Patent ID: 6512914
Filing Date: 2003-01-28
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
An option fixing device comprising:a sheet entrance port through which a recording sheet is entered; a discharge port adapted to discharge the recording sheet; first and second sheet transport paths adapted to transport the recording sheet entered to the discharge port; a transport path switch member being movable between a first switch position for transporting the recording sheet to the first sheet transport path and a second switch position for transporting the recording sheet to the second sheet transport path; a fixing unit adapted to heating-fix a toner image on the recording sheet transported through the second sheet transport path; and a switch member drive member adapted to move the transport path switch member to one of the first and second switch positions in accordance with a transport path switch signal, wherein the option fixing device is detachably coupled to an image forming apparatus in which the toner image is transferred onto the recording sheet, the toner image is fixed onto the recording sheet, and the recording sheet is discharged from a sheet discharge port of the image forming apparatus; and the recording sheet discharged from the sheet discharge port of the image forming apparatus is entered through the sheet entrance port.