JP2001329735A - Bearing mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bearing mechanism easily providing torque ranging widely, facilitating adjustment of the torque, and having a good torque ripple. SOLUTION: This bearing mechanism is constructed of a spring member 1 formed by bending an elastic plate and constructed of a folded resilient tip part 1A, a pair of resilient plate parts 1B extending from the tip part 1A respectively with a clearance S, and fixing plate parts 1C extending from the resilient plate parts 1B. The inside of the resilient tip part 1A is formed into an insertion hole H1, and a shaft member 3 is inserted into the insertion hole H1, while the resilient plate part 1A is provided with a hole for a torque adjusting screw for adjusting the clearance S by means of a torque adjusting screw 4. When the clearance S is adjusted, torque between the resilient tip part 1A and the shaft member 2 can be adjusted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bearing mechanism suitable for use as a hinge mechanism for an electronic device such as a portable computer that opens and closes a display unit at a predetermined angle when used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A bearing mechanism used in electronic equipment such as a portable computer having two parts that can be opened and closed as described above is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-8-184.
No. 246 publication. As shown in FIG. 6, the hinge mechanism 11 is a plate-shaped fixing bracket 1.
2. It comprises a movable bracket 13 and a shaft member 14 for mechanically connecting the brackets. The fixing bracket 12 is fixed to an operation unit A such as a portable computer by a fixing screw (not shown) through a screw hole 12A. The movable bracket 13 is fixed to a display section B of a portable computer or the like by a fixing screw (not shown) through a screw hole 13A. FIG. 7 shows a cross section of the plate-shaped fixed bracket 12 or the movable bracket 13 cut by the screw hole 12A or the screw hole 13A. The fitting holes 12B and 13B of the fixed bracket 12 and the movable bracket 13 into which the round bar-shaped shaft member 14 is fitted are not shown in the drawing, but are formed in a sectional circle having an inner diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the shaft member 14. Formed, the shaft member 1
4 is pressed into the fitting holes 12B and 13B. By this press-fitting, the shaft member 14 and the fitting holes 12B, 13B are inserted.
Torque is generated between the hole and the wall.

As another conventional example, each of brackets 12 ′ or 13 ′ corresponding to the fixed bracket 12 and the movable bracket 13 has a shaft formed by rolling one end of a flat plate as shown in FIG. A fitting hole 12'B or 13'B having a circular cross section to be press-fitted is formed. In this case, the fitting hole 12'B or 13'B is open at one end because one end of one flat plate is rounded. Generally, the thickness of the bracket 12 ′ or 13 ′ is thinner than the fixed bracket 12 or the movable bracket 13.

[0004]

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, FIG.
In cases such as those shown in the above, the cross section of the shaft and the cross section of the insertion hole are both circular, making it impossible to make uniform contact over the entire surface from the viewpoint of production, and the friction at a certain portion is large. There is a problem that the magnitude of the torque in the longitudinal direction of the shaft varies, such as small, in the portion, and there is a disadvantage that it is very difficult to obtain the set torque. In addition, because the elasticity of the insertion hole is naturally poor due to its structure, it may be difficult to fit the shaft into the insertion hole due to the variation in the diameter of the shaft or the diameter of the insertion hole. However, there is a disadvantage that the cost is high because of the necessity to perform the operation.

In the case shown in FIG. 8, since one side of the fitting hole is open, imbalance occurs depending on the rotation direction, and the torque in one rotation direction is large and the torque in the other rotation direction is large. There is a problem that the torque is reduced. Further, for the same reason as described above, there is a disadvantage that the magnitude of the torque in the longitudinal direction of the shaft varies.

An object of the present invention is to provide a bearing mechanism which eliminates such conventional drawbacks, can easily obtain a small torque to a large torque, can easily adjust the torque, and can maintain stable torque characteristics for a long period of time. Is an issue.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems Claim 1 of the present invention,
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and the like, a spring member is formed by bending an elastic plate, and the spring member has a bent spring-like tip portion and a pair of spring-like plate-like portions each extending with a gap therefrom. And a fixing flat plate portion extending from the spring plate portion.The inside of the spring end portion is a fitting hole, and a shaft member is fitted into the fitting hole, and the spring plate portion is The present invention provides a bearing mechanism having a hole for a torque adjusting screw, wherein the gap is adjusted by the torque adjusting screw, and a torque between the spring end portion and the shaft member can be adjusted by adjusting the gap. is there.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the bearing according to the first aspect is characterized in that the fitting hole has a triangular shape, a polygonal shape larger than that, or an elliptical shape. Provides a mechanism.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the bearing mechanism according to the first or third aspect, wherein the inner wall forming the insertion hole of the resilient tip portion has irregularities. Is provided.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is directed to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and is characterized in that the inner wall forming the insertion hole of the spring end portion and the shaft member are connected to each other. An object of the present invention is to provide a bearing mechanism provided with a lubricant in a gap therebetween.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the flat plate portions for fixing according to any one of the first to fourth aspects are in direct contact with each other or with other members interposed therebetween. An object of the present invention is to provide a single bearing mechanism that abuts or extends from one of the pair of spring plate portions.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bearing according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the torque adjusting screw also has a role of fixing the bearing mechanism to another member. Provides a mechanism.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, etc., in any one of the first to sixth aspects, a fixing screw is inserted through an insertion hole formed in a part of the fixing flat plate portion. It is intended to provide a bearing mechanism fixed to another member.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the shaft according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the fitting hole of the spring end portion has a triangular shape. The member abuts at three locations, one at the bottom of the inner wall forming the insertion hole and two at a location substantially near the entrance, and these three locations are substantially two with the one at the bottom at the top.
An object of the present invention is to provide a bearing mechanism on an equilateral triangle or a regular triangle.

