Patent ID: 9116485
Filing Date: 2015-08-25
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a heating member configured to heat a recording sheet; a pressuring member disposed below the heating member and configured to press the recording sheet against the heating member; a fixing unit frame supporting the heating member and the pressuring member; an upper frame covering an upper portion of the heating member and an upstream portion of the heating member in a conveying direction of the recording sheet, the upper frame defining an air trap for trapping air heated by the heating member; a noncontact temperature sensor disposed in the air trap and facing the heating member, the noncontact temperature sensor being configured to detect a temperature of the heating member without contacting the heating member; an upper sheet guide which has a plate shape, wherein the upper sheet guide protrudes from an upstream end, in the conveying direction, of the upper frame in an upstream direction opposite to the conveying direction, and extends in a width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction and to a vertical direction; a lower sheet guide disposed below and facing the upper sheet guide, the upper sheet guide and the lower sheet guide being configured to guide the recording sheet in the conveying direction toward the heating member and the pressuring member, a sheet discharge unit disposed downstream of the heating member in the conveying direction and configured to discharge the recording sheet heated by the heating member along a sheet discharge path; and an exhaust fan disposed below the heating member and at an end of the heating member in the width direction, the exhaust fan and the upper frame being configured such that the exhaust fan exhausts air out of the image forming apparatus along the sheet discharge path while the air heated by the heating member remains trapped in the air trap where the noncontact temperature sensor is disposed.