# US 2012/0074824 A1 · Image Formation Apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2012/0074824 A1 - Document ID: US20120074824A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/075,616 - Filed: 2011-03-30 - Published: 2012-03-29 - Earliest claimed: 2010-09-28 - Assignees: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Atsushi FUKUI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120074824A1 ## CPC - G03G 21/1647: {Mechanical connection means} - G03G 2221/169: Structural door designs - Y10T 292/0849: Operating means - Y10T 292/1052: Operating means - Y10T 292/1075: Operating means - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An image formation apparatus is provided with a housing, a rockable member rockably secured to the housing, and a lock mechanism including an engaging portion and an engageable portion. The rockable member is locked to the housing when the engageable portion is engaged with the engaging portion. The image formation apparatus is further provided with a displaceable guide member secured to the housing or the rockable member. A guiding member is provided to the housing or the rockable member. The guiding member slide-contacts the guide member when the rockable member rocks so that the state of the rockable member is changed from a rockable state to an unrockable state. The engageable portion is displaced to move closer to the engaging portion in a case where the guide member contacts the guiding member than in a case where the guide member does not contact the guiding member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image formation apparatus, comprising: a housing; a rockable member rockably secured to the housing; a lock mechanism including an engaging portion and an engageable portion, the engaging portion being formed to one of the housing and the rockable member, the engageable portion being formed to the other of the housing and the rockable member, the engageable portion being engageable with the engaging portion, the engageable portion being displaceable with respect to the other of the housing and the rockable member, a separating force which causes the engageable portion to displace from the engaging portion being applicable to the engageable portion, the rockable member being locked with respect to the housing when the engageable portion is engaged with the engaging portion; a guide member secured to the other of the housing and the rockable member, the guide member being displaceable, with respect to the other of the housing and the rockable member, integrally with the engageable portion; and a guiding member provided to the one of the housing and the rockable member, the guiding member slide-contacting the guide member to displace the guide member with respect to the other of the housing and the rockable member when the rockable member rocks so that the state of the rockable member is changed from a rockable state to an unrockable state, wherein the engageable portion is displaced to move closer to the engaging portion in a case where the guide member contacts the guiding member than in a case where the guide member does not contact the guiding member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image formation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the guide member does not contact the guiding member, the engageable portion is spaced from the engaging portion, and wherein, when the state of the rockable member is changed from the rockable state to the unrockable state and the guide member starts contacting the guiding member, the engageable portion and engaging portion contact and start engaging. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image formation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the engageable portion is formed at a tip end side of an elastically-deformable arm, which is rockably secured to the other of the housing and the rockable member and extends toward the one of the housing and the rockable member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image formation apparatus according to claim 1, which comprises a plurality of lock mechanisms which are arranged at intervals in a direction parallel with an axis of the rock movement of the rockable member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The image formation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the guiding member is arranged at a central position between adjoining two engageable portions along the direction parallel with the axis of the rock movement of the rockable member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The image formation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of lock mechanisms operate substantially simultaneously. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The image formation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a center of the rock movement of the rockable member is defined at a lower end portion of the rockable member, while one of the engageable portion and the engaging portion is formed at an upper end portion of the rockable member, and wherein the engageable portion is located below the engaging portion when the rockable member is in an unrockable state. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The image formation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a spring member which applies an elastic force that urges the engageable portion to separate from the engaging portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The image formation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the engaging portion is formed on the housing and the engageable portion is formed on the rockable member. ### Claim 10 An image formation apparatus, comprising: a housing having an opening; an openable cover member rockably secured to the housing to open/close the opening; a lock mechanism including an engaging portion and an engageable portion, the engaging portion being formed to the housing, the engageable portion being formed to the cover member, the engageable portion being displaceable with respect to the cover member, a separating force which causes the engageable portion to displace from the engaging portion being applicable to the engageable portion, the cover member being locked with respect to the housing to close the opening when the engageable portion is engaged with the engaging portion; a guide member secured to the cover member, the guide member being displaceable, with respect to the cover member, integrally with the engageable portion; and a guide surface provided to the housing, the guide member slide-contacting the guide surface and being displaced with respect to the cover member when the cover member rocks so that the state of the cover member is changed from a rockable state to an unrockable state, wherein the engageable portion is displaced to move closer to the engaging portion in a case where the guide member contacts the guiding member than in a case where the guide member does not contact the guiding member.