Patent ID: 7950861

Claim:
An opening-angle restricting device comprising: a main casing having an inner space for accommodating an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium; a cover member coupled to the main casing via a hinge, the cover member having an inner side that faces the inner space when the cover member is closed; a string member having one end fixed to the main casing; a take-up unit provided at the inner side of the cover member, the take-up unit being configured to pay out and take up the string member; and a stopper unit that restricts paying out of the string member when an amount of payout in the string member reaches a predetermined amount, thereby restricting an opening angle of the cover member at a predetermined angle, wherein the cover member is swingably movable about a swing axis that extends in an axial direction, and wherein both ends of the string member are fixed to respective ends of the main casing in the axial direction.