Abstract:
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section that forms a toner image. A transferring section transfers the toner image formed onto a recording medium. A fixing unit is located adjacent the image forming section such that a first space is defined between the fixing unit and the image forming section. The fixing unit fixes the toner image on the recording medium. An air-chamber includes a wind exit and discharges the air through the wind exit such that the air flows into the first space. An air-propelling device propels the air to discharge through the wind exit.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     A color printer is one of conventional image forming apparatuses such as printers, copying machines, facsimile machines and composite structure of these, i.e., multifunction printers (MFP). A color printer performs an electrophotographic image forming process. A charging roller charges the surface of a photoconductive drum. An LED head illuminates the charged surface of the photoconductive drum to form an electrostatic latent image. A thin layer of toner formed on a developing roller is deposited to the electrostatic latent image by the Coulomb force, thereby forming a toner image on the photoconductive drum. A transfer roller transfers the toner image onto paper. A cleaning unit removes the toner remaining on the photoconductive drum after transfer.  
         [0005]     The paper having the toner image on it advances to a fixing unit where the toner image is fused into the paper.  
         [0006]     A temperature sensor detects the temperature of the fixing unit. The temperature of the fixing unit is controlled in accordance with the detection output of the temperature sensor, so that the temperature of the fixing unit is within a predetermined range.  
         [0007]     A fixing unit needs to generate a large amount of heat for printing on a variety of print paper at high speed. In addition, the fixing unit is disposed close to a photoconductive drum for compact design of the printer. Thus, the toner in a developing unit may melt due to the heat from the fixing unit.  
         [0008]     A toner for high speed printing has a low-melting point, and therefore increases the chance of the toner melting due to the heat from the fixing unit. The result is a poor print quality.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     The present invention was made to solve the problems of the conventional art.  
         [0010]     An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that improves the print quality and that is capable of printing at high speed.  
         [0011]     Another object of the invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that prevents developer in the developing unit from melting.  
         [0012]     An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section that forms a toner image. A transferring section transfers the toner image formed onto a recording medium. A fixing unit is located adjacent the image forming section such that a first space is defined between the fixing unit and the image forming section. The fixing unit fixes the toner image on the recording medium. An air-chamber includes a wind exit and discharges the air through the wind exit such that the air flows into the first space. An air-propelling device propels the air to discharge through the wind exit.  
         [0013]     The fixing unit longitudinally extends in a first direction perpendicular to a second direction in which the recording medium is fed into the fixing unit, and the wind exit is located substantially longitudinal midway of the fixing unit.  
         [0014]     The image forming apparatus further includes an outer casing that defines a second space in the image forming apparatus. The air-chamber defines a third space upstream of the wind exit, the third space communicating with the second space through a communication hole formed in the air-chamber.  
         [0015]     The image forming apparatus further includes an outer casing that defines the second space over the developer reservoir and the image forming section.  
         [0016]     The third space is substantially in the shape of a box that extends in parallel to the fixing unit.  
         [0017]     The outer casing is formed with an opening at an upstream portion of the second space, the second space communicating with the atmosphere through the opening.  
         [0018]     The outer casing includes a pair of opposing walls that project from the outer casing to define the second space.  
         [0019]     The image forming section and the fixing unit extend such that the first space extends in a first direction perpendicular to a second direction in which the recording medium is fed into the fixing unit. The image forming apparatus includes a wind guide disposed downstream of the wind exit, the wind guide guiding the air to flow into longitudinal end portions of the fist space.  
         [0020]     The air-propelling device is a fan disposed immediately upstream of the wind exit.  
         [0021]     The air-propelling device is a fan disposed in the vicinity of the opening.  
         [0022]     The wind exit is arranged substantially across a longitudinal dimension of the fixing unit perpendicular to a second direction in which the recording medium is fed into the fixing unit.  
         [0023]     The image forming section is a one of a plurality of image forming sections closest to the fixing unit. The second space is defined between the outer casing and a partition that overlies the plurality of image forming sections. The partition is formed with openings through which the air flows into the fourth space defined between adjacent ones of the plurality of image forming sections.  
