U.S. patent application number 11/394709 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-17 for hinge and image input/output apparatus therewith.
This patent application is currently assigned to Seiko Epson Corporation. Invention is credited to So Ishikawa, Toshimitsu Ohara, Yasushi Utsugi.
Application Number | 20060179611 11/394709 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32599224 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060179611 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ohara; Toshimitsu ; et
al. |
August 17, 2006 |
Hinge and image input/output apparatus therewith
Abstract
A hinge includes a tubular base part being attached to a main
body or an open/closed body, a rotation body being attached to the
main body or the open/closed body, which is not attached to the
base part, and supported on side wall end parts of the base part
opposed to each other for rotation, the rotation body having a cam
part, a wedge body being reciprocatably housed in the base part and
having a slope for coming in sliding contact with the cam part when
the rotation body rotates, an elastic member being housed in the
base part for urging the wedge body toward the side of the rotation
body, a sliding contact face being formed on the side of the wedge
body from a rotation axis of the rotation body on an inner wall of
the base part and bent to a concave corresponding to a parallel
move path of a line almost parallel with the rotation axis, and a
sliding contact part being formed in the rotation body for coming
in sliding contact with the sliding contact face when the rotation
body rotates.
Inventors: |
Ohara; Toshimitsu; (Nagano,
JP) ; Utsugi; Yasushi; (Nagano, JP) ;
Ishikawa; So; (Nagano, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
EDWARDS & ANGELL, LLP
P.O. BOX 55874
BOSTON
MA
02205
US
|
Assignee: |
Seiko Epson Corporation
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
32599224 |
Appl. No.: |
11/394709 |
Filed: |
March 31, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10675457 |
Sep 29, 2003 |
7069622 |
|
|
11394709 |
Mar 31, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
16/286 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B41J 29/13 20130101;
Y10T 16/53838 20150115; E05D 11/1064 20130101; H04N 1/1017
20130101; E05Y 2900/606 20130101; H04N 2201/0422 20130101; Y10T
16/5383 20150115; Y10T 16/53834 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
016/286 |
International
Class: |
E05F 1/08 20060101
E05F001/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 27, 2002 |
JP |
2002-283272 |
Sep 27, 2002 |
JP |
2002-283288 |
Claims
1-10. (canceled)
11. An image input/output apparatus comprising: a first housing for
housing a printing unit, having a tube part being extended in a
bottom direction from an opening formed in a ceiling of said first
housing; a second housing for housing an image read unit, being
placed on said first housing; and a hinge for swingably joining
said second housing to said first housing, said hinge including a
base part fitted into the tube part, wherein said base part abuts
against said tube part so that said tube part supports said base
part, a rotation body attached to said second housing and
rotationally supported on the base part, and an urging device for
providing a rotation force to the rotation body in a direction of
bringing said second housing away from said first housing and
providing a rotation force to the base part in an opposite
direction to the rotation force to the rotation body, wherein said
urging device is supported by said base part.
12. The image input/output apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein
the tube part is held or fixed to a bottom of said first
housing.
13. The image input/output apparatus as claimed in claim 11,
wherein the tube part has an attachment part being fixed to a top
face of said first housing.
14. The image input/output apparatus as claimed in claim 11,
wherein the rotation body is fixed to a ceiling or a bottom of said
second housing.
15. The image input/output apparatus as claimed in claim 11,
wherein the rotation body is fixed to one of the ceiling and the
bottom of said second housing and is held to the other. Please add
the following new claim.
16. The hinge as claimed in claim 11, wherein said base part abuts
against said tube part so that said tube part supports said base
part.
Description
[0001] The present application is based on Japanese Patent
Applications Nos. 2002-283272 and 2002-283288, the entire contents
of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a hinge
and an image input/output apparatus using the hinge.
[0003] 2. Related Art
[0004] A multifunction processing machine including a printer and
an image scanner as an image reader in one piece is known as an
image input/output apparatus. Known among such multifunction
processing machines is a machine having a scanner housing for
housing an image scanner as an open/closed body and a printer
housing for housing a printer as a main body, both the scanner
housing and the printer housing being swingably joined on a
hinge.
[0005] However, with the multifunction processing machine including
the scanner housing and the printer housing swingably joined, the
scanner housing for housing the image scanner is heavy and there is
a danger that the scanner housing may rapidly drop in a closed
direction under its own weight and a user's finger may be caught
in. Thus, a hinge including a brake mechanism is used to join a
scanner housing and a printer housing in a related art (for
example, refer to Japanese Patent Publication No.
JP-A-2001-98839).
[0006] In the related art, a wedge body and an elastic member as
urging device are housed in a base part of the hinge and the wedge
body is urged toward the side of a rotation body by the elastic
member for bringing the slope of the wedge body into sliding
contact with a cam part of the rotation body, thereby adding the
rotation force to the rotation body in the direction of bringing
the scanner housing away from the printer housing, thereby
preventing drop of the scanning housing in the closing direction
thereof.
