Patent Publication Number: US-2019194987-A1

Title: Latches

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Devices such as electronic devices or imaging devices may perform actions on or with media. Devices may print, scan, copy, or perform other actions on or with the media. Further, devices may transport media throughout the device. Devices may have panels or doors that may be opened or removed in order to provide access to internal portions of the device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of an example latch. 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of an example device having an example latch. 
         FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of an example device having an example latch. 
         FIG. 3A  is a side view of an example latch. 
         FIG. 3B  is a side view of an example latch. 
         FIG. 3C  is a side view of an example latch. 
         FIG. 4A  is a side view of an example latch. 
         FIG. 4B  is a side view of an example latch. 
         FIG. 4C  is a side view of an example latch. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Devices such as imaging devices, or other electronic devices for example, may perform actions on or with media, or a medium thereof. The devices may print, scan, copy, or perform other actions on or with the media. Further, devices may transport media throughout the imaging device, and/or through a media path of the device. Additionally, devices may include systems, mechanics, assemblies, or other internal components, such as media paths and components thereof, for example, disposed within the device. In some situations, it may be desirable to have the ability to access such internal components or systems for maintenance, repair or replacement of parts, clearing malfunctions or jams, or for other purposes. Devices such as imaging devices or other electronic devices may have openable or removable panels to provide access to internal portions of the device. In some situations, openable panels may comprise a portion or portions of the exterior housing, case, or body of the device. 
     In some situations, devices may include internal components disposed on such openable panels. Additionally, such openable panels may be removably attached or assembled to the device, or may be hingeably attached to the device such that the openable panel or panels may swing away from the device, or a chassis thereof, in a similar fashion to a door. In further situations, internal components or systems disposed on the openable panel, or the weight or mass thereof, may cause the panel to sag or deflect from the device when the panel is in an opened position. The panel may sag from a hinged side of the panel, wherein the panel is hingeably engaged with the device, or a chassis thereof, at the hinged side. In some situations, the panel may sag to such a degree that the panel may be misaligned with the device, and/or the sagging may prevent the panel from fully closing against the device, or may otherwise inhibit the correct or complete closing of the panel against the device. 
     In further situations, an openable panel of a device may include a guide feature to assist the panel in closing against the device, or a chassis thereof. The guide feature may include a chamfered or angled feature or geometry to help correctly align the panel with the device for proper closing. However, in some situations, the weight of the panel, or internal components disposed thereon, may cause the panel to sag when in the open position to such a degree that the guide feature cannot help correct the alignment of the panel. In other words, the panel may sag to such a degree that the guide feature is completely misaligned from a receiving geometry or feature on the device, and therefore the panel may be incapable of closing correctly without external assistance, for example, from a user. Additionally, in some situations, the panel may be misaligned with the device such that the guide feature of the panel may interfere with the device or chassis thereof as the panel is closed, and/or the guide features may experience sliding friction as the guide features are engaged with a receiving geometry or feature as the panel is closed. Such friction may make it more difficult to close the panel correctly and/or may result in premature wear or damage of the panel, device, or features thereon. 
     Implementations of the present disclosure provide a latch for a panel of a device to assist the panel in closing against the device. The example latches disclosed herein may assist a panel that may be sagging relative to the device to close against the device. Example latches may correctly align respective and/or associated panels to the device as the panel is closed against the device. Further, example latches disclosed herein may counteract the sagging of respective and/or associated panels by lifting the panels relative to a device such that the panels may close against a device in a correctly aligned manner. Further, example latches disclosed herein may provide a rolling engagement of the latch with the device that may eliminate or minimize a sliding friction between a guide feature of a panel and a receiving feature of the device, thereby avoiding or minimizing premature wear or damage of components of the panel or device. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a side view of an example latch  100  is illustrated. In some implementations, the example latch  100  may include a wheel  104 , a housing  102  engaged with the wheel  104 , and a bias member  106 . In further implementations, the housing  102  and the wheel  104  may move together along a side of a panel, and the bias member  106  may bias the wheel  104  and the housing  102  against a direction of movement of the wheel  104  and the housing  102 . In yet further implementations, the bias member  106  may exert a reactive force against the panel, or a portion or component thereof or thereon. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2A , a perspective view of an example device  201  having an example latch  200  is illustrated. In some implementations, the device  201  may be an electronic device, and, in further implementations, may be an imaging device. Imaging devices may perform actions on or with media or a medium thereof. Such actions may include, but are not limited to, printing, plotting, scanning, copying, and other actions that may be performed on or with media. Media, or a medium thereof, may sometimes be referred to as print media, and may include paper, cardboard, latex, vinyl, or other materials suitable for use in an imaging device. In further implementations, imaging devices may include other devices such as three-dimensional (3D) printers. In other implementations, the device  201  may be an electronic device such as a computing device. Computing devices may include components such as processors, memory, storage disks, or other suitable components. 
