Plug hinges and office equipment using these plug hinges

Abstract

To provide an insertion hinge and office machine that improve operability upon an opening / closing operation of a manuscript crimp plate (a lid body) of the office machine.SOLUTION: In an insertion hinge having: an attachment case 5 having a top-opened instrument accommodation part 5a inside, and being fitted and attached to an attachment hole provided on a device main body side of an office machine; a support member 7 supporting the manuscript crimp plate rotatably coupled to a both-sided plate 5d of the attachment case via a hinge shaft 8; a slider 9 slidably accommodated in the attachment case; and an elastic member 10 being elastically provided between the slider and a bottom part of the attachment case, and put into pressured contact with a rotary cam part provided in the support member, a slide friction mechanism is provided that transforms a rotation action within a prescribed rotation angle range of the support member accompanied by the opening / closing operation of the manuscript crimp plate into a slide action, and generates a friction torque. Also, as for the office machine, the insertion hinge is used.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a plug-in hinge suitable for use when attaching a document pressing plate used in office equipment such as a relatively small copying machine to the apparatus main body so as to be openable and closable, and an office equipment using this plug-in hinge.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, many office equipment used in offices, such as copying machines, multifunction devices, facsimiles, scanners, printers, etc., are provided with a document placement table having a contact glass on the upper surface of the apparatus main body, and a document pressing plate that can open and close the document placement table. Various types of hinges are known for attaching this document pressing plate to the apparatus main body so as to be openable and closable.

[0003] Among such hinges, for example, a plug-in hinge as described in Patent Document 1 of the following prior art documents is known. This plug-in hinge is configured such that a support member that supports a document pressing plate via a hinge shaft is attached to a mounting case that is fitted into a mounting hole provided on the apparatus main body side so as to be openable and closable. A slider that abuts against a cam portion provided on the support member is slidably accommodated in the mounting case, and an elastic member composed of a compression coil spring together with a fluid damper is elastically provided between this slider and the bottom of the mounting case.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] While the insert hinge described in Patent Document 1 above has the necessary functions, in recent years there has been a demand for a hinge that incorporates a friction mechanism to improve its operability, thereby allowing the operator to feel a better tactile sensation when opening and closing the document pressure plate.

[0006] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an insert hinge that is designed to make it easier for the operator of office equipment to operate the document pressure plate. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, the hinge according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises: a mounting case having an open top-out equipment housing section inside, which is fitted into a mounting hole provided on the main body of an office equipment device; a support member that supports a document pressure plate rotatably connected to both side plates of the mounting case via a hinge shaft; a slider slidably housed within the mounting case; and an elastic member elastically provided between the slider and the bottom of the mounting case, which presses the slider against a pivot cam provided on the support member; wherein the rotational movement of the support member within a predetermined rotational angle range accompanying the opening and closing operation of the document pressure plate is controlled by the sliding movement A slide friction mechanism is provided that converts to generate friction torque, and a slider housing member is provided which houses the slide friction mechanism in the mounting case and connects to the hinge shaft, and the slider is slidably housed inside this slider housing member, and the slider housing member is provided with a friction convex portion that presses against the slider depending on the sliding position of the slider and a press-fitting convex portion that presses against the mounting case when housed in the mounting case, and a fluid damper is housed between the bottom plate portion of the slider housing member and the inner top portion of the slider, guided by a cylindrical receiving member. Furthermore, the friction convex portion has an upward-sloping portion on its lower side. It is characterized by the following:

[0010] Next, the claims of the present invention 2The insert hinge is characterized in that the opening and closing angle of the document pressure plate, at which the slide friction mechanism generates friction torque, is 30 degrees or more.

