Image forming apparatus

Abstract

Further develop existing technologies. [Solution] The image forming apparatus 1 for forming a toner image on a recording medium comprises a housing, an opening / closing member 20 supported by the housing 1A so as to be openable and closable between a closed position and a closed position, a fixing unit 80 for heating the recording medium on which the toner image has been formed, a moving mechanism 100 supported by the housing 1A, which moves the fixing unit 80 from a first position housed inside the housing 1A to a second position above the first position when the opening / closing member 20 is in the open position, an output tray 92 on which the recording medium that has passed through the fixing unit 80 is loaded, and a reading unit 200 provided above the output tray 92 for reading the image of the original, wherein the reading unit 200 is located outside the space P1 through which the fixing unit 80 passes when moving from the first position to the second position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] As image forming apparatuses such as printers, copiers, and multifunction peripherals, a configuration including a fixing unit (fixing device) that fixes a toner image onto a recording medium is known.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus including a door that can be opened and closed relative to the apparatus main body, and a fixing unit that can be moved from a use position where an image forming operation is performed to a retracted position when the door is open. The fixing unit is configured to be movable to the retracted position by being held by a rotatable connecting member.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The present invention is a further development of the conventional art.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The image forming apparatus of the present invention for achieving the above object is: An image forming apparatus that forms a toner image on a recording medium, a housing, an opening / closing member supported by the housing so as to be openable and closable between a closed position and an open position, a fixing unit that heats the recording medium on which the toner image is formed, A moving mechanism supported by the housing, wherein, with the opening / closing member in the open position, the fixing unit is moved from a first position housed inside the housing to a second position above the first position, An output tray on which recording media that have passed through the fixing unit are loaded, A reading unit is provided above the aforementioned output tray to read the image of the document, Equipped with, The reading unit is positioned outside the space through which the fixing unit passes when it moves from the first position to the second position. It is characterized by the following: [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to further develop the conventional technology. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the printer according to Example 1. [Figure 2] This is a front view of the printer according to Example 1. [Figure 3] This figure shows a printer with the door in the open position according to Example 1. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of the moving mechanism according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 5] This is an explanatory diagram of the locking mechanism according to Example 1. [Figure 6] This figure shows a printer with the fuser unit according to Example 1 moved to the retracted position. [Figure 7] This figure shows a printer with the tray unit according to Example 1 pulled out. [Figure 8] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the printer according to Example 2. [Figure 9] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the printer according to Example 3. [Figure 10] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the printer according to Example 4. [Figure 11]This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the printer according to Example 5. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments for carrying out this invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of the components described in these embodiments should be appropriately modified depending on the configuration of the device to which the invention is applied and various conditions. In other words, the scope of this invention is not intended to be limited to the following embodiments. Furthermore, not all of the features described in the following embodiments are essential to the solution of the invention.

[0010] <Example 1> [Overall structure] The printer 1 as an image forming apparatus will be explained using Figure 1. Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the printer 1 according to this embodiment, viewed from the left side of the apparatus. In this embodiment, the printer 1 is an electrophotographic color laser beam printer that forms an image on a sheet S, which is a recording medium (recording material).

[0011] The overall configuration of the printer 1 according to Embodiment 1 will be described. In the following description, the vertical direction (up-down direction) when the printer 1 is installed on a horizontal surface is defined as the Z direction. In other words, the Z direction is the vertical direction when the printer 1 is in use. The direction orthogonal to the Z direction is defined as the X direction (first direction). The direction orthogonal to both the X direction and the Z direction is defined as the Y direction. The X direction, Y direction, and Z direction preferably intersect each other perpendicularly. That is, in the present embodiment, the X direction and the Y direction are parallel to the horizontal direction. In the present embodiment, the X direction is a direction intersecting (preferably orthogonal to) the rotational axis direction of the photosensitive drum 61 described later. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the X direction is a direction intersecting (preferably orthogonal to) the rotational axis direction of the rotating body that conveys the sheet S inside the housing 1A. Also, in the present embodiment, the Y direction is parallel to the rotational axis direction of the photosensitive drum 61. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the Y direction is parallel to the rotational axis direction of the rotating body that conveys the sheet S inside the housing 1A. For convenience, the positive side (the right side in FIG. 1) in the X direction is referred to as the front side, the negative side (the left side in FIG. 1) as the rear side, the positive side in the Y direction as the right side, the negative side as the left side, the positive side in the Z direction as the upper side, and the negative side as the lower side. The front side can be referred to as one end side in the X direction, and the rear side as the other end side in the X direction. The right side can be referred to as one end side in the Y direction, and the left side as the other end side in the Y direction.

[0012] The printer 1 includes a main body portion (apparatus main body, printer main body portion) 10 that forms an image on a sheet S, and an image scanner 200 that is a reading portion (reading unit) for reading a document. The main body portion 10 is capable of forming an image on the sheet S based on the image of the document read by the image scanner 200. In the following, the configuration and operation of the main body portion 10 will be described first, and then the configuration and operation of the image scanner 200 will be described. The printer 1 is a so-called multi-function printer. The image scanner 200 is an example of an upper device installed above the main body portion 10.

[0013] The main body 10 of the printer 1 includes a housing 1A and a door (opening / closing member) 20 that can be opened and closed relative to the housing 1A. The housing 1A internally accommodates a scanner (exposure device) 2, a control unit 3, a sheet feeding unit 30, a transfer unit 40, a tray unit 50, a fixing device (fixing unit) 80, a sheet discharge unit 90, and a moving mechanism 100 for moving the fixing device 80. Hereinafter, regarding the X direction, the front end of the housing 1A is defined as a front end portion 1A1 (first end portion), and the side opposite to the front end portion 1A1 the rear end is defined as a rear end portion 1A2 (second end portion). The +X direction can be referred to as the direction from the rear end portion 1A2 toward the front end portion 1A1 in the horizontal direction, or the direction away from the rear end portion 1A2. The -X direction can be referred to as the direction from the front end portion 1A1 toward the rear end portion 1A2 in the horizontal direction, or the direction away from the front end portion 1A1.

