Hinge device and image forming device

Abstract

To provide a hinge device and an image forming device capable of changing force to resist rotation.SOLUTION: A hinge device 50 of an image forming device includes a pedestal member 30, a support shaft 20, a swing member 40, a rotary member 22, a friction member 24, an elastic body 25, and an adjusting part 52. The support shaft 20 is fixed to the pedestal member 30. The swing member 40 is supported around the support shaft 20, and swings with respect to the pedestal member 30. The rotary member 22 rotates around the support shaft 20 by the swinging of the swing member 40. The friction member 24 applies friction force to resist the rotation around the support shaft 20 to the rotary member 22. The elastic body 25 applies elastic force F in an axial direction A of the support shaft 20 to the friction member 24. The adjusting part 52 changes the friction force that the friction member 24 applies to the rotary member 22 by adjusting the elastic force F of the elastic body 25.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hinge device and an image forming apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus including a hinge device. In the image forming apparatus of Patent Document 1, an operation panel is rotatably connected to a device main body of the image forming apparatus with a screw member of the hinge device as a rotation axis. The operation panel is rotatable within a range from a standard state to a forward-tilted state.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the image forming apparatus including the hinge device of Patent Document 1, although the operation panel is rotatable within a range from a standard state to a forward-tilted state, the magnitude of the force (torque) that resists the rotation of the operation panel cannot be changed. Therefore, there are cases where the user unintentionally changes the angle of the operation panel, or where the user cannot set the operation panel to the desired angle.

[0005] For example, if the force that resists the rotation of the operation panel is small, the angle of the operation panel may be unintentionally changed by the force when the user operates an operation button or the like on the operation panel. Also, if the force that resists the rotation of the operation panel is large, there are cases where some users cannot apply the necessary force to the operation panel and cannot set the operation panel to the desired angle.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a hinge device and an image forming apparatus capable of changing a force that resists rotation.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The hinge device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a pedestal member, a support shaft, a swing member, a rotating member, a friction member, an elastic body, and an adjustment unit. The support shaft is fixed to the pedestal member. The swing member is supported around the support shaft and swings with respect to the pedestal member. The rotating member rotates around the support shaft when the swing member swings. The friction member applies a frictional force that resists rotation around the support shaft to the rotating member. The elastic body applies an elastic force in the axial direction of the support shaft to the friction member. The adjustment unit adjusts the elastic force of the elastic body. By adjusting the elastic force of the elastic body by the adjustment unit, the frictional force applied by the friction member to the rotating member is changed.

[0008] The image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes the hinge device described above, an operation panel attached to the swing member, a housing that supports the pedestal member, and an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium.

Effects of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to change the force that resists the rotation of the hinge device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the hinge device 50 and the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0012] First, with reference to FIG. 1, the hinge device 50 and the image forming apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an image forming apparatus 100 including a hinge device 50 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] The image forming apparatus 100 is, for example, a multifunction device having a printer function, a scanner function, and a copy function. The image forming apparatus 100 may have a facsimile function. In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 forms an image by an electrophotographic method.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a housing 110, an image reading device 120, and a document pressing cover 130. The housing 110 covers the outer surface of the image forming apparatus 100. The image reading device 120 reads an image recorded on a document to be read and generates image data. The document pressing cover 130 conveys the document to be read to the image reading device 120.

[0015] Inside the housing 110, an image forming unit (not shown) is provided. The image forming unit forms an image on a recording medium. The recording medium is, for example, paper. The image forming unit may include, for example, an exposure device, a charging device, a photoreceptor drum, a developing device, a cleaning device, a transfer device, and a fixing device. The image forming unit may form an image on the recording medium based on the image data of the document read by the image reading device 120, for example. Also, the image forming unit may form an image on the recording medium based on the image data transmitted from a device (such as a computer) outside the image forming apparatus 100 to the image forming apparatus 100.