     In some implementations, the device  201  may include a panel  208 . The panel  208  may be a removable or openable panel. In further implementations, the panel  208  may be rotatably or hingeably engaged with the device  201 . In yet further implementations, the panel  208  may be engaged with the device by a hinge  226 , or, in other words, the panel  208  may include a hinge  226  to attach the panel  208  to the device  201  such that the panel  208  may move or rotate relative to the device  201  about the hinge  226 . In some implementations, the panel  208  may be engaged with the device  201  by a second hinge  226 , and in further implementations, additional hinges  226  may be implemented to engage the panel  208  with the device  201 . In some implementations, the hinge  226  or hinges may be disposed along a first side or edge of the panel  208 . 
     The panel  208  may be referred to as a door in some implementations, and may be a rigid or semi-rigid portion of a structure, frame, housing or casing of the device  201 . In further implementations, the panel or door  208  may be a portion of an exterior housing, casing, or shell of the device  201 . The panel  208  may be openable relative to the device  201  such that internal components, parts, or systems of the device  201  are exposed to the exterior of the device  201  when the panel  208  is in an opened position. In some implementations, some of such internal components may be disposed on an inside surface of the panel  208  itself. 
     Referring additionally to  FIG. 2B , an interior view of an example device  201  is illustrated, wherein the panel  208  is disposed, at least partially, in an opened position. In some implementations, the device  201 , or the panel or door  208  thereof may include a latch  200 . Example latch  200  may be similar to example latch  100 . Further, the similarly named elements of example latch  200  may be similar in function and/or structure to the elements of example latch  100 , as they are described above. Accordingly, the latch  200  may include a housing  202 , a wheel  204 , and a bias member  206  (shown in phantom lines). 
     In some implementations, the latch  200  may be disposed on or along a second side or edge of the panel  208 . In further implementations, the second side or edge and the first side or edge of the panel  208  may be opposite to one another, or, in other words, may be opposite sides or edges of the panel  208 . Thus, in some situations, the latch  200  may be disposed opposite to the hinge  226  or hinges  226 . In some implementations, the latch  200  may be attached, assembled, or fixed to the panel  208  such that the latch  200  moves with the panel  208  about the hinge  226 , for example, along an opening and closing direction represented by arrow  203 . In some implementations, the opening and closing direction  203  may be referred to as either an opening direction or a closing direction separately, whenever the panel  208  is described as opening or closing, respectively. For example, the panel  208  may move about the hinge  226  along the closing direction to close the panel against a side of the device  201 , or a structure, frame, or chassis thereof. Additionally, for example, the panel  208  may also move about the hinge  226  along the opening direction to open the panel  208  from the device  201 , and, in some implementations, to expose or reveal internal components or systems of the device  201 . 
