Patent ID: 8737892

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: an apparatus main body; a fixing unit configured to fix an unfixed image, which is formed on a recording material, onto the recording material at a fixing nip portion, the fixing unit being mountable to and detachable from the apparatus main body and including a pressure applying portion configured to apply a pressure to the fixing nip portion and a pressure releasing portion configured to release the pressure applied to the fixing nip portion by acting on the pressure applying portion; an opening/closing member disposed in the apparatus main body in an openable/closable manner; an engaging portion disposed in the apparatus main body and configured to engage with the pressure releasing portion of the fixing unit in a state of being mounted to the apparatus main body for moving the pressure releasing portion, the engaging portion moving in conjunction with an opening/closing action of the opening/closing member; and a phase adjusting portion configured to adjust a phase of the pressure releasing portion to a phase of the engaging portion when the opening/closing member is opened, as the fixing unit moves to a predetermined position in the apparatus main body.