[0016] The image reading device 120 has a reading table for supporting a document, which is formed of a light-transmissive member (such as a contact glass). Below the reading table, an image sensor such as a CIS method (contact optical method, Contact Image Sensor) or a CCD method (charge coupled device method, Charge Coupled Device) is provided. The image sensor includes a light emitting part (not shown) and a light receiving part (not shown). The light emitting part includes a plurality of light emitters. The light emitter is, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode), and the light emitting part may include a plurality of color LEDs such as a red LED, a green LED, and a blue LED. The light receiving part includes an optical sensor such as a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) element. The image sensor irradiates light toward the document on the reading table while switching the three colors of red, green, and blue light by the light emitting part, and receives the reflected light reflected by the document by the light receiving part. The light receiving part converts the received light into an electrical signal, thereby generating image data based on the image written on the document.

[0017] The original document pressing cover 130 is rotatable between a position covering the upper surface of the image reading device 120 (the position in FIG. 1) and a position opening the upper surface of the image reading device 120. The original document pressing cover 130 is connected to, for example, an end of the image reading device 120 by a joint device or the like. The original document pressing cover 130 has an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) that automatically feeds the original documents placed on the upper tray one by one to the image reading device 120.

[0018] The image forming apparatus 100 includes a hinge device 50. The hinge device 50 includes a pedestal member 30 and a swing member 40 that swings with respect to the pedestal member 30. In FIG. 1, an operation panel 41 is attached to the swing member 40. Further, the pedestal member 30 is supported by the housing 110 of the image forming apparatus 100. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 100 includes the hinge device 50, the operation panel 41 attached to the swing member 40, the housing 110 that supports the pedestal member 30, and an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium.

[0019] The operation panel 41 is a user interface device for inputting and outputting information between the user and the image forming apparatus 100. The operation panel 41 has, for example, a display unit for notifying the user of necessary information and an input unit for the user to input instructions to the image forming apparatus 100. The display unit displays, for example, an operation screen or the results of various processes. The display unit has, for example, a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display. The input unit has, for example, operation buttons. Alternatively, the input unit may have a touch sensor. Note that the operation panel 41 may be a touch panel display in which the display unit and the input unit are integrated. The operation panel 41 is attached to the swing member 40, for example, by being fitted into a recess provided in the swing member 40 according to the dimensions of the operation panel 41.

[0020] Next, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the operation of the hinge device 50 will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the hinge device 50 according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing a state in which the swing member 40 of the hinge device 50 in FIG. 2 is in the upright position.

[0021] The hinge device 50 includes a pedestal member 30, a support shaft 20, a swing member 40, a rotating member 22, and an adjustment portion 52. The support shaft 20 is fixed to the pedestal member 30. The swing member 40 is supported around the support shaft 20 and swings with respect to the pedestal member 30. The rotating member 22 rotates around the support shaft 20 as the swing member 40 swings.

[0022] The adjustment portion 52 is provided on the extension of the support shaft 20. Specifically, the adjustment portion 52 is attached to the tip of the support shaft 20. A hole 48 (not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) is provided on the extension of the support shaft 20 on the outer surface of the swing member 40, and the adjustment portion 52 is fitted into the hole 48 on the outer surface from the inside of the swing member 40. An adjustment knob 52a is provided on the surface of the adjustment portion 52.

[0023] The hinge device 50 further includes a friction member 24 and an elastic body 25, which will be described later. The adjustment portion 52 changes the frictional force applied to the rotating member 22 by the friction member 24 by adjusting the elastic force of the elastic body 25.

[0024] The swing member 40 of the hinge device 50 swings between the upward position shown in FIG. 2 and the upright position shown in FIG. 3 together with the operation panel 41 attached to the swing member 40. The upward position is a position where the operation panel 41 faces upward. For example, it is a position where the swing member 40 forms an angle of 3° with respect to the pedestal member 30. The upright position is a position where the operation panel 41 faces forward (outside the image forming apparatus 100). For example, it is a position where the swing member 40 forms an angle of 70° with respect to the pedestal member 30.

[0025] The pedestal member 30 is supported by the housing 110 of the image forming apparatus 100. The pedestal member 30 may be formed integrally with the housing 110, or may be fixedly attached to the housing 110 by fastening members such as screws. The support shaft 20 is a shaft body fixed to the pedestal member 30. The support shaft 20 is fixed so as not to translate and not to rotate with respect to the pedestal member 30. For example, a thread 20a (not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) may be formed at the tip of the support shaft 20. Then, the tip of the support shaft 20 is inserted into a threaded hole provided in the pedestal member 30 and screwed (threaded) so that the support shaft 20 is fixed to the pedestal member 30.

[0026] In the present embodiment, the rotating member 22 has a support gear supported around the support shaft 20. For example, the rotating member 22 may include a bearing attached around the support shaft 20 and a support gear rotatably supported around the support shaft 20 via the bearing. The support gear of the rotating member 22 meshes with the intermediate gear 49. The rotation axis of the intermediate gear 49 is fixed to the pedestal member 30 in the same manner as the support shaft 20.

[0027] The swing member 40 is supported around the support shaft 20 and is provided so as to swing with respect to the pedestal member 30. Specifically, in FIGS. 2 and 3, an adjustment portion 52 provided on the extension of the support shaft 20 is fitted into a hole 48 provided on the outer surface of the swing member 40, thereby supporting the swing member 40 around the support shaft 20. The swing member 40 of the present embodiment has a flat portion to which the operation panel 41 is attached and a box-shaped portion that covers the rotating member 22 and the intermediate gear 49.

[0028] And the swing member 40 of the present embodiment has a rack 42. The rack 42 is provided along an arc-shaped track inside the box-shaped portion of the swing member 40. The rack teeth of the rack 42 mesh with the intermediate gear 49. The rack 42 of the swing member 40 is interlocked with the support gear of the rotating member 22 via the intermediate gear 49.

[0029] When a user applies a force to swing the operation panel 41 attached to the swing member 40 with respect to the pedestal member 30, the swing member 40 swings with respect to the pedestal member 30. When the swing member 40 swings, the rotating member 22 rotates around the support shaft 20.

[0030] Specifically, the swing member 40 swings in a direction from the upward posture in FIG. 2 to the rising posture in FIG. 3, or in a direction from the rising posture to the upward posture. When the swing member 40 swings with respect to the pedestal member 30, the rack 42 of the swing member 40 moves. When the rack 42 moves, the intermediate gear 49 meshing with the rack 42 rotates. When the intermediate gear 49 rotates, the support gear of the rotating member 22 meshing with the intermediate gear 49 rotates around the support shaft 20. Therefore, when the swing member 40 swings with respect to the pedestal member 30 and the rack 42 moves, the support gear of the rotating member 22 rotates around the support shaft 20.

[0031] When the swing member 40 swings with respect to the pedestal member 30, the sliding between the support shaft 20 and the swing member 40 is made difficult by means of the support gear of the rotating member 22 and the rack 42 of the swing member 40. Therefore, when the user swings the swing member 40, the swing member 40 can be stabilized at an angle as intended by the user.

[0032] Note that the rotating member 22 does not necessarily have to have a support gear. Also, the swing member 40 does not necessarily have to have a rack 42. For example, the swing member 40 may be directly supported on a bearing attached to the support shaft 20.

[0033] Since the rotation axes of the support shaft 20 and the intermediate gear 49 are fixed to the pedestal member 30, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the positions of the rotating member 22 and the intermediate gear 49 with respect to the pedestal member 30 do not change even when the swing member 40 swings.

