JPH11163548A - Buffer device for opening/closing member - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a buffer device for an opening/closing member which can buffer the opening/closing member in both directions of opening and closing the member, can provide high stable operations of buffering the member and stopping it at an intermediate position, can have a simple mechanism, and can be manufactured with low costs. SOLUTION: A pair of linkage members 6 are extended between a stationary member 4 fixed onto a body 2 of a copying machine or the like and an original- document transportation device 1 such as an opening/closing member. One ends of a pair of linear members 9 is connected to the pair of linkage members 6, the linear members 9 are wound at their middle parts around stationary shafts 5, and are connected to each other at the other ends through resilient members 11. When the transportation device 1 is put in its closed position, the linkage members 6 are put in their straight-tension state, whereas, when the device is put in its opened state, the linkage members are pulled by the linear members 9 and bent.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an opening / closing member for opening / closing a main body, such as a document feeder of a copying machine, for buffering an impact at the time of opening / closing or for stopping the opening / closing. Related to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An original document feeder (auto document feeder) mounted on a main body of a copier, when opened and closed by hand, is placed in a tilted upright posture and is open for safety.
In consideration of operability, it is required to be able to stop at an arbitrary position in the middle and to be able to open and close lightly.

A conventional shock absorber having such a function uses a plurality of compression coil springs, and is mechanically complicated and expensive, and operates to shock the opening / closing member and stop the intermediate position. Was lacking in stability.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an opening / closing member, such as a document feeder, which can be buffered in both the opening direction and the closing direction, as well as the operation of buffering the opening / closing member and stopping the intermediate position. An object of the present invention is to provide a shock absorber for an opening / closing member which has a high stability and can be reduced in cost with a simple mechanism.

[0005]

A shock absorber according to the present invention comprises a fixing member 4 for supporting the opening / closing member 1 at a closed position and an open position about a support shaft 3, and a fixing member 4 and an opening / closing member. When the opening and closing member 1 is in the closed position, the connecting member 6 is bent straight when the opening and closing member 1 is in the open position.
And a linear member 9 having one end connected to the connecting member 6 by winding an intermediate portion around the fixed shaft 5 and applying a tensile force to the linear member 9 connected to the other end of the linear member 9. Elastic member 1
1 is provided.

Although there is no functional problem with such a mechanism provided for the opening / closing member 1 in a single set, it is preferable to provide two sets in consideration of stability and strength. The structure in this case is such that a pair of connecting members 6 are provided between the fixing member 4 and the opening / closing member 1.
And a pair of linear members 9 are
Are connected to each other, an intermediate portion of each linear member 9 is wound around the fixed shaft 5, and the other ends of the pair of linear members 9 are connected to each other via an elastic member 11.

In order to smoothly bend the connecting member 6,
One end of the linear member 9 is slidably connected to an intermediate portion of the connecting member 6.

According to the present invention, when the opening / closing member 1 is in the open / closed state in the closed position and in the inclined position in the open position, the opening / closing member 1 can be stopped even in the half-open state in the middle. It is suitable when 1 is the housing of the document feeder. In this case, the fixing member 4 is fixed to the main body 2 such as a copying machine.

[0009]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a case (hereinafter referred to as an "ADF") 1 of a document feeder, which is an opening / closing member, in which a buffering device according to the present invention is used.
It is shown that it is openably and closably mounted at a closed position where it falls down on the upper surface of the main body as shown by a solid line and an open position where it becomes an inclined standing posture as shown by a dashed line.

In general, an ADF of a copying machine or the like holds the ADF open when copying a book or a special original, and closes the ADF and presses the original from above when copying a normal original. When the ADF is operated by hand, the ADF is kept open when it is open and does not fall easily. In consideration of workability, the ADF can be stopped at any position in the middle, and the opening and closing operation Is required to be light.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show a mechanism of the shock absorber according to the present invention which meets such a demand. ADF1 is
The supporting member 3 is pivotally attached to a plate-shaped fixing member 4, and the fixing member 4 is fixed to the upper surface of the main body 2 by a fastening member (not shown), thereby being mounted on the main body 2. And ADF1 is
As shown by a chain line in FIG. 2, further rotation is restricted by a stopper (not shown) so that the maximum opening limit angle is obtained in an upright posture slightly inclined forward from a right angle. Note that the fixing member 4 may be integrated with the main body 2.

The front end of the fixing member 4 is on the support shaft 3 side (rear side).
It is bent in a V-shape, and its tip is bent downward to form an inclined headstock portion 4a. The fixed shafts 5 are fixed to the shaft base 4a by caulking on both sides of the ADF 1 (both sides in the axial direction of the support shaft 3). The fixed shaft 5 is inclined to the opposite side (front side) to the support shaft 3 side because the shaft base 4a is inclined. A flange 5 a is provided at the upper end of the fixed shaft 5.

Between the ADF 1 and the fixing member 4, a pair of bendable connecting members 6 are bridged on both sides of the ADF 1. That is, on each of both sides of the ADF 1, a bar-shaped or plate-shaped bendable connection is provided between a connection pin 7 provided at the rear end of the fixing member 4 and a connection pin 8 provided on the ADF 1 away from the support shaft 4. Both ends of the member 6 are connected.

