression spring 44. The first compression spring 43 has a smaller spring constant and a slightly shorter spring length than the second compression spring 44. In this embodiment, two compression springs, the first compression spring 43 and the second compression spring 44, are used as the elastic member 40, but the present invention is not limited to this, and one compression spring may be used.

[0044] The first slide cam member 41 has engagement steps 411a, 411b formed on the left and right sides of a front wall portion 411 formed in a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape. The left and right engagement steps 411a, 411b of the first slide cam member 41 engage with the left holding plate portion 24 and the right holding plate portion 25 of the support member 20, and the first slide cam member 41 is inserted into the internal space 26. The first slide cam member 41 is housed in the internal space 26 without any backlash, and is slidable in the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction) of the support member 20.

[0045] 8, the first slide cam member 41 has a bottomed first spring receiving hole 413 having an opening 413a in the center of an upper surface 412. Into the first spring receiving hole 413, one end of the first compression spring 43 and one end of the second compression spring 44 are inserted.

[0046] An arc cam portion 415 that comes into contact with the pressure receiving member 83 is formed on the outer bottom wall portion 414 of the first slide cam member 41. The arc cam portion 415 is formed on a cam surface that protrudes along the Z-axis direction. When the original cover 4 is raised in the opening direction, the support member 20 tilts in the upright direction relative to the mounting member 10, and a stopper recess 416 is formed on the outer bottom wall portion 414 of the first slide cam member 41, with which the outer bottom wall portion 414 of the first slide cam member 41 engages with the first hinge shaft 81. The first slide cam member 41 is also formed with a left pressed portion 417 and a right pressed portion 418 as a pair of left and right pressed portions that are consecutively arranged to sandwich the outer bottom wall portion 414 along the X-axis direction.

[0047] The second slide cam member 42 has left and right engagement steps 421a, 421b formed on the left and right sides of the front wall portion 421. The second slide cam member 42 is inserted into the internal space 26 with the left and right engagement steps 421a, 421b engaging with the left holding plate portion 24 and the right holding plate portion 25 of the support member 20. The second slide cam member 42 is housed in the internal space 26 without any backlash and is slidable 48 in the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction) of the support member 20.

[0048] The first compression spring 43, the second compression spring 44, and the elasticity adjustment part 60 are disposed between the first slide cam member 41 and the second slide cam member 42 and housed in the internal space 26 of the support member 20. An operating member 84 fixed to the lift member 30 abuts against the outer surface of the upper wall part 422 of the second slide cam member 42. The biasing force of the elastic member 40 is applied to the operating member 84 via the second slide cam member 42.

[0049] The elasticity adjustment part 60 extends in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the first hinge shaft 81 and is composed of left and right cam surfaces 52L, 52R having a cam locus whose height changes along the elasticity application direction of the first compression spring 43 and the second compression spring 44, a spring force adjustment cam plate 61 that can move in the front-rear direction along the cam locus while sliding on the cam surfaces 52L, 52R, a spring sheet plate 70 that is arranged between the spring force adjustment cam plate 61, the first compression spring 43, and the second compression spring 44 and can move integrally with the spring force adjustment cam plate 61 in the elasticity application direction of the first compression spring 43 and the second compression spring 44 as the spring force adjustment cam plate 61 moves along the cam locus, and a spring force adjustment screw 80.

[0050] The spring force adjustment cam plate 61 has a back plate portion 62 having a substantially rectangular flat plate shape, a left leg portion 63L and a right leg portion 63R formed in a substantially triangular shape in plan view extending downward along the Z axis from both the left and right sides of the back plate portion 62, a left sliding cam plate portion 64L and a right sliding cam plate portion 64R extending at right angles from the inclined ends of the left leg portion 63L and the right leg portion 63R toward the outside in the left and right directions, respectively, and a screw threading piece 65 extending upward in the Z axis direction from the front end edge of the back plate portion 62. The spring sheet plate 70 has a back plate portion 71 having a substantially rectangular flat plate shape, a screw insertion piece 72, and a screw hole 72a.

