| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus, having a both-sided image forming function that has an image forming section for forming an unfixed image on a recording material S and a fixing device 20 for fixing the unfixed image by the application of heat to the recording material and introduces the recording material with an image formed on its one side by passage through the fixing device is re-introduced to the image forming section and the fixing device via a both-sided transport path 50, thereby forming images on both sides of the recording material, the image forming apparatus being designed, such that deformations, such as curling of recording material and soiling or the like on images caused by water droplets are prevented by preventing the condensation of vapors generated from the fixing device and relaxing the nonuniform temperature distribution in the width direction of the recording material conveyed for both-sided image formation. SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus has an external cover member 53 disposed almost right above the fixing device 20 and having a guide member 51 defining the both-sided transport path 50, together with the fixing device. An empty space part 55 is defined between the guide member and the external cover member, and the empty space part has a recessed box-shaped structure, whose ends are smaller than the middle, in a direction perpendicular to the direction of recording material conveyance in terms of a cross-sectional shape in the direction of the recording material transport. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT
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