[0014] The sheet feeding unit 30 includes a stacking tray 31 for stacking sheets S, and a supply roller 32. The stacking tray 31 is configured to be insertable into and removable from the housing 1A, and a user can pull out the stacking tray 31 to replenish sheets S to the stacking tray 31. In the first embodiment, the stacking tray 31 can be pulled out in the front direction (+X direction) from the front end portion 1A1 of the housing 1A.

[0015] The tray unit 50 includes a tray 51 and cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK. The tray 51 has a tray handle 52 at its front end. The cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK are each independently detachably attached to the tray 51.

[0016] Cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK each contain yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner (developer), respectively. Aside from the color of the toner they contain, cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK have the same configuration. Therefore, the configuration and operation of one of these cartridges will be explained, and the others will not be described. Furthermore, when there is no need to distinguish between cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK, they may simply be referred to as "cartridges."

[0017] In this embodiment, each of the four cartridges has a photosensitive drum (image carrier) 61, a charging roller 62 (charging member), and a developing roller (developer carrier) 71. The rotational axes of the photosensitive drum 61, the developing roller 71, and the charging roller 62 are all parallel to the Y direction (left-right direction). In this embodiment, the cartridge comprises the photosensitive drum 61, the charging roller 62, and the developing roller 71, but these components may also be mounted on a tray 51.

[0018] The transfer unit 40 includes a belt 41, a primary transfer roller 42, a cleaning unit 43, a drive roller 46 for driving the belt 41, and a tension roller (driven roller) 47. In this embodiment, the printer 1 is equipped with an optical sensor 44 for detecting the toner image transferred to the belt 41. In this embodiment, the belt 41 is located below the photosensitive drum 61. The belt 41 can contact the photosensitive drum 61 by the primary transfer roller 42 so that a primary transfer section is formed between the belt 41 and the photosensitive drum 61. The printer 1 also has a secondary transfer roller 45 that contacts the belt 41 so that a secondary transfer section is formed. The secondary transfer section is formed between the belt 41 and the secondary transfer roller 45. The rotational axis directions of the primary transfer roller 42, the drive roller 46, the tension roller 47, and the secondary transfer roller 45 are all parallel to the Y direction. A pair of registration rollers 4 is located upstream of the sheet S in the transport direction of the secondary transfer section.

[0019] The fixing device 80 is a fixing unit having a pair of fixing rollers and a flapper 83 for switching the conveying direction of the sheet S to the paper discharge path 1d or the reversal path 1e. The fixing roller pair includes a heating roller 82 including a heater and a pressure roller 81 that grips and conveys the paper together with the heating roller 82. In the X direction, the fixing device 80 is closer to the front end 1A1 than to the rear end 1A2.

[0020] [Image Formation Process] The image formation operation of printer 1 will be explained using Figure 1. Based on the image signals received from the external host device 400 and the image scanner 200, the control unit 3 of printer 1 performs the following actions: The image formation operation on sheet S is initiated. The external host device 400 is, for example, a personal computer, an image reader, and a facsimile machine.

[0021] When the image forming operation starts, a charging voltage is applied to the charging roller 62, causing the photosensitive drum 61 to rotate. A laser corresponding to the image information is shone from the scanner 2 onto the photosensitive drum 61, exposing the surface of the photosensitive drum 61, which has been charged by the charging roller 62. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image information is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 61.

[0022] A developing voltage is applied to the developing roller 71 that holds the toner. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 61 is developed by the toner supplied from the developing roller 71, and a toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 61. In this embodiment, the developing roller 71 develops the electrostatic latent image while in contact with the photosensitive drum 61, but it is also possible to configure the developing roller 71 to develop the electrostatic latent image with a gap between it and the photosensitive drum 61. When a full-color image is formed, toner images of each color are formed on each photosensitive drum 61.

[0023] The developing roller 71 can be switched between a contact position and a separated position by a switching device (not shown) provided in the housing 1A. When no image forming operation is being performed, the developing roller 71 can be separated from the photosensitive drum 61. In addition, the printer 1 can perform monochrome printing with only the developing roller 71 and photosensitive drum 61 corresponding to cartridge PK in contact, and the developing roller 71 and photosensitive drum 61 corresponding to cartridges PY, PM, and PC separated, respectively.

[0024] The toner images formed on each photosensitive drum 61 are transferred onto the belt 41 by the primary transfer roller 42 in the primary transfer section and moved toward the secondary transfer section formed by the belt 41 and the secondary transfer roller 45.

[0025] Meanwhile, the housing 1A has a transport path 1c through which the sheet S heading towards the fixing device 80 passes, and inside the door 20, a double-sided transport path 20a is formed through which the sheet S that has passed through the fixing device 80 passes. When the door 20 is opened, the transport path 1c and a portion of the double-sided transport path 20a are exposed to the outside of the housing 1A.

[0026] In the sheet feeding unit 30, the sheet S is separated from the sheet bundle loaded on the loading tray 31 by the rotation of the supply roller 32 at a predetermined timing, and is transported through the paper feeding transport path 1a toward the secondary transfer unit.

[0027] In the secondary transfer section, the toner image is transferred from the belt 41 to the sheet S. Toner that is not transferred to the sheet S is removed from the belt 41 by a cleaning blade (cleaning member) 43A provided in the cleaning section 43.

[0028] In the secondary transfer section, the sheet S onto which the toner image has been transferred is transported through the transport path 1c toward the fuser 80. In the fuser 80, the sheet S is heated and clamped and pressed by a pair of fuser rollers, and the toner image is fixed to the sheet S. The sheet S with the fixed toner image is then transported toward the flapper 83, which serves as a transport path switching section.

[0029] The flapper 83 is movable between a paper discharge position (solid line in Figure 1) that guides the sheet S that has passed through the fuser 80 toward the paper discharge path 1d, and a reversal position (dashed line in Figure 1) that guides it toward the reversal path 1e.

[0030] When printing is performed on only one side of the sheet S, the sheet S is guided by the flapper 83 to the paper output path 1d and then by the discharge roller 91 to the discharge tray 92 formed on the top of the housing 1A. The material is discharged. In this embodiment, the fixing device 80 is located on the front end 1A1 side of the discharge tray 92, and the discharge tray 92 and the fixing device 80 are arranged adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction with the discharge roller 91 in between.

