Image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10459382-B2
Application number	US-201816195976-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 20, 2018
Priority date	Nov 24, 2017
Publication date	Oct 29, 2019
Grant date	Oct 29, 2019

Abstract

The image forming apparatus of the present invention has an apparatus main body including a link mechanism that an opening and closing member contacts, and a regulating portion regulating the movement of a shutter, and when the opening and closing member is further pushed in a closing direction at the time when the shutter is located at a second position, the link mechanism allows to move the opening and closing member in the closing direction while keeping a position of the shutter maintains at the second position by the regulating portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus forming a toner image on a sheet, the image forming apparatus comprising:
an apparatus main body;
a guide configured to guide an attachable and detachable unit attachable to and detachable from the apparatus main body; and
a fixing unit configured to fix the toner image formed on a sheet to the sheet, the fixing unit including a shutter configured to open or close a sheet inlet of the fixing unit,
wherein in a case where the attachable and detachable unit is attached to the apparatus main body when the shutter is located at a first position at which the sheet inlet is closed, the shutter moves from the first position to a second position at which the sheet inlet is opened, according to an attaching operation,
wherein the apparatus main body includes a link mechanism that the attachable and detachable unit contacts, and a regulating portion configured to regulate movement of the shutter,
and in a case where the attachable and detachable unit is further pushed in an attaching direction when the shutter is located at the second position, the link mechanism allows to move the attachable and detachable unit in the attaching direction while keeping a position of the shutter at the second position by the regulating portion.

2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the shutter is provided at a position opposed to a surface of the sheet on an opposite side of a surface of a sheet bearing an unfixed toner image.

3. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the link mechanism is rotatably provided with respect to the shutter.

4. An image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the link mechanism is provided in an end of the shutter in a rotation axial direction of the shutter.

5. An image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein in a case where the attachable and detachable unit is further pushed in the attaching direction when the shutter is located at the second position, a force with which the attachable and detachable unit pushes the shutter is changed into a force rotating the link mechanism with respect to the shutter.

6. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an urge spring configured to urge the shutter from the second position to the first position.

7. An image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein a part of the urge spring is the link mechanism that the attachable and detachable unit contacts.

8. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising the attachable and detachable unit,
wherein the attachable and detachable unit includes a photosensitive member to which light corresponding to an image is irradiated.

9. An image forming apparatus forming a toner image on a sheet, the image forming apparatus comprising:
an apparatus main body;
an opening and closing member configured to open or close with respect to the apparatus main body; and
a fixing unit configured to fix the toner image formed on a sheet onto the sheet, the fixing unit including a shutter configured to open or close a sheet inlet of the fixing unit,
wherein in a case where the opening and closing member is closed when the shutter is located at a first position closing the sheet inlet, the shutter moves from the first position to a second position opening the sheet inlet according to a closing operation,
wherein the apparatus main body includes a link mechanism that the opening and closing member contacts, and a regulating portion regulating movement of the shutter, and
wherein in a case where the opening and closing member is further pushed in a closing direction when the shutter is located at the second position, the link mechanism allows to move the opening and closing member in the closing direction while keeping a position of the shutter at the second position by the regulating portion.

10. An image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the shutter is provided at a position opposed to a surface of the sheet on an opposite side of a surface of a sheet bearing an unfixed toner image.

11. An image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the link mechanism is rotatably provided with respect to the shutter.

12. An image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the link mechanism is provided in an end of the shutter in a rotation axial direction of the shutter.

13. An image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein in a case where the opening and closing member is further pushed in the closing direction when the shutter is located at the second position, a force with which the opening and closing member pushes the shutter is changed into a force rotating the link mechanism with respect to the shutter.

14. An image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising an urge spring configured to urge the shutter from the second position to the first position.

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Iizuka Yoichiro

Classifications

• G03G21/1676

  for the developer unit · CPC title

• G03G21/168

  for the transfer unit · CPC title

• G03G21/1633

  using doors or covers (G03G21/1638 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G03G2221/1654

  Locks and means for positioning or alignment · CPC title

• G03G21/1685

  for the fixing unit · CPC title