| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus, in which no image forming failure due to the influence of the heat generated from a fixing means on a process cartridge happens, by efficiently utilizing a restricted space in a body case. <P>SOLUTION: The apparatus comprises an image carrier F, a developing means G and a transfer means H, a fixing means I, a guide plate 24 having a plurality of ventilation holes 16c, an exhaust duct 18 having an opening 18a, and the process cartridge N for housing at least the image carrier F and attachable/detachable to the body case S. The guide plate 24 has a plurality of guide parts 17 for guiding a recording medium P to be carried from the transfer means H to the fixing means I along an image forming route 47. The exhaust duct 18 is provided between the fixing means I and the process cartridge N, for forming a part of exhaust routes 51 and 52. The opening 18a of the exhaust duct 18 is provided between the process cartridge N and the fixing means I. The ventilation holes 16a, 16b, and 16c of the guide plate 24 are provided in a region on the upstream side of the opening 18a of the exhaust duct 18, with respect to the carrying direction of the recording medium P, for passing the air through. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI |
