JP5783765B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer having an image forming unit that forms an unfixed toner image on a recording material and a thermal fixing unit that fixes the toner image on the recording material.

  An electrophotographic image forming apparatus will be described as an example. In this apparatus, generally, an unfixed toner image formed on a photosensitive drum as an image carrier by an electrophotographic image forming unit as an image forming unit is transferred to a recording material by a transfer unit. The recording material is image-fixed by heat fixing means such as a heat roller fixing device.

  The temperature of the heat fixing means is adjusted to about 200 ° C., for example. This heat is transmitted to the image forming section through the frame constituting the image forming apparatus and the air convection in the image forming apparatus, so that the toner in the image forming section is melted and solidified to cause a phenomenon such as image quality degradation. There is a risk that.

  In a color image forming apparatus, a temperature distribution difference caused by heat from a heat fixing unit is generated between a plurality of image forming units for forming toner images of respective colors. For this reason, each image forming unit may be deformed differently and may cause a phenomenon such as a deviation in superposition of toners of respective colors.

  Therefore, as a prior art, the present applicant provides an air path in a space between the image forming unit frame and the fixing device frame, and uses a fan provided in the fixing device frame to provide the fixing device frame. A method of exhausting heat through a given air passage is proposed (Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-25654 A

  The present invention is a further development of the above prior art. The object is to provide an image forming apparatus that can more effectively suppress the thermal influence from the heat fixing unit side to the image forming unit side.

In order to solve the above problems, a typical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a first container that stores image forming means for forming an unfixed toner image on a recording material, and the toner image. A second container for accommodating a heat fixing means for fixing to a recording material, the second container being connected to the first container so as to face each other in a vertical plane with a gap. And a duct that is provided in the gap and communicates the first container and the second container, and heat fixing of the second container from the image forming means of the first container through the duct. a recording material conveying means for conveying the recording material to the means, and blowing means for flowing the air into the gap, have a, rectifying means for the flow of air in the gap in one direction of flow, the air blowing means is the gap To the direction orthogonal to the direction of gravity, the rectifying means Characterized in that it is a rectifier plate disposed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of gravity in the serial gap.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the thermal influence from the heat fixing unit side to the image forming unit side can be effectively suppressed.

1 is a longitudinal front schematic view showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus in Embodiment 1. FIG. (A) is a front view of a continuous portion of the image forming unit and the fixing unit, and (b) is a rear view of a continuous portion of the image forming unit and the fixing unit. Perspective perspective schematic view for explaining the internal structure of the connecting portion of the image forming unit and the fixing unit Longitudinal front schematic diagram showing the schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus in the reference example Perspective perspective schematic view for explaining the internal structure of the connecting portion of the image forming unit and the fixing unit

[Example 1]
(1) Description of Configuration of Example of Image Forming Apparatus FIG. 1 is a longitudinal front schematic view showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 in this embodiment. The apparatus 100 is a four-color full-color intermediate transfer electrophotographic image forming apparatus (printer), and is based on electrical image information (image signal) input from a host apparatus 200 to a control circuit unit (control means) 101. A color image can be formed. A recording material (hereinafter referred to as a recording material) 14 is a recording medium on which a toner image can be formed, and is a sheet-like member such as paper, an OHT sheet, a label, or a cloth.

  The host device 200 is a personal computer (PC), an image reader, a network terminal, a partner facsimile, a word processor, or the like, and is connected to the control circuit unit 101 via an interface unit. The control circuit unit 101 includes a CPU (arithmetic unit), and exchanges various types of electrical information with the operation unit 102 having a display unit and the host device 200. The control circuit unit 101 monitors and controls the operation of each device in the apparatus 100, and comprehensively controls the printing operation (image forming operation) of the apparatus 100 according to a predetermined control program and a reference table.

  The apparatus 100 is roughly divided into two unit connection structures, that is, an image forming unit A and a fixing unit B connected to the left side surface of the unit A. The unit A accommodates an electrophotographic color image forming process mechanism as an image forming means for forming an unfixed toner image on the recording material 14 inside a structure section frame (first container: housing) 50. Yes. In the unit B, heat fixing units 21 and 22 for fixing an unfixed toner image of the recording material 14 introduced from the unit A side as a fixed image inside the fixing device frame (second container: housing) 60. Is housed.

