IP Library › Granted Patent US 12693619
Granted Patent B2
US 12693619 · App. 19/072,930 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Image forming apparatus

Inventor: Tomokazu Akuta (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
G03G15/80G03G21/1685G03G2215/00978G03G2221/1639
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12693619
App. No.
19/072,930
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an attachment section to which a first fixing unit that performs a fixing operation of fixing an image on a recording material by using power from an alternating current power supply and a second fixing unit that performs the fixing operation by using power from a direct current power supply are attached, an alternating current power supply section that receives the power supplied from the alternating current power supply, and a direct current power supply section that receives the power supplied from the direct current power supply, in which the attachment of the first fixing unit to the attachment section and the supply of the power from the direct current power supply to the direct current power supply section are not executable simultaneously, and the attachment of the second fixing unit to the attachment section and the supply of the power from the alternating current power supply to the alternating current power supply section are not executable simultaneously.

Claims (25)

1 . An image forming apparatus comprising:

an attachment section to which a first fixing unit that performs a fixing operation of fixing an image on a recording material by using power from an alternating current power supply and a second fixing unit that performs the fixing operation by using power from a direct current power supply are attached;

an alternating current power supply section that receives the power supplied from the alternating current power supply; and

a direct current power supply section that receives the power supplied from the direct current power supply,

wherein the attachment of the first fixing unit to the attachment section and the supply of the power from the direct current power supply to the direct current power supply section are not executable simultaneously, and the attachment of the second fixing unit to the attachment section and the supply of the power from the alternating current power supply to the alternating current power supply section are not executable simultaneously.

2 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a shutter member that blocks the alternating current power supply section to inhibit the supply of the power from the alternating current power supply to the alternating current power supply section, or that blocks the direct current power supply section to inhibit the supply of the power from the direct current power supply to the direct current power supply section.

3 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 ,

wherein the shutter member blocks the direct current power supply section in a case in which the first fixing unit is attached to the attachment section.

4 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 ,

wherein the shutter member blocks the alternating current power supply section in a case in which the second fixing unit is attached to the attachment section.

5 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising:

a switching section that operates in conjunction with the shutter member to switch the attachment section between a first state in which the first fixing unit is attachable and the second fixing unit is not attachable and a second state in which the first fixing unit is not attachable and the second fixing unit is attachable.

6 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 ,

wherein the switching section switches the attachment section to the first state in a case in which the direct current power supply section is blocked by the shutter member.

7 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 ,

wherein the switching section switches the attachment section to the second state in a case in which the alternating current power supply section is blocked by the shutter member.

8 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 ,

wherein the attachment section includes an insertion portion into which a projection provided on the first fixing unit or the second fixing unit is inserted, and

the switching section allows the projection of the first fixing unit to be inserted into the insertion portion and inhibits the projection of the second fixing unit from being inserted into the insertion portion in the first state, and inhibits the projection of the first fixing unit from being inserted into the insertion portion and allows the second fixing unit to be inserted into the insertion portion in the second state.

9 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 ,

wherein the shutter member moves between a first position for blocking the direct current power supply section and a second position for blocking the alternating current power supply section, and

the switching section switches between the first state and the second state by moving a position of the insertion portion in conjunction with the movement of the shutter member.

10 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 ,

wherein a position of the projection is different between the first fixing unit and the second fixing unit.