| 主权项 |
1. An image forming apparatus including an image forming portion which forms an image, the apparatus comprising:
a housing including a rotatable cover member configured to cover and uncover an opening in communication with an internal space in which the image forming portion is situated; a drive portion which generates a drive force to drive the image forming portion; and a clutch mechanism configured to intermittently transmit the drive force from the drive portion to the image forming portion, wherein the clutch mechanism includes: (i) a transmission member with a first transmission portion, which receives the drive force from the drive portion, and a second transmission portion, which engages with the image forming portion; (ii) a link mechanism configured to reciprocate the transmission member in a first direction, in which the transmission member moves away from the image forming portion, and a second direction opposite to the first direction; and (iii) a flexible linker configured to link the cover member with the link mechanism; the link mechanism coordinating with the cover member by means of the linker when the cover member uncovers the opening moves the transmission member in the first direction; the link mechanism coordinating with the cover member by means of the linker moves the transmission member in the second direction when the cover member covers the opening the second transmission portion includes an engagement shaft configured to project from the first transmission portion to the image forming portion; the housing includes a supporting structure configured to support the link mechanism; the link mechanism includes: (iv) a clutch ring with an inner surface configured to define an insertion bore, into which the engagement shaft is inserted, an outer surface opposite to the inner surface, a projecting surface, which hits and pushes the transmission member in the first direction when the cover member uncovers the opening, and a first connecting pin, which projects towards the image forming portion; (v) an arm having a first connecting portion provided with a first connecting member, to which the first connecting pin is connected, and a second connecting portion, to which the linker is connected; and (vi) a bias member configured to bias the transmission member in the second direction; the outer surface includes an inclination surface which extends in a circumferential direction of the outer surface and is inclined so as to approach the projecting surface; the supporting structure includes a hook configured to contact the inclination surface; the arm displaced by the linker rotates the clutch ring in a first rotational direction around the insertion bore when the cover member uncovers the opening; and the hook sliding over the inclination surface during rotation of the clutch ring in the first rotational direction pushes the clutch ring in the first direction to disengage the engagement shaft from the image forming portion. |
