Abstract:
An image forming apparatus may include a pivotable display unit, and a support unit linked to pivoting of the display unit, to support the display unit. Through this configuration, the display unit is tiltable to meet an arrangement state or use state of the image forming apparatus. Since the structure to support the display unit is linked to a tiling operation of the display unit, convenience of use is also provided.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-129598, filed on Oct. 29, 2013 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    Embodiments relate to an image forming apparatus equipped with a display device. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Generally, an image forming apparatus forms an image on a printing medium in accordance with an input signal. Examples of such an image forming apparatus include a printer, a copy machine, a facsimile machine, and a complex machine having the functions of the above-mentioned appliances. 
         [0006]    Such an image forming apparatus includes a display to input a command to the image forming apparatus or to output information representing an operation state of the image forming apparatus. 
         [0007]    The display requires a pivotal structure to vary an orientation angle of the display in accordance with an arrangement state of the image forming apparatus. However, the pivotal structure is bulky and, as such, inferior space utility is exhibited. Furthermore, the thickness of the display is increased due to the pivotal structure. Otherwise, the display should occupy a large space in the interior of the image forming apparatus, for the pivotal structure. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    In an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided an image forming apparatus capable of reducing the pivotal space of a display device thereof, thereby achieving an enhancement in space utility. 
         [0009]    In an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided an image forming apparatus which may include a body, a printing medium supplier to supply a printing medium to an interior of the body, for formation of an image on the printing medium, a printer disposed in the body, to form an image on the supplied printing medium, a discharge unit to discharge the image-formed printing medium outwardly of the body, a display unit provided to be tiltable in a first pivotal direction with respect to the body, and a support unit provided at a back surface of the display unit, to hold the display unit in a predetermined pivotal state, wherein the support unit includes a pivotal member to pivot with respect to the body in a second pivotal direction opposite to the first pivotal direction in linkage with a tilting operation of the display unit, and a sliding member slidable with respect to the pivotal member, to support the back surface of the display unit. 
         [0010]    The display unit may include a guide member provided at the back surface of the display unit, to enable the pivotal member to pivot in linkage with the tilting operation of the display unit. 
         [0011]    The guide member may include a guide rail to guide a pivotal movement of the pivotal member. 
         [0012]    The display unit may have a first position, at which the display unit is arranged in parallel with the body, and a second position, at which the display unit is positioned after pivoting from the first position in the first pivotal direction. The guide rail may have a first guide position, at which the guide rail guides the pivotal member under a condition that the display unit is positioned at the first position, and a second guide position, at which the guide rail guides the pivotal member pivoted in the second pivotal direction under a condition that the display unit is positioned at the second position. 
         [0013]    The guide rail may have a curved shape having the first guide position and the second guide position at opposite ends thereof, respectively. 
         [0014]    The second guide position may be arranged nearer to a pivotal axis that is a pivot center of the pivotal member than the first guide position. 
         [0015]    The pivotal member may include a pivotal protrusion to move along the guide rail. 
         [0016]    The support unit may further include an elastic member to press the sliding member in order to enable the sliding member to support the back surface of the display unit while sliding with respect to the pivotal member. 
         [0017]    The display unit may include a plurality of engagement portions arranged in parallel with the back surface of the display unit, to be supported by the support unit. 
         [0018]    The plurality of engagement portions may include a first engagement portion arranged near a pivot center of the display unit in the first pivotal direction, and a second engagement portion arranged at a position farther from the pivot center of the display unit than the first engagement portion. The sliding member may vary a support position thereof from the first engagement portion to the second engagement when the display unit pivots in the first pivotal direction. 
         [0019]    The plurality of engagement portions may include a plurality of valleys and a plurality of mountains each formed between adjacent ones of the valleys. 
         [0020]    The display unit may further include a pivot guide provided at one side of the display unit, to prevent the display unit from interfering with the body during a tilting operation of the display unit in the first pivotal direction. The pivot guide may include a pivot guide rail formed to be spaced apart from the pivot center in the first pivotal direction by a predetermined distance, and to be restrained by a pivot guide lug provided at the body. 
