Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes: an image heating device for heating an image on a sheet; a cooling belt for cooling the sheet in close contact with the sheet heated by the image heating device; a heat sink for cooling the cooling belt; a first fan for forming airflow in the heat sink; and a second fan for forming airflow in a space between the image heating device and the cooling belt.

Abstract: The fixing apparatus is configured to include a fixing roller, a paper separation claw, a drive source that switches between a state in which the paper separation claw is in contact with the fixing roller and a state in which the paper separation claw is separated from the fixing roller, and a paper transport guide that is disposed on the downstream side of the fixing roller, the drive source including a heat generating element, and to further include a main ventilation channel that channels cooling air to a fixed paper sheet passing over the paper transport guide and a sub ventilation channel that is branched from the main ventilation channel and channels a portion of the cooling air to the heat generating element.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt, a cooling chamber to cool the intermediate transfer belt, a fixing section, a cooling fan, and a frame. The cooling chamber is defined immediately above the intermediate transfer belt. The fixing section is arranged on one side of the cooling chamber and configured to fix to a sheet the toner image transferred to the sheet by heating the toner image. The cooling fan is arranged on the other side of the cooling chamber and configured to introduce external air to the cooling chamber. The frame has an exhaust port for releasing air in the cooling chamber and is arranged on the other side of the cooling chamber.

Abstract: A ventilating device for ventilating a housing, includes first and second blowers, a flow chamber with an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and an equalization opening connecting the flow chamber between the inlet opening and the outlet opening with the environment, a freely movable cover element for partially covering the equalization opening in such a manner that passage of the flow is blocked in one direction but cleared in the other direction, and an ascending pipe. The elements in the ventilating device are arranged in the sequence first blower, inlet opening, flow chamber, outlet opening, second blower, and ascending pipe. The equalization opening is at least partially open at all times, so that the equalization opening displays a greater flow resistance than the inlet opening of the flow chamber.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a process unit, an exhaust path, and a positioning member movable between (i) a positioning position for positioning the process unit and (ii) a releasing position for releasing the process unit, the positioning member having an air path, the air path and the exhaust path being connected in a case where the positioning member is in the positioning position, and the air path and the exhaust path being disconnected in a case where the positioning member is in the releasing position.

Abstract: An air sending mechanism includes an air sending unit including a rotating shaft and a plurality of blade members provided on the rotating shaft, the air sending unit being configured to send air by producing a swirl flow swirling about the rotating shaft with rotation of the plurality of blade members; a wall member provided on a downstream side in an air sending direction with respect to the air sending unit in such a manner as to face the air sending unit; and a rectifying member provided between the air sending unit and the wall member and having at least one bend or curve provided as a result of the member being angled or curved such that the swirl flow produced by the air sending unit is guided in an intersecting direction that intersects the air sending direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a chassis, an image forming section, a shield metal plate, and a plurality of substrates. The chassis has a first surface and a second surface on an opposite side to the first surface. The image forming section is disposed in an internal space formed between the first and second surfaces of the chassis and performs an image forming process on a sheet. The shield metal plate is provided vertically between the second surface and the image forming section and has a third surface facing a side of the first surface and a fourth surface facing a side of the second surface. The plurality of substrates are provided vertically on the third surface of the shield metal plate and have electrical components protruding toward the first surface.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an image forming apparatus (100) is provided with a resin frame (300) made of resin and an image forming unit (200). The image forming apparatus further includes a first duct (410) that allows air to flow on one side of the image forming unit (200), a second duct (420) that allows air to flow on the other side, and a third duct (430) that allows air to flow between the first duct and the second duct. The resin frame (300) has a first duct portion (311) that constitutes at least a portion of the first duct (410), and a second duct portion (321) that constitutes at least a portion of the second duct (420).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of effectively cooling down a sheet having been subjected to fixing processing while preventing an apparatus from becoming larger in size and a sheet conveyance failure from occurring is provided. The image forming apparatus (10) includes a sheet conveyance path (16), a fixing device (22), a conveyance roller (26), an upper sheet guide (60), a lower sheet guide (62), and a cooling fan (40). The conveyance roller (26) is disposed downstream of a heat-treatment portion in the sheet conveyance path and configured so as to convey a sheet passing the heat-treatment portion to the paper output tray. At a position corresponding to the position of the conveyance rollers (26), the upper sheet guide (60) is provided with a ventilation portion (604) configured so as to make the cooling air from the cooling device (40) pass through.