[0007] FIG. 13 is a drawing to show the hinge 5 in the related art.
In the hinge 5, the upper end margin of a fixed-side hinge body 52
is formed as a convex circular arc margin with the shaft hole
center as the circular arc center, and a small protrusion 53 is
provided in the circumferential direction of the convex circular
arc margin. A moving-side hinge body 54 is formed with a concave
circular arc face with the shaft hole center as the circular arc
center, and a raised step part 55 is formed on the concave circular
arc face. According to the hinge 5, the raised step part 55 mounts
the protrusion 53 in the process of closing the moving-side hinge
body 54, so that a predetermined frictional force can be produced
between the raised step part 55 and the protrusion 53. The hinge 5
uses the frictional force to brake pivotal movement of closing the
open/closed body. Therefore, the hinge 5 can prevent rapid drop in
the closing process of the heavy open/closed body.
[0008] However, since the protrusion 53 and the raised step part 55
are brought into sliding contact with each other, the moving-side
hinge body 54 needs to be provided with a portion 51 covering the
upper end margin of the fixed-side hinge body 52, as shown in FIG.
13. Further, the portion 51 covering the outer peripheral margin
receives a strong force from the protrusion 53 and therefore must
be made large so as to provide strength. Thus, the hinge 5 involves
a problem of enlarging its shape accordingly.
[0009] The hinge 5 also involves a problem of more enlarging its
shape if the open/closed body becomes heavier. Specifically, if the
open/closed body becomes heavier, a larger frictional force becomes
necessary. In the hinge 5, if an attempt is made to increase only
the frictional force without changing the size of the hinge,
degradation of the protrusion 53 is promoted due to wear. Thus, to
brake the heavier open/closed body, it is necessary to lengthen the
distance between the protrusion 53 and the shaft hole center so as
to provide larger moment in the opening direction without changing
the magnitude of the frictional force. Therefore, the shape must be
enlarged. The expression "moment in the opening direction"
mentioned here is used to mean the rotation force acting in the
direction of bringing the scanner housing away from the printer
housing.
[0010] Further, if the rotation force is added to the rotation
body, a rotation force in the opposite direction to the rotation
body is added to the wedge body by the reaction force. Accordingly,
the rotation force in the opposite direction to the rotation body
is added to the base part, which cannot resist the weight of the
image scanner and is broken or warped; this is a problem. Thus, in
the related art, a fix member is used to reinforce the base part,
for example.
[0011] FIG. 14 is a schematic drawing to show an example of a
reinforcement structure of a base part in a related art. As shown
in the figure, in the related art, an L-shaped metal sheet 62 as a
fix member is attached to a printer housing 61. The bottom of the
L-shaped metal sheet 62 is fixed to the bottom of the printer
housing 61 with a plurality of screws, etc., and an opposite
portion of the L-shaped metal sheet 62 is fixed to the ceiling of
the printer housing 61 with a plurality of screws, etc. To
reinforce a base part 63, the base part 63 is fixed to the L-shaped
metal sheet 62 with a plurality of screws, etc.
[0012] However, since the fix member to reinforce the base part 63
in the reinforcement structure in the related art, the number of
parts is increased and in addition, an attachment step becomes
necessary, increasing the manufacturing cost of the multifunction
processing machine; this is a problem.
[0013] Further, in the multifunction processing machine in the
related art, a rotation body 66 is fixed to a side wall and the
bottom of a scanner housing 64. Since the side wall and the bottom
are contiguous with each other, if the rotation body 66 is fixed to
the side wall and the bottom, the weight of the scanner housing 64
concentrates almost on one pole. Thus, in the related art, as shown
in the figure, an L-shaped metal sheet 65 as another fix member is
provided for the scanner housing 64, thereby reinforcing the side
wall and the bottom to which the rotation body 66 is attached;
there is also a problem of furthermore increasing the number of
parts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a
hinge whose shape can be miniaturized while preventing rapid drop
of an open/closed body in a closing process, and to provide an
image input/output apparatus whose open/closed body is attached by
a simplified structure using the hinge.
[0015] (1) According to the invention, there is provided a hinge
including a tubular base part being attached to a main body or an
open/closed body; a rotation body being attached to the main body
or the open/closed body, which is not attached to the base part,
and supported on side wall end parts of the base part opposed to
each other for rotation, the rotation body having a cam part; a
wedge body being reciprocatably housed in the base part and having
a slope for coming in sliding contact with the cam part when the
rotation body rotates; an elastic member being housed in the base
part for urging the wedge body toward the side of the rotation
body; a sliding contact face being formed on the side of the wedge
body from a rotation axis of the rotation body on an inner wall of
the base part and bent to a concave corresponding to a parallel
move path of a line almost parallel with the rotation axis; and a
sliding contact part being formed in the rotation body for coming
in sliding contact with the sliding contact face when the rotation
body rotates. According to the hinge, as the wedge body is urged
toward the side of the rotation body by the elastic member, the
moment in the opening direction is made to act on the open/closed
body; in addition, the frictional force produced as the sliding
contact part comes in sliding contact with the sliding contact face
can act as the moment in the opening direction against the moment
in the closing direction when the open/closed body is closed.