[0051] The head 80b of the spring force adjustment screw 80 faces the front surface of the copier body 2, and the head 80b can be rotated with a tool such as a hexagonal wrench. When the spring force adjustment screw 80 is rotated in the screw-in direction relative to the screw hole 65a of the screw engagement piece 65, the spring force adjustment cam plate 61 moves forward in the Y-axis direction (toward the head 80b of the spring force adjustment screw 80).

[0052] The spring sheet plate 70, whose movement in the Y-axis direction is restricted, moves downward in the Z-axis direction against the spring forces of the first compression spring 43 and the second compression spring 44 while sliding against the spring force adjustment cam plate 61, which moves downward in the Z-axis direction while moving forward in the Y-axis direction. Therefore, the spring force of the elastic member 40 becomes large.

[0053] The spring force of the elastic member 40 can be adjusted between a state in which the spring force adjusting cam plate 61 abuts at its highest position against the left cam surface 52L and the right cam surface 52R of the second slide cam member 42, and a state in which the screw-engagement piece 65 abuts against the screw-insertion piece 72.

[0054] Fig. 10 shows the first pressing member 91 of the release mechanism 90 shown in Fig. 2, (a) being an external perspective view seen from the rear side, (b) being a view seen from the left rear side, Fig. 11 shows the second pressing member 98 of the release mechanism 90 shown in Fig. 2, (a) being an external perspective view seen from the rear side, (b) being a view seen from the right side, Fig. 12 shows an adjustment method of the release mechanism 90 shown in Fig. 2, (a) being a view before adjustment, (b) being a view during adjustment, (c) being a view after adjustment, Fig. 13 shows the release mechanism 90 shown in Fig. 12, (a) being a cross-sectional view of Fig. 12(a) and (b) being a cross-sectional view of Fig. 12(c). The configuration of the release mechanism 90 will be described based on Figs. 1 to 13.

[0055] The release mechanism 90 has a first pressing member 91, a second pressing member 98, and an adjustment screw 103. The first pressing member 91 has a back plate portion 94 formed in a rectangular flat plate shape, a left plate portion 95 and a right plate portion 96 as both side plate portions formed on both left and right ends of the back plate portion 94 along the X-axis direction, respectively, and a rear plate portion 97 provided at the lower end of the back plate portion 94 between the left plate portion 95 and the right plate portion 96. The left plate portion 95, the right plate portion 96, and the rear plate portion 97 are integrally formed with the back plate portion 94 by bending.

[0056] The back plate portion 94 has an insertion hole 94a in the middle thereof through which a mounting screw 94c is inserted, and a mounting hole 94b below the insertion hole 94a into which an adjustment screw 103 is screwed. The first pressing member 91 is attached to the mounting member 10 by screwing the mounting screw 94c, which has been inserted through the insertion hole 94a, into the mounting member 10. In addition, a second pressing member 98 is attached to the first pressing member 91 via the adjustment screw 103.

[0057] The left side plate portion 95 and the right side plate portion 96 are bent inward at a right angle with respect to the back plate portion 94 and formed along the Z-axis direction. Furthermore, the left side plate portion 95 and the right side plate portion 96 have, at their tips in the Y-axis (front) direction, left and right abutment portions 95a and 96a as arc-shaped abutment portions that abut against the first hinge shaft 81. The rear plate portion 97 is formed by bending from the lower end of the back plate portion 94 along the Y-axis (rear) direction.

[0058] The second pressing member 98 has a back plate portion 99 formed in a rectangular flat plate shape, a left pressing plate portion 100 and a right pressing plate portion 101 as both side plate portions formed on both left and right side ends of the back plate portion 99 along the X-axis direction, respectively, and a rear plate portion 102 formed at the lower end of the back plate portion 99 between the left pressing plate portion 100 and the right pressing plate portion 101. The left pressing plate portion 100, the right pressing plate portion 101 and the rear plate portion 102 are integrally formed with the back plate portion 99 by bending.