     The device  201  may further include a chassis  210 , in some implementations. The chassis  210  may be an internal, or semi-internal component or portion of a component of the device  201 . In further implementations, the chassis  210  may be a structural component, or a portion thereof, of the device  201 . In some implementations of the present disclosure, the hinge  226  may engage the panel  208  with the chassis  210 , or a portion thereof. Therefore, the panel  208  may be attached to or movably engaged with the chassis  210  through the hinge  226  such that the panel  208  may rotate, pivot, or otherwise move relative to the chassis  210  about the hinge  226 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3A , a side view of an example latch  300  is illustrated. Example latch  300  may be similar to other example latches described above. Further, the similarly named elements of example latch  300  may be similar in function and/or structure to the elements of other example latches, as they are described above. Example latch  300  may include a housing  302 , a wheel  304 , and a bias member  306 , in some implementations. In further implementations, the latch  300  may be disposed on or attached to a panel  308 . The panel  308  may be engaged with a device, or a structure or chassis  310  thereof, through a hinge. The chassis  310  may include a receiving portion  312  to engage with or receive the latch  300 , or components thereof. Further, the chassis  310  may include a detent  314  to engage with or receive the wheel  304 . 
     The housing  302  may be a rigid or semi-rigid component or member to movably engage the wheel  304  to the panel  308 . In some implementations, the housing  302  may be a movable housing  302 , and, in further implementations, the housing  302  may be movably engaged with the panel such that the housing  302  may move relative to the panel  308 , and move laterally to a closing direction  303  of the panel  308 . In some implementations, the housing  302  may move along an axis of rotation of the hinge, and/or along a side of the panel  308 . In further implementations, the housing  302  may also move with the panel  308  about the hinge, relative to the device or the chassis  310  thereof, along the closing direction  303 . In other words, the latch  300 , and/or the components thereof, may be attached to the panel  308  such that the latch  300  moves with the panel  308  along the closing direction  303 , relative to the device or the chassis  310  thereof. The housing  302  of the latch  300  may also be capable of moving relative to the panel  308 , independently of the movement of the latch  300  with the panel  308  along the closing direction  303 . 
     The wheel  304  may be a component that may be able to rotate relative to the housing  302  and the panel  308 . In some implementations, the wheel  304  may be a bearing or another similar rotating component. The wheel  304  may be attached to the housing  302  such that the wheel  304  may move with the housing  302 . In other words, independently from the latch  300  and the panel  308  moving along the closing direction  303 , the wheel  304  and the housing  302  may move together along the axis of rotation of the hinge, and/or laterally to the closing direction  303  of the panel  308 . 
     The bias member  306  may be a resilient component that may be capable of elastic deformation. In other words, the bias member  306  may be able to return to its original shape after undergoing a deformation. The bias member  306 , in some implementations, may exert a reactive force in response to undergoing or experiencing a deformation. In further implementations, the reactive force may be proportional to the degree of deformation, or, in other words, the reactive force exerted by the bias member  306  may increase according to an increase in the degree of deformation that the bias member  306  experiences. In some implementations, the bias member  306  may be a spring such as a compression spring. In other implementations, the bias member  306  may be another type of spring, such as an extension spring, or a torsion spring, for example. In further implementations, the bias member may comprise a metallic material, such as steel or spring steel, or another suitable material. 
     The bias member  306  may be operably disposed in between the housing  302  and the panel  308  in some implementations. In other words, the bias member  306  may resist movement of the housing  302  relative to the panel  308 . In further implementations, the bias member  306  may bias the wheel  304  and housing  302  against the direction of movement of the housing  302  and the wheel  304  relative to the panel  308 . Stated differently, the bias member  306  may resist the movement of the wheel  304  and the housing  303  together laterally to the closing direction  303 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3B , a side view of an example latch  300  is illustrated wherein the latch  300  has moved with the panel  308  along the closing direction  303  and has come into contact with and started to engage with the chassis  310 , and/or a contacting component thereof, such as the receiving portion  312 , the detent  314 , or an edge or leading edge of the detent  314 . The chassis  310  may include the detent  314  to receive the wheel  304  of the latch  300  upon the panel  308  closing against the chassis  310 . In some implementations, a user or other external motivating element may cause the panel  308  to move along the closing direction  303 . Upon the latch  300  or the wheel  304  thereof coming into contact with the chassis  310 , or another contacting component thereof, such as a leading edge of the detent  314 , for example, the wheel  304  may begin to rotate in a direction consistent with the closing direction  303 . Such rotation of the wheel  304  may be represented by arrow  311 , in some implementations, and may be caused by friction in between an outer surface of the wheel  304  and the chassis  310 , or the portion thereof contacting the wheel  304 . Thus, in some implementations, the wheel  304  may engage with the edge of the detent  314  in a rolling manner to be received by the detent  314 . 
