Patent ID: 9612562
Date: 2017-04-04
CPC Classifications: G03G

Claim:
1. A unit pulling-out mechanism comprising: a first pullout unit movable in a first direction between a first retracted position and a first exposed position, the first pullout unit being fully retracted in a main apparatus in the first retracted position, the first pullout unit having at least one side surface fully exposed to a front side of the main apparatus in the first exposed position; a second pullout unit movable in a second direction different from the first direction between a second retracted position and a second exposed position, the second pullout unit being retracted in the first pullout unit in the second retracted position, the second pullout unit being exposed to a side of the one side surface of the first pullout unit in the second exposed position; and a lock mechanism for preventing movement of the second pullout unit from the second retracted position to the second exposed position, the lock mechanism comprising a latching element that holds the second pullout unit in the second retracted position, the latching element being physically blocked from moving to release the second pullout unit from the second retracted position unless the first pullout unit is in the first exposed position such that the second pullout unit cannot move from the second retracted position toward the second exposed position while the first pullout unit moves in the first direction.