JP2006046616A - Biaxial hinge - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the workability in adjusting torque and assembling, and to miniaturize a biaxial hinge by using a brake torque generating mechanism in common in the biaxial hinge comprising an X-direction hinge shaft and a Y-direction hinge shaft having a brake torque function. <P>SOLUTION: The X-direction hinge shaft 1 and the Y-direction hinge shaft 2 are interlocked with each other by the engagement of bevel gears respectively mounted on the X and Y-direction hinge shafts, and the brake torque generating mechanism 31 is mounted on the X-direction hinge shaft 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a biaxial hinge used when an auxiliary device such as a display is attached to an apparatus body such as an electronic office machine so as to be openable and closable.

In the biaxial hinge as described above, a brake torque generating mechanism is provided in the opening / closing and rotating mechanism of the auxiliary device, and an appropriate brake torque is applied to the operation at the time of opening / closing and rotation, and an arbitrary opening / closing angle or arbitrary rotation is provided. In order to eliminate the inconvenience of self-holding at an angle, closing suddenly, or turning too lightly (Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-155923 A (FIG. 1, FIG. 2, paragraph 0018)

  The biaxial hinge disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes brake torque on both the opening / closing hinge shaft (referred to as “X direction hinge shaft” in the present invention) and the rotary hinge shaft (also referred to as “Y direction hinge shaft”). Since the generation mechanism is provided, the structure is complicated, and it is necessary to adjust the brake torque with the respective hinge shafts. Therefore, there is a problem that the assembly is very troublesome.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem by sharing a brake torque generating mechanism for the X direction hinge shaft and the Y direction hinge shaft.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, in the present invention, an X-direction hinge shaft, a Y-direction hinge shaft orthogonal to the X-direction hinge shaft, a bearing member that independently supports each hinge shaft, and an inner end portion of each hinge shaft A biaxial hinge comprising: a swinging bearing member that supports the shaft rotatably and swings about the X-direction hinge shaft; and a brake torque generating mechanism that applies a brake torque to both the hinge shafts. The brake torque generation mechanism is provided on the X-direction hinge shaft by interlocking the shaft and the Y-direction hinge shaft by engagement of bevel gears attached thereto.

  The biaxial hinge of the above configuration is used for use by fixing the bearing member of the X-direction hinge shaft to the device body side, and inserting and fixing the Y-direction hinge shaft to the auxiliary device. The auxiliary device is centered on the X-direction hinge shaft. And is rotated about the Y-direction hinge axis. When the auxiliary device is opened and closed, the X direction bevel gear rotates to generate a predetermined brake torque in the brake torque generation mechanism. Further, when the auxiliary device rotates, the X-direction bevel gear rotates due to the rotation of the Y-direction hinge shaft, so that the brake torque is generated in the same brake generation mechanism.

  Further, the X-direction hinge shaft is arranged on both sides of the Y-direction hinge shaft, and bevel gears are provided on both or one side of the two X-direction hinge shafts. The brake torque generation mechanism can be provided on the X-direction hinge shaft provided with the bevel gear. In this case, if both the X-direction hinge shafts are provided with bevel gears and each hinge shaft is provided with a brake torque generating mechanism, the bevel gear is provided only on one hinge shaft, and brake torque is generated on the hinge shaft. Compared to the configuration provided with the mechanism, it is possible to generate a brake torque twice as large.

  The torque generating mechanism includes a torque generating shaft integral with the X-direction hinge shaft, and a C-shaped spring attached to the outer diameter surface of the torque generating shaft with a required binding force. A configuration in which hooks provided at both ends are engaged with a part of the bearing member of the X-direction hinge shaft can be employed.

  Further, the bearing member of the X direction hinge shaft is fixed to the device main body, the outer end portion of the Y direction hinge shaft is fixed to the display of the device main body, and the X direction hinge shaft is used as an opening / closing hinge shaft of the display. In addition, the Y-direction hinge axis can be used as a rotation hinge axis of the display.

  As described above, according to the present invention, by providing the brake torque generation mechanism only on the X direction hinge shaft, the same brake torque generation mechanism can be shared in both cases of opening and closing and rotation of auxiliary equipment and the like. Therefore, the assembly of the hinge mechanism is facilitated, and the hinge mechanism can be made compact. In addition, since the outer end portion of each of the X direction hinge shaft and the Y direction hinge shaft is supported by the bearing member and the inner end portion is supported by the common swing bearing member, the support rigidity of each hinge shaft is A biaxial hinge that is raised and has no play is obtained.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The biaxial hinge of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 has two X direction hinge shafts 1, 1 ′ and one Y direction hinge shaft 2 arranged in a direction perpendicular thereto.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the X-direction bearing member 3 that supports the two X-direction hinge shafts 1, 1 ′ is provided with a pair of left and right bearing plates 5, 5 on the fixed plate 4 at regular intervals. Bearing holes 6 and 6 are provided in the plates 5 and 5. An axial groove 7 is provided on the fixed plate 4 protruding outside the one bearing plate 5. In addition, the half part of the outer end of the one X-direction hinge shaft 1 is formed to have a slightly larger diameter, and serves as a torque generating shaft 8 that constitutes a part of a brake torque generating mechanism 31 described later. The X-direction hinge shaft 1 is inserted through the bearing hole 6, and the other X-direction hinge shaft 1 'is inserted through the other bearing hole 6 and is rotatably supported.

