# US 10,120,307 B2 · Image heating apparatus having a locking mechanism that locks a guide member in a first position and releases upon sliding movement

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- Number: US 10,120,307 B2
- Document ID: US10120307B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/682,833
- Filed: 2017-08-22
- Published: 2018-03-01
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-08-23
- Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Tempei Okanemasa
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10120307B2

## CPC

- G03G 15/2028: {with means for handling the copy material in the fixing nip, e.g. introduction guides, stripping means}
- G03G 15/2035: {for maintenance purposes, e.g. for removing a jammed sheet}
- G03G 15/657: {Feeding path after the transfer point and up to the fixing point, e.g. guides and feeding means for handling copy material carrying an unfused toner image}
- G03G 21/1695: {for paper transport}
- G03G 2215/00413: Fixing device
- G03G 2215/2022: the fixing nip having both a stationary and a rotating belt support member opposing a pressure member
- G03G 2215/2032: the belt further entrained around additional rotating belt support members
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY

## Abstract

An image heating apparatus for use with an image forming apparatus. The image heating apparatus includes a pair of rotatable members configured to form a nip for heating an image on a recording material, a guide member configured to guide the recording material toward the nip, a supporting mechanism configured to rotatably support the guide member about an axis so that the guide member is movable between a first position at which the guide member guides the recording material and a second position at which the guide member blocks at least a portion of a feeding path of the recording material, and a locking mechanism configured to lock the guide member being in the first position. The locking mechanism releases locking with sliding movement of the guiding member in a direction of the axis.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An image heating apparatus for use with an image forming apparatus, the image heating apparatus comprising:
a pair of rotatable members configured to form a nip for heating an image on a recording material;
a guide member configured to guide the recording material toward the nip;
a supporting mechanism configured to rotatably support said guide member about an axis so that said guide member is movable between a first position at which said guide member guides the recording material and a second position at which said guide member blocks at least a portion of a feeding path of the recording material; and
a locking mechanism configured to lock said guide member being in the first position, wherein said locking mechanism releases locking with sliding movement of said guiding member in a direction of the axis.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An image heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a direction of the sliding movement of said guide member is a direction from a front side toward a rear side of the image forming apparatus.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

An image heating apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an urging portion configured to urge said guide member in a direction opposite to the direction of the sliding movement of said guide member.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

An image heating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first stopper portion configured to stop rotation of said guide member in the first position and a second stop per portion configured to stop the rotation of said guide member in the second position.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

An image heating apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a toggle mechanism configured to impart a force for pressing said guide member against said first stopper or said second stopper.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

An image heating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said locking mechanism does not lock said guide member in the second position.

### Claim 7

An image heating apparatus comprising:
a pair of rotatable members configured to form a nip for heating an image on a recording material;
a guide member configured to guide the recording material toward the nip;
a supporting mechanism configured to rotatably support said guide member about an axis so that said guide member is movable between a first position at which said guide member guides the recording material and a second position at which maintenance of said image heating apparatus is carried out; and
a locking mechanism configured to lock said guide member being in the first position, wherein said locking mechanism releases locking with sliding movement of said guiding member in a direction of the axis.

### Claim 8

An image heating apparatus comprising:
a pair of rotatable members configured to form a nip for heating an image on a recording material;
a guide member configured to guide the recording material toward the nip;
a supporting mechanism configured to rotatably support said guide member about an axis so that said guide member is movable between a first position at which said guide member guides the recording material and a second position at which said guide member said rotatable members from said image heating apparatus; and
a locking mechanism configured to lock movement of said guide member from the first position toward the second position, wherein said locking mechanism releases locking with sliding movement of said guide member in a direction of the axis.