         [0021]    In an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided an image forming apparatus which may include a body, a printing medium supplier to supply a printing medium to an interior of the body, a printer to form an image on the supplied printing medium, and a discharge unit to discharge the image-formed printing medium outwardly of the body further includes a display unit disposed at one side of the body, a first hinge unit provided at one side of the display unit, to enable the display unit to pivot in a first pivotal direction with respect to the body, and a second hinge unit to pivot in a second pivotal direction opposite to the first pivotal direction in linkage with an operation of the display unit, the second hinge unit having a variable support position to support a back surface of the display unit during pivoting of the display unit in the first pivotal direction. 
         [0022]    The second hinge unit may include a pivotal member pivotally coupled to the body, to pivot in the second pivotal direction during pivoting of the display unit in the first pivotal direction, a sliding member slidable with respect to the pivotal member, to support the back surface of the display unit, and an elastic member to provide an elastic force to slide the sliding member. 
         [0023]    The second hinge unit may further include a guide member provided at the back surface of the display unit, to guide pivoting of the pivotal member. The guide member may include a guide rail to guide the pivotal member such that the pivotal member pivots in the second pivotal direction when the display unit pivots in the first pivotal direction. 
         [0024]    The guide rail may have a curved shape inclined in a direction opposite to the first pivotal direction while extending in a longitudinal direction of the display unit from a pivot center of the display unit. 
         [0025]    The pivotal member may include a pivotal protrusion movable along the guide rail while being restrained by the guide rail. 
         [0026]    The display unit may have a first position, at which the display unit is arranged in parallel with the body, and a second position, at which the display unit is positioned after pivoting from the first position in the first pivotal direction. The guide rail may have a first guide position, at which the pivotal protrusion is positioned under a condition that the display unit is positioned at the first position, and a second guide position, at which the pivotal protrusion is positioned under a condition that the display unit is positioned at the second position. The guide rail may have a curved shape having the first guide position and the second guide position at opposite ends thereof, respectively. 
         [0027]    The sliding member of the second hinge unit may be pressed by the elastic member, to support the back surface of the display unit at the variable support position. 
         [0028]    In an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided an image forming apparatus which may include a body, a display unit disposed at one side of the body, a first hinge unit provided at one side of the display unit, to enable the display unit to tilt with respect to the body, and a second hinge unit to support a back surface of the display unit such that the display unit is maintained at a predetermined tilting angle, wherein the first hinge unit and the second hinge unit are linked to a tilting operation of the display unit. 
         [0029]    In an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided an image forming apparatus which may include a body; a display unit which is tiltable in a first pivotal direction; and a support unit provided at a back surface of the display unit, to hold the display unit in a predetermined pivotal state, wherein the support unit comprises a pivotal member to pivot toward and away from the body in a second pivotal direction opposite to the first pivotal direction in linkage with a tilting operation of the display unit, and a sliding member slidable to and from the pivotal member, to support the back surface of the display unit. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0030]    These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
           [0031]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment; 
           [0032]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view illustrating the image forming apparatus according to an embodiment; 
           [0033]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a display device according to an embodiment; 
           [0034]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are views illustrating operation of the display device according to an embodiment; 
           [0035]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the display device according to an embodiment; 
           [0036]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged view corresponding to a portion A of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the support unit according to an embodiment; and 
           [0038]      FIGS. 9 and 10  are sectional views illustrating operation of the display device according to an embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0039]    Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. Embodiments are described below to explain the present disclosure by referring to the figures. 
         [0040]    Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0041]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment.  FIG. 2  is a sectional view illustrating the image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. 
         [0042]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the image forming apparatus, which is designated by reference numeral “ 1 ”, includes a body  10 , a printing medium supplier  20 , a printer  30 , a fusing unit  80 , and a printing medium discharge unit  70 . 
         [0043]    The body  10  defines an appearance of the image forming apparatus  1  while supporting various elements installed in the image forming apparatus  1 . The body  10  includes a cover (not shown) provided to open or close a portion of the body  10 , and a body frame (not shown) to support or fix various elements within the body  10 . 