  In the unit A, the image forming units U (UY, UM, UC, UK) which are the first to fourth image forming units are arranged in the horizontal direction (lateral direction) in order from the left side to the right side in the frame 50. Are arranged (tandem type). Each image forming unit U is an electrophotographic image forming mechanism having the same configuration except that the color of the developer (hereinafter referred to as toner) accommodated in each developing device 4 is different.

  Each image forming unit U in this example is a rotating drum type electrophotographic photosensitive member (hereinafter referred to as a drum) as a rotatable (movable) first image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed. 1 Each drum 1 is rotationally driven at a predetermined speed in a counterclockwise direction indicated by an arrow by a driving means (main motor: not shown) of the apparatus 100. In addition, the charging device 2, the optical scanning device 3, the developing device 4, the primary transfer device 5, and the cleaning device 6 are provided as process means acting on the drum 1 in the order of rotation of the drum 1.

  The charging device 2 is a charging unit that uniformly charges the surface of the drum 1 to a predetermined polarity and potential. The optical scanning device 3 is an image exposure unit that scans and exposes the surface of the charged drum 1 with light modulated in accordance with image information, and in this example, is a laser scanner unit. By this charging and exposure, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to image information is formed on the surface of the drum 1.

  The developing device 4 is a developing unit that visualizes the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the drum 1 as a toner image (developer image). A reversal development method is used in which toner (developer) is attached to the exposed portion of the electrostatic latent image for development.

  The developing device 4 of the first image forming unit UY contains yellow (Y color) toner. The developing device 4 of the second image forming unit UM contains magenta (M color) toner. The developing device 4 of the third image forming unit UC contains cyan (C color) toner. The developing device 4 of the fourth image forming unit UK contains black (K color) toner. The cleaning device 6 is a cleaning unit that removes primary transfer residual toner on the surface of the drum 1.

  An intermediate transfer belt unit 7 is disposed below the image forming unit U (UY, UM, UC, UK). The unit 7 has a flexible endless belt (intermediate transfer belt) 8 that is an intermediate transfer member as a second image carrier that can rotate (movable).

  The belt 8 is stretched around a driving roller 9, a driven roller 10, and a secondary transfer inner roller 11 as a plurality of stretching rollers. The roller 9 is disposed on the first image forming unit UY side. The roller 10 is disposed on the fourth image forming unit UK side. The roller 12 is disposed below the roller 9 and the roller 10. The belt 8 is driven to rotate at the same peripheral speed as the drum 1 in the clockwise direction indicated by the arrow when the roller 9 is driven by the motor M9.

  The primary transfer device 5 of each image forming unit U is a transfer roller (conductive charging roller) in this example, and is disposed inside the belt 8. Each roller 5 is in pressure contact with the lower surface of the corresponding drum 1 via an ascending belt portion between the roller 9 and the roller 10. A contact portion between each drum 1 and the belt 8 is a primary transfer portion (nip portion) T1. The rollers 10, 11, 5 rotate following the belt 8 rotated by the roller 9.

  A secondary transfer outer roller 12 is in contact with the lower side of the roller 11 via a belt 8. A contact portion between the roller 12 and the belt 8 is a secondary transfer portion (nip portion) T2. The roller 12 is rotationally driven in the counterclockwise direction indicated by the arrow at the same peripheral speed as the belt 8.

  A sheet feeding cassette 13 is disposed below the roller 12 of the unit 7. A recording material 14 is stacked and stored in the cassette 13. A recording material conveyance unit 15 extending from the cassette 13 to the secondary transfer portion T2 is disposed in the space between the unit 7 and the cassette 13 on the right side in the frame 50. The unit 15 has a plurality of pairs of paper feed rollers (not shown) and paper feed guides (not shown) arranged at intervals along the recording material conveyance path. Further, the unit 15 has a pickup roller 16 on the cassette 13 side and a registration roller pair 17 on the secondary transfer portion T2 side.

  Here, in the unit A of the present embodiment, the unit U (UY, UM, UC, UK), the unit 7, the cassette 13, and the unit 15 in the frame 50 are unfixed on the recording material 14. Image forming means for forming an image.