[0059] The back plate portion 99 has an insertion hole 99a in the middle thereof through which the adjustment screw 103 is inserted, and an arc-shaped support portion 99b at its upper end which supports the mounting screw 94c. The second pressing member 98 is attached to the first pressing member 91 by screwing the adjustment screw 103, which has been inserted through the insertion hole 99a, into the first pressing member 91. When the adjustment screw 103 is screwed in, the second pressing member 98 moves along the Y axis in a direction toward the first pressing member 91, and when the adjustment screw 103 is unwound, the second pressing member 98 moves along the Y axis in a direction away from the first pressing member 91. In other words, the second pressing member 98 is attached by the adjustment screw 103 to be movable in the Y axis direction relative to the first pressing member 91.

[0060] The left pressing plate portion 100 and the right pressing plate portion 101 are long and extend along the Z-axis direction, and are formed by being bent at a right angle inward relative to the back plate portion 99. Furthermore, the ends of the left pressing plate portion 100 and the right pressing plate portion 101 in the Y-axis (front) direction have a left pressing portion 100a and a right pressing portion 101a as pressing portions that press the first slide cam member 41. The back plate portion 102 is formed by being bent from the lower end of the back plate portion 99 along the Y-axis (rear) direction.

[0061] The operation method of the release mechanism 90 will be described with reference to Figs. 10 to 13. First, the mounting screw 94c inserted through the insertion hole 94a of the first pressing member 91 is screwed into the mounting hole 14b of the rear plate portion 14 of the mounting member 10. The first pressing member 91 is mounted to the mounting member 10. Next, as shown in Fig. 12(a), the adjustment screw 103 inserted through the insertion hole 99a of the second pressing member 98 is screwed into the mounting hole 94b of the first pressing member 91. The second pressing member 98 is mounted to the first pressing member 91. Next, when the adjustment screw 103 is further screwed in with the second pressing member 98 mounted to the first pressing member 91, the second pressing member 98 moves toward the first pressing member 91, and when the adjustment screw 103 is rewound, the second pressing member 98 moves in a direction away from the first pressing member 91. At this time, the second pressing member 98 moves while the lower surface of its rear plate portion 102 slides over the upper surface of the rear plate portion 97 of the first pressing member 91 .

[0062] As shown in FIG. 12(b), when the adjustment screw 103 is screwed in and the second pressing member 98 moves toward the first pressing member 91, the pressing portions (left pressing portion 100a and right pressing portion 101a) of the second pressing member 98 come into contact with the pressed portions (left pressed portion (not shown) and right pressed portion 418) of the first slide cam member 41. As shown in FIG. 12(c), when the adjustment screw 103 is further screwed in, the left pressing portion 100a and right pressing portion 101a press the left pressed portion 417 and the right pressed portion 418, causing the first slide cam member 41 to move away from the pressure receiving member 83, and the first slide cam member 41 and the pressure receiving member 83 are separated.

[0063] That is, before the adjustment of the release mechanism 90, as shown in Fig. 13(a), the left pressing portion 100a and the right pressing portion 101a of the second pressing member 98 do not press the pressed portions 417, 418 of the first slide cam member 41, and the first slide cam member 41 is pressed against the pressure receiving member 83 by the elastic forces of the first compression spring 43 and the second compression spring 44, and a hinge torque is generated in the opening / closing support device 5. When the release mechanism 90 is adjusted, as shown in Fig. 13(b), the left pressing portion 100a and the right pressing portion 101a of the second pressing member 98 press the left pressed portion 417 and the right pressed portion 418 of the first slide cam member 41, and the first slide cam member 41 and the pressure receiving member 83 are released, and the generation of a hinge torque in the opening / closing support device 5 can be suppressed.

[0064] In this manner, in this embodiment, by providing a release mechanism 90 that releases the elastic member 40 and the pressure-receiving member 83, even when the closed state is maintained for a long period of time, such as when the completed office equipment 1 is transported, the application of hinge torque can be suppressed and deformation of the opening / closing support device 5 can be prevented.

