Patent ID: 8165490

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a transfer unit to transfer an image onto a transfer sheet; a fixing unit disposed downstream from the transfer unit in a direction of conveyance of the transfer sheet, the fixing unit fixing the image to the transfer sheet by application of heat and conveying the fixed transfer sheet to a further downstream portion of the image forming apparatus; a discharging unit disposed downstream from the fixing unit in the direction of conveyance of the transfer sheet, the discharging unit discharging the transfer sheet to an external portion of the image forming apparatus; and multiple guide members disposed above the fixing unit to form a sheet conveyance path, the multiple guide members comprising: a first guide member; and a second guide member, wherein the first and second guide members define a hollow portion therebetween, the second guide member includes a collecting portion, and the first guide member includes a liquid guide member, the sheet conveyance path including a first path through which the transfer sheet is conveyed toward the discharging unit; and a second path through which the transfer sheet from the first path is conveyed to receive another image on another side thereof, wherein both the first path and the second path of the sheet conveyance path and the hollow portion are configured to enable an air current generated during image forming to pass therethrough, the first guide member is configured to form vapor condensate on an inside surface thereof from the air current in the hollow portion, the collecting portion is configured to collect liquid droplets of the vapor condensate, and the liquid guide member is configured to direct the formed vapor condensate to the collecting portion.