# US 2014/0153965 A1 · Fixing device, image forming apparatus with same, and method of smoothly detaching and attaching fixing device from and to image forming apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0153965 A1 - Document ID: US20140153965A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/082,254 - Filed: 2013-11-18 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-05 - Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Inventors: Shigeo NANNO - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140153965A1 ## CPC - G03G 21/1685: {for the fixing unit} - G03G 21/1647: {Mechanical connection means} - G03G 2221/1639: for the fixing unit - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A fixing device includes a housing detachably attached to a body of an image forming apparatus, a fixing unit mounted on the housing to heat and fix an unfixed toner image onto a recording medium, a locking mechanism to lock and unlock the housing in the body of the image forming apparatus by switching its own position from a locking position to an unlocking position, vice-versa, and an operating member integrally connected to the locking mechanism to operate the locking mechanism. First and second handling members are provided on lower and upper sides of the housing, respectively, to be handled when the housing is either attached to or detached from the body of the image forming apparatus. The operating member approaches the second handling member when the locking mechanism changes its position to detach the housing from the body of the image forming apparatus. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fixing device comprising: a housing detachably attachable to a body of an image forming apparatus; a fixing unit mounted on the housing to heat and fix an unfixed toner image onto a recording medium; a locking mechanism to lock and unlock the housing on 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fixing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating member switches a position of the locking mechanism to the unlocking position while approaching the second handling member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fixing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism is a switching lever integrally connected to the operating member at its front side tip. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fixing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism includes a pressing mechanism to press and bias the switching lever toward the locking position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fixing device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a space formed below the lower side of the first handling member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fixing device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an operating member striker provided in the housing to strike the operating member when the locking mechanism is switched to the unlocking position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The fixing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handling unit is provided at a lateral end of a conveyance path for the recording medium. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fixing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handling unit is provided proximally in a direction in which the fixing device is drawn out from the body of the image forming apparatus. ### Claim 9 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. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the operating member switches a position of the locking mechanism to the unlocking position while approaching the second handling member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the locking mechanism is a switching lever integrally connected to the operating member at its front side tip. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the locking mechanism includes a pressing mechanism to press and bias the switching lever toward the locking position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a space formed below the lower side of the first handling member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising an operating member striker provided in the housing to strike the operating member when the locking mechanism is switched to the unlocking position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the handling unit is provided at a lateral end of a conveyance path for the recording medium. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the handling unit is provided proximally in a direction in which the fixing device is drawn out from the body of the image forming apparatus. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a supporting unit provided in the body to support the bottom of the fixing device when the fixing device is attached to and detached from the body. ### Claim 18 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. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising an operating member striker provided in the housing to strike the operating member when the locking mechanism is switched to the unlocking position, wherein the operating member switches a position of the locking mechanism to the unlocking position while approaching the second handling member, wherein the locking mechanism is a switching lever integrally connected to the operating member at its front side tip, wherein the locking mechanism includes a pressing mechanism to press and bias the switching lever toward the locking position, wherein a space is formed below the lower side of the first handling member, wherein the handling unit is provided at a lateral end of a conveyance path for a recording medium, wherein the handling unit is provided proximally in a direction in which the fixing device is drawn out from the body of an image forming apparatus. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method s as claimed in claim 18, further comprising the step of supporting the bottom of the fixing device with a supporting member when the fixing device is either attached or detached from the body of an image forming apparatus.