  In the unit B in this embodiment, first and second heat fixing devices 21 and 22 are accommodated in the frame 60 as heat fixing means. Both the fixing devices 21 and 22 are heat roller fixing devices that fix the toner image by heating and pressing the recording material by nipping and conveying the recording material at the fixing nip portion. A heat roller, which is a fixing roller, is heated by an internal heater, and is raised to a predetermined image heating temperature and temperature-controlled. A discharge port 61 is provided in the left side plate 60 </ b> L of the frame body 60. A discharge tray 62 is disposed outside the left side plate 60L.

  On the left side of unit A, unit B has left side plate 50L, which is the vertical plane of frame 50, and right side plate 60R, which is the vertical plane of frame 60, facing each other with a gap (heat insulating space) 70 therebetween. The unit A is connected to the unit A in a state. The frame 50 and the frame 60 communicate with each other via a duct (conveyance mechanism cover) 80 provided in the gap 70. A recording material conveying means 20 for conveying the recording material 14 from the image forming means of the frame body 50 to the heat fixing means of the frame body 60 through the duct 80 is provided.

  In this embodiment, the recording material conveying means 20 is a belt conveying device that extends from the frame 50 side through the duct 80 to the frame 60 side. This apparatus 20 includes two parallel rollers 20a and 20b disposed on the recording material outlet side of the secondary transfer portion T2 on the frame 50 side and on the recording material inlet side of the first fixing device 21 on the frame 60 side. And an endless belt 20c having a large number of suction holes penetrating between the rollers. Moreover, it has the suction fan unit 20d arrange | positioned inside the belt 20c. The belt 20c passes through the duct 80 and reaches the frame 60 side from the frame 50 side. The belt 20c is rotationally driven at a predetermined peripheral speed in the counterclockwise direction of the arrow.

  The operation for forming a full-color image is as follows. The control circuit unit 101 drives the driving unit of the apparatus 100 based on the image formation start signal. Thereby, the drum 1 of each image forming unit U is rotationally driven. The belt 8 is also rotationally driven. Unit 3 is also driven. In synchronism with this drive, the charging device 2 uniformly charges the surface of the drum 1 to a predetermined polarity and potential in each image forming unit U at a predetermined control timing.

  The unit 3 scans and exposes the surface of each drum 1 with a laser beam modulated according to image information of each color. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image information of the corresponding color is formed on the surface of each drum 1 with a predetermined control timing. Then, the electrostatic latent image is developed as a toner image by the developing device 4.

  By the electrophotographic image forming process operation as described above, a Y color toner image corresponding to the Y color component of the full color image is formed on the drum 1 of the first image forming unit UY. The toner image is primarily transferred onto the belt 8 at the primary transfer portion T1. An M color toner image corresponding to the M color component of the full color image is formed on the drum 1 of the second image forming unit UM. In the primary transfer portion T1, the toner image is superimposed and superposed on the Y color toner image already transferred on the belt 8.

  Further, a C color toner image corresponding to the C color component of the full color image is formed on the drum 1 of the third image forming unit UC. In the primary transfer portion T1, the toner image is superposed on the Y color + M color toner image already transferred onto the belt 8 and primarily transferred. A K color toner image corresponding to the K color component of the full color image is formed on the drum 1 of the fourth image forming unit UK. In the primary transfer portion T1, the toner image is superimposed on the Y color + M color + C color toner image already transferred onto the belt 8 and is primarily transferred.

  In each image forming unit U, the primary transfer of the toner image from the drum 1 to the belt 8 is performed by applying a primary transfer voltage to the roller 5. That is, a primary transfer voltage of a predetermined potential is applied to the roller 5 from a primary transfer power supply unit (not shown) with a polarity opposite to the normal charging polarity of the toner. This is performed by the electric field generated by the applied voltage and the nip pressure of the primary transfer portion T1.

  In this way, a four-color full-color unfixed toner image of Y color + M color + C color + K color is synthesized and formed on the belt 8. In each image forming unit U, the toner remaining on the surface of the drum 1 after the primary transfer of the toner image to the belt 8 is removed by the cleaning device 6.

  On the other hand, the pickup roller 16 is driven at a predetermined control timing, and the recording material 14 is separated and fed from the cassette 13. The recording material 14 is fed by the unit 15 to the secondary transfer portion T2. The recording material 14 is registered by the registration roller pair 17 to be synchronized with the image portion of the belt 8 and introduced into the secondary transfer portion T2. As a result, the toner image on the belt 8 side is secondarily transferred in batch to the surface of the recording material 14 that is nipped and conveyed by the secondary transfer portion T2.

