Packing member
A packing member packs a fixing device which is detachable from and attachable to an image forming apparatus. The packing member allows a user to grip the fixing device by being interposed between the fixing unit mounted on the image forming apparatus and the user. The packing member includes a cover part covering the fixing device, and a left gripping part and a right gripping part which are provided as a pair in the left and right of the cover part and grip a gripped part formed in the fixing device. The left gripping part and the right gripping part have a heat insulator insulating heat between an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface is attached to the gripped part under pressure by applying pressing force to the outer surface.
1 . A packing member and fixing device assembly, comprising:
a replacement fixing device that is configured to be detachable from and attachable to an image forming apparatus, and
a packing member configured to at least partially cover the replacement fixing device within a box,
wherein
the packing member is configured to be interposed between a used fixing device mounted on the image forming apparatus and a user to allow the user to grip the used fixing device for replacement of the used fixing device with the replacement fixing device.
2 . The packing member and fixing device assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the packing member comprises:
a cover part configured to be able to at least partially cover the used and replacement fixing-devices, wherein the cover part has a gripping part defined by at least a part of the cover part and configured to engage with a counterpart gripped part formed in the used fixing device so as to allow the user to grip the gripped part.
3 . The packing member and fixing device assembly according to claim 2 , wherein
the gripping part includes a heat insulator for insulating heat generated by the used fixing device when the gripping part is engaged with the gripped part of the used fixing device by application of pressure by the user to the gripping part for replacement of the used fixing device with the replacement fixing device.
4 . The packing member and fixing device assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the heat insulator has a thermal conductivity λ[W/m·K] of less than 2.0.
5 . The packing member and fixing device assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the heat insulator has a thermal conductivity λ[W/m·K] of less than 1.0.
6 . The packing member and fixing device assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the heat insulator is made of a pulp mold.
7 . The packing member and fixing device assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the heat insulator is made of a pulp mold.
8 . The packing member and fixing device assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the heat insulator has a thermal conductivity λ[W/m·K] of less than 0.06.
9 . The packing member and fixing device assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the heat insulator is made of a pulp mold.
10 . The packing member and fixing device assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the heat insulator is made of a pulp mold.
11 . The packing member and fixing device assembly according to claim 3 , wherein a dimension between an inner surface of the gripping part and an outer wall of the gripped part is set to be smaller than a dimension between an inner surface of the cover part and an outer wall of the used or replacement fixing device.
12 . The packing member and fixing device assembly according to claim 3 , wherein a thickness dimension between an inner surface and an outer surface of the gripping part is set to be greater than a thickness dimension between an inner surface and an outer surface of the cover part.
13 . The packing member and fixing device assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the cover part has a pair of gripping parts spaced apart from each other, and
the cover part integrally extends between the pair of the gripping parts.
14 . The packing member and fixing device assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the cover part has
a pair of gripping parts spaced apart from each other and
the cover part provided around one of the pairs of the gripping parts extends toward the other one of the pairs of the gripping parts.
15 . The packing member and fixing device assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the gripping part has a distinguishing mark to allow the user to notice the location of the gripping part on the cover part.
16 . The packing member and fixing device assembly according to claim 15 , wherein gripping part is defined by having a concave shape and the distinguishing mark is a finger placing recess section in the concave shape.
17 . The packing member and fixing device assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the distinguishing mark is a window section defined as a cutout which is formed in the cover part.
18 . The packing member and fixing device assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the distinguishing mark is different in color, texture, or material from other areas of the cover part.
19 . The packing member and fixing device assembly according to claim 2 , wherein
the cover part is a part of a first packing member to cover half or more of the replacement fixing device in an attachment direction of the replacement fixing device, and the packing member additionally comprises
a second packing member configured to be separated from the first packing member in the attachment direction of the replacement fixing device and configured to cover a smaller part of the replacement fixing device than the first packing member.