TWI838981B - Double-axis hinge with flexible screen implementation - Google Patents

Abstract

A double-axis hinge implemented in conjunction with a flexible screen includes a first axis, a second axis parallel to the first axis, and an axis mounting seat. The first axis has a first wheel with a first notch formed around the first wheel, and the second axis has a second wheel with a second notch formed around the second wheel. The shaft mounting seat has two mounting holes for the first shaft and the second shaft to penetrate respectively, two support blocks disposed on the shaft mounting seat facing the first wheel and the second wheel and between the two mounting holes, and an equal-arm lever mounted on the two support blocks, the equal-arm lever uses the two support blocks as movable fulcrums, and when the double-axis hinge rotates, the equal-arm lever selectively sinks into the first notch or the second notch to produce the effect of switching rotation of the first shaft and the second shaft.

Description

Double-axis hinge implemented with flexible screen

The present invention relates to a double-axis hinge that is implemented in conjunction with a flexible screen, and in particular to a double-axis hinge that uses an equal-arm lever to achieve two-axis switching rotation.

The current double-axis hinge has a type of double-axis hinge that uses a movable switching plate to generate axis switching rotation, such as TW M584450, TW I763516, TW M625917, TW M625897 and TW M581358. In the implementation process of this type of double-axis hinge, the movable switching plate temporarily restricts the rotation of one of the two axes. When the other of the two axes moves to allow the movable switching plate to move, one of the two axes that was originally restricted in rotation returns to a rotatable state, and one of the two axes that was originally rotatable is restricted in rotation by the movable switching plate, thereby achieving the purpose of axis switching rotation.

However, the aforementioned double-axis hinge is limited by the movable space of the movable switch plate, which is not conducive to miniaturization, thereby affecting the adoption of the implementation object. In addition, there is a risk of the movable switch plate erroneously operating.

The main purpose of the present invention is to solve the problem that the conventional double-axis hinge limits the movable space of the movable switch plate, which is not conducive to the miniaturization of the overall volume.

The main purpose of the present invention is to solve the problem of the risk of erroneous actuation of the movable switching plate used in the conventional double-axis hinge.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a double-axis hinge for use with a flexible screen, comprising a first axis, a second axis parallel to the first axis, and an axis mounting seat. The first axis has a first wheel with a first notch formed around the first wheel, and the second axis has a second wheel with a second notch formed around the second wheel. The shaft mounting seat has two mounting holes for the first shaft and the second shaft to penetrate respectively, two support blocks arranged parallel to the shaft mounting seat facing the first wheel and the second wheel and between the two mounting holes, and an equal-arm lever mounted on the two support blocks, the equal-arm lever uses the two support blocks as a movable fulcrum, the equal-arm lever has a first end affected by the periphery of the first wheel, and a second end opposite to the first end and affected by the periphery of the second wheel, when the first end sinks into the first notch, the first shaft is restricted from rotating, when the second end sinks into the second notch, the second shaft is restricted from rotating, the first end and the second end will not sink into the first notch and the second notch at the same time, and only one of the first end and the second end sinks into the first notch or the second notch at the same time.

In one embodiment, the shaft mounting seat has a mounting groove for accommodating the equal-arm lever, and the two support blocks are formed on two opposite groove walls of the mounting groove.

In one embodiment, the shaft mounting seat has a limiting block disposed on a side surface of the shaft mounting seat away from the first wheel and the second wheel and between the two mounting holes. The first shaft has a third wheel, and the movable track of the third wheel is interfered by the limiting block to limit a rotatable angle of the first shaft. The second shaft has a fourth wheel, and the movable track of the fourth wheel is interfered by the limiting block to limit another rotatable angle of the second shaft.

In one embodiment, the limit block has a first stop plane disposed on a side of the limit block facing the third wheel and capable of contacting the third wheel, and a first inclined surface connected to the first stop plane, a second stop plane disposed on a side of the limit block facing the fourth wheel and capable of contacting the fourth wheel, and a second inclined surface connected to the second stop plane, and two connecting surfaces parallel to two side edges of the shaft mounting seat, the first stop plane connecting one of the two connecting surfaces, and the second stop plane connecting the other of the two connecting surfaces.

In one embodiment, the third wheel has a first track, and the third wheel has a first contact plane at the end of the first track that can contact the first stop plane. The fourth wheel has a second track, and the fourth wheel has a second contact plane at the end of the second track that can contact the second stop plane.