[0031] When double-sided printing is performed, the sheet S, on which a toner image has been fixed to one side (front), is guided to the reversal path 1e by the flapper 83. After the sheet S is guided to the reversal path 1e, the flapper 83 switches to the paper discharge position, and the reversal roller 84 reverses the transport direction of the sheet S. The sheet S is then transported again towards the secondary transfer section through the double-sided transport path 20a formed inside the door 20. After the toner image is transferred to the back side in the secondary transfer section, the sheet S passes through the fuser 80 again, is guided to the paper discharge path 1d by the flapper 83, and is discharged to the discharge tray 92 by the discharge roller 91. In other words, the sheet S discharged from inside the housing 1A by the discharge roller 91 moves away from the front end 1A1 in the horizontal direction. That is, the discharge direction of the sheet from the housing 1A includes a component that moves away from the front end 1A1 in the horizontal direction. Through the above image forming operation, the sheets S on which the toner image has been formed are sequentially loaded into the discharge tray 92. The supply roller 32, registration roller pair 4, belt 41, secondary transfer roller 45, fixing roller pair, discharge roller 91, and reversing roller 84 are examples of a rotating body that conveys the sheet S.

[0032] [Image scanner] Figure 2 is a front view of the printer 1 according to this embodiment, and shows a cross-sectional view of the image scanner 200 located above the printer 1. The image scanner 200 is a reading unit (reading section) having an image reading device 202 and a document feeder 203.

[0033] The image scanner 200 is mounted above the printer 1 via a pillar 201. The pillar 201 is a support member connected to the rear end 1A2 of the housing 1A and supports the image scanner 200. The pillar 201 supports the image scanner 200 such that its lower surface 212 faces the upper surface of the housing 1A and the output tray 92 with a gap between them. The pillar 201 is attached to the rear surface of the housing 1A and the lower surface 212 of the image scanner 200, respectively. As shown in Figure 2, the pillar 201 has leg portions 201a connected to both ends in the left-right direction of the rear surface of the housing 1A, and a support portion 201b extending from one end to the other in the left-right direction of the lower surface 212 of the image scanner 200. In the X direction, the pillar 201 is closer to the rear end 1A2 than to the front end 1A1. The pillar 201 is positioned downstream of the discharge roller 91 in the discharge direction in which the discharge roller 91 discharges the sheet S to the discharge tray 92.

[0034] The image reading device 202 includes an image reading unit 206 that reads an image from a document, and a drive unit 207 that drives the image reading unit 206 to scan back and forth in the left-right direction. The document feeder 203 includes a document tray 204 on which the document is placed, an image reading unit 208 that reads an image from the document, and a document output unit 205 on which the document from which the image has been read is ejected. The document feeder 203 is positioned above the image reading device 202 such that the image reading unit 208 is perpendicular to the image reading unit 206.

[0035] The surface of the document tray 204 is inclined upwards (+Z direction) as it moves to the right (+Y direction). A document insertion slot 209 is provided at the left end (-Y direction) of the document tray 204, and gravity acts to move the document placed on the document tray 204 toward the insertion slot 209. The document placed on the document tray 204 is then transported between the image reading units 206 and 208, which are positioned vertically opposite each other on the lower left side of the document tray 204.

[0036] The image reading unit 206 can read the bottom surface of the document being transported, and the image reading unit 208 can read the top surface of the document being transported. By having the image reading units 206 and 208 read the opposite sides of the document, the scanning of both sides of a document can be completed in a single paper transport. The document that has passed between the image reading units 206 and 208 is discharged from the output port 210 to the document output port 205. The output port 210 is located below the insertion port 209 and to the upper right of the image reading units 206 and 208.

[0037] Although not shown, a contact glass is installed above the image reading unit 206. The document feeder 203 can be opened relative to the image reading unit 202 so that the contact glass is exposed. For booklet documents and other documents where the document feeder 203 cannot be used, the document can be read by placing the document on the contact glass with the document feeder 203 open and scanning the image reading unit 206 back and forth using the drive unit 207. The document transport direction in the image scanner 200 intersects with the transport direction of the sheet S.

[0038] [Move Units] The movement of each unit, such as the transfer unit 40, tray unit 50, and fixing device 80, will be explained using Figures 3(a), (b), 4, 5(a)-(c), 6(a), (b), and 7.

[0039] Figures 3(a) and 3(b) show the printer 1 with the door 20 in the open position. Figure 3(a) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the printer 1 as seen from the left side, and Figure 3(b) is a perspective view of the printer 1. As shown in Figure 3(a), the housing 1A has openings 1B that open to the front and top. The openings 1B are provided at the front end 1A1 of the housing 1A. The door 20, which is an opening and closing member, is supported by the housing 1A so as to be movable between a closed position that closes the opening 1B shown in Figure 1 and an open position that opens the opening 1B shown in Figure 3(a). The door 20 is rotatable between the closed position and the open position around a door hinge 22 provided at the lower and front end of the housing 1A. When the door 20 moves to the open position, the user can access the fuser unit 80. As shown in Figure 3(b), a release lever 107 is provided at the front (+X direction) end of the fuser unit 80, which is operated by the user to move the fuser unit 80.

[0040] (Movement of the transfer unit) First, the movement of the transfer unit 40 will be described. The transfer unit 40 is a pull-out unit configured to be able to be pulled out from an internal position where it is housed inside the housing 1A to an external position where at least a portion of it is located outside the housing 1A through the opening 1B. In the state shown in Figure 3(a), the transfer unit 40 can be pulled out from the housing 1A forward (+X direction) independently of the tray unit 50 and removed. By pulling the transfer unit 40 forward, at least a portion of the transfer unit 40 is exposed to the outside of the housing 1A, and the transfer unit 40 can be removed from the printer 1. Then, a new transfer unit 40 can be inserted into the housing 1A and attached to the housing 1A in place of the removed transfer unit 40, thereby replacing the transfer unit 40.