         [0044]    The printing medium supplier  20  supplies a printing medium S to the printer  30 . The printing medium supplier  20  includes a tray  22 , on which printing mediums S are stacked, and a pickup roller  24  to pick up the printing mediums S stacked on the tray  22  one by one. The printing medium S picked up by the pickup roller  24  is fed to the printer  30  by feeding rollers  26 . 
         [0045]    The printer  30  may include a light scanner  40 , a developing device  50 , and a transfer unit  60 . 
         [0046]    The light scanner  40  includes an optical system (not shown) in order to scan light corresponding to image information of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) onto the developing device  50  in accordance with a printing signal. 
         [0047]    The developing device  50  forms a toner image in accordance with image information input from an external appliance such as a computer. The image forming apparatus  1  according to this embodiment is a color image forming apparatus and, as such, is constituted by four developing units  50 Y,  50 M,  50 C, and  50 K, which receive toners of different colors, for example, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). 
         [0048]    Each of the developing units  50 Y,  50 M,  50 C, and  50 K may include a photosensitive body  52 , on which a latent image is formed by the light scanner  40 , a charging roller  54  to charge the photosensitive body  52 , a developing roller  56  to supply a toner image to the latent image formed on the photosensitive body  52 , and a supply roller  58  to supply a toner to the developing roller  56 . 
         [0049]    The transfer unit  60  transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive body  52  in each of the developing units  50 Y,  50 M,  50 C and  50 K to a printing medium. The transfer unit  60  may include a transfer belt  62  to travel in a circulating manner while contacting the photosensitive bodies  52  of the developing units  50 Y,  50 M,  50 C and  50 K, a transfer belt driving roller  64  to drive the transfer belt  62 , a tension roller  66  maintaining the transfer belt  62 , and four transfer rollers  68  to transfer toner images developed on respective photosensitive bodies  52  to the printing medium. 
         [0050]    The printing medium is fed at the same speed as the travel speed of the transfer belt  62  while being attached to the transfer belt  62 . In an embodiment, a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner attached to each photosensitive body  52  is applied to each transfer roller  68 . As a result, the toner image on each photosensitive body  52  is transferred to the printing medium. 
         [0051]    The fusing unit  80  fuses the resultant toner image transferred to the printing medium by the transfer unit  60 . 
         [0052]    The printing medium discharge unit  70  discharges the printing medium outwardly of the body  10 . The printing medium discharge unit  70  includes a discharge roller  72 , and a pinch roller  74  installed to face the discharge roller  72 . 
         [0053]    A display device  100  is provided at one side of the body  10 . The display device  100  is adapted to input a command to the image forming apparatus  1  or to output information representing an operation state of the image forming apparatus  1 . This will be described in more detail later. 
         [0054]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a display device according to an embodiment. 
         [0055]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the image forming apparatus  1  includes the display device, which is designated by reference numeral “ 100 ”. The display device  100  may be installed on the body  10  of the image forming apparatus  1 . The display device  100  may be seated on a seat  102  provided at the body  10 . 
         [0056]    The display device  100  includes a display unit  110  and a support unit  150 . 
         [0057]    The display unit  110  may output results generated in association with operation of the image forming apparatus  1  or may input commands associated with operation of the image forming apparatus  1 . The display unit  110  may include a display panel  112 . 
         [0058]    The display unit  110  may include a pivotal structure to enable the display unit  110  to tilt with respect to the body  10 . 
         [0059]    The display unit  110  may include a guide member  120  provided at a back surface of the display unit  110 , to link operation of the support unit  150  to a tilting operation of the display unit  110 . 
         [0060]    The support unit  150  is adapted to support the display unit  110  with respect to the body  10 . In detail, when the display unit  110  is tilted with respect to the body  10 , the support unit  150  adjusts the tilting angle, and holds the display unit  110  at the adjusted tilting angle. 
