US 12,189,328 B2
Image forming apparatus with an interlocking mechanism for moving a heating unit
Takuro Morita, Osaka (JP)
Assigned to KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc., Osaka (JP)
Filed by KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc., Osaka (JP)
Filed on Jul. 27, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/360,532.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-120421 (JP), filed on Jul. 28, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0036510 A1, Feb. 1, 2024
Int. Cl. G03G 21/00 (2006.01); G03G 15/20 (2006.01); G03G 21/16 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 21/1647 (2013.01) [G03G 15/2053 (2013.01); G03G 21/1685 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
an apparatus main body;
a heating unit arranged along a first direction inside the apparatus main body and having a heater;
a fixing unit arranged along the first direction so as to be adjacent to a side of the heating unit inside the apparatus main body and having a fixing member heated by the heater, and a pressure member configured to apply a bias to a sheet toward the fixing member;
a first cover member supported by the apparatus main body so as to be rotatable between a first closed position that closes a side surface on one side in the first direction of the apparatus main body and a first open position that opens the side surface;
an opening portion provided on the side surface and having an opening for attaching and detaching the fixing unit to and from the apparatus main body;
a second cover member provided on the side surface and supported by the apparatus main body so as to be rotatable between a second closed position that closes the opening portion and a second open position that opens the opening portion;
an interlocking mechanism configured to interlock with a rotational motion of the second cover member rotating between the second closed position and the second open position, and move the heating unit between a reference position where a contact portion of the heating unit contacts the fixing unit and a retracted position that is separated farther from the fixing unit than the reference position;
an operating portion provided on the side surface and configured to operate to turn ON or OFF a power supply;
an operation portion provided on the first cover member, and capable of operating the operating portion in a state in which the first cover member is arranged at the first closed position;
a temperature sensor capable of detecting a temperature of the fixing member;
a heating control portion configured to, in a case where the first cover member is rotated from the first closed position to the first open position, execute a heating operation for heating the heater that is stopped; and
a determination portion configured to determine that the second cover member is open in a case where the temperature detected by the temperature sensor after the heating operation is executed is less than a predetermined threshold.