| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that reduces the number of fans required to be installed and an installation space by efficiently cooling the inside of a main body frame and adjusts the moisture of recording paper in a paper feed cassette by the simple structure of the apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus has the fan 15 which produces an air current near the heat generation element of an image forming mechanism including a fixing unit 20, LSU, 40, etc., thereby cooling the heat generation element. The fan 15 is disposed in a space between the main body frame 11 accommodating the image forming mechanism and an external cover 12. A duct 19 defining a path of an air current from the fan 15 is provided in the space. Thereby, air heated through the heat generation is discharged by the fan 15. At least part of the heated air is diverged and made to flow into a space of a paper feed unit 20 via the duct 19. Thus, the heated air produces an air current along the surface of the recording medium. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI |
