Patent ID: 8693918

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a casing having an opening; an image forming unit disposed in the casing and configured to form an image on a sheet; a door coupled to the casing via a hinge and configured to move between a closed position in which the door covers the opening and an opened position in which the door does not cover the opening; a pushing rod constrained to move in a linear direction; a link mechanism comprising: a link rod; a coupler including: a first arm, and a second arm, such that the coupler is rotatable about an axis; wherein the link rod couples the door and the first arm of the coupler; wherein the second arm of the coupler is coupled with the pushing rod, and wherein, when the door is moved from the closed position toward the opened position, (1) the link rod is pulled by the door, (2) the first arm of the coupler is pulled by the link rod, (3) the coupler rotates about the axis, (4) the second arm of the coupler pushes the pushing rod, and (5) the pushing rod moves closer to the image forming unit along the linear direction, and wherein, when the door is moved from the opened position toward the closed position, (1) the link rod is pushed by the door, (2) the first arm of the coupler is pushed by the link rod, (3) the coupler rotates about the axis, (4) the second arm of the coupler pulls the pushing rod, and (5) the pushing rod moves away from the image forming unit along the linear direction.