Patent ID: 8831463
Filing Date: 2014-09-09
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an outer cover; an air intake in a bottom facing surface of the image forming apparatus, the bottom facing surface being perpendicular to side surfaces of the outer cover; an image forming unit to form an image on a recording medium; a fixing device to fix the image on the recording medium, the fixing device including a fixing casing in which a sheet inlet through which the recording medium enters the fixing device and a first exhaust opening to discharge hot air from the fixing device are formed; and a thermal shield disposed above the sheet inlet of the fixing device and between the fixing device and a component adjacent to the fixing device, the thermal shield forming an air channel together with the fixing casing to guide air entering the air intake to an exhaust outlet, wherein the first exhaust opening of the fixing casing communicates with the air channel formed by the thermal shield and the fixing casing to merge the hot air discharged from the fixing device into the air flowing in the air channel, and wherein the air channel comprises a vertical channel extending substantially vertically from the air intake and a horizontal channel extending substantially horizontally, and the first exhaust opening of the fixing casing communicates with the horizontal channel.