Accordingly, the hinge makes it possible to prevent rapid drop of
the open/closed body in the closing direction thereof. Further, in
the hinge, the sliding contact part and the sliding contact face
come in sliding contact with each other in the base part for
producing the frictional force required for braking, so that it is
not necessary to provide the rotation body with any portion
covering the upper end margin of the base part on the opening side
thereof to produce a frictional force. Thus, the hinge makes it
possible to miniaturize the rotation body.
[0016] (2) The hinge of the invention is characterized by the fact
that the sliding contact part is formed in the proximity of the tip
of the cam part. If the sliding contact part is formed in the
proximity of the tip of the cam part, the distance between the
sliding contact part and the rotation axis of the rotation body can
be lengthened. If the distance is lengthened, the moment in the
opening direction of the open/closed body can be increased as the
same frictional force is applied. Therefore, a heavier open/closed
body can be braked as compared with a hinge wherein the distance
between the sliding contact part and the rotation axis is short.
Conversely, the open/closed body of the same weight can be braked
with a smaller hinge as compared with the hinge wherein the
distance between the sliding contact part and the rotation axis is
short. Thus, according to the hinge of the invention, the shape can
be furthermore miniaturized.
[0017] (3) The hinge of the invention is characterized by the fact
that the wedge body is pressed into the base part. According to the
hinge, when the open/closed body is closed, the frictional force
occurring between the wedge body and the base part gives the moment
in the opening direction to the rotation body, so that rapid drop
of the open/closed body in the closing direction thereof can be
furthermore prevented.
[0018] (4) The hinge of the invention is characterized by the fact
that the sliding contact face and the sliding contact part are not
pressed against each other when the open/closed body is in a fully
closed position or in a fully open position. According to the
hinge, the sliding contact part is not pressed and does not become
elastically deformed in the fully closed position or in the fully
open position, so that needless degradation of the sliding contact
part can be prevented.
[0019] (5) The hinge of the invention is characterized by the fact
that the distance from the rotation axis to an arbitrary point on
the sliding contact face varies so that a frictional force
occurring between the sliding contact part and the sliding contact
face varies in response to the rotation angle of the rotation body.
The hinge makes it possible to vary the frictional force in
response to the angle of the open/closed body.
[0020] (6) According to the invention, there is provided an image
input/output apparatus including a first housing for housing a
printing unit; a second housing being placed on the top of the
first housing for housing an image read unit; and the hinge as
described above for swingably joining the second housing to the
first housing. According to the image input/output apparatus, the
second housing and the first housing can be joined by the small
hinge while preventing rapid drop of the second housing in the
closing process.
[0021] (7) According to the invention, there is provided an image
input/output apparatus including a first housing having a tube part
being extended like a tube in a bottom direction from an opening
formed in a ceiling, the first housing for housing a printing unit;
a second housing being placed on the top of the first housing for
housing an image read unit; and a hinge for swingably joining the
second housing to the first housing, the hinge having a base part
being fitted into the tube part, a rotation body being attached to
the second housing and supported on the base part for rotation, and
urging device for adding a rotation force to the rotation body in a
direction of bringing the second housing away from the first
housing and adding a rotation force in the opposite direction to
the rotation body to the base part. According to the image
input/output apparatus, the base part is inserted into the tube
part and is reinforced. Thus, if the rotation force in the opposite
direction to the rotation body 11 is added to the base part 14,
breakage or warpage is hard to occur. Therefore, a fix part to
reinforce the base part need not be used. Thus, according to the
image input/output apparatus, the structure can be simplified.
[0022] (8) The image input/output apparatus is characterized by the
fact that the tube part is held or fixed to the bottom of the first
housing. If the bottom of the tube part is held or fixed to the
bottom of the first housing, the base part can be reinforced more
firmly.
[0023] (9) The image input/output apparatus is characterized by the
fact that the tube part has an attachment part being fixed to the
top face of the first housing. According to the image input/output
apparatus, the base part is fixed to the top face of the first
housing and thus can be easily removed without disassembling the
first housing. Therefore, when the second housing is removed from
the first housing in maintenance, the second housing can be easily
removed as the base part is removed; maintainability is
enhanced.
[0024] (10) The image input/output apparatus is characterized by
the fact that the rotation body is fixed to the ceiling or the
bottom of the second housing. According to the image input/output
apparatus, the weight of the second housing is distributed between
the ceiling and the bottom, so that the rotation body can be
attached without reinforcement of a fix member. Therefore, the
number of parts can be furthermore decreased. Thus, the structure
can be furthermore simplified.
