Patent ID: 8380114
Filing Date: 2013-02-19
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a fixing device having a first nip to fix toner to a recording medium by heat and pressure; a conveyance device provided at a position downstream from the fixing device in a direction of conveyance of the recording medium where a leading edge of the recording medium reaches before a trailing edge of the recording medium is discharged from the first nip, to convey the recording medium further downstream; a guide member provided along a conveyance path of the recording medium between the fixing device and the conveyance device to contact and convey the recording medium from the fixing device to the conveyance device, the guide member having multiple through-holes formed therein penetrating from a front surface of the guide member facing the conveyance path of the recording medium to a back surface of the guide member; and an airflow generator to generate an airflow through the multiple through-holes from the front surface of the guide member to the back surface of the guide member, wherein: the multiple through-holes include first through-holes, the guide member further includes second through-holes upstream from the first through-holes in the direction of conveyance of the recording medium, the airflow generator generates a jet airflow through the second through-holes from the back surface of the guide member to the front surface of the guide member, and the airflow generator generates or stops generating the jet airflow through the second through-holes from the back surface of the guide member to the front surface of the guide member depending on a height relative to the guide member of the recording medium discharged from the first nip.