[0041] (Movement of the fixing device) Next, the movement of the fuser unit 80 will be described. With the door 20 in the open position, the fuser unit 80 is configured to move between the fuser position (first position) shown in Figure 3(a) and a retracted position (second position) that is above and in front of the fuser position. The fuser position is the position where the image forming operation is performed on the sheet S, and can be said to be the position where the fuser unit 80 performs the toner image fixing operation on the sheet S. The fuser position can also be said to be the operating position of the fuser unit 80. The fuser unit 80 moves the tray unit 50. To move, the fixing device 80 is moved from the fixing position where it performs the fixing operation to the retracted position. The door 20 in the closed position restricts the fixing device 80 from moving from the fixing position to the retracted position. On the other hand, when the door 20 is in the open position, the fixing device 80 is allowed to move from the fixing position to the retracted position. In Embodiment 1, the retracted position is located above the fixing position. Also, in the X direction, the retracted position is further from the rear end 1A2 than the fixing position. The housing 1A is provided with a moving mechanism 100 as a mechanism for moving the fixing device 80. In the X direction, the fixing device 80 in the fixing position is closer to the front end 1A1 than to the rear end 1A2. Also, in the X direction, the fixing device 80 in the retracted position is closer to the front end 1A1 than to the rear end 1A2.

[0042] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the moving mechanism 100. The moving mechanism 100 has a support member 101 (contact member) that contacts the fixing device 80 from below to support the fixing device 80 when the fixing device 80 is moved. The support member 101 is provided with a contact surface that is long in the left-right direction and contacts the lower surface (bottom surface) of the fixing device 80. When the fixing device 80 moves to the retracted position, the fixing device 80 is supported on its lower surface by the support member 101. When the door 20 is in the closed position and the fixing device 80 is in the fixed position, the bottom surface of the fixing device 80 and the contact surface of the support member 101 are separated by a separation mechanism (not shown).

[0043] The moving mechanism 100 is connected to the support member 101 and the housing 1A and has a plurality of arm members configured to allow the support member 101 to move relative to the housing 1A. The plurality of arm members are for moving the support member 101 together with the fixing device 80 and include two lower arms 102, two central arms 103, and two upper arms 104. The three types of arm members (lower arms 102, central arms 103, and upper arms 104) are movably connected to each other and are provided at each of the longitudinal ends of the support member 101.

[0044] The central arm 103 is connected to both ends of the support member 101. The ends of the lower arm 102 and the upper arm 104 are connected to the central arm 103. The lower arm 102 and the upper arm 104 are each connected to the housing 1A. The lower arm 102 and the upper arm 104 are each configured to swing around a pivot axis parallel to the left-right direction (Y direction) relative to the housing 1A. As the lower arm 102 and the upper arm 104 swing, the support member 101 moves relative to the housing 1A via the central arm 103.

[0045] The moving mechanism 100 includes a plurality of biasing members that apply a biasing force in the direction of moving the fixing device 80 from the fixing position to the retracted position. One end of the lower lift spring 105 is connected to the lower arm 102. The lower lift spring 105 is a tension spring (biasing member) with one end attached to the lower arm 102 and the other end attached to the housing 1A. In addition, one end of the upper lift spring 106 is connected to the upper arm 104. The upper lift spring 106 is a tension spring (biasing member) with one end attached to the upper arm 104 and the other end attached to the housing 1A.

[0046] The lower lift spring 105 biases the lower arm 102 in a first biasing direction Da1. The first biasing direction Da1 is the direction in which the lower arm 102 swings in a first oscillation direction Db1. The upper lift spring 106 biases the upper arm 104 in a second biasing direction Da2. The second biasing direction Da2 is the direction in which the upper arm 104 swings in a second oscillation direction Db2. As the lower arm 102 swings in the first oscillation direction Db1 and the upper arm 104 swings in the second oscillation direction Db2, the central arm 103 and the support member 101 move upward and forward relative to the housing 1A. Then, while being supported by the support member 101, the fixing device 80 moves from the fixing position to the retracted position.

[0047] Figures 5(a) to 5(c) are explanatory diagrams of the locking mechanism that locks the fixing device 80 in the fixing position. Figure 5(a) is a perspective view of the locking mechanism. As a locking mechanism, the fixing device 80 is It has lock members 85 and 86 and a lock spring 87. On the other hand, the moving mechanism 100 has a release lever 107, a link shaft 108, and cam members 109 and 110 as a release part for releasing the lock of the lock mechanism.

[0048] The locking member 85 is provided at the left end (-Y direction side) of the fixing device 80, and the locking member 86 is provided at the right end (+Y direction side) of the fixing device 80. Both locking members 85 and 86 are held so as to be able to swing around a pivot axis parallel to the left-right direction relative to the main body of the fixing device 80, including the housing. A locking spring 87 is attached to the locking members 85 and 86. The locking spring 87 is a tension spring (biasing member) with one end hooked onto the locking member 85 or the locking member 86 and the other end hooked onto the main body of the fixing device 80. The locking spring 87 biases the locking members 85 and 86 in the direction that locks the fixing device 80 into the fixing position.

[0049] The link shaft 108 is a long shaft in the left-right direction (Y direction) and is configured to rotate around a rotation axis parallel to the left-right direction. The release lever 107 and cam member 110 are attached to the right end of the link shaft 108, and the cam member 109 is attached to the left end of the link shaft 108. The release lever 107, cam members 109 and 110 are connected to the link shaft 108 so as to rotate (oscillate) integrally with the link shaft 108.

[0050] Figure 5(b) is a side view of the fixing device 80 and locking mechanism as seen from the left side when locked in the fixing position. The housing 1A is provided with a shaft 23 that protrudes in the left-right direction as a restricting part capable of preventing the fixing device 80 from moving unintentionally from the fixing position. When the fixing device 80 is in the fixing position, the restricting shaft 23 abuts against the contact portion 85a, which is the restricted portion of the locking member 85, from above, and the locking member 85 engages with the shaft 23. In this state, the upward movement of the locking member 85 (fixing device 80) is restricted, and the fixing device 80 is locked in the fixing position. Although not shown, a shaft similar to the shaft 23 is also provided on the housing 1A at the right end where the locking member 86 is provided, and the upward movement of the locking member 86 is restricted.

