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:
Mar. 29, 2011
Filed:
Apr. 03, 2008
Tsuyoshi Koyanagi, Osaka, JP;
Kenichi Mukai, Osaka, JP;
Tsuyoshi Koyanagi, Osaka, JP;
Kenichi Mukai, Osaka, JP;
Kyocera Mita Corporation, , JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a sheet conveyor and a main body that houses the image forming unit and the sheet conveyor. An operating unit is mounted to a front cover that can move between a closed position to cover an anterior side of the main body and an open position to expose a part of the main body. A retention mechanism retains the front cover at the closed position. The retention mechanism has a lock and a release. The lock is supported by one of the apparatus main body and the front cover and is selectively engageable with and detachable from the other. The release releases engagement of the lock, and is installed posterior to the operating unit in a region facing a back surface as viewed from an opening and closing direction of the front cover.