  In this secondary transfer, a secondary transfer voltage having a predetermined potential opposite to the normal charging polarity of the toner is applied to the roller 12 from a secondary transfer power supply unit (not shown). This is done by the nip pressure of the secondary transfer portion T2.

  The recording material 14 that has passed through the secondary transfer portion T2 is separated from the surface of the belt 8, rides on the belt portion on the upstream side of the belt 20c of the transport device 20, and is sucked and held on the belt by the suction force of the suction fan unit 20d. . The recording material 14 is conveyed from the frame body 50 side through the duct 80 to the frame body 60 side by the movement of the belt 20 c and is introduced into the first fixing device 21 to receive image fixing.

  When the high image quality mode (gloss mode) is not selected, the recording material 14 is subjected to the fixing process through the nip portion of the first heat fixing device 21, and then the first sheet path 24 side by the flapper 23. The route is switched to. Then, the sheet passes through the sheet path 24 and is discharged from the discharge port 61 to the discharge tray 62 as an image formed product.

  When the high image quality mode is selected, when the recording material 14 undergoes fixing processing through the nip portion of the first thermal fixing device 21, the recording material 14 is switched to the second sheet path 25 side by the flapper 23. The Then, the sheet passes through the sheet path 25 and is introduced into the second heat fixing device 22 and is again subjected to heating and pressing. As a result, the image fixed by the first heat fixing device 21 is glossed. The recording material 14 that has passed through the second heat fixing device 22 is discharged from the discharge port 61 to the discharge tray 62 as a glossy image formed product.

  In the monochrome image forming mode, image formation control is performed by the fourth image forming unit UK for black. In the case of a multicolor image forming mode of two or more colors, image forming control is performed by an image forming unit having a necessary color. In an unnecessary image forming unit, the drum 1 is idled.

(2) Measures for suppressing thermal influence from fixing device unit B to image forming unit A In this embodiment, in order to suppress the thermal influence from the fixing device unit B side that becomes high temperature to the image forming unit A side. The following suppression mechanism is adopted. 2A is a front view of a continuous portion of the unit A and the unit B, and FIG. 2B is a rear view of the continuous portion of the unit A and the unit B. FIG. 3 is a perspective schematic view for explaining the internal structure of the connecting portion of the unit A and the unit B. FIG.

  As described above, in the unit B, the left side plate 50L, which is the vertical surface of the frame 50, and the right side plate 60R, which is the vertical surface of the frame 60, are opposed to each other with a gap 70 between them. In this state, the unit A is connected to the unit A. The frame body 50 and the frame body 60 communicate with each other via a duct 80 provided in the gap 70. A recording material conveying means 20 for conveying the recording material 14 from the image forming means of the frame body 50 to the heat fixing means of the frame body 60 through the duct 80 is provided.

  The gap 70 is, for example, about 50 mm to 150 mm. The four sides of the gap 70, that is, the front side, the back side, the upper side, and the lower side are surrounded by the front plate 71F, the back plate 71R, the upper plate 71U, and the lower plate 71D, respectively.

  The front plate 71F is provided with intake openings 72 (72a, 72b, 72c) at three locations, an upper portion, a middle portion, and a lower portion in the vertical direction. The middle and lower intake openings 72b and 72c are located at positions higher than the upper surface of the duct 80 and lower than the lower surface of the duct 80 on the projection plane viewed from the front of the apparatus, avoiding the position where the duct 80 exists. It is arranged at the position. In addition, air blowing (intake air) fans 73 (73a, 73b, 73c) are disposed in the openings 72a, 72b, 72c as air blowing means for drawing outside air from the openings and flowing air through the gaps 70, respectively.

  The rear plate 70R is provided with three exhaust openings 74 (74a, 74b, 74c) corresponding to the intake openings 72b, 72c on the front plate 70F side in the vertical direction, ie, an upper portion, a middle portion, and a lower portion. Yes. Each of the fans 73a, 73b, 73c blows outside air drawn from the intake openings 72b, 72c toward the opposed exhaust openings 74a, 74b, 74c. That is, each fan 73a, 73b, 73c blows air in a direction perpendicular to the direction of gravity with respect to the gap 70.

  The gap 70 is provided with a rectifying plate 75 as a rectifying means for making the air flow in the gap flow in one direction. In the present embodiment, the rectifying plate 75 extends from the front plate 70F side to the rear plate 70R side at the position between the upper and middle intake openings 72a and 72b, that is, arranged in a direction perpendicular to the direction of gravity in the gap 70. Have

  In the present embodiment, the upper surface plate 71U and the lower surface plate 71D also function as rectifying plates 75 arranged in the gap 70 in a direction orthogonal to the direction of gravity. In this embodiment, the upper and lower surfaces of the duct 80 also function as the rectifying plates 75 arranged in the gap 70 in the direction perpendicular to the direction of gravity. The rectifying plate 75 is not limited to a single plate between the upper surface plate 71U and the lower surface plate 71D, and can be arranged in multiple upper and lower stages (plurality) with a gap therebetween.

  The gap 70 itself functions as a heat insulating space that suppresses heat transfer from the unit B to the unit A. However, the air in the gap 70 is strongly affected by the heat from the right side plate 60R of the unit B. Therefore, when air is caused to flow in the gap 70 using the fan 73, the air heated in the middle of the flow rises to the opposite side to the direction of gravity due to buoyancy.

  When the fan 73 is disposed on the front side of the apparatus and air flows in the gap 70 from the front side of the apparatus toward the back side of the apparatus, the air moves up near the back side of the apparatus in the gap 70, The temperature cannot be suppressed. Therefore, the effect of suppressing heat transfer from unit B to unit A is reduced.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the rectifying plate 75 is provided in the gap 70 so as to be orthogonal to the direction of gravity as described above. FIG. 3 shows the air flow in the gap 70 when the rectifying plate 75 is provided. By providing the rectifying plate 75, even if the air introduced into the gap 70 by the fan 73 is heated by the influence of the heat from the right side plate 60R of the unit B, the space in the gap 70 partitioned by the rectifying plate 75 is provided. Flow straight. Therefore, air can flow in the gap 70 almost uniformly in one direction from the front side of the apparatus to the back side of the apparatus, and the temperature rise in the gap 70 can be suppressed almost uniformly.

  As a result, the heat transfer from the unit B to the unit A can be effectively suppressed, and the heat transmitted to the optical scanning device 3 on the unit A side can be almost eliminated. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a temperature difference in the optical scanning device 3 among the image forming units UY, UM, UC, UK, and as a result, it is possible to suppress a color shift between the four colors.

  In addition, a duct 80 for communicating the frame body 50 of the unit A and the frame body 60 of the unit B is disposed in the gap 70, and the image forming means on the frame body 50 side passes through the duct 80 to the frame body 60 side. A recording material conveying means 20 for conveying the recording material 14 to the heat fixing means is provided. That is, in the gap 70, the recording material conveyance path is surrounded by the duct 80 so that the air flow in the gap 70 does not directly affect the recording material 14.

  Therefore, image quality deterioration due to scattering of unfixed toner on the recording material 14 which is carried on the upper surface of the belt 20c from the unit A side to the unit B side and exposed to the air flow in the gap 70 is prevented. . Further, image quality deterioration due to the recording material 14 itself being blown by the air flow and being displaced on the belt 20c is prevented.

  The intake opening 72 and the exhaust opening 74 can be provided with a protective net or a dustproof filter. Although not shown in the drawing, the unit A and the unit B are provided with exhaust heat exhaust fans that exhaust internal hot air from the respective frames 50 and 60. And it can suppress that the hot air of the unit B flows into the unit A side through the duct 80 by making the internal pressure of the unit B low.

[Reference example]
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal front schematic view showing a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 in this reference example . FIG. 5 is a perspective schematic view for explaining the internal structure of the connecting portion of the unit A and the unit B. FIG. The apparatus 100 of this reference example is the same as the apparatus 100 of the first embodiment except that the structure of the air blowing means in the gap 70 is different in comparison with the apparatus 100 of the first embodiment. A description thereof will be omitted.

In this reference example, the rectifying means and the blower hand stage in the gap 70, and characterized in that the direction of gravity with respect to the gap have been arranged on the upper side of the duct 80 is blown and rectifying means for flowing air in the reverse direction To do.