Abstract: This air intake mechanism is configured of a first louver (23), a second louver (30), and an axial fan (33). The first louver (23) is an annular opening between an outer circular section (25), which is concentric to the rotating axis (rotation center) of the axial fan (33), and an inner circular section (27), which is concentric to the outer circular section (25). The second louver (30) is configured of a plurality of linear slits (30a), which are parallel to each other. The opening width (d2) of each of the slits (30a) that constitutes the second louver (30) is smaller than the opening width (d1) of the first louver (23).

Abstract: The developing device of the present disclosure comprises a developing container, toner carrier, developer carrier, regulating member, and air outflow channel. The developing container accommodates a two-component developer. The toner carrier supplies toner to an image carrier. The developer carrier rotates so that a surface facing the toner carrier moves in the opposite direction of the toner carrier, and a toner layer is formed on the toner carrier. The regulating member regulates the amount of developer carried on the developer carrier. The air outflow channel communicates an airflow outlet formed in the top end of the developing container facing the toner carrier with the interior of a duct placed above the developing container, and the air outflow channel is inclined downstream in the rotational direction of the toner carrier relative to a straight line passing through the rotational axis center of the toner carrier and the airflow outlet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier configured to carry a toner image. A transfer unit is configured to transfer the toner image on the image carrier onto a recording sheet. A fixing unit is configured to fix the toner image transferred at the transfer unit onto the recording sheet. Through a conveyance path, the recording sheet is conveyed from the transfer unit to the fixing unit. A conveyance guide member is disposed in the conveyance path on an image formation surface side of the recording sheet. A fan is configured to send air from the transfer unit to the conveyance path toward a gap defined between the conveyance guide member and the transfer unit so as to form a flow of air in the conveyance path from an upstream side to a downstream side in a conveyance direction of the recording sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit heating an image formed on a recording medium and disposed along a conveying path conveying the recording medium. The conveying path includes a first guide plate, discharge guide plate portions and second guide plate portion as conveyance guide plates guiding the recording medium. Partition walls and vertical walls are disposed at positions facing these guide plate portions. The air current guide portion guides air taken in from intake ports through an intake guide portion between the respective guide plate portions and each walls.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a casing, a drum unit including a photoconductive drum having a central axis extending in a first direction, and a charging device configured to charge the photoconductive drum, a fixing unit configured to fix an image on a printing medium, a fan configured to generate an air flow inside the casing, a filter configured to remove ozone included in the air, a first channel defined in the casing, the air directed from the fixing unit toward the fan flowing in the first channel, a second channel defined in the casing, the air directed from the charging device toward the fan flowing in the second channel, the filter being provided in the second channel, the second channel being arranged next to the first channel, and a blocking member configured to block communication between the first channel and the second channel.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus capable of preventing heat in an in-body copy receiving portion from reaching a bottom face of a scanner portion disposed above the in-body copy receiving portion. An image forming apparatus (100) includes: an in-body copy receiving portion (90); a scanner portion (123); and an air blow portion (200). The in-body copy receiving portion (90) includes a copy receiving tray (91) to stack image-formed sheets thereon, the in-body copy receiving portion being disposed in the image forming apparatus (100). The scanner portion (123) is capable of reading a document, the scanner portion being disposed above the in-body copy receiving portion (90). The air blow portion (200) generates airflow between a maximum sheet loadable position on the copy receiving tray (91) and the scanner portion (123) so as to flow along a bottom face of the scanner portion (123).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a sheet conveyance path, a toner containing unit, a fixing unit, a fixing housing, a heat insulation member, a first hot air exhaust passage, a second hot air exhaust passage and a third hot air exhaust passage. The fixing housing houses the fixing unit and includes a wall portion facing the toner containing unit. The heat insulation member shields between the wall portion and the toner containing unit. The first hot air exhaust passage is arranged between the heat insulation member and the toner containing unit. The second hot air exhaust passage communicates with the first hot air exhaust passage. The third hot air exhaust passage is arranged between the wall portion and the heat insulation member and includes an opening facing the sheet conveyance path and a communication port communicating with the second hot air exhaust passage.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus, comprising: a recording device; a cassette; a discharge tray; a conveying path; a conveyor; an electrical power supply; a cooling air flow path; an air blower to apply a wind-force to air; a casing; and an additional cassette device attached to a lower portion of the casing, and in this configuration, the additional cassette device comprises: an additional cassette and an additional conveying path. A relay path is provided between the additional conveying path and the conveying path. The electrical power supply and the cooling air flow path are arranged under the cassette. The electrical power supply is arranged to overlap with the cassette when viewed along the vertical direction, and the cooling air flow path is formed not to intersect with the relay path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a plurality of image forming units arranged in parallel with each other at intervals in a predetermined direction toward a first side from a second side of the image forming apparatus, each image forming unit including a photoconductive drum, and a charger configured to charge the photoconductive drum, a frame body configured to support the plurality of image forming units, and a regulating member disposed between a first-side image forming unit of the plurality of image forming units that is closest to the first side in the predetermined direction and a first-side end portion of the frame body in the predetermined direction, the regulating member configured to regulate an air current and urge the first-side image forming unit.