[0051] Figure 5(c) is a side view of the fixing device 80 and locking mechanism viewed from the left side, showing the state in which the release lever 107 has been rotated in the rotational direction Dc1 from the state in Figure 5(b) and the lock has been released. When the release lever 107 moves upward and rotates in the rotational direction Dc1, the link shaft 108 and the cam members 109 and 110 also rotate in the rotational direction Dc1, with the cam member 110 coming into contact with the lock member 85 and the cam member 109 coming into contact with the lock member 86. Then, each cam member presses against each lock member, causing the lock members 85 and 86 to rotate in the third oscillation direction Dc2. As a result, the contact portion 85a of the lock member 85 moves away from the shaft 23, and the engagement between the lock member 85 and the shaft 23 is released. At this time, the contact portion 85a moves to a position where it does not overlap with the shaft 23 in the direction of movement of the fixing device 80 from the fixing position to the retracted position. The unlocking operation of the locking member 86 is the same as that of the locking member 85. In other words, by rotating the release lever 107 in the rotational direction Dc1, the lock on the fixing device 80 by the locking mechanism is released, and the fixing device 80 can move to the retracted position. Thus, the moving mechanism 100 is equipped with a locking release part configured to press the locking member 85 in a direction that moves the contact portion 85a (restricted portion) away from the shaft 23 (restricting portion).

[0052] Figures 6(a) and 6(b) show the printer 1 with the fuser 80 moved to the retracted position. Figure 6(a) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the printer 1 as seen from the left side, and Figure 6(b) is a perspective view of the printer 1. When the release lever 107 is operated and the lock on the fuser 80 is released, the biasing force of the lower lift spring 105 and the upper lift spring 106 causes the moving mechanism 100 to move the fuser 80 from the fixed position (position in Figures 3(a) and 3(b)) to the retracted position (position in Figures 6(a) and 3(b)).

[0053] Figure 6(a) shows the fixing position of the fixing device 80 and the space P1 (trajectory) that the fixing device 80 passes through when moving from the fixing position to the retracted position, indicated by a dashed line. The fixing device 80 moves from the fixing position to the retracted position through the opening 1B of the housing 1A. The retracted position is above and in front of the fixing position, and is a position where at least a part of the fixing device 80 is located outside the housing 1A. Specifically, at least a part of the fixing device 80 in the retracted position is located outside the main body 10. Here, when the space enclosed by the housing 1A and the door 20 in the closed position is considered the internal space of the main body 10, the outside of the main body 10 (outer space) refers to the space located outside the internal space. In this embodiment, when the fixing device 80 is in the fixing position, a part of the fixing device 80 is located in the space above the housing 1A.

[0054] The rear surface 88 (rear end face) of the fixing device 80 in the fixing position is located in front of (downstream in the +X direction) the front surface 211 (front end face) of the image scanner 200. Also, the upper surface 89 (upper end face) of the fixing device 80 in the fixing position is located below (downstream in the -Z direction) the lower surface 212 (lower end face) of the image scanner 200. The rear surface 88 is the surface facing the -X direction and includes the downstream end of the fixing device 80 in the -X direction. In other words, the rear surface 88 includes the part of the fixing device 80 that is closest to the rear end 1A2 in the -X direction. The upper surface 89 is the surface facing the +Z direction and includes the downstream end of the fixing device 80 in the +Z direction. In other words, the upper surface 89 includes the highest part of the fixing device 80 in the vertical direction. The front surface 211 and the lower surface 212 are the exterior surfaces of the image scanner 200. The front surface 211 is the surface facing the +X direction and includes the downstream end of the image scanner 200 in the +X direction. The bottom surface 212 is the surface facing the -Z direction and includes the downstream end of the image scanner 200 in the -Z direction. In other words, when the fuser 80 is in the fuser position, there is a gap between the fuser 80 and the image scanner 200 in the front-to-back direction and in the vertical direction.

[0055] Furthermore, the image scanner 200, located above the housing 1A, is positioned outside the space P1, which is the movement trajectory of the fuser unit 80. Therefore, the movement of the fuser unit 80 is not obstructed by the image scanner 200, and the fuser unit 80 does not interfere with the image scanner 200 during or after movement.

[0056] When moving the fixing device 80 from the retracted position to the fixing position, the fixing device 80 should be moved against the biasing force of the lower lift spring 105 and the upper lift spring 106. The user pushes the fixing device 80 from the retracted position downwards and backwards, causing the fixing device 80 to move to the retracted position and be locked by the locking mechanism.

[0057] According to the configuration of this embodiment, the fuser unit 80 can be moved between the fixing position and the retracted position without moving the image scanner 200, which is located above the housing 1A. In other words, it is not necessary to move the image scanner 200 solely to move the fuser unit 80 between the fixing position and the retracted position. This reduces the complexity of the printer 1. Furthermore, even if the image scanner 200 is configured to be movable, the fuser unit 80 can be moved between the fixing position and the retracted position without moving the image scanner 200 from its usable position. This reduces the user's workload when moving the fuser unit 80.

[0058] Furthermore, in the X direction, the pillar 201 is closer to the rear end 1A2 than to the front end 1A1. Therefore, when moving the fixing device 80 from the retracted position to the fixing position, the movement of the fixing device 80 is not obstructed by the pillar 201.

[0059] (Movement of the transfer unit and tray unit) Next, the movement of the transfer unit 40 and the tray unit 50 will be described. The tray unit 50, together with the transfer unit 40, moves to the outside of the housing 1A through the opening 1B of the housing 1A. It is configured to be movable. In other words, the tray unit 50 is also a pull-out unit configured to be able to be pulled out from an inner position where it is housed inside the housing 1A to an outer position where at least a part of it is located outside the housing 1A through the opening 1B. Figure 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the printer 1 as seen from the left side, with the transfer unit 40 and the tray unit 50 pulled out to the outside of the housing 1A.

[0060] The fixing device 80 in the fixed position is positioned inside the space through which the tray unit 50 passes when moving from the inside to the outside position. On the other hand, the fixing device 80 in the retracted position is positioned outside the said space. In other words, the tray unit 50 is pulled out from the inside to the outside of the housing 1A by passing through the space that becomes available when the fixing device 80 moves to the retracted position. Thus, in this embodiment 1, when the fixing device 80 moves to the retracted position, the fixing device 80 is moved out of the movement trajectory of the tray unit 50, making it possible to pull the tray unit 50 out of the housing 1A.