[0025] (11) The image input/output apparatus is characterized by
the fact that the rotation body is fixed to one of the ceiling and
the bottom of the second housing and is held to the other.
According to the image input/output apparatus, the rotation body
can be attached without reinforcement of a fix member and in
addition, the rotation body is held only to the other, so that a
fixing part, such as a screw, becomes unnecessary. Thus, the
structure can be furthermore simplified.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] In the accompanying drawings:
[0027] FIG. 1 is a sectional view to show a sliding contact part
and a sliding contact face in a fully closed position of a hinge
according to the first embodiment of the invention;
[0028] FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of an image input/output
apparatus using the hinge according to the first embodiment of the
invention;
[0029] FIG. 3 is a drawing to show a state in which the hinge
according to the first embodiment of the invention is attached to
the image input/output apparatus on an enlarged scale;
[0030] FIG. 4 is a drawing to describe the configuration of the
hinge according to the first embodiment of the invention for
swingably joining a scanner housing and a printer housing;
[0031] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a side wall end part of a base
part of the hinge according to the first embodiment of the
invention;
[0032] FIG. 6 is a sectional view to show the sliding contact part
and the sliding contact face in a fully open position of the hinge
according to the first embodiment of the invention;
[0033] FIG. 7A is a sectional view of the hinge according to the
first embodiment of the invention in the fully closed position and
FIG. 7B is a sectional view of the hinge in the fully open
position;
[0034] FIG. 8 is a sectional view to show the sliding contact part
and the sliding contact face in an intermediate position of the
hinge according to the first embodiment of the invention;
[0035] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the periphery of an opening of
an image input/output apparatus according to the second embodiment
of the invention;
[0036] FIG. 10 is a drawing to show a hinge included in the image
input/output apparatus according to the second embodiment of the
invention;
[0037] FIG. 11A is a drawing to show an opening in the image
input/output apparatus according to the second embodiment of the
invention and FIG. 11B is a drawing to show a state in which only a
base part is inserted into another opening;
[0038] FIG. 12A is a drawing to show the hinge when a scanner
housing of the image input/output apparatus according to the second
embodiment of the invention is in a fully closed position and FIG.
12B is a drawing to show the hinge when the scanner housing is in a
fully open position; and
[0039] FIG. 13 is a drawing to show a hinge in a related art;
and
[0040] FIG. 14 is a schematic drawing to show an example of a
reinforcement structure in a related art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0041] Referring now to the accompanying drawings, there is shown a
preferred embodiment of the invention.
(First Embodiment)
[0042] FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing to show a multifunction
processing machine 4 as an image input/output apparatus using a
hinge 1 according to the first embodiment of the invention. The
multifunction processing machine 4 includes a scanning section 30
as image read unit and a print section 20 as printing unit. The
scanning section 30 implements an image read function as an image
scanner, and the print section 20 implements an image printout
function as a printer. Further, the multifunction processing
machine 4 also implements a function as an electronic copier by
printing an image read through the scanning section 30 in the print
section 20
[0043] A scanner housing 3 as an open/closed body houses the
scanning section 30. The scanner housing 3 is formed of a resin,
etc., like a box and includes an original bed 39 on the opposite
side to the printer housing 2, forming a flat-bed scanner. An
original bed cover 32 for covering the board face of the original
bed 39 is mounted swingably on the outside of the scanner housing
3. The scanning section 30 is made up of a carriage 38, a light
source 34, a mirror 35, a lens 36, a linear image sensor 37, etc.
The carriage 38 is placed reciprocatably in the horizontal
direction parallel with the board face of the original bed 39 for
transporting the optical system made up of the light source 34, the
mirror 35, and the lens 36 and the linear image sensor 37 in A
direction. The optical system forms the reflected light image of a
subject M to which light is applied from the light source 34 on the
linear image sensor 37 through the mirror 35 and the lens 36, as
indicated by the dashed line.
[0044] The printer housing 2 as a main body houses the print
section 20. The printer housing 2 is formed of a resin, etc., like
a box for swingably supporting the scanner housing 3 on the side of
a top plate 25. Accordingly, the scanner housing 3 is placed on the
top of the printer housing 2. A carriage 22 of the print section 20
is placed reciprocatably in the horizontal direction for
transporting a plurality of cartridges 23 and a record head 24
mounted on the carriage 22 in B direction. Ink stored in each
cartridge 23 is jetted onto print paper N in droplet form through
the record head 24. A transport mechanism 26 of the print section
20 transports the print paper N supplied to a paper feed port (not
shown) in the printer housing 2 to a predetermined print position.
Further, the transport mechanism 26 ejects the print paper N with
an image printed through the record head 24 from a paper ejection
port (not shown) in the printer housing 2.