     Additionally, the contact in between the wheel  304  and the chassis  310 , or the contacting component thereof, may cause the wheel  304  to push, translate, or otherwise move in a direction  305  lateral to the closing direction  303 . Accordingly, the wheel  304  may cause the housing  302  to also move in a direction  305 , relative to the panel  308 . In other words, in some implementations, the edge of the detent  314  may move the wheel  304  and the housing  302  laterally to the closing direction  303  against the resistance of the bias member  306  when the wheel  304  comes into contact with the edge of the detent  314  throughout the travel of the panel  308  along the closing direction  303 . 
     In some implementations, the wheel  304  and the housing  302  may move together along the direction  305  against the urging of the bias member  306 , or, in other words, the wheel  304  and the housing  302  may resistively move together against the bias member  306 . In implementations wherein the bias member  306  is a compression spring, such movement of the wheel  304  and the housing  302  may compress or squeeze the bias member  306 , thus deforming the bias member  306  and causing the bias member  306  to exert a reactive force on the panel  308  along the same direction as the deformation of the bias member  306 . Such a reactive force may be along the direction  305 , thus urging or forcing the panel  308  to move along direction  305 . In further implementations, direction  305  may be against the force of gravity, and thus the bias member  306  may urge or force the panel  308  to move against its own weight or mass. In other words, the wheel  304  may cause the bias member  306  to exert a lifting force against the panel  308  if the wheel  304  engages with the chassis  310 , or another contacting component thereof, such as the receiving portion  312 , the detent  314 , or an edge of the detent  314 , for example. Such a lifting force may cause the panel  308  to become properly aligned with the device or the chassis  310  thereof so that the panel  308  may correctly and completely close against the device or the chassis  310 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3C , a side view of the example latch  300  is illustrated wherein the panel  308  has continued to move along the closing direction  303  until the panel  308  has reached a closed position, or a position wherein the panel  308  is closed against the device or the chassis  310  thereof. In some implementations, upon reaching the closed position, the wheel  304  of the latch  300  may engage with the detent  314 . In further implementations, the wheel  304  may engage with the detent  314  so as to retain the panel  308  in the closed position. Upon the wheel  304  reaching the detent, the bias member  306  may exert a reactive force along direction  307  in order to urge the wheel  304  into the detent  314  and to retain the wheel  304  within the detent  314 . In some implementations, the bias member  306  may be assisted by the force of gravity, or, in other words, the weight of the panel  308 , in urging the wheel  304  into the detent  314 . In further implementations, and as is illustrated in  FIG. 3C , the wheel  304  may only partially engage with the detent  314  upon the panel  308  reaching the closed position. In such a situation, the wheel  304  may be urged by the bias member  306  and/or the weight of the panel  308  against a downward slope of the detent  314 . This partial engagement of the wheel  304  with the detent  314  may ensure that the wheel  304 , by way of the bias member  306 , tightly retains the panel  308  in the closed position. In other implementations, the wheel  304  may completely engage with the detent  314  when the panel  308  is in the closed position. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4A , a side view of an example latch  400  is illustrated. Example latch  400  may be similar to other example latches described above. Further, the similarly named elements of example latch  400  may be similar in function and/or structure to the elements of other example latches, as they are described above. In addition to some or all of the above-described components, the latch  400  may further include a guide pin  416 . The guide pin  416  may engage with an alignment orifice  420  of a device, or a chassis  410  thereof. In some implementations, the guide pin  416  may be rigidly attached to or disposed on the panel  408 , or another component thereof, such as an alignment arm  418 . In other implementations, the guide pin  416  may be attached to another component of the latch  400 . The guide pin  416 , in some implementations, may be a post, pin, rod, or another protrusion. Accordingly, the alignment orifice  420  may be a receiving feature such as a receptacle, cavity, or other suitable element and may be sized sufficiently to receive the guide pin  416  within. In some implementations, the guide pin  416  may have a chamfer or angled leading edge to assist in aligning the guide pin  416  with the alignment orifice  420  should they be misaligned, and, thus also correcting alignment between the panel  408  and the device or the chassis  410  thereof. In further implementations, the guide pin  416  may be disposed on the chassis  410 , and the alignment orifice  420  may be disposed on the panel  408  or latch  400 . 