[0034] In this embodiment, the support shaft 20 to which the adjustment portion 52 is attached serves as the center of the swing of the swing member 40. However, the support shaft 20 does not necessarily have to be the center of the swing of the swing member 40. For example, the support shaft 20, the rotating member 22, and the adjustment portion 52 may be provided at the position of the intermediate gear 49 in FIGS. 2 and 3, and a gear different from the rotating member 22 may be arranged at the center of the swing of the swing member 40. Even when the support shaft 20 is not the center of the swing of the swing member 40, since the swing member 40 moves around the support shaft 20, the swing member 40 is supported around the support shaft 20.

[0035] Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the adjustment portion 52 will be described. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the swing member 40 and the adjustment portion 52 of the hinge device 50 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the adjustment portion 52 is exposed from the outer surface of the swing member 40 (the surface that can be touched by the user from the outside of the image forming apparatus 100). Specifically, as described above, the adjustment portion 52 is fitted into the hole 48 on the outer surface from the inside of the swing member 40.

[0036] An adjustment knob 52a is provided on the surface of the adjustment portion 52. The adjustment knob 52a protrudes from the surface of the adjustment portion 52. The adjustment knob 52a is sized so that the user can grasp it with a finger. The user can grasp the adjustment knob 52a and rotate the adjustment portion 52 in the clockwise direction cw or the counterclockwise direction ccw. Hereinafter, in this specification, the rotation of the adjustment portion 52 by the user may be referred to as the adjustment portion 52 being operated or the adjustment portion 52 being adjusted.

[0037] Next, with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the internal structure of the hinge device 50 will be described. FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the hinge device 50 according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a view of the pressing member 54 of the hinge device 50 as viewed from the axial direction A.

[0038] FIG. 5 shows the hinge device 50 with the swing member 40 and the intermediate gear 49 removed. Around the axis of the support shaft 20 fixed to the pedestal member 30, a washer 21, a rotating member 22, a friction member 24, an elastic body 25, a pressing member 54, and an adjusting portion 52 are arranged along the axial direction A of the support shaft 20.

[0039] The washer 21 is an annular elastic member (for example, a metal washer). The washer 21 is arranged between the wall surface where the tip of the support shaft 20 is inserted into the pedestal member 30 and the rotating member 22.

[0040] The rotating member 22 is rotatably supported with respect to the support shaft 20. The rotating member 22 has, for example, a bearing attached around the support shaft 20 and a support gear rotatably supported around the support shaft 20 via the bearing.

[0041] In FIG. 5, the friction member 24 is an annular elastic member (for example, a metal washer). The rotating member 22 is sandwiched between the washer 21 and the friction member 24. The frictional force generated between the friction member 24 (and the washer 21) and the rotating member 22 acts in a direction that hinders the rotation of the rotating member 22 around the support shaft 20. Therefore, the friction member 24 applies a frictional force that resists the rotation of the rotating member 22 around the support shaft 20.

[0042] The elastic body 25 applies an elastic force to the friction member 24 in the axial direction A of the support shaft 20. The elastic body 25 is, for example, a coil spring wound around the support shaft 20. The elastic body 25 is not limited to a coil spring, and any member that applies an elastic force to the friction member 24 may be used.

[0043] The pressing member 54 is a generally cylindrical member attached to the adjusting portion 52. The pressing member 54 faces the pressing surface 55 in the axial direction A. The pressing surface 55 compresses the elastic body 25 between it and the friction member 24. The elastic body 25 is disposed between the pressing member 54 and the friction member 24 along the axial direction A of the support shaft 20. Therefore, the elastic body 25 is compressed between the pressing surface 55 and the friction member 24. And when the elastic body 25 is compressed between the pressing surface 55 and the friction member 24, an elastic force is applied from the elastic body 25 to the friction member 24.

