Image forming device

An image forming device comprising:

• a platen on which a document is placed;
• a platen cover that presses and retains the document placed on the platen;
• an engagement portion provided at a side surface of the platen cover;
• a link component attached to a side surface of a device main body of the image forming device so as to be movable in a substantially vertical direction;
• a groove portion provided at an upper end portion of the link component,
• that engages with the engagement portion when the link component is moved substantially upward from a housed position thereof, whereby the platen cover opens or closes due to movement of the link component, and
• that does not engage with the engagement portion when the link component is at the housed position;
• and
• an operating portion provided to be positioned beneath the platen cover, that is for moving the link component in the substantially vertical direction,
• wherein the operating portion comprises:
• a lever rotatably attached to the device main body;
• a ratchet gear provided at a rotation axis of the lever, that rotates only in a direction in which the platen cover opens and is provided with a toothless portion that has no gear teeth;
• a gear group to which rotational force is transmitted from the ratchet gear and which faces the toothless portion of the ratchet gear when the platen cover is at a preset open position;
• and
• a rack gear provided at the link component that meshes with the gear group.