Abstract: To provide an image forming apparatus in which the paper is cooled early by blowing air to the paper in the conveying path so as to prevent a sticking phenomenon on a paper output tray while paper turning, paper folding, paper breakage and paper jamming due to influence on paper conveyance by blowing air onto the paper in the conveying path, can be prevented. At the start of paper conveyance, a gate 73 is turned upwards to a first position to thereby close a sixth conveying path 44 and establish communication between a first conveying path 42 and a second conveying path 43 so that the paper having passed through a fixing unit 21 starts to be conveyed from first conveying path 42 to second conveying path 43. At the same time, air is exhausted from an exhausting mechanism 53 arranged upstream of a cooling mechanism 76.

Abstract: In a fixing unit in which a recording material carrying a toner image is heated while conveying in a nip portion to fix the toner image onto the recording material, a measure to prevent both of temperature rise at non-sheet-passing area and condensation slippage using at least one air supplying unit is required. Separately providing air supplying units for these two issues results in the need of a plurality of fans only for the fixing unit, increasing the size and cost of the apparatus. Thus, decreases in size and cost of a fixing unit and an image forming apparatus including the fixing unit can be achieved by using a common air supplying member to prevent both of temperature rise at non-sheet-passing area and condensation slippage.

Abstract: The fixing apparatus is configured to include a fixing roller, a paper separation claw, a drive source that switches between a state in which the paper separation claw is in contact with the fixing roller and a state in which the paper separation claw is separated from the fixing roller, and a paper transport guide that is disposed on the downstream side of the fixing roller, the drive source including a heat generating element, and to further include a main ventilation channel that channels cooling air to a fixed paper sheet passing over the paper transport guide and a sub ventilation channel that is branched from the main ventilation channel and channels a portion of the cooling air to the heat generating element.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable pressure member; a heating member that is provided so as to oppose the pressure member, and that includes a heat source; a fixing member that fixes an image to a recording medium as a result of transporting the recording medium while the recording medium is nipped at a nip when the fixing member is pressed by the pressure member, the image being formed of toner including a separating agent; a cooling unit that cools the pressure member at a location that is situated downstream of the nip; a removing roller that, while being driven and rotated by the pressure member, removes the separating agent from the pressure member, the separating agent being transferred from the fixing member; and a removing member that contacts the removing roller and removes the separating agent adhered to the removing roller from the removing roller.

Abstract: An image reader is provided, in its housing, with a first scanning unit made up of an LED array of a plurality of LED elements that are arranged in a row in the horizontal scanning direction and that emit light to a document. An air intake port and an air exhaust port are disposed on the housing of the image reader. An imaginary line of an air flow path coupling the air intake port and the air exhaust port to one another is configured to pass adjacent a center of the LED array of the first scanning unit in the horizontal scanning direction with the first scanning unit stopped at a reading position of the document transferred by a document transfer device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a fusing unit including a first rotor provided with a heat-generating unit and an elastic layer, as well as a second rotor provided in direct contact with the first rotor, the fusing unit fixing a toner image on a sheet, and a duct for allowing an inlet and an exhaust outlet to communicate with each other, the inlet being adapted to allow a current of air derived from the fusing unit to flow in, the exhaust outlet facing toward the outside of the apparatus. The duct includes an introduction channel for guiding and jetting out air taken in from the inlet, a main channel for guiding the air jetted out of the introduction channel to the exhaust outlet, and a cul-de-sac provided in communication with the main channel at one end and closed at the other end.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a fan, a first louver, and a second louver. The first louver includes first rectifier vanes that direct airflow produced by the fan. The second louver is located on an inner side of an apparatus body with respect to the first louver and faces the first louver in such a manner as to overlap the first louver in a direction of an axis of rotation of the fan. The second louver includes second rectifier vanes that direct the airflow produced by the fan. Each of the first rectifier vanes and a corresponding one of the second rectifier vanes that is adjacent thereto extend in one plane inclining at a specific angle with respect to the axis of rotation of the fan.