[0045] A control section 40 generates image data representing a
subject image based on an output signal of the linear image sensor
37 input through a cable 41. Further, the control section 40
controls the operation of the transport mechanism 26 and the record
head 24 based on the generated image data, thereby printing an
image representing the subject image on the print paper N.
[0046] FIG. 3 is a drawing to show a state in which the hinge 1
according to the embodiment of the invention is attached to the
multifunction processing machine 4 on an enlarged scale. In the
embodiment, a base part 14 of the hinge 1 is attached to the
printer housing 2 as the main body of the multifunction processing
machine 4, and a rotation body 11 is attached to the scanner
housing 3 as the open/closed body. The base part 14 may be attached
to the scanner housing 3 and the rotation body 11 may be attached
to the printer housing 2.
[0047] FIG. 4 is a drawing to describe the configuration of the
hinge 1 for swingably joining the scanner housing 3 and the printer
housing 2. The hinge 1 include the rotation body 11, a wedge body
12, a helical compression spring 13 as an elastic member, a base
part 14, a metal shaft 15, and a ring member 16 for preventing
detachment of the metal shaft 15. The helical compression spring 13
and the wedge body 12 are housed in the base part 14 in this order
and after they are housed, the rotation body 11 is joined to the
base part 14 for rotation with the metal shaft 15.
[0048] The base part 14 is formed of a raw material of polyacetal,
etc., like a closed-end pipe, and has an opening 143. The base part
14 is roughly square in cross section taken on line I-I in FIG. 3,
and has four side walls. Shaft holes 144 and 145 for allowing the
metal shaft 15 to pierce are formed in end parts of a pair of side
walls 141 and 142 opposed to each other on the opening 143 side.
One of the walls of the base part 14 not formed with the shaft hole
144 or 145 is removed from the opening for attaching the rotation
body 11 to a sliding contact face described later.
[0049] The wedge body 12 has slopes 121 for coming in sliding
contact with a cam part 112 described later, and is housed
reciprocatably in the base part 14. The wedge body 12 has a bottom
shaped roughly like a rectangle, and each of the longitudinal and
lateral widths of the bottom is formed longer than the distance
between inner wall faces of the side walls of the base part 14.
Therefore, the wedge body 12 is pressed into the base part 14 at
the assembling time and a frictional force occurs between the wedge
body 12 and the inner wall face of the base part 14 at the
reciprocating time.
[0050] To close the scanner housing 3, the frictional force gives
moment in the opening direction to the rotation body 11.
[0051] FIG. 5 is a sectional view to show the cross section on the
opening side in the cross section taken on line II--II in FIG. 3.
Steps 146 overhanging to the inside of the base part 14 are
provided on the side opposite to the opening from rotation axis
center 15a of the side walls 141 and 142, and step faces 149 facing
the opening side are formed. The step faces 149 are formed so as to
cross the wall faces of the side walls 141 and 142 almost
perpendicularly, as shown in FIG. 5.
[0052] FIG. 1 is a sectional view to show a sliding contact part
and a sliding contact face. FIG. 1 represents the hinge 1 when the
scanner housing 3 is in a fully closed position. The step face 149
is formed with a step 148 as shown in the figure, and the face of
the step face 149 higher than the step 148 by a predetermined
height on the right of the step 148 is a sliding contact face 147.
The sliding contact face 147 is a face for producing a
predetermined frictional force as a sliding contact part 113
described later comes in sliding contact with the sliding contact
face 147, and is formed roughly like a concave circular arc with
the rotation axis center 15a of the metal shaft 15 (as the rotation
axis) as the circular arc center. That is, the sliding contact face
147 is formed as a face bent to a concave corresponding to the
parallel move path of the line almost parallel with the rotation
axis center 15a. The distance between an arbitrary point on the
sliding contact face 147 and the rotation axis center 15a is not
constant and is set so that the frictional force occurring between
the sliding contact part 113 and the sliding contact face 147
varies in response to the rotation angle of the rotation body 11.
For example, at one angle, the distance is set short so as to
lessen the frictional force; at another angle, the distance is set
long so as to increase the frictional force. Accordingly, the
frictional force varies in response to the angle. For example, if
the distance is set so that the frictional force lessens at an
angle close to the fully open position, closing operation can be
started with a small closing operation force.