         [0061]    The support unit  150  may be provided at the back surface of the display unit  110 , to maintain a pivoting state of the display unit  110 . When the display unit  110  satisfies a predetermined pivoting state, the support unit  150  supports the back surface of the display unit  110  in order to maintain the satisfied pivoting state. 
         [0062]    The display unit  110  may further include a wire guide  104  provided at the back surface of the display unit  110 , to guide a wire (not shown) provided for transmission and reception of electrical signals and supply of electric power. 
         [0063]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are views illustrating operation of the display device according to an embodiment.  FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the display device according to an embodiment.  FIG. 7  is an enlarged view corresponding to a portion A of  FIG. 6 . 
         [0064]    The support unit  150  operates in linkage with the display unit  110 , to support a tilting operation of the display unit  110 . 
         [0065]    The support unit  150  may include a pivotal member  160  and a sliding member  170 . 
         [0066]    The pivotal member  160  pivots in linkage with a tilting operation of the display unit  110 . When it is assumed that the tilting direction of the display unit  110  with respect to the body  10  corresponds to a first pivotal direction W 1 , the pivotal member  160  is arranged to pivot in a second pivotal direction W 2  opposite to the first pivotal direction W 1  with respect to the body  10 . Conversely, when the display unit  110  pivots in the second pivotal direction W 2 , to return to an original position, namely, a laid position, the pivotal member  160  pivots in the first pivotal direction +W 1 . 
         [0067]    The pivotal member  160  may include a pivotal member body  161 , and a pivotal protrusion  164  extending from the pivotal member body  161 . The pivotal member  160  may further include a pivotal lug  162  to enable the pivotal member  160  to pivot in the second pivotal direction W 2  with respect to the body  10 . The pivotal lug  162  may pivot about a second pivot axis a 2  spaced apart from a pivot center of the display unit  110 , namely, a first pivot axis a 1 . 
         [0068]    As described above, the guide member  120  included in the display unit  110  may be provided at the back surface of the display unit  110  in order to pivot the pivotal member  160  in linkage with a pivotal operation of the display unit  110 . 
         [0069]    In an embodiment, the guide member  120  may include a pair of guide members provided at the back surface of the display unit  110 , to guide the pivotal member  160  at opposite sides of the pivotal member  160 . 
         [0070]    The guide member  120  may include a guide rail  122  to guide operation of the pivotal member  160 . The pivotal protrusion  164  provided at the pivotal member  160  is arranged to move along the guide rail  122  and, as such, operation of the pivotal member  160  is linked with operation of the display unit  110 . 
         [0071]    That is, the pivotal protrusion  164  is restrained by the guide rail  122 , to move along the guide rail  122 , and, as such, the pivotal member  160  operates in linkage with operation of the display unit  110 . 
         [0072]    In the following description, a position of the display unit  110 , at which the display unit  110  is positioned in parallel with the body  10 , is referred to as a “first position P 1 ”, and a position of the display unit  110  maintained after the display unit  110  pivots from the first position P 1  in the first pivotal direction W 1  is referred to as a “second position P 2 ”. In an embodiment, the guide rail  122  may have a first guide position  124   a,  at which the guide rail  122  guides the pivotal member  160  under the condition that the display unit  110  is positioned at the first position P 1 , and a second guide position  124   b,  at which the guide rail  122  guides the pivotal member  160  pivoted in the second pivotal direction W 2  under the condition that the display unit  110  is positioned at the second position P 2 . 
         [0073]    The guide rail  122 , which has the first and second guide positions  124   a  and  124   b , may have a curved shape having the first and second guide positions  124   a  and  124   b  at opposite ends thereof. In other words, the guide rail  122  may have a curved shape inclined in a direction opposite to the first pivotal direction W 1  while extending in a longitudinal direction of the display unit  110  from a position near the pivot center of the display unit  110 . 
         [0074]    The second guide position  124   b  is arranged nearer to a pivotal axis that is a pivot center of the pivotal member  160  than the first guide position  124   a.  Accordingly, even when the display unit  110  is spaced away from the pivotal axis in accordance with pivotal movement thereof from the first position P 1  to the second position P 2  in the first pivotal direction W 1 , the pivotal protrusion  164  of the pivotal member  160  is still positioned within the guide rail  122  without being separated from the guide rail  122 . 
         [0075]      FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the support unit according to the illustrated embodiment.  FIGS. 9 and 10  are sectional views illustrating operation of the display device according to an embodiment. 
         [0076]    The sliding member  170  slides from the pivotal member  160 , to support the back surface of the display unit  110 . The sliding member  170  may include a sliding member body  172 , and an engagement member  174  provided at one end of the sliding member body  172  while having a greater thickness than the sliding member body  172 . The engagement member  174  may be selectively engaged with one of a plurality of engagement portions  114  provided at the display unit  110 , which will be described later. 
         [0077]    The pivotal member  160  may include a separation prevention guide  166  to prevent the sliding member  170  from being separated from the pivotal member  160  during sliding thereof. In an embodiment, the sliding member  170  is disposed at an inside of the pivotal member  160 , to be slidable on a lower surface of the pivotal member  160 . In an embodiment, the separation prevention guide  166  has a bent shape, to enclose portions of side and lower surfaces of the sliding member  170 . 
         [0078]    The support unit  150  may further include an elastic member  180  slidable with respect to the pivotal member  160 , to elastically press the sliding member  170  against the back surface of the display unit  110 . The elastic member  180  contacts the pivotal member  160  at one end thereof while contacting the sliding member  170  at the other end thereof. In detail, in order to fix the elastic member  180 , the pivotal member  160  is provided with a first fixing portion (first fixing member)  168 , and the sliding member  170  is provided with a second fixing member (second fixing portion)  178 . Thus, both ends of the elastic member  180  are fixed. 
         [0079]    Since the elastic member  180  is fixed, at both ends thereof, to the first and second fixing portions  168  and  178 , respectively, the sliding member  170  is pressed by the elastic member  180  and, as such, slides with respect to the pivotal member  160 . 
         [0080]    When the pivotal member  160  pivots in linkage with a tilting operation of the display unit  110  in accordance with the above-described configuration, the sliding movement length of the sliding member  170  may be set to be varied in accordance with variation in the distance between an end of the pivotal member  160  and the back surface of the display unit  110 . Thus, it may be possible to vary the sliding movement length and pivotal angle of the support unit  150  in accordance with a tilting angle of the display unit  110 . 
         [0081]    The display unit  110  may further include the plurality of engagement portions  114 , which are provided at the back surface of the display unit  110 , to enable the display unit  110  to be supported by the support unit  150 . 
         [0082]    The engagement member  174  of the sliding member  170  is engaged with one of the engagement portions  114  and, as such, the support unit  150  supports the display unit  110 . The plurality of engagement portions  114  may include a first engagement portion  114   a  arranged near the pivot center of the display unit  110  in the first pivotal direction W 1 , and a second engagement portion  114   b  arranged at a position farther from the pivot center of the display unit  110  than the first engagement portion  114   a.  The sliding member  170  may be arranged to vary a support position thereof from the first engagement portion  114   a  to the second engagement portion  114   b  when the display unit  110  pivots in the first pivotal direction W 1 . 
         [0083]    The plurality of engagement portions  114  may be formed by a plurality of valleys  116   a , and a plurality of mountains  116   b  each formed between adjacent ones of the valleys  116   a.  In accordance with repeated formation of the valleys  116   a  and mountains  116   b,  engagement grooves  117  are formed. The engagement member  174  may be seated in one of the engagement grooves  117 . 
         [0084]    The display unit  110  may further include a pivot guide  130  provided at one side of the display unit  110 , to prevent the display unit  110  from interfering with the body  10  during a tilting operation of the display unit  110  in the first pivotal direction W 1 . Since the pivot guide  130  is provided to prevent the display unit  110  from interfering with the body  10  during a tilting operation of the display unit  110 , it is unnecessary to provide a space required for a tilting operation of the display unit  110  and, as such, an improvement in space utility may be achieved. 
