Patent ID: 8554104

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a fixing member having a cylindrical or annular shape for fixing an image onto a sheet which is in pressure contact with an outer surface thereof; a heating source for heating the fixing member to a fixing temperature; a duct which is provided in a position facing the fixing member with respect to a width direction perpendicular to a circumferential direction of the fixing member and which has an inlet for taking in fine particles generated from the fixing member; a filter member which is provided inside the duct and which can trap the fine particles which flow through the duct; an exhaust fan provided in the duct upstream or downstream from the filter member for generating an air flow going from the inlet to an outlet of the duct; and a control section for controlling the operation of the exhaust fan so that the quantity of air passing through the filter member for a preset operating time, which occurs after an initial preset time has elapsed from a start of heating of the fixing member, or which occurs after the temperature of the fixing member has reached a preset threshold temperature after a start of heating of the fixing member, is different compared to the quantity of air passing through filter member before and after the preset operating time, as control according to initial burst conditions under which the fine particles are emitted from the fixing member.