  A rocking bearing member 9 is interposed between the bearing plates 5 and 5. The rocking bearing member 9 has a bottom surface portion 11 having an arcuate surface, and connection plates 12 and 12 are provided at both ends thereof, and shaft holes 13 and 13 are provided in the connection plates 12 and 12. The bottom surface portion 11 places a slight gap on the upper surface of the fixed plate 4 and the connecting plates 12 and 12 are disposed in contact with the inner sides of the bearing plates 5 and 5. Further, the shaft holes 13 and 13 coincide with the bearing holes 6 and 6 described above. A bearing block portion 14 is integrally provided on the bottom surface portion 11 with a slight gap between the connecting plates 12 and 12. Bearing holes 15 and 15 (refer to FIG. 1) formed by blind holes coaxial with the shaft holes 13 and 13 are provided on the left and right end surfaces of the bearing block portion 14. A bearing hole 16 formed of a blind hole is also provided on the upper end surface of the bearing block portion 14. The bearing block portion 14 is formed lower than the connecting plates 12 and 12 on both sides. In addition, inwardly engaging edges 17, 17 are provided at the upper ends of the connecting plates 12, 12.

  Y-direction bearing members 18 are interposed along the inner surfaces of the connecting plates 12 and 12 on both sides of the bearing block portion 14. The Y-direction bearing member 18 is formed by bending a plate member made of a required material into a downward U-shape (see FIG. 3), and the lower end edges of the left and right side surfaces are arcs of the bottom surface portion 11 of the rocking bearing member. It is formed in an arc shape that coincides with. The side plates 19 and 19 are provided with shaft holes 21 and 21, and the upper end surface 22 is provided with a bearing hole 23. The shaft holes 21 and 21 coincide with the shaft holes 13 and 13. The Y-direction bearing member 18 is fitted with both side plates 19, 19 in contact with the connecting plates 12, 12 of the rocking bearing member 9, and the corners of the side plates 19, 19 and the upper end surface 22 are the above-mentioned locking sides. 17 and 17 are integrated.

  A Y-direction bevel gear 24 is disposed on the lower surface of the upper end surface 22 of the Y-direction bearing member 18, and an X-direction bevel gear 25 is disposed on the inner side of one side plate 19. The Y-direction bevel gear 24 penetrates the Y-direction hinge shaft 2, and the gear 24 is fixed to the hinge shaft 2 by a screw 26 screwed therein. The distal end portion of the hinge shaft 2 is rotatably inserted into the bearing hole 16 in the Y direction of the bearing block portion 14. The X-direction bevel gear 25 is penetrated by the X-direction hinge shaft 1, and the gear 25 is fixed to the hinge shaft 1 by a screw 27 screwed into the X-direction hinge shaft 1. The distal end portion of the hinge shaft 1 is also rotatably inserted into the bearing hole 15 in the X direction of the bearing block portion 14. As a result of the bevel gears 24 and 25 meshing with each other, the rotation of one hinge shaft 1 or 2 is transmitted to the other hinge shaft 2 or 1.

  The other X-direction hinge shaft 1 ′ passes through the left bearing hole 6 and the shaft hole 13, and its tip is inserted into the left X-direction bearing hole 15 of the bearing block portion 14. The bearing block portion 14 is integrated with a screw 28 screwed from the bearing block portion 14. Further, a snap ring 29 is attached to the exposed end of the hinge shaft 1 'from the bearing plate 5 to position the hinge shaft 1' in the axial direction.

  A brake torque generating mechanism 31 is provided at the outer end of the X-direction hinge shaft 1. This brake torque generating mechanism 31 has the above-described torque generating shaft 8 and a plurality of C-shaped springs 32 mounted around the torque generating shaft 8 with a constant binding force, and both ends of each C-shaped spring 32 are outward. A pair of hooks 33 are formed protruding in parallel. The hook 33 is engaged with the groove 11 of the X-direction bearing member 3 to prevent rotation. What is arranged at the inner end of the C-shaped spring 32 is in contact with the bearing plate 5, and a snap ring 34 is mounted in contact with the C-shaped spring 32 arranged at the outer end.