[0012] And, Claim 3 The office equipment described above is as described in claim 1 to 2 It is characterized by using the insert hinges described in each of the above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] As described above, the present invention is configured such that when opening and closing the document pressure plate attached to the support member, the slide friction mechanism operates within a predetermined opening and closing angle range. This allows the document pressure plate to be stopped and held free-stop within each predetermined opening and closing range, effectively preventing the document pressure plate from bouncing up due to the elasticity of the elastic member beyond a predetermined opening angle, thereby improving the operability of the operating lever. Furthermore, during closing operations, the slide friction mechanism is released just before the fluid damper begins to take effect, thus not impairing the original function of the fluid damper and enabling smooth closing operations. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is an explanatory diagram showing the plug hinge according to the present invention attached to a photocopier, which is an example of office equipment. [Figure 2] This is a side view diagram showing the plug-in hinge according to the present invention attached to a photocopier, which is an example of office equipment. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view showing the insert hinge according to the present invention, with the support member in the closed position. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view showing the insert hinge according to the present invention, with the support member in the open position. [Figure 5] This is an exploded perspective view of the insert hinge according to the present invention. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view of the mounting case for the insert hinge according to the present invention. [Figure 7] It is a perspective view of a slider housing member of a plug hinge according to the present invention. [Figure 8] It is a side view of a support member of a plug hinge according to the present invention. [Figure 9] The slider of the plug hinge according to the present invention is shown, (a) is a perspective view thereof, and (b) is a bottom view thereof. [Figure 10] It is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining an internal mechanism when the plug hinge according to the present invention is closed. [Figure 11] It is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining an internal mechanism when the plug hinge according to the present invention is opened to an intermediate angle. [Figure 12] It is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining an internal mechanism when the plug hinge according to the present invention is opened to a fully open angle. [Figure 13] It is an explanatory view for explaining the operation of the slide friction mechanism of the plug hinge according to the present invention, (a) shows a state where the document pressing plate is closed, (b) shows a state where the document pressing plate is opened to an intermediate angle, and (c) shows a state where the document pressing plate is in a fully open state.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a plug hinge according to the present invention and a copying machine as an example of an office device using this plug hinge will be described based on the drawings.

Examples

[0016] According to the drawings, in FIG. 1, what is indicated by reference numeral 1 schematically shows a copying machine which is an example of an office device. This copying machine 1 is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and includes those with other configurations. According to the drawings, this copying machine 1 has a device main body 2 and a document pressing plate 3 (hereinafter, may be referred to as a lid body 3 in the present specification and claims) which is attached to the device main body 2 so as to be openable and closable via a plug hinge 4 according to the present invention.

[0017] The insertion hinge 4 according to the present invention is used to attach the document pressing plate 3 to the apparatus main body 2 of the copying machine 1 so that it can be opened and closed. Usually, a pair of insertion hinges 4 are provided on the left and right. However, in the embodiment of the present invention, since the configurations of the insertion hinges 4 are the same, one of them will be described below. Also, in the present embodiment, the copying machine 1 is configured to include the insertion hinge 4. However, in addition to the copying machine 1, office equipment such as a multifunction machine, a facsimile machine, a scanner, and a printer can also be configured to include the insertion hinge 4 according to the present invention between the apparatus main body and the document pressing plate or the lid. Furthermore, when explaining the operation and effect of the insertion hinge 4 according to the present invention, it will be explained on the premise that there are a pair of the same configuration on the left and right. However, only one of a set of insertion hinges can be the insertion hinge according to the present invention, and the other can have a different configuration. For example, in the present embodiment, as described below, a fluid damper 11 is used. However, one of the insertion hinges 4 can be configured without a fluid damper. Also, the elastic member 10 made of a compression coil spring can be a plurality of them juxtaposed, or elastic members of different sizes can be stacked and used.

[0018] The insertion hinge 4 of Embodiment 1 according to the present invention has, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 10 and later, and as described in the summary of the invention and Claim 1 of the claims, an equipment accommodation part 5a with an open top inside, and a mounting case 5 that is fitted and attached to the mounting hole 2a provided on the apparatus main body 2 side of the copying machine 1. A support member 7 that supports the document pressing plate 3 rotatably connected to both side plates 5d, 5d of the mounting case 5 via a hinge shaft 8, a slider 9 slidably accommodated in the mounting case 5, and between the slider 9 and the inner bottom part 5f of the mounting case 5. It has an elastic member 10 that is elastically provided and presses the slider 9 against a turning cam part 7c provided on the support member 7, and is provided with a slide friction mechanism 13 that converts it into a slide operation at a predetermined rotation angle of the support member 7 accompanying the opening and closing operation of the document pressing plate 3 to generate friction torque.

[0019] Furthermore, the insert hinge 4 according to the present invention is configured such that a slider housing member 6 is provided, which houses a slide friction mechanism 13 inside a mounting case 5 and connects to a hinge shaft 8, and a slider 9 is slidably housed inside this slider housing member 6, and friction convex portions 6e, 6e are provided on the slider housing member 6 that press against both sides 9c, 9c of the slider 9 depending on the sliding position of the slider 9.

[0020] The mounting case 5 in this embodiment is a resin molded product such as POM or ABS, which has high mechanical strength. In addition to the equipment housing section 5a, it is equipped with a flange section 5b around its upper end. Above the flange section 5b, on both the left and right sides, a pair of side plates 5d, 5d are provided at a predetermined distance apart, each sharing a common axis and having connecting holes 5c, 5c. A stopper recess 5e is provided on the rear side of the flange section 5b. Furthermore, a locking projection 5g is provided on the rear side of the lower end of the mounting case 5.

