Image forming apparatus, including a lock unit for preventing a reading unit and a platen cover from being opened simultaneously

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a reading unit openably and closably provided on a main body of the image forming apparatus;
• a platen cover openably and closably provided on the reading unit;
• a first lock unit for enabling the platen cover to be locked to the reading unit, with the platen cover closed;
• and
• a second lock unit for interlocking with the first lock unit,
• wherein the main body includes a body fixed hook, and a groove formed on the body fixed hook,
• wherein the second lock unit includes a lateral link movably provided on the reading unit and having a pin on one end of the lateral link, and first urging means for urging the lateral link to move in a direction of inserting the pin into the groove when the reading unit is closed,
• wherein the first lock unit includes a swinging lever, rotatably provided on the platen cover, for pushing the lateral link against the first urging means in a direction of releasing the pin from the groove and simultaneously engaging a part of the reading unit,
• wherein the reading unit includes a stopper, rotatably provided on the reading unit, for preventing the swinging lever from being released from the part of the reading unit when the reading unit is opened from the main body,
• wherein the body fixed hook includes an engaging member for rotating, by contacting against one end of the stopper when the reading unit is closed to the main body, the stopper in a direction of enabling the swinging lever to be released from the part of the reading unit.

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a reading unit openably and closably provided on a main body of the image forming apparatus;
• a platen cover openably and closably provided on the reading unit;
• a first lock unit for enabling the platen cover to be locked to the reading unit, with the platen cover closed;
• and
• a second lock unit for interlocking with the first lock unit,
• wherein the first lock unit includes a first lever member, a second lever member rotatably provided on the reading unit for engaging with a part of the platen cover in order to lock the platen cover to the reading unit, and a third lever member rotatably provided on the platen cover,
• wherein the second lock unit includes a lock lever rotatably provided on the reading unit and having a pin on one end of the lock lever, and a body fixed hook provided on the main body and having a groove for engaging the pin,
• wherein if the reading unit is closed to the main body, when the first lever member is pushed in an outer direction of the image forming apparatus, the first lever member rotates the second lever member in a direction of making the second lever member engage with the part of the platen cover, the second lever member rotates the third lever member, and the third lever member rotates the lock lever in a direction of releasing the pin from the groove,
• wherein if the reading unit is closed to the main body, when the first lever member is pushed in an inner direction of the image forming apparatus, the first lever member rotates the second lever member in a direction of releasing engagement between the second lever member and the part of the platen cover, and the lock lever becomes able to rotate, by interlocking with the first lever member, the second lever member, and the third lever member, in a direction of enabling the pin to be inserted into the groove,
• wherein the reading unit includes a stopper for preventing the engagement between the second lever member and the part of the platen cover from being released when the reading unit is opened from the main body, and means for urging the pin to be inserted into the groove when the reading unit is closed to the main body.