Image forming apparatus, aspirator device, and method for aspirate dust in an image forming apparatus

摘要

An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a conveyer configured to convey a recording medium along a conveying path in a conveying direction, an image forming unit configured to form an image on the recording medium being conveyed, a supporting member arranged in a position to face the image forming unit and configured to support the recording medium, and an aspirator configured to aspirate dust through an aspiration inlet, which is formed in a downstream position along the conveying direction with respect to the image forming unit and in proximity to a downstream end of the supporting member.

主权项

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
a conveyer configured to convey a recording medium along a conveying path in a conveying direction; an image forming unit configured to form an image on the recording medium being conveyed; a supporting member arranged in a position to face the image forming unit and configured to support the recording medium; a sensor configured to detect the recording medium conveyed by the conveyer; an aspirator configured to aspirate dust through an aspiration inlet, which is formed in a downstream position along the conveying direction with respect to the image forming unit and in proximity to a downstream end of the supporting member; and an aspiration controller configured to:
control the aspirator to never generate an aspiration force at the aspiration inlet while the recording medium faces the aspiration inlet and until a rear end of the recording medium passes by the aspiration inlet along the conveying direction, based on a detected result by the sensor; andcontrol the aspirator to start generating the aspiration force at the aspiration inlet within a predetermined time period after the rear end of the recording medium passes by the aspiration inlet along the conveying direction.