A pivot hinge for an apparatus cover hood comprising sleeves concentric to the pivot axis and axially displaceably yet non-rotatably arranged relative to the housing bottom part on the latter, and the face sides of the sleeves, respectively, being formed with curved courses. A cam is pivotally mounted about the pivot axis and with respect to the cover hood rotates therewith. Compression springs press the axially displaceable sleeves, respectively, with their curved courses against the cam, whereby the inclination of the curved courses relative to the radial plane of the sleeves and the measure or adjustment of the compression springs being selected such that within a predetermined rotation range of the cam about the axis, which corresponds substantially to the opening movement of the cover hood, there is produced a rotational moment with respect to the axis which corresponds in every position within the rotation range substantially to the rotational moment which is produced by the cover hood as a consequence of its gravity force, yet in an opposite rotational sense.

The hinge structure which permits the platen cover to be forced toward the platen when positioned thereover and which will hold the cover in any desired positon between about 20.degree. and 90.degree. with respect to the platen. The hinge structure comprises a leaf spring on the machine frame which is urged into contact with a cam surface connected to the cover which cam surface in cooperation with the leaf spring provides a torsional force about the cover axis to counterbalance the weight of the cover and a frictional force which will maintain the cover in its desired fixed position.

A refuse container has a lid that is hinged thereto without the use of mechanical fasteners. The container has short shafts extending therefrom. The lid has arms that pivotally receive and are captured on the container shafts. The shafts are formed with sectors, and the lid arms have recesses that receive the sectors. The lid arms recesses define stepped surfaces located at predetermined locations relative to the container sectors so as to positively stop the lid at a desired open position. The lid arms may be formed with dual radius recesses connected by a flat surface. The container sectors and the recess surfaces are dimensioned to enable the lid to be freely pivoted to an intermediate open position approximately 90.degree. from a closed position and subsequently in a controlled manner to a third open position approximately 270.degree. from the first position. The mold for making the container and lid has a flat parting surface.

A damper for controlling the movement of a first member with respect to a second member including an arcuate surface on one of the members which engages the outer peripheral rim of an annular damping member rotatably mounted to the other member. The annular damping member preferably is made of a compressible material, and in one embodiment is made of an open-celled urethane foam. The annular damping member is mounted on an axle positioned to locate the annular damping member in compressible engagement with the arcuate surface such that the arcuate surface engages the outer peripheral rim of the annular damping member as the two members move with respect to one another to provide a controlled damping action for the first member peripheral rim engaging the arcuate surface with a predetermined force to provide a controlled resistance force to the movement of the door.

A refuse container has a lid that is hinged thereto without the use of mechanical fasteners. The container has short shafts extending therefrom. The lid has arms that pivotally receive and are captured on the container shafts. The shafts are formed with sectors, and the lid arms have recesses that receive the sectors. The lid arms recesses define stepped surfaces located at predetermined locations relative to the container sectors so as to positively stop the lid at a desired open position. The lid arms may be formed with dual radius recesses connected by a flat surface. The container sectors and the recess surfaces are dimensioned to enable the lid to be freely pivoted to an intermediate open position approximately 90.degree. from a closed position and subsequently in a controlled manner to a third open position approximately 270.degree. from the first position. The mold for making the container and lid has a flat parting surface.