Abstract: An image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an air cleaner for cleaning air, an image forming apparatus that is settable to a mode for economizing power, and a control unit that causes a display unit of the air cleaner to display an operating state of the image forming apparatus when the image forming apparatus is set to the mode for economizing power. An image forming system according to another embodiment of the present invention includes an image forming apparatus that prints an image on recording paper, an air cleaner that is for cleaning air, and is integrally attached to the image forming apparatus via a support member, and supported above the image forming apparatus by the support member, and a control unit that causes a display unit of the air cleaner to display an operating state of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An intake fan (62) is provided on a side surface of an exposure device (40) provided below a plurality of image formation portions (20) far from a fixing unit (30), and a ventilation path (70) is formed on a side surface of the exposure device (40) on a back side, and outside air sucked by the intake fan (62) into a body of an apparatus is fed through the ventilation path (70) to the back side of the image formation portion (20K) closest to the fixing unit (30). The air flows through a space between a division plate (80) and the image formation portions (20) toward a discharge fan (61), and the image formation portions (20) are air-cooled sequentially from the image formation portion (20K). Thus, it is possible to effectively air-cool the image formation portions without increasing the size of the apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form a toner image on a recording material, a fixing unit configured to fix the toner image on the recording material by heat, a cooling air generating unit configured to generate a cooling air, and an air supplying unit configured to supply the cooling air toward the image forming unit. In addition, a primary water absorbing portion is configured to absorb water generated by the cooling air generating unit, and a secondary water absorbing portion is disposed at a position lower than the primary water absorbing portion in a gravitational direction and configured to absorb the water supplied through the primary water absorbing portion. An air blowing unit blows air warmed by the fixing unit toward the primary and secondary water absorbing portions to evaporate the water absorbed in the first and secondary water absorbing portions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording medium storage unit that stores therein a recording medium; an image forming unit that is arranged above the recording medium storage unit and that forms an image on the recording medium transferred from the recording medium storage unit; a storage-unit exterior member that covers a front side of the recording medium storage unit; an image-forming-unit exterior member that covers a front side of the image forming unit and that protrudes forward relative to the storage-unit exterior member; and a fresh air supply path that is arranged on a back side of the image-forming-unit exterior member, through which fresh air introduced from outside the image forming apparatus flows.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an ejection stacking section, a cooling target unit, and a cooling fan. The cooling target unit is disposed below the ejection stacking section. The cooling fan sends air to flow between the cooling target unit and the ejection stacking section. The ejection stacking section includes an opening, a movable member, and a biasing member. The movable member is movable between a closed position and an open position. The biasing member biases the movable member toward the closed position. In response to that the recording mediums are stacked on the ejection stacking section, the movable member moves toward the open position against a biasing force of the biasing member to allow the air sent from the cooling fan to flow through the opening so as to cool a lower surface of the recording mediums stacked on the ejection stacking section.

Abstract: A multifunction peripheral includes: an apparatus body including an intake opening through which external air is taken in; an axial flow fan configured to send air through the intake opening to an interior of the apparatus body; and a substrate including a temperature sensor placed on one surface thereof facing a first air flow path formed by activation of the blower and a humidity sensor placed on the other surface thereof facing a second air flow path along which a smaller amount of air flow flows than along the first air flow path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing portion, including a heating member and a back-up member forming a nip; and an air feeding portion for feeding air to a non-sheet-passing area of at least one of the heating member and the back-up member, the air feeding portion including a fan for feeding the air, a duct, including an opening, for guiding the air fed from the fan through the opening to the non-sheet-passing area, and an adjusting member for adjusting an opening amount of the opening. The apparatus executes a first air feeding operation with a first opening amount and a first rotational frequency of the fan and a second air feeding operation with a second opening amount and a second rotational frequency, when the fixing portion fixes the images on sheets having the same widths.