[0021] As shown in Figures 10 to 12, the mounting case 5 is attached to the main body 2 of the copier 1 by fitting it into a mounting hole 2a located downwards at the rear end of the main body 2 of the copier 1, and by inserting the locking projection 5g into a locking recess 2c located at the bottom of the mounting hole 2a and engaging it, so that it does not easily come loose from the mounting hole 2a. Alternatively, the mounting case 5 may be provided with mounting screws facing the mounting hole 2a, and the mounting case 5 may be fixed to the mounting hole 2a with these mounting screws.

[0022] Next, the slider housing member 6 is a press-formed product made of a metal plate such as stainless steel, and is sized to be inserted into the equipment housing section 5a of the mounting case 5. It has a bottom plate section 6a that is superimposed on the inner bottom section 5f of the mounting case 5, side plates 6b, 6b that rise upward from both sides of the bottom plate section 6a, reinforcing plate sections 6c, 6c·6c, 6c formed by bending inward from the front and rear positions of these side plates 6b, 6b, and reinforcing sections 6d, 6d that rise low in front of and behind the bottom plate section 6a. Friction protrusions 6e, 6e are provided on the upper parts of the side plates 6b, 6b, projecting inward. Furthermore, connecting holes 6f, 6f are provided at the upper ends of the side plates 6b, 6b with a common axis, and press-fitting protrusions 6h, 6h... are provided on the side plates 6b, 6b and the reinforcing plate sections 6c, 6c·6c, 6c, projecting outward. The friction convex portions 6e, 6e are provided with inclined portions 6g, 6g on the lower side, facing inward, as shown in Figure 7, to facilitate the press-fitting of the slider 9.

[0023] Next, the support member 7, in this embodiment, is a resin molded product such as POM or ABS, which has high mechanical strength, similar to the mounting case 5. It has a connecting portion 7a that is inserted between the side plates 5d, 5d provided on the mounting case 5, and a support plate portion 7b that is integrally formed on the front side of the connecting portion 7a and has a rectangular shape that is long in the left-right direction. A pivoting cam portion 7c that contacts the cam portion 9b of the slider 9 is provided on the lower part of the support plate portion 7b and the connecting portion 7a. The support member 7 is also rotatably connected by a hinge shaft 8 that is inserted through the connecting hole 7d provided in the connecting portion 7a via the connecting holes 5c, 5c and 6f, 6f of the side plates 5d, 5d·6b, 6b of the mounting case 5 and the slider housing member 6. The hinge shaft 8, as shown in Figure 5, is a round bar shape with a flange portion 8a on one end, and the other end is crimped, although it is not shown. However, a circumferential groove may be provided at the other end of the hinge shaft 8 and secured with an E-ring.

[0024] The slider 9 is, for example, a rectangular tubular shape made of molded resin, with a spring housing portion 9a that opens at the bottom inside and a cam portion 9b on the top surface. It is housed in the slider housing member 6 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction, and the slider 9's side portions 9c, 9c and the friction convex portions 6e, 6e of the slider housing member 6 constitute the slide friction mechanism 13.

[0025] Next, an elastic member 10, consisting of a compression coil spring, is elastically installed between the bottom plate portion 6a of the slider housing member 6 and the inner top portion 9d of the spring housing portion 9a of the slider 9. This pushes the slider 9 upward in the figure, biasing the support member 7 clockwise via the pivot cam portion 7c. Furthermore, a fluid damper 11 is housed inside the elastic member 10, and a receiving member 12 is installed on the bottom plate portion 6a of the slider housing member 6, facing the piston 11a of the fluid damper 11. The receiving member 12 has a receiving cylinder portion 12a with an inclined portion 12b on the internal inlet side, and is designed so that even if the piston 11a is slightly tilted during the operation of the insertion hinge 4, it can be guided by the receiving cylinder portion 12a and maintain the correct posture. The form or number of elastic members 10 varies depending on the torque required for the insertion hinge 4, and there may be two or three, or compression coil springs of different diameters may be stacked and used.

[0026] Therefore, as shown in Figures 10 and 13(a), when the document pressure plate 3 is closed, the document pressure plate 3 covers the upper surface of the document placement table 2b, the pivot cam portion 7c of the support member 7 presses the cam portion 9b of the slider 9 downward, and the elastic member 10 is in a state of maximum compression. However, since the weight of the document pressure plate 3 is greater than the rotational torque that the document pressure plate 3 generates around the hinge shaft 8 due to its own weight, the document pressure plate 3 maintains its closed state against the elasticity of the elastic member 10. In addition, the tip of the piston 11a of the fluid damper 11 is in contact with the inner bottom portion 12c of the receiving cylinder portion 12a of the receiving seat member 12.

