Latch mechanism and device equipped with the latch mechanism

Abstract

To provide a latch mechanism, etc., capable of preventing an opening / closing body, which covers a part of a main body and is opened / closed so as to expose the main body, from being stopped before arriving at a regular closing position.SOLUTION: A latch mechanism comprises: main body engage means disposed in a main body including an opening / closing body which is opened / closed; and opening / closing body engage means which is disposed in the opening / closing body and engaged with the main body engage means when closing the opening / closing body. The main body engage means consists of a first engage body including a pair of tops which can be displaced in a direction orthogonal with a closing direction of the opening / closing body. The opening / closing body engage means consists of a second engage body including a pair of second tops which are in contact with the pair of first tops. The second engage body includes a first slope, where the second engage body receives a force in an opening direction of the opening / closing body in a state where the other first top in the pair of first tops is in contact, when one second top in the pair of second tops is in contact with one first top in the pair of first tops in the middle of closing the opening / closing body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a latch mechanism and an apparatus provided with the latch mechanism.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 below describes an opening / closing mechanism for a housing including an opening / closing part provided so as to be openable / closable with respect to a housing body, and at least two engaging parts provided on the housing body and the opening / closing part respectively and engaging with each other to hold the opening / closing part in a closed state with respect to the housing body. Patent Document 1 also describes that a balance part that contacts each other without a force for opening / closing the opening / closing part from the housing body being applied is provided in a first engaging part among the two engaging parts, and when the housing body and the opening / closing part are in the balance part in the first engaging part, the opening / closing behavior of the opening / closing part follows the behavior of a second engaging part among the two engaging parts. Patent Document 1 further describes that an extrusion region for extruding the opening / closing part from the housing body and a drawing-in region for drawing the opening / closing part into the housing body via a boundary part with respect to the extrusion region are provided in the second engaging part based on the positional relationship between the housing body and the opening / closing part.

[0003] Patent Document 2 below describes an opening / closing device having an opening / closing unit that is openable / closable with respect to a main body unit, a first engaging part that engages with a predetermined reaction force when closing the opening / closing unit, and a second engaging part that engages with a predetermined reaction force at a timing different from that of the first engaging part when closing the opening / closing unit. Patent Document 2 also describes that the reaction force at the engaging position of the engaging part with the earlier engaging timing among the first engaging part and the second engaging part becomes a drawing-in force for the other engaging part to move toward the closed position of the opening / closing unit. Patent Document 2 further describes that at the closed position of the opening / closing unit, the reaction force of at least one of the first engaging part and the second engaging part becomes a drawing-in force toward the closed position.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] This invention provides a latch mechanism that can prevent an opening / closing body, which covers and exposes a part of a main body and opens and closes, from stopping before reaching a normal closed position when it is closed, and an apparatus including the same.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] This invention (1) includes main body engaging means disposed on a main body having an opening / closing body that opens and closes, opening / closing body engaging means disposed on the opening / closing body and engaging with the main body engaging means when the opening / closing body is closed, and the main body engaging means is composed of a first engaging body having a pair of first tops that can be displaced in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the opening / closing body is closed, the opening / closing body engaging means is composed of a second engaging body having a pair of second tops that respectively contact the pair of first tops, and the second engaging body has a first inclined surface that applies a force in the direction of opening the opening / closing body to the second engaging body in a state where the other first top of the pair of first tops is in contact when one of the pair of second tops of the pair of second tops contacts one of the pair of first tops of the pair of first tops during the closing of the opening / closing body. It is a latch mechanism characterized by this.

[0007] Also, this invention (2) includes main body engaging means disposed on a main body having an opening / closing body that opens and closes, An opening / closing body engaging means that is disposed on the opening / closing body and engages with the main body engaging means when the opening / closing body is closed, and comprising The opening / closing body engaging means is constituted by a first engaging body having a pair of first tops that can be displaced in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the opening / closing body is closed, The main body engaging means is constituted by a second engaging body having a pair of second tops that respectively contact the pair of first tops, The second engaging body has a first inclined surface that applies a force in the opening direction of the opening / closing body to the other first top in a state where the other first top is in contact when one of the pair of first tops contacts one of the pair of second tops during the closing of the opening / closing body. The latch mechanism is characterized by this.

[0008] Also, this invention (3) A main body engaging means disposed on a main body having an opening / closing body that opens and closes, An opening / closing body engaging means that is disposed on the opening / closing body and engages with the main body engaging means when the opening / closing body is closed, and comprising The main body engaging means is constituted by a third engaging body having a pair of third tops that are disposed apart in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the opening / closing body is closed, The opening / closing body engaging means is constituted by a fourth engaging body having a pair of fourth tops that respectively contact the pair of third tops and can be displaced in the orthogonal direction, The fourth engaging body has a third inclined surface that applies a force in the opening direction of the opening / closing body to the fourth engaging body in a state where the other third top is in contact when one of the pair of fourth tops contacts one of the pair of third tops during the closing of the opening / closing body. The latch mechanism is characterized by this.

[0009] Furthermore, this invention (4) A main body engaging means disposed on a main body having an opening / closing body that opens and closes, An opening / closing body engaging means that is disposed on the opening / closing body and engages with the main body engaging means when the opening / closing body is closed, and comprising The opening / closing engagement means is constituted by a third engaging body having a pair of third top parts arranged apart in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the opening / closing body is closed. The main body engaging means is constituted by a fourth engaging body having a pair of fourth top parts that respectively contact the pair of third top parts and can be displaced in the orthogonal direction. The fourth engaging body has a third inclined surface that, when one of the pair of third top parts contacts one of the pair of fourth top parts during the closing of the opening / closing body, applies a force in the opening direction of the opening / closing body to the other third top part in a state where the other third top part is in contact. It is a latch mechanism characterized by this.

[0010] And this invention (5) is in the latch mechanism of the above invention (1), In the second engaging body, the other second top part that is one end of the first inclined surface among the pair of second top parts is arranged at a position shifted upstream in the closing direction from the one second top part. It is a latch mechanism. This invention (6) is in the latch mechanism of the above invention (2), In the second engaging body, the other second top part that is one end of the first inclined surface among the pair of second top parts is arranged at a position shifted downstream in the closing direction from the one second top part. It is a latch mechanism.

[0011] This invention (7) is in the latch mechanism of the above invention (3), In the fourth engaging body, the other fourth top part that is one end of the third inclined surface among the pair of fourth top parts is arranged at a position shifted downstream in the closing direction from the one fourth top part. It is a latch mechanism. This invention (8) is in the latch mechanism of the above invention (4), In the fourth engaging body, the other fourth top part that is one end of the third inclined surface among the pair of fourth top parts is arranged at a position shifted upstream in the closing direction from the one fourth top part. It is a latch mechanism.

[0012] This invention (9) is in the latch mechanism of the above invention (1), The second engaging body is a latch mechanism having a second inclined surface that contacts after one of the first tops passes the one of the second tops during closing of the opening / closing body and receives a force in the closing direction of the opening / closing body by the second engaging body. This invention (10) is the latch mechanism of the above invention (2), The second engaging body is a latch mechanism having a second inclined surface that contacts after one of the first tops passes the one of the second tops during closing of the opening / closing body and receives a force in the closing direction of the opening / closing body by one of the first tops.

[0013] This invention (11) is the latch mechanism of the above invention (3), The fourth engaging body is a latch mechanism having a fourth inclined surface that contacts after one of the third tops passes the one of the fourth tops during closing of the opening / closing body and receives a force in the closing direction of the opening / closing body by the fourth engaging body. This invention (12) is the latch mechanism of the above invention (4), The fourth engaging body is a latch mechanism having a fourth inclined surface that contacts after one of the third tops passes the one of the fourth tops during closing of the opening / closing body and receives a force in the closing direction of the opening / closing body by one of the third tops.

[0014] This invention (13) is the latch mechanism of the above invention (9) or (10), The inclination angle of the second inclined surface is larger than the inclination angle of the first inclined surface in the latch mechanism. This invention (14) is the latch mechanism of the above invention (11) or (12), The inclination angle of the fourth inclined surface is larger than the inclination angle of the third inclined surface in the latch mechanism.

[0015] This invention (15) is the latch mechanism of the above invention (9) or (10), One of the first tops is a latch mechanism that keeps contacting the second inclined surface and keeps the opening / closing body in a closed state. This invention (16) is the latch mechanism of the above invention (11) or (12), The third top portion of the one side is a latch mechanism that keeps the opening / closing body closed by continuously contacting the fourth slope surface.

[0016] This invention (17) is in the latch mechanism of the above invention (5) or (6), The second engaging body is a latch mechanism having a surface portion that extends from the other second top portion in a direction opposite to the first slope surface along the direction of opening the opening / closing body. This invention (18) is in the latch mechanism of the above invention (7) or (8), The fourth engaging body is a latch mechanism having a surface portion that extends from the other fourth top portion in a direction opposite to the third slope surface along the direction of opening the opening / closing body.

[0017] Also, this invention (19) is, a main body, one or a plurality of opening / closing bodies that are openably attached to the main body, the latch mechanism according to any one of the above inventions (1) to (18) provided in at least one of the main body and the opening / closing body, and is a device provided with. This invention (20) is in the device of the above invention (19), and the main body is a device in which an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording medium is arranged.

Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to the latch mechanisms of the above inventions (1), (2), (3), and (4), it is possible to prevent stopping before reaching the normal closed position when the opening / closing body that opens and closes so as to cover and expose a part of the main body is closed.

[0019] According to the above inventions (5) and (6), compared with the case where the other second top portion in the second engaging body is arranged at the same position as the one second top portion in the direction of closing the opening / closing body, it is possible to stably prevent stopping before reaching the normal closed position when the opening / closing body is closed. According to the above inventions (7) and (8), compared with the case where the other fourth top in the fourth engaging body is arranged at the same position as the one fourth top in the direction of closing the opening / closing body, it is possible to stably prevent the opening / closing body from stopping before reaching the normal closed position when the opening / closing body is closed.

[0020] According to the above inventions (9) and (10), compared with the case where the second engaging body does not have the second inclined surface, it is possible to continuously prevent the opening / closing body from stopping before reaching the normal closed position even after one first top passes through one second top. According to the above inventions (11) and (12), compared with the case where the fourth engaging body does not have the fourth inclined surface, it is possible to continuously prevent the opening / closing body from stopping before reaching the normal closed position even after one third top passes through one fourth top.

[0021] According to the above invention (13), compared with the case where the inclination angle of the second inclined surface is smaller than that of the first inclined surface respectively, it is possible to more surely and continuously prevent the opening / closing body from stopping before reaching the normal closed position. According to the above invention (14), compared with the case where the inclination angle of the fourth inclined surface is smaller than that of the third inclined surface respectively, it is possible to more surely and continuously prevent the opening / closing body from stopping before reaching the normal closed position.

[0022] According to the above invention (15), compared with the case where one first top keeps the opening / closing body in the closed state without contacting the second inclined surface, it is possible to keep the opening / closing body in a closed state where rattling is less likely to occur. According to the above invention (16), compared with the case where one third top keeps the opening / closing body in the closed state without contacting the fourth inclined surface, it is possible to keep the opening / closing body in a closed state where rattling is less likely to occur.

[0023] According to the above invention (17), compared with the case where the portion of the second engaging body on the side opposite to the first inclined surface of the first engaging body from the other second top of the second engaging body has the same inclined surface as the first inclined surface, the operation of closing the opening / closing body becomes easier. According to the above invention (18), compared with the case where the part of the fourth engaging body on the side opposite to the third inclined surface from the other fourth top portion of the fourth engaging body is the same inclined surface as the third inclined surface, the operation of closing the opening / closing body becomes easier.

[0024] According to the device of the above invention (19), it is possible to prevent the opening / closing body, which is attached to the main body so as to pivot about a shaft to open and close, from stopping before reaching the normal closed position when it is closed. According to the device of the above invention (20), it is possible to prevent the opening / closing body, to which the latch mechanism is applied in the main body where the image forming unit is arranged, from stopping before reaching the normal closed position when it is closed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0025]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0026] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out this invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0027] First Embodiment. FIG. 1 is a perspective view conceptually showing an apparatus 100A provided with a latch mechanism 1A according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a part where the opening / closing cover of the apparatus 100A is opened. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a part where the opening / closing cover of the apparatus 100A is closed. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the latch mechanism 1A.

[0028] <Apparatus with a latch mechanism> As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus 100A provided with the latch mechanism 1A includes a housing 10A which is an example of a main body. The housing 10A has a required external shape, and its outside is covered with an exterior cover 11. Also, a plurality of functional parts 102A and 102B for exerting required functions of the apparatus 100A are arranged inside the housing 10A and the like. The functional parts 102A and 102B are not limited to an image forming part and a medium supply part exemplified later, but include parts having arbitrary functions in various other fields. For this reason, the apparatus 100A can be configured as an arbitrary type of apparatus.

[0029] Also, as shown in FIG. 1, a part of the exterior cover 11 of the apparatus 100A is configured as opening / closing covers 12A and 12B which are an example of an opening / closing body that opens and closes while covering and exposing a part of the apparatus 100A. The apparatus 100A may include an opening / closing cover other than the opening / closing covers 12A and 12B.

