Patent ID: 8014048

Claim:
An image forming device comprising: a platen on which a document is placed; a platen cover that presses and retains the document placed on the platen; an engagement portion provided at a side surface of the platen cover; a link component attached to a side surface of a device main body of the image forming device so as to be movable in a substantially vertical direction; a groove portion provided at an upper end portion of the link component, that engages with the engagement portion when the link component is moved substantially upward from a housed position thereof, whereby the platen cover opens or closes due to movement of the link component, and that does not engage with the engagement portion when the link component is at the housed position; and an operating portion provided to be positioned beneath the platen cover, that is for moving the link component in the substantially vertical direction, wherein the operating portion comprises: a lever rotatably attached to the device main body; a ratchet gear provided at a rotation axis of the lever, that rotates only in a direction in which the platen cover opens and is provided with a toothless portion that has no gear teeth; a gear group to which rotational force is transmitted from the ratchet gear and which faces the toothless portion of the ratchet gear when the platen cover is at a preset open position; and a rack gear provided at the link component that meshes with the gear group.