Fixing apparatus for fixing toner images on recording media and image forming apparatus comprising the fixing apparatus

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an apparatus main body having an open portion;
• a door which is provided on the apparatus main body to open and close the open portion;
• a photosensitive member which is provided inside the apparatus main body to form a toner image;
• a transfer member which is provided inside the apparatus main body to transfer the toner image of the photosensitive body onto a recording medium;
• and
• a fixing apparatus which is provided inside the apparatus main body, facing the open portion, and fixes the toner image transferred onto the recording medium, the fixing apparatus further comprising:
• a fixing device which fixes a toner image formed on the recording medium while conveying the recording medium;
• a case which surrounds the fixing device and has an opening portion;
• a cover provided on the case so as to open and close the opening portion of the case;
• a cover-fixing shaft which is provided on the cover so as to be detachable to the case, a part of the cover-fixing shaft projecting outside the cover;
• a knob which is attached to the cover-fixing shaft, such that the knob is movable in an axial direction of the cover-fixing shaft and fixed in a rotational direction of an axis of the cover-fixing shaft;
• an elastic member which is provided on the cover-fixing shaft and applies force to the knob in a direction away from the cover;
• and
• a stopper which prevents movement of the knob against force of the elastic member.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an apparatus main body having an open portion;
• a door which closes the open portion;
• a fixing apparatus which is stored in a case and provided inside the apparatus main body to face the open portion;
• a cover which faces the open portion and covers an opening portion provided in the case;
• a cover-fixing shaft which projects in a direction toward the door and is attached to an edge portion of the cover, and fixes the cover onto the case;
• a knob which is attached to the cover-fixing shaft, wherein the knob moves along an axis of the cover-fixing shaft in the state where a rotation of the knob around the axis of the cover-fixing shaft is fixed;
• and
• an elastic member which urges the knob in a direction away from the cover along the cover-fixing shaft,
• wherein the knob abuts against an internal surface of the door, in the state where the door is closed, and is thereby pushed along the cover-fixing shaft in a compression direction of the elastic member, and
• wherein the knob is pushed by the elastic member and projects outside the apparatus main body from the open portion, in the state where the door is opened.