[0061] The movement directions of the transfer unit 40 and the tray unit 50 are intersecting the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum 61, and both units are pulled out from the housing 1A to the front through the opening 1B. The door 20 in the open position is configured to support the transfer unit 40, which has been pulled out to the outside of the housing 1A, from below. The tray unit 50, which has been pulled out to the outside of the housing 1A, is supported from below by the transfer unit 40.

[0062] With the transfer unit 40 and tray unit 50 moved outside the housing 1A, it is permissible to remove cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK from tray 51 and to install cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK into tray 51. This allows for the replacement of cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK with new cartridges.

[0063] <Example 2> Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described. Embodiment 2 differs from Embodiment 1 in the positional relationship between the fixing device 80 and the image scanner 200. Hereinafter, only the differences in the configuration of Embodiment 2 from that of Embodiment 1 will be described. Components in the configuration of Embodiment 2 that are the same as those in Embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted.

[0064] Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of printer 1 according to Embodiment 2. Figure 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of printer 1 as seen from the left side, showing the door 20 in the open position and the fuser unit 80 in the retracted position.

[0065] In Embodiment 2, the rear surface 88 of the fixing device 80 in the retracted position is located in front of the front surface 211 of the image scanner 200 (downstream in the +X direction). In other words, when the fixing device 80 is in the retracted position, there is a gap between the fixing device 80 and the image scanner 200 in the front-to-back direction (X direction). On the other hand, the upper surface 89 of the fixing device 80 in the retracted position is located above the lower surface 212 of the image scanner 200 (downstream in the +Z direction). In other words, when viewed in the front-to-back direction, at least a part of the fixing device 80 (the upper end) overlaps with the image scanner 200.

[0066] In the configuration of Example 2, the image scanner 200 can be positioned at a lower location compared to Example 1, enabling miniaturization of the printer 1 and improving usability. In Example 2, the image scanner 200 is also positioned outside the space P1, which is the movement trajectory of the fuser unit 80. In other words, even with the configuration of Example 2, the fuser unit 80 can be made movable without complicating or increasing the size of the device.

[0067] <Example 3> Next, Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described. Embodiment 3 differs from Embodiment 1 in the positional relationship between the fixing device 80 and the image scanner 200. Hereinafter, only the differences in the configuration of Embodiment 3 from the configuration of Embodiment 1 will be described. Components in the configuration of Embodiment 3 that are the same as those in Embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted.

[0068] Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of printer 1 according to Embodiment 3. Figure 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of printer 1 as seen from the left side, showing the door 20 in the open position and the fuser unit 80 in the retracted position.

[0069] In Example 3, the rear surface 88 of the fuser unit 80 in the retracted position is located behind (upstream in the +X direction) the front surface 211 of the image scanner 200. That is, when the fuser unit 80 is in the retracted position, when the printer 1 is viewed in the vertical direction (Z direction), at least a part of the fuser unit 80 (the rear end) overlaps with the image scanner 200. On the other hand, the upper surface 89 of the fuser unit 80 in the retracted position is located below (downstream in the -Z direction) the lower surface 212 of the image scanner 200. That is, there is a gap between the fuser unit 80 and the image scanner 200 in the vertical direction.

[0070] In the configuration of Embodiment 3, the image scanner 200 can be positioned further forward compared to Embodiment 1, reducing the amount by which the image scanner 200 protrudes rearward from the housing 1A. Consequently, the printer 1 can be made smaller, and its footprint can be reduced. Furthermore, in Embodiment 3 as well, the image scanner 200 is positioned outside the space P1, which is the movement trajectory of the fuser unit 80. In other words, even with the configuration of Embodiment 3, the fuser unit 80 can be made movable without complicating or increasing the size of the device.

[0071] <Example 4> Next, Embodiment 4 of the present invention will be described. Embodiment 4 differs from Embodiment 1 in the configuration of the image scanner 200 and the positional relationship between the fixing device 80 and the image scanner 200. Hereinafter, only the differences in the configuration of Embodiment 4 from the configuration of Embodiment 1 will be described. Components in the configuration of Embodiment 4 that are the same as those in Embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted.

[0072] Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of printer 1 according to Embodiment 4. Figure 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of printer 1 as seen from the left side, showing the door 20 in the open position and the fuser unit 80 in the retracted position.

[0073] The image scanner 200 according to Embodiment 4 has a connecting surface 213 formed between a front surface 211, which is the end face on the front end 1A1 side, and a lower surface 212, which is the lower end face. The connecting surface 213 is an inclined surface that extends downward and backward from the lower end of the front surface 211 and is connected to the front end of the lower surface 212. The connecting surface 213 is inclined with respect to the front surface 211 and the lower surface 212.

[0074] In Embodiment 4, the rear surface 88 of the fuser unit 80 in the retracted position is located behind the front surface 211 of the image scanner 200. That is, when the fuser unit 80 is in the retracted position, at least a portion of the fuser unit 80 overlaps with the image scanner 200 when the printer 1 is viewed in the vertical direction (Z direction). Also, the upper surface 89 of the fuser unit 80 in the retracted position is located above the lower surface 212 of the image scanner 200. That is, when viewed in the front-to-back direction (X direction), at least a portion of the fuser unit 80 overlaps with the image scanner 200.

[0075] The front surface 211, bottom surface 212, and connecting surface 213 are located away from the fixing device 80 in its retracted position and the space P1 which is the movement trajectory of the fixing device, so the image scanner 200 does not interfere with the fixing device 80. Also, when viewed in the left-right direction (Y direction), the front surface 211 is extended downwards. The intersection point CP where the imaginary line 211a (extension line) and the imaginary line 212a (extension line) extending forward from the lower surface 212 intersect is located in a position that coincides with the fixing device 80. In other words, the fixing device 80, which is in a retracted position, is located in a position that coincides with the area of ​​the image scanner 200 that has been excluded by the connection surface 213. This configuration allows the image scanner 200 to be positioned closer to the fixing device 80.