Abstract: An imaging unit of an imaging apparatus is provided including a developer unit for developing a toner and a cooling system. The cooling system includes an air distribution duct and a connecting segment. The connecting segment includes an air conduit attached to the air distribution duct and an air entry port disposed on the air conduit for connecting to the air supply line during installation of the imaging unit. A contacting surface of the air entry port is angled inwardly in two directions, relative to the air conduit, that are orthogonal to each other.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an image forming apparatus (100) is provided with a resin frame (300) made of resin and an image forming unit (200). The image forming apparatus further includes a first duct (410) that allows air to flow on one side of the image forming unit (200), a second duct (420) that allows air to flow on the other side, and a third duct (430) that allows air to flow between the first duct and the second duct. The resin frame (300) has a first duct portion (311) that constitutes at least a portion of the first duct (410), and a second duct portion (321) that constitutes at least a portion of the second duct (420).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming portion; a fixing portion; a first air blowing portion; and a second air blowing portion. The apparatus is operable in a first air blowing mode in which both the first and second air blowing portions are driven and in which the direction of the air near the exit is the recording material feeding direction, and is operable in a second air blowing mode in which both the first and second air blowing portions are driven and in which a direction of the air near the exit is a recording material feeding direction and a speed of the air is lower than a speed of the air in the first air blowing mode or in which the direction of the air near the exit is the opposite direction to the recording material feeding direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly; a fixing unit including a fixing rotatable member for fixing an unfixed image formed on a recording material, and a frame for accommodating the fixing rotatable member, the fixing unit is detachably mountable to the main assembly; and an air feeding member for feeding air to the fixing rotatable member provided in the main assembly, wherein the frame is provided with an opening for applying the air fed from the air feeding member to the fixing rotatable member, and an openable member movable between a first position for closing the opening and a second position for opening the opening, wherein the openable member moves from the second position to the first position in response to an operation of taking the fixing unit out of the main assembly.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, where the image carrier may include an image carrier body having a hollowness and image carrier flanges, which are installed at both ends of the image carrier body. Each image carrier flange may include a blower fan integrally formed therewith, so that air outside of the image carrier body is moved from one end of the image carrier body, at which a drive gear is positioned, to the other end of the image carrier body as the image carrier rotates. Waste developer which may accumulate on the drive gear is reduced, thereby preventing the operational error of the image carrier and thus avoiding the degradation of the image quality.

Abstract: A wet-type image forming apparatus includes: a heating unit configured to heat a recording medium and to volatilize liquid carrier in a toner image; a fixing unit configured to fix the toner image on the recording medium and disposed at a downstream side of the heating unit in a conveyance direction of the recording medium; a conveyance unit configured to convey the recording medium from the heating unit to the fixing unit; and a housing disposed to cover the conveyance unit, wherein the recording medium is conveyed on the conveyance unit in the housing toward the fixing unit after heated by the heating unit, in the presence of gas containing the volatilized liquid carrier, and the volatilized liquid carrier is cooled and turned into fine mist liquid carrier and then the fine mist liquid carrier attaches to the recording medium before the recording medium reaches the fixing unit.

Abstract: An acoustic cavity conditions the air flowing from a blower to reduce noise in the airflow. The air flowing directly out of the blower exhibits pulses produced by each impeller blade or fan blade. The airflow noise is thereby induced at certain frequencies. Printing operations inside a printer can also occur at specific frequencies. Introducing the airflow directly into certain areas of a printer can result in the noise frequencies and printing frequencies to combine and produce noticeable printing artifacts. An acoustic cavity tuned to dampen the airflow noise can condition the airflow and eradicate the printing artifacts.

Abstract: A sheet conveyer device, including a roller to convey a sheet by rotating in a normal direction and a holder rotatably arranged on a roller shaft, is provided. The holder includes a roller gear system arranged on the roller shaft and having a roller driving gear to drive the roller, a shutter rotatably arranged on a shutter shaft to restrict access of the sheet to the roller, a shutter gear system to connect a path between the roller gear system and the shutter, a one-way clutch to disconnect the path between the roller gear system and the shutter when the roller rotates in the normal direction, and a torque limiter to allow the roller to rotate in a reverse direction. The holder rotates about the roller shaft in the same reverse direction as the roller when the roller rotates in the reverse direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes; an image forming station for forming a toner image on a sheet; a fixing device including a fixing member and a pressing member; an air feeding member for air feeding cooling air toward the pressing member; and a shutter, provided between the air feeding member and the pressing member, for controlling an air feeding region, wherein the image forming apparatus operable selectively in a first mode for feeding the air an entire area with respect to the longitudinal direction of the pressing member, and in a second mode for feeding the air only a non-sheet-passing area when a small size sheet is fed.