[0044] A pin groove 54a is formed in the pressing surface 55 of the pressing member 54. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, a shaft hole 28 for passing the support shaft 20 is formed in the central portion of the pressing member 54. The pin groove 54a is formed on the extension of the diameter of the shaft hole 28. In FIG. 6, pin grooves 54a are formed at two locations, upper and lower, facing each other in the radial direction on the circumference of the shaft hole 28. A shaft pin 27 embedded in the support shaft 20 is passed through the pin groove 54a. The dimensions of the pin groove 54a are such that when the two pin grooves 54a at the upper and lower locations and the diameter of the shaft hole 28 are combined, they are longer than the length of the shaft pin 27.

[0045] And as shown in FIG. 5, an external thread portion 54b is formed on the outer surface of the pressing member 54. By screwing the external thread portion 54b of the pressing member 54 into the adjusting portion 52, the pressing member 54 is attached to the adjusting portion 52.

[0046] The pressing member 54 moves along the axial direction A of the support shaft 20 when the adjusting portion 52 is adjusted. When the pressing member 54 moves along the axial direction A, the distance between the pressing member 54 and the friction member 24 changes. When the distance between the pressing member 54 and the friction member 24 changes, the degree of compression of the elastic body 25 changes. When the degree of compression of the elastic body 25 changes, the elastic force applied by the elastic body 25 to the friction member 24 changes. Therefore, by changing the distance between the pressing member 54 and the friction member 24 by the movement of the pressing member 54, the elastic force of the elastic body 25 is adjusted.

[0047] When the elastic force applied by the elastic body 25 to the friction member 24 in the axial direction A (the elastic force of the elastic body 25) increases, the frictional force between the friction member 24 and the rotating member 22 (the frictional force of the friction member 24) also increases. When the elastic force of the elastic body 25 decreases, the frictional force of the friction member 24 also decreases. That is, when the elastic force of the elastic body 25 changes, the frictional force by the friction member 24 also changes. Therefore, by adjusting the elastic force of the elastic body 25 by the adjusting portion 52, the frictional force applied by the friction member 24 to the rotating member 22 is changed.

[0048] By changing the frictional force of the friction member 24, the force that hinders the rotation of the rotating member 22 around the support shaft 20 is changed. Specifically, when the frictional force increases, it becomes difficult for the rotating member 22 to rotate, and when the frictional force decreases, it becomes easier for the rotating member 22 to rotate. The rotating member 22 rotates around the support shaft 20 when the swinging member 40 (FIG. 2) swings. That is, the hinge device 50 of the present embodiment can change the force that resists the rotation of the hinge device 50 by the adjustment of the adjustment portion 52.

[0049] When it becomes difficult for the rotating member 22 to rotate, the swinging member 40 and the operation panel 41 attached to the swinging member 40 become difficult to swing, and when it becomes easier for the rotating member 22 to rotate, the swinging member 40 becomes easier to swing. Furthermore, the ease of swinging of the swinging member 40 can be arbitrarily changed depending on the magnitude of the elastic force of the elastic body 25. Therefore, the user can arbitrarily adjust the ease of swinging of the operation panel 41. For example, if the user feels that the operation panel 41 is difficult to swing, the user can adjust the adjustment portion 52 to make the swinging member 40 and the operation panel 41 easier to swing. Also, when the operation panel 41 swings due to an operation on the operation panel 41, the user can adjust the adjustment portion 52 to make the swinging member 40 and the operation panel 41 difficult to swing.

[0050] In this embodiment, a pressing member 54 that moves along the axial direction A of the support shaft 20 is provided, so that the user can change the degree of compression of the elastic body 25 to any magnitude. That is, the user can set the force with which the hinge device 50 resists rotation, which is changed by adjusting the adjustment portion 52, to any magnitude.

