JP4034744B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile machine, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus including a plurality of conveyance paths through which a sheet such as recording paper is conveyed.

  Generally, in an image forming apparatus, for example, an image forming apparatus having a double-sided printing function includes a plurality of sheet conveyance paths (for example, a main sheet conveyance path and a sub sheet conveyance path), and forms an image on one surface of a sheet. In this case, the sheet fed from the sheet feeding unit is transported through the main transport path, and the toner image formed on the image carrier such as the photosensitive drum is transferred to the sheet in the image forming unit, and then Then, the toner image on the sheet is fixed by the fixing unit and discharged to a sheet discharge tray or the like.

  On the other hand, when an image is formed on both sides of a sheet, a sheet on which a toner image is formed (fixed sheet) is introduced from the downstream side of the main conveyance path to the sub conveyance path, After being reversed, it is returned to the upstream side (sheet feeding unit side) of the main transport path through the sub transport path. Then, the sheet is sent again to the image forming unit via the main conveyance path, and after the image is formed on the other side of the sheet, the toner image is fixed by the fixing unit and discharged to the discharge tray. .

  In the image forming apparatus described above, there is a region where the main transport path and the sub transport path partially overlap, and sheet jamming (jam) is likely to occur in the overlap region. For this reason, a cover member is provided on the side surface of the image forming apparatus housing so that the overlapping region can be opened from the image forming apparatus housing, and the main transport path and / or the sub transport path are partially provided as necessary. It is opened so that the jammed sheet can be removed from the main conveyance path or the sub conveyance path.

  By the way, in the above-described image forming apparatus, generally, the main transport path is disposed inside the sub transport path, and in order to at least partially open the main transport path, it is necessary to perform a plurality of opening operations. However, in order to eliminate the complexity of the opening operation and easily open at least most of the main conveyance path by a single operation, a part of one side wall of the housing (image forming apparatus housing) is provided. When the opening / closing member is moved to the open position, at least a part of the upstream side of the main transport path, at least a part of the transfer area, the intermediate area, and the downstream side are opened, and the sub-transport path There is one in which a part of the upstream end portion and the main portion is opened (see Patent Document 1).

  Here, when the open / close member and the movable member are swung to the open position, most of the main transport path is opened, a part of the sub transport path is opened, and the open / close member and the movable member are swung to the open position. After that, when the movable member is swung to return to the image forming apparatus housing side, most of the sub-transport path is opened.

  In addition, the user collects the first and second exterior covers on the front surface of the apparatus main body, and the user has a first operation button for opening and closing the first exterior cover that is opened in order to solve frequent single-sided printing troubles. There is one that is provided at a position on the side surface of the device body that is easy to understand (see Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-62698 (pages 7 to 8, FIGS. 2 to 4) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-351282 (pages 2 to 3, FIGS. 1 to 4)

  By the way, in the conventional image forming apparatus, the opening / closing member and the movable member are swung to the open position to perform the jam processing, and then the opening / closing member and the movable member are returned to the closed position. If the movable member is not firmly positioned in the closed position with respect to the image forming apparatus casing, that is, if a so-called one-closed state or the like is generated, if a copy or the like is performed without noticing the one-closed state, A jam occurs in the main transport path or the sub transport path.

  In other words, the opening / closing member and the movable member are locked to the image forming apparatus casing by hook members or the like at a plurality of locations. In particular, if the user does not press the opening / closing member and the movable member evenly, a single closing occurs, and if copying or the like is performed in such a state, a jam occurs again. .

  Further, in the conventional image forming apparatus, when the opening and closing member and the movable member are swung to the open position, the opening and closing member suddenly falls to the open side, and in some cases, an unexpected accident hitting the user and the hand, etc. May occur.

  Accordingly, in view of the problems of the related art, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus that can always close the cover member satisfactorily when opening and closing the cover member in which the main conveyance path and the sub conveyance path are defined. Objective.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which when the cover member is opened, the cover member does not suddenly fall to the open side.

