Patent Publication Number: US-11046099-B2

Title: Door assembly for serviceable machine

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Some machines, such as high-performance multi-function printers (with copying and scanning functionality), require maintenance from technicians. Typically, the technicians access an interior of the machine to interface with the controller or visually inspect the interior of the machine. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a side view of an example door assembly for a serviceable machine  20 . 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates an interior of a door for an example door assembly of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 1C  illustrates an example portion of a serviceable machine, for use with a door assembly such as shown by an example of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 1D  is a top view of an example door assembly of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 2A  is an isometric and close-up view of a region A of  FIG. 1D  when in a locked state. 
         FIG. 2B  is an isometric and close-up view of the region A of  FIG. 1D  when in an unlocked state. 
         FIG. 2C  is an isometric and close-up view of the region B of  FIG. 1D . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Examples as described provide for a door assembly that can readily attach and detach, both mechanically and electrically, from a serviceable machine to provide easy and prompt access to a serviceable area of the serviceable machine. Among other benefits, an example door assembly as described enables serviceability of serviceable machines and reduces service time, while providing a robust mechanical connection and consistent electrical connection. 
     According to some examples, a serviceable machine includes a door assembly having a door, and a jointed assembly that extends between an external surface of the serviceable machine and the door. The jointed assembly is operable to move the door between a closed position in which an interior region of the serviceable machine is covered, and an open position in which the interior portion of the interior region is unobstructed. The jointed assembly may extend connectivity to the door when the door is in either the open or closed positions. Additionally, the door can mechanically and electrically decouple from the jointed assembly. 
     According to an alternative aspect, a door assembly is provided for a serviceable machine. The door assembly may include a door and a jointed assembly as described with other examples. 
     Still further, in variations, a housing is provided for a serviceable machine. The housing may include an exterior structure, including an external surface on which an internal region of the serviceable machine is accessible. The housing may also include a door assembly having a door, and a jointed assembly. The jointed assembly connects to the external surface and extends to the door. The jointed assembly may be operable to move the door between a closed position in which the interior region of the serviceable machine is covered, and an open position in which the interior portion of the interior region is unobstructed. The jointed assembly may electrical connectivity to the door when the door is in either the open or closed positions. Additionally, the door can mechanically and electrically decouple from the jointed assembly. 
       FIG. 1A  through  FIG. 1D  illustrate an example door assembly for providing access to an interior of a serviceable machine. According to some examples, a door assembly  100  may include a door  110  and multiple jointed assemblies  120 . In some implementations, the door assembly  100  may be an integrated feature of the serviceable machine  20 . In variations, the door assembly  100  may be provided as a modularized assembly that can be manufactured separately for the serviceable machine  20 . For example, the door assembly can be provided as a retrofit or accessory unit for a serviceable machine. Still further, the door assembly  100  may be provided as part of a housing  28  or housing section of the serviceable machine. 
     According to some examples, each jointed assembly  120  can extend or otherwise move about at least the X and Y axes, to enable movement of the door  110  as between multiple positions relative to a face  25  of the serviceable machine  20 . According to some examples, the door assembly  100  can be manipulated to move the door  110  from an attached position that fully obstructs and confines an interior portion  22  of a serviceable machine  20 , to multiple extended positions which provide partial or complete access to the interior portion  22 . 
     Additionally, in some examples, the door  110  can be decoupled and removed from the door assembly  100  to provide greater ease of access to the interior  22  of the serviceable machine  20 . Still further, in some examples, the door assembly  100  can maintain an electrical connection to enable operability of switches or electrical features related to the operation of the serviceable machine  20 , even when the door  110  is in one of the extended positions. 