[0051] Next, with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, details around the support shaft 20 of the hinge device 50 will be described. FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the hinge device 50 according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 shows a view taken along the arrow VII-VII in FIG. 5. FIG. 8 is a more detailed cross-sectional view of the hinge device 50 in FIG. 7. In FIG. 7, only the pedestal member 30 and the swing member 40 are shown in cross-section, but in FIG. 8, in addition, a washer 21, a rotating member 22, a friction member 24, an elastic body 25, a pressing member 54, an adjustment portion 52, and a part of the support shaft 20 are also shown in cross-section.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 7, a screw thread 20a is formed at the tip of the support shaft 20. The support shaft 20 is fixed to the pedestal member 30 by screwing the screw thread 20a into a screw hole provided in the pedestal member 30. In FIG. 7, the thickness of the portion of the support shaft 20 where the screw thread 20a is formed and which is screwed into the pedestal member 30 is thinner than the portion exposed from the pedestal member 30. When the user rotates the support shaft 20 to screw the screw thread 20a into the pedestal member 30 (fix it), since the thickness of the portion where the screw thread 20a is formed is thin, the support shaft 20 stops rotating when the screw thread 20a is screwed to the root. Therefore, when the user fixes the support shaft 20 to the pedestal member 30, the user can stop the rotation of the support shaft 20 when the screw thread 20a is screwed as much as necessary and sufficient.

[0053] Around the axis of the support shaft 20 fixed to the pedestal member 30, a washer 21, a rotating member 22, a friction member 24, an elastic body 25, a pressing member 54, and an adjusting portion 52 are attached in order. And the adjusting portion 52 is fitted into a hole 48 provided on the outer surface of the swing member 40 from the inside of the swing member 40. A flange portion 58 is formed on the adjusting portion 52. When the adjusting portion 52 is fitted into the hole 48, the flange portion 58 contacts the inner surface of the swing member 40.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 7, since the elastic body 25 is compressed between the friction member 24 and the pressing surface 55 of the pressing member 54, the elastic body 25 applies an elastic force F to the friction member 24 in the axial direction A of the support shaft 20. The elastic force F applied from the elastic body 25 to the friction member 24 acts in a direction to press the friction member 24 against the rotating member 22.

[0055] On the other hand, the elastic force of the elastic body 25 is also transmitted to the adjusting portion 52 via the pressing member 54. The elastic force transmitted from the elastic body 25 to the adjusting portion 52 acts in a direction to press the flange portion 58 against the inner surface of the swing member 40 (in a direction opposite to the elastic force F applied to the friction member 24).

[0056] FIG. 8 shows details of the structure of the adjusting portion 52 and the pressing member 54. The adjusting portion 52 generally has a hollow cylindrical shape, and the portion exposed outside the swing member 40 is in a lid shape. An internal thread portion 52b is formed in a portion of the adjusting portion 52 located inside the swing member 40. The external thread portion 54b of the pressing member 54 is screwed into the internal thread portion 52b of the adjusting portion 52, whereby the pressing member 54 is attached to the adjusting portion 52.

[0057] Further, a pin hole 26 passing through the diameter of the support shaft 20 is provided in the support shaft 20. A shaft pin 27 longer than the diameter of the support shaft 20 is attached to the pin hole 26. The shaft pin 27 is passed through a pin groove 54a of the pressing member 54.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 6, the pin grooves 54a of the pressing member 54 are formed at two locations, above and below, facing each other in the radial direction on the circumference of the shaft hole 28. Therefore, the shaft pin 27 can pass through the pin groove 54a only when the pressing member 54 is at a specific angle.

[0059] When the pressing member 54 is attached to the support shaft 20 in FIG. 8, first, the tip of the support shaft 20 is passed through the shaft hole 28 of the pressing member 54. Then, the pressing member 54 is rotated around the support shaft 20 and aligned with a specific angle at which the shaft pin 27 can pass through the pin groove 54a. With the pressing member 54 at a specific angle, the shaft pin 27 is passed through the pin groove 54a of the pressing member 54.

[0060] In a state where the shaft pin 27 is passed through the pin groove 54a, the pressing member 54 cannot rotate with respect to the support shaft 20. Therefore, when the pressing member 54 moves in the axial direction A, the pressing member 54 moves parallel to the axial direction A without rotating. Also, even when the pressing member 54 moves in the axial direction A, the pin position P where the shaft pin 27 is located does not change.

