US3539238A

US3539238A - Multiple cover control and latch assembly

Info

Publication number: US3539238A
Application number: US795002*A
Authority: US
Inventors: Henry R Kruspe; William E Mott
Original assignee: International Business Machines Corp
Current assignee: International Business Machines Corp
Priority date: 1969-01-29
Filing date: 1969-01-29
Publication date: 1970-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 1987-11-10
Also published as: DE7002184U; CH492923A; DE2002930A1; BE743962A; CA936910A; ES374716A1; SE351932B; GB1287595A; NL7001085A; JPS4835499B1; FR2029601A1

Description

D United States Patent 1 1 3,539,238

[72] inventors Henry R. Kruspe and [56] References Cited 1 A l N Mott, Lexington, Kentucky UNITED STATES PATENTS g f Jan29 1969 2,638,040 5/1953 Murphy 312/292 2,758,900 8/1956 Marchand 3l2/291X [45] Paemed 1970 3 287 079 11/1966 Courson 312/291 [73] Assgnee Busmess Machines 3,387,905 6/1968 Lindenschmidt et al. 312/319 Armonk, New York Primary Examiner-James T. McCall a corporation of New York Attorney Sughrue, Rothwell, Mion, Zinn and Macpeak ABSTRACT: On a copying machine of the type having a movable carriage, a double cover arrangement is rovided P such that the outer cover is latched in closed position while the inner cover moves with the carriage to protect the docu- [54] MULTIPLE COVER CONTROL AND LATCH ments thereon. Both covers may be opened simultaneously by ASSEMBLY 5 Cl i 8D in H means of a suitable interlock and controlled by a countera raw 3 balancing arrangement incorporating a reduction gear set with [521 [1.8. CI. 312/291, adjustable friction braking means operated by means of a link- 312/139, 312/271 220/34 age interconnecting the cover arrangement with the counter- [51] Int. Cl. A47b 46/00 balancing arrangement. The latch for the outer cover is [50] Field of Search 312/271, operated in conjunction with a document sensing arrangement 291, 319, 320, 138, 139; 49/69, 373; 96/].4; to prevent latching when an oversized document is presented 220/30, 34 on the carriage.

Pate nted Nov.. 10, 1970 Sheet L .i ;.&=

INVENTORS. HENRY R. KRUSPE WILLIAM E. MOTT ATTORNEYS.

Pa tented Nov. 10, 1970 Sheet Patented Nov. 10, 1970 Sheet FIG, 5

MULTIPLE COVER CONTROL AND LATCH ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a multiple cover hinge and latch assembly for use on a xerographic copying machine of the type having a movable document carriage. More specifically, the present invention is directed to an interlocking arrangement between a cover which is mounted on the movable carriage and a cover mounted on the frame of the machine so that both covers may be opened simultaneously when the carriage is in the home position for document loading and unloading. A further specific feature of the present invention resides in a counterbalancing arrangement incorporating a reduction gear set and adjustable friction braking means to enable the cover assembly to he self-supporting in the open position at an acute angle relative to the horizontal surface of the machine.

A still further feature ofthc present invention resides in the provision of sensing means associated with the cover on the movable document carriage which will prevent latching of the cover assembly and starting of the machine ifa document having an excessive thickness is placed on the carriage.

2. Description of the Prior Art In most prior art xerographic copying machines having a movable document carriage, a cover is provided on the document carriage to hold the document in place while it is being transported into and out of the machine to perform a scanning operation relative to the copies thereon. In this type of machine, a second cover for enclosing the movable mechanism is not provided thereby increasing the chance of a foreign object becoming caught between the movable member and the stationary housing. Also, whenever a moving element in a machine is exposed the chance of personal injury also increases and it is far safer to enclose all moving parts.

Some prior art devices have provided a second cover on the housing in order to completely close the machine when it is not in use but such a second cover generally must remain inthe open position when the machine is in use and therefore SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a multiple cover assembly for xerographic machines of the type having a movable document carriage. A document cover is pivotally secured to the movable document carriage and upon closure is adapted to completely cover or encapsulate the document placed on the movable carriage for reproduction purposes. Another cover is pivotally secured to the frame of the machine and when latched in the closed position completely covers the opening in the frame of the machine which provides access to the movable carriage for loading and unloading documents. An interfitting latch arrangement is provided between the document cover on the document carriage and the outer cover such that when the document carriage is in the home position the document cover will be interlocked with the outer cover so that the two covers can be moved simultaneously.

A tlcxible pressure pad is pivoted inside the document cover and is adapted to press on the document to maintain the same in secure. flat condition during the scanning operation. If a document having excessive thickness is placed on the carriage, the document cover will not be able to close completely into contact with the carriage. A sensing linkage arrangement is provided inside the external cover which senses the position of the document cover and ifthe same is not fully closed when the outer or external cover is closed, the sensing linkage will render the latch inoperative to prevent the outer cover from being latched and therefore prevent starting of the machine.