[0030] The opening / closing cover 12A is, for example, a rectangular cover that forms a part of the exterior cover 11a arranged on the front side of the apparatus 100A. The lower end of this opening / closing cover 12A is supported by a hinge 13 so as to be openable and closable, and it rotates at a predetermined angle in the directions indicated by arrows Da1 and Da2 with the axis of the hinge 13 as a fulcrum to perform an opening / closing operation, and it is a so-called vertically opening type opening / closing cover. Reference numeral 14 shown in FIG. 1(B) is an opening in the main body 10A when it is opened and closed by the opening / closing cover 12A.

[0031] The opening / closing cover 12B is a rectangular cover that forms part of the exterior cover 11b disposed, for example, on the right side surface of the apparatus 100A. The front side end portion of this opening / closing cover 12B is supported by a hinge 13 so as to be openable and closable, and it rotates at a predetermined angle in the directions indicated by arrows Db1 and Db2 with the axis of the hinge 13 as a fulcrum to perform an opening / closing operation, which is a so-called horizontally-opening type opening / closing cover. Reference numerals 15a and 15b shown in FIG. 1 are recessed portions or handles for guiding the operator's hand when opening the opening / closing cover 12A and the opening / closing cover 12B, respectively, to the handle portions.

[0032] Furthermore, the apparatus 100A is provided with a latch mechanism 1A, which will be described later, that mainly engages (latches) when the single (singular) opening / closing cover 12A is closed. The remaining opening / closing cover 12B and other opening / closing covers (not shown) are provided with a latch mechanism or an opening / closing mechanism having a configuration different from that of the latch mechanism 1A, but the latch mechanism 1A may be provided similarly.

[0033] <Latch mechanism> As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and the like, the latch mechanism 1A includes a main body engaging means 1x disposed on the main body 10A and an opening / closing body engaging means 1y disposed on the opening / closing cover 12A that engages with the main body engaging means 1x when the opening / closing cover 12A is closed.

[0034] The main body engaging means 1x is attached, for example, to a mounting frame 16 disposed at a required position of the opening 14 of the main body 10A. The main body engaging means 1x in the first embodiment is disposed at a position that is approximately at the center of the left and right sides in the opening 14 and above it. Also, the opening / closing body engaging means 1y is attached to a required position on the back surface (rear surface) of the opening / closing cover 12A. The opening / closing body engaging means 1y in the first embodiment is disposed at a position where it can face and engage with the main body engaging means 1x when the opening / closing cover 12A is closed.

[0035] And, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 9, the main body engaging means 1x is constituted by a first engaging body 2A having a pair of first tops 21a and 21b that can be displaced in a direction Da2 for closing the opening / closing cover 12A and a direction Dr (see FIG. 4) perpendicular to the vertical direction. The pair of first tops 21a and 21b can be displaced, for example, against the biasing force of a biasing member 25 described later. Also, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 9, the opening / closing body engaging means 1y is constituted by a second engaging body 3A having a pair of second tops 31a and 31b that come into contact with the pair of first tops 21a and 21b of the main body engaging means 1x at different timings.

[0036] Here, both the first tops 21a and 21b and the second tops 31a and 31b are portions that become convex inflection points. Also, as shown in FIG. 4, the first tops 21a and 21b in the first embodiment are also convex end portions that extend linearly along a direction Ds perpendicular to the left and right and have a required dimension along a direction Da2 for closing the opening / closing cover 12A. Further, the first tops 21a and 21b have a rounded tip shape instead of a sharp tip shape.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6 and the like, the first engaging body 2A in the first embodiment has a structure including a first moving body 22, a second moving body 23, a support portion 24, and a biasing member 25.

[0038] The first moving body 22 is a structural portion where one of the first tops 21a is disposed. The first moving body 22 in the first embodiment is a structure in which one of the first tops 21a is provided convex upward at its upper end, and the whole is disposed in a state separated upward from the second moving body 23. Also, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and the like, with one of the first tops 21a disposed at the upper end of the first moving body 22 as a boundary and a reference, an upstream descending slope 22aa and a downstream descending slope 22ab are formed so as to slope obliquely downward at predetermined inclination angles α1 and α2 and diverge on the upstream side and the downstream side in the direction Da2 for closing the opening / closing cover 12A. Furthermore, the first moving body 22 is provided with a guided portion 22b in which a guide groove 22bm opening in the left - right direction is formed while being present at the left - right side portions and each lower end of the upstream - side descending slope 22aa and the downstream - side descending slope 22ab. The inclination angles α1 and α2 are angles formed with the center line Lc along the orthogonal direction Dr of the first engaging body 2A. The inclination angles α1 and α2 are the same as each other, but they may be different angles. The first moving body 22 is configured as a component that is difficult to elastically deform.

[0039] The second moving body 23 is a structural portion where the other first top portion 21b is disposed. The second moving body 23 in the first embodiment is a structure having a shape in which the other first top portion 21b is provided at its lower end in a downward - convex state, and is disposed in a state of being separated downward from the first moving body 22 as a whole. Also, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, etc., the second moving body 23 is inclined so as to spread obliquely upward at a predetermined inclination angles α3 and α4, being divided into the upstream side and the downstream side in the closing direction Da2 of the opening - closing cover 12A with the other first top portion 21b disposed at its lower end as a boundary and a reference. An upstream - side ascending slope 23aa and a downstream - side ascending slope 23ab are formed. Furthermore, the second moving body 23 is provided with a guided portion 23b in which a guide groove 23bm opening in the left - right direction is formed while being present at the left - right side portions and each upper end of the upstream - side ascending slope 23aa and the downstream - side ascending slope 23ab. The inclination angles α3 and α4 are angles formed with the center line Lc. The inclination angles α3 and α4 are the same as each other, but they may be different angles. The second moving body 23 is configured as a component that is difficult to elastically deform.

[0040] The support portion 24 is a structural portion that movably supports the opening - closing cover 12A so as to move toward and away from each other along the direction Ds that is perpendicular to the closing direction Da2 of the opening - closing cover 12A. The support portion 24 is configured as a structure in which guide plates 24a and 24b are formed so as to extend linearly in the vertical direction with a required interval in the left - right direction. The guide plates 24a and 24b are respectively fitted into the left - right guide grooves 22bm in the guided portion 22b of the first moving body 22 and the left - right guide grooves 23bm in the guided portion 23b of the second moving body 23. Thereby, the guide plates 24a and 24b support while guiding the first moving body 22 and the second moving body 23 to move in both the upward direction Ea1 and the downward direction Ea2 respectively. Also, the support portion 24 is provided so as to be fixed to the mounting frame 16 in the main body 10A. Further, the support portion 24 is configured as a component that is difficult to elastically deform. The reference numeral 24c shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 is a stop portion that stops the downward movement of the second moving body 23 in the downward direction Ea2 at the lower regulation position.

[0041] The biasing member 25 is disposed, for example, between the first moving body 22 and the second moving body 23. Thereby, while holding the first moving body 22 and the second moving body 23 at a certain interval Sa (see FIG. 7), the biasing member 25 is a member that elastically biases the first moving body 22 and the second moving body 23 in a direction away from each other when they move in a direction approaching each other. For example, a coil spring is used as the biasing member 25. The coil spring is disposed in a state where its upper end contacts the first moving body 22 and its lower end contacts the second moving body 23.

[0042] Also, when the positions of the first moving body 22 and the second moving body 23 when the interval between the pair of first top portions 21a and 21b becomes a certain interval Sa are defined as fixed positions, the biasing member 25 is set to apply the following biasing force. That is, when one or both of the first moving body 22 and the second moving body 23 move in a direction to narrow the interval Sa, the biasing member 25 is set to apply an elastic biasing force J (see FIGS. 7 and 8) that returns one or both of the moved first moving body 22 and the second moving body 23 to the fixed position where the interval Sa is ensured.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 2, 6, 7, etc., the second engaging body 3A is configured as a structure including one second engaging body 3Aa having one second top portion 31a disposed thereon and the other second engaging body 3Ab having the other second top portion 31b disposed thereon.

[0044] One second engaging body 3Aa has a first protruding portion 30A protruding from one side of the support plate 38A along the closing direction Da2 of the opening / closing cover 12A. The first protruding portion 30A is a plate-like portion protruding with a required thickness at the lower end side portion of the support plate 38A, and one second top portion 31a is provided at its lower end. Further, the first protruding portion 30A is divided into an upstream side and a downstream side with respect to the closing direction Da2 of the opening / closing cover 12A with one second top portion 31a at the lower end as a boundary and a reference, and is inclined so as to spread obliquely upward at predetermined inclination angles β2, β3 (see FIG. 7), and a second slope 33 described later formed of an upstream side rising slope and a downstream side rising slope 35 are provided. This one second engaging body 3Aa is disposed at a position farther above than the other second engaging body 3Ab.

[0045] The other second engaging body 3Ab has a second protruding portion 30B protruding from one side of the support plate 38B toward the closing direction Da2 of the opening / closing cover 12A. The second protruding portion 30B is a plate-like portion protruding with a required thickness at the upper end side portion of the support plate 38B, and the other second top portion 31b is provided at its upper end. Further, the second protruding portion 30B is provided with a first slope 32 described later formed of a downstream side descending slope inclined obliquely downward at a predetermined inclination angle β1 (see FIG. 7) toward the downstream side in the closing direction Da2 of the opening / closing cover 12A with the other second top portion 31b at its upper end as a boundary and a reference. Further, the second protruding portion 30B is provided with a surface portion 34 extending upstream in the closing direction Da2 of the opening / closing cover 12A from the other second top portion 31b. This other second engaging body 3Ab is disposed at a position farther below than the one second engaging body 3Aa.

[0046] On the other hand, the other second engaging member 3Ab is attached to the opening / closing cover 12A by fixing the support plate 38A of one second engaging member 3Aa and the support plate 38B of the other second engaging member 3Ab to the attachment portion 18 provided on the back surface of the opening / closing cover 12A, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0047] At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, one second engaging member 3Aa and the other second engaging member 3Ab are arranged such that a pair of second tops 31a, 31b are spaced apart by a predetermined interval Sb. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the second engaging members 3Aa, 3Ab are set such that the top 35e at the upper end of the downstream rising slope 35 and the top 32e at the lower end of the first slope 32 have a positional relationship with a required interval Sc therebetween.

[0048] Also, regarding the interval Sb in the second engaging members 3Aa, 3Ab, as shown in FIG. 7, it is set to be smaller than the interval Sa between the pair of first tops 21a, 21b in the first engaging member 2A (Sb < Sa). Also, regarding the interval Sc in the second engaging members 3Aa, 3Ab, it is set to be larger than the interval Sa between the pair of first tops 21a, 21b in the first engaging member 2A (Sc > Sa). Further, the first engaging member 2A is arranged such that both one first top 21a and the other first top 21b are present inside the interval Sc in the second engaging members 3Aa, 3Ab.

[0049] Thereby, as shown in FIG. 8 and the like, the latch mechanism 1A allows the first engaging member 2A to be easily introduced between one second engaging member 3Aa and the other second engaging member 3Ab (within the interval Sc) when closing the opening / closing cover 12A. Also, thereafter, the first engaging member 2A can individually contact the second tops 31a, 31b in the second engaging members 3Aa, 3Ab with its first tops 21a, 21b in a displaced state.

[0050] And as shown in FIG. 8(B) etc., when one of the second top parts 31a of the latching mechanism 1A contacts one of the first top parts 21a of the first engaging body 2A while closing the opening / closing cover 12A, the other first top part 21b of the first engaging body 2A is in contact and the first inclined surface 32 which applies the force Fa in the opening direction Da1 of the opening / closing cover 12A to the other second engaging body 3Ab is provided.

[0051] In the first embodiment, the first inclined surface 32 is formed as the downstream side descending inclined surface described above on the other second engaging body 3Ab. Also, the force Fa in the opening direction of the opening / closing cover 12A is strictly given in such a manner that it is transmitted from the second moving body 23 which is biased downward by the biasing force Ja which biases downward below the biasing member 25 in the first engaging body 2A to the other second engaging body 3Ab.

[0052] Also, as shown in FIG. 7, in the second engaging body 3A, the other second top part 31b which is one end (upper end) of the first inclined surface 32 among the pair of second top parts 31a, 31b is arranged at a position shifted to the upstream side in the closing direction Da2 of the opening / closing cover 12A from the one second top part 31a. The distance k by which this other second top part 31b is shifted to the upstream side in the closing direction Da2 from the one second top part 31a is set in consideration of, for example, the tolerance of parts, the play of the sliding parts, etc. Specifically, it is, for example, a dimension of about 2 to 5 mm.

[0053] Also, in the pair of second engaging bodies 3Aa, 3Ab, as shown in FIG. 9(C) etc., after one of the first top parts 21a of the first engaging body 2A passes through one of the second top parts 31a of the second engaging body 3A while closing the opening / closing cover 12A and then contacts, the second inclined surface 33 which receives the force Fb in the closing direction Da2 of the opening / closing cover 12A is provided on the one second engaging body 3Aa.

[0054] In the first embodiment, the first inclined surface 32 is formed as the downstream descending inclined surface on one of the second engaging members 3Aa as described above. The first inclined surface 32 is formed as an inclined surface that slopes obliquely downward at a predetermined inclination angle β1 in a continuous form from one of the first tops 21a. The force Fb in the direction of closing the opening / closing cover 12A is strictly applied so as to be transmitted from the first moving body 22 biased upward by the biasing force Jb in the upward direction of the biasing member 25 in the first engaging member 2A to one of the second engaging members 3Aa.

