US 12,078,953 B2
Image forming apparatus and fixing unit
Akitoshi Toyota, Kanagawa (JP)
Assigned to CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Oct. 16, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/487,580.
Application 18/487,580 is a continuation of application No. 17/897,703, filed on Aug. 29, 2022, granted, now 11,822,282.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-150220 (JP), filed on Sep. 15, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0045368 A1, Feb. 8, 2024
Int. Cl. G03G 15/20 (2006.01); G03G 21/16 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 21/1647 (2013.01) [G03G 15/2017 (2013.01); G03G 21/1633 (2013.01); G03G 21/1685 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming unit configured to form a toner image on a sheet; and
a fixing unit having an opening portion, the fixing unit being configured to receive a sheet conveyed along a sheet conveyance path from the image forming unit via the opening portion, the fixing unit being configured to heat the sheet bearing the toner image in a fixing nip to fix the toner image to the sheet
wherein the fixing unit includes:
a fixing shutter pivotable to a closed position at which the fixing shutter closes the opening portion and an open position at which the fixing shutter opens an opening portion, the fixing shutter being urged toward the open position by a first urging force,
an abutment portion that the fixing shutter urged by the first urging force abuts to be positioned at the open position,
an opening/closing cover configured to be opened to expose the sheet conveyance path and allow a sheet to be removed from the sheet conveyance path, and
a link mechanism configured to be separated from the fixing shutter to maintain the fixing shutter in the open position when the opening/closing cover is closed, the link mechanism being configured to abut the fixing shutter to move the fixing shutter to the closed position against the first urging force by a second urging force greater than the first urging force when the opening/closing cover is opened.