Patent ID: 12256509

EMBODIMENT

In the following, reference is made to a document cover closer according to the invention, as well as to office equipment using the document cover closer, based on the attached drawings.

FIG.1toFIG.11show a perspective view illustrating an example of a document cover closer of an embodiment according to the invention and office equipment using the document cover closer; In some cases, the document cover closers1A,1B of the invention belong to a category of hinge device which rotatably attaches a document cover3to an upper surface of a main body2B of office equipment such as copying machine, multifunction printer, printer, facsimile and scanner.

As shown inFIG.1, document cover closers consist of a larger one1A on the right side and a smaller one1B on the left side ofFIG.1, wherein the document cover closer1A on the right side uses double coil springs and an oil damper, while the document cover closer1B on the left side—only a single coil spring. This is because an automatic document feeder is provided on one side portion of a document cover3, so that more load is applied only to the document cover closer on the right side. As shown inFIG.1, finger pinching preventing covers7A,7B according to the invention are attached to both, so these have an identical structure though their sizes are different. In the following, a larger document cover closer1A is described further in detail. However, document cover closers on the right and the left may also have the same size and the same structure, though both are shown in different sizes in embodiment.

A document cover closer1A according to the invention comprises an attaching member4attached to a main body2B of a copying machine2A; a supporting member5rotatably coupled via a first hinge shaft11to both side plates42,42of the attaching member4; a lift member6for attaching a document cover3, wherein it is rotatably coupled via a second hinge shaft12to the both side plates52,52of the supporting member5. It is further configured to ensure that the supporting member5is rotated during an ordinary use from a closed position at which the document cover3is in contact with an upper surface of the main body2B to the maximum opened position at use, and that the supporting member5is rotated during its maintenance from the maximum opened position at use to the maximum opened position. The document cover closer1A according to the invention is characterized in that a finger pinching preventing cover7A for preventing finger(s) from entering into a space portion R formed when the lift member6is rotated about the second hinge shaft12passing through the supporting member5is provided on the document cover closer1A. It is noted that the first hinge shaft11and the second hinge shaft12are shown in the drawings as being respectively single pieces, but it is also acceptable that each of these is divided into two and each of both side plates42,42of the attaching member4is separately pivotally attached to matching one of the both side plates52,52of the supporting member5, and also each of the both side plates52,52of the supporting member5to one of both side plates62,62of a lift member6. The first hinge shaft11and the second hinge shaft12in the present invention include the latter. It is noted that reference numerals11a,11adenote bearing members, and11b,11b—washers.

As shown inFIG.7, an attaching member4is composed of a bottom plate41attached to an upper end side on a rear portion of a main body2B; both side plates42,42extending from both side end portions of the bottom plate41in a direction perpendicular (also substantially perpendicular) to the bottom plate41; and a rear plate43extending from one end portion (rear end portion) of the bottom plate41in a direction perpendicular (also substantially perpendicular) to the bottom plate41.

A bottom plate41is formed substantially in the rectangular shape, and a large and a small attaching holes41b,41bfor attaching it to a main body2B with attaching bolts T, etc. are provided on it. The both side plates42,42are formed substantially in the L shape, and first hinge shaft holes46,46are provided at positions at which the plates extend perpendicular to the bottom plate41. Pressurized member holes47,47are provided at positions further toward the bottom plate41(below) from the first hinge shaft holes46,46on the both side plates42,42and inclined toward an inside (forward). A pressurized member13is inserted into the pressurized member holes47,47of the both side plates42,42. It is noted that the pressurized member13does not need to have a pin-like shape, but may be a curved piece or made of resin which is attached to a space between the both side plates42,42.

Still further, rail portions48,48for a finger pinching preventing cover7A to be described below are formed on an attaching member4by extending rearward both side plates42,42along both sides of a rear plate43and folding their respective tip portions in parallel with keeping intervals with the rear plate43.

A supporting member5is composed of a top plate51, both side plates52,52extending from both side end portions along a direction in which a pair of sliders31,32to be described below in a direction perpendicular (also substantially perpendicular) to the top plate51, and holding pieces54,54formed by folding 90 degrees tip portions of the both side plates52,52respectively toward the opposite side. Still further, stopper pieces55,55are provided upward from the both side plates52,52.

Second hinge shaft holes53,53(one only is shown) into which a second hinge shaft12is inserted are provided on one end portions (front end portions) of both side plates52,52, as well as notch portions56,56(one only is shown) into which an actuating member14enters. First hinge shaft insertion holes58,58are provided on other end portions (rear end portions) of the both side plates52,52. Respective axes of the first hinge shaft insertion holes58,58of a supporting member5and first hinge shaft holes46,46of an attaching member4are aligned and then a first hinge shaft11is inserted into these holes, so that the supporting member5is rotatably coupled to the attaching member4about the first hinge shaft11being an axis.

A pair of sliders31,32is fitted into a supporting member5. The pair of sliders31,32respectively comprises closure surfaces31a,32abeing bottom surfaces, and is formed in the shape of bottomed cylindrical body having a rectangular cross section. The pair of sliders31,32is respectively slidably housed in the supporting member5to ensure that their respective openings face each other, and an elastic member21consisting of compression coil springs21a,21ais resiliently provided in the pair of sliders31,32. In other words, concave interiors of the sliders31,32are formed as spring housing portions31b,32bfor housing the compression coil springs21a,21a. One or two or more compression coil spring(s)21a,21amay be provided, and for example two of them are arranged in parallel or to overlap each other. They are intended to urge the pair of sliders31,32in a direction in which they are spaced apart. Furthermore, an oil damper9is housed in one of the compression coil springs21a,21a, and installed between the slider31and the slider32. The oil damper9abuts against an inner bottom portion of the slider31when a document cover3is closed from its opened state to a predetermined closing angle, to prevent a sudden closing and realize a buffering effect.

A pair of sliders31,32is formed in a length to ensure that a document cover3is housed in a supporting member5when a bottom plate41of an attaching member4is substantially in parallel to a top plate51of a supporting member5(when a document cover3is in close contact with a surface of a contact glass2con an upper surface of a main body2B for example in case that a document cover closer1A according to the invention is attached to a copying machine2A).

An outer surface of a closure surface31abeing a bottom surface of a slider31on the tip side is formed into a flat surface. The closure surface31apresses an actuating member14by an urging force of an elastic member21to ensure that a supporting member5and a lift member6overlap each other. In this case, the invention is configured to ensure that a position at which the lift member6is coupled to the supporting member5using a second hinge shaft12is shifted upward as compared to the conventional arrangement, and that a lower surface side of a top plate61of a lift member6abuts against stopper pieces55,55provided to project upward from both side plates52,52of a supporting member5; thus it is configured to ensure that a gap comes up between a top plate51of the supporting member5and the top plate61of the lift member6to avoid an inclination of the lift member6relative to the supporting member5.

A lift member6is composed of a top plate61attached to a rear end side on a rear portion of a document cover3; and both side plates62,62extending from both side end portions of the top plate61in a direction perpendicular (also substantially perpendicular) to the top plate61. Second hinge shaft insertion holes63,63(one only is shown) are provided on tip sides of the both side plates62,62of the lift member6, and actuating member holes64,64into which an actuating member14is inserted are provided below the second hinge shaft insertion holes63,63. A pressurized member14is inserted into the pressurized member holes64,64of the both side plates62,62and fixed to them. Respective axes of the second hinge shaft insertion holes63,63of the both side plates62,62of the lift member6and second hinge shaft insertion holes53,53of a supporting member5are aligned and then a second hinge shaft12is inserted into the second hinge shaft insertion holes63,63and the second hinge shaft insertion holes53,53, so that the lift member6is rotatably coupled to the supporting member5about the second hinge shaft12being an axis. It is noted that the pressurized member14shown in the drawings have a pin or shaft-like shape, but the one of different shape or the one projecting integrally with or separately from the tip side of the lift member6may be used. The pressurized member14also includes these.

Then, a finger pinching preventing cover7A is provided between a rear end side of a supporting member5and a rear end side of a lift member6. As shown inFIG.5andFIG.6, the finger pinching preventing cover7A has a horizontal width equal to that of the lift member6, and a vertical width to fill a space portion R between the supporting member5and the lift member6, when the lift member6is reversed relative to the supporting member5. The finger pinching preventing cover7A is composed of a base plate portion8, both side plates8a,8aprovided on both sides of the base plate portion8, and engagement projections8c,8cprovided to project on both side end portions on a lower end side of an engagement plate portion8bstructured in a narrow width by folding the base plate portion8slightly inward. Then, as shown inFIG.5, attaching holes62a,62a(one only is shown) are provided on a right side end portion of both side plates62,62of the lift member6, and the finger pinching preventing cover7A is rotatably coupled to the attaching holes62a,62aby pivotally supporting pins8e,8epassing through attaching holes8d,8dprovided on upper end portions of the both side plates8a,8aof the finger pinching preventing cover7A. Furthermore, engagement projections8c,8cprovided on a lower end side of the finger pinching preventing cover7A are engaged with rail portions48,48provided on an attaching member4side.

