IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

• US 20140293359A1
• Filed: 03/27/2014
• Published: 10/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: NIIKAWA, Yusuke
• Granted Patent: US 9,083,831 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/300
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/608 for machines
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/605 Holders for originals or exposure platens for photographic purposes in general G03B
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1628 Clamshell type G03G21/1638 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1633 using doors or covers G03G21/1638 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00254 with an electrophotographic copying machine, i.e. a photocopier
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00265 with a photographic printing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00543 Allowing easy access, e.g. for maintenance or in case of paper jam H04N1/00538 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00554 Latches or hinges therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00559 Mounting or support of components or elements H04N1/00538 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0063 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming portion; an image reader movable between a first open position and a first closed portion; an openable member movable between a second open position and a second closed position; and a supporting member. When the image reader is located at the first open position, the openable member is supported at the second open position by the supporting member. When the image reader is moved from the supported state toward the first closed position, close of the openable member from a predetermined position closer to the second closed position than the second open position is limited by the supporting member. When the image reader is moved, toward the first closed position, from a limited state in which the close of the openable member is limited by the supporting member, limitation of the openable member by the supporting member is eliminated.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an image forming portion for forming an image on a recording material;

an image reading portion for reading an original image, wherein said image reading portion is movable between a first open position where said image reading portion is open to said image forming portion and a first closed portion where said image reading portion is closed to said image forming portion;

an openable member movable between a second open position where said openable member opens an inside of said image forming portion and a second closed position where said openable member is closed to said image forming portion; and

a supporting member for supporting said openable member,

wherein when said image reading portion is located at the first open position, said openable member is supported at the second open position by said supporting member,

wherein when said image reading portion is moved, toward the first closed position, from a state in which said openable member is supported at the second open position by said supporting member, close of said openable member from a predetermined position which is between the second open position and the second closed position and which is closer to the second closed position than the second open position is limited by said supporting member, and

wherein when said image reading portion is moved, toward the first closed position, from a state in which the close of said openable member from the predetermined position is limited by said supporting member, limitation of said openable member by said supporting member is eliminated.

2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when said openable member is located between the second open position and the predetermined position, said openable member is movable between the second position and the predetermined position in interrelation with movement of said image reading portion by support thereof by said supporting member.

3. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

urging means for urging said openable member in a closing direction in at least a part of a process in which said openable member is moved from the second open position to the second closed position,

wherein a position where an urging force for urging said openable member in the closing direction by said urging means is maximum is located between the predetermined position and the second open position.

4. An image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when said openable member is located at the predetermined position, said urging means does not urge said openable member in the closing direction.

5. An image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said image forming portion includes fixing means for fixing a toner image on the recording material,

wherein said urging means urges, when said openable member is located at the second closed position, said openable member so as to be placed in a pressing state in which said fixing means is capable of applying pressure to the recording material, and eliminates the pressing when said openable member is located at the second open position.

6. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

operation stopping means for stopping an operation of said image forming portion,

wherein said operation stopping means places the operation of said image forming portion in a rest state when said openable member is located at a position where said openable member is open to said image forming portion more than at an operation stopping position.

7. An image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the operation stopping position is located between the predetermined position and the second closed position.

8. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a link member, provided so as to connect said image forming portion and said image reading portion, movable in interrelation with rotation of said image reading portion,

wherein said supporting member is provided on said link member.

9. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said openable member includes a supported portion supported by said supporting member, and said supported portion has a shape such that said supported portion is disposed on a movement locus of said supporting member when said openable member is located between the second open position and the predetermined position.

10. An image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said supporting member is a roller rotatable relative to said link member.

11. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said openable member is rotated to move between the second closed position and the second open position, and an angle of rotation of said openable member for being moved from the second closed position to the predetermined position is 20 degrees or less.

12. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an image forming portion for forming an image on a recording material;

an image reading portion for reading an original image, wherein said image reading portion is movable between a first open position where said image reading portion is open to said image forming portion and a first closed portion where said image reading portion is closed to said image forming portion;

an openable member movable between a second open position where said openable member opens an inside of said image forming portion and a second closed position where said openable member is closed to said image forming portion;

a supporting member for supporting said openable member; and

urging means for urging said openable member in a closing direction in at least a part of a process in which said openable member is moved from the second open position to the second closed position,

wherein when said image reading portion is located at the first open position, said openable member is supported at the second open position by said supporting member,

wherein when said image reading portion is moved, toward the first closed position, from a state in which said openable member is supported at the second open position by said supporting member, close of said openable member from a predetermined position which is between the second open position and the second closed position and which is closer to the second closed position than the second open position is limited by said supporting member, and

wherein when said image reading portion is moved, toward the first closed position, from a state in which the close of said openable member from the predetermined position is limited by said supporting member, limitation of said openable member by said supporting member is eliminated, and

wherein a position where an urging force for urging said openable member in the closing direction by said urging means is maximum is located between the predetermined position and the second open position.

13. An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein when said openable member is located at the predetermined position, said urging means does not urge said openable member in the closing direction.

14. An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein when said openable member is located between the second open position and the predetermined position, said openable member is movable between the second position and the predetermined position in interrelation with movement of said image reading portion by support thereof by said supporting member.

15. An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said image forming portion includes fixing means for fixing a toner image on the recording material,

wherein said urging means urges, when said openable member is located at the second closed position, said openable member so as to be placed in a pressing state in which said fixing means is capable of applying pressure to the recording material, and eliminates the pressing when said openable member is located at the second open position.

16. An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

operation stopping means for stopping an operation of said image forming portion,

wherein said operation stopping means places the operation of said image forming portion in a rest state when said openable member is located at a position where said openable member is open to said image forming portion more than at an operation stopping position.

17. An image forming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the operation stopping position is located between the predetermined position and the second closed position.

18. An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

a link member, provided so as to connect said image forming portion and said image reading portion, movable in interrelation with rotation of said image reading portion,

wherein said supporting member is provided on said link member.

19. An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said openable member includes a supported portion supported by said supporting member, and said supported portion has a shape such that said supported portion is disposed on a movement locus of said supporting member when said openable member is located between the second open position and the predetermined position.

20. An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said openable member is rotated to move between the second closed position and the second open position, and an angle of rotation of said openable member for being moved from the second closed position to the predetermined position is 20 degrees or less.