Accordingly, in order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides a first conveyance path formed in the image forming apparatus housing and conveyed in parallel with the first conveyance path, and the sheet is arranged in parallel. A second transport path that is transported; and a cover body that is pivotable from a closed position to an open position with respect to the image forming apparatus housing. The cover body includes first and second covers. And at least a part of the second transport path is defined by one surface side of the first cover portion and one surface side of the second cover portion when in the closed position, In the image forming apparatus, the other surface side of the cover portion defines at least a part of the first transport path, and the other surface of the first cover portion forms one surface of the image forming apparatus housing. ,
First locking means for locking the first cover portion to the image forming apparatus housing in the closed position;
Second locking means for locking the second cover portion to the image forming apparatus housing in the closed position;
Depending on the rotation to the closed position from the open position of said first cover portion, the second in conjunction with the locking means to operate said first locking means and said first cover portion Interlocking operation means for operating the first locking means in response to rotation from the closed position to the open position ,
Have a support means for supporting said first cover portion during rotation to the open position from the closed position of said first cover portion,
The interlock operation means includes an operation lever portion that operates the second locking means, and an interlock arm portion that operates the first locking means in conjunction with the operation of the operation lever portion, The support means is a receiving portion that is formed on the operation lever portion and receives the first cover portion .

  In the present invention, the interlock operation means includes an operation lever portion that operates the second locking means, and an interlock arm portion that operates the first locking means in conjunction with the operation of the operation lever portion. The first locking means includes a first engagement portion provided on the image forming apparatus housing side, and a first engagement portion provided on the first cover portion at the closed position. A first engaging portion that is engaged with the joint portion, and the second engaging means includes a second engaging portion provided on the image forming apparatus housing side and the second cover. And a second engaging portion that is engaged with the second engaging portion in the closed position, and the second engaging portion and the second engaging portion according to an operation of the operating lever portion. The second engaging portion is engaged with the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion according to the engagement between the second engaging portion and the second engaging portion. Engagement between the first locking portion is performed.

  For example, the first locking portion is attached so as to be rotatable around a first fulcrum member disposed in the first cover portion in a direction crossing the first and second transport paths, A second locking portion is provided in the operation lever portion, and the operation lever portion traverses the first and second transport paths around a second fulcrum member disposed on the second cover portion. The second fulcrum member is positioned closer to the first cover part than the second locking part, and the operation lever is provided with the second fulcrum member. A flat surface that is positioned closer to the first cover portion than the flat arm and is in contact with one end of the interlocking arm portion in the closed position, and an edge portion that is positioned closer to the first cover portion than the flat surface is formed. The other end of the interlocking arm portion comes into contact with the first locking portion, and the opening is started from the closed position. The interlocking arm section is operated with the rotational operation is performed on location by the edges.

  The first transport path is, for example, a main transport path through which the sheet is transported during image formation, and the second transport path receives the sheet on which the image has been formed and reverses the sheet. And a sub-transport route that is sent to the main transport route.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the first cover unit is locked to the image forming apparatus by the first locking unit in the closed position, and the second cover unit is locked by the second locking unit. The interlocking operation means is interlocked with the second locking means in accordance with the rotation from the open position to the closed position and the rotation from the closed position to the open position. When the state where the second cover part is not locked to the image forming apparatus housing by the second locking means occurs, the first cover part also becomes the first cover part. Is not locked to the image forming apparatus housing by the locking means, and as a result, it is possible to prevent problems such as one-sided closure and to keep the cover body always good when opening and closing the cover body (cover member). There is an effect that it can be closed.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, since the first cover portion is supported when the first cover portion is opened from the closed position to the open position, the first cover portion is opened when the first cover portion is opened. The first cover portion does not fall suddenly toward the open side, and the first cover portion does not hit the user's hand or the like.

  Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention unless otherwise specified, but are merely illustrative examples. Not too much.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In an image forming apparatus casing (hereinafter simply referred to as an apparatus casing) 11, a pair of sheet feeding apparatuses arranged in the vertical direction in the figure. 12a and 12b are arranged, and sheets (sheets) are selectively fed from the sheet feeding devices 12a and 12b one by one to the image forming unit. The image forming unit includes a photosensitive drum 14 as an image carrier, and a charger 16, an exposure unit 18, a developing device 20, and a cleaning member 22 are disposed around the photosensitive drum 14. The surface of the photosensitive drum 14 is uniformly charged by the charger 16, the photosensitive drum 14 is exposed and discharged according to the image data by the exposure unit 18, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 14. The The developing unit 20 develops the electrostatic latent image into a toner image, and the toner image is transferred onto the paper by the transfer roller 24. Then, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 14 is removed by the cleaning member 22.

