Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a heat source, e.g., a lamp or a printed circuit board, and a fixing unit. A flow of air is circulated by a fan in a housing of the image forming apparatus. A cooling face of a cooling mechanism contacts the flow of air so that the flow of air is cooled. During the circulation of air, air cools the heat source. The cooling mechanism emits heat out of the image forming apparatus in response to cooling, without admitting air from outside of the apparatus.

Abstract: A fixing device is provided in an image forming apparatus. The fixing device has first and second rollers to form a nip portion therebetween. An image forming medium having a flat shape and a leading edge, on which an unfixed image is formed. The image forming medium is conveyed and approaches the nip portion between the first and second rollers. The fixing device also has a changing unit for changing the shape of the vicinity of the leading edge of the image forming medium from the flat shape to a convex shape while the image forming medium is being conveyed to approach the nip portion.

Abstract: In initially setting a copying apparatus from a factory at a user's site of installation, an operator first connects the apparatus to power supply. Thereupon, toner density adjusting means in a developing unit is actuated to adjust the toner content of a developing agent in the developing unit to a predetermined value. Then, a discharge lamp glows, and the surface of a photosensitive drum is charged by a main charger. If the drum surface is rotated to reach the developing unit without being exposed to light, a toner is supplied from the developing unit to the surface to form a toner layer thereon. When the toner layer reaches the location of a cleaning blade, the blade engages the drum surface to remove the toner layer thereon. Thus, the toner layer serves as a lubricant, enabling the blade to fit well with the drum surface.