[0055] Regarding the second inclined surface 33, as shown in FIG. 7, the inclination angle β2 is set such that the inclination angle β2 is larger than the inclination angle β1 of the first inclined surface 32 (β2>β1). Both of the inclination angles β1 and β2 are the smaller angles formed with respect to the reference line when the direction along the closing direction Da2 of the opening / closing cover 12A or the horizontal direction is used as the reference line. The inclination angle β2 is set in consideration of the required magnitude of the force Fb in the direction of closing the opening / closing cover 12A and the like. Further, the inclination angle β2 is, for example, an angle that is 1.5 times to 4.0 times the inclination angle β1.

[0056] Furthermore, in the pair of second engaging members 3Aa and 3Ab, as shown in FIGS. 4(B), 6, and 7, a surface portion 34 extending along the opening direction Da1 of the opening / closing cover 12A is provided on the opposite side of the first inclined surface 32 from the other second top 31b in the other second engaging member 3Ab. The surface portion 34 is formed as a flat surface extending substantially along the opening direction Da1 from the other second top 31b in the other second engaging member 3Ab.

[0057] In addition, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 9(D), the first engaging member 2A and the second engaging member 3A are set such that one of the first tops 21a continuously contacts the second inclined surface 33 to keep the opening / closing cover 12A in a closed state. On the one hand, the opening / closing cover 12A is set to be in a closed state, for example, when a part 12e thereof abuts against a stop portion 17 provided at a corresponding portion in the opening 14 of the main body 10A. The part 12e is provided, for example, as an abutting portion at a portion away from the hinge 13. Also, the position of the opening / closing cover 12A when a part 12e thereof abuts against the stop portion 17 is the normal closed position.

[0058] In the first embodiment, when the opening / closing cover 12A reaches the normal closed position, the length of the second inclined surface 33 in the opening direction Da1 of the opening / closing cover 12A is set such that one first top portion 21a continues to be in contact with the second inclined surface 33 from the point where the one first top portion 21a is in contact.

[0059] Incidentally, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the second engaging body 3A is formed such that a portion 37 continuing in the opening direction Da1 of the opening / closing cover 12A from the upper end 33e of the second inclined surface 33 is a smooth surface portion extending substantially along the opening direction Da1. This portion 37 is actually the lower end surface of the support plate 38A.

[0060] <Operation of the latch mechanism when closing the opening / closing cover> Next, the operation of the latch mechanism 1A when closing the opening / closing cover 12A will be described.

[0061] First, the opened opening / closing cover 12A illustrated in FIGS. 1(B) and 2 is rotated about the hinge 13 as a fulcrum in the closing direction Da2 thereof, and thus starts to close so as to close the opening 14 of the main body 10A. When this closing operation of the opening / closing cover 12A is performed, in the latch mechanism 1A, as shown in FIG. 8(A), the second engaging body 3A (a pair of second engaging bodies 3Aa, 3Ab), which is the opening / closing body engaging means 1y, starts to approach the first engaging body 2A, which is the main body engaging means 1x.

[0062] At this time, in the latch mechanism 1A, a part of the downstream rising slope 35 of one of the second engaging members 3Aa of the second engaging body 3A contacts one of the first tops 21a of the first engaging body 2A, and a part of the first slope 32 of the other second engaging member 3Ab of the second engaging body 3A contacts the other first top 21b of the first engaging body 2A. Thereby, the engagement of the latch mechanism 1A is started.

[0063] Subsequently, the opening / closing cover 12A is further pushed in the closing direction Da2. Then, in the first engaging body 2A of the latch mechanism 1A, one of the first tops 21a receives a reaction force downward from the downstream rising slope 35 of one of the second engaging members 3Aa that moves in the closing operation, so that the first moving body 22 moves downward in the direction Ea2 from the fixed position against the biasing force of the biasing member 25. Moreover, in the first engaging body 2A, the other first top 21b receives a reaction force upward from the first slope 32 of the other second engaging member 3Ab that moves in the closing operation, so that the second moving body 23 moves upward in the direction Ea1 from the fixed position against the biasing force of the biasing member 25. The fixed positions of the first moving body 22 and the second moving body 23 are the positions that exist when the opening / closing cover 12A is open.

[0064] Thereby, in the first engaging body 2A, the first moving body 22 and the second moving body 23 continue to be biased in the direction away from each other by receiving the biasing forces due to the spring forces when the coil spring, which is the biasing member 25, contracts. On the other hand, the second engaging body 3A continuously receives, from one of the first tops 21a of the first moving body 22 and the other first top 21b of the second moving body 23 of the first engaging body 2A that is biased, the forces in the direction Da1 to open the opening / closing cover 12A, which are partial components of the biasing forces, on the downstream rising slope 35 and the first slope 32, respectively. For this reason, at the stage when the engagement of the latch mechanism 1A is started, the opening / closing cover 12A receives a force in the direction to open the opening / closing cover 12A from the latch mechanism 1A.

[0065] Then, as shown in FIG. 8(B), when one first top portion 21a of the first engaging member 2A contacts one second top portion 31a of the second engaging member 3A, the other first top portion 21b of the first engaging member 2A comes into contact with the first inclined surface 32 of the second engaging member 3A.

[0066] At this time, as shown in FIG. 8(B), since the first moving body 22 in the first engaging member 2A contacts one second top portion 31a with one first top portion 21a displaced downward in the direction Ea2, it remains in a state of continuously receiving the upward biasing force Jb from the biasing member 25. Also, at the moment when the first moving body 22 contacts one second top portion 31a at this time, it temporarily reaches a state of force balance with one second engaging member 3Aa. Therefore, one second engaging member 3Aa becomes a state where it is temporarily difficult to move, in other words, a state where its movement can be temporarily stopped.

[0067] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8(B), since the second moving body 23 in the first engaging member 2A contacts the first inclined surface 32 with the other first top portion 21b displaced upward in the direction Ea1, it continuously receives the downward biasing force Ja from the biasing member 25. For this reason, the other second engaging member 3Ab continuously receives, from the other first top portion 21b of the second moving body 23 biased downward by the biasing force Ja of the biasing member 25, a force Fa in the direction Da1 for opening the opening / closing cover 12A as a part of the component force of the biasing force Ja via the first inclined surface 32. The lengths of the dashed-line arrow of the biasing force Ja and the solid-line arrow of the force Fa shown in FIG. 8(B) do not indicate the magnitude relationship between the forces. This also applies to the lengths of the arrows of the biasing force J and the force F described in other drawings hereinafter.

[0068] As a result, at this time, the latch mechanism 1A is placed in a state where the other second engaging member 3Ab is likely to move in the direction Da1 for opening the opening / closing cover 12A. Therefore, when one first top portion 21a contacts one second top portion 31a in the latch mechanism 1A, the opening / closing cover 12A does not stop moving in the closing direction Da2 halfway due to, for example, a temporarily balanced state of forces.

[0069] In this regard, when the latch mechanism 1A is configured as described below, the first engaging body 2A and the second engaging body 3Aa may temporarily reach a balanced state of forces and the movement in the closing direction Da2 may stop. The configuration is such that when one first top portion 21a contacts one second top portion 31a, the other first top portion 21b contacts the other second top portion 31b synchronously, or when one first top portion 21a contacts one second top portion 31a, the other first top portion 21b contacts the flat surface portion 34 of the other second engaging body 3Ab, etc.

[0070] Subsequently, when the closing operation of the opening / closing cover 12A continues, in the latch mechanism 1A, as shown in FIG. 9(C), one second top portion 31a of one second engaging body 3Aa passes through one first top portion 21a of the first engaging body 2A, and then that one first top portion 21a comes into contact with the second inclined surface 33. At this time, as shown in FIG. 9(C), the first moving body 22 is in a state of being moved upward in the direction Ea1 by continuously receiving an upward biasing force Jb from the biasing member 25, so one first top portion 21a continues to contact the second inclined surface 33.

[0071] As a result, in the latch mechanism 1A, one second engaging body 3Aa starts to receive a force Fb in the closing direction Da2 of the opening / closing cover 12A as a part of the component force of the biasing force Jb from one first top portion 21a of the first moving body 22 that has received the upward biasing force Jb of the biasing member 25 via the second inclined surface 33. This force Fb in the closing direction Da2 becomes a pulling force on the opening / closing cover 12A. As a result, the opening / closing cover 12A starts to receive the force Fb in the closing direction Da2 via one second engaging body 3Aa in the latch mechanism 1A.

[0072] Also, after one first top portion 21a has passed through one second top portion 31a, the other first top portion 21b in the first engaging body 2A contacts the other second top portion 31b in the other second engaging body 3Ab after the contact with the first inclined surface 32 has passed through the displacement distance k (FIG. 7). Also, when the other first top portion 21b at this time passes through the other second top portion 31b, as shown in FIG. 9(C), the smooth surface portion 34 in the other second engaging body 3Ab begins to be in contact with the other first top portion 21b.

[0073] As a result, in the latch mechanism 1A, the other second engaging body 3Ab no longer receives the force Fa (FIG. 8(B)) in the opening direction Da1 of the opening / closing cover 12A from the second moving body 23 of the first engaging body 2A via the first inclined surface 32. For this reason, when the opening / closing cover 12A receives the force Fb in the closing direction Da2 of the opening / closing cover 12A by the latch mechanism 1A, it rarely receives the force Fa in the opening direction Da1 of the opening / closing cover 12A that is opposite to the force Fb at the same time. As a result, the closing operation of the opening / closing cover 12A continues smoothly.

[0074] Moreover, in the latch mechanism 1A, the inclination angle β2 of the second inclined surface 33 is larger than the inclination angle β1 of the first inclined surface 32. As a result, in the latch mechanism 1A, the first moving body 22 that receives the biasing force Jb upward of the biasing member 25 becomes easier to move on the second inclined surface 33, and the force Fb in the closing direction Da2 of the opening / closing cover 12A becomes larger than the force Fa in the opening direction Da1 thereof. For this reason, even if the second moving body 23 temporarily receives the force Fa in the opening direction Da1 after one first top portion 21a has passed through one second top portion 31a, the first moving body 22 receives the force Fb in the closing direction Da2 that is larger than the force Fa. Also because of this, the closing operation of the opening / closing cover 12A continues to be performed smoothly.

[0075] And finally, as shown in FIG. 3 and the like, when the abutting portion 12e of the opening / closing cover 12A abuts against the stop portion 17 at the opening 14 of the main body 10A, the opening / closing cover 12A reaches the normal closed position.

[0076] At this time, in the latch mechanism 1A, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 9(D), one of the first top portions 21a in the first engaging body 2A continues to contact the second inclined surface 33 in the second engaging body 3A. As a result, in the latch mechanism 1A, one of the second engaging bodies 3Aa continues to receive the force Fb in the closing direction Da2 of the opening / closing cover 12A from the first moving body 22 in the first engaging body 2A via the second inclined surface 33. Due to this, one of the second engaging bodies 3Aa continues to receive the force Fb from the first engaging body 2A and keeps the opening / closing cover 12A in the closed state. In the latch mechanism 1A, the state at this time is the state where the engagement is completed when the opening / closing cover 12A is closed.

[0077] Also, the opening / closing cover 12A at this time is kept in a closed state where rattling at the opening 14 of the main body 10A is less likely to occur, compared to the case where the opening / closing cover 12A is kept closed without one of the first top portions 21a in the latch mechanism 1A contacting the second inclined surface 33, by continuously receiving the force Fb in the closing direction Da2.

[0078] As described above, in the apparatus 100A provided with the latch mechanism 1A according to the first embodiment, when the opening / closing cover 12A is closed, it does not stop before reaching the normal closed position and is normally closed at the normal closed position. Incidentally, the latch mechanism 1A does not require an overstroke, and it is also not necessary to secure a gap for the overstroke. This also applies to the latch mechanism 1 in the following embodiments and modifications.

[0079] <Operation of the latch mechanism when opening the opening / closing cover> Next, the operation of the latch mechanism 1A when opening the opening / closing cover 12A will be described.

[0080] First, the open / close cover 12A in the closed state illustrated in FIG. 1(A) or FIG. 3 is rotated about the hinge 13 as a fulcrum in the opening direction Da1, so as to start opening the opening 14 of the main body 10A to expose it to the outside. When the opening operation of the open / close cover 12A is performed, in the latch mechanism 1A, as can be seen by looking back in the order from FIG. 9(D) to FIG. 9(C), the second engaging body 3A which is the opening / closing body engaging means 1y starts to gradually separate from the completed state of engagement with the first engaging body 2A which is the main body engaging means 1x.

[0081] At this time, in the latch mechanism 1A, the second inclined surface 33 in the second engaging body 3Aa which moves in the opening direction Da1 of the open / close cover 12A starts to move the first moving body 22 in the first engaging body 2A downward in the direction Ea2 against the upward biasing force Jb of the biasing member 25 via one of the second top portions 31a.

[0082] One of the second engaging bodies 3Aa at this time continues to receive the force Fb in the closing direction Da2 of the open / close cover 12A from the first moving body 22 as shown in FIG. 9(C). For this reason, the open / close cover 12A which has started the opening operation continues to receive the force Fb in the closing direction Da2 by the latch mechanism 1A. Incidentally, when the opening operation is interrupted at this stage, the open / close cover 12A moves in the closing direction Da2 by the latch mechanism 1A and returns to the closed state.

