US 12,461,472 B2
Image forming apparatus with engagement mechanism of apparatus main body
Satoshi Koga, Shizuoka (JP)
Assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Jun. 25, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/753,462.
Claims priority of application No. 2023-105936 (JP), filed on Jun. 28, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2025/0004401 A1, Jan. 2, 2025
Int. Cl. G03G 15/20 (2006.01); G03G 21/16 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/2035 (2013.01) [G03G 15/2064 (2013.01); G03G 21/1633 (2013.01); G03G 21/1638 (2013.01); G03G 21/1647 (2013.01); G03G 21/1685 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a fixing unit configured to fix a toner image formed on a sheet onto the sheet, wherein the fixing unit includes a heating unit configured to heat the sheet, a pressure member configured to come into pressure contact with the heating unit to form a fixing nip portion for performing fixation, an urging member configured to apply urging force to bring the pressure member and the heating unit into pressure contact with each other, and a pressure releasing mechanism configured to reduce or release the urging force applied to the fixing nip portion; and
an apparatus main body configured to detachably house the fixing unit, wherein the apparatus main body includes a first opening/closing member provided to be openable/closable to a first opening of the apparatus main body, an engagement mechanism engaging with the pressure releasing mechanism and the first opening/closing member and operate in conjunction with opening/closing of the first opening/closing member, and a second opening for attachment/detachment of the fixing unit,
wherein, in a state where the first opening/closing member is closed, the urging member applies the urging force to the fixing nip portion, and by the engagement mechanism moving in a process in which the first opening/closing member is opened from a closed state, the pressure releasing mechanism reduces or releases the urging force applied to the fixing nip portion,
wherein the engagement mechanism includes a first engagement portion, and the pressure releasing mechanism includes a first engaged portion engaging with the first engagement portion,
wherein, in the process in which the first opening/closing member is opened from the closed state, the first engagement portion positioned on a second opening side of the first engaged portion pushes the first engaged portion from the second opening side to reduce or release the urging force applied to the fixing nip portion,
wherein, in the state where the first opening/closing member is closed, the first engagement portion and the first engaged portion are disengaged, and the first engagement portion is retreated from a path of the first engaged portion when the fixing unit is detached from the second opening,
wherein the engagement mechanism includes a second engagement portion, and the pressure releasing mechanism includes a second engaged portion that is positioned on the second opening side of the second engagement portion, and
wherein, in a process in which the first opening/closing member is closed, the second engagement portion engages with the second engaged portion, and by the second engagement portion pushing the second engaged portion, the urging force is applied to the fixing nip portion.