  A main transport path (first transport path) 28 is defined in the apparatus housing 11, and this main transport path 28 extends from the exit of the paper feeding device 12 a to the paper discharge port 30 defined in the upper part of the device housing 11. In the apparatus casing 11, the sheet fed from the sheet feeding device 12a or 12b passes through the main conveyance path 28, and the toner image is transferred by the image forming unit as described above. The Thereafter, after the toner image is transferred by the fixing unit 62, the sheet is discharged from the discharge port 30 to the discharge tray 72 during single-sided printing. A plurality of path switching members (not shown) are arranged on the exit side of the fixing unit 62. As will be described later, for example, during double-sided printing, the sheet output from the fixing unit 62 is carried into the sub-transport path. The

  The sub-transport path (second transport path) 88 formed in the apparatus housing 11 is formed in parallel outside the main transport path 28, and the paper is sub-transported by the path switching member during double-sided printing. It is introduced into the path 88. Then, the sheet is reversed in the sub-conveying path 88, the sheet is supplied to the upstream side of the main conveying path 28, and the sheet passes through the main conveying path 28 and reaches the image forming unit. In the image forming unit, the toner image is transferred to the other side of the sheet, and the sheet is discharged from the discharge port 30 to the discharge tray 72 via the fixing unit 62.

  In the illustrated image forming apparatus, a cover body (cover member) 31 is defined on a part of the side surface (the left side surface in FIG. 1) of the apparatus housing 11, and the cover body 31 has a closed position and an open position. It is attached to the device casing 11 so as to be able to rotate between them. As shown in FIG. 2, the cover body 31 includes a first cover portion 31 a and a second cover portion 31 b located inside the first cover portion 31 a, and the cover body 31 is in the closed position. At this time, a part of the sub transport path 88 is defined by the first and second cover portions 31a and 31b (one surface side (inner surface side) of the first cover portion 31a and one surface side (outer surface) of the second cover portion 31b. The sub-transport path 88 is defined between the first and second cover portions 31a and 31b.

  On the other hand, a part of the main transport path 28 is defined by the inner side surface (right side surface in the drawing) of the second cover portion 31b (the other side of the second cover portion 31b covers at least a part of the main transport path 28). Stipulate). And when the cover body 31 exists in a closed position, the other surface side (outer surface side) of the 1st cover part 31a forms one surface (one side surface) of the apparatus housing | casing 11. FIG.

  Referring also to FIG. 2, the cover body 31 is attached to the apparatus housing 11 so as to be rotatable about a fulcrum shaft 32 extending in the reverse direction from the front side of the paper surface in the figure, and a paper jam (paper jam) occurs in the main transport path 28. When this occurs, as will be described later, the cover 31 is rotated from the closed position (the state shown in FIG. 1) to the open position (the state shown in FIG. 2), and a paper jam occurs in the main transport path 28. Will be processed. On the other hand, when a paper jam occurs in the sub-conveying path 88, the cover body 31 is rotated from the closed position to the open position to obtain the state shown in FIG. 31b is rotated again around the fulcrum shaft 32 toward the apparatus housing 11 (right side in the drawing) to expose the sub-transport path 88, and the paper jam generated in the sub-transport path 88 is processed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an operation lever 41 is positioned on one side of the first cover portion 31a. The operation lever 41 includes a gripping portion 41a, an extending portion 41b extending upward from the gripping portion 41a, and A hook portion (hereinafter referred to as an inner hook portion (second locking portion)) 41c extending inward in a direction orthogonal to the extending portion 41b is provided, and the inner hook portion 41c extends to the second cover portion 31b. Has reached.

  A claw 41d is formed at the tip of the inner hook portion 41c. One end of a shaft body (second fulcrum member) 42 extending in the width direction of the second cover portion 31b is attached to the inner hook portion 41c. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the inner hook portion 41c A similar hook portion is disposed on the other side surface of the first cover portion 31a (that is, the other side surface side of the second cover portion 31b) and attached to the other end of the shaft body 42. The shaft body 42 is rotatably supported by the second cover portion 31b at both ends thereof, and the operation lever 41 is rotatable around the shaft body 42 (that is, the first cover portion). It can be turned to the outside of 31a (a direction crossing the main transport path 28 and the sub transport path 88).

  An inclined surface 41e is formed on the rear end surface side of the hook portion 41c (see FIGS. 4 and 6), and one end of the interlocking arm member 43 is in contact with the rear end surface side of the hook portion 41c so that the first cover portion 31a The interlocking arm member 43 extends upward along one side surface, and is arranged so as to be movable along one side surface of the first cover portion 31a. A hook portion (hereinafter referred to as an outer hook portion (first locking portion)) 44 is disposed on one side surface of the upper side of the first cover portion 31a. 44a is formed.