         [0024]     Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limiting the present invention, and wherein:  
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a cross sectional view illustrating the general configuration of a printer of a first embodiment;  
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a pertinent partition of the printer of the first embodiment;  
         [0028]      FIG. 3  illustrates the general configuration of a printer of a second embodiment;  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a pertinent portion of the printer of the second embodiment;  
         [0030]      FIG. 5  illustrates the general configuration of a printer of a third embodiment;  
         [0031]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating a pertinent portion of the printer of the third embodiment;  
         [0032]      FIG. 7  illustrates a printer of a fourth embodiment;  
         [0033]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating a pertinent portion of the printer of the fourth embodiment;  
         [0034]      FIG. 9  illustrates the flow of air at a first path;  
         [0035]      FIG. 10  illustrates the outline of a printer of a fifth embodiment;  
         [0036]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the printer of the fifth embodiment; and  
         [0037]      FIG. 12  illustrates the general configuration of a printer of a sixth embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0000]     First Embodiment  
         [0038]     Embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. An image forming apparatus will be described in terms of a printer.  
         [0039]      FIG. 1  is a cross sectional view illustrating the general configuration of a printer  10  of a first embodiment.  
         [0040]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a feed roller  11  is driven in rotation by a drive source, not shown, to feed paper from a paper cassette  12  into a transport path  30 . The paper is advanced in the transport path  30  in a laterally centered position with respect to the transport path  30 . As the transfer belt  24  runs, the paper passes through image forming sections  14 BK (black),  14 Y (yellow),  14 M (magenta), and  14 C (cyan) in sequence, advancing through transfer regions defined between the respective photoconductive drums  20  and transfer rollers  22 Y,  22 M,  22 C, and  22 BK.  
         [0041]     The image forming sections  14 Y,  14 M,  14 C, and  14 BK each include a photoconductive drum  20 , a charging roller  23 , and a developing roller  34 .  
         [0042]     The charging rollers  23 , photoconductive drums  20 , transfer rollers  22 Y,  22 M,  22 C, and  22 BK extend away from the observer, i.e., in directions substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the paper. The charging rollers  23  charge the surfaces of the corresponding photoconductive drums  20 . LED heads  21 BK (black),  21 Y (yellow),  21 M (magenta), and  21 C (cyan) extend in parallel to the corresponding photoconductive drums  20 , and illuminate the charged surfaces of the corresponding photoconductive drums  20  to form electrostatic latent images of corresponding colors. The LED heads  21 Y,  21 M,  21 C,  21 BK are supported at their longitudinal end portions so that they are in position.  
         [0043]     The developing rollers  34  develop the electrostatic latent images with toners of corresponding colors into toner images. The transfer rollers  22 Y,  22 M,  22 C, and  22 BK transfer the respective toner images onto the paper one over the other in registration.  
         [0044]     The paper then advances to a fixing unit  15 . The fixing unit  15  extends in its longitudinal direction (i.e., away from the observer or in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the paper). The paper passes through a fixing region defined between a heat roller  15   a  and a pressure roller  15   b , so that the toner images on the paper are fixed into a full color permanent image. The paper then leaves the fixing unit  15 , and is discharged by discharge rollers  16   a - 16   d  through a paper exit  17   a  to the outside of the case  25  or by discharge rollers  16   e - 16   h  through a paper exit  17   b  onto a stacker  25   a  formed on an outer case  25 .  
         [0045]     The toner reservoirs  13 BK,  13 Y,  13 M, and  13 C, hold black, yellow, magenta, and cyan toner, respectively, and are removably attached to the printer  10 . The toner reservoirs  13 BK,  13 Y,  13 M, and  13 C and the image forming sections  14 Bk,  14 Y,  14 M, and  14 C can be attached to and detached from the printer  10  by opening the case  25  that overlie the toner reservoirs  13 BK,  13 Y,  13 M, and  13 C. A partition  19  is integral with the case  25 . The LED heads  21 BK,  21 Y,  21 M, and  21 C are supported on the underside of the partition  19 .  
         [0046]     A fan  90  discharges the air in the image forming apparatus heated by excessive heat generated in the fixing unit  15  to the outside of the printer  10 , thereby preventing the toner reservoirs  13 Bk,  13 Y,  13 M, and  13 C and the image forming sections  14 BK,  14 Y,  1 M, and  14 C from being affected by the heat.  