[0083] Subsequently, when the opening operation of the open / close cover 12A continues, as shown in FIG. 8(B), one of the second top portions 31a in one of the second engaging bodies 3Aa contacts one of the first top portions 21b in the first engaging body 2A. At this time, the other second engaging body 3Ab is in a state where the other second top portion 31b contacts and passes through the other first top portion 21b in the first engaging body 2A, and then the first inclined surface 32 contacts the other first top portion 21b.

[0084] As a result, in the latch mechanism 1A, when performing the closing operation of the opening / closing cover 12A, similar to the case of closing the opening / closing cover 12A, the other second engaging body 3Ab starts to receive a force Fa in the opening direction Da1 of the opening / closing cover 12A, which is a part of the biasing force Ja, from the other first top portion 21b biased downward by the biasing force Ja of the biasing member 25 via the first inclined surface 32. Also, the force Fa in the opening direction Da1 at this time gradually weakens as the other second engaging body 3Ab moves in the opening direction Da1 of the opening / closing cover 12A while the other first top portion 21b is in contact with the first inclined surface 32, but the force Fa continues to be received.

[0085] At this time, the opening / closing cover 12A receives the force Fa in the opening direction Da1 instead of the force Fb in the closing direction Da2 by the latch mechanism 1A. For this reason, the opening / closing cover 12A is not likely to stop during the opening process, and the opening operation is assisted and promoted by the latch mechanism 1A.

[0086] And finally, as shown in FIG. 2 and the like, when the second engaging body 3A, which is the opening / closing body engaging means 1y in the latch mechanism 1A, is separated from the first engaging body 2A, which is the main body engaging means 1x, the engagement by the latch mechanism 1A is completely released. When the opening operation of the opening / closing cover 12A is further continued, the opening / closing cover 12A becomes completely open as shown in FIG. 1(B).

[0087] Second Embodiment. FIG. 10 is a drawing conceptually showing a part of an apparatus 100B provided with a latch mechanism 1B according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view of a part where the opening / closing cover of the apparatus 100B is opened. FIG. 11 is a schematic sectional view of a part where the opening / closing cover of the apparatus 100B is closed.

[0088] The apparatus 100B is different from the apparatus 100A according to the first embodiment in that the latch mechanism 1B is applied instead of the latch mechanism 1A according to the first embodiment, but the other configurations are the same as those of the apparatus 100A. Therefore, hereinafter, the same reference numerals will be assigned to common parts, and their descriptions will be omitted except when necessary.

[0089] The latch mechanism 1B is composed of a first engaging body 2B having a pair of first top portions 21a and 21b that can be displaced in a direction Dr (see FIG. 4) perpendicular to the up-and-down direction and a direction Da2 in which the opening / closing body engaging means 1y closes the opening / closing cover 12A. Also, the latch mechanism 1B is composed of a second engaging body 3B having a pair of second top portions 31a and 31b that come into contact with the pair of first top portions 21a and 21b in the first engaging body 2B at different timings, respectively, by the main body engaging means 1x.

[0090] The first engaging body 2B has substantially the same configuration as the first engaging body 2A in the first embodiment, except that it is arranged on the opening / closing cover 12A. Therefore, the first engaging body 2B is configured as a structure including a first moving body 22, a second moving body 23, a support portion 24, and a biasing member 25, similar to the case of the first engaging body 2A (see FIGS. 2 to 7, etc.).

[0091] Also, the second engaging body 3B has substantially the same configuration as the second engaging body 3A in the first embodiment, except that it is arranged at the opening 14 of the main body 10A and the direction with respect to the upstream side and the downstream side in the closing direction Da2 of the opening / closing cover 12A is reversed due to its arrangement relationship. Therefore, the second engaging body 3B is configured as a structure including one second engaging body 3Ba having a first protruding portion 30A and the other second engaging body 3Bb having a second protruding portion 30B, similar to the case of the second engaging body 3A (see FIGS. 2, 6, 7, etc.). The first protruding portion 30A and the second protruding portion 30B in the second embodiment are formed to protrude toward the upstream side in the closing direction Da2 of the opening / closing cover 12A.

[0092] Note that when the name of a part constituting the second engaging body 3B is given an upstream or downstream side based on the upstream and downstream sides in the closing direction Da2 of the opening / closing cover 12A, in the reversed relationship, if it was given an upstream side, it is changed to the name given to the downstream side, and if it was given a downstream side, it is changed to the name given to the upstream side. For example, in one of the second engaging bodies 3Ba, the upstream descending slope, which is an example of the second slope 33 in one of the second engaging bodies 3Aa in the first embodiment, is changed to the downstream descending slope. Also, in the other second engaging body 3Bb, the downstream descending slope, which is an example of the first slope 32 in the other second engaging body 3Ab in the first embodiment, is changed to the upstream descending slope.

[0093] Also, in the pair of second engaging bodies 3Ba, 3Bb, as shown in FIG. 10, among the pair of second tops 31a, 31b, the other second top 31b that is the upper end of the first slope 32 is disposed at a position deviated by a distance k to the downstream side in the closing direction Da2 from one second top 31a.

[0094] <Operation of the latch mechanism> When closing and opening the opening / closing cover 12A of this latch mechanism 1B, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the movement of the first engaging body 2B disposed on the opening / closing cover 12A side approaching or separating from the second engaging body 3B (the pair of second engaging bodies 3Ba, 3Bb) disposed on the main body 10A side and the action and direction are slightly different. However, otherwise, it is substantially the same as the content described with reference to FIGS. 8, 9, etc. for each operation of the latch mechanism 1A according to the first embodiment.

[0095] Incidentally, also in the latch mechanism 1B, when closing the opening / closing cover 12A, after the engagement of the latch mechanism 1B shown in FIG. 12(A) is started, as shown in FIG. 12(B), when one first top 21a in the first engaging body 2B contacts one second top 31a in the second engaging body 3B, the other first top 21b in the first engaging body 2B is in a state of contacting the first slope 32 in the second engaging body 3B.

[0096] At this time, since the second moving body 23 of the first engaging body 2B is in a state of moving upward in the Ea1 direction and the other first top portion 21b is in contact with the first inclined surface 32 in the other second engaging body 3Bb, it continues to receive a biasing force Ja that biases downward the biasing member 25. For this reason, the second moving body 23 continues to receive a force Fa in the opening direction Da1 of the opening / closing cover 12A, which is a reaction force and a partial component force of the biasing force Ja from the first inclined surface 32.

[0097] As a result, the latch mechanism 1B at this time is placed in a state where the first engaging body 2B easily moves in the opening direction Da1 of the opening / closing cover 12A. For this reason, when one first top portion 21a in the latch mechanism 1B comes into contact with one second top portion 31a, the opening / closing cover 12A does not stop moving in the closing direction Da2 midway, for example, due to a state where forces are temporarily balanced.

[0098] Also, in the latch mechanism 1B, as shown in FIG. 13(C), after one first top portion 21a of the first engaging body 2B passes through one second top portion 31a in one second engaging body 3Ba, that one first top portion 21a comes into contact with the second inclined surface 33. As a result, in the latch mechanism 1B, the first engaging body 2B starts to receive a force Fb in the closing direction Da2 of the opening / closing cover 12A, which is a partial component force of the biasing force Jb of the biasing member 25 via the second inclined surface 33 from one first top portion 21a in the first moving body 22 that has received an upward biasing force Jb. For this reason, the opening / closing cover 12A starts to receive the force Fb in the closing direction Da2 via the first engaging body 2B in the latch mechanism 1B.

[0099] Furthermore, also in the latch mechanism 1B, as shown in FIG. 13(D) and the like, when the opening / closing cover 12A reaches the normal closed position, one first top portion 21a in the first engaging body 2B continues to be in contact with the second inclined surface 33 in the second engaging body 3B.

[0100] As a result, in the latch mechanism 1B, the first moving body 22 of the first engaging body 2B that receives the upward biasing force Jb continues to receive the force Fb in the closing direction Da2 of the opening / closing cover 12A, which is a part of the component force of the biasing force Jb, from the second inclined surface 33 of one of the second engaging bodies 3Ba. Due to this, one of the first tops 21a of the first moving body 22 keeps the opening / closing cover 12A in the closed state. Therefore, the opening / closing cover 12A is kept in a closed state where rattling at the opening 14 of the main body 10A is less likely to occur, compared to the case where the opening / closing cover 12A is kept closed without the first top 21a in the latch mechanism 1B contacting the second inclined surface 33.

[0101] As described above, also in the apparatus 100B provided with the latch mechanism 1B according to the second embodiment, when the opening / closing cover 12A is closed, it does not stop before reaching the normal closing position and is normally closed at the normal closing position.

[0102] Third Embodiment. FIG. 14 is a drawing conceptually showing a part of an apparatus 100C provided with a latch mechanism 1C according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and more specifically, is a perspective view of a part where the opening / closing cover of the apparatus 100C is opened. FIG. 15 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a part where the opening / closing cover of the apparatus 100C is closed. FIG. 16 is a schematic view of the main part of the latch mechanism 1C.

[0103] The apparatus 100C is different from the apparatus 100A according to the first embodiment in that the latch mechanism 1C is applied instead of the latch mechanism 1A according to the first embodiment, but has the same configuration as the apparatus 100A in other respects.

[0104] <Latch mechanism> The latch mechanism 1C is composed of a third engaging body 4A in which the main body engaging means 1x has a pair of third tops 41a, 41b arranged apart in a direction Dr perpendicular to the up and down direction and the closing direction Da2 of the opening / closing cover 12A. The latch mechanism 1C is composed of a fourth engaging body 5A having a pair of fourth top portions 51a and 51b that can contact the pair of third top portions 41a and 41b in the third engaging body 4A at different timings and be displaced in the orthogonal direction Dr.

[0105] As shown in FIGS. 14 to 15 and the like, the third engaging body 4A in the third embodiment is a structure including a first engaging portion 42, a second engaging portion 43, and a support 44.

[0106] The first engaging portion 42 is a structural part where one of the third top portions 41a is disposed. In the third embodiment, the first engaging portion 42 is provided with one of the third top portions 41a at its lower end in a downwardly convex state, and is disposed in a state of being separated upward from the second engaging portion 43 as a whole. Further, as shown in FIG. 16 and the like, the first engaging portion 42 forms an upstream rising slope 42aa and a downstream falling slope 42ab that slope upward at a predetermined inclination angle with respect to one of the third top portions 41a disposed at its lower end as a boundary and a reference. The predetermined inclination angle is an angle formed with a center line Lc along the orthogonal direction Dr, and is, for example, the same as the inclination angles α3 and α4 (see FIG. 7) formed by the upstream rising slope 23aa and the downstream rising slope 23ab of the second moving body 23 in the first embodiment. The first engaging portion 42 is configured as a component that is difficult to elastically deform.

[0107] The second engaging portion 43 is a structural part where the other of the third top portions 41b is disposed. In the third embodiment, the second engaging portion 43 is provided with the other of the third top portions 41b at its upper end in an upwardly convex state, and is disposed in a state of being separated downward from the first engaging portion 42 as a whole. Further, as shown in FIG. 16 and the like, the second engaging portion 43 forms an upstream falling slope 43aa and a downstream falling slope 43ab that slope downward at a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the other of the third top portions 41b disposed at its upper end as a boundary and a reference. The above-mentioned predetermined inclination angle is the angle formed with the center line Lc along the orthogonal direction Dr, and is, for example, the same as the inclination angles α1 and α2 (see FIG. 7) formed by the upstream descending slope 22aa and the downstream descending slope 22ab of the first moving body 22 in the first embodiment. The second engaging portion 43 is configured as a component that is difficult to elastically deform.

[0108] The support 44 is a structural part that supports the first engaging portion 42 and the second engaging portion 43 in a state where the distance Sd between the pair of third tops 41a and 41b is constant. The support 44 has a plate-shaped main body 44a, a first support arm 44b, and a second support arm 44c that protrude upstream in the closing direction Da2 of the opening / closing cover 12A from the upper and lower positions on one side of the main body 44a. The first support arm 44b supports the first engaging portion 42 by providing it on the lower surface of its protruding tip. The second support arm 44c supports the second engaging portion 43 by providing it on the upper surface of its protruding tip. The first support arm 44b and the second support arm 44c support the first engaging portion 42 and the second engaging portion 43, respectively, so that the distance Sd between the pair of third tops 41a and 41b is kept constant. This support 44 is configured as a member that is difficult to elastically deform. The support 44 is provided so as to be fixed to the mounting frame 16 in the main body 10A.

[0109] The fourth engaging body 5A in the third embodiment is a structure including a third moving body 50A, a second moving body 50B, a fourth support portion 56, and a fourth biasing member 57, as shown in FIGS. 14, 15, etc.

