Image forming apparatus, including a lock unit for preventing a reading unit and a platen cover from being opened simultaneously

• US 6,510,301 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2001
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Murata Machinery Limited (Muratec)
• Original Assignee: Murata Machinery Limited (Muratec)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Sophia S.
• Application Number:
  US09/996,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20020061212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 399/377, 399/379, 399/380, 399/125, 399/118, 399/107, 358/494, 358/496, 358/497, 355/75
• US Class Current: 399/125
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/605 Holders for originals or exposure platens for photographic purposes in general G03B
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00519 Constructional details not otherwise provided for, e.g. housings, covers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00551 Top covers or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00554 Latches or hinges therefor

Abstract

An image forming machine provided with an image recording unit, a reading unit on the image recording unit, and a platen cover. The reading unit and the platen cover can be opened and closed. The image forming machine includes a first lock unit for enabling the platen cover to be locked to the reading unit, with the platen cover closed, and a second lock unit for interlocking with the first lock unit and releasing connection between the reading unit and the image recording unit. When the reading unit is opened upwards relative to the image recording unit to exchange a process unit of the image recording unit or eliminate jam in the image recording unit, only in the state where the platen cover is locked to the reading unit, the reading unit can be opened upwards.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a reading unit openably and closably provided on a main body of the image forming apparatus;

a platen cover openably and closably provided on the reading unit;

a first lock unit which enables the platen cover to be locked to the reading unit; and

a second lock unit which enables the reading unit to be locked to the main body of the apparatus, and which is arranged to be interlocked with said first lock unit.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first lock unit enables the platen cover to be locked to the reading unit with the platen cover closed, and said second lock unit releases connection between the reading unit and the main body in conjunction with said first lock unit.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first lock unit includes a first lock member rotatably provided on the platen cover, and a lever for rotating the first lock member.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second lock unit restrains the first lock unit, and includes a link whose one end is rotatably supported by a shaft and which has an engagement part provided on the other end of the link for engaging with an engagement part provided on the main body,

wherein by making the first lock member contact against the link, engagement between the main body and the reading unit is released.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein the reading unit includes an engaging part for engaging the first lock member in order to lock the platen cover to the reading unit,

wherein the image forming apparatus further includes a stopper for engaging the first lock member in order to stop the first lock member at a first position where the platen cover is locked to the reading unit, and a stopper releasing member for releasing engagement between the stopper and the first lock member when the reading unit is closed.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further including an operation lever which can operate the first lock unit to a first position where the platen cover is locked to the reading unit and to a second position where the second lock unit is activated, and a stopper for stopping the operation lever at the first position after the operation lever is operated to the second position,

wherein the first lock unit includes a first lock member which is rotatably provided on the reading unit and which is rotated by interlocking with operation of the operation lever, and an engaging part provided on the platen cover for engaging the first lock member.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein the second lock unit includes a second lock member provided on the reading unit for interlocking with the first lock member via a link mechanism, and an engagement part provided on the main body for engaging the second lock member.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further including a stopper releasing member for releasing engagement between the stopper and the operation lever when the reading unit is closed.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the platen cover is opened and closed in the same direction as the reading unit is opened and closed.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first lock unit is arranged for the platen cover to be locked to the reading unit when the second lock unit releases connection between the reading unit and the main body of the apparatus.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first lock unit is operated to a first position where the platen cover is locked to the reading unit, and to a second position where the second lock unit is activated.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first lock unit includes a first lock member rotatably provided on the platen cover, and a lever for rotating the first lock member.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the second lock unit restrains the first lock unit, and includes a link whose one end is rotatably supported by a shaft and which has an engagement part provided on the other end of the link for engaging with an engagement part provided on the main body,

wherein by making the first lock member contact against the link, engagement between the main body and the reading unit is released.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12,

wherein the reading unit includes an engaging part for engaging the first lock member in order to lock the platen cover to the reading unit,

wherein the image forming apparatus further includes a stopper for engaging the first lock member in order to stop the first lock member at a first position where the platen cover is locked to the reading unit, and a stopper releasing member for releasing engagement between the stopper and the first lock member when the reading unit is closed.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, further including an operation lever which can operate the first lock unit to a first position where the platen cover is locked to the reading unit and to a second position where the second lock unit is activated, and a stopper for stopping the operation lever at the first position after the operation lever is operated to the second position,

wherein the first lock unit includes a first lock member which is rotatably provided on the reading unit and which is rotated by interlocking with operation of the operation lever, and an engaging part provided on the platen cover for engaging the first lock member.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15,

wherein the second lock unit includes a second lock member provided on the reading unit for interlocking with the first lock member via a link mechanism, and an engagement part provided on the main body for engaging the second lock member.

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, further including a stopper releasing member for releasing engagement between the stopper and the operation lever when the reading unit is closed.

18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the platen cover is opened and closed in the same direction as the reading unit is opened and closed.

19. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

a reading unit openably and closably provided on a main body of the image forming apparatus;

a platen cover openably and closably provided on the reading unit;

a first lock unit for enabling the platen cover to be locked to the reading unit, with the platen cover closed; and

a second lock unit for interlocking with the first lock unit,

wherein the main body includes a body fixed hook, and a groove formed on the body fixed hook,

wherein the second lock unit includes a lateral link movably provided on the reading unit and having a pin on one end of the lateral link, and first urging means for urging the lateral link to move in a direction of inserting the pin into the groove when the reading unit is closed,

wherein the first lock unit includes a swinging lever, rotatably provided on the platen cover, for pushing the lateral link against the first urging means in a direction of releasing the pin from the groove and simultaneously engaging a part of the reading unit,

wherein the reading unit includes a stopper, rotatably provided on the reading unit, for preventing the swinging lever from being released from the part of the reading unit when the reading unit is opened from the main body,

wherein the body fixed hook includes an engaging member for rotating, by contacting against one end of the stopper when the reading unit is closed to the main body, the stopper in a direction of enabling the swinging lever to be released from the part of the reading unit.

20. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

a reading unit openably and closably provided on a main body of the image forming apparatus;

a platen cover openably and closably provided on the reading unit;

a first lock unit for enabling the platen cover to be locked to the reading unit, with the platen cover closed; and

a second lock unit for interlocking with the first lock unit,

wherein the first lock unit includes a first lever member, a second lever member rotatably provided on the reading unit for engaging with a part of the platen cover in order to lock the platen cover to the reading unit, and a third lever member rotatably provided on the platen cover,

wherein the second lock unit includes a lock lever rotatably provided on the reading unit and having a pin on one end of the lock lever, and a body fixed hook provided on the main body and having a groove for engaging the pin,

wherein if the reading unit is closed to the main body, when the first lever member is pushed in an outer direction of the image forming apparatus, the first lever member rotates the second lever member in a direction of making the second lever member engage with the part of the platen cover, the second lever member rotates the third lever member, and the third lever member rotates the lock lever in a direction of releasing the pin from the groove,

wherein if the reading unit is closed to the main body, when the first lever member is pushed in an inner direction of the image forming apparatus, the first lever member rotates the second lever member in a direction of releasing engagement between the second lever member and the part of the platen cover, and the lock lever becomes able to rotate, by interlocking with the first lever member, the second lever member, and the third lever member, in a direction of enabling the pin to be inserted into the groove,

wherein the reading unit includes a stopper for preventing the engagement between the second lever member and the part of the platen cover from being released when the reading unit is opened from the main body, and means for urging the pin to be inserted into the groove when the reading unit is closed to the main body.