A position controlled interlock is provided for the sensing linkage and the handle controlled latch to prevent the operator from manipulating the handle while the cover is in the open position to bypass the sensing linkage and start the machine with an oversize document on the carriage.

According to the present invention, a counterbalance control arrangement is provided for the multiple cover assembly which will enable the document covers to be retained in the open position without any additional supporting means even though the cover is disposed at an angle with respect to the horizontal position.

A reduction gear set is provided in conjunction with the cover counterbalancing arrangement and an adjustable braking means is associated therewith to provide the necessary degree of friction to hold the cover assembly in the open position. A one-way clutch is also provided to bypass the braking means during the opening or raising movement of the cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the copying machine with the cover assembly in the closed position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing the cover control mechanism with the cover in the closed position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing the cover control mechanism with the cover in the open position;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view showing the details of the cover control mechanism;

FIG. 4a is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the latch mechanism for the cover assembly;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the latch mechanism for the cover assembly; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The cover assembly shown and described in the present application is used primarily with a xerographic copying machine of the type disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 778,492, filed Nov. 25, 1968, entitled Drive Coupling System, and assigned to the assignee of the present application. In said copending application, a joint coupling system was provided for reciprocating a document carriage past an optical scanning device for forming an image on a xerographic drum. The cover assembly according to the present application provides a cover for the document which is mounted on the movable carriage so as to completely protect the document as it traverses back and forth in the machine. The cover assembly of the present application also provides a main or outer machine cover which is hinged to the top of the machine which will completely cover the reciprocating carriage assembly to prevent jamming by the introduction of foreign articles and to prevent personal injury to the operator of the machine.

The xerographic copying machine It), according to the present invention, is shown in plan view in FIG. I. The top 12 of the machine has a generally flat, smooth working surface with a cover 14 hinged thereto at 16 and 18 for the purpose of covering the access opening in the top 12 which allows the placing and removal of documents on the reciprocating document carriage I3 when the carriage is in the home position in alignment with the access opening. The cover is provided with a latch operating handle 22 whereby the operator may readily raise and lower the cover about hinges I6 and 18 under the control of the cover control mechanism, shown generally in dotted lines at 20.

The hinge control mechanism 20 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 24, inclusive. A U-shaped bracket 24 is fixedly secured into the optic frame 25 which, in turn, is adjustable secured to the main frame 27 by means of bolts 29. The U- shaped bracket is provided with a pair of aligned apertures in which a stub shaft 26 is mounted. An car 28 is provided on one side of the U-shaped bracket 24 and a stub shaft 30 is secured therein upon which an integral gear set comprised of two

gears

32 and 34 is journaled for rotation. A lever 36 is mounted for rotation on shaft'26 and is provided with a semicircular gear segment 38 integral therewith and disposed in mesh with gear 32. A gear 40 is also journaled on the shaft 26 adjacent the lever 36 and is disposed in mesh with gear 34. The gear 40 is provided with an elongated hub 42 having a diameter equal to the diameter ofa stationary hub portion 44 which is mounted on shaft 26 for unidirectional movement through a one-way clutch shown schematically at 41. A helical clutch spring 46 has one end secured to the flange 43 integral with hub member 44 and the other end is provided with an upturned end portion adapted to be engaged by an adjustable setscrew 47 which is threaded through an ear 49 secured to the flange 43 for varying the degree of friction between the clutch spring and the hub 44 when the hub 44 is held stationary by the oneway clutch 41 during closing movement of the cover assembly.

The lever 36 is provided with an elongated bent arm 48 having an elongated slot 50 therethrough. A main control lever 52 is pivoted on the U-shaped bracket 24 and is formed with two

arms

54 and 56 at the free end thereof in the form of a T. The arm 54 is provided with a double roller 58 and arm 56 is connected by means of a cable 57 to a spring-tensioned pulley device 59 which will keep a predetermined tension on the lever 52 as the cover assembly is raised and lowered. A second control lever 60 is pivoted at 62 to the frame of the machine adjacent hinge 16 and a portion of the lever is provided with two parallel arms 64 having identical circular curvatures along which the rollers 58 move during the opening and closing of the cover assembly. The other arm of lever 60 is provided with rollers 61 at the end thereof which are held captive in slot 65 and rollon flange 63 for a limited distance. Pin 55 and lever 60 slides in slot 50 oflever arm 48.

