Patent ID: 7657219
Filing Date: 2010-02-02
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a recording medium container for holding a multiple number of recording mediums; a recording medium feeder for delivering the recording mediums, sheet by sheet, from the recording medium container; an image forming portion for transferring a developer image formed with a developer to the recording medium; a fixing portion for fusing and fixing the developer image transferred to the recording medium onto the recording medium by a heated fixing roller; a paper discharge portion for discharging the recording medium with the developer image fused and fixed thereon to the outside of the apparatus; and a recording medium conveying portion for conveying the recording medium along a recording medium conveyance path by conveyance rollers, wherein the recording medium conveyance path is formed with guide components for guiding the conveyed recording medium in the recording medium's direction of conveyance; the guide components are provided at least inside a curved part of the recording medium conveyance path; the guide components are formed in shapes that will not cause concentration of stress acting on the recording medium in abutment therewith; and at least one of the guide components is constructed such that, as to the configuration in the width direction that is perpendicular to the recording medium's direction of conveyance and parallel to an axial direction of the conveyance rollers, a section of the at least one guide component is formed to be wider at an area where a greater concentration of stress acts on the recording medium being conveyed while a section of the at least one guide component is formed to be narrower at an area where a less concentration or stress acts on the recording medium being conveyed.