[0061] Next, with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the change in the force resisting the rotation of the hinge device 50 when the adjustment unit 52 is adjusted will be described. FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view when the pressing member 54 of the hinge device 50 in FIG. 7 is brought closer to the friction member 24. FIG. 10 is a more detailed cross-sectional view of the hinge device 50 in FIG. 9. In FIG. 9, only the pedestal member 30 and the swing member 40 are shown in cross-section, but in FIG. 10, in addition, a washer 21, a rotating member 22, a friction member 24, an elastic body 25, a pressing member 54, an adjustment unit 52, and a part of the support shaft 20 are also shown in cross-section.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 9, when the user rotates the adjustment unit 52 using the adjustment knob 52a of the adjustment unit 52, the position of the adjustment unit 52 does not change, and the pressing member 54 moves in the axial direction A.

[0063] When the rotation direction of the adjustment part 52 is counterclockwise (ccw), the pressing member 54 moves in a direction approaching the rotating member 22. As the pressing member 54 approaches the rotating member 22, the elastic body 25 is compressed more than in the state of FIG. 7. Therefore, the elastic force F applied from the elastic body 25 to the friction member 24 is greater than in the state of FIG. 7. Accordingly, since the frictional force applied by the friction member 24 to the rotating member 22 also increases, the force that resists rotation of the hinge device 50 in the state of FIG. 9 is greater than in the state of FIG. 7.

[0064] On the other hand, the flange portion 58 of the adjustment part 52 is pressed against the inner surface of the swing member 40 by the elastic force of the elastic body 25 acting in the direction opposite to the friction member 24. Therefore, when the adjustment part 52 attempts to move in a direction approaching the rotating member 22 along the axial direction A, it is pushed back by the elastic body 25. On the other hand, when the adjustment part 52 attempts to move in a direction away from the rotating member 22 along the axial direction A, it is blocked by the inner surface of the swing member 40. Therefore, the position of the adjustment part 52 along the axial direction A of the support shaft 20 is fixed.

[0065] The adjustment part 52 can rotate around the support shaft 20, but even if the adjustment part 52 rotates around the support shaft 20, the position of the adjustment part 52 along the axial direction A does not change. On the other hand, the pressing member 54 moves along the axial direction A of the support shaft 20 as the adjustment part 52 rotates around the support shaft 20. When the pressing member 54 moves in a direction approaching the rotating member 22, a part of the external thread portion 54b of the pressing member 54 is exposed from the adjustment part 52.

[0066] In the present embodiment, even if the adjustment part 52 rotates around the support shaft 20 and the frictional force applied by the friction member 24 to the rotating member 22 is changed, the position of the adjustment part 52 along the axial direction A does not change. Therefore, even when the adjustment part 52 is adjusted and the adjustment knob 52a moves in the axial direction A, it does not become difficult to operate.

[0067] Note that the adjustment part 52 does not necessarily have a fixed position along the axial direction A. For example, the degree of compression of the elastic body 25 may be changed by the movement of the adjustment part 52 along the axial direction A. Also, the adjustment part 52 does not necessarily have to rotate by the operation of the user. For example, the degree of compression of the elastic body 25 may be changed by the adjustment part 52 being pushed in or pulled out.

[0068] FIG. 10 shows the details of the structures of the adjustment part 52 and the pressing member 54. When both the internal thread part 52b of the adjustment part 52 and the external thread part 54b of the pressing member 54 are right-handed threads, when the adjustment part 52 rotates in the counterclockwise direction ccw, the internal thread part 52b of the adjustment part 52 rotates so as to separate from the external thread part 54b of the pressing member 54.

[0069] However, since the flange part 58 is pressed against the inner surface of the swing member 40 by the elastic force of the elastic body 25, the adjustment part 52 cannot move in the axial direction A. Therefore, instead of the adjustment part 52, the pressing member 54 moves in the axial direction A.