         [0085]    The pivot guide  130  may include a pivot guide rail  132  formed to be spaced apart from the pivot center in the first pivotal direction W 1 , namely, the first pivot axis a 1 , by a predetermined distance, and a pivot guide lug  134  provided at the body  10 , to restrain the pivot guide rail  132 . As the pivot guide rail  132  is restrained by the pivot guide lug  134 , it may be possible to prevent separation of the display unit  110  during a tilting operation of the display unit  110 , and to prevent the end of the display unit  110  near the pivot center of the display unit  110  from interfering with the body  10 . Although the pivot guide  130  is not limited in number, a pair of pivot guides  130  is provided to support opposite sides of the display unit  110  in an embodiment. 
         [0086]    A hinge structure for the display unit  110  may be directly provided at the body  10 , to allow the display unit  110  to pivot with respect to the body  10 . In the illustrated embodiment, however, the pivot guide  130  is provided to arrange the pivot center of the display unit  110  outside the display unit  110 . In an embodiment, it may be possible to achieve an improvement in aesthetics. 
         [0087]    In an embodiment, the display device  110  may include a first hinge unit  200  and a second hinge unit  210 . 
         [0088]    In an embodiment, the first hinge unit  200  includes the pivot guide  130 , and the second hinge unit  210  includes the guide member  120  and the support unit  150 . No description will be given of the same configuration as that of the above-described embodiment. 
         [0089]    Hereinafter, operation of the image forming apparatus having the above-described configuration will be described. 
         [0090]    The display device  100  is arranged to tilt at one side of the body  10 . 
         [0091]    When the display unit  110  of the display device  100  tilts in the first pivotal direction W 1 , the pivotal member  160  of the support unit  150  pivots in the second pivotal direction W 2  in linkage with the pivotal operation of the display unit  110 . In detail, the pivotal protrusion  164  of the pivotal member  160  moves along the guide rail  122  of the guide member  120  provided at the back surface of the display unit  110  and, as such, a pivotal operation of the pivotal member  160  pivots in the second pivotal direction W 2 . 
         [0092]    At the same time, the sliding member  170  slides with respect to the pivotal member  160  by the elastic member  180  and, as such, is engaged with one of the engagement portions  114  provided at the back surface of the display unit  110 , to support the display unit  110 . 
         [0093]    The display unit  110  pivots without interfering with the body  10  at the end thereof during a pivotal movement thereof in the first pivotal direction W 1 , by virtue of the pivot guide  130 . 
         [0094]    That is, when the display unit  110  tilts, the pivotal movement thereof in the first pivotal direction W 1  is guided by the pivot guide  130 , and the guide member  120  and support unit  150  support the back surface of the display unit  110  at a predetermined tilting angle and, as such, the predetermined tilting angle is maintained. 
         [0095]    Conversely, when the display unit  110  is moved to a laid position, that is, when the display unit  110  pivots in the second pivotal direction W 2 , the pivotal member of the support unit  150  pivots in the first pivotal direction W 1  in linkage with the pivotal operation of the display unit  110 . In detail, the pivotal protrusion  164  moves along the guide rail  122  of the guide member  120  provided at the back surface of the display unit  110  and, as such, a pivotal operation of the pivotal member  160  in the first pivotal direction W 1  is carried out. 
         [0096]    At the same time, the sliding member  170  slides with respect to the pivotal member  160  by the elastic member  180  while being sequentially engaged with the engagement portions  114  provided at the back surface of the display unit  110 . When the display unit  110  is completely laid, support of the display unit  110  by the sliding member  170  is released. 
         [0097]    During pivotal movement of the display unit  110  in the second pivotal direction W 2 , the display unit  110  pivots without interfering with the body  10  at the end thereof by virtue of the pivotal guide  130 . 
         [0098]    As apparent from the above description, in the image forming apparatus according to an embodiment, the pivotal structure thereof operates in linkage with operation of the display device and, as such, it may be possible to reduce the pivotal space of the display device. Thus, a redundant space may be secured, and miniaturization of the image forming apparatus may be possible. 
         [0099]    Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.