In one embodiment, the first wheel has a first plane disposed on a side of the first wheel facing the shaft mounting seat and connected to the first notch, and the second wheel has a second plane disposed on a side of the second wheel facing the shaft mounting seat and connected to the second notch.

In one embodiment, the dual-axis hinge has a first torque generating assembly disposed on the first axis, and a second torque generating assembly disposed on the second axis.

In one embodiment, the double-axis hinge has an auxiliary support plate spaced apart from the axis mounting seat and facing the equal-arm lever, and the auxiliary support plate has two through holes for the first axis and the second axis to pass through.

In one embodiment, the arm lever has a body formed with the first end and the second end, two assembly bosses extending from the body and assembled with the two support blocks, and an auxiliary positioning block formed on the body, the auxiliary positioning block is disposed between the two assembly bosses.

In one embodiment, the body is not a flat piece.

Through the above implementation of the present invention, compared with the conventional method, the following features are achieved: the arm levers of the present invention do not move during the operation of the double-axis hinge, which changes the implementation scheme of a movable switching plate commonly used in the existing double-axis hinge. The structure of the present invention does not require the space required for the movable switching plate to slide, and can reduce the occurrence of switching errors, which is a major improvement for the compact design of the current double-axis hinge structure.

20: Double axis hinge

21: First axis

211: First round

212: The first gap

213: Third round

214: Track 1

215: First contact plane

216: First plane

217: First torque generating component

22: Second axis

221: Second round

222: Second gap

223: Round 4

224: Second track

225: Second contact plane

226: Second plane

227: Second torque generating component

23: Shaft mounting seat

231: Mounting hole

232: Support block

233: Equal-arm lever

234: First end

235: Second end

236: Mounting slot

237: Groove wall

238: Restriction block

239: First stop surface

240: First slope

241: Second stop surface

242: Second slope

243:Connection surface

244:Entity

245: Assembly boss

246: Auxiliary positioning block

25: Auxiliary support plate

251:Piercing

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a double-axis hinge chain according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2, schematic diagram of the decomposed structure of the double-axis hinge chain of the present invention (I).

Figure 3, schematic diagram of the decomposed structure of the first embodiment of the double-axis hinge chain of the present invention (II).

Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the first axis of the rotatable structure of the double-axis hinge chain of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the A-A line segment in Figure 4 of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the B-B line segment in Figure 4 of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the structure of the rotatable second axis of the first embodiment of the double-axis hinge chain of the present invention.

Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the C-C line segment in Figure 7 of the present invention.

Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the D-D line segment in Figure 7 of the present invention.

The detailed description and technical content of the present invention are described as follows with reference to the drawings: Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the present invention is a double-axis hinge 20 implemented with a flexible screen, the double-axis hinge 20 comprising a first axis 21, a second axis 22, and an axis mounting seat 23. The first axis 21 has a first wheel 211, and a first notch 212 is formed around the first wheel 211. The second axis 22 has a second wheel 221, and a second notch 222 is formed around the second wheel 221. The shaft mounting seat 23 has two mounting holes 231 for the first shaft 21 and the second shaft 22 to penetrate, two support blocks 232 arranged parallel to the shaft mounting seat 23 facing the first wheel 211 and the second wheel 221 and between the two mounting holes 231, and an equal-arm lever 233 mounted on the two support blocks 232.

As described above, the arm levers 233 can swing with the two supporting blocks 232 as movable fulcrums. The arm levers 233 have a first end 234 and a second end 235 opposite to the first end 234. After the double-axis hinge 20 is assembled, the first end 234 and the second end 235 of the arm levers 233 can contact the first wheel 211 and the second wheel 221 respectively, that is, the first end 234 is acted upon by the first wheel 211, and the second end 235 is acted upon by the second wheel 221. Furthermore, when the first end 234 is sunk into the first notch 212, the first shaft 21 is restricted from rotating, and when the second end 235 is sunk into the second notch 222, the second shaft 22 is restricted from rotating. The first end 234 and the second end 235 will not sunk into the first notch 212 and the second notch 222 at the same time. Only one of the first end 234 and the second end 235 will sunk into the first notch 212 or the second notch 222 at the same time.

