Patent ID: 6950619

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image bearing body that bears a developer image formed by developer; a transfer body that transfers said developer image to a recording medium, said transfer body feeding said recording medium; a separating mechanism that separates said image bearing body and said transfer body from each other; a fixing unit that fixes said developer image to said recording medium, said fixing unit including a heating body and a pressure body; a pressing mechanism that presses said heating body and said pressure body against each other so that said recording medium is pressed between said heating body and said pressure body; and a release mechanism that brings said pressing mechanism to stop pressing said heating body and said pressure body, said release mechanism being linked with said separating mechanism such that separating said image bearing body and said transfer body from each other causes said pressing mechanism to stop pressing; wherein said pressing mechanism includes a pressing member that presses said heating body and said pressure body against each other; wherein said release mechanism, in order to stop pressing of said heating body and said pressure body, restrains said pressing member; and wherein said release mechanism stops restraining said pressing member, in order to press said heating body and said pressure body.