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US4969010A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Copying machine

Assignee: Konica Minolta Inc
•
Filing: 1988-11-21
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Granted: 1990-11-06
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Expires: 2008-11-21
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Abstract

Abstract The present invention relates to copying machine, which comprises: upper and lower bodies which are bound by a hinge on one side, and a counterbalance mechanism installed in the vicinity of the hinge which works at the time of opening and closing the upper body within a predetermined angle, and stops functioning at the time of opening the upper body when the upper body opens beyond the predetermined angle.

Inventors

  • 👤 Takashi Tamura
  • 👤 Shigeru Okazaki
  • 👤 Naoki Otomo

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 06:08
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G21/00; G03G21/16; G03G21/1604; G03G21/1623; G03G21/1633; G03G21/1628; G03G2221/00; G03G2221/16; G03G2221/1651; G03G2221/1654; G03G2221/1678; G03G2221/1687

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 131 words
A copying machine comprising; upper and lower bodies which are bound by a hinge on one side, said upper body being adapted to open and close in relation to said lower body, and a counterbalance mechanism installed in the vicinity of said hinge which operates during opening and closing of said upper body within a predetermined angle, and stops functioning when said upper body opens beyond said predetermined angle, said counterbalance mechanism comprising a rod, a lower part of which is mounted in said lower body and a top part thereof which has a diameter larger than that of the remaining portion thereof, and a spring means in which said rod is provided, said top part being controlled by a stopper means installed at a top portion of said spring means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 131 words
A copying machine comprising; upper and lower bodies which are bound by a hinge on one side, said upper body being adapted to open and close in relation to said lower body, and a counterbalance mechanism installed in the vicinity of said hinge which operates during opening and closing of said upper body within a predetermined angle, and stops functioning when said upper body opens beyond said predetermined angle, said counterbalance mechanism comprising a rod, a lower part of which is mounted in said lower body and a top part thereof which has a diameter larger than that of the remaining portion thereof, and a spring means in which said rod is provided, said top part being controlled by a stopper means installed at a top portion of said spring means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
A copying machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rod has a curved part with regard to said hinge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 23 words
A copying machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said copying machine further comprises a reinforcement member attached to said lower body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 43 words
A copying machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said upper and lower bodies are bound by a lock means installed in said lower body in the opposite side to said hinge so that it operates when said upper body is closed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 43 words
A copying machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said upper and lower bodies are bound by a lock means installed in said lower body in the opposite side to said hinge so that it operates when said upper body is closed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 115 words
A copying machine having hinged upper and lower bodies, and a counterbalance mechanism located between said upper body and said lower body which functions within a predetermined angle of use of said hinge, and said counterbalance mechanism comprises, (a) a rod having ends with larger diameter than that of the middle portion of said rod, (b) a spring means which is fitted over said rod, (c) a washer which is put at the upper end of said rod and restricts movement of said spring, (d) a reinforcement frame of said upper body which engages said washer, (e) a lower surface board of said lower body in which the lower end of said rod is mounted.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 115 words
A copying machine having hinged upper and lower bodies, and a counterbalance mechanism located between said upper body and said lower body which functions within a predetermined angle of use of said hinge, and said counterbalance mechanism comprises, (a) a rod having ends with larger diameter than that of the middle portion of said rod, (b) a spring means which is fitted over said rod, (c) a washer which is put at the upper end of said rod and restricts movement of said spring, (d) a reinforcement frame of said upper body which engages said washer, (e) a lower surface board of said lower body in which the lower end of said rod is mounted.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 21 words
A copying machine as set forth in claim 6, wherein said rod has a curved part with regard to said hinge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 23 words
A copying machine as set forth in claim 6, wherein said copying machine further comprises a reinforcement member attached to said lower body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 43 words
A copying machine as set forth in claim 6, wherein said upper and lower bodies are bound by a lock means installed in said lower body in the opposite side to said hinge so that it operates when said upper body is closed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 43 words
A copying machine as set forth in claim 8, wherein said upper and lower bodies are bound by a lock means installed in said lower body in the opposite side to said hinge so that it operates when said upper body is closed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 188 words
A copying apparatus comprising; a lower body; an upper body mounted on said lower body; a hinge means for pivotally connecting said lower body and said upper body so that said upper body pivots around said hinge means between a closed position and an open position in relation to said lower body; and a counterbalance means including a fixed end, a coupling end, and a spring member disposed between said fixed end and said coupling end; said fixed end being fixed to a first body being one of either of said lower body or said upper body; said coupling end being adapted to come into engagement with a second body being the other of either of said lower body or said upper body, and to maintain the engagement while said upper body pivots within a predetermined angle from the closed position so that said spring member urges said upper body to the open position; said coupling end being further adapted to disengage the second body when said upper body pivots beyond said predetermined angle so that upper body pivots to the open position free of said coupling end.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 188 words
A copying apparatus comprising; a lower body; an upper body mounted on said lower body; a hinge means for pivotally connecting said lower body and said upper body so that said upper body pivots around said hinge means between a closed position and an open position in relation to said lower body; and a counterbalance means including a fixed end, a coupling end, and a spring member disposed between said fixed end and said coupling end; said fixed end being fixed to a first body being one of either of said lower body or said upper body; said coupling end being adapted to come into engagement with a second body being the other of either of said lower body or said upper body, and to maintain the engagement while said upper body pivots within a predetermined angle from the closed position so that said spring member urges said upper body to the open position; said coupling end being further adapted to disengage the second body when said upper body pivots beyond said predetermined angle so that upper body pivots to the open position free of said coupling end.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 26 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said fixed end is fixed to said lower body and said coupling end is adapted to engage said upper body.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4124296A Cited
US4609276A Cited
US4641947A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-11-05 1994-05-07 1994-11-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-11-05 1998-05-07 1998-11-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-11-05 2002-05-07 2002-11-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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