  An intake opening 72c is disposed below the front plate 71F of the gap 70. The opening 72c is disposed at a position lower than the lower surface of the duct 80 on the projection surface viewed from the front of the apparatus. A blower (intake) fan 73c is disposed in the opening 72c as a blower that draws outside air and flows air through the gap 70. A lower exhaust opening 74c corresponding to the intake opening 72c on the front plate 70F side is disposed on the back plate 70R. The fan 73c blows outside air drawn from the intake opening 72c toward the opposed exhaust opening 74c. That is, the fan 73c blows air in a direction perpendicular to the direction of gravity with respect to the gap 70.

  In this case, the lower surface of the duct 80 and the lower surface plate 71D function as a rectifying plate 75 extending from the front surface plate 70F side to the rear surface plate 70R side, that is, arranged in a direction perpendicular to the direction of gravity in the gap 70. Between the lower surface of the duct 80 and the lower surface plate 71D, a rectifying plate 75 extending from the front surface plate 70F side to the rear surface plate 70R side, that is, arranged in a direction orthogonal to the direction of gravity in the gap 70 can be provided.

  On the other hand, on the upper surface side of the duct 80, a plurality of blower fans 76 (76a, 76b, 76c) are arranged at an interval from the front plate 70F side to the rear plate 70R side. These fans 76 are disposed upward and are driven to blow air into the gap 70 from below. That is, air flows in the direction opposite to the direction of gravity with respect to the gap. The upper part of the gap 70 is opened as an opening 70a. The air flow blown upward in the gap 70 by the fan 76 blows out from the opening 70a. The fan 76 is disposed approximately 5 cm to 15 cm above the upper surface of the duct 80, and sucks air from below and blows it upward as shown in FIG.

  In the gap 70, the lower space of the duct 80 has a duct 80 that is warm on the upper side, so that an ascending air current is less likely to be generated, and the fan 73c is perpendicular to gravity (from the front plate 70F side to the rear plate 70R side). It is installed so that air flows in the direction of heading.

  By arranging the fan 76 to blow out in the direction opposite to the direction of gravity, a flow can be created in the same direction as the direction in which natural convection occurs. Thereby, the air flow in the gap 70 can be stabilized by driving the fan 76, and the fan 76 itself has a rectifying action.

  Therefore, air can flow in the gap 70 almost uniformly in one direction, and the temperature rise in the gap 70 can be suppressed almost uniformly. As a result, the heat transfer from the unit B to the unit A can be effectively suppressed, and the heat transmitted to the optical scanning device 3 on the unit A side can be almost eliminated. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a temperature difference in the optical scanning device 3 among the image forming units UY, UM, UC, UK, and as a result, it is possible to suppress a color shift between the four colors.

  A protective net or a dustproof filter can be provided in the openings 72c, 74c, 71a.

[Others]
(1) In the present invention, the image forming means for forming an unfixed toner image on the recording material includes an electrophotographic process, an electrostatic recording process for forming an unfixed toner image on the recording material by a transfer method or a direct method, Examples include a magnetic recording process.

  (2) In the present invention, examples of the heat fixing means include a hot plate type, a heat chamber type, an infrared irradiation type, and an electromagnetic induction heating type in addition to the heat roller fixing device of the embodiment.

  100..Image forming apparatus, A..Image forming unit, 50..First container, B..Fixing unit, 60..Second container, 14..Recording material, 20..Recording material conveying means, 21, 22 ··· Heat fixing means, 70 ·· Gap, 50L, 60R · · Vertical surface, 73 (73a, 73b, 73c) · · Air blowing means, 75 · · Rectification means, 80 · · Duct

Claims (2)

A first container housing image forming means for forming an unfixed toner image on the recording material;
A second container for accommodating a heat fixing means for fixing the toner image on the recording material, and is arranged to be opposed to each other in a vertical plane with a gap with respect to the first container; A second container;
A duct that is provided in the gap and communicates the first container and the second container;
A recording material conveying means for conveying the recording material from the image forming means of the first container to the heat fixing means of the second container through the duct;
A blowing means for flowing air through the gap;
Rectifying means for making the air flow in the gap flow in one direction;
Have a image said sending means is blown in the direction perpendicular to the direction of gravity with respect to the gap, the rectifying means, characterized in that a rectifying plate disposed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of gravity in the gap Forming equipment. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an internal pressure of the second container is lower than an internal pressure of the first container.