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:
Jan. 24, 2012
Filed:
Jun. 13, 2008
Takayuki Andoh, Kawasaki, JP;
Takuji Takahashi, Yokohama, JP;
Takamasa Shiraki, Yokohama, JP;
Yoshihide Ohta, Sagamihara, JP;
Kohji Hatayama, Ebina, JP;
Takayuki Andoh, Kawasaki, JP;
Takuji Takahashi, Yokohama, JP;
Takamasa Shiraki, Yokohama, JP;
Yoshihide Ohta, Sagamihara, JP;
Kohji Hatayama, Ebina, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus including an image forming section; an upper unit located over the image forming section with a space therebetween and slidable in a direction of from the front side to the rear side of the apparatus and the opposite direction; a sheet discharger configured to discharge a sheet bearing an image in the first or opposite direction; a sheet stacker receiving the sheet from the sheet discharger; a support arranged outside of both side ends of the sheet stacker in the first direction and slidably supporting the upper unit; and at least one of a release preventing member for preventing releasing of the upper unit from the support, and a covering member movable from a first position to a second position in conjunction with sliding of the upper unit and covering an opening formed at an end portion of the support when acquiring the first position.