     The serviceable machine  20  may correspond to, for example, machinery that maintains replenishable resources within the interior region  22 . By way of example, the serviceable machine  20  may correspond to an office printer, copier, and/or scanner. In other examples, the serviceable machine  20  may correspond to a 3D printer. The interior region  22  of the serviceable machine  20  may maintain replenishable resources, such as toner or ink (e.g., for printer) or filament (e.g., for 3D printer). The interior region  22  of the serviceable machine  20  may also provide access to components which may typically be serviced by users or technicians. For example, the interior region  22  may provide access to a controller (e.g., computerized component) for enabling operation of the serviceable machine  20 . Depending on the serviceable machine  20 , a technician may perform operations such as refilling resources which are used by the serviceable machine  20 , interfacing with ports of a controller, and/or replacing components (e.g., controller) of the door assembly  100 . As described with examples, a technician or other user can manipulate the door assembly  100  to obtain access to the interior region  22  of the serviceable machine  20  as needed. 
     As illustrated by an example of  FIG. 1A  through  FIG. 1D , the door assembly  100  can be manipulated to move the door  110  from a closed position (e.g., door location  121 ) to an open position (e.g., door location  123 ). The door location  123  may correspond to a fully open position, where the door assembly  100  remains mechanically connected to the serviceable machine  20 , and the interior region  22  is completely unobstructed by the door  110 . 
     Still further, in some examples, the door  110  can be removed from the door assembly  100 . For example, the door  110  can be removed from the door assembly  100  only when in the open position, or when the door is in any of the depicted door locations  121 - 123 . Among other benefits, when serviceable machine  20  requires service, a technician or user may swing the door  110  from the closed position to the open position and ultimately remove the door from serviceable machine  20  in order to gain access to the serviceable area. In describing an example of  FIG. 1A  through  FIG. 1D , reference is made to a reference frame defined by axes X, Y, and Z. 
       FIG. 1A  is a side view of the door assembly  100  for serviceable machine  20 , showing manipulation of the door  110  between alternative door positions. The jointed assemblies  120  can be structured to enable movement of the door  110  in multiple directions, such as along reference axes X, Y. In one implementation, the door  110  can be manipulated to swing from a closed position (shown by door location  121 ) to a partially opened position (shown by door location  122 ), and then to a closed position (shown by door location  123 ). In variations, the door  110  can translate separately in X and Y directions to be positioned in any of the open, partially opened, or closed positions. For example, the door  110  may be moved linearly in the X direction to move from the closed position (door location  121 ) to a partially opened position (door location  122 ). As an addition or variation, the door  110  may be moved linearly in the Y direction move from the partially opened position (door location  122 ) to the opened position (door location  123 ). Still further, the jointed assemblies  120  may include hinges or pivot connectors that enable the door  110  to swivel and change orientation when moved between the door locations  121 ,  122  and/or  123 . 
     In some examples, at least one jointed assemblies  120  is integrated with one or more electrical connectors, such that movement of the door  110  as between door locations  121 ,  122  and/or  123  maintains a desired electrical connection with respect to a functionality or component of serviceable machine  20 . For example, a power switch may be provided with the door  110 , which the user can operate to switch the serviceable machine  20  on or off. At least one jointed assembly  120  may be structured to maintain the electrical connectivity provided by the power switch. 
     In one implementation, the door  110  swings (along X and Y axes) toward serviceable machine  20  and the open position (door location  123 ). When swung back, an interior panel  102  of the door  110  is oriented inward to face and be substantially aligned with the exterior face  25  of the serviceable machine  20 . The interior panel  102  of the door  110  may be abutted against, or otherwise closely located to the exterior face  25  of serviceable machine  20 . When the door  110  is positioned at door location  123  in this manner, the interior region  22  of the serviceable machine  20  is fully accessible, while the door  110  is at least mechanically connected to the serviceable machine  20 . In some variations, one or more components provided with the door  110  may also maintain electrical connectivity with respect to the serviceable machine  20 . 
