Image forming apparatus

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a door supported by the apparatus body turnably within a range of a first turning angle, a sheet stacking tray supported by the door turnably within a range of a second turning angle, and a bias member whose first end is fixed to the apparatus body and whose second end is fixed to the sheet stacking tray. The bias member pulls the sheet stacking tray to the apparatus body side by a bias force generated by the door pulling the bias member when the door is opened in the state in which the sheet stacking tray is opened and reduces a turning angle of the sheet stacking tray formed with the door to be smaller than the second turning angle at least when the door is turned by the first turning angle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
 an apparatus body;   a door supported by the apparatus body turnably within a range of a first turning angle;   a sheet stacking tray supported by the door turnably within a range of a second turning angle and stacking a sheet in a state opened with respect to the door; and   a bias member whose first end is fixed to the apparatus body and whose second end is fixed to the sheet stacking tray, the bias member pulling the sheet stacking tray to the apparatus body side by a bias force generated by the door pulling the bias member when the door is opened in the state in which the sheet stacking tray is opened and reducing a turning angle of the sheet stacking tray formed with the door to be smaller than the second turning angle at least when the door is turned by the first turning angle.   
     
     
         2 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a link mechanism including a first link attached to the apparatus body and a second link attached to the first end of the bias member, the link mechanism linking the apparatus body with the sheet stacking tray through the bias member and being flexible and stretchable as the door and the sheet stacking tray are opened/closed. 
     
     
         3 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the link mechanism is stretched to its maximum length during when the door in the state in which the sheet stacking tray is opened turns up to the first turning angle. 
     
     
         4 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising a slide mechanism configured to move an end of the second link on a side linked with the bias member along a stacking surface of the sheet stacking tray. 
     
     
         5 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the bias member is pulled by the end of the second link in a state in which the link mechanism is stretched to its maximum length and the end of the second link is slid along the slide mechanism in response to an opening operation of the door. 
     
     
         6 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the bias member includes a bias spring. 
     
     
         7 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising a manual feed portion provided on one side surface of the apparatus body and capable of feeding a sheet into the apparatus body;
 wherein the sheet stacking tray is a manual feed tray provided in the manual feed portion and stacking sheets to be fed into the apparatus body.   
     
     
         8 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising a conveying path guiding the sheet being conveyed within the apparatus body;
 wherein the conveying path is exposed by opening the door.   
     
     
         9 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first turn restricting portion restricting a turning range of the door within the first turning angle; and
 a second turn restricting portion restricting a turning range of the sheet stacking tray to the second turning angle.   
     
     
         10 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
 an apparatus body;   a door supported by the apparatus body turnably centering on a door turning shaft;   a sheet stacking tray supported by the door turnably centering on a tray turning shaft located above the door turning shaft and stacking a sheet;   a flexible link mechanism whose one end is linked turnably to the apparatus body and whose other end is linked slidably to the sheet stacking tray;   a slide mechanism slidably supporting the other end of the link mechanism; and   a bias member linked to the other end of the link mechanism and to the sheet stacking tray;   the flexible link mechanism being stretched to its maximum length when the door is opened in a state in which the sheet stacking tray is opened with respect to the door and the other end of the link mechanism being supported by the slide mechanism to be slidable in the state in which the link mechanism is stretched to its maximum length.