Abstract: A blowing device includes a blower that blows air and an air duct including an inlet and an outlet. The air duct takes in the air through the inlet and guiding the air so that the air flows out through the outlet toward a corona discharge unit including a target component toward which the air is to be blown. The outlet of the air duct includes a through-portion in a non-overlapping region thereof, the non-overlapping region being a region of the outlet excluding an overlapping region of the outlet. The overlapping region corresponds to an interposed component of the corona discharge unit, the interposed component being located between the outlet and the target component at a position at which the interposed component overlaps the overlapping region.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: an image forming unit; an enclosure; and an intake duct. The image forming unit includes a photosensitive member having an axis. The enclosure is configured to house the image forming unit and includes a first wall provided on one side of the image forming unit with respect to a first direction parallel to the axis. An air intake is formed in the first wall to allow air communication between an interior and an exterior of the enclosure. The intake duct is elongated in the first direction. Air drawn in through the air intake flows into the intake duct. The intake duct includes an opposing part. The opposing part opposes the image forming unit in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. An opening is formed in the opposing part. Air introduced into the intake duct flows toward the image forming unit through the opening.

Abstract: A developer collecting device includes a housing in which an opening disposed opposite to a developer holding member is formed, a collection member that is disposed to be capable of coming in contact with and being separated from the developer holding member and that detaches the developer and collects the detached developer in the housing, a sealing member that is disposed to be capable of coming in contact with and being separated from the developer holding member and that seals up a gap between the developer holding member and the housing, a suction passage to which a suction unit suctioning the developer into the housing is connected, a developer transport unit that transports the developer to one end of the housing, and a filtration member that is tilted so that at least an upper part thereof overlaps with the upside of the developer transport unit in a plan view.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms a toner image on a recording medium includes an image forming unit that forms an unfixed toner image on a recording medium; a fixing unit that heats the recording medium bearing the unfixed toner image and fixes the unfixed toner image onto the recording medium at a nip portion; a heating member and a pressurizing member that touches the heating member and forms the nip portion therebetween; a first blower that blows air to a non-sheet-passing area of a small-size recording medium in the heating member; and a second blower that blows air to a non-sheet-passing area of a small-size recording medium in the pressurizing member. Upon the temperature of the non-sheet-passing area of the heating member exceeding a threshold temperature, the first blower blows without the second blower blowing, then the two blowers start blowing together.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a main duct forming an airflow path of air blew by an air blower such that the air flows through the main duct from a first side to a second side in an extending direction of the airflow path, the main duct including a plurality of air outlets opening in a direction intersecting the extending direction and discretely disposed along the extending direction, and an image forming unit including a plurality of air inlets disposed apart from the plurality of air outlets such that the air flowing out from the plurality of air outlets is introduced into the plurality of air inlets, each air inlet formed such that a second-side end thereof in the extending direction is positionally shifted toward the second side in the extending direction, relative to a second-side end of a corresponding air outlet in the extending direction.

Abstract: An imaging device provided with a latent image carrying body rotatably disposed to carry a latent image, a developing unit that develops the latent image carried on the carrying body by using a developer containing toner at least, and a duct disposed downstream of the developing unit and having a wall with an upstream suction port and a downstream suction port formed. An air flow path is formed by a surface of the latent image carrying body and a surface of the duct wall, between the upstream suction port and the downstream suction port. A gap of the air flow path is wider at the downstream side than at the upstream side with respect to the rotational direction of the latent image carrying body.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a moving assembly that moves a second rotary body and an airflow guide between a first position and a second position, the first position where the second rotary body contacts a first rotary body to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing an unfixed toner image is conveyed and a constant first interval between the second rotary body and the airflow guide is smaller than a variable second interval between the second rotary body and an exhaust duct, the second position where the second rotary body is isolated from the first rotary body and the constant first interval between the second rotary body and the airflow guide is equivalent to the variable second interval between the second rotary body and the exhaust duct.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a suction port, provided in a front side of a main assembly of the image forming apparatus, for sucking air; an air flow guiding portion for guiding the air sucked through the suction port; and a sound source, provided din a rear side of the main assembly so as to oppose a space connected with the air flow guiding portion, for generating a sound to be notified to an operator.

Abstract: The present application discloses an image forming apparatus for forming an image by means of toner. The image forming apparatus includes an image carrier including an image carrying surface to form an electrostatic latent image; a developing device which supplies the toner to the image carrying surface to form a toner image; and a suction device configured to create airflow for suctioning the toner scattered from the developing device. The developing device includes a duct configured to guide the airflow to the suction device. The duct includes a connection surface, to which the suction device is connected, and a suction surface provided with suction ports into which the toner flows. The suction ports aligned in a direction apart from the connection surface include different suction ports in ventilation area.