Damper mechanism and image forming apparatus therewith

A damper mechanism provided between an apparatus main body and an opening/closing member supported on the apparatus main body so as to be swingable up and down between an open position and a close position with a bottom end part of the opening/closing member serving as a fulcrum, the damper mechanism reducing a moment generated when the opening/closing member is swung from the close position to the open position,

• the damper mechanism comprising:
• a first rail member fixed inside the opening/closing member along an up/down direction, the first rail member having a guide hole formed therein in a shape of an oblong hole extending along a longitudinal direction;
• a second rail member having fixed to a top end part thereof an engaging pin inserted through the guide hole, the second rail member having a bottom end part swingably supported on the apparatus main body;
• a biasing member which biases the second rail member and the first rail member in a direction in which the second rail member and the first rail member approach each other;
• and
• a slide member made of resin, the slide member being fixed to the engaging pin, the slide member sliding while in contact with the first rail member and the opening/closing member with a predetermined interval between the engaging pin and an inner circumferential rim of the guide hole.