[0053] The rotation body 11, which is made of nylon, etc., has an
L-shaped attachment board part 111 screwed to the rotation base end
side of the scanner housing 3 and the cam part 112 projecting in
the diametrical direction of the rotation body 11 and is formed
with the sliding contact part 113 for coming in sliding contact
with the sliding contact face 147 and a bearing part 114 for
allowing the metal shaft 15 to pierce. As the metal shaft 15
pierces the bearing part 114, the rotation body 11 is supported on
the end parts of the side walls 141 and 142 of the base part 14
opposed to each other for rotation. The rotation body 11 may be
provided with a pair of shaft parts projecting like a
circular-cylinder from the end parts for supporting the rotation
body on the side wall end parts for rotation. The rotation body 11
is formed at the end part in the direction of the rotation axis
center 15a with the sliding contact part 113 extending along the
cam part 112 to the proximity of the tip of the cam part 112. That
is, the sliding contact part 113 is formed in the proximity of the
tip of the cam part 112. If the sliding contact part 113 is formed
in the proximity of the tip of the cam part 112, large moment can
be provided by the same frictional force as compared with the base
part where the sliding contact part 113 is provided in the
proximity of the base end side of the cam part 112. The tip of the
sliding contact part 113 is formed roughly like a convex circular
arc with the rotation axis center 15a as the circular arc center,
as shown in the figure. The distance from the tip of the sliding
contact part 113 to the rotation axis center 15a is formed longer
than the distance from an arbitrary point on the sliding contact
face 147 to the rotation axis center 15a. When the sliding contact
part 113 comes in sliding contact with the sliding contact face
147, the sliding contact part 113 becomes elastically deformed and
mounts the sliding contact face 147, producing a predetermined
frictional force.
[0054] The sliding contact part 113 and the sliding contact face
147 are not pressed against each other and the sliding contact part
113 does not become elastically deformed in the fully closed
position shown in FIG. 1 or in the fully open position shown in
FIG. 6. If the sliding contact part 113 is not pressed into contact
with the sliding contact face 147 in the fully closed position or
in the fully open position, degradation caused by needless elastic
fatigue of the sliding contact part 113 can be prevented.
[0055] Next, the operation of the wedge body 12, the helical
compression spring 13, and the cam part 112 will be discussed.
[0056] FIG. 7A is a drawing to show the hinge 1 when the scanner
housing 3 is in the fully closed position and FIG. 7B is a drawing
to show the hinge 1 when the scanner housing 3 is in the fully open
position. In the fully closed position, the scanner housing 3 is
placed on the top of the printer housing 2 and is located. In this
state, the helical compression spring 13 is compressed by the cam
part 112 to the side opposite to the opening. As the scanner
housing 3 is opened so as to become the fully open position shown
in FIG. 7B from the state, the wedge body 12 is urged toward the
side of the rotation body 11 by the helical compression spring 13
in the process and accordingly, the slopes 121 come in sliding
contact with the cam part 112 and moment in the opening direction
acts on the rotation body 11. Therefore, the heavy scanner housing
3 would be able to be opened lightly by a small opening operation
force. In contrast, when the scanner housing 3 is closed, the
moment in the opening direction acts as a force against the moment
in the closing direction caused by the own weight of the scanner
housing 3 or the closing operation force, namely, a braking force,
so that rapid drop of the scanner housing 3 in the closing
direction thereof can be prevented.
[0057] Next, the operation of the sliding contact part 113 and the
sliding contact face 147 will be discussed.
[0058] FIG. 8 is a sectional view to show the sliding contact part
113 and the sliding contact face 147 in an intermediate position
between the fully closed position and the fully open position. As
shown in the figure, the sliding contact part 113 becomes
elastically deformed and climbs over the step 148 or a corner 150
and mounts the sliding contact face 147 and accordingly the sliding
contact part 113 and the sliding contact face 147 come in sliding
contact with each other in the process of placing the scanner
housing 3 in the fully closed position from the fully open position
or placing the scanner housing 3 in the fully open position from
the fully closed position. Accordingly, a predetermined frictional
force responsive to the rotation angle is produced between the
sliding contact face 147 and the sliding contact part 113. To place
the scanner housing 3 in the fully closed position from the fully
open position, the produced frictional force acts as the moment in
the opening direction against the moment in the closing direction
of the scanner housing 3. That is, the frictional force acts as the
force of braking drop of the scanner housing 3 in the closing
direction thereof. Therefore, if the scanner housing 3 is heavier
than a predetermined weight, the scanner housing 3 is slowly closed
at decelerated drop speed. This prevents rapid drop of the scanner
housing 3 under its own weight and an accident such that a hand is
caught in the gap between the scanner housing 3 and the printer
housing 2 can be prevented. If the scanner housing 3 is lighter
than the predetermined weight, the scanner housing 3 stops at an
arbitrary angle between the fully open position and the fully
closed position.
[0059] With the hinge 1 according to the embodiment of the
invention described above, as the wedge body 12 is urged toward the
side of the rotation body 11 by the helical compression spring 13,
the moment in the opening direction is made to act on the scanner
housing 3; in addition, the frictional force produced as the
sliding contact part 113 is brought into sliding contact with the
sliding contact face 147 acts as the moment in the opening
direction against the moment in the closing direction when the
scanner housing 3 is closed. Thus, the hinge 1 makes it possible to
prevent rapid drop of the scanner housing 3 in the closing
direction thereof.