[0110] The third moving body 50A is a structural part where one of the fourth tops 51a is arranged. The third moving body 50A has one of the fourth tops 51a provided at its upper end in a state of protruding upward, and is arranged in a state of being separated upward from the second moving body 50B as a whole. Further, as shown in FIGS. 14, 16, etc., the third moving body 50A has a downstream inclined surface 55 formed with an upstream inclined surface 53 that slopes downward at a predetermined inclination angle β4, β5 with respect to one of the fourth tops 51a disposed at the upper end thereof as a boundary and a reference. Furthermore, the third moving body 50A is provided with a guided portion 50c formed with guide grooves that open in the left and right directions while being present at the left and right side portions and the lower ends of the fourth inclined surface 53 and the downstream inclined surface 55. The inclination angles β4, β5 are the smaller angles formed with respect to a reference line that consists of the closing direction Da2 or the horizontal direction. The inclination angles β4, β5 may be the same angle as each other, but may also be different angles. The third moving body 50A is configured as a component that is difficult to elastically deform.

[0111] The second moving body 50B is a structural portion where the other fourth top 51b is disposed. The second moving body 50B is provided with the other fourth top 51b at its lower end in a downwardly convex state, and is disposed in a state where the whole is separated downward from the third moving body 50A. Further, as shown in FIGS. 14, 16, etc., the second moving body 50B has a downstream rising slope 52 that slopes obliquely upward at a predetermined inclination angle β3 with respect to the other fourth top 51b at its lower end as a boundary and a reference. Also, the second moving body 50B has a surface portion 54 that extends upstream in the closing direction Da2 of the opening / closing cover 12A from the other fourth top 51b. The inclination angle α7 is an angle formed with respect to a reference line that consists of the closing direction Da2 or the horizontal direction. The second moving body 50B is configured as a component that is difficult to elastically deform.

[0112] The fourth support portion 56 is a structural portion that is movably supported in a direction approaching and separating from each other along a direction Dr that is perpendicular to the closing direction Da2 of the opening / closing cover 12A in the vertical direction. The fourth support portion 56 has substantially the same configuration except that the orientation is different from that of the support portion 24 of the first engaging body 2A in the first embodiment. That is, the fourth support portion 56 is configured by a structure in which a pair of guide plates 56a or the like are formed so as to linearly extend in the vertical direction with a required interval in the left-right direction. The pair of guide plates 56a or the like are respectively fitted into guide grooves (not shown) in the guided portions 50c of the third moving body 50A and the second moving body 50B. Thereby, one of the guide plates 56a or the like guides the third moving body 50A and the second moving body 50B to move in both the upward direction Ea1 and the downward direction Ea2 respectively. Further, the fourth support portion 56 is attached so as to be fixed to the opening / closing cover 12A of the main body 10A. Furthermore, the fourth support portion 56 is configured as a member that is difficult to elastically deform. The reference numeral 44d shown in FIG. 16 is a stopping portion that stops the second moving body 50B from moving downward in the downward direction Ea2 at the lower regulation position.

[0113] The fourth biasing member 57 is disposed between the third moving body 50A and the second moving body 50B, holds the pair of fourth top portions 51a and 51b at a certain interval Sf, and elastically biases the third moving body 50A and the second moving body 50B in a direction away from each other when they move in a direction approaching each other. For the fourth biasing member 57, for example, a coil spring is used. The coil spring is disposed in a state where its upper end contacts the third moving body 50A and its lower end contacts the second moving body 50B.

[0114] In addition, the fourth biasing member 57 is set to exert the following biasing force when the positions of the third moving body 50A and the second moving body 50B when the interval between the pair of fourth top portions 51a and 51b becomes a certain interval Sf are defined as fixed positions. That is, when one or both of the third moving body 50A and the second moving body 50B move in a direction to narrow the interval Sf, the fourth biasing member 57 applies an elastic biasing force J (see FIGS. 17 and 18) to return one or both of the moved third moving body 50A and the second moving body 50B to the fixed position where the interval Sf is ensured.

[0115] Further, as shown in FIG. 14 and the like, the fourth engaging body 5A is attached to the opening / closing cover 12A by fixing the fourth support portion 56 to the back surface of the opening / closing cover 12A.

[0116] Regarding the interval Sf in the fourth engaging body 5A, as shown in FIG. 16, it is set to be larger than the interval Sd between the pair of third top portions 41a and 41b in the third engaging body 4A (Sf > Sd). Also, regarding the interval Sf in the fourth engaging body 5A, it is set to be smaller than the interval Se between the upper end top portion 43ae, which is the upper end of the upstream rising slope 42aa of the first engaging portion 42, and the lower end 44ae of the upstream falling slope 43aa of the second engaging portion 43 (Sf < Se). Further, the fourth engaging body 5A is arranged such that both of the pair of fourth top portions 51a and 51b are present inside the interval Se in the third engaging body 4A.

[0117] Thereby, as shown in FIG. 17 and the like, in the latch mechanism 1C, when closing the opening / closing cover 12A, the fourth engaging body 5A is easily introduced between the pair of third top portions 41a and 41b in the third engaging body 4A (inside the interval Sd). Also, thereafter, the fourth engaging body 5A can come into contact with the third top portions 41a and 41b in the third engaging body 4A with its fourth top portions 51a and 51b being displaced.

[0118] And, as shown in FIG. 17(B) and the like, in the latch mechanism 1C, when closing the opening / closing cover 12A, when one of the third top portions 41a in the third engaging body 4A comes into contact with one of the fourth top portions 51a in the fourth engaging body 5A, the other third top portion 41b in the third engaging body 4A has a third slope 52 that applies a force Fa in the direction Da1 to open the opening / closing cover 12A to the fourth engaging body 5A while in a contacting state.

[0119] In the third embodiment, the third slope 52 is formed as the downstream rising slope on the second moving body 50B of the fourth engaging body 5A. Also, the force Fa in the direction to open the opening / closing cover 12A is strictly applied by being transmitted from the second moving body 50B biased by the fourth biasing member 57 to the second engaging portion 43 of the third engaging body 4A.

[0120] Further, as shown in FIG. 16, in the fourth engaging body 5A, the other fourth top portion 51b, which is one end (lower end) of the third inclined surface 52 among the pair of fourth top portions 51a and 51b, is disposed at a position deviated by a distance k to the upstream side in the closing direction Da2 of the opening / closing cover 12A from the one fourth top portion 51a.

[0121] Further, as shown in FIG. 18(C) etc., the fourth engaging body 5A has a fourth inclined surface 53 that, when the opening / closing cover 12A is being closed, after one of the third top portions 41a in the third engaging body 4A passes through one of the fourth top portions 51a in the fourth engaging body 5A, contacts and receives a force Fb in the closing direction Da2 of the opening / closing cover 12A.

[0122] In the third embodiment, the fourth inclined surface 53 is formed as the upstream-side rising inclined surface on the third moving body 50A in the fourth engaging body 5A. The fourth inclined surface 53 is formed as an inclined surface that continuously inclines obliquely upward at a predetermined inclination angle β3 from one of the fourth top portions 51a. Also, the force Fb in the closing direction of the opening / closing cover 12A is given by the biasing force Jb received by the third moving body 50A of the fourth engaging body 5A from the fourth biasing member 57 being transmitted to the third moving body 50A as a part of the reaction force and the component force from the fourth inclined surface 53.

[0123] Regarding the fourth inclined surface 53, as shown in FIG. 16, its inclination angle β4 is set such that it is larger than the inclination angle β3 of the third inclined surface 52 (β4 > β3). The inclination angle β4 is set in the same manner as the inclination angle β2 of the second inclined surface 33 in the first embodiment.

[0124] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 14 etc., the fourth engaging body 5A has a surface portion 54 that extends along the opening direction Da1 of the opening / closing cover 12A from the other fourth top portion 51b on the side opposite to the fourth inclined surface 53. The surface portion 54 is formed as a flat surface that extends substantially along the opening direction Da1 from the other fourth top portion 51b on the second moving body 50B in the fourth engaging body 5A.

[0125] Also, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 18(D), the third engaging body 4A and the fourth engaging body 5A are set to keep the opening / closing cover 12A in a closed state by one of the third top portions 41a of the third engaging body 4A continuously contacting the fourth inclined surface 53 of the fourth engaging body 5A. In the third embodiment, at the stage when the opening / closing cover 12A reaches the normal closed position, the length of the fourth inclined surface 53 in the opening direction Da1 of the opening / closing cover 12A is set to be such that there is further distance from the point where the one third top portion 41a is in contact, so that the one third top portion 41a continuously contacts the fourth inclined surface 53.

[0126] <Operation of the latch mechanism when closing the opening / closing cover> Next, the operation of the latch mechanism 1C when closing the opening / closing cover 12A will be described.

[0127] First, the opening / closing cover 12A in the open state illustrated in FIG. 14 is rotated about the hinge 13 as a fulcrum in its closing direction Da2, so as to start closing to block the opening 14 of the main body 10A. When this closing operation of the opening / closing cover 12A is performed, in the latch mechanism 1C, the fourth engaging body 5A which is the opening / closing body engaging means 1y starts to approach the third engaging body 4A which is the main body engaging means 1x.

[0128] At this time, in the latch mechanism 1C, as shown in FIG. 17(A), a part of the downstream descending inclined surface 55 of the fourth engaging body 5A contacts one of the third top portions 41a of the third engaging body 4A, and a part of the third inclined surface 52 of the fourth engaging body 5A contacts the other third top portion 41b of the third engaging body 4A. Thereby, the engagement of the latch mechanism 1C is started.

[0129] Subsequently, the opening / closing cover 12A is further pushed in its closing direction Da2. Then, in the latch mechanism 1C, the third moving body 50A and the second moving body 50B in the fourth engaging body 5A are continuously urged in a direction away from each other by the urging force due to the spring force when the coil spring which is the fourth urging member 57 contracts. As a result, the third moving body 50A and the second moving body 50B continue to receive, respectively, from the first engaging portion 42 and the second engaging portion 43 of the third engaging body 4A, a force in the direction Da1 to open the opening / closing cover 12A, which is a part of the component force of the biasing force. Therefore, when the engagement of the latch mechanism 1C is started, the opening / closing cover 12A receives a force in the direction to open the opening / closing cover 12A from the latch mechanism 1C.

[0130] Then, as shown in FIG. 17(B), when one of the fourth tops 51a of the third moving body 50A of the fourth engaging body 5A contacts one of the third tops 41a of the third engaging body 4A, the other third top 41b of the third engaging body 4A contacts the third inclined surface 52 of the second moving body 50B of the fourth engaging body 5A.

[0131] At this time, as shown in FIG. 17(B), since one of the fourth tops 51a of the third moving body 50A of the fourth engaging body 5A contacts one of the third tops 41a in a state where it is displaced downward in the direction Ea2, the third moving body 50A continues to receive an upward biasing force Jb from the fourth biasing member 57. Also, at the moment when the third moving body 50A contacts one of the third tops 41a, the third moving body 50A temporarily reaches a state where the force balances with the first engaging portion 42. Therefore, the third moving body 50A becomes a state where it is temporarily difficult to move, in other words, a state where the movement can be instantaneously stopped.

[0132] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 17(B), since the other third top 41b of the second moving body 50B of the fourth engaging body 5A contacts the third inclined surface 52 in a state where it is displaced upward in the direction Ea1, the second moving body 50B continues to receive a downward biasing force Ja from the fourth biasing member 57. Therefore, the third inclined surface 52 of the second moving body 50B biased downward by the biasing force Ja of the second moving body 50B continues to receive a force Fa in the direction Da1 to open the opening / closing cover 12A as a part of the reaction force and the component force of the biasing force of the fourth biasing member 57 from the other third top 41b.

[0133] As a result, in the latch mechanism 1C, the second moving body 50B of the fourth engaging body 5A is placed in a state where it is likely to move in the direction Da1 for opening the opening / closing cover 12A. Therefore, when the opening / closing cover 12A comes into contact with one of the third top portions 41a and one of the fourth top portions 51a in the latch mechanism 1C, for example, due to a temporarily balanced state of forces, the movement in the closing direction Da2 stops midway.

[0134] Subsequently, when the closing operation of the opening / closing cover 12A continues, in the latch mechanism 1C, as shown in Fig. 18(C), one of the fourth top portions 51a of the fourth engaging body 5A passes through one of the third top portions 41a of the third engaging body 4A, and then one of the fourth top portions 51a comes into contact with the fourth inclined surface 53 in the fourth engaging body 5A. At this time, as shown in Fig. 18(C), the third moving body 50A of the fourth engaging body 5A is in a state of being continuously moved upward in the direction Ea1 while receiving an upward biasing force Jb from the fourth biasing member 57, so one of the third top portions 41a continues to contact the fourth inclined surface 53.

[0135] As a result, in the latch mechanism 1C, the third moving body 50A of the fourth engaging body 5A starts to receive a force Fb in the closing direction Da2 of the opening / closing cover 12A, that is, a so-called pulling force, from one of the third top portions 41a via the fourth inclined surface 53 as a reaction force and a part of the component force of the biasing force Jb of the fourth biasing member 57. Therefore, the opening / closing cover 12A starts to receive the force Fb in the closing direction Da2 via the third moving body 50A of the fourth engaging body 5A in the latch mechanism 1C.

[0136] Also, when one of the fourth top portions 51a passes through one of the third top portions 41a, as shown in Fig. 18(C), the other third top portion 41b of the third engaging body 4A comes into contact with the other fourth top portion 51b and the smooth surface portion 54 in the second moving body 50B of the fourth engaging body 5A after passing through the displacement distance k of the contact with the third inclined surface 52. As a result, the fourth engaging member 5A no longer receives the force Fa (Fig. 17(B)) in the opening direction Da1 of the opening / closing cover 12A. Therefore, the closing operation of the opening / closing cover 12A continues smoothly.

