Patent ID: 7496316

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a fixing section including a fixing member and a pressing member each built as a rotary member; a pair of fixing section discharge rollers, disposed on a downstream side of the fixing section with respect to a paper conveying direction, for discharging paper out of the fixing section and further downstreaim; an openable section having the pair of fixing section discharge rollers mounted thereon, the openable section being rotatable about a pivot portion thereof parallel to an axis of the fixing or pressing member so as to make externally accessible a paper conveying passage on the downstream side of the fixing section with respect to the paper conveying direction; and a separating mechanism for releasing a fixing nip formed as a result of the fixing and pressing members being brought into pressed contact with each other, the separating mechanism bringing the fixing and pressing members apart from each other in a coordinated manner as the openable section is opened, wherein the separating mechanism includes a cam having an axis of rotation aligned with the axis of the pressing member.