IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

• US 20140355084A1
• Filed: 05/28/2014
• Published: 12/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Original Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Inada, Teruhiko, Fukuma, Nobuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 9,065,946 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/498
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00554 Latches or hinges therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00557 Connection or assembly of components or elements H04N1/00538 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00625 Removing sheets selectively from the top or bottom of a single stack or tray
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00925 Inhibiting an operation

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes: document reading device; document holder; and first locking device. Document reading device is provided so as to be openable and closable relative to apparatus body. Document holder is provided so as to be openable and closable relative to document reading device. First locking device locks document holder so as to prevent document holder from performing opening operation in the case of the document reading device performing opening operation. Document reading device includes an opening. First locking device includes: locking member, first hook member, and lid member. Locking member is inserted into the opening in a state where document holder is closed relative to document reading device. First hook member is engaged with locking member inserted in the opening, below document placing surface. Lid member is movable between closing position at which the opening is closed, and opening position at which the opening is opened.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a document reading device provided so as to be openable and closable relative to an apparatus body;

a document holder provided so as to be openable and closable relative to the document reading device; and

a first locking device that locks the document holder so as to prevent the document holder from performing opening operation in the case of the document reading device performing opening and closing operation, wherein

the document reading device includes an opening that is used for locking the document holder so as to prevent the document holder from performing opening operation, and the opening is formed so as to be coplanar with a document placing surface on which a document is placed, and

the first locking device includes;

a locking member, provided in the document holder, configured to be inserted into the opening in a state where the document holder is closed relative to the document reading device;

a first hook member, provided in the document reading device, configured to be engageable with the locking member inserted in the opening, below the document placing surface; and

a lid member, provided in the document reading device, configured to be movable between a closing position at which the opening is closed, and an opening position at which the opening is opened by the lid member being moved downward of the document placing surface.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the first locking device includes a first urging member provided in the document reading device, and the first urging member is configured to urge the lid member from the opening position toward the closing position, and

the lid member moves from the closing position to the opening position against an urging force of the first urging member, by being pressed by the locking member.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the locking member is provided so as to be movable between a projecting position at which the locking member projects from the document holder, and a retracting position at which the locking member retracts into the document holder.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the first locking device includes a second urging member provided in the document holder, and the second urging member is configured to urge the locking member from the retracting position toward the projecting position, and

the locking member moves from the projecting position to the retracting position against an urging force of the second urging member when a foreign object is caught by the locking member which is being inserted into the opening.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the first hook member is provided so as to be movable between a first engaging position at which the first hook member engages with the locking member, and a first disengaging position at which the first hook member is disengaged from the locking member, and

the first locking device includes:

a third urging member, provided in the document reading device, configured to urge the first hook member from the first disengaging position toward the first engaging position;

a projection provided in the apparatus body; and

a linking member, provided in the document reading device, configured to contact with the projection and move the first hook member from the first engaging position to the first disengaging position against an urging force of the third urging member in a state where the document reading device is closed relative to the apparatus body.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a second locking device configured to lock the document reading device so as to prevent the document reading device from performing opening operation.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

the second locking device includes:

a second hook member, provided in the document reading device, configured to be movable between a second engaging position at which the second hook member engages with the apparatus body and a second disengaging position at which the second hook member is disengaged from the apparatus body; and

a regulation member configured to prevent movement of the second hook member to the second disengaging position when the lid member is positioned at the closing position, and cancel prevention of movement of the second hook member to the second disengaging position when the lid member is positioned at the opening position.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a third locking device configured to lock the document reading device so as to prevent the document reading device from performing opening operation, wherein

the third locking device includes:

a sliding member, provided in the document reading device so as to be slidable, configured to slide due to a force in an unlocking direction being applied to the sliding member; and

a third hook member configured to move according to movement of the sliding member, to be disengageable from the apparatus body.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

the third locking device further includes an engaging portion provided in the apparatus body, and

the third hook member locks the document reading device so as to prevent the document reading device from performing opening operation by engaging with the engaging portion.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

the third locking device further includes a lever member provided in the document reading device, and the lever member is configured to release engagement by the third hook member, and

the sliding member slides together with the third hook member due to a force in the unlocking direction being applied by the lever member in the case of the lever member being operated.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a movable member, provided in the document reading device, configured to be movable between a closing position at which the opening is closed, and an opening position at which the opening is opened by the movable member being moved downward of the document placing surface.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

the first locking device includes a fourth urging member provided in the document reading device, and the fourth urging member is configured to urge the movable member from the opening position toward the closing position, and

the movable member moves from the closing position to the opening position against an urging force of the fourth urging member, by being pressed by the locking member.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the locking member is movable between a projecting position at which the locking member projects from the document holder, and a retracting position at which the locking member retracts into the document holder.