Thus, it is seen that as the cover is raised the lever 36 will be pivoted about the shaft 26 under the control of the main con trol lever 52 and the second control lever 60. As the lever 36 pivots about the shaft 26 the gear segment 38 will rotate the gear set 32 and 34 which will, in turn, rotate the gear 40 about the shaft 26. During raising of the cover the one-way clutch 41 will allow hub 44 to rotate freely with hub 42. The raising of the cover is assisted by the spring-tensioned pulley device 59 acting through cable 57 and rollers 58 on the arms 64. Due to the frictional force of the clutch spring 46 the cover may be raised to any predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal top surface of the machine and will be maintained at whatever position it is left in. Downward movement of the cover is resisted by the frictional braking force of the spring 46 on the hub 42 of gear 40 due to the fact that the hub 44 will be held stationary by the one-way clutch 41. Sufficient closure pressure by the operator assisted by the weight of the cover will overcome the frictional force of spring 46 and the resistance of pulley 59 to enable easy closing ofthe cover.

Within the machine the movable document carriage 13 is mounted for reciprocating movement parallel to the upper surface or top 12 of the machine 10. The carriage 13 is provided with a document cover 78 hinged to the carriage by any suitable means. The pivot axis of cover 78 is designed so as to enclose or encapsulate the document which is placed face down on the carriage so as to prevent the document from being caught between the carriage and the frame of the machine during the traversing movement. A flexible pressure pad (not shown) is loosely suspended on the document cover 78 and is adapted to press documents against the surface of the document carriage.

In order to provide for the simultaneous lifting of the main cover 14 and the document cover 78, the document cover 78 by means of the spring 74 against an adjustable stop 73 to hold the roller 76 on the opposite end of the lever 70 away from the main cover14. When the two covers are closed and the document carriage is returned to the home position under the main cover 14, the'flange 82 will overlie the roller 76 on the end of the lever 70. Thus, when the handle 22 is grasped to raise the main cover 14, the lever 70 secured to the cover 14 will pick up the document cover 78 by means of the interlocking engagement between the roller 76 and the flange 82 of cover 78.

In order to prevent the insertion of oversized documents on the document carriage which might cause the reciprocating carriage to jam during its traversing movement in the machine a document sensing assembly is provided. If a document is placed on the carriage having planar dimensions greater than the surface area of the document carriage which is covered by the document cover, it will be impossible to close the document cover 78 completely down on the surface of the carriage 13. Also, if a document having excessive thickness such as a book is inserted into the machine on the document carriage, it will again be impossible to close the document cover 78 completely.

lfeither of these conditions exist and the document cover is not fully closed, the raised condition of the document cover is sensed by a lever which in turn controls an interlocking arrangement which will prevent the downward movement of the handle 22 into latching position. If the handle 22 is not depressed fully into the latching position, it will be impossible to start the machine and the danger of the carriage becoming jammed in the machine during this traversing movement will be completely obviated.

The sensing assembly is comprised of a main mounting bracket 86 which is bolted to the underside of the cover 14 parallel to the front edge thereof and the operating handle 22. A pair of oppositely extending

U-shaped levers

88 and 90 are pivoted to

upstanding ears

92 and 94 at 93 and 95 on the main bracket 86. The handle 22 is provided with

attachment arms

96 and 98 which are secured to the U-shaped lever 90 and the two U-shaped levers are pivotally connected together at each end by means of short interconnecting plates 100 adjacent the point of connection of each

arm

96 and 98 to the lever 90 so that the legs of both U-shaped levers will be maintained parallel to each other at all times when pivoted under the control of the handle 22. A spring 102 is connected between the middle portion of the U-shaped lever 90 and a tab 104 which is integral with the main bracket 86. The spring 102 will maintain the handle member 22 in the raised position when it is not latched in the downward position during the copying operation. A document cover sensing lever 106 is pivoted at 108 to an upstanding ear 110 integral with the main bracket 86. A roller member 112 is adjustably mounted in a slot 113 in one end of the lever 106 and is adapted to be spaced from the upper surface of the document cover 78 by a predetermined minimum amount. An adjusting screw 114 is threaded through an car 116 which is integral with the opposite end of the lever 106 to adjust the location of the roller 112 relative to the top of the document cover 78. A spring 118 is connected between an car 120 of the lever 106 and a projection 121 from the car 92 which is integral with the main bracket 86. The spring 118 tends to hold the adjusting screw 114 against the underside of cover 14. An interlocking latch lever 122 is pivoted at 124 to a bracket member 126 which is secured to the underside of the cover 14 at 125. A sensing rod 128 is secured to the interlocking latch member 122 and extends underneath the end of the lever 106 between the lever 106 and the cover 14. A leaf spring 127 is secured to lever 106 at: 129 and extends over stud 131 and under sensing rod 128 as viewed in FIG. 6 to hold rod 128 in engagement with lever 106 at all times.

