Image-forming machine having a cover member and comprising engaging means and hampering means for controlling closure of the cover

An image forming machine comprising a supporting structure including a lower supporting frame, an upper supporting frame mounted on the lower supporting frame so as to be free to pivot between an open position and a closed position, locking means for releasably locking the upper supporting frame at the closed position, a cover member mounted on the supporting structure so that it can be opened and closed in order to cover part of the supporting structure, and a detection switch for detecting the closed state of the cover member;

• in which
• the locking means has an engaging member mounted for pivotal movement between a locking position and a releasing position,
• the cover member is adapted to be held closed only when the upper supporting frame is at the closed position and the engaging member is at the locking position
• an inwardly-projecting, actuating protrusion is provided in the cover member to move along a path of movement as the cover member is closed,
• hampering means is provided in the supporting structure to have a pivotably mounted hampering member and means for pivotably moving the hampering member from a non-operating position to a position within the path of movement of the protrusion,
• when the engaging member is at the locking position, the hampering member is held at its non-operating position by the engaging member so as to permit the cover member to be held closed, and
• when the engaging member is pivoted from the locking position toward the releasing position, the moving means pivotably moves the hampering member from its non-operating position into the path of movement of the actuating protrusion, incident to the pivoting movement of the engaging member, so that the actuating protrusion abuts with the hampering member and the cover member is thereby kept from being closed.