Patent ID: 7228087

Claim:
An image forming apparatus provided with a fixing unit, comprising: (a) a fixing member having a heating member; (b) a pressing member that presses against the fixing member, wherein an image supporting material carrying a toner image is grasped and conveyed by a nipping portion formed between the fixing member and the pressing member and the toner image is fixed by applying heat and pressure at the nipping portion; (c) an air blowing section provided downstream of the nipping portion in a sheet conveyance direction and above a conveying path of the image supporting material, which sends an air blow toward an entire width of the conveyance path; and (d) an air flow path switching section that switches between a first position at which the air blow in both ends areas of the air blowing section is sent toward both ends areas of the fixing member, and a second position in which the air blow in both of the ends areas of the air blowing section is sent toward both ends areas of the conveying path of the image supporting material.