On each side of the ADF 1, an intermediate portion of the linear member 9 is wound around the fixed shaft 5 several times, and one end of the linear member 9 is connected to the connecting member 6 by a ring 10 fixed to the one end. Are linked. Connecting member 6
Is inserted through the ring 10, so that one end of the linear member 9 is slidable with respect to the connecting member 6. And
In order to apply the same tensile force to the linear members 9 on both sides, the other end is a common elastic member (a tension coil spring in this example).
11 and are connected to each other.

Next, the operation will be described. As shown by the chain line in FIG. 2, when the ADF 1 is opened to the maximum opening limit angle, the connecting member 6 is bent in a V-shape, and the elastic member 1 is bent.
1 and the gripping force caused by winding the linear member 9 around the fixed shaft 5 several times, the rotational moment applied to the center of gravity of the ADF 1, here the falling force, is canceled out, and the ADF 1 is slightly more than a right angle. It is held in a tilted upright posture.

When the ADF 1 is rotated in the arrow direction,
The connecting member 6 gradually approaches a straight line, and the linear member 9 is pulled out accordingly. Accordingly, the tensile force by the elastic member 11 and the grip force by winding around the fixed shaft 5 increase in proportion to the amount of the pull-out, and as the angle of the ADF 1 decreases, the buffering force against it increases. .

As shown by the solid line in FIG. 2, when the ADF 1 falls down on the main body 2 and is closed, the moment when the ADF 1 falls is maximum, but conversely, the force for preventing the ADF 1 is maximum. , Become balanced.

When the ADF 1 is opened from the closed state, the elastic member 11 tends to contract, so that the gripping force of the linear member 9 with respect to the fixed shaft 5 is released and the connecting member 6 receives the bending force. , ADF1 are given a force in the opening direction. However, when the opening angle increases, the force is reduced by the elastic member 11, and the opening force of the ADF 1 gradually decreases.

As described above, when the ADF 1 is closed, the tensile force by the elastic member 11 and the grip force by winding the linear member 9 around the fixed shaft 5 increase, and the ADF 1 is closed.
When the opening is increased by increasing the buffering force with respect to, the opening force is applied conversely to gradually reduce the force. Also,
The pulling force of the elastic member 11 and the gripping force of the winding around the fixed shaft 5 are inversely proportional to the opening angle of the ADF 1.
Since the ADF 1 is balanced with the falling moment of the DF1, the ADF 1 can be stopped at an arbitrary half-open position intermediate between the closed position indicated by the solid line and the maximum open limit position indicated by the chain line.

Although the case where the opening / closing member is an ADF has been described, the present invention can be widely applied to an opening / closing member requiring similar opening / closing and cushioning functions.

[0022]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. The opening / closing member can be buffered in both the opening direction and the closing direction. In particular, when the opening / closing member is closed, the tension force of the elastic member and the grip force of the winding of the linear member around the fixed shaft increase, and the buffering force on the opening / closing member gradually increases. Such an opening / closing member can be closed quietly.

When the opening / closing member is opened, an opening force is applied and the force is gradually reduced, so that the opening operation can be performed lightly and safely.

The half-open state in the middle can be stably maintained. Since it is a simple mechanism with a small number of parts, space saving, size reduction, weight reduction, and cost reduction can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a copying machine or the like in which a document feeder is mounted on a main body so as to be openable and closable.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a mechanism of a buffer device according to the present invention in which a document conveying device is an opening / closing member in a copying machine or the like as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part of the above mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Document conveyance apparatus (opening / closing member) 2 Main body of a copying machine etc. 3 Support shaft 4 Fixed member 5 Fixed shaft 6 Connecting member 9 Linear member 11 Elastic member

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A fixing member for supporting an opening / closing member to be openable and closable between a closed position and an open position around a support shaft, and is bridged between the fixing member and the opening / closing member, and the opening / closing member is closed. When the opening / closing member is in the open position, the connecting member bends, a fixed shaft, and an intermediate portion wound around the fixed shaft to connect one end to the connecting member. A buffer device for an opening / closing member, comprising: a linear member; and an elastic member connected to the other end of the linear member to apply a tensile force to the linear member. 2. A pair of said connecting members are bridged between said fixing member and said opening / closing member, one ends of said pair of said linear members are respectively connected to said pair of connecting members, and The buffer device for an opening / closing member according to claim 1, wherein intermediate portions are respectively wound around the fixed shaft, and the other ends of the pair of linear members are connected to each other via the elastic member. 3. The connecting member according to claim 1, wherein one end of the linear member is slidably connected to an intermediate portion of the connecting member.
The shock absorber for an opening / closing member according to claim 1. 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing member is in a prone posture when in a closed position, and in an upright posture when in an open position.
The shock absorber for an opening / closing member according to claim 1. 5. The document processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing member is a casing of the document conveying device.
The buffer device for an opening / closing member according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the fixing member is fixed to a main body of a copying machine or the like.