Image forming apparatus with an open-close regulation mechanism of the automatic document feeder
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
- an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording sheet;
an image reading unit provided above the image forming unit so as to open and close with respect to the image forming unit;
an automatic document feeder provided above the image reading unit so as to open and close with respect to the image reading unit; and
an open-close regulation mechanism that regulates opening and closing movements of the automatic document feeder so thatwhen the image reading unit is closed with respect to the image forming unit, the automatic document feeder is capable of opening with respect to the image reading unit, andwhen the image reading unit is opened with respect to the image forming unit, the automatic document feeder is prevented to open with respect to the image reading unit,wherein the open-close regulation mechanism includes a lock mechanism that includes;
a hook;
a lock lever that engages with the hook;
a spring that elastically urges the lock lever toward the hook;
a contact member provided monolithically with the lock lever;
a lever rotatable support member that rotatably supports the lock lever and the contact member; and
an arm that rotates in conjunction with the opening and closing movements of the image reading unit, the arm being provided between the image forming unit and the image reading unit,wherein when the image reading unit is closed with respect to the image forming unit, the contact member remains in contact with the arm and the lock lever remains separated from the hook against an elasticity of the spring to thereby automatically disengage the image reading unit and the automatic document feeder, andwherein when the image reading unit is opened with respect to the image forming unit, the contact member is separated from the arm and the lock lever engages with the hook by the elasticity of the spring to thereby automatically engage the image reading unit and the automatic document feeder.
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Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording sheet; an image reading unit provided above the image forming unit so as to open and close with respect to the image forming unit; an automatic document feeder provided above the image reading unit so as to open and close with respect to the image reading unit; and an open-close regulation mechanism that regulates opening and closing movements of the automatic document feeder so that when the image reading unit is closed with respect to the image forming unit, the automatic document feeder is capable of opening with respect to the image reading unit, and when the image reading unit is opened with respect to the image forming unit, the automatic document feeder is prevented to open with respect to the image reading unit.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
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an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording sheet; an image reading unit provided above the image forming unit so as to open and close with respect to the image forming unit; an automatic document feeder provided above the image reading unit so as to open and close with respect to the image reading unit; and an open-close regulation mechanism that regulates opening and closing movements of the automatic document feeder so that when the image reading unit is closed with respect to the image forming unit, the automatic document feeder is capable of opening with respect to the image reading unit, and when the image reading unit is opened with respect to the image forming unit, the automatic document feeder is prevented to open with respect to the image reading unit, wherein the open-close regulation mechanism includes a lock mechanism that includes; a hook; a lock lever that engages with the hook; a spring that elastically urges the lock lever toward the hook; a contact member provided monolithically with the lock lever; a lever rotatable support member that rotatably supports the lock lever and the contact member; and an arm that rotates in conjunction with the opening and closing movements of the image reading unit, the arm being provided between the image forming unit and the image reading unit, wherein when the image reading unit is closed with respect to the image forming unit, the contact member remains in contact with the arm and the lock lever remains separated from the hook against an elasticity of the spring to thereby automatically disengage the image reading unit and the automatic document feeder, and wherein when the image reading unit is opened with respect to the image forming unit, the contact member is separated from the arm and the lock lever engages with the hook by the elasticity of the spring to thereby automatically engage the image reading unit and the automatic document feeder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
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an image forming unit; an image reading unit located above the image forming unit; an automatic document feeder located above the image reading unit; and an open-close regulation mechanism, wherein the open-close regulation mechanism includes; a hook; a lock lever that engages the hook; a spring connected to the lock lever that pushes the lock lever toward the hook; a contact member connected to the lock lever via a lever rotatable support member; and an arm located between the image forming unit and the image reading unit, wherein, if the image reading unit is closed with respect to the image forming unit, the contact member contacts the arm, and urges the lock lever to disengage from the hook, to thereby automatically disengage the image reading unit and the automatic document feeder, and wherein, if the image reading unit is opened with respect to the image forming unit, the contact member separates from the arm, and the spring elastically pushes the lock lever to engage the hook, to thereby engage the image reading unit and the automatic document feeder. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeBrother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
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Original AssigneeBrother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited), Ricoh Printing Systems Limited (Ricoh Company Limited)
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InventorsHashimoto, Haruo, Moribe, Masato, Ikematsu, Takamitsu, Kumada, Katsumi
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Primary Examiner(s)Tieu; Benny Q
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Assistant Examiner(s)Mushambo; Martin
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Application NumberUS11/510,735Publication NumberTime in Patent Office1,492 DaysField of Search358/400, 358/474, 358/471, 358/494, 358/496, 358/497, 358/498, 399/125, 399/379, 292/8US Class Current358/494CPC Class CodesH04N 1/00543 Allowing easy access, e.g. ...H04N 1/00551 Top covers or the likeH04N 1/00559 Mounting or support of comp...
