Rabin & Berdo, P.C.
Electrophotographic recording apparatus having lid with mechanism to retract exposing unit
An electrophotographic recording apparatus has a lid movable to open and close relative to a body of the apparatus, the lid having an exposing unit mounted thereto. The recording apparatus includes a collapsible mechanism and a drive mechanism (gear mechanism). The exposing unit is suspended from the collapsible mechanism. The gear mechanism is operatively connected to the lid so that when the lid is opened and closed, the gear mechanism drives the collapsible mechanism to deform selectively into the collapsed position and the expanded position, respectively. When the collapsible mechanism is at the expanded position, the exposing unit is accurately positioned relative to an image-forming unit. When the collapsible mechanism is at the collapsed position, the exposing unit is at a retracted position so that the exposing unit allows easy access to the interior of the apparatus. The gear mechanism may include a torque limiter.
Oki Data Corporation
H G H G G H H
H04N G03G H04N G03G G03G H04N H04N
inventional additional additional inventional additional inventional additional
Yukio Hiroshi
Ota Kikuchi