[0137] Moreover, in the latch mechanism 1C, the inclination angle β4 of the fourth inclined surface 53 is larger than the inclination angle β3 of the third inclined surface 52. For this reason, also in the latch mechanism 1C, the third moving body 50A of the fourth engaging member 5A, which receives the biasing force Jb acting upward of the fourth biasing member 57, easily moves with respect to one of the third top portions 41a via the fourth inclined surface 53, and the force Fb in the closing direction Da2 of the opening / closing cover 12A becomes larger than the force Fa in its opening direction Da1. Also because of this, the closing operation of the opening / closing cover 12A continues to be performed smoothly.

[0138] Finally, as shown in Fig. 15 etc., when the abutting portion 12e of the opening / closing cover 12A abuts against the stop portion 17 in the opening 14 of the main body 10A, the opening / closing cover 12A reaches the normal closed position.

[0139] At this time, in the latch mechanism 1C, as shown in Fig. 15 and Fig. 18(D), one of the third top portions 41a of the third engaging member 4A continues to contact the fourth inclined surface 53 of the fourth engaging member 5A. As a result, in the latch mechanism 1C, the third moving body 50A of the fourth engaging member 5A continues to receive the force Fb in the closing direction Da2 of the opening / closing cover 12A as a part of the reaction force and the component force from one of the third top portions 41a and the biasing force Jb of the fourth biasing member 57 via the fourth inclined surface 53. Because of this, the third moving body 50A of the fourth engaging member 5A keeps the opening / closing cover 12A in the closed state. The latch mechanism 1C is in a state where the engagement when the opening / closing cover 12A is closed is completed at this time.

[0140] Therefore, when the one third top 41a in the latch mechanism 1C does not contact the fourth slope 53 and keeps the opening / closing cover 12A in the closed state, compared with this situation, the opening / closing cover 12A continues to receive the force Fb in the closing direction Da2. As a result, the opening / closing cover 12A is kept in a closed state where rattling at the opening 14 of the main body 10A is unlikely to occur.

[0141] As described above, in the apparatus 100C provided with the latch mechanism 1C according to the third embodiment, when the opening / closing cover 12A is closed, it does not stop before reaching the normal closing position and is normally closed at the normal closing position.

[0142] Incidentally, the operation of the latch mechanism 1C when opening the opening / closing cover 12A is substantially the same as the operation of the latch mechanism 1A in the first embodiment.

[0143] Fourth Embodiment. FIG. 19 is a drawing conceptually showing a part of an apparatus 100D provided with a latch mechanism 1D according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view of a part where the opening / closing cover of the apparatus 100D is opened. FIG. 20 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a part where the opening / closing cover of the apparatus 100D is closed.

[0144] The apparatus 100D is different from the apparatus 100A according to the first embodiment in that the latch mechanism 1D is applied instead of the latch mechanism 1A according to the first embodiment, but the rest has the same configuration as the apparatus 100A. Therefore, hereinafter, the same reference numerals are given to the common parts, and the description thereof is omitted except when necessary.

[0145] The latch mechanism 1D is composed of a third engaging body 4B having a pair of third tops 41a, 41b in which the opening / closing body engaging means 1y is arranged apart in a direction Dr (see FIG. 21) perpendicular to the up and down direction and the closing direction Da2 of the opening / closing cover 12A. Further, the latch mechanism 1D is composed of a fourth engaging body 5B having a pair of fourth top parts 51a and 51b, with which the main body engaging means 1x can contact the pair of first top parts 41a and 41b in the third engaging body 4B at different timings and displace in the orthogonal direction Dr.

[0146] The third engaging body 4B in the fourth embodiment is substantially the same in configuration as the third engaging body 4A in the third embodiment, except that it is arranged on the opening and closing cover 12A and a part of its structure is changed. As shown in FIGS. 19, 20, etc., the third engaging body 4B is a structure including a first engaging part 42B, a second engaging part 43B, and a support 44B.

[0147] Among these, the first engaging part 42B is the same as the second engaging part 43 in the third embodiment, except that one of the third top parts 41a is changed in up and down direction so as to face upward. The second engaging part 43B is the same as the second engaging part 43 in the third embodiment, except that the other third top part 41b is changed in up and down direction so as to face downward. The support 44B is the same as the support 44 in the third embodiment, except that it is a plate-like structure without the first support arm 44b and the second support arm 44c, the first engaging part 42B is directly provided at its upper end, and the second engaging part 43B is directly provided at its lower end. Further, the support 44B is attached so as to be fixed to the mounting frame 16 in the main body 10A.

[0148] The fourth engaging body 5B in the fourth embodiment is substantially the same in configuration as the fourth engaging body 5A in the third embodiment, except that it is arranged in the opening 14 of the main body 10A and a part of its structure is changed. As shown in FIGS. 19, 21, etc., the fourth engaging body 5B is a structure including a third moving body 50A, a second moving body 50B, a fourth support part 56, and a fourth biasing member 57.

[0149] Among these, the third moving body 50A and the second moving body 50B are different in that their top and bottom are reversed and the upstream and downstream sides with respect to the closing direction Da2 of the opening / closing cover 12A are reversed, but are otherwise the same as the third moving body 50A and the second moving body 50B in the third embodiment. The fourth support portion 56 has substantially the same configuration as the support portion 24 in the first embodiment. The fourth biasing member 57 is different in that it is divided into a fourth biasing member 57A that can bias the third moving body 50A downward from the upper end of the fourth support portion 56 and a fourth biasing member 57B that can bias the second moving body 50B upward from the lower end of the fourth support portion 56. The fourth support portion 56 is attached so as to be fixed to the mounting frame 16 in the main body 10A.

[0150] Note that when the names of the portions constituting the third engaging body 4B and the fourth engaging body 5B are given an upstream or downstream side based on the upstream and downstream sides in the closing direction Da2 of the opening / closing cover 12A, they are in a reversed relationship. When the upstream side is given, it is changed to the name given to the downstream side, and when the downstream side is given, it is changed to the name given to the upstream side. Also, when the top and bottom are reversed, for example, the ascending slope is changed to a descending slope, and the descending slope is changed to an ascending slope. For example, in the third moving body 50A of the fourth engaging body 5B, the upstream descending slope of the third moving body 50A in the third embodiment is changed to an upstream ascending slope.

[0151] Also, in the second moving body 50B of the fourth engaging body 5B, as shown in FIG. 21, the other fourth top portion 51b, which is the upper end of the third slope 52 among the pair of fourth top portions 51a and 51b, is disposed at a position shifted by a distance k to the downstream side in the closing direction Da2 from the one fourth top portion 51a.

[0152] <Operation of the latch mechanism> When closing and opening the opening / closing cover 12A of this latch mechanism 1D, as shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, the movement and action of the third engaging body 4B disposed on the opening / closing cover 12A side approaching or separating from the fourth engaging body 5B disposed on the main body 10A side are slightly different. However, other than that, it is substantially the same as the content described for each operation of the latch mechanism 1C according to the third embodiment (see FIGS. 17, 18, etc.).

[0153] Incidentally, also in this latch mechanism 1D, when closing the opening / closing cover 12A, after the start of engagement of the latch mechanism 1D shown in FIG. 22(A), as shown in FIG. 22(B), when one of the third tops 41a of the third engaging body 4B contacts one of the fourth tops 51a of the fourth engaging body 5B, the other third top 41b of the third engaging body 4B comes into contact with the third inclined surface 52 of the fourth engaging body 5B.

[0154] At this time, since the second moving body 50B of the fourth engaging body 5B is in a state where the other third top 41b continues to push the third inclined surface 52 downward, it continues to receive an upward biasing force Ja above the fourth biasing member 57B. For this reason, the second moving body 50B continues to receive a force Fa in the opening direction Da1 of the opening / closing cover 12A as a reaction force and a part of the component force of the biasing force Ja from the other third top 41b via the third inclined surface 52.

[0155] As a result, at this time, the latch mechanism 1D is placed in a state where the third engaging body 4B easily moves in the opening direction Da1 of the opening / closing cover 12A. For this reason, when one of the third tops 41a of the latch mechanism 1D contacts one of the fourth tops 51a, the opening / closing cover 12A does not stop moving in the closing direction Da2 midway, for example, due to a temporarily balanced state.

[0156] Also, in the latch mechanism 1D, as shown in FIG. 23(C), after one of the third tops 41a of the third engaging body 4B passes one of the fourth tops 51a of the fourth engaging body 5B, that one of the third tops 41a comes into contact with the fourth inclined surface 53 of the fourth engaging body 5B. As a result, in the latch mechanism 1D, the second moving body 50B of the third engaging body 4B starts to receive a force Fb in the closing direction Da2 of the opening / closing cover 12A as a part of the component force of the biasing force Jb of the fourth biasing member 57A via the fourth inclined surface 53 from one of the third top portions 41a. Therefore, the opening / closing cover 12A starts to receive the force Fb in the closing direction Da2 via the third engaging body 4B in the latch mechanism 1D.

[0157] Furthermore, also in the latch mechanism 1D, as shown in FIG. 23(D) etc., when the opening / closing cover 12A reaches the normal closing position, one of the third top portions 41a of the third engaging body 4B continues to contact the fourth inclined surface 53 of the fourth engaging body 5B.

[0158] As a result, in the latch mechanism 1D, the third moving body 50A of the third engaging body 4B receiving the downward biasing force Jb continues to receive the reaction force of the biasing force Jb and a force Fb in the closing direction Da2 of the opening / closing cover 12A as a part of the component force via the fourth inclined surface 53 from one of the third top portions 41a. By this, one of the fourth top portions 51a in the fourth engaging body 5B keeps the opening / closing cover 12A in the closed state. Therefore, compared with the case where the opening / closing cover 12A is kept in the closed state without rattling at the opening 14 of the main body 10A when one of the third top portions 41a in the latch mechanism 1D does not contact the fourth inclined surface 53, the opening / closing cover 12A is kept in a closed state where rattling is less likely to occur.

[0159] As described above, also in the apparatus 100D provided with the latch mechanism 1D according to the fourth embodiment, when the opening / closing cover 12A is closed, it does not stop before reaching the normal closing position and is normally closed at the normal closing position.

[0160] Fifth Embodiment. FIG. 24 is a perspective view of an apparatus 100E provided with a latch mechanism 1 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 25 is a schematic front view of the apparatus 100E.

[0161] <Apparatus provided with a latch mechanism> The apparatus 100E equipped with the latch mechanism 1 is an example of an image forming apparatus and includes a housing 10B which is another example of the main body. The housing 10B is configured with a required external shape, and its outside is covered with an exterior cover 11. Also, as shown in FIG. 25, inside the housing 10B and the like, an image forming unit 120 is arranged as a functional unit 102A, and a medium supply unit 130 is arranged as a functional unit 102B.

[0162] The image forming unit 120 is a structural part for forming an image on a recording medium 109. The image forming unit 120 is configured by, for example, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The image forming unit 120 of the above method all includes an image holding body such as a photoreceptor having a surface for holding an image (not shown), and devices such as a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, and a transfer device arranged around the image holding body, and a fixing device arranged at a position away from the image holding body. Also, the image forming unit 120 of the above method also includes related devices such as a developer replenishing device, an image processing device, and a control device (not shown).

[0163] The medium supply unit 130 is a structural part for supplying the recording medium 109 to the image forming unit 120. The medium supply unit 130 is composed of, for example, two-stage medium supply units 130A and 130B arranged vertically. The medium supply units 130A and 130B can be pulled out to the front side of the main body 10B. Also, the medium supply units 130A and 130B are respectively covered with front covers 16a and 16b on the front side in front of the main body 10B. As the recording medium 109, a sheet-like medium that can be conveyed inside the housing 10B and on which an image can be formed by the image forming unit 120 is used. The dashed-dotted line with an arrow in FIG. 25 indicates the main conveyance path of the recording medium 109.

[0164] Also, since the housing 10B includes the image forming unit 120 and the medium supply unit 130, a medium discharge unit 140 for discharging and accommodating the recording medium 109 on which an image has been formed is provided. In the fifth embodiment, the medium discharge unit 140 is provided, for example, as a so-called in-body discharge unit having a discharge space with a part of the front and the right side opened at a position biased to the right at the upper part of the housing 10B. In FIG. 25, reference numeral 142 denotes a medium storage surface, and reference numeral 142b denotes an inclined surface portion of the medium storage surface 142.

[0165] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 24, in the apparatus 100E, a part of the exterior cover 11 is configured as opening and closing covers 12A and 12C which are examples of opening and closing bodies. The apparatus 100E may be provided with opening and closing covers other than the opening and closing covers 12A and 12C.

[0166] The opening and closing cover 12A is a rectangular cover that forms a part of the exterior cover 11e disposed on the front side of the apparatus 100E. Also, the opening and closing cover 12A is a vertically opening type opening and closing cover that covers and exposes the image forming unit 120. Furthermore, the opening and closing cover 12A is configured as a cover that covers up to the inclined surface portion 142b of the medium storage surface 142 in the medium supply unit 130. This vertically opening type opening and closing cover 12A has substantially the same configuration as the opening and closing cover 12A in the first embodiment.