[0060] Further, in the hinge 1, the sliding contact part 113 and
the sliding contact face 147 come in sliding contact with each
other in the base part 14 for producing the frictional force
required for braking, so that it is not necessary to provide the
rotation body 11 with any portion covering the upper end margin of
the base part 14 on the opening side thereof to produce a
frictional force. Thus, the hinge 1 makes it possible to
miniaturize the rotation body 11 as compared with the hinge 5 in
the related art. Therefore, the shape of the hinge 1 can be
miniaturized.
[0061] Further, in the hinge 1, the sliding contact part 113
extends to the side opposite to the opening as shown in FIG. 1, so
that only the sliding contact part 113 can be lengthened without
changing the size of the base part 14 or the rotation body 11.
Thus, if the hinge 1 is of almost the same size as the hinge 5, the
distance between the sliding contact part 113 and the rotation axis
center 15a can be made longer than the distance between the shaft
hole center of the hinge 5 and the protrusion 53. Thus, if the
hinge 1 is of almost the same size as the hinge 5, the hinge 1
makes it possible to provide larger moment in the opening direction
than the hinge 5 for braking the scanner housing 3 heavier than the
hinge 5. Conversely, the scanner housing 3 of the same weight as
the hinge 5 can be braked according to the smaller shape.
Therefore, the shape can be miniaturized.
[0062] Further, according to the hinge 1, the frictional force
occurring between the wedge body 12 and the inner wall face of the
base part 14 gives the moment in the opening direction to the
rotation body 11 when the scanner housing 3 is closed, so that the
loads imposed on the sliding contact part 113 and the helical
compression spring 13 can be relieved. Thus, according to the hinge
1, the shape can be furthermore miniaturized.
(Second Embodiment)
[0063] FIG. 10 is a drawing to describe a configuration of a hinge
201 of the second embodiment for swingably joining the scanner
housing 203 and the printer housing 202. The hinge 201 includes the
rotation body 211, a wedge body 212, a helical compression spring
213 as an elastic member, a case (base part) 214, a metal shaft
215, and a ring member 216 for preventing detachment of the metal
shaft 215. The helical compression spring 213 and the wedge body
212 are housed in the base part 214 in this order and after they
are housed, the rotation body 211 is joined to the base part 214
for rotation with the metal shaft 215.
[0064] The base part 214 is formed of a raw material of polyacetal,
etc., like a closed-end pipe, and has an opening 343. The base part
214 has four side walls. Shaft holes 344 and 345 for allowing the
metal shaft 215 to pierce are formed in end parts of a pair of side
walls 341 and 342 opposed to each other on the opening 343
side.
[0065] The helical compression spring 213 and the wedge body 212
are housed in the base part 214 in this order and after they are
housed, the rotation body 211 is joined to the base part 214 for
rotation with the metal shaft 215. An attachment part 346 and an
overhang part 347 attached to the top face of the printer housing
202 are formed on the outer peripheral side wall of the base part
214 projecting in the perpendicular direction to the outer
peripheral side wall.
[0066] The wedge body 212 has slopes 321 for coming in sliding
contact with a cam part 311 described later, and is housed
reciprocatably in the base part 214.
[0067] The rotation body 211 is made of nylon, etc., and is formed
with has the cam part 311 projecting in the diametrical direction
of the rotation body 211, a first fastening part 312 screwed to the
ceiling of the scanner housing 203, and a second fastening part 313
screwed to the bottom of the scanner housing 203. As the metal
shaft 215 pierces the bearing part 314, the rotation body 211 is
supported on the end parts of the side walls 341 and 342 of the
base part 214 opposed to each other for rotation. The rotation body
211 may be provided with a pair of shaft parts projecting like a
circular cylinder from the end parts for supporting the rotation
body on the side wall end parts for rotation. Further, although the
sliding contact part as described in the first embodiment is not
provided at the proximity of the tip end of the cam part 311, the
sliding contact part may be provided on the rotation body 211.
[0068] FIG. 11A is a drawing to show an opening 241 formed in the
ceiling of the printer housing 202, and FIG. 11B shows a state in
which only the base part 214 is inserted into another opening 241.
Two openings 241 are formed in the printer housing 202 and the
hinge 201 is fitted into each of the openings 241. That is, the
scanner housing 203 and the printer housing 202 are swingably
joined by the two hinges 201. FIGS. 11A and 11B show different
openings 241. As shown in FIG. 11A, the opening 241 is formed in an
opening margin with a step 242 for holding the overhang part 347 of
the base part 214 and a recess part 243 for fixing the attachment
part 346 of the base part 214. As shown in the figure, the recess
part 243 is formed with a threaded hole for screwing the attachment
part 346. As shown in FIG. 11B, the base part 214 is positioned so
that the attachment part 346 is fitted into the recess part 243,
and the base part 214 is inserted into the opening 241 and is
fastened with a screw.