  An outer hook portion similar to the outer hook portion 44 is also arranged on the other side surface side of the first cover portion 31a, and a shaft body (first shaft) extending in the width direction of the first cover portion 31a is disposed on these outer hook portions. The fulcrum member) 45 is connected. The shaft body 45 is supported at both ends thereof by support pieces (not shown) provided in the first cover portion 31a. The other end of the interlock arm member 43 is in contact with the rear end of the outer hook portion 44. When the interlock arm member 43 moves along one side surface of the first cover portion 31a, the outer hook portion is a shaft body. It rotates around 45 (in the direction crossing the main transport path 28 and the sub transport path 88).

  As shown in the figure, the transfer roller 24 described above is disposed on the inner surface side of the second cover portion 31 b and is biased inward by a spring member 46. Similarly, a spring member 47 is disposed on the upper inner surface of the first cover portion 31a. When the cover body 31 is in the closed position, the cover body 31 is urged outward by the spring member 47. As will be described later, when the lock is released, the cover member 31 is pushed outward by the spring member 47 so that the cover member 31 can be easily opened to the open position.

  Further, on the apparatus housing 11 side, hook pins 48a and 48b (second and second engaging portions: in FIG. 2, only one hook pin 48b is provided corresponding to the two claws 41d and the two claws 44a, respectively. When the cover body 31 is in the closed position, the claws 41d and 44a are engaged with the hook pins 48a and 48b, respectively, and the cover body 31 is in the locked state. Become.

  Referring now to FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the cover body 31 with the second cover portion 31b omitted, and in FIG. 3, the same components as those shown in FIG. A reference number is attached. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the cover body 31 is in the closed position (that is, a state in which the cover body 31 is locked with respect to the apparatus housing 11). In this state, the grip portion 41a is one side surface of the first cover portion 31a. The claw 41d is locked to the hook pin 48a, and the claw 44a is locked to the hook pin 48b (not shown in FIG. 3).

  If a paper jam occurs in the main transport path 28 or the sub transport path 88, the operating lever 41 is operated to rotate the cover body 31 from the closed position to the open position. 4 and 5, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are perspective views showing the cover body 31 by omitting the second cover portion 31b, and FIG. 6 omitting the second cover portion 31b. 3 is a side view showing a cover body 31. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the gripper 41a is gripped by hand and the gripper 41a is operated (turned) in the direction indicated by the solid line arrow in FIG. 5, the operation lever 41 rotates about the shaft body 42 as a fulcrum. As a result, the inner hook portion 41c located on the near side in FIG. 5 rotates downward, and the claw 41d is detached from the hook pin 48a. In FIG. 5, since the inner hook portion 41c located on the back side is attached to the shaft body 42, the inner hook portion 41c located on the back side also rotates downward, and the claw 41d is located on the back side. The second cover portion 31b is released from the locked state (the hook pin 48a located on the back side is not shown in FIGS. 4 and 5).

  As shown in FIG. 4, an inclined surface 41e is formed on the rear end side (the side opposite to the claw 41d) of the inner hook portion 41c located on the near side, and the flat surface 41f and the inclined surface 41e of the inner hook portion 41c are formed. The edge portion 41g is defined by the above. On the other hand, one end side of the interlocking arm member 43 has a flat surface 43a, and when the cover body 31 is in the closed position, the flat surface 41f and the flat surface 43a are in contact with each other. Then, as described above, when the operation lever 41 is rotated, the shaft body 42 is disposed on the tip side (inside) from the edge portion 41g as shown in FIG. The interlocking arm member 43 is lifted upward by the edge portion 41g in contact with the surface 43a (the interlocking arm member 43 is movable (slidable) in the direction indicated by the broken line arrow in FIG. Is located).

  The other end (upper end) of the interlocking arm member 43 is in contact with the rear end of the outer hook portion 44 located on the near side in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the shaft body 45 has a rear end of the outer hook portion 44 and a claw 44 a. Therefore, when the interlocking arm member 43 is lifted upward, the outer hook portion 44 rotates about the shaft body 45 and the rear end of the outer hook portion 44 is lifted upward. It will go down.

  As a result, the claw 44a of the outer hook portion 44 located on the near side is detached from the hook pin 48b. 4 and 5, since the outer hook portion 44 located on the back side is attached to the shaft body 45, the outer hook portion 44 located on the far side also rotates downward, so that the claw 44a The first cover portion 31a is released from the hook pin located on the far side and the locked state of the first cover portion 31a is released (the hook pin 48b located on the far side is not shown in FIGS. 4 and 5).