[0167] The opening and closing cover 12C is a rectangular cover that forms a part of the exterior cover 11f disposed on the right side surface of the apparatus 100E, for example. Also, the opening and closing cover 12C is a vertically opening type opening and closing cover of the same type as the opening and closing cover 12A. In FIG. 24, reference numeral 14 denotes an opening when the opening and closing cover 12A opens and closes in the main body 10B, and reference numerals 15c and 15d denote handle portions of the opening and closing covers 12A and 12C, respectively.

[0168] <Latch mechanism> Then, in the apparatus 100E, any one of the latch mechanisms 1A to 1D according to the first to fourth embodiments is provided as a latch mechanism 1 that mainly engages when the opening and closing cover 12A closes. One of the opening / closing covers 12C is provided with a latch mechanism or an opening / closing mechanism having a configuration different from that of the latch mechanism 1 in the opening / closing cover 12A, but the same latch mechanism 1 may be provided.

[0169] Therefore, even in the apparatus 100E including an image forming apparatus provided with any one of the latch mechanisms 1A to 1D, when the opening / closing cover 12A is closed, it does not stop before reaching the normal closed position and is normally closed at the normal closed position.

[0170] For this reason, in the case where the apparatus 100E is configured such that a detection switch for detecting that the opening / closing cover 12A has been physically pushed to be closed is arranged and the image forming unit 120 becomes operable when the detection switch detects, for example, the following problems can be avoided. That is, in the apparatus 100E adopting the configuration related to the detection switch, although the opening / closing cover 12A stops before reaching the normal closed position, the detection switch may detect that the opening / closing cover 12A is closed. In this case, when the operation of forming an image in the apparatus 100E is started, the opening / closing cover 12A may vibrate and generate abnormal noise, or in some cases, the opening / closing cover 12A may unexpectedly open. In this regard, in the apparatus 100E including any one of the latch mechanisms 1A to 1D, since the opening / closing cover 12A does not stop before reaching the normal closed position and is normally closed at the normal closed position, the problems exemplified above are avoided.

[0171] Modification example. The present invention is not limited to the contents exemplified in the first to fifth embodiments. The present invention includes, for example, modification examples as described below.

[0172] <Modification example 1> In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 26 and the like, a latch mechanism 1F may be adopted in which a first engaging body 2C is applied instead of the first engaging body 2A as the main body engaging means 1x, and a second engaging body 3C is applied instead of the second engaging body 3A as the opening / closing body engaging means 1y.

[0173] As shown in FIGS. 26, 27, 28 and the like, the first engaging body 2C includes a first arm 26A having one first top portion 21c disposed on one end side, a second arm 26B having the other first top portion 21d disposed at one end, a shaft 27 that rotatably supports the other end of the first arm 26A and the other end of the second arm 26B, and a biasing member 28 that biases the first arm 26A and the second arm 26B in a direction to return to a fixed position when one first top portion 21c and the other first top portion 21d are spaced apart by a certain distance Sa. It is a structure provided with.

[0174] As shown in FIG. 27(B), the first arm 26A and the second arm 26B are composed of a pair of left and right arms 26Aa, 26Ab and arms 26Ba, 26Bb having the same length. Further, the first arm 26A and the second arm 26B rotate upward Ea1 and downward Ea2 respectively with the shaft 27 as a fulcrum. The first arm 26A and the second arm 26B are configured as parts that are difficult to elastically deform. The shaft 27 is attached, for example, so as to be fixed to the mounting frame 16 in the main body 10A (10B). As shown in FIG. 27(B), one first top portion 21c and the other first top portion 21d are each composed of, for example, a round bar member. One first top portion 21c is disposed so as to exist between one end sides of the pair of left and right arms 26Aa, 26Ab. The other first top portion 21d is disposed so as to exist between one end sides of the pair of left and right arms 26Ba, 26Bb.

[0175] As shown in FIGS. 26 and 28, for example, a Tsurumaki spring is applied to the biasing member 28. One free end 28b of the biasing member 28 is attached to the first arm 26A, and the other free end 28c is attached to the second arm 26B. The biasing member 28 biases and supports the first arm 26A and the second arm 26B so as to keep a certain distance Sa between one first top 21c and the other first top 21d. In addition, to keep a certain distance Sa between one first top 21c and the other first top 21d, for example, a configuration may be adopted to restrict the rotation of the first arm 26A and the second arm 26B on the shaft 27.

[0176] On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 26, 27(A), 28, etc., the second engaging body 3C is an entering body 30 that enters between one end of the first arm 26A and one end of the second arm 26B, and has a pair of second tops 31a, 31b that come into contact with the pair of first tops 21c, 21d in the first engaging body 2C at different timings.

[0177] One of the second tops 31a of the second engaging body 3C is arranged convex upward at the end of one end of the entering body 30 facing the first engaging body 2C and facing one of the first tops 21c. The second engaging body 3C is configured as a structure in which the other second top 31b is arranged convex downward at the end of the above-mentioned one end of the entering body 30 facing the other first top 21d. As shown in FIG. 28, one second top 31a and the other second top 31b are provided at a predetermined interval Sb. The entering body 30, which is the second engaging body 3C, is fixedly attached to the back side of the opening / closing cover 12A.

[0178] In addition, the second engaging body 3C is provided with a first inclined surface 32 that extends obliquely from the other second top 31b of the entering body 30. The first inclined surface 32 is provided as an inclined surface that inclines at a predetermined inclination angle β1 obliquely upward toward the downstream side in the direction Da2 of closing the opening / closing cover 12A from the other second top 31b. Furthermore, the second engaging body 3C is provided with a second inclined surface 33 that extends obliquely from one of the second top portions 31a in the entry body 30. The second inclined surface 33 is provided as an inclined surface that inclines downward obliquely at a predetermined inclination angle β2 (>β1) toward the upstream side in the direction Da2 of closing the opening / closing cover 12A from one of the second top portions 31a.

[0179] In addition, the second engaging body 3C is provided with a downstream descending inclined surface 35B that inclines downward obliquely toward the downstream side in the direction Da2 of closing the opening / closing cover 12A from one of the second top portions 31a and intersects with the upper end of the first inclined surface 32. The portion where the upper end of the first inclined surface 32 intersects with the lower end of the downstream descending inclined surface 35B becomes the tip top portion 31g. Also, the second engaging body 3C is provided with a flat surface portion 34 that extends toward the upstream side in the direction Da2 of closing the opening / closing cover 12A from the other second top portion 31b. Further, in the second engaging body 3C, the portion that extends toward the upstream side in the direction Da2 of closing the opening / closing cover 12A from the lower end 31e of the second inclined surface 33 is a flat surface.

[0180] When an operation of closing the opening / closing cover 12A is performed, as shown in FIG. 29(A), the latch mechanism 1F causes the second engaging body 3C to enter between the first arm 26A and the second arm 26B in the first engaging body 2C with the tip top portion 31g leading. At this time, a part of the downstream descending inclined surface 35B in the second engaging body 3C contacts one of the first top portions 21c, and a part of the first inclined surface 32 in the second engaging body 3C contacts the other first top portion 21d. Thereby, the latch mechanism 1F enters a state where engagement starts.

[0181] Subsequently, when the opening / closing cover 12A is further moved in the direction Da2 of closing, in the latch mechanism 1F, as shown in FIG. 29(B), when one of the second top portions 31a of the second engaging body 3C contacts one of the first top portions 21c of the first engaging body 2C, the other first top portion 21d of the first engaging body 2C is in a state of contacting the first inclined surface 32 of the second engaging body 3C.

[0182] At this time, the second arm 26B receives a biasing force Jd that biases it obliquely upward from the biasing member 28, and this biasing force Jd becomes a force Fa in the opening direction Da1 of the opening / closing cover 12A as a reaction force and a part of the component force through the first inclined surface 32 and is applied to the entering body 30 which is the second engaging body 3C. Also, at this time, although the first arm 26A receives a biasing force Jc that biases it obliquely downward from the biasing member 28, a state is temporarily reached where the forces are balanced between the entering body 30 which is the second engaging body 3C due to the contact between one first top portion 21c and one second top portion 31a.

[0183] As a result, at this time, the latch mechanism 1F is placed in a state where the second engaging body 3C easily moves in the opening direction Da1 of the opening / closing cover 12A. For this reason, when one first top portion 21c and one second top portion 31a come into contact in the latch mechanism 1F, the opening / closing cover 12A does not stop halfway in its movement in the closing direction Da2, for example, due to a temporarily balanced state of forces.

[0184] Finally, also in this latch mechanism 1F, as shown in FIG. 29(C), when the opening / closing cover 12A reaches the normal closed position, one first top portion 21c of the first engaging body 2C continues to contact the second inclined surface 33 of the second engaging body 3C. At this time, the other first top portion 21d is in contact with a flat surface portion 34 along the upstream side in the closing direction Da2 of the second engaging body 3C.

[0185] As a result, in the latch mechanism 1F, the second engaging body 3C continues to receive a force Fb in the closing direction Da2 of the opening / closing cover 12A as a reaction force and a part of the component force of the biasing force Jc from one first top portion 21c of the first arm 26A that receives the biasing force Jc that biases it downward through the second inclined surface 33. By this, one first top portion 21c in the first engaging body 2C keeps the opening / closing cover 12A in the closed state. Therefore, compared to the case where the opening / closing cover 12A that employs the latch mechanism 1F keeps the opening / closing cover 12A in the closed state without one first top portion 21c in the latch mechanism 1F contacting the second inclined surface 33, it is kept in a closed state where rattling is less likely to occur at the opening 14 of the main body 10A.

[0186] <Modification Example 2> In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 30, a latch mechanism 1H may be employed in which a first engaging body 2D is applied instead of the first engaging body 2A as the main body engaging means 1x, and a second engaging body 3C is applied instead of the second engaging body 3A as the opening / closing body engaging means 1y.

[0187] The first engaging body 2D is different in the following points, but has the same configuration as the first engaging body 2A in other respects. The different points are that the first moving body 22 and the second moving body 23 in the first engaging body 2A are arranged in the support portion 24 with their vertical positions swapped, a first top portion 21a that protrudes downward is provided at the lower end of the second moving body 23, another first top portion 21b that protrudes upward is provided at the upper end of the first moving body 22, and the biasing member 25 is configured to be divided into a first biasing member 25A that biases the second moving body 23 and a second biasing member 25B that biases the first moving body 22.

[0188] In this first engaging body 2D, as shown in FIG. 30(A), the first moving body 22 and the second moving body 23 are maintained at a predetermined interval Sa, and the position when maintained at this interval Sa is a fixed position. As shown in FIG. 30(B), when the second moving body 23 is moved upward in the direction Ea1, the first biasing member 25A biases the second moving body 23 downward with a biasing force Jb so as to return the second moving body 23 to its fixed position. Also, when the first moving body 22 is moved downward in the direction Ea2, the second biasing member 25B biases the first moving body 22 upward with a biasing force Ja so as to return the first moving body 22 to its fixed position.

[0189] On the other hand, the second engaging body 3C is the same as the second engaging body 3C (see FIGS. 28 etc.) described in Modification Example 1.

[0190] Then, in this latch mechanism 1H, when the opening / closing cover 12A is moved in the closing direction Da2, as shown in Fig. 30(B), when one of the second tops 31a in the second engaging body 3C contacts one of the first tops 21a in the first engaging body 2D, the other first top 21b in the first engaging body 2D contacts the first inclined surface 32 of the second engaging body 3C.

[0191] At this time, the first moving body 22 receives an upward biasing force Ja from the first biasing member 25A, and this biasing force Ja becomes a force Fa in the opening direction Da1 of the opening / closing cover 12A as part of the reaction force and the component force via the first inclined surface 32 and is applied to the main body. Thereby, the latch mechanism 1H at this time is placed in a state where the second engaging body 3C easily moves in the opening direction Da1 of the opening / closing cover 12A. Therefore, when one of the first tops 21a and one of the second tops 31a contact each other in the latch mechanism 1H, the opening / closing cover 12A employing the latch mechanism 1H does not stop moving in the closing direction Da2 midway due to, for example, a temporarily balanced state of forces.

[0192] <Modification 3> In the first embodiment, as shown in Fig. 31, a latch mechanism 1M may be adopted in which a first engaging body 2E is applied instead of the first engaging body 2A as the main body engaging means 1x, and a second engaging body 3E is applied instead of the second engaging body 3A as the opening / closing body engaging means 1y.

[0193] The first engaging body 2E is a structure including one first engaging body 2Ea having one of the first tops 21a disposed at one end of a flexible third arm 29A and the other first engaging body 2Eb having the other first top 21b disposed at one end of a flexible fourth arm 29B.

[0194] One of the first engaging members 2Ea is provided with a first convex portion 20A formed of a first moving body 22 (see FIG. 6 etc.) excluding the guided portion 22b in the first embodiment on the upper surface of one end portion of the third arm 29A. The other first engaging member 2Eb is provided with a second convex portion 20B formed of a second moving body 23 (see FIG. 6 etc.) excluding the guided portion 23b in the first embodiment on the lower surface of one end portion of the fourth arm 29B. The third arm 29A and the fourth arm 29B are made of a material that elastically deforms and bends in an arc shape when an external force is applied. The other end portions of the third arm 29A and the fourth arm 29B are fixedly attached to the mounting frame 16 of the main body 10A (10B).

