# US 12,602,002 B2 · Image forming apparatus to reduce positional deviation between doors > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,602,002 B2 - Document ID: US12602002B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/780,719 - Filed: 2024-07-23 - Published: 2025-01-30 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2023-07-28 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Tomofumi Sakuma - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12602002B2 ## CPC - G03G 21/1633: {using doors or covers (G03G21/1638 takes precedence)} - G03G 2221/169: Structural door designs - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract An image forming apparatus includes a first door configured to pivot about a first pivot shaft in a left-right direction, an inside thereof being accessible in a state where the first door is open, and a second door configured to pivot about a second pivot shaft in the left-right direction, the inside thereof being accessible in a state where the second door is open. The first door includes a first fitting portion configured to pivot integrally with the first door. The second door includes a second fitting portion configured to pivot integrally with the second door and to be fitted into the first fitting portion. In a state where the first door is closed, the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion are fitted to each other to regulate a position of the first door relative to the second door in the left-right direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a recording medium, the image forming apparatus comprising: a first door configured to pivot about a first pivot shaft extending along a left-right direction in the image forming apparatus, an inside of the image forming apparatus being accessible in a state where the first door is open; and a second door configured to pivot about a second pivot shaft extending along the left-right direction, the inside of the image forming apparatus being accessible in a state where the second door is open, wherein the first door includes a first fitting portion configured to pivot integrally with the first door, wherein the second door includes a second fitting portion configured to pivot integrally with the second door and to be fitted into the first fitting portion, wherein, in a state where the first door is closed, the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion are fitted to each other to regulate a position of the first door relative to the second door in the left-right direction, wherein the first fitting portion projects toward the inside of the image forming apparatus in the state where the first door is closed, and wherein the second fitting portion has a shape of a hole into which the first fitting portion is inserted. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in the state where the first door is open, fitting between the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion is released. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, in a state where the first door is open and the fitting between the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion is released, the second door is closed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in the state where the second door is open, fitting between the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion is released. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, in a state where the second door is open and the fitting between the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion is released, the first door is closed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first fitting portion has a surface which is inclined from an upstream side to a downstream side in a direction in which the first fitting portion is inserted into the second fitting portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second door is supported to be pivotable by a first hinge and a second hinge, the second hinge being disposed at a position different from a position of the first hinge in the left-right direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the second fitting portion is disposed between the first hinge and the second hinge in the left-right direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first door and the second door are adjacent to each other in a vertical direction. ### Claim 10 An image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a recording medium, the image forming apparatus comprising: a first door configured to pivot about a first pivot shaft extending along a vertical direction, an inside of the image forming apparatus being accessible in a state where the first door is open; and a second door configured to pivot about a second pivot shaft extending along a left-right direction in the image forming apparatus, wherein the first door includes a first fitting portion configured to pivot integrally with the first door, wherein the second door includes a second fitting portion configured to be fitted into the first fitting portion, wherein, in a state where the first door is closed, the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion are fitted to each other to regulate a position of the first door relative to the second door in the left-right direction, wherein the first fitting portion projects toward the inside of the image forming apparatus in the state where the first door is closed, and wherein the second fitting portion has a shape of a hole into which the first fitting portion is inserted. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein, in the state where the first door is open, fitting between the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion is released. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein, in a state where the first door is open and the fitting between the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion is released, the second door is closed. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein, in the state where the second door is open, fitting between the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion is released. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein, in a state where the second door is open and the fitting between the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion is released, the first door is closed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first fitting portion has a surface which is inclined from an upstream side to a downstream side in a direction in which the first fitting portion is inserted into the second fitting portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the second door is supported to be pivotable by a first hinge and a second hinge, the second hinge being disposed at a position different from a position of the first hinge in the left-right direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The image forming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the second fitting portion is disposed between the first hinge and the second hinge in the left-right direction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first door and the second door are adjacent to each other in a vertical direction.