[0076] In the configuration of Example 4, the image scanner 200 can be positioned lower and further forward compared to Example 1. This allows for miniaturization of the printer 1 and improvement of usability. In Example 4, the image scanner 200 is also positioned outside the space P1, which is the movement trajectory of the fuser unit 80. In other words, even with the configuration of Example 4, the fuser unit 80 can be made movable without complicating or increasing the size of the device.

[0077] In this embodiment, the connecting surface 213 is described as a sloping surface consisting of a single surface, but the configuration is not limited to this. For example, the shape of the connecting surface 213 may be an arc shape consisting of a curved surface, or a stepped shape consisting of multiple surfaces, etc.

[0078] <Example 5> Next, Embodiment 5 of the present invention will be described. Embodiment 5 differs from Embodiment 1 in the configuration of the image scanner 200 and the positional relationship between the fixing device 80 and the image scanner 200. Hereinafter, only the differences in the configuration of Embodiment 5 from the configuration of Embodiment 1 will be described. Components in the configuration of Embodiment 5 that are the same as those in Embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted.

[0079] Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of printer 1 according to Embodiment 5. Figure 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of printer 1 as seen from the left side, showing the door 20 in the open position and the fuser unit 80 in the retracted position.

[0080] The image scanner 200 according to Example 5 has a connecting surface 213 formed between the front surface 211 and the bottom surface 212, similar to Example 4. In this example as well, the connecting surface 213 is a sloping surface consisting of a single plane, but the connecting surface 213 may also include a curved surface or multiple surfaces.

[0081] In Example 5, the rear surface 88 of the fixing device 80 in the retracted position is located in front of the front surface 211 of the image scanner 200. That is, when the fixing device 80 is in the retracted position, there is a gap in the front-to-back direction (X direction) between the fixing device 80 and the image scanner 200. On the other hand, the upper surface 89 of the fixing device 80 in the retracted position is located above the lower surface 212 of the image scanner 200. That is, when viewed in the front-to-back direction, at least a part of the fixing device 80 overlaps with the image scanner 200.

[0082] The front surface 211, bottom surface 212, and connecting surface 213 are located away from the fixing device 80 in its retracted position and the space P1 which is the movement trajectory of the fixing device, so the image scanner 200 does not interfere with the fixing device 80. Also, when viewed in the left-right direction, the intersection CP where the imaginary line 211a extending downward from the front surface 211 and the imaginary line 212a extending forward (in the Y direction) from the bottom surface 212 intersect is located inside space P1. In other words, the fixing device 80 passes through the area of ​​the image scanner 200 that is excluded by the connecting surface 213. This configuration increases the degree of freedom in positioning the image scanner 200, and allows the image scanner 200 to be positioned closer to the fixing device 80.

[0083] According to the configuration of Example 5, the image scanner 200 is positioned lower compared to Example 1, and It can be positioned further forward. This, in turn, allows for miniaturization of the printer 1 and improvement of its usability. Furthermore, in Embodiment 5, the image scanner 200 is positioned outside the space P1, which is the movement trajectory of the fuser unit 80. In other words, even with the configuration of Embodiment 5, the fuser unit 80 can be made movable without complicating or increasing the size of the device.

[0084] <Variation> Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the shapes of the components described in the embodiments, their relative arrangement, etc., should be appropriately modified depending on the configuration of the apparatus to which the invention is applied and various conditions, and do not limit the scope of this invention.

[0085] For example, in each of the above embodiments, the retracted position of the fixing device 80 was above and in front of the fixing position, but the configuration is not limited to this. The retracted position of the fixing device 80 may be any position outside the space when the tray unit 50 moves from the inner position to the outer position, and may be a position directly above the fixing position, moved parallel to the vertical direction from the fixing position. Also, in each of the above embodiments, the image scanner 200 was fixed, but the image scanner 200 may be configured to be movable.

[0086] This embodiment includes the following configuration. (Composition 1) An image forming apparatus for forming a toner image on a recording medium, The casing and An opening / closing member supported by the housing is capable of opening and closing between a closed position and an open position, A fixing unit that heats the recording medium on which the toner image has been formed, A moving mechanism supported by the housing, wherein, with the opening / closing member in the open position, the fixing unit is moved from a first position housed inside the housing to a second position above the first position, An output tray on which recording media that have passed through the fixing unit are loaded, A reading unit is provided above the aforementioned output tray to read the image of the document, Equipped with, The reading unit is positioned outside the space through which the fixing unit passes when it moves from the first position to the second position. An image forming apparatus characterized by the following features. (Configuration 2) The housing has a first end in a first direction parallel to the horizontal direction and a second end opposite to the first end, The fixing unit in the first position is closer to the first end than to the second end in the first direction. The image forming apparatus according to configuration 1, characterized in that it is a picture forming apparatus. (Composition 3) When the fixing unit is in the second position, there is a gap between the fixing unit and the reading unit in the vertical direction and the first direction. The image forming apparatus according to configuration 2, characterized in that... (Composition 4) When the fixing unit is in the second position, there is a gap between the fixing unit and the reading unit in the vertical direction, and at least a portion of the fixing unit overlaps the reading unit when viewed in the vertical direction. The image forming apparatus according to configuration 2, characterized in that... (Composition 5) With the fixing unit in the second position, the fixing in the first direction There is a gap between the unit and the reading unit, and when viewed in the first direction, at least a portion of the fixing unit overlaps the reading unit. The image forming apparatus according to configuration 2, characterized in that... (Composition 6) The reading unit has a lower surface which is the lower end surface in the vertical direction, an end surface on the first end side in the first direction, and a connecting surface formed between the lower surface and the end surface. When the fixing unit is in the second position, at least a portion of the fixing unit overlaps the connecting surface when viewed in the vertical direction, and at least a portion of the fixing unit overlaps the connecting surface when viewed in the first direction. The image forming apparatus according to configuration 2, characterized in that... (Composition 7) The reading unit has a lower surface which is the lower end surface in the vertical direction, an end surface on the first end side in the first direction, and a connecting surface formed between the lower surface and the end surface. The connecting surface is located outside the space, and when viewed in a direction intersecting the vertical direction and the first direction, the intersection where the imaginary line extending the lower surface and the imaginary line extending the end surface intersect is located inside the space. The image forming apparatus according to configuration 2, characterized in that... (Composition 8) When the fixing unit is in the first position, the fixing unit is positioned on the first end side with respect to the discharge tray. An image forming apparatus according to any one of the configurations 2 to 7, characterized by the features described above. (Composition 9) The second position is further from the second end than the first position in the first direction. An image forming apparatus according to any one of the configurations 2 to 8, characterized by the features described above. (Composition 10) The housing is further equipped with a support member that is connected to the housing and supports the reading unit, With respect to the first direction, the support member is closer to the second end than to the first end. An image forming apparatus according to any one of the configurations 2 to 9, characterized by the features described above. (Composition 11) Includes an discharge roller for discharging the recording medium toward the discharge tray, In the discharge direction of the discharge roller, the support member is positioned downstream of the discharge roller. The image forming apparatus according to configuration 10, characterized in that... (Composition 12) The enclosure further comprises a drawer unit configured to be retractable from an internal position housed inside the enclosure to an external position where at least a portion of it is located outside the enclosure, The fixing unit in the first position is located inside the space through which the drawer unit passes when it moves from the inner position to the outer position, and the fixing unit in the second position is located outside the space through which the drawer unit passes when it moves from the inner position to the outer position. An image forming apparatus according to any one of the configurations 1 to 11 characterized by the above. (Composition 13) The moving mechanism includes a contact member configured to contact the fixing unit from below, an arm member supported by the housing so as to be movable relative to the housing, and a biasing member that biases the arm member to move the contact member in a direction toward the fixing unit moving from the first position to the second position. An image forming apparatus according to any one of the configurations 1 to 12 characterized by the above. (Composition 14) The fixing unit includes a main body and a locking member configured to be pivotable relative to the main body and having a restricted portion. The housing has a restricting portion that, when the fixing unit is in the first position, contacts the restricted portion from above and restricts the movement of the fixing unit to the second position. The moving mechanism has a lock release portion that can press the lock member in a direction that moves the restricted portion away from the restricting portion. The image forming apparatus according to configuration 13, characterized by the features described above. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0087] 1…Printer (image forming apparatus), 1A…Housing, 1B…Opening, 20…Door (opening / closing member), 80…Fusing device (fusing unit), 92…Ejection tray, 100…Moving mechanism, 200…Image scanner (reading unit), P1…Space

