Patent ID: 6643479
Filing Date: 2003-11-04
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
An image forming device, comprising:an optical mechanism that is disposed between a pair of support frames of the image forming device and has a drive motor that drives the optical mechanism to form an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive body; a developing mechanism that develops the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive body using a developing agent; a transfer mechanism that transfers the developed electrostatic latent image developed on the photosensitive body by the developing mechanism to a printing medium; a thermal fixing mechanism that thermally fixes the developed electrostatic latent image transferred by the transfer mechanism onto the printing medium; an intake fan that is provided for one of the pair of support frames and takes cooling air from an outside to an inside of the image forming device; and an air passage that guides the cooling air taken by the intake fan to an upper portion of the thermal fixing mechanism and to the optical mechanism, the air passage including a duct that forms the air passage extending from an air blowing side of the intake fan at one of the pair of support frames to the other one of the pair of support frames, the duct having a first opening in a side wall of the duct, wherein the cooling air is delivered to the upper portion of the thermal fixing mechanism through the first opening.