A document cover closer1A of this embodiment can stably bring a document into a close contact with an upper surface of a main body2B of a copying machine2A, regardless of the thickness of the document. Then, a supporting member5is attached to a document cover3via a lift member6to be described below, so that the document cover closer1A can prevent as much as possible the external light from entering into the interior of a main body and from blocking an exposure. Moreover, a finger pinching preventing cover7A can prevent a user from placing his finger(s) into a space portion R between respective rear portions of the supporting member5and the lift member6to have them pinched.

Still further, a document cover closer1A of this embodiment ensures that a lower surface of a top plate61of a lift member6abuts against stopper pieces55,55of a supporting member5and that a top plate51of the supporting member5is substantially in parallel to the top plate61of the lift member6, so that a rear end portion of the lift member6is not rotated downward. In this manner, when a document cover3is lifted to place a document on a surface of a contact glass2con an upper surface of a main body2B, the document cover3is normally lifted upward with holding a grasping portion provided on an end portion opposite to a point at which the lift member6of the document cover3is attached; thus the document cover3is rotated about a first hinge shaft11being an axis to expose the surface of the contact glass2ctoward the outside. A document is placed on the surface exposed in this manner of the contact glass2c.

When a document cover3once lifted is lowered after placing a document, the document cover3is rotated about a first hinge shaft11being an axis in a direction in which the document cover3is in contact with the surface of the contact glass2c(shifted downward). Here, a document cover3is rotated, while a top plate61of a lift member6keeps abutting against stopper pieces55,55of a supporting member5by an urging force of an elastic member21, in other words, the document cover3keeps avoiding a rotation of the document cover3(a lift member6) about a second hinge shaft12being an axis.

Here, if a document placed on the surface of the contact glass2cis thin like paper, a document cover3is in surface contact when it is in contact with paper. As a result, an entire document is in contact with the document cover3and the document is pressed against the surface of the contact glass2c, so that the document is stably in close contact with the surface of the contact glass2c.

On the other hand, if a document90placed on the contact glass2cis thick like a book as shown inFIG.10, when a document cover3is closed, a part in vicinity of a supporting member5of the document cover3is in contact with an end portion90aof the document90on a supporting member5side or its vicinity, and a space portion is formed between an end portion of the document90on a side opposite to that on the supporting member5side and the document cover3. In other words, the document cover3is floating on an end portion on a grasping portion side. When a part in vicinity of an end portion on the grasping portion side is pressed against the surface of a contact glass, an actuating member presses a slider31to a slider32side to ensure that the slider31shifts toward the slider32side against an urging force of an elastic member21, and the document cover3(the lift member6) is rotated about the second hinge shaft12being an axis. In other words, the document cover3shifts to cover an upper portion of the document90. For example, if the upper portion of the document90is a flat surface, the document cover3is in surface contact with the upper portion. Accordingly, the document90thick like a book is stably in close contact with the surface of the contact glass. Further, when a lift member6is rotated about the second hinge shaft12being an axis, a space portion R is formed between a rear portion of a lift member and a rear portion of a supporting member. In this case, if the invention is not provided with a finger pinching preventing cover7A, these is a risk of finger(s) entering into the space portion R; but the space portion R is shielded by the finger pinching preventing cover7A which can prevent finger(s), etc. from entering into the space portion R and being pinched by it.

Still further, the finger pinching preventing cover7A according to the invention has its upper end portion side coupled to the lift member6by pivotally supporting pins8e,8e, and its lower end portion side engaged with rail portions48,48provided on an attaching member4by engagement projections8c,8c, so that it is configured to make it impossible to artificially remove the finger pinching preventing cover7A from a copying machine2A after the finger pinching preventing cover7A is attached to the copying machine2A; in this manner, the safety is further enhanced.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described in detail in the foregoing, a document cover closer1A can stably assure a close contact of a document with an upper surface of a main body2B regardless of the thickness of the document, the user can more safely use it than the conventional models with achieving such effect, and it is suitable in use as a document cover closer of office equipment and also as office equipment using a document cover closer.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1A document cover closer2A copying machine2B main bodyR space portion3document cover4attaching member5supporting member6lift member7A finger pinching preventing cover8base plate portion8a,8aboth side plates8bengagement plate portion8c,8cengagement projection8e,8epivotally supporting pin85plate portion11first hinge shaft12second hinge shaft13pressurized member14actuating member21elastic member21acompression coil spring31,32slider48,48rail portion