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus for forming a toner image on a recording medium, The casing and An opening / closing member supported by the housing is capable of opening and closing between a closed position and an open position, A fixing unit that heats the recording medium on which the toner image has been formed, A moving mechanism supported by the housing, wherein, with the opening / closing member in the open position, the fixing unit is moved from a first position housed inside the housing to a second position above the first position, An output tray on which recording media that have passed through the fixing unit are loaded, A reading unit is provided above the aforementioned output tray to read the image of the document, Equipped with, The reading unit is positioned outside the space through which the fixing unit passes when it moves from the first position to the second position. An image forming apparatus characterized by the following features.

2. The housing has a first end in a first direction parallel to the horizontal direction and a second end opposite to the first end, The fixing unit in the first position is closer to the first end than to the second end in the first direction. The image forming apparatus according to feature 1.

3. When the fixing unit is in the second position, there is a gap between the fixing unit and the reading unit in the vertical direction and the first direction. The image forming apparatus according to feature 2.

4. When the fixing unit is in the second position, there is a gap between the fixing unit and the reading unit in the vertical direction, and when viewed in the vertical direction, at least a part of the fixing unit overlaps the reading unit. The image forming apparatus according to feature 2.

5. When the fixing unit is in the second position, there is a gap between the fixing unit and the reading unit in the first direction, and when viewed in the first direction, at least a part of the fixing unit overlaps the reading unit. The image forming apparatus according to feature 2.

6. The reading unit has a lower surface which is the lower end surface in the vertical direction, an end surface on the first end side in the first direction, and a connecting surface formed between the lower surface and the end surface. When the fixing unit is in the second position, at least a portion of the fixing unit overlaps the connecting surface when viewed in the vertical direction, and at least a portion of the fixing unit overlaps the connecting surface when viewed in the first direction. The image forming apparatus according to feature 2.

7. The reading unit has a lower surface which is the lower end surface in the vertical direction, an end surface on the first end side in the first direction, and a connecting surface formed between the lower surface and the end surface. The connecting surface is located outside the space, and when viewed in a direction intersecting the vertical direction and the first direction, the intersection where the imaginary line extending the lower surface and the imaginary line extending the end surface intersect is located inside the space. The image forming apparatus according to feature 2.

8. When the fixing unit is in the first position, the fixing unit is positioned on the first end side with respect to the discharge tray. The image forming apparatus according to feature 2.

9. The second position is further from the second end than the first position in the first direction. The image forming apparatus according to feature 2.

10. The housing is further equipped with a support member that is connected to the housing and supports the reading unit, In the first direction, the support member is closer to the second end than to the first end. The image forming apparatus according to feature 2.

11. Includes an discharge roller for discharging the recording medium toward the discharge tray, In the discharge direction of the discharge roller, the support member is positioned downstream of the discharge roller. The image forming apparatus according to feature 10.

12. The enclosure further comprises a drawer unit configured to be retractable from an internal position housed inside the enclosure to an external position where at least a portion of it is located outside the enclosure, The fixing unit in the first position is located inside the space through which the drawer unit passes when it moves from the inner position to the outer position, and the fixing unit in the second position is located outside the space through which the drawer unit passes when it moves from the inner position to the outer position. The image forming apparatus according to feature 1.

13. The moving mechanism includes a contact member configured to contact the fixing unit from below, an arm member supported by the housing so as to be movable relative to the housing, and a biasing member that biases the arm member to move the contact member in a direction toward the fixing unit moving from a first position to a second position. The image forming apparatus according to feature 1.

14. The fixing unit includes a main body and a locking member configured to be pivotable relative to the main body and having a restricted portion. The housing has a restricting portion that, when the fixing unit is in the first position, contacts the restricted portion from above and restricts the movement of the fixing unit to the second position. The moving mechanism has a lock release portion that can press the lock member in a direction that moves the restricted portion away from the restricting portion. The image forming apparatus according to feature 13.

Images