Dampening a hinged component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9976330-B2
Application number	US-201615290950-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 11, 2016
Priority date	Oct 11, 2016
Publication date	May 22, 2018
Grant date	May 22, 2018

Abstract

According to an example a dampening system for a hinged component may include a spring having a first end hooked onto a chassis and a second end hooked onto to a strap, in which the strap is connected to the hinged component. The dampening system may also include a curved guide element attached to the chassis, in which the spring is to bend around a portion of the curved guide element as the strap is moved from a first position to a second position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dampening system for a hinged component, said dampening system comprising:
a spring having a first end hooked onto a chassis and a second end hooked onto a strap, the strap connected to the hinged component;
a curved guide element attached to the chassis, the spring to bend around a portion of the curved guide element as the strap is moved from a first position to a second position; and
a stop tab disposed on a wall of the chassis, the wall defining an opening through which the strap extends, and
a notch of the strap that is to contact to the stop tab,
wherein the spring and the curved guide element are to apply a force onto the strap to facilitate contact between the notch and the stop tab when the strap is in the second position.

2. The dampening system according to claim 1 , wherein the strap moves along a first plane and wherein the spring extends along the first plane.

3. The dampening system according to claim 1 , wherein the curved guide element is positioned between the first end of the spring and the strap.

4. The dampening system according to claim 1 , wherein the spring has a spring constant that is sufficient to enable the hinged component to be moved from the first angle to the second angle at a specified rate.

5. The dampening system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a second spring attached to a second strap, wherein the second strap is hooked onto the hinged component; and
a second curved guide element attached to the chassis, wherein the second spring is to bend around the second curved guide element as the second strap is moved from a first position to a second position, wherein the first position corresponds to the hinged component being at the first angle and the second position corresponds to the hinged component being at the second angle.

6. The dampening system according to claim 1 , wherein the hinged component is a tray of a printing device.

7. The dampening system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a label provided on a wall of the chassis at a location at which the spring is to contact the wall, wherein the label has a lower coefficient of friction as compared with the wall.

8. A printing apparatus comprising:
a chassis;
printing components housed in the chassis, said printing components having an input path;
a tray positioned in the input path of the printing components, the tray being hingedly movable between a closed position and an open position, and the closed position prevents media from being inputted through the input path and the open position enables media to be inputted through the input path;
a strap connected to the tray;
a spring having a first end removably supported by the chassis and a second end removably supported by the strap;
a curved guide element attached to the chassis, the spring being to bend around a portion of the curved guide element as the tray is moved from the closed position to the open position;
a stop tab disposed on a wall of the chassis, the wall defining an opening through which the strap extends, and
a notch of the strap that is to contact to the stop tab,
wherein the spring and the curved guide element are to apply a force onto the strap to facilitate contact between the notch and the stop tab when the strap is in the second position.

9. The printing apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising a label positioned on the chassis at a location at which the spring is to contact the chassis, wherein the label has a lower coefficient of friction than the chassis.

10. The printing apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the spring, the curved guide element and the strap are collinear with respect to each other.

11. An apparatus comprising:
a wall;
a hinged tray;
a strap connected to the hinged tray;
a spring having a first end removably hooked onto the wall and a second end removably hooked onto the strap; and
a guide element attached to the wall, the spring being to curve around a portion of the guide element as the strap is moved from a first position to a second position,
wherein the first position corresponds to the hinged tray being at a first angle and the second position corresponds to the hinged tray being at a second angle, and wherein the spring is to dampen movement of the hinged tray from the first angle to the second angle, and wherein the hinged tray is supported in the second angle solely by the strap and the spring.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the spring has a spring constant that enables the hinged tray to be moved from the first angle to the second angle at a specified rate.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Development Co
• Hewlett Packard Development Co

Inventors

• Roels Timothy J

Classifications

• G03G21/1633 Primary

  using doors or covers (G03G21/1638 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E05Y2900/606

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic

• E05F7/06 Primary

  Devices for taking the weight of the wing, arranged away from the hinge axis · CPC title

• B65H2402/54

  Springs, e.g. helical or leaf springs · CPC title

• B65H1/04

  adapted to support articles substantially horizontally, e.g. for separation from top of pile · CPC title