Please refer to Figures 4 to 6 to illustrate that before the double-axis hinge 20 is operated, it is assumed that the current state of the arm lever 233 is that the first end 234 contacts the surface of the first wheel 211 where the first notch 212 is not formed, and the second end 235 is sunk into the second notch 222. At the beginning of the implementation, the second axis 22 cannot rotate because the second end 235 of the arm lever 233 is sunk into the second notch 222, so that only the first axis 21 can rotate when the double-axis hinge 20 rotates, until the first axis 21 rotates a certain angle, so that the first notch 212 faces the first end 234, as shown in Figures 7 to 9. At this time, the state of the lever 233 is no longer restricted. Once the double-axis hinge 20 continues to be subjected to force, the second wheel 221 will push the lever 233, causing the posture of the lever 233 to change. The second end 235 of the lever 233 will break away from the second notch 222 and contact the surface of the second wheel 221 that does not form the second notch 222, thereby allowing the second shaft 22 to rotate. At the same time, the first end 234 of the lever 233 will sink into the first notch 212, restricting the rotation of the first shaft 21. In this way, the first axis 21 and the second axis 22 produce a switching rotation effect, and the subsequent rotation of the double-axis hinge 20 is generated by the second axis 22.

As mentioned above, the arm levers 233 of the present invention do not move during the operation of the double-axis hinge 20, which changes the existing double-axis hinge commonly adopting a movable switching plate. The structure of the present invention does not require the space required for the movable switching plate to slide, and can reduce the occurrence of switching errors, which is a major improvement for the compact design of the current double-axis hinge structure.

Please refer to Figures 3 and 4. The shaft mounting seat 23 has a mounting groove 236 for accommodating the arm levers 233. The two supporting blocks 232 are formed on two opposite groove walls 237 of the mounting groove 236. Furthermore, the two supporting blocks 232 can be formed into claw shapes to assemble the connecting parts of the arm levers 233.

Please refer to FIG. 2, FIG. 6 and FIG. 9, in one embodiment, the shaft mounting seat 23 has a limiting block 238 disposed on a side surface of the shaft mounting seat 23 away from the first wheel 211 and the second wheel 221, and the limiting block 238 is further between the two mounting holes 231. On the other hand, the first shaft 21 has a third wheel 213, and after the third wheel 213 is assembled, it is located on two opposite surfaces of the shaft mounting seat 23 with the first wheel 211. In terms of structural design, at least one of the first wheel 211 and the third wheel 213 is not formed integrally with the first shaft 21. In addition, the movable track of the third wheel 213 is interfered by the limiting block 238 to limit a rotatable angle of the first shaft 21. Furthermore, the second shaft 22 has a fourth wheel 223. After assembly, the fourth wheel 223 and the second wheel 221 are respectively located on two opposite surfaces of the shaft mounting seat 23. The structural design of the second shaft 22 is the same as that of the first shaft 21. At least one of the second wheel 221 and the fourth wheel 223 is not integrally formed with the second shaft 22. In addition, the moving track of the fourth wheel 223 is interfered by the limiting block 238, thereby limiting another rotatable angle of the second shaft 22. Specifically, the third wheel 213 and the fourth wheel 223 are not normally interfered by the limiting block 238, and the third wheel 213 still allows the first shaft 21 to rotate within the rotatable angle range. In plain words, during the rotation of the first shaft 21, once the third wheel 213 is interfered by the limit block 238 and cannot rotate, the first shaft 21 will be restricted and cannot continue to rotate. In line with the above, the fourth wheel 223 also allows the second shaft 22 to rotate within the other rotatable angle. Furthermore, the time point when the third wheel 213 is interfered by the limit block 238 is different from the time point when the fourth wheel 223 is interfered by the limit block 238.