[0015]

Embodiments and Examples of the Invention One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows a cross section of the bearing mechanism. Reference numeral 1 denotes a spring member formed by bending a plate having elasticity. And a fixing plate-like portion 1C extending from the spring-like plate-like portion 1B and directly in contact with each other. The fitting hole H1 formed inside the spring end portion 1A has a triangular shape, and the shaft member 2 having a circular cross section is fitted so as to push the triangular shape. The spring member 1 has a relatively large elasticity and is formed by bending a metal plate made of a metal material such as sticky carbon tool steel as shown in FIG. Grease is applied as a lubricant 3 to the inner wall of 1A.

Thereafter, as described above, the shaft member 2 on a round bar is press-fitted into the triangular fitting hole H1 of the resilient tip portion 1A. Therefore, the gap between the inner wall surface of the spring-like tip portion 1A and the shaft member 2 is filled with and held by the lubricant 3, and this lubricant 3 provides good lubrication performance for a long period of time. become. Here, there are three places a1 to a3 where the shaft member 2 abuts against the wall surface of the fitting hole H1.
The bottom of 1 and the points a2 and a3 are located near the entrance of the insertion hole H1, and these three points a1 to a3 exist on a substantially isosceles triangle or a regular triangle having the point a1 as a vertex.
The shaft member 2 is inserted into the fitting holes H at specific three places in a well-balanced manner.
The contact with the wall surface of the shaft member 2 makes the magnitude of the torque between the inner wall surface of the spring end portion 1A and the shaft member 2 during operation even more uniform, which is particularly useful for improving torque ripple.

At a substantially central portion of the spring-like plate portion 1B, one side has an insertion hole H2 larger than the diameter of the shaft portion 4A of the torque adjusting screw 4 and smaller than the diameter of the head portion 4B, and the other side thereof. Shaft 4A thicker than the one side
Is provided with a screw hole H3 to be screwed with the screw thread portion provided in. In a state where the torque adjusting screw 4 is not tightened without being screwed into the screw hole H3, a gap S of a predetermined size exists between both plate-like portions of the spring-like plate-like portion 1B. When the torque adjusting screw 4 is screwed into the screw hole H3 to be advanced, the gap S is narrowed, and the tightening force of the spring end portion 1A on the shaft member 2 is increased. If the torque adjusting screw 4 is turned in the opposite direction, the gap S is widened, and the tightening force of the spring end portion 1A on the shaft member 2 is reduced.

The fixing flat portion 1C extends from the spring plate portion 1B through the inclined portion 1D, and both flat portions are in direct contact with each other. The fixing flat plate portion 1C includes:
The head 5B is larger than the diameter of the shaft 5A of the fixing screw 5 and
An insertion hole H4 smaller than the diameter of the hole is formed. The fixing flat plate portion 1C is fixed to a member A such as an operation unit such as a portable computer or a display unit with the fixing screw 5. Although not shown, in the case of using as shown in the conventional example, a similar spring member is attached to the shaft member 2 in the opposite direction, and the spring member is used in a portable computer or the like. What is necessary is just to fix to another member like a display part or an operation part.

In the case of this bearing mechanism, not only can the torque adjusting screw 4 adjust the magnitude of the torque between the wall surface of the fitting hole H1 of the resilient tip portion 1A and the shaft member 2 in advance, but also the portable The torque can be adjusted even after being incorporated into electronic devices such as a computer for use in a computer. Therefore, there is a great effect that it is possible to adjust the torque to suit the user's preference before the shipment of the improvement of the assembly, or to each of the purchased users. Also,
By adjusting the torque, a bearing mechanism such as a hinge that exhibits a wide range of torque from a large torque to a small torque can be obtained.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the torque adjusting screw 4 also functions as a fixing screw. The pair of spring-like plate-like portions 1B has an insertion hole having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the shaft portion 4A of the torque adjusting screw 4, and a thread portion formed on the tip side of the shaft portion 4A of the torque adjusting screw 4 The threaded portion 6 is screwed into a thread portion formed on a member A such as an operation portion such as a portable computer or a display portion. Therefore, the torque adjusting screw 4 of this embodiment also serves to attach the spring member 1 to another member A.