         [0047]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a pertinent partition of the printer  10 .  
         [0048]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a fan holder  26  holds a fan  27  firmly, and is formed with openings  26   a  in its side walls. The fan holder  26  is disposed substantially over a first path  28  defined between the fixing unit  15  and the image forming section  14 C, which is the closest one of the image forming sections  14 BK,  14 Y,  14 M and  14 C, to the fixing unit  15 . The fan holder  26  is located substantially longitudinal midway of the fixing unit  15   
         [0049]     The fan holder  26  is formed with a wind exit  29 . When the fan  27  rotates, the air surrounding the fan holder  29  is sucked in to the holder  26  through the opening  26   a . The fan  27  then sends the air toward the wind exit  29 , so that the air is ejected through the wind exit  29  into the first path  28 . The flow of air forms a curtain of air such that the fixing unit is on one side of the curtain of air and the developer reservoir  13 C and image forming section  14 C are on the other side of the curtain of air.  
         [0050]     The flow of air or wind shown by arrows ( FIG. 2 ) into the first path  28  prevents the heat generated in the fixing units  15  from being transferred to the image forming section  14 C.  
         [0051]     The wind discharged from the wind exit  29  also cools the image forming section  14 C. A portion of the wind flows over the fixing unit  15  as shown by arrows and is then discharged by the fan  90  to the outside of the printer  10 .  
         [0052]     Therefore, the heat generated by the fixing unit  15  will not cause the toner in the image forming section  14 C to melt, even if the fixing unit  15  generates a large amount of heat required for printing on a variety of types of paper and for high speed printing, or the fixing unit  15  and the image forming section  14 C are closely located for compact design of the printer  10 .  
         [0053]     Moreover, even if toner having a low melting point is used for high speed printing, the toner in the toner in the image forming section  14 C will not melt. Thus, print quality may be improved.  
         [0054]     The fan  27  is disposed not at an end portion of the width of the transport path  30  but substantially in the middle of the width of the transport path  30 . Thus, the variation of cooling effect across the width of the image forming section  14 C (i.e., away from the observer or in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of paper) may be minimized so that well-balanced cooling is achieved.  
         [0055]     The aforementioned configuration eliminates the need for interrupting the printing operation for cooling the interior of the printer  10 , for example, de-energizing the heat source of the fixing unit  15 , or rotating the heat roller  15   a  and pressure roller  15   b  and other rollers in an idle manner. This allows for performing high speed printing.  
         [0056]     In the embodiment, an amount of heat transferred to the toner reservoir  13 C and the image forming section  14 C is not so significant as can be detected by temperature sensors, not shown, in the toner reservoir  13 C and the image forming section  14 C. Thus, melting of the toner in the toner reservoir  13 C and the toner in the image forming section  14 C can be prevented reliably.  
         [0057]     The fan  27  may be a d-c fan motor type, an a-c fan motor type, or a sirocco fan. When a sirocco fan is employed, the width of an air discharging opening can be larger than the width of the fixing unit  15 .  
         [0058]     The first embodiment has been described with respect to a printer  10  in which paper is transported in a horizontal direction. The present invention may also be applied to a printer in which paper is transported in a vertical direction.  
         [0000]     Second Embodiment  
         [0059]     Elements similar to those in the first embodiment have been given the same reference numerals and their description is omitted.  
         [0060]      FIG. 3  illustrates the general configuration of a printer  10  of a second embodiment.  FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a pertinent portion of the printer  10 .  
         [0061]     A first path  28  is defined between the image forming section  14 C and the fixing unit  15 . A second path  32  is defined between an outer case  25  and a partition  19  that overlies toner reservoirs. An air chamber  31  defines a third path  31   a  between the first path  28  and the second path  32 . The second path  32  and the third path  31   a  communicate with each other through openings  33  formed in the upper wall of the air chamber  31 .  
         [0062]     The air chamber  31  is located beside the toner reservoir  13 C and substantially over the first path  28  defined between the image forming section  14 C and the fixing unit  15 .  
         [0063]     The fan  27  rotates to suck in the relatively cool air into the air chamber  31  from the second path  32  that is away from the fixing unit  15 . Then, the fan  27  ejects the air from the air chamber  31  through a wind exit  29  into the first path  28 , thereby primarily cooling the image forming section  14 C. The flow of air forms a curtain of air such that the fixing unit is on one side of the curtain of air and the developer reservoir  13 C and image forming section  14 C are on the other side of the curtain of air.  
         [0064]     As described above, the fan  27  causes the air to flow through the upper interior portion (i.e., second path  32 ) of the printer  10  to the air chamber  31 . The fan  27  creates a flow of air of a lower temperature in the second embodiment than in the first embodiment, so that cooling effect is better in the second embodiment than in the first embodiment.  
         [0000]     Third Embodiment  
         [0065]     Elements similar to those in the first and second embodiments have been given the same reference numerals and their description is omitted.  
         [0066]      FIG. 5  illustrates the general configuration of a printer  10  of third embodiment.  FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating a pertinent portion of the printer  10  with a partition  19  ( FIG. 5 ) omitted for the sake of simplicity.  
         [0067]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a first path  28  is defined between the image forming section  14 C and the fixing unit  15 . A second path  32  is defined by an outer case  25 , two opposing walls  45  ( FIG. 6 ), and the partition  19  that overlies toner reservoirs  13 BK,  13 Y,  13 M, and  13 C. An air chamber  41  defines a third path  41   a  between the first path  28  and the second path  32 . The air chamber  41  and the second path  32  communicate with each other through openings  43 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the air chamber  41  is in the shape of a rectangular box that longitudinally extends parallel to the fixing unit  15 .  
         [0068]     The second path  32  has openings  44  formed in the vicinity of the image forming section  14 BK, i.e., upstream of the direction of travel of the paper through the image forming sections  14 C,  14 M,  14 Y, and  14 BK, or as far a location as possible from the fixing unit  15 .  
         [0069]     The height of opposing walls  45  becomes lower nearer the openings  43  and the distance between the opposing walls  45  becomes longer nearer the openings  43 .  
         [0070]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the air chamber  41  communicates with the second path  32  through the openings  43 , so that a large volume of air can be supplied into the air chamber  41 .  
         [0071]     The fan  27  sucks the air from the outside of the printer  10  through the openings  44 . The air is directed through the second path  32  into the air chamber  41 . Then, the fan  27  ejects the air from the air chamber  41  through a wind exit  29  into the first path  28 . The flow of air forms a curtain of air such that the fixing unit is on one side of the curtain of air and the developer reservoir  13 C and image forming section  14 C are on the other side of the curtain of air. The air entering the first path  28  efficiently cools the image forming section  14 C. Therefore, cooling can be achieved by the use of fresh air, the temperature of the fresh air being lower than that of the air in the printer  10 .  
         [0000]     Fourth Embodiment  
         [0072]     Elements having the same construction as those in the first to third embodiments have been given the same reference numerals, and their description is omitted.  
         [0073]     When a large volume of document is printed, a significant amount of heat is lost to the paper, so that the surface temperatures of the heat rollers  15   a  and  15   b  are lower at areas in contact with the paper than at areas not in contact with the paper.  
         [0074]     The heat rollers  15   a  and  15   b  have a length such that when the paper of a maximum size is fed to the heat rollers  15   a  and  15   b  in a laterally centered position, the length is larger than the width of the paper. Thus, the heat rollers  15   a  and  15   b  loses more heat to the paper at a portion closer to the middle of the heat rollers than at longitudinal end portions, so that the temperature is much higher at the longitudinal end portions than at the portion closer to the middle portion. If temperature control is performed with reference to the detection output of a temperature sensor disposed in the vicinity of a longitudinal end portion of the heat roller  15   a  or  15   b , the temperature in the longitudinally middle portions of the heat rollers  15   a  and  15   b  would be much lower than that at the longitudinal end portions.  
         [0075]      FIG. 7  illustrates a printer  10  of a fourth embodiment.  FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating a pertinent portion of the printer with a partition  19  ( FIG. 7 ) omitted for the sake of simplicity.  FIG. 9  illustrates the flow of air guided by a wind guide  46 .  
         [0076]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , air is blown into a first path  28  between an image forming section  14 C and a fixing unit  15 . The wind guide  46  is provided at a wind exit  29 . The wind guide  46  includes plates  46   a  and  46   b  arranged to form the shape of a “V.” The wind guide  46  is aligned with the fan  27  such that the “vertex” V of the V-shape is in line with a rotational axis of at the center. The wind guide  46  guides the wind produced by the fan  27  to move along the plates  46   a  and  46   b , so that the temperature of longitudinal end portions of the fixing unit  15  is prevented from increasing.  
         [0077]     A second path  32  is defined by an outer case  25 , two opposing walls  45 , and the partition  19  that overlies toner reservoirs  13 BK,  13 Y,  13 M, and  13 C.  
         [0078]     It is to be noted that the wind guide  46  is disposed downstream of the fan  27  such that the wind guide  46  occupies half the cross section of the wind exit  29  closer to the fixing unit  15 . Thus, a portion of the wind passing through another half the cross section of the wind exit  29  closer to the image forming section  14 C is not guided by the wind guide  46  but flows straightly out of the wind exit  29  into the lengthwise middle of the first path  28 . In this manner, the resultant wind is substantially uniformly distributed across the entire length of the first path  28 . Referring to  FIG. 8 , arrows A and C shows the direction in which the wind is guided by the plates  46   a  and  46   b  of the wind guide  46  and arrow B shows the direction in which the wind is not guided by the wind guide  46  but is discharged straightly out of the wind exit  29 . It is to be noted that the flow of air forms a curtain of air such that the fixing unit is on one side of the curtain of air and the developer reservoir and image forming section are on the other side of the curtain of air.  
         [0079]     This way of distributing the wind prevents the fixing unit  15  from being cooled preferentially in its middle and allows the fixing unit to be cooled at its longitudinal end portions.  
         [0080]     Referring to  FIG. 9 , if a temperature sensor  47  for detecting the temperature of the fixing unit  15  is disposed in the vicinity of an end of the fixing unit  15 , the angle θ formed between the plates  46   a  and  46   b  may be modified such that the portion of the wind divided by the plates  46   a  and  46   b  is blown onto the temperature sensor  47 .  
         [0081]     While the wind guided by the wind guide  46  is aimed primarily at the longitudinal end portions of the first path  28 , a portion of the wind guided by the wind guide  46  also blows onto the fixing unit  15  and temperature sensor  47  to cool down the longitudinal end portions of the fixing unit  15  and their vicinity which would otherwise remain at high temperature. On the other hand, while the wind not guided by the wind guide  46  is aimed primarily at the middle portion of the first path  28 , a portion of the wind not guided by the wind guide  46  also blows onto the lateral center of the image forming section  14 C, so that the toner at any part in the image forming section  14 C is prevented from melting.  
         [0082]     As described above, the variation of cooling effect along the length of the fixing unit  15  may be minimized, so that the temperature control of the fixing unit  15  can be accomplished properly.  
         [0000]     Fifth Embodiment  
         [0083]     Elements having the same construction as those in the first to fourth embodiments have been given the same reference numerals and their description is omitted.  
         [0084]      FIG. 10  illustrates the outline of a printer  10  of a fifth embodiment.  FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the printer  10  with a partition  19  ( FIG. 10 ) omitted for the sake of simplicity.  
         [0085]     Openings  44  are formed in an outer case  25  in the vicinity of the image forming section  14 BK, i.e., upstream of the direction of travel of the paper through the image forming sections  14 BK,  14 Y,  14 M, and  14 C or as far a location as possible from the fixing unit  15 . A fan  51  is disposed inside of the outer case  25  and upstream of a second path  32  to suck the fresh air from the atmosphere through the openings  44 .  
         [0086]     The toner reservoir  13 C is the closest one of toner reservoirs  13 BK,  13 Y,  13 M, and  13 C to the fixing unit  15 . An ejecting duct  50  is disposed to substantially overlie a first path  28  defined between the fixing unit  15  and the image forming section  14 C. The ejecting duct  50  extends across the entire width of the transport path  30  in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the paper.  
         [0087]     The ejecting duct  50  defines a third path  55 , and has wind exits  52  that are distributed across the entire width of the transport path  30  and communication openings  33 . A fan  51  sucks the fresh air and causes the air to flow through the second path  32 , the communication openings  33 , and the third path (air chamber)  55 , the flow of air finally being ejected into the first path  28 . The second path  32  is defined by an outer case  25 , two opposing walls  45 , and the partition  19  that overlies toner reservoirs  13 BK,  13 Y,  13 M, and  13 C. The third path  55  is defined between the second path  32  and the first path  28 .  
         [0088]     The fan  51  rotates to suck the fresh air through the openings  44  from the outside of the printer  10 . The air is then directed through the second path  32  to the ejecting duct  50 , which in turn ejects the air to the first path  28 . The air entering the first path  28  efficiently cools the image forming section  14 C. It is to be noted that the flow of air forms a curtain of air such that the fixing unit  15  is on one side of the curtain of air and the developer reservoir  13 C and image forming section  14 C are on the other side of the curtain of air. This flow of air is advantageous in that cooling is accomplished by using the fresh air of low temperature.  
         [0089]     Because the wind exits  52  are formed to distribute across the entire width of the transport path  30 , the wind is allowed to flow not only through the middle portion of the width of the ejecting duct  50  but also through the widthwise end portions, so that the wind flows into the first path  28  across the entire wind exits  52 . The wind flowing into the first path  28  is also effective in preventing the temperature at the longitudinal end portions of the fixing unit  15  from increasing.  
         [0090]     Alternatively, the ejecting duct  50  may be disposed to blow the air only onto the middle portion of the fixing unit  15 . Still alternatively, the ejecting duct  50  may have a guide similar to the wind guide  46  of the fourth embodiment.  
         [0091]     The space in the vicinity of the openings  44  is larger than that in the vicinity of the image forming section  14 C, toner reservoir  13 C, and fixing unit  15  is quite small. Thus, the fan  51  can be larger in size when it is disposed in the vicinity of the openings  44  than when it is disposed in the vicinity of the image forming section  14 C, toner reservoir  13 C, and fixing unit  15 . Thus, for example, the fan  51  disposed in the vicinity of the openings  44  can be a powerful one that produces a large amount of wind. This improves cooling efficiency of the fixing unit  15 .  
         [0000]     Sixth Embodiment  
         [0092]     Elements similar to those in the first to fifth embodiments have been given the same reference numerals and their description is omitted.  
         [0093]      FIG. 12  illustrates the general configuration of a printer  10  of a sixth embodiment.  
         [0094]     Openings  44  are formed in an outer case  25 , and a fan  51  is disposed on the inside of the outer case  25  to suck the fresh air into the printer  10  through the openings  44 .  
         [0095]     Small parts of a partition  61  are raised to form openings  63   a ,  64   a , and  65   a . Specifically, at three points in the partition  61 , U-shaped slits are formed and the interior of the U-shaped part is partially bent upward to form openings  63   a ,  64   a , and  65   a  through which a portion of the fresh air is branched into fourth paths or spaces  63 ,  64 , and  65  defined between adjacent toner reservoirs  13 BK,  13 Y, and  13 C.  
         [0096]     Thus, the fan  51  sends the air not only through a second path  32 , openings  33 , a third path (air chamber)  55 , wind-exists  52 , and a first path  28  but also through the openings  63   a ,  64   a  and  65   a  into the fourth paths or spaces  63 ,  64 , and  65 .  
         [0097]     The air that is flowing into the fourth paths or spaces  63 ,  64 , and  65  cools the toner reservoirs  13 BK,  13 Y,  13 M, and  13 C and the image forming sections  14 BK,  14 Y,  14 M, and  14 C. A fan  90  sucks the air flowing through the spaces  63 ,  64 , and  65  to create a flow of air that eventually cools down the fixing unit  15 .  
         [0098]     Although the first to sixth embodiments have been described with respect to a color printer, the present invention may also be applicable to other apparatuses such as facsimile machines copying machines, and multifunction printers. The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.