Patent ID: 7526242

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising; an image forming unit configured to form a visible toner image; an image carrier configured to carry the toner image formed thereon by the image forming unit; and a transferring apparatus configured to receive the toner image from the image carrier and to transfer the toner image onto a recording medium, wherein the transfer apparatus includes a transfer member configured to receive the toner image from the toner image carrier; a heating unit configured to heat the transfer member including the image thereon; a nip-forming member configured to form a nip between the transfer member and the nip-forming member, and to sandwich the recording medium in the nip to transfer the toner image from the transfer member onto the recording medium; and a first guide member and a second guide member configured to guide the recording medium toward the nip, the first guide member and the second guide member being arranged so as to form a substantial V-shape with a tip of the V-shape being toward the nip, and a minimum distance between the first guide member and the second guide member being equal to or less than 5 millimeters.