# US 2021/0240128 A1 · Image forming apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0240128 A1 - Document ID: US20210240128A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/158,887 - Filed: 2021-01-26 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-30 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Masaki SATO - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210240128A1 ## CPC - G03G 21/1633: {using doors or covers (G03G21/1638 takes precedence)} - G03G 15/60: {Apparatus which relate to the handling of originals (for photographic purposes in general G03B)} - G03G 21/1628: {Clamshell type (G03G21/1638 takes precedence)} - H04N 1/00543: {Allowing easy access, e.g. for maintenance or in case of paper jam (H04N1/00538 takes precedence)} - H04N 1/00554: {Latches or hinges therefor} - G03G 21/1619: {Frame structures} - G03G 2215/0132: vertical medium transport path at the secondary transfer - G03G 2221/1687: using opening shell type machines, e.g. pivoting assemblies - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion provided with an opening portion through which a cartridge is removably mounted and a cover member opening and closing the opening portion. An original reading portion is pivotable about a first rotation axis. The cover member is pivotable about a second rotation axis parallel to the first rotation axis. A force is applied to pivot the original reading portion so that an engagement portion of the original reading portion slides on a sliding face of the cover member to apply a force from the engagement portion to the sliding face to pivot the cover member. In a cross section orthogonal to the first rotation axis, a first portion of the sliding face approaches the original reading portion from one end side on which the first and the second rotation axes are provided toward an opposite side. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image forming portion, which includes a cartridge, and is configured to form an image on a recording material with developer; and an original reading portion, which is provided above the image forming portion, and is pivotable about a first rotation axis, wherein the image forming portion includes an opening portion through which the cartridge is removably mounted to the image forming portion from above, and a cover member, which is pivotable about a second rotation axis parallel to the first rotation axis, and is configured to assume an open state in which the opening portion is opened and a closed state in which the opening portion is closed, wherein the original reading portion includes an engagement portion, and the cover member includes a sliding face, wherein a force is applied to the original reading portion to cause the original reading portion to pivot so that the engagement portion slides on the sliding face to apply a force from the engagement portion to the cover member through the sliding face to cause the cover member to pivot, and wherein the sliding face includes a first portion, and in a cross section orthogonal to the first rotation axis, the first portion approaches the original reading portion from one end side of the image forming apparatus on which the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis are provided toward an opposite side opposed to the one end side. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first portion of the sliding face is a plane surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first portion of the sliding face is a curved surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sliding face includes a second portion that is continuous with the first portion and maintains a constant distance from a face of the original reading portion opposed to the cover member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sliding face includes a second portion that is continuous with an end portion of the first portion on a front side, and in a cross section orthogonal to the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis, a distance from the original reading portion to the second portion increases toward the front side. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the sliding face includes a regulation portion that is continuous with an end portion of the second portion on the front side and formed so as to prevent a gap that allows entry of the engagement portion between the regulation portion and the cover member from being formed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a distance between the original reading portion and the cover member in the open state is shorter than a distance between the original reading portion and the cover member in the closed state. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the original reading portion includes a first abutment portion provided on a lower face of the original reading portion, wherein the cover member includes a second abutment portion provided on an upper face of the second portion of the sliding face, and wherein the first abutment portion is in abutment against the second abutment portion when the cover member is in the closed state. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the original reading portion includes a first abutment portion provided on a lower face of the original reading portion, wherein the cover member includes a second abutment portion provided on an upper face of the regulation portion of the sliding face, and wherein the first abutment portion is in abutment against the second abutment portion when the cover member is in the closed state. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first rotation axis is provided at a position farther from a front side than the second rotation axis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cover member includes a discharge portion configured to discharge the recording material on which the image is formed by the image forming portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming portion is configured to perform monochrome printing.