Patent ID: 9250578
Filing Date: 2016-02-02
CPC Classification: G03G

Claim Text:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming station configured to form a toner image on a sheet with a toner containing parting material; first and second rotatable members forming a nip therebetween and configured to fix a toner image formed on the sheet, said second rotatable member being disposed below said first rotatable member; a casing accommodating said first rotatable member and said second rotatable member and having a sheet introduction opening and a sheet discharge opening; a suppression portion provided adjacent a surface of said first rotatable member in a space extending from said sheet introduction opening to said sheet discharge opening in said casing and configured to suppress scattering of particles of predetermined particle sizes resulting from the toner containing parting material, said suppression portion being disposed so that a gap G (mm) from said first rotatable member and a peripheral speed V (mm/s) of said first rotatable member satisfy 0.5≦G≦0.0059×V+0.72; and a substantially closed chamber provided above said casing and having an entrance for permitting entering of said particles guided to the outside of said casing by said suppression portion to stagnate the particles.