Further, in this embodiment, one side is bent so as to be longer than the other side, and the springy plate-like portion 1B on one side is lost in the middle, and the other member A
A trapezoidal projection 1E formed by a processing process by pressure molding from the side is formed. The convex portion 1E abuts on the shorter side spring plate portion 1B, and the height of the protrusion 1E forms a gap S between both spring plate portions 1B. Springy plate-like part 1
Depending on the thickness of B and the size of the gap S, a separate metal plate or the like having a predetermined thickness may be used instead of the protrusion 1E. In order to more securely fix the bearing mechanism 1 to the member A, the longer spring plate portion 1B has a tip portion formed by, for example, a caulking portion 7 formed by spin finishing.
Is spin caulked and fixed. In this embodiment, a fixing screw is not required, and the length of the protrusion of the bearing mechanism 1 from the member A can be reduced.

Next, FIG. 5 is a view for explaining an example of the inner wall shape of the spring end portion 1A. (A) is a diagram showing the inner wall surface of the springy distal end portion 1A before bending, and a large number of conical shapes or triangular pyramids or 4 by dimpling.
It is characterized in that a lubricant holding hole 1a having a polygonal pyramid shape such as a pyramid shape or an arc-shaped cross section is formed. FIG. 5 shows a portion where the lubricant holding holes 1a are formed.
As shown in (B), a lubricant such as varnish is applied to the inner wall surface of the resilient tip portion 1A formed by bending, so that the lubricant is also applied to a large number of small lubricant holding holes 1a. The shaft member 2 is pressed into the fitting hole H1. If such a large number of small lubricant holding holes 1a are provided on the inner wall surface of the spring end portion 1A, the holding ability of the lubricant is enhanced, so that excellent lubrication performance can be maintained for a long period of time.

In the above-described embodiment, the fitting hole is 3
Although described as having a square shape, a polygonal shape such as a square shape or a pentagon shape capable of contacting a shaft member having a circular cross section at a predetermined position, or an elliptical shape may be used. Almost the same effects as in the case of the above-described triangular fitting hole can be obtained. Also, the example in which the spring member 1 and the shaft member 2 are made of a metal material has been described. However, these may be made of engineering plastic. In this case, the spring member 1 can be pre-formed into the shape shown in the figure. It is.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, a small torque to a large torque can be easily obtained, the torque can be easily adjusted, and a bearing mechanism with good torque ripple can be provided. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a cross section of an embodiment of a bearing mechanism according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing an embodiment of the bearing mechanism according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a part of a bearing mechanism according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a cross section of another embodiment of the bearing mechanism according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining an embodiment of the bearing mechanism according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining an example of a conventional bearing mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining a conventional bearing mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining a conventional bearing mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Spring member 1A ... Spring tip part 1B ... Spring plate part 1C ... Fixing plate part 2 ... Shaft member 3 ... Lubricant 4 ... Torque adjustment Screw 5: fixing screw 6: screwing portion 7: crimping portion A: other member H1: insertion hole

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3J011 PA02 RA01 3J105 AA03 AB11 AC07 BB22 BC31 DA01

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A spring member having a shape obtained by bending an elastic plate, wherein the spring member has a bent spring-shaped tip portion, and a pair of spring-shaped plate-shaped portions each extending with a gap therefrom; A flat plate portion for fixing extending from the spring-like plate-like portion, wherein an inside of the spring-like tip portion is a fitting hole, and a shaft member is fitted into the fitting hole, and the spring-like plate-like portion is a torque adjusting screw. A bearing for adjusting the torque between the spring end portion and the shaft member by adjusting the gap by adjusting the gap. 2. The fitting hole according to claim 1, wherein the fitting hole has a triangular shape or a polygonal shape having a greater shape.
Or a bearing mechanism characterized by being elliptical. 3. The bearing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the inner wall forming the insertion hole of the spring end portion has irregularities. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein a lubricant is provided in a gap between the inner wall forming the insertion hole of the spring end portion and the shaft member. Bearing mechanism. 5. The fixing flat plate portion according to claim 1, wherein the fixing flat plate portions are in direct contact with each other, or are in contact with each other with other members interposed therebetween, or the pair of spring-like plate-shaped portions are in contact with each other. A bearing mechanism comprising a single member extending from one side. 6. The bearing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the torque adjusting screw also serves to fix the bearing mechanism to another member. 7. The bearing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the bearing is fixed to another member with a fixing screw through an insertion hole formed in a part of the fixing flat portion. . 8. The shaft member according to claim 1, wherein when the insertion hole of the resilient tip portion has a triangular shape, the shaft member is connected to one bottom portion of an inner wall forming the insertion hole. Abuts three places, two near the entrance,
The bearing mechanism, wherein the three points are on an approximately isosceles triangle or a regular triangle having the bottom at one point as an apex.