Patent ID: 11971680
Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Field: Optics (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 0:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a fixing unit including a heating roller configured to rotate about a rotational axis and heat an unfixed image formed on a sheet, and a pressure roller configured to nip the sheet with the heating roller, the fixing unit fixing the unfixed image to the sheet;
a housing configured to contain the fixing unit;
an exterior cover provided on the housing so as to be rotatable between an open position and a closed position with respect to the housing, the exterior cover being rotatable about an axis oriented in the same direction that the rotational axis of the heating roller is oriented, the exterior cover forming an exterior of the image forming apparatus in a state where the exterior cover is at the closed position with respect to the housing, and the sheet on which the unfixed image is fixed by the fixing unit being discharged onto an inner side of the exterior cover in a state where the exterior cover is at the open position with respect to the housing;
an operation lever configured to move the pressure roller, the operation lever being movable between (1) a first position for positioning the pressure roller at a first pressing position where the pressure roller presses the heating roller with a first pressing force and (2) a second position for positioning the pressure roller at a second pressing position where the pressure roller presses the heating roller with a second pressing force smaller than the first pressing force; and
a contact portion provided on an inner side of the exterior cover,
wherein, in a state where the operation lever is located at the second position, the contact portion contacts the operation lever during movement of the exterior cover from the open position toward the closed position and, after the contact, the operation lever separates from the contact portion, and
wherein, in a state where the operation lever is located at the first position, the contact portion does not contact the operation lever during the movement of the exterior cover from the open position toward the closed position.