     To gain even greater access to the interior region  22  of the serviceable machine  20 , door  110  can be removed completely from a remainder of the door assembly  100 . In one implementation, the door assembly  100  includes a locking mechanism  230  (see  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B ) to enable the door  110  to be mechanically locked and unlocked with respect to a remainder of the door assembly  100 . When in the closed position (door location)  123 , for example, the locking mechanism  230  (see  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B ) can be manipulated (e.g., manually) to an unlocked position such that the door  110  can be detached from the door assembly  100 . Once removed, the door  110  is mechanically and electronically disconnected from serviceable machine  20 . 
       FIG. 1B  illustrates an interior of the door for an example door assembly of  FIG. 1A . According to some examples, the interior panel  102  of the door  110  includes a shell  101  and frame  112 . Each of the shell  101  and frame  112  may be formed from, for example, plastic, polymer composite and/or metal. In one implementation, the shell  101  is formed from plastic, while the frame  112  is formed from metal or other that can stiffen the exterior shell  101 . The process of opening and closing the door  110  may require the technician or user to manually engage exterior plastic shell  101  to either pull the door open or push the door closed. The stiffening of exterior plastic shell  101  by interior frame  112  improves the mechanical integrity of exterior plastic shell  101 . 
     The interior panel  102  may include multiple cutouts, including openings  103  and  104 , located on opposite side of interior frame  112 . Each of the openings  103 ,  104  receives and retains a corresponding jointed assembly  120 , so as to couple the door  110  to the serviceable machine  20 . As described in greater detail, the openings  103 ,  104  can be coupled with a corresponding locking mechanism  230  (see  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B ), to receive and retain an end of a corresponding jointed assembly  120  in a locked orientation. The locking mechanism can also be manipulated about a respective one of the openings  103 ,  104  into an unlocked position, to enable detachment of the door  110  from the corresponding jointed assembly. While an example of  FIG. 1B  illustrates two openings  103 ,  104 , other examples may provide for more or fewer cutouts and/or jointed assemblies. 
     According to some examples, the interior panel  102  also includes a power feature  105  (e.g., mechanical button, touch-sensitive surface, etc.) or other electrical component or set of components. The power feature  105  can be electrically connected to a connector  106  (e.g., printed circuit board with electrical leads), such that the connector  106  is able to electronically connect with the power feature  105 . The power feature  105  provides an example of a command interface to the controller of the serviceable machine  20 . For example, a user may press the power feature  105  in order to cause the controller of the serviceable machine to receive a power-down or shut-off command. Among other benefits, the placement of the power feature  105  (or other electrical function) on the door  110  enables a technician or user to power down the serviceable machine  20  when the door  110  is in either the closed or opened positions. In this way, a technician or user can, for example, visually inspect the interior region  22  of the serviceable machine  20  before making a determination to power the machine off, without having to move the door  110  from the open position to the closed position. In variations, other electrical components (e.g., control panel) can be electrically connected and provided on the door  110  for use by a technician or user when the door  110  is in either of the open or closed positions. 
       FIG. 1C  illustrates a portion of a serviceable machine, for use with a door assembly such as shown by an example of  FIG. 1A . In an example shown, the jointed assemblies  120  extend from a housing  28  of the exterior face  25  of the serviceable machine  20 . The housing  28  may be concealed by the door  110  when the door is in the closed position. By way of example, the housing  28  may include a cartridge area  115 , an illumination area  114 , and a mechanical area  116 . 
     The jointed assemblies  120  may extend from, for example, a perimeter of the housing  28 . As described with examples of  FIG. 2A  through  FIG. 2C , each jointed assembly  120  may be implemented as a four-bar style hinge mechanism, with one end section fastened to the exterior face of the serviceable machine  20 , and another end section (now shown) fastened to the interior panel  102  of the door  110 . When a technician or user completely removes door  110 , door  110  detaches from jointed assemblies  120 , but the jointed assemblies  120  remain attached to serviceable machine  20  via the fastened end section  112 . 
     In addition to the mechanical connection between door  110  and serviceable machine  20 , jointed assembly  120  may also extend electrical connectivity (e.g., through internal wiring) from the serviceable machine  20  to the door  110 . As discussed with other examples, the door assembly  100  can be operated to move the door  110  from the closed position to the open position, while maintaining electrical connectivity via the jointed assembly  120 . Like the mechanical connection, the electrical connection disconnects when a technician or user removes the door. 
       FIG. 1D  is a top view of an example door assembly such as shown by  FIG. 1A . As shown, the door assembly  100  provides for the door  110  to be moved as between a closed position (shown by door location  121 ) and an open position (shown by door location  123 ). In the closed position, the interior region  22  of the serviceable machine is occluded, while in the open position, the interior region  22  is completely unobstructed by the door  110 . The distance D between the door  110  and the serviceable machine  20  may vary, based on implementation. For example, the door  110  may abut the exterior face  25  of the serviceable machine  20  in the closed position, or there may alternatively be provided a gap or separation distance. 
     In an example shown, at least two jointed assemblies  120  may mechanically connect the door  110  with the serviceable machine  20 . As described with an example of  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B  (showing a close-up of region A), one or both jointed assemblies  120  may be provided a locking mechanism to mechanically couple and decouple with the door  110 . As described with an example of  FIG. 2C  (showing a close-up of region B), at least one of the jointed assemblies  120  provides electrical connectivity to the door  110  when the door is in either of the open or closed positions. 
       FIG. 2A  is an isometric and close-up view of a region A of  FIG. 1D , illustrating a juncture between the door  110  and one of the jointed assemblies  120  of an example door assembly  100 . As shown, the jointed assembly  120  extends from the serviceable machine  20  (not shown in  FIG. 2A ) to the interior panel  102  of the door  110 . The jointed assembly  120  includes a machine-side interface  218  to connect to serviceable machine  20 . Additionally, the jointed assembly  120  includes multiple members  210  and joints  212  to enable the door  110  to swing and/or translate. For example, the members  210  can be moved about the joints  212 , to enable the door  110  and/or translate along the X and Y axes. In one implementation, the jointed assembly  210  includes multiple bars that collectively extend outward (e.g., along X) to the interior of the door  110 , to enable the swinging motion of door  110  (e.g., in X and y). 
     In  FIG. 2A , the jointed assembly  120  includes a door interface end  224  that extends through the opening  104  of the door  110 . The door interface end  224  of jointed assembly  120  may mirror a shape of the opening  104 , to enable the door interface end  224  to be received and retained within the opening  104 . A locking mechanism  230  can extend from the interior panel  102  to block lateral movement (e.g., perpendicular to longitudinal reference) of the door interface end  224  with respect to the opening  104 . The locking mechanism  230  may engage with features of the interior panel  102  and/or jointed assembly  120  to bias or lock into a position that blocks movement of the jointed assembly  120  with respect to the opening  104 . In one implementation, the locking mechanism  230  (see  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B ) blocks lateral movement of the jointed assembly  120  along a direction of the Y reference. In this way, the door interface end  224  is constrained and retained within the opening  104 . 
     According to some examples, the locking mechanism  230  includes a pivot connection to the interior panel  102 . In some implementations, the pivot connection of the locking mechanism  230  may also be spring-loaded, so that the locking mechanism is biased to remain in the locked orientation. When in the locked orientation, the jointed assembly  120  may be pressed against the interior panel  102  (via the locking mechanism  230 ) while the door interface of the jointed assembly  120  partially extends through the opening  104 . 
       FIG. 2B  illustrates the juncture between the door  110  and the jointed assembly  120  in an unlocked state. In one example, the locking mechanism  230  is T-shaped, with a narrow end pinned to the interior surface  225  of the interior panel  102  of the door  110 . To transition from the locked state to the unlocked state, the wider end of the locking mechanism  230  is pivoted into a clearing of the interior panel  102 , so that it provides no obstruction to the lateral movement of the jointed member. 
     In variations, the locking mechanism  230  can be pivoted between alternative states of bias and non-bias, corresponding to the locked and unlocked states. In the unlocked state, the locking mechanism  230  can be pivoted into an orientation in which the bias with respect to the interior panel  102  is lost. In one implementation, the interior panel  102  of the door  110  can include a thickness variation that is used to engage the locking mechanism  230  in the locked state. When pivoted, the thickness of the interior panel  102  may provide clearance. The clearance provided by the relative thickness variation can release the bias of the locking mechanism  230 , resulting in the jointed assembly  120  becoming loosely engaged with the opening  104 . 
     In use, a technician or other user may manually pivot the locking mechanism  230  90 degrees into the unlocked position. With the locking mechanism  230  in the unlocked position, the door  110  can be detached from the corresponding jointed assembly  120 . 
     According to some examples, two jointed assemblies  120  extend between the door  110  and the serviceable machine  20 . Each of the jointed assemblies may connect to the door  110  via one of the corresponding openings  103 ,  104  using a corresponding locking mechanism  230 . In variations, only some (e.g., one of the two jointed assemblies  120 ) includes the locking mechanism  230 , and the engagement of the locking mechanism on one end of the door  110  forcibly retains both jointed assemblies  120  with their respective openings  103 ,  104  of the door  110 . 
       FIG. 2C  is an isometric and close-up view of a region B of  FIG. 1D , illustrating another juncture between the door  110  and one of the jointed assemblies  120  of an example door assembly  100 . In  FIG. 2C , the jointed assembly  120  provides electrical interconnect to the door  110 . In one implementation, only one of the jointed assemblies  120  extends electrical connectivity to the door  110 . In variations, multiple (or all) jointed segments  120  provide electrical connectivity to the door  110 . 
     As shown by an example of  FIG. 2C , the jointed assembly  120  extends partially through the opening  103 , where it is retained. In one implementation, the locking mechanism  230  can be assumed occluded and can be implemented in a manner described with an example of  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B . Accordingly, the jointed assembly  120  can be forcibly retained within the opening when in the locked state. 
     As described with  FIG. 1B , the door  110  may include connector  106  to extend electrical connectivity through the door  110 . In one implementation, the connector  106  can include electrical leads  232  and outlet  236 . As the electrical interconnected, the jointed assembly  120  may include a contact extension  234  that is aligned over the electrical leads  232  of the connector  106  (provided on the interior panel  102  of the door  110 ). The contact extension  234  can include, for example, pogo pin or wiper type connector elements on an opposing face (now shown), in alignment with the connector  106 . In variations, other types of electrical connectors may be used, including, for example, near-field connectors for exchanging power. In this way, the electrical leads  232  of the interior door are positioned to electrically mate with corresponding connectors of the jointed assembly  120 . 
     In an example of  FIG. 2C , when the jointed assembly  120  is in the locked state, the contact extension  234  is pressed against the electrical leads  232  of the connector  106 . The electrical connectivity from the serviceable machine  20  is thus extended to the connector  106 , and made available through the output connector  236 . The output connector  236  may connect to, for example, a switch or electrical lead of the power feature  105 . In this way, the jointed assembly  120  may maintain the electrical connection with the leads  232  as the door  110  is moved between the open and closed positions. In this way, a technician or user can, for example, operate the power switch when the door  110  is in either the open or closed positions (or partially-opened positions). 
     It is contemplated for examples described herein to extend to individual elements and concepts described herein, independently of other concepts, ideas or system, as well as for examples to include combinations of elements recited anywhere in this application. Although examples are described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the concepts are not limited to those precise examples. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the concepts be defined by the following claims and their equivalents. Furthermore, it is contemplated that a particular feature described either individually or as part of an example can be combined with other individually described features, or parts of other examples, even if the other features and examples make no mentioned of the particular feature. Thus, the absence of describing combinations should not preclude having rights to such combinations.