Patent ID: 8838007

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: an openable cover, including a rotational shaft, capable of opening and closing an opening by being rotated about the rotational shaft relative to a main assembly of said image forming apparatus; an image forming portion for forming a toner image on a sheet; an opposing member, provided in said image forming portion, opposing said openable cover when said openable cover closes the opening; a contact member, provided on said openable cover, contactable to said opposing member; a cam member, provided in said image forming portion, for moving said contact member toward and away from said opposing member by rotation of said cam member; an urging member, provided on said openable cover, for urging said contact member toward said opposing member; a locking member for locking said openable cover in a closed state relative to the main assembly; a detecting unit, provided at one longitudinal end portion of said openable cover, for detecting an opening and closing state of said openable cover, and a controller for controlling said image forming portion and rotation of said cam member; wherein said locking member is provided at least at each of longitudinal end portions of said openable cover, wherein said cam member has a shape such that when said contact member is contacted to said opposing member in a state in which said openable cover is not locked by said locking member, said cam member applies a force to said openable cover in a direction, in which the opening is open, by rotation thereof and then applies a force to said openable cover in a direction, in which the opening is closed, by rotation thereof, and wherein said controller stops an operation of said image forming portion when said detecting unit detects opening of said openable cover, and then controls rotation of said cam member at least one full turn when said detecting unit detects closing of the openable cover which opens.