Patent ID: 8023850

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: an oil input device to contain oil; and a fixing device to receive oil sent from the oil input device, the fixing device including a rotatable fixing member; a pressing member to contact the fixing member; and an oil applier, the oil applier including an oil application member to apply oil to one of the fixing member and the pressing member across a predetermined width of the fixing member and the pressing member; and an oil supply mechanism to supply oil to the oil application member, the oil supply mechanism including an oil storage member to store oil; an oil inlet to put oil sent from the oil input device into the oil storage member; and an oil supply member provided adjacent to the oil storage member to supply oil sent from the oil storage member to the oil application member, the oil storage member provided above and adjacent to one of the oil supply member and the oil application member, wherein, when the fixing device is reattached to the image forming apparatus after the fixing device is detached from the image forming apparatus, oil sent from the oil input device overflows the oil storage member, and is supplied to one of the oil supply member and the oil application member provided adjacent to the oil storage member before an image forming operation starts.