[0069] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the periphery of the opening
241 of the multifunction processing machine 204. The printer
housing 202 is formed with a tube part 244 extended like a tube
from the opening 241 formed in the ceiling to the bottom of the
printer housing 202. The tube part 244 is formed with a step 245
overhanging to the inside and supporting the base part 214 with the
bottom of the base part 14 abutted against the step 245. The inner
peripheral shape of the tube part 244 in the proximity of the step
245, the inner peripheral shape on the side of the opening 241 from
the step 245 is formed as the same shape as the outer peripheral
shape in the proximity of the bottom of the base part 214, and the
bottom of the base part 214 is fitted into the tube part 244.
Accordingly, the tube part 244 reinforces the base part 214 so that
the base part 214 is not broken or warped if a rotation force in
the opposite direction to the rotation body 211 is added to the
base part 214. As shown in the figure, the bottom of the tube part
244 extends to the bottom of the printer housing 202 and is screwed
to the printer housing 202. Accordingly, the tube part 244 can
reinforce the base part 214 more firmly as compared with the case
where the bottom of the tube part 244 is not fixed to the printer
housing 2. In the embodiment, the bottom of the tube part 244 is
fixed to the bottom of the printer housing 202. However, unless the
bottom of the tube part 244 is fixed to the printer housing 202, if
the tube part 244 has a strength capable of reinforcing the base
part 214 so that the base part 214 is not warped or broken, the
bottom of the tube part 244 need not be fixed to the printer
housing 202. In the embodiment, the bottom of the tube part 244 is
fixed to the printer housing 202, but may be held.
[0070] As shown in FIG. 9, the first fastening part 312 of the
rotation body 211 is screwed to the ceiling of the scanner housing
203, and the second fastening part 313 is screwed to the bottom of
the scanner housing 203. Accordingly, the weight of the scanner
housing 203 is distributed between the ceiling and the bottom.
Therefore, the rotation body 211 can be attached without
reinforcement of a fix member, and the structure can be more
simplified. In the embodiment, both the first fastening part 312
and the second fastening part 313 are fixed as they are screwed,
but only one may be fixed and the other may be held. If the other
is held, for example, a screw becomes unnecessary and the structure
can be more simplified and in addition, the screwing step becomes
unnecessary and the manufacturing cost can be more reduced.
[0071] Next, the operation of the hinge 201 and the tube part 244
will be discussed.
[0072] FIG. 12A is a drawing to show the hinge 201 when the scanner
housing 203 is in the fully closed position and FIG. 12B is a
drawing to show the hinge 201 when the scanner housing 203is in the
fully open position. In the fully closed position, the scanner
housing 203 is placed on the top of the printer housing 202. In
this state, the helical compression spring 213 is compressed by the
cam part 311 to the side opposite to the opening. As the scanner
housing 203 is opened so as to become the fully open position shown
in FIG. 12B from the state, the wedge body 212 is urged toward the
side of the rotation body 211 by the helical compression spring 213
in the process and accordingly, the slopes 321 come in sliding
contact with the cam part 311. A rotation force is added to the
rotation body 211 in the direction of bringing the scanner housing
203 away from the printer housing 202. That is, the moment in the
opening direction acts on the rotation body 211. When the scanner
housing 203 is closed, the moment in the opening direction acts as
a force against the moment in the closing direction caused by the
own weight of the scanner housing 203 or the closing operation
force, namely, a braking force, so that if the scanner housing 203
is heavier than a predetermined weight, the scanner housing 203 is
slowly closed at decelerated drop speed. If the scanner housing 203
is lighter than the predetermined weight, the scanner housing 203
stops at an arbitrary angle between the fully open position and the
fully closed position. Accordingly, rapid drop of the scanner
housing 203 in the closing direction thereof can be prevented. When
the rotation force is added to the rotation body 211, a rotation
force in the opposite direction to the rotation body 211 is added
to the wedge body 212 by the reaction force. Accordingly, the
rotation force in the opposite direction to the rotation body 211
is added to the base part 214.
[0073] According to the multifunction processing machine 204
according to the embodiment of the invention described above, the
base part 214 is inserted into the tube part 244 and is reinforced.
Thus, if the rotation force in the opposite direction to the
rotation body 211 is added to the base part 214 as the scanner
housing 203 swings, breakage or warpage does not occur. Therefore,
a fix part to reinforce the base part 214 need not be used. Thus,
according to the multifunction processing machine 204, the
structure can be simplified. Accordingly, the manufacturing cost of
the multifunction processing machine 204 can be reduced.
[0074] Further, according to the multifunction processing machine
4, the attachment part 346 of the base part 214 is fixed to the top
face of the printer housing 202 and the base part 214 need not be
fixed to a fix member in the printer housing 202, so that the base
part 214 can be fixed to the printer housing 202 after completion
of assembling the printer housing 202. Conversely, the base part
214 can be removed without disassembling the printer housing 202.
Thus, maintenance of the multifunction processing machine 204 is
facilitated.
* * * * *