Patent ID: 7317886

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image carrier to carry an electrostatic latent image, the image carrier having a longitudinal axis which is orthogonal to a transfer medium conveying direction; a developer containing container to contain developer, a longitudinal direction of the developer containing container extending in a direction parallel to the transfer medium conveying direction; a developing unit which supplies the image carrier with the developer supplied from the developer containing container to form a developer image; a fixing unit which applies heat and pressure to a transfer medium transferred with the developer image formed on the image carrier, and fuses and fixes the developer image to the transfer medium; a main body case to contain at least the image carrier, developing unit and fixing unit; and a protection cover which is placed between the main body case and the developer containing container, and has a three-dimensional structure to form an air layer in a clearance to the main body case, the protection cover extending in a direction parallel to the transfer medium conveying direction and opposing to an axial end portion of the image carrier.