The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 06, 2010
Filed:
Jul. 17, 2008
Yoshihide Ohta, Sagamihara, JP;
Takuji Takahashi, Yokohama, JP;
Takamasa Shiraki, Yokohama, JP;
Takayuki Andoh, Kawasaki, JP;
Shigeo Nanno, Kyoto, JP;
Yoshihide Ohta, Sagamihara, JP;
Takuji Takahashi, Yokohama, JP;
Takamasa Shiraki, Yokohama, JP;
Takayuki Andoh, Kawasaki, JP;
Shigeo Nanno, Kyoto, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
In an image forming apparatus, an upper unit rotates about a first shaft provided in an image forming device for forming an image on a sheet with respect to the image forming device. A slide portion is provided on the upper unit to slide in a forward direction toward a side of the image forming device in which the first shaft is provided and a backward direction opposite to the forward direction. The forward direction and the backward direction are perpendicular to an axial direction of the first shaft. A force applier applies a force to the upper unit in an open direction in which the upper unit is opened with respect to the image forming device. A force adjuster decreases the force applied by the force applier to the upper unit as the slide portion slides with respect to the upper unit in the forward direction.