Image forming apparatus
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorShinichi Kojima
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An image forming apparatus of the present invention is generally made up of a sheet storing unit and an image forming unit removably mounted on the top of the sheet storing unit when in use. The sheet storing unit accommodates a sheet tray loaded with sheets and selectively movable into the sheet storing unit to an operative position or out of the same to an inoperative position. A locking mechanism inhibits the sheet tray from being moved to the inoperative position. An unlocking device unlocks the locking mechanism when the image forming unit is mounted to the sheet storing unit. When the image forming unit is removed from the sheet storing unit, the sheet storing unit is prevented from falling down due to a moment ascribable to the pull-out of the sheet tray.
Claims15
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a sheet storing unit comprising a sheet tray loaded with a sheet and selectively movable into said sheet storing unit to an operative position or out of said sheet storing unit to an inoperative position;
- an image forming unit removably mounted on a top of said sheet storing unit when in use;
- a locking mechanism configured to inhibit said sheet tray from being moved to the inoperative position;
- and
- unlocking means configured to unlock said locking mechanism when said image forming unit is mounted on said sheet storing unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.