A cover latching member 130 is slidably mounted on an extension of bracket 126 by means of shouldered studs 115 secured to bracket 126 and extending through guide slot 117 in latch 130 for movement perpendicular to the top surface of the cover 14. An actuating bar 132 is integrallysecurcd to the handle extension 96 and is disposed in intcrfitting engagement in a slot 133 in the latch member 130 so that upon up and down movement of the handle 22 the latch member 130will be raised and lowered so that the hook portion 135 may be brought into and out of engagement with a latch holding device (not shown) located in the machine beneath the cover 14. The latch member 130 is provided with an extension 134 which is disposed adjacent a notch 136 formed on the interlocking lever 122.

In operation, the roller 112 on the document cover sensing lever 106 is adjusted to a position immediately adjacent the top surface of the document cover 78. If an oversized document is placed on the carriage 84. the upper surface of the document cover will be raised a Sufficient amount with respect to the document carriage such that the document cover 78 will contact and raise the roller 112 and the end of the lever 106 to which the roller is attached. The opposite end of the lever 106 will then be lowered a sufficient amount to allow the interlocking lever 122 to which the sensing rod 128 is secured to pivot about 124 and bring the notch 136 into interlocking engagement with the extension 134 of the main latch member 130. The interlocking engagement of the notch 126 with the extension 134 will prevent the main latch 130 from moving downwardly into latching engagement and thereby prevent the operation of the copying machine. if a proper sized document is placed on the document carriage 84, the document cover 78 will be able to close completely and will not contact the lever 106. Thus, the lever 106 will contact the sensing rod 128 and hold the notch 136 of the lever 122 out ofthc path of the main latch extension 134 thereby allowing the operator to push the handle 22 downwardly and bring the latch 130 into locking engagement with a latch retaining mechanism (not shown).

Another control lever 140 is pivoted to the cover 14 at 142 intermediate the sensing mechanism and the flange 63 (FIG. 2) upon which roller 61 travels during opening and closing of the cover. One arm 144 of lever 140 is disposed in contact with the sensing rod 128 on the side thereof opposite the lever 106. The other arm 146 of the lever 140 is provided with a cam plate or flange 148 which is normally positioned in contact with an extension ofthe stud 1S0 upon which the roller 61 is mounted. Spring 152 is connected between a tab 154 on the flange 63 and an car 156 on the lever 140. The spring 152 biases the lever 140 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5 to maintain the arm 144 in contact with sensing rod 128 and the cam plate 148 in engagement with the extension of stud 150.

As the cover 14 is raised, the roller 61 will move from right to left as viewed in FIG. 5. Due to the angular position of the cam plate 148 relative to the cover 14, the lever 140 will rotate under the influence of spring 152 as the roller 61 moves from right to left. This rotary movement lcvcr 140 will bias the sensing rod 128 and the latch lever [22 to which it is secured in a direction to bring the notch 136 of lcvcr 122 into interlocking engagement with the extension 134 of main latch 130 to prevent movement of the main latch. Thus, it will be impossible for the operator to manipulate the handle 22 while the cover 14 is open and thereby prevent bypassing of the sensing linkage. If the lever 140 were not provided, the operator could lower handle 22, while the cover is open and the sensing roller 112 and associated linkage are inoperative, to move the extension 134 of latch past the notch 136 on the latch lever 122. The operator could then close the cover 14 with the main latch in operative position for starting the machine even if an oversize document is in the machine since the sensing linkage would then be effectively bypassed.

We claim:

1. A multiple cover assembly comprising cover means pivotally mounted on a stationary member, document sensing means pivotally mounted on a movable member and movable therewith into and out of alignment with said cover means,

and interconnecting means mounted on said cover and document sensing means and arranged to simultaneously pivot said document sensing means upon pivotal movement of said cover means when said cover and document sensing means are aligned.

2. A multiple cover assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said interconnecting means comprises a pickup arm on said cover means on the side thereof adjacent said document sensing means and a flange mounted on said document sensing means adapted to be positioned between said pickup arm and said cover means when said cover and document sensing means are in alignment.

3. A multiple cover assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising latch means movably mounted on said cover means for releasably securing said cover means to said stationary member, detecting means movably mounted on said cover means adjacent said document sensing means for detecting the position of said document sensing means relative to said movable member when said cover and document sensing means are in alignment and means operable under the control of said detecting means to inhibit latching of said latch means if said document sensing means is improperly positioned relative to said movable member.

4. A multiple cover assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising control means mounted on said stationary member and engaging said first cover means to control the pivotal movement of said first cover means.

5. A multiple cover assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said control means comprises first lever means pivotally mounted about an axis parallel to the pivot axis of said cover means and having first gear means thereon, second gear means journaled on said axis adjacent said first gear means, reduction gear means interconnecting said first and second gear means, friction braking means for controlling the rotation of said second gear means on said axis and second lever means interconnected between said first lever means and said first cover means whereby movement of said first cover means will cause said second gear means to rotate under the control of said friction braking means.