| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce component costs and assembling costs while ensuring an easy opening operation of a document reader. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus main body 20 in which various members for image formation are disposed; and the document reader 30, the position of which is changed between a closed position S1 and an opened position S2 by being normally or reversely rotated around a horizontal support shaft 34 disposed on one edge of the upper part of the apparatus main body 20. A cushioning mechanism 40 for cushioning the opening/closing operation of the document reader 30 is interposed between the apparatus main body 20 and the document reader 30. The cushioning mechanism 40 projects from the document reader 30 and enters the apparatus main body 20. This mechanism 40 includes: a damper device 43 having a sect gear 41 having the axis O1 of the support shaft 34 as its curvature center; and a small-diameter gear 42 that is disposed in the apparatus main body 20, meshes with the sect gear 41 and is rotatable round a small-diameter gear shaft 421, the axial center of which is located higher than a horizontal line LH passing through the axial center O1 of the casing 431 of the support shaft 34. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT |
