Patent ID: 7330682

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image forming mechanism; and a fixing mechanism configured to fix an image on a recording material, and comprising: first and second fixing members configured to face each other to hold the recording material; a lock member configured to have first and second end portions and a locking portion located between the first and the second end portions; a pressuring lever configured to have one end pivotably held; a pressure release lever having a first portion at one end turnably holding the lock member and a second portion turnably holding the pressuring lever at another end of the pressuring lever and configured to turn between a lock position and a release position so that the first portion is located between the second portion and the locking portion of the lock member when the pressure release lever is at the release position and the second portion is located at the locking portion of the lock member when the pressure release lever is at the lock position; and an elastic member configured to pull the lock member capturing the second portion of the pressure release lever in a direction from the first fixing member to the second fixing member at the lock position.