  The biaxial hinge of the first embodiment is configured as described above, and is interposed between the personal computer main body 38 and the display 36, for example, as shown in FIG. The biaxial hinge 37 shown in the figure fixes the X direction bearing member 3 to the rear edge of the personal computer main body 38 and inserts the outer end of the Y direction hinge shaft 2 into the center of the lower end edge of the display 36 to be fixed. .

  When the closed display 36 is opened with the personal computer main body 38 and the display 36 connected by the biaxial hinge 37, the Y direction bevel gear 24 rotates the X direction bevel gear 25 integrally with the Y direction hinge shaft 2. It rotates together with the Y-direction bearing member 18 and the rocking bearing member 9 around the X-direction hinge shaft 2. At this time, the X-direction hinge shaft 1 is rotated by the rotation of the X-direction bevel gear 25, and at the same time, the torque generating shaft 8 of the brake torque generating mechanism 31 is also rotated. Due to the rotation of the torque generating shaft 8, a brake torque is applied by a C-shaped spring that is bound to the outer peripheral surface thereof. For this reason, a certain hand force is required to open the display 36, and when the hand force is removed during the release, the display 36 self-holds at the angle at that time. Further, when the display 36 is closed, the same brake torque is applied, and the display 36 is prevented from closing suddenly.

  In addition, when the display 36 is opened and closed, torque in the rotation direction also acts on the display 36, but the torque is supported by the force of the hand that holds the display 36 and is prevented from rotating.

  Further, when the display 36 is rotated around the Y-direction hinge shaft 2 with the display 36 opened, the Y-direction bevel gear 24 rotates, and the X-direction bevel gear 25 meshed with the Y-direction bevel gear 25 rotates. The torque generation mechanism 31 applies the same brake torque as described above. Thereby, the display 36 can be self-held at an arbitrary rotation angle.

  Next, in the biaxial hinge of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the X direction hinge shafts 1 and 1 are arranged symmetrically on the left and right of the Y direction hinge shaft 2, and the X direction bevel gears 25 and 25 are also arranged symmetrically. The Y direction bevel gear 24 is meshed with both sides. As a result, similar brake torque generating mechanisms 31 and 31 are formed on both X-direction hinge shafts 1 and 1. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  Although the X-direction hinge shafts 1 and 1 rotate in opposite directions, brake torque is generated in the respective brake torque generation mechanisms 31 and 31, so that a larger brake torque can be applied.

Front view of Embodiment 1 Side view Exploded perspective view Perspective view of the usage state Front view of Embodiment 2

Explanation of symbols

1, 1 'X-direction hinge shaft 2 Y-direction hinge shaft 3 X-direction bearing member 4 Fixed plate 5 Bearing plate 6 Bearing hole 7 Groove 8 Torque generating shaft 9 Swing bearing member 11 Bottom surface portion 12 Connecting plate 13 Shaft hole 14 Bearing block Portion 15 Bearing hole 16 Bearing hole 17 Locking side 18 Y-direction bearing member 19 Side plate 21 Shaft hole 22 Upper end surface 23 Bearing hole 24 Y-direction bevel gear 25 X-direction bevel gears 26 to 28 Screw 29 Snap ring 31 Brake torque generating mechanism 32 C-shaped spring 33 Hook 34 Snap ring 36 Display 37 Biaxial hinge 38 PC body

Claims (4)

  X-direction hinge shaft and Y-direction hinge shaft orthogonal thereto, bearing members for independently supporting these hinge shafts, the inner end of each hinge shaft being rotatably supported and centered on the X-direction hinge shaft In a biaxial hinge comprising an oscillating bearing member capable of oscillating and a brake torque generating mechanism for applying a brake torque to both the hinge shafts, a bevel gear mounted with the X-direction hinge shaft and the Y-direction hinge shaft respectively attached thereto A two-axis hinge characterized in that the brake torque generation mechanism is provided on the X-direction hinge shaft by being interlocked by engagement.   The X-direction hinge shaft is disposed on both sides of the Y-direction hinge shaft, bevel gears are provided on both or one of the two X-direction hinge shafts, and the gear is engaged with the bevel gear of the Y-direction hinge shaft. The biaxial hinge according to claim 1, wherein the brake torque generating mechanism is provided on an X-direction hinge shaft provided with the bevel gear.   The torque generating mechanism includes a torque generating shaft integral with the X-direction hinge shaft, and a C-shaped spring attached to the outer diameter surface of the torque generating shaft with a required binding force, and both ends of the C-shaped spring. The two-axis hinge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a hook provided in a portion is engaged with a part of a bearing member of the X-direction hinge shaft.   The bearing member of the X direction hinge shaft is fixed to the device main body, the outer end portion of the Y direction hinge shaft is fixed to the display of the device main body, and the X direction hinge shaft is used as an opening / closing hinge shaft of the display. The biaxial hinge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the Y-direction hinge axis is used as a rotary hinge axis of the display.

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