[0065] Furthermore, by separating the first slide cam member 41 from the pressure-receiving member 83, the transmission of the hinge torque can be cut off, and the load on the opening / closing support device 5 can be reduced.

[0066] In addition, the left pressing portion 100a and the right pressing portion 101a of the second pressing member 98 press the left pressed portion 417 and the right pressed portion 418 of the first slide cam member 41, causing the first slide cam member 41 to be disengaged from the pressure-receiving member 83, thereby reliably suppressing the hinge torque from acting on the opening / closing support device 5 for a long period of time.

[0067] Furthermore, since the first pressing member 91 is attached from the outside of the rear end of the mounting member 10 and the second pressing member 98 is screwed and attached so as to overlap the first pressing member 91, the release mechanism 90 can be easily removed before use by the end user.

[0068] Furthermore, since the release mechanism 90 can be attached to and detached from the opening / closing support device 5 by means of a screw, it can be removed and reused after being installed at the installation site of the end user, thereby reducing costs.

[0069] Furthermore, the release mechanism 90 according to the present invention may be configured such that the first pressing member 91 is omitted and the second pressing member 98 is attached to the rear plate portion 14 of the mounting member 10 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. [Industrial Applicability]

[0070] Since the opening / closing support device 5 of the present invention is configured as described above, it can be suitably used as an opening / closing device for a cover body such as an original cover of an office machine such as a copying machine, a multifunction machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a scanner. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 1. Copying machines (office equipment) 2. Device body 3. Contact Glass 4 Original pressure plate (lid) 5 Opening and closing support device 10 Mounting material 11 Bottom plate part 14 Rear plate part 20 Support member 21 Back plate part 22 Left side plate 23 Right side plate 24 Left holding plate part 25 Right holding plate part 26 Interior Space 30 Lifting parts 40 Elastic member 41 First slide cam member 42 Second slide cam member 43 First compression spring (elastic member) 44 Second compression spring (elastic member) 60 Elasticity adjustment section 81 First hinge shaft 82 Second hinge shaft 83 Pressure-receiving member 84 Operating member 90 Dissociation mechanism 91 First pressing member 98 Second pressing member 103 Adjustment screw

Claims

1. a mounting member having a bottom plate portion, left and right side plate portions, and a rear plate portion, the rear plate portion being mounted on a main body side of the office equipment; a support member having a back plate portion, left and right side plate portions extending vertically from the back plate portion, and left and right holding plate portions extending inwardly from the left and right side plate portions, the left and right side plate portions being rotatably supported by the left and right side plate portions of the mounting member via a first hinge shaft; a lift member having a back plate portion, left and right side plate portions extending downward from the back plate portion, and left and right mounting plate portions extending outward from the tips of the side plate portions, the side plate portions being pivotally supported by the side plate portions of the support member via a second hinge shaft so as to be rotatable in a direction opposite to that of the support member, and the lift member being attached to the lid body side; a pressure-receiving member provided between the two side plate portions of the mounting member; an actuating member provided on a side of the second hinge shaft of the lift member; a first slide cam member that is in contact with the pressure-receiving member and slidably provided inside the support member; a second slide cam member that is in contact with the operating member and slidably provided inside the support member; a resilient member provided between the first slide cam member and the second slide cam member, An opening / closing support device, further comprising a release mechanism for releasing the contact between the pressure-receiving member and the first slide cam member.

2. 2. The opening / closing support device according to claim 1, characterized in that the release mechanism comprises a back plate portion attached to the back plate portion of the mounting member so as to be movable in the forward / backward direction, and a pressing member having left and right pressing plate portions extending from both sides of the back plate portion toward the first slide cam member.

3. The opening / closing support device according to claim 1, characterized in that the release mechanism is also composed of a first pressing member attached to the back plate portion of the mounting member, a back plate portion attached so as to be movable in the front-to-rear direction relative to the first pressing member, and a second pressing member having left and right pressing plate portions extending from both sides of the back plate portion toward the first slide cam member.

4. An office machine using the opening / closing support device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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