Patent ID: 8095039
Filing Date: 2012-01-10
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a front; a main body having an exterior; at least one member mounted within the main body; an opening and closing unit disposed at the front so as to be openable and closable in a first direction with respect to the main body; a notch disposed on a surface of the opening and closing unit, the surface being substantially parallel to the first direction; a fixing unit configured to fix the opening and closing unit to the main body; a structure including a component for realizing at least one of an image forming function and a transfer medium-conveying function, and including a protruding piece extending through the notch to toward the exterior of the main body, the structure being movably supported with respect to the main body; a bias unit disposed between the opening and closing unit and the structure, the bias unit biasing the structure so as to push the structure to the at least one member mounted within the main body; a sliding member affixed to the opening and closing unit and configured to slide by force applied from the protruding piece; a constraining unit that constrains the opening and closing unit and the structure against a bias force of the biasing unit under the condition that the opening and closing unit is not fixed; and a releasing unit that releases the opening and closing unit and the structure from being constrained under the condition that the opening and closing unit is fixed.