[0027] Therefore, when the operator opens the document pressure plate 3 from its closed state in order to set the original on the document tray 2b for copying, as shown in Figures 10 and 13(a), initially the sides 9c, 9c of the slider 9 are not in contact with the friction protrusions 6e, 6e provided on the side plates 6b, 6b of the slider housing member 6. As a result, the operator can open the document pressure plate 3 relatively easily due to the elastic force of the elastic member 10, which is made up of a compression coil spring that biases the slider 9 to slide upward.

[0028] When the document pressure plate 3 is opened further, as shown in Figures 11 and 13(b), the slide friction mechanism 13, consisting of both sides 9c, 9c of the slider 9 and the friction convex parts 6e, 6e of the slider housing member 6, begins to operate from a 30-degree opening angle. As the slider 9 and the friction convex parts 6e, 6e of the slider housing member 6 come into contact, friction resistance is encountered. However, this friction resistance actually allows for a smoother opening sensation, improving operability. Furthermore, from a predetermined opening angle, the slider 9, which is in contact with the pivot cam part 7c of the support member 7, is prevented from being pushed by the elastic member 10 and pushing up the support member 7 via the pivot cam part 7c. This prevents the document pressure plate 3 from opening too quickly, further improving operability. 、 As shown in Figure 12, the rear end 7e of the support member 7 comes into contact with the stopper recess 5e of the mounting case 5, stopping it from opening any further.

[0029] As shown in Figures 12 and 13(c), when closing the document pressure plate 3 from its fully open position, the slide friction mechanism 13 is in operation, allowing for a smooth closing motion. Beyond a predetermined closing angle, the slide friction mechanism 13 ceases to operate. At this point, the tip of the piston 11a of the fluid damper 11 contacts the inner bottom 12c of the receiving cylinder portion 12a of the receiving member 12, thus applying a braking effect and preventing the document pressure plate 3 from closing abruptly. closeThis prevents the device from being damaged. Although not shown in the diagram, when the fluid damper 11 is in operation, the sides 9c, 9c of the slider 9 and the friction protrusions 6e, 6e of the slider housing member 6 are in a non-contact state, so the slide friction mechanism 13 does not operate, and a smooth cushioning effect is achieved.

[0030] Furthermore, while the sliding friction mechanism 13 operates within the angular range of 30 degrees to the maximum opening angle of the insert hinge 4 according to the present invention, this angle is not limited.

[0031] As described above, the present invention is configured to be comparatively superior among office equipment such as photocopiers. small target This insert hinge is suitable for use as an opening and closing mechanism for document pressure plates used in type-type devices, providing a compact, simple-to-construct, and easy-to-operate insert hinge. Furthermore, it is also suitable for use in office equipment utilizing this insert hinge. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0032] 1. Office equipment (photocopiers) 2. Main unit of the device 2a Mounting hole 2b Manuscript placement stand 3. Document pressure plate (lid) 4. Insert hinge 5. Mounting case 6. Slider housing member 6a Bottom plate part 6b Both side panels 6e Friction convex part 6f connection hole 6g slope 6h Press-fitting protrusion 7. Support Member 7a Connecting part 7b Support plate part 7c Swivel cam part 8 Hinge shafts 9 Slider 9a Spring housing 9b Cam section 10 Elastic members 11 Fluid damper 11a Piston 12 Receiving seat member 13. Slide friction mechanism

Claims

1. An insert hinge comprising: a mounting case having an open top-out equipment housing section inside, which is fitted into a mounting hole provided on the main body of an office equipment device; support members supporting a document pressure plate rotatably connected to both side plates of the mounting case via hinge shafts; a slider slidably housed within the mounting case; and an elastic member elastically positioned between the slider and the bottom of the mounting case, which presses the slider against a pivot cam provided on the support member, wherein a slide friction mechanism is provided that converts the rotational movement of the support member within a predetermined rotation angle range accompanying the opening and closing operation of the document pressure plate into a sliding movement to generate friction torque, and the slide A slider housing member is provided, which is housed in the mounting case and connected to the hinge shaft, and a slider is slidably housed inside the slider housing member. The slider housing member is provided with a friction convex portion that presses against the slider depending on the sliding position of the slider, and a press-fitting convex portion that presses against the mounting case when housed in the mounting case. A fluid damper is housed between the bottom plate portion of the slider housing member and the inner top portion of the slider, guided by a cylindrical receiving member, and the friction convex portion is provided with an upwardly sloping portion on the lower side.

2. The insert hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening and closing angle of the document pressing plate, at which the slide friction mechanism generates friction torque, is 30 degrees or more.

3. Office equipment characterized by using the plug hinges described in claims 1 to 2.

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