2, 6 and 9, in one embodiment, the limit block 238 has a first stop surface 239 disposed on the side of the limit block 238 facing the third wheel 213 and capable of contacting the third wheel 213, and a first inclined surface 240 connected to the first stop surface 239, a second stop surface 240 disposed on the side of the limit block 238 facing the fourth wheel 223 and capable of contacting the fourth wheel 223. 241, and a second inclined surface 242 connected to the second stop plane 241, and two connecting surfaces 243 parallel to the two sides of the shaft mounting seat 23, the first stop plane 239 is connected to one of the two connecting surfaces 243, and the second stop plane 241 is connected to the other of the two connecting surfaces 243, that is, the first stop plane 239 and the second stop plane 241 are diagonally arranged on the limiting block 238. Furthermore, the first stop plane 239 and the second stop plane 241 are arranged in parallel. On the other hand, the third wheel 213 has a first track 214, the limiting block 238 is partially located in the first track 214, and the third wheel 213 has a first contact plane 215 at the end of the first track 214 that can contact the first stop plane 239. The first track 214 can be formed by a defective portion of the third wheel 213, and the aforementioned defective portion can be located on a side of the third wheel 213 facing the shaft mounting seat 23, so that the surface of the shaft mounting seat 23 can serve as a side wall of the first track 214. Furthermore, the fourth wheel 223 has a second track 224, the limiting block 238 is partially located in the second track 224, and the fourth wheel 223 has a second contact plane 225 at the end of the second track 224 that can contact the second stop plane 241. The second track 224 can be formed by a defective portion of the fourth wheel 223, and the aforementioned defective portion can be located on a side of the fourth wheel 223 facing the shaft mounting seat 23, so that the surface of the shaft mounting seat 23 can serve as a side wall of the second track 224.

Please refer to Figures 2 and 3 again. In one embodiment, the first wheel 211 has a first plane 216 disposed on the side of the first wheel 211 facing the shaft mounting seat 23 and connected to the first notch 212, and the second wheel 221 has a second plane 226 disposed on the side of the second wheel 221 facing the shaft mounting seat 23 and connected to the second notch 222. As can be seen from the foregoing, the first wheel 211 faces the shaft mounting seat 23, except for the portion formed with the first notch 212, and the rest is a plane (i.e., the first plane 216). The second wheel 221 is the same. The second wheel 221 faces the shaft mounting seat 23, except for the portion formed with the second notch 222, and the rest is a plane (i.e., the second plane 226).

Referring again to Figures 1 to 3, in one embodiment, the double-axis hinge 20 has a first torque generating assembly 217 disposed on the first axis 21, and a second torque generating assembly 227 disposed on the second axis 22. The composition of the first torque generating assembly 217 and the second torque generating assembly 227 can be implemented in any manner in the current double-axis hinge field according to the design. In addition, the first torque generating assembly 217 and the second torque generating assembly 227 respectively provide the torque required during the rotation of the first axis 21 and the second axis 22.

Please refer to Figures 2 and 3 again. In one embodiment, the double-axis hinge 20 has an auxiliary support plate 25 spaced from the axis mounting seat 23 and facing the arm levers 233. The auxiliary support plate 25 has two through holes 251 for the first axis 21 and the second axis 22 to pass through. The auxiliary support plate 25 can not only stabilize the movement of the first axis 21 and the second axis 22 together with the axis mounting seat 23, but also can be regarded as a shield for the arm levers 233 to reduce the situation where other objects accidentally interfere with the movement of the arm levers 233.

Referring again to FIG. 3 , in one embodiment, the arm levers 233 have a body 244 formed with the first end 234 and the second end 235, two assembly bosses 245 extending from the body 244 and assembled with the two support blocks 232, and an auxiliary positioning block 246 formed on the body 244, the auxiliary positioning block 246 being disposed between the two assembly bosses 245. After the arm levers 233 are assembled, the auxiliary positioning block 246 will be sandwiched between the two support blocks 232, thereby preventing the arm levers 233 from being misaligned and causing failure to operate correctly. Please refer to Figures 4 and 7. In one embodiment, the body 244 is not a straight piece. Specifically, the first end 234 and the second end 235 of the body 244 are slightly bent, so that the first end 234 and the second end 235 will not protrude excessively when the body 244 is tilted, which is beneficial to reduce the space required for the arm lever 233 to work. In addition to the above, the slight bend of the first end 234 and the second end 235 can further avoid the probability of accidental collision with the first wheel 211 and the second wheel 221.