  Here, referring to FIG. 7, FIG. 7 is a side view showing the second cover portion 31b without being omitted, and the locked state of the first and second cover portions 31a and 31b is as described above. After the release, when the grip portion 41a is pulled outside the apparatus housing 11 (the operation lever 41 is connected to the second cover portion 31b by the shaft body 42), the second cover portion 31b is rotated around the fulcrum shaft 32. As a result, the first cover portion 31a located outside the second cover portion 31b is also rotated around the fulcrum shaft 32, and the cover body 31 is rotated in the open position direction.

  Then, the cover body 31 rotates toward the open position. As shown in FIG. 7, the grip portion 41a is formed with a protruding portion (receiving portion) 51 protruding upward. The inner surface side of the part 51 is an inclined surface 51a. Then, as the cover body 31 rotates in the open position direction, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the end portion 311 of the first cover portion 31a comes into contact with the inclined surface 51a, and the first cover portion 31a. The cover body 31 is held by the operation lever 41.

  Accordingly, when the user operates the operation lever 41 to rotate the cover body 31 to the open position, the cover body 31 is held by the protrusion 51 even if the cover body 31 is rotated. The cover body 31 does not hit the user's hand without falling suddenly in the open position direction due to its own weight. That is, when the cover body 31 is rotated to the open position, the inclined surface 51a of the protrusion 51 is located on the locus of the end 311 of the first cover 31a. The end portion 311 of the portion 31a is held by the protruding portion 51, and the cover body 31 does not suddenly fall in the open position direction due to its own weight.

  As described above, while the first cover portion 31a is held by the protrusion 51, the cover body 31 is positioned at the open position as shown in FIG. 2, and the main transport path 28 is exposed. . When a paper jam occurs in the main conveyance path 28, the jam processing is performed in the state shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, when a paper jam occurs in the sub-transport path 88, the second cover portion 31b may be rotated around the fulcrum shaft 32 toward the apparatus housing 11 after the state shown in FIG. Since the second cover portion 31b is not connected to the first cover portion 31a, the second cover portion 31b can be easily rotated to the apparatus housing 11 side, and jamming is easily performed with one hand. be able to.

  After the jam processing is finished, if the first cover portion 31a is pushed toward the apparatus housing 11, the first cover portion 31a rotates around the fulcrum shaft 32 from the open position toward the closed position. Accordingly, the second cover portion 31b is pushed by the first cover portion 31a, the cover body 31 reaches the closed position, the claw 41d and the claw 44a are locked to the hook pins 48a and 48b, and the cover body 31 is It becomes locked.

  By the way, it is assumed that when the cover body 31 is closed as described above, a state in which at least one of the claws 41d is not locked to the hook pin 48a, that is, a one-closed state occurs. In FIG. 3, when the claw 41d is not locked to the hook pin 48a in the front or back inner hook portion 41c, the inner hook portion 41c is connected by the shaft body 42. 42 is slightly twisted, but the claw 41d is pushed downward by the hook pin 48a, so that the inner hook portion 41c does not rotate upward around the shaft body 42 (in this state, the operation lever 41 The grip portion 41a is in a state of protruding outward from the outer surface of the first cover portion 31a).

  As a result, the interlocking arm member 43 is pushed upward by the aforementioned edge portion 41g. Accordingly, the rear end of the outer hook portion 44 is pushed upward by the interlocking arm member 43, the claw 44a side (front end side) is turned downward, and the claw 44a is locked to the hook pin 48b. Not.

  Thus, if the claw 41d of the inner hook portion 41c is not locked to the hook pin 48a, the claw 44a of the outer hook portion 44 is not locked to the hook pin 48b, and the lock is released. As a result, even if copying or the like is resumed, the safety switch (not shown) is not pressed, so that copying is not resumed, and it is possible to prevent problems such as paper jam or failure again.

  Furthermore, in the one-closed state, the gripping portion 41a of the operation lever 41 protrudes from the outer surface of the first cover portion 31a, and the user can easily notice the one-closed state. As a result, the one-closed state can be easily prevented, and the cover body can always be satisfactorily closed when the cover body 31 is opened and closed.

As is clear from the above description, the inner hook portion 41c and the hook pin 48a function as second locking means, and the outer hook portion 44 and the hook pin 48b function as first locking means. The operation lever 41 and the interlocking arm member 43 function as interlocking operation means.