[0195] The second engaging member 3E is a structure including one second engaging member 3Ea having one second top portion 31a disposed at one end portion of the fifth arm 39A so as to face one first top portion 21a, and the other second engaging member 3Eb having the other second top portion 31b disposed at one end portion of the sixth arm 39B so as to face the other first top portion 21b.

[0196] One of the second engaging members 3Ea is provided with a first convex portion 30Ea formed of the main portion of the first protruding portion 30A (see FIG. 6 etc.) in the first embodiment on the lower surface of one end portion of the fifth arm 39A. The other second engaging member 3Eb is provided with a second convex portion 30Eb formed of the second protruding portion 30B (see FIG. 6 etc.) in the first embodiment at the tip of one end portion of the sixth arm 39B. The fifth arm 39A and the fifth arm 39A are configured as members that are difficult to elastically deform. The other end portions of the fifth arm 39A and the fifth arm 39A are fixedly attached to the back surface side of the opening / closing cover 12A.

[0197] In this latch mechanism 1M, when the opening / closing cover 12A is moved in the closing direction Da2, as shown in FIG. 31(B), when one second top portion 31a of one second engaging member 3Ea contacts one first top portion 21a of one first engaging member 2Ea, the other second top portion 31b of the other first engaging member 2Eb is in a state of contacting the first inclined surface 32 of the other second engaging member 3Eb.

[0198] At this time, one of the second tops 31a receives an upward biasing force Jf through the first convex portion 20A supported by the third arm 29A in an elastically deformed and bent state. Also at this time, the second convex portion 20B in the other second engaging body 3Eb receives a downward biasing force Je through the second convex portion 20B from the fourth arm 29B in an elastically deformed and bent state. Further, the biasing force Je at that time becomes a force Fa in the opening direction Da1 for opening the opening / closing cover 12A as a part of the reaction force and the component force through the first inclined surface 32, and the force Fa is applied to the second convex portion 30Eb of the other second engaging body 3Eb.

[0199] As a result, the latch mechanism 1M at this time is placed in a state where the other second engaging body 3Eb easily moves in the opening direction Da1 of the opening / closing cover 12A. Therefore, the opening / closing cover 12A employing the latch mechanism 1M does not stop moving in the closing direction Da2 halfway due to, for example, a temporarily balanced state when one of the first tops 21a and one of the second tops 31a come into contact in the latch mechanism 1M.

[0200] <Other Modification Examples> In addition to this, in the third embodiment, regarding the latch mechanism 1C, instead of the third engaging body 4A as the main body engaging means 1x, the third engaging body 4B (see FIG. 19 etc.) in the fourth embodiment is applied, and instead of the second engaging body 3A as the opening / closing body engaging means 1y, the fourth engaging body 5B (see FIG. 19 etc.) in the fourth embodiment is applied, and it may be changed to a latch mechanism configured in this way.

[0201] In the first embodiment, regarding the second engaging body 3A in the latch mechanism 1A, it may be configured as one support plate in which the support plate 38A of one of the second engaging bodies 3Aa shown in FIG. 6 and the support plate 38B of the other second engaging body 3Ab are integrated, and both the first protruding portion 30A and the second protruding portion 30B are provided on the one support plate. Also in the second embodiment, regarding the second engaging body 3B in the latch mechanism 1B, it may be configured such that the support plate 38A of one second engaging body 3Ba and the support plate 38B of the other second engaging body 3Bb shown in FIG. 10 are integrated into one support plate, and both the first protruding portion 30A and the second protruding portion 30B are provided on the one support plate.

[0202] In the first engaging body 22A in the first embodiment, the first engaging body 22B in the second embodiment, the fourth engaging body 5A in the third embodiment, the fourth engaging body 5B in the fourth embodiment, and the first engaging body 2D in the second modification, the case where a compression coil spring that acts under a compressive load is applied as the biasing member 25, 57, etc. was exemplified. However, each of the engaging bodies 22A, 22B, 5A, 5B, 2D may be configured by applying a tension coil spring or the like that acts under a tensile load as the biasing member 25, 57, etc.

[0203] In the first modification, the latch mechanism 1F (see FIG. 26) may be changed to a latch mechanism in which the second engaging body 3C is applied as the main body engaging means 1x and the first engaging body 2C is applied as the opening / closing body engaging means 1y. Also, in the third modification, in the first engaging body 2C, when a Tsurumaki spring is applied as the biasing member 28 (see FIG. 26), the length of the free end 28b and the length of the free end 28c may be made different. Thereby, adjustment for making the biasing forces applied to the first arm 26A and the second arm 26B from the biasing member 28 different becomes possible.

[0204] In the third modification, the latch mechanism 1M (see FIG. 31) may be changed to a latch mechanism in which the second engaging body 3E is applied as the main body engaging means 1x and the first engaging body 2E is applied as the opening / closing body engaging means 1y. Also, in the third modification, regarding the latch mechanism 1M, the third arm 29A and the fourth arm 29B in the first engaging body 2E may be changed to arms that do not elastically deform, and the fifth arm 39A and the fifth arm 39A in the second engaging body 3E may be changed to arms having flexibility.

[0205] Each latch mechanism of each of the above-described modified examples may be applied to the apparatus 100F according to the fifth embodiment. The apparatus 100F according to the fifth embodiment is not limited to adopting an electrophotographic image forming unit as the image forming unit 20, and an image forming unit of another image forming method may be adopted as the image forming unit 20. Examples of other image forming methods include, for example, a droplet ejection method (such as an ink ejection method), a wet development method, and the like.

[0206] Further, the latch mechanisms 1A to 1D according to the first to fourth embodiments and the latch mechanisms 1F and 1M of the modified examples are not limited to being applied to a vertically-opening type opening / closing cover, and can also be applied to a horizontally-opening type opening / closing cover, a diagonally-opening type opening / closing cover, and the like. In addition, these latch mechanisms 1A to 1D, 1F, 1M, etc. can also be applied not only to the opening / closing cover but also to an opening / closing body such as an opening / closing door or an opening / closing box, or a drawer body that opens and closes a part of the main body. Furthermore, in the first to fifth embodiments and the above-described modified examples 1 to 3, etc., the case where one latch mechanism 1 is provided for one opening / closing cover 12A and the main bodies 10A and 10B (one set consisting of the main body engaging means 1x and the opening / closing body engaging means 1y) is exemplified, but it is also possible to provide a plurality (sets) for one opening / closing cover 12A and the main bodies 10A and 10B.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0207] 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1F, 1M... Latch mechanism 1x... Main body engaging means 1y... Opening / closing body engaging means 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E... First engaging body (an example of the main body engaging means) 2B... First engaging body (an example of the opening / closing body engaging means) 3A... Second engaging body (an example of the opening / closing body engaging means) 3B... Second engaging body (an example of the main body engaging means) 3C, 3E... Second engaging body (an example of the opening / closing body engaging means) 4A... Third engaging body (an example of the main body engaging means) 4B... Third engaging body (an example of the opening / closing body engaging means) 5A…Fourth engaging body (an example of opening / closing engaging means) 5B…Fourth engaging body (an example of main body engaging means) 10A, 10B…Housing (an example of main body) 12A, 12B, 12C…Opening / closing cover (an example of opening / closing body) 21a…One first top (one of a pair of first tops) 21b…The other first top (the other of a pair of first tops) 31a…One second top (one of a pair of second tops) 31b…The other second top (the other of a pair of second tops) 32…First inclined surface 33…Second inclined surface 34…Facial part 52…Third inclined surface 53…Fourth inclined surface 54…Facial part Da1…Direction to open the opening / closing body Da2…Direction to close the opening / closing body Dr…Direction perpendicular to the direction to close the opening / closing body Fa…Force in the direction to open the opening / closing body Fb…Force in the direction to close the opening / closing body β1…Inclination angle of the first inclined surface β2…Inclination angle of the second inclined surface β3…Inclination angle of the third inclined surface β4…Inclination angle of the fourth inclined surface

Claims

1. A main body engaging means disposed on a main body having an opening / closing body that opens and closes, An opening / closing body engaging means disposed on the opening / closing body and engaging with the main body engaging means when the opening / closing body is closed, Comprising: The main body engaging means is composed of a first engaging body having a pair of first tops that can be displaced in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the opening / closing body is closed, The opening / closing body engaging means is composed of a second engaging body having a pair of second tops that respectively contact the pair of first tops, The second engaging body has a first inclined surface that applies a force in the opening direction of the opening / closing body to the second engaging body in a state where the other first top of the pair of first tops is in contact when one of the pair of second tops contacts one of the pair of first tops during the closing of the opening / closing body. A latch mechanism characterized by that.

2. A main body engaging means disposed on a main body having an opening / closing body that opens and closes, An opening / closing body engaging means disposed on the opening / closing body and engaging with the main body engaging means when the opening / closing body is closed, Comprising: The opening / closing body engaging means is composed of a first engaging body having a pair of first tops that can be displaced in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the opening / closing body is closed, The main body engaging means is composed of a second engaging body having a pair of second tops that respectively contact the pair of first tops, The second engaging body has a first inclined surface that applies a force in the opening direction of the opening / closing body to the other first top in a state where the other first top of the pair of first tops is in contact when one of the pair of first tops contacts one of the pair of second tops during the closing of the opening / closing body. A latch mechanism characterized by that.

3. A main body engaging means disposed on a main body having an opening / closing body that opens and closes, An opening / closing body engaging means disposed on the opening / closing body and engaging with the main body engaging means when the opening / closing body is closed, Comprising: The main body engaging means is composed of a third engaging body having a pair of third tops that are disposed apart in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the opening / closing body is closed, The opening / closing body engaging means is composed of a fourth engaging body having a pair of fourth tops that respectively contact the pair of third tops and can be displaced in the orthogonal direction, The fourth engaging body has a third inclined surface that applies a force in the opening direction of the opening / closing body to the fourth engaging body in a state where the other third top of the pair of third tops is in contact when one of the pair of fourth tops contacts one of the pair of third tops during the closing of the opening / closing body. A latch mechanism characterized by that.

4. Body engaging means disposed on a body having an opening / closing body that opens and closes; Opening / closing body engaging means disposed on the opening / closing body and engaging with the body engaging means when the opening / closing body is closed; comprising: The opening / closing body engaging means is composed of a third engaging body having a pair of third tops disposed apart in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the opening / closing body closes; The body engaging means is composed of a fourth engaging body having a pair of fourth tops that respectively contact the pair of third tops and can be displaced in the orthogonal direction; The fourth engaging body has a third inclined surface that, when one of the pair of third tops contacts one of the pair of fourth tops during closing of the opening / closing body, applies a force in the opening direction of the opening / closing body to the other third top in a state where the other third top is in contact. A latch mechanism characterized by this.

5. The latch mechanism according to claim 1, wherein, for the second engaging body, the other second top that is one end of the first inclined surface among the pair of second tops is disposed at a position shifted upstream in the closing direction from the one second top.

6. The latch mechanism according to claim 2, wherein, for the second engaging body, the other second top that is one end of the first inclined surface among the pair of second tops is disposed at a position shifted downstream in the closing direction from the one second top.

7. The latch mechanism according to claim 3, wherein, for the fourth engaging body, the other fourth top that is one end of the third inclined surface among the pair of fourth tops is disposed at a position shifted upstream in the closing direction from the one fourth top.

8. The latch mechanism according to claim 4, wherein, for the fourth engaging body, the other fourth top that is one end of the third inclined surface among the pair of fourth tops is disposed at a position shifted downstream in the closing direction from the one fourth top.

9. The latch mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the second engaging body has a second inclined surface that contacts after one of the first tops passes one of the second tops during closing of the opening / closing body, and the second engaging body receives a force in the closing direction of the opening / closing body.

10. The latch mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the second engaging body has a second inclined surface that contacts after one of the first tops passes one of the second tops during closing of the opening / closing body, and the one first top receives a force in the closing direction of the opening / closing body.

11. The latch mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the fourth engaging body has a fourth inclined surface that contacts after one of the third tops passes through one of the fourth tops while closing the opening / closing body, and the fourth engaging body receives a force in the direction of closing the opening / closing body.

12. The latch mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the fourth engaging body has a fourth inclined surface that contacts after one of the third tops passes through one of the fourth tops while closing the opening / closing body, and one of the third tops receives a force in the direction of closing the opening / closing body.

13. The latch mechanism according to claim 9 or 10, wherein an inclination angle of the second inclined surface is larger than an inclination angle of the first inclined surface.

14. The latch mechanism according to claim 11 or 12, wherein an inclination angle of the fourth inclined surface is larger than an inclination angle of the third inclined surface.

15. The latch mechanism according to claim 9 or 10, wherein one of the first tops continues to contact the second inclined surface and keeps the opening / closing body in a closed state.

16. The latch mechanism according to claim 11 or 12, wherein one of the third tops continues to contact the fourth inclined surface and keeps the opening / closing body in a closed state.

17. The latch mechanism according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the second engaging body has a surface portion that extends along a direction of opening the opening / closing body from the other second top to the side opposite to the first inclined surface.

18. The latch mechanism according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the fourth engaging body has a surface portion that extends along a direction of opening the opening / closing body from the other fourth top to the side opposite to the third inclined surface.

19. A main body, One or a plurality of opening / closing bodies that are openably attached to the main body, The latch mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 18 provided on at least one of the main body and the opening / closing body, An apparatus, characterized by comprising the same.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium is disposed in the main body.

Images