[0070] Then, the pressing member 54 moves in the direction away from the adjustment part 52, that is, in the direction approaching the rotating member 22 and compressing the elastic body 25. Also, since the shaft pin 27 is passed through the pin groove 54a, the pressing member 54 cannot rotate with respect to the support shaft 20. Therefore, when the pressing member 54 moves in the axial direction A, the pressing member 54 moves in parallel without rotating. When the pressing member 54 moves in parallel in the axial direction A, the elastic body 25 is compressed, and the elastic force F applied to the friction member 24 increases.

[0071] When the pressing member 54 moves, the support shaft 20 neither rotates nor moves. Therefore, the pin position P of the shaft pin 27 attached to the support shaft 20 has not changed from the state of FIG. 8. However, due to the movement of the pressing member 54 in the axial direction A, the shaft pin 27 is relatively located deeper in the pin groove 54a compared to the state of FIG. 8.

[0072] Note that when the adjustment part 52 is rotated in the clockwise direction cw from the state of FIG. 10, the internal thread part 52b of the adjustment part 52 rotates so as to approach the external thread part 54b of the pressing member 54. Since the adjustment part 52 does not move in the axial direction A, the pressing member 54 moves in parallel in a direction away from the rotating member 22 and stretching the elastic body 25. When the elastic body 25 is stretched, the elastic force F applied to the friction member 24 decreases.

[0073] As described above, in the present embodiment, when the user rotates the adjustment part 52 by using the adjustment knob 52a of the adjustment part 52, the elastic force applied by the elastic body 25 to the friction member 24 in the axial direction A of the support shaft 20 is changed.

[0074] The embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above with reference to the drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be implemented in various aspects without departing from the gist of the present disclosure. The drawings schematically show each component mainly for easy understanding, and the thickness, length, number, interval, etc. of each illustrated component are different from the actual ones for convenience of drawing creation. In addition, the materials, shapes, dimensions, etc. of each component shown in the above embodiments are examples and are not particularly limited, and various changes can be made without substantially departing from the configuration of the present disclosure.

Industrial Applicability

[0075] The present invention provides a hinge device and an image forming apparatus, and has industrial applicability.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0076] 20 Support shaft 22 Rotating member 24 Friction member 25 Elastic body 30 Pedestal member 40 Oscillating member 41 Operation panel 42 Rack 50 Hinge device 52 Adjustment part 100 Image forming apparatus 110 Housing

Claims

1. A pedestal member, A support shaft fixed to the pedestal member, A swing member supported around the support shaft and swingable with respect to the pedestal member, A rotating member that rotates around the support shaft when the swing member swings, A friction member that applies a frictional force that resists rotation around the support shaft to the rotating member, An elastic body that applies an elastic force in the axial direction of the support shaft to the friction member, An adjustment unit that adjusts the elastic force of the elastic body, Comprising, A hinge device in which the frictional force applied by the friction member to the rotating member is changed by adjusting the elastic force of the elastic body by the adjustment unit.

2. The rotating member has a support gear supported around the support shaft, The swing member has a rack interlocked with the support gear, The hinge device according to claim 1, wherein the support gear rotates around the support shaft when the swing member swings with respect to the pedestal member and the rack moves.

3. Further comprising a pressing member that moves along the axial direction of the support shaft when the adjustment unit is adjusted, The elastic body is disposed between the pressing member and the friction member along the axial direction of the support shaft, The hinge device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic force of the elastic body is adjusted by changing the distance between the pressing member and the friction member by the movement of the pressing member.

4. The adjustment unit has a position fixed along the axial direction of the support shaft and is rotatable around the support shaft, The hinge device according to claim 3, wherein the pressing member moves along the axial direction of the support shaft when the adjustment unit rotates around the support shaft.

5. The hinge device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, An operation panel attached to the swing member, A housing that supports the pedestal member, An image forming apparatus comprising an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium. ​

Images