Patent ID: 8073371
Filing Date: 2011-12-06
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a fixing device configured to fix a toner image using heat and pressure, the fixing device including a fixing roller, a pressure pad, an endless belt, and a heater, the fixing roller contacting an unfixed toner image on a sheet, and the heater disposed inside the fixing roller, the fixing device creating a curl on the sheet due to the fixing roller creating a concave shape in the pressure pad; a sheet separating board, disposed downstream of the fixing roller, positioned in a paper path of the imaging forming apparatus to separate the sheet from the fixing roller and to alter a discharging direction of the sheet which is discharged from the fixing device by contact with the sheet, the sheet separating board including a single surface which contacts the sheet without another surface thereof contacting the sheet; and a pair of sheet discharging rollers, disposed downstream of the fixing device and the sheet separating board, arranged to correct the curl of the sheet discharged from the fixing device by a concave shape in one of the sheet discharging rollers which is on a side of the sheet which is opposite to a side which has the pressure pad with the concave shape, wherein an angle of the sheet separating board at a section of the sheet separating board next to the fixing roller relative to a line perpendicular to the sheet discharging direction of the fixing device is from 75 degrees to 95 degrees and a nip depth of the sheet discharging rollers is from 0 mm to 3 mm.