     In some implementations, when the panel  408  is disposed in an open position, the weight or mass of the panel  408  may cause the panel  408  to sag or hang out of correct alignment with the device or chassis  410  thereof. As such, when the panel  408  is in the open position, the guide pin  416  may be misaligned with the alignment orifice  420  of the chassis  410 . In some implementations, such misalignment may be to such a degree that a chamfer or angled leading edge of the guide pin  416  is incapable of correcting the alignment of the panel  408  with the device or chassis  410 . Such misalignment may be represented by arrow  409 . Thus, in some implementations, if the latch  400  were not present, the panel  408  may not correctly or completely move along a closing direction  403  to a closed position against the device or chassis  410  thereof. As such, the latch  400  may assist in correctly aligning the guide pin  416  with the alignment receptacle  420 , and the panel  408  with the device and/or chassis  410  as the panel  408  moves along closing direction  403 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4B-4C  side views of the example latch  400  are illustrated wherein the latch  400  has started to engage with the chassis  410 , or a contacting component thereof, and wherein the panel  408  has completely moved along closing direction  403  to a closed position against the device or chassis  410 , respectively. In some implementations, as a wheel  404  initially comes into contact with the chassis  410 , or, for example, a leading edge of a detent  414  thereof, such contact may cause the wheel  404  to rotate up and over the leading edge of the detent  414 , thus moving with a housing  402  in a direction  405  lateral to the closing direction  403 . Such movement in direction  405  may cause a bias member  406  to deform and exert a corresponding reactive force along direction  405  against the panel  408 , thereby lifting or otherwise moving the panel  408  along direction  405 . Such movement of the panel  408  may cause the panel  408  to become correctly or sufficiently aligned with the device or chassis  410  thereof so that the panel  408  may close against the device. Additionally, such movement of the panel  408  may cause the guide pin  416  to move in a similar manner and become aligned with the alignment orifice  420  such that the guide pin  416  may be received by the alignment orifice  420 . In other words, the wheel  404  may engage with the chassis  410  to move the latch  400  such that the guide pin  416  moves from an unaligned position to an aligned position with the alignment orifice  420 . Accordingly, and as illustrated in  FIG. 4C , the panel  408  may continue to move along the closing direction  403  until the panel reaches a closed position wherein the panel  408  is completely and correctly closed against the device or chassis  410  thereof, and the guide pin  416  is received within the alignment orifice  420 . Upon reaching the closed position, the bias member  406 , and/or the weight of the panel  408 , may urge, force, or move the wheel  404  in a direction  407  such that the wheel  404  becomes engaged with the detent  414 . 
     Additionally, in some implementations, the housing  402  of the latch  400  may include a retaining hook  422  to engage with a retention edge  424  of the panel  408 . The retaining hook  422  may allow movement of the housing  402  along an axis of rotation of a hinge, or along directions  405  and  407 , lateral to the closing direction  403 . In further implementations, the housing  402  may include additional retaining hooks  422 , each to engage with a retention edge  424  of the panel  408 . In some implementations, the retaining hook or hooks  422  may limit the amount of travel of the housing  402  along direction  407 , or a direction along which the bias member  406  may urge, force, or move the housing  402 . Thus, the retaining hook or hooks  422  may prevent the bias member  406  from disengaging or removing the housing  402  or other components of the latch  400  from the panel  408 .