20: Double axis hinge

21: First axis

211: First round

212: The first gap

213: Third round

214: Track 1

216: First plane

217: First torque generating component

22: Second axis

221: Second round

222: Second gap

223: Round 4

224: Second track

226: Second plane

227: Second torque generating component

23: Shaft mounting seat

231: Mounting hole

232: Support block

233: Equal-arm lever

234: First end

235: Second end

236: Mounting slot

237: Groove wall

238: Restriction block

239: First stop surface

241: Second stop surface

244:Entity

246: Auxiliary positioning block

25: Auxiliary support plate

Claims (11)

A double-axis hinge chain for use with a flexible screen comprises: a first axis having a first wheel, a first notch formed on the periphery of the first wheel; a second axis parallel to the first axis, having a second wheel, a second notch formed on the periphery of the second wheel; and an axis mounting seat having two mounting holes for the first axis and the second axis to penetrate respectively, two supporting blocks arranged parallel to the axis mounting seat facing one side of the first wheel and the second wheel and between the two mounting holes, and an equal-arm lever mounted on the two supporting blocks, the equal-arm lever using the two supporting blocks as movable fulcrums, The arm lever has a first end affected by the periphery of the first wheel, and a second end opposite to the first end and affected by the periphery of the second wheel. When the first end is sunk into the first notch, the first shaft is restricted from rotating. When the second end is sunk into the second notch, the second shaft is restricted from rotating. The first end and the second end will not be sunk into the first notch and the second notch at the same time. Only one of the first end and the second end will be sunk into the first notch or the second notch at the same time. The shaft mounting seat has a surface provided on a side of the shaft mounting seat away from the first wheel and the second wheel. The first shaft has a third wheel, and the moving track of the third wheel is interfered by the limiting block to limit a rotatable angle of the first shaft. The second shaft has a fourth wheel, and the moving track of the fourth wheel is interfered by the limiting block to limit another rotatable angle of the second shaft. The limiting block has a first stop plane that is arranged on a side of the limiting block facing the first wheel and can abut against the third wheel, and a first inclined surface connected to the first stop plane, and a second stop plane that is arranged on a side of the limiting block facing the second wheel and can abut against the fourth wheel. plane, and a second inclined plane connected to the second stop plane, and two connecting surfaces parallel to the two sides of the shaft mounting seat, the first stop plane connects one of the two connecting surfaces, the second stop plane connects the other of the two connecting surfaces, the third wheel has a first track in which the limiting block moves, the first track ends with a first contact plane that can collide with the first stop plane, the fourth wheel has a second track in which the limiting block moves, and the second track ends with a second contact plane that can collide with the second stop plane. A double-axis hinge implemented with a flexible screen as described in claim 1, wherein the axis mounting seat has a mounting groove for accommodating the equal-arm lever, and the two support blocks are formed on two opposite groove walls of the mounting groove. A double-axis hinge chain implemented with a flexible screen as described in claim 1, wherein the first wheel has a first plane disposed on a side of the first wheel facing the axis mounting seat and connected to the first notch, and the second wheel has a second plane disposed on a side of the second wheel facing the axis mounting seat and connected to the second notch. A double-axis hinge implemented with a flexible screen as described in claim 3, wherein the double-axis hinge has a first torque generating component disposed on the first axis, and a second torque generating component disposed on the second axis. A double-axis hinge chain implemented with a flexible screen as described in claim 1, wherein the double-axis hinge chain has an auxiliary support plate spaced apart from the axis mounting seat and facing the equal arm lever, and the auxiliary support plate has two through holes for the first axis and the second axis to pass through. A double-axis hinge implemented with a flexible screen as described in claim 5, wherein the arm lever has a body formed with the first end and the second end, two assembly bosses extending from the body and assembled with the two support blocks, and an auxiliary positioning block formed on the body, the auxiliary positioning block is arranged between the two assembly bosses. A double-axis hinge implemented with a flexible screen as described in claim 6, wherein the main body is not a flat piece. A double-axis hinge chain implemented with a flexible screen as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the first wheel has a first plane disposed on a side of the first wheel facing the axis mounting seat and connected to the first notch, and the second wheel has a second plane disposed on a side of the second wheel facing the axis mounting seat and connected to the second notch. A double-axis hinge implemented with a flexible screen as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the double-axis hinge has a first torque generating component disposed on the first axis, and a second torque generating component disposed on the second axis. A double-axis hinge implemented with a flexible screen as described in claim 1, wherein the arm lever has a body formed with the first end and the second end, two assembly bosses extending from the body and assembled with the two support blocks, and an auxiliary positioning block formed on the body, the auxiliary positioning block is arranged between the two assembly bosses. A double-axis hinge implemented with a flexible screen as described in claim 10, wherein the body is not a straight piece.