Casing structure, optical scanner, and image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12088765-B2
Application number	US-202318120487-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2023
Priority date	Mar 22, 2022
Publication date	Sep 10, 2024
Grant date	Sep 10, 2024

Abstract

A casing structure, an optical scanner, and an image forming apparatus. The casing structure includes a casing having an opening, a cover that covers the opening of the casing, and a seal disposed between the casing and the cover. In the casing structure, the cover is openable and closable with respect to the casing, and the seal contacting the casing and the cover when the cover is closed. In the casing structure, the casing or the cover including at least one portion contained in the seal in a cross section taken in a direction the cover is opened or closed. The optical scanner includes the casing structure. In the optical scanner, the casing stores a plurality of components to be applied to an image forming apparatus, and the cover has an optical element through which light passes. The image forming apparatus includes the optical scanner.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A casing structure comprising:
a casing having an opening;
a cover that covers the opening of the casing, the cover openable and closable with respect to the casing; and
a seal disposed between the casing and the cover, the seal contacting the casing and the cover when the cover is closed,
wherein:
the casing or the cover includes at least one portion contained in the seal in a cross section taken in a direction the cover is opened or closed, and
the casing or the cover has a hook that is at least partially contained in the seal in a cross section taken in the direction the cover is opened or closed.

2. A casing structure, comprising:
a casing having an opening;
a cover that covers the opening of the casing, the cover openable and closable with respect to the casing; and
a seal disposed between the casing and the cover, the seal contacting the casing and the cover when the cover is closed,
wherein:
the casing or the cover includes at least one portion contained in the seal in a cross section taken in a direction the cover is opened or closed,
the casing or the cover includes a plurality of portions contained in the seal in a cross section taken in the direction the cover is opened or closed, and
the plurality of portions of the casing or the cover include the at least one portion of the casing or the cover.

3. The casing structure according to claim 1 ,
wherein the hook extends in a direction different from a direction in which the cover is opened or closed.

4. The casing structure according to claim 1 ,
wherein the cover includes a plurality of openings, and
wherein the hook is interposed between a pair of the plurality of openings of the cover.

5. The casing structure according to claim 1 ,
wherein the cover has a single opening, and
wherein the hook is surrounded by the single opening of the cover, and extends in a direction different from a direction in which the cover is opened or closed.

6. The casing structure according to claim 1 ,
wherein the casing or the cover on which the seal is disposed has an identifier used to indicate a starting point at which the cover is removed from the casing.

7. The casing structure according to claim 1 ,
wherein the casing or the cover on which the seal is disposed has an identifier used to indicate a starting point at which the seal is removed from the casing or the cover.

8. The casing structure according to claim 1 ,
wherein the seal is continuously and integrally molded when viewed from one side of the cover, and is continuously and integrally molded when viewed another side of the cover.

9. A casing structure, comprising:
a casing having an opening;
a cover that covers the opening of the casing, the cover openable and closable with respect to the casing; and
a seal disposed between the casing and the cover, the seal contacting the casing and the cover when the cover is closed,
wherein:
the casing or the cover includes at least one portion contained in the seal in a cross section taken in a direction the cover is opened or closed, and
the seal is continuously and integrally molded when viewed from one side of the cover, and is discontinuously molded when viewed another side of the cover.

10. An optical scanner, comprising:
the casing structure of claim 1 , and
a scanning structure.

11. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
the casing structure of claim 1 , and
a printing structure.

Assignees

• Sakaue Yoshinobu
• Yamakawa Takeshi
• Narita Susumu
• Sato Ryo
• Noda Makoto
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Sakaue Yoshinobu
• Yamakawa Takeshi
• Narita Susumu
• Sato Ryo
• Noda Makoto

Classifications

• H04N1/10

  using flat picture-bearing surfaces {(H04N1/113, H04N1/195 take precedence)} · CPC title

• H04N1/00559

  Mounting or support of components or elements (H04N1/00538 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04N1/00551 Primary

  Top covers or the like · CPC title