Fixing device, image forming apparatus with same, and method of smoothly detaching and attaching fixing device from and to image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus including a fixing device to provide heat and fix an unfixed toner image onto a recording medium, the fixing device comprising:

• a housing detachably attached to a body of an image forming apparatus;
• a fixing unit mounted on the housing to provide heat and fix an unfixed toner image onto a recording medium;
• a locking mechanism to lock and unlock the housing in the body of an image forming apparatus by switching its own position between a locking position and an unlocking position;
• an operating member provided in the housing to operate the locking mechanism;
• a first handling member provided at a lower side in the housing to be handled when the housing is either attached to or detached from the body of an image forming apparatus;
• and
• a second handling member provided at an upper side in the housing in the vicinity of the operating member to be handled when the housing is either attached to or detached from the body of an image forming apparatus, the operating member and the first and second handling members collectively constituting a handling unit to be simultaneously handled when the housing is either detached from or attached to the body of the image forming apparatus.

A method of accommodating and removing a fixing device that heats and fixes an unfixed toner image onto a recording medium to and from an image forming apparatus, the fixing device comprising:

• a housing detachably attached to a body of an image forming apparatus;
• a locking mechanism to lock and unlock the housing in the body of an image forming apparatus by switching its own position between a locking position and an unlocking position;
• an operating member provided in the housing to operate the locking mechanism;
• a first handling member provided at a lower side in the housing to be handled when the housing is either attached to or detached from the body of an image forming apparatus;
• and a second handling member provided at an upper side in the housing in the vicinity of the operating member to be handled when the housing is either attached to or detached from the body of an image forming apparatus, the operating member and the first and second handling members collectively constituting a handling unit to be simultaneously handled when the housing is either detached from or attached to the body of the image forming apparatus,
• the method comprising the steps of:
• grasping the first handling member with a first finger;
• grasping the operating member with a second finger other than the first finger;
• pivoting the locking mechanism with the second finger via the operating member from locking to unlocking positions;
• grasping the operating member and the second handling member at the same time with the second finger when the locking mechanism is pivoted and the operating member approaches the second handling member;
• and
• detaching the housing from the body of the image forming apparatus while grasping both the first and second handling members with the first and second fingers simultaneously.