Image forming apparatus with protection of fixing unit when main assembly is opened
US10712693B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 14, 2019 |
| Grant date | Jul 14, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 14, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G21/1633
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a door; an image forming portion to form an image on a sheet; an image fixing portion including a heater, a nip, an electric energy supply connector for supplying electric energy to the heater, and a shutter for opening and closing an entrance of the fixing portion which leads to the nip; and a link connecting the door and shutter with each other to move the shutter in interrelation with movement of the door. When the door is opened, the link moves in a direction crossing with a surface of the nip to cause the shutter to move from an entrance opening position to an entrance closing position. When the shutter is in the closing position, substantially an entirety of the electric energy supply connector is covered by the link, as viewed from an upstream side relative to a sheet feeding direction in the nip.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.