  The first cover is locked to the image forming apparatus casing in the closed position by the first locking means, and the second cover is locked to the image forming apparatus casing in the closed position by the second locking means. The first locking means is operated in conjunction with the second locking means in response to the rotation from the open position to the closed position and the rotation from the closed position to the open position. The present invention is applicable not only when printing is performed, but also when a sheet is conveyed through two paths.

1 is a diagram schematically showing Embodiment 1 of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating in detail a state in which a cover body is opened in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. In Example 1, it is a perspective view which omits the 2nd cover part and shows the state which has a cover body in a closed position. It is a perspective view which omits the 2nd cover part and shows the state which cancelled | released locking (lock) of the cover body in Example 1. FIG. FIG. 6 is another perspective view showing the state in which the cover body is unlocked (locked) in Example 1 with the second cover portion omitted. It is a side view which abbreviate | omits the 2nd cover part and shows the state which cancelled | released latching (lock) of the cover body in Example 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the middle of rotation of the cover body in the first embodiment. In Example 1, it is a side view which shows the state by which the 1st cover part contact | abutted and supported by the projection part formed in the operation lever in the middle of rotation of a cover body. In Example 1, it is a perspective view which shows the state from which the 1st cover part contact | abutted and supported to the projection part formed in the operation lever in the middle of rotation of a cover body from the 1st cover part side.

Explanation of symbols

28 Main transport path (first transport path)
88 Sub-transport route (second transport route)
31 Cover body 31a, 31b Cover part 32 Support shaft 41 Operation lever 42, 45 Shaft body 43 Interlocking arm member 44, 41c Hook part 41g Edge part 48a, 48b Hook pin 51 Projection part (receiving part)
51a Inclined surface

Claims (4)

A first conveyance path formed in the image forming apparatus casing and conveying a sheet; a second conveyance path arranged in parallel with the first conveyance path and conveying the sheet; and the image formation A cover body rotatably provided from the closed position to the open position with respect to the apparatus housing, and the cover body includes first and second cover portions, and when the cover body is in the closed position, At least a part of the second transport path is defined by the one surface side of the first cover part and the one surface side of the second cover part, and the other surface side of the second cover part is the first transport path. In the image forming apparatus in which at least a part of the first cover portion is defined so that the other surface of the first cover portion forms one surface of the image forming device casing,
First locking means for locking the first cover portion to the image forming apparatus housing in the closed position;
Second locking means for locking the second cover portion to the image forming apparatus housing in the closed position;
In response to the rotation of the first cover portion from the open position to the closed position, the first cover portion is operated in conjunction with the second lock portion and the first cover portion. Interlocking operation means for operating the first locking means in response to rotation from the closed position to the open position ,
Have a support means for supporting said first cover portion during rotation to the open position from the closed position of said first cover portion,
The interlock operation means includes an operation lever portion that operates the second locking means, and an interlock arm portion that operates the first locking means in conjunction with the operation of the operation lever portion, It said support means images forming device you being a receiving portion formed on the operation lever portion receiving said first cover portion. The first locking means is provided on the first engagement portion provided on the image forming apparatus casing side and the first cover portion, and is engaged with the first engagement portion in the closed position. A first locking portion to be stopped,
The second locking means is provided on the second engagement portion provided on the image forming apparatus housing side and the second cover portion, and is engaged with the second engagement portion in the closed position. A second locking portion to be stopped,
The second engagement portion and the second locking portion are locked according to the operation of the operation lever portion, and the engagement between the second engagement portion and the second locking portion is performed. stop the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that as the locking is performed with the first engagement portion and the first engagement portion by the interlocking arm portion in accordance with the. The first locking portion is rotatably attached to a direction crossing the first and second transport paths around a first fulcrum member disposed on the first cover portion,
The second locking portion is provided in the operation lever portion, and the operation lever portion is arranged around the second fulcrum member disposed on the second cover portion, and the first and second transport paths. And the second fulcrum member is located closer to the first cover part than the second locking part,
The operating lever includes a flat surface that is positioned closer to the first cover portion than the second fulcrum member and contacts one end of the interlocking arm portion in the closed position, and the first surface than the flat surface. An edge part located on the cover part side is formed,
The interlock arm portion is operated by the edge portion when the other end of the interlock arm portion comes into contact with the first locking portion and a rotation operation is performed from the closed position to the open position. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 . The first conveyance path is a main conveyance path along which the sheet is conveyed during image formation;
It said second transport path according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that an auxiliary carrier path to be sent to the main transport path by reversing the sheet receiving sheet in which the image has been formed Image forming apparatus.

Images