Image forming apparatus that cools toner container, recording sheet, and fixing device

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image forming unit that forms a toner image on a recording sheet;
• a fixing device that fixes the toner image formed by the image forming unit on the recording sheet;
• an output tray that receives the recording sheet which has passed the fixing device;
• a toner container located under the output tray and beside the fixing device, and configured to accommodate a toner used for forming the toner image;
• a cooling fan located between the toner container and the fixing device;
• an outer wall provided under the output tray so as to cover an upper portion of the toner container, to form an upstream duct that allows air to flow therethrough over the toner container toward the cooling fan;
• and
• a downstream branch duct that conducts the air discharged from the cooling fan to the fixing device, and to a transport route of the recording sheet from the fixing device to the output tray,
• wherein the outer wall includes a plurality of intake holes for sucking air into the upstream duct,
• the output tray includes an outlet communicating with the downstream branch duct so as to blow air to an upper face of the output tray,
• the output tray includes, as part of the downstream branch duct, a guide member that branches an airflow in the downstream branch duct into a flow toward the outlet and a flow toward a discharge roller pair located on a portion of the output tray higher than the outlet, and
• the downstream branch duct includes a branch path that leads to a section of the transport route between the fixing device and the output tray, formed where air is branched by the guide member.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image forming unit that forms a toner image on a recording sheet;
• a fixing device that fixes the toner image formed by the image forming unit on the recording sheet;
• an output tray that receives the recording sheet which has passed the fixing device;
• a toner container located under the output tray and beside the fixing device, and configured to accommodate a toner used for forming the toner image;
• a cooling fan located between the toner container and the fixing device;
• an outer wall provided under the output tray so as to cover an upper portion of the toner container, to form an upstream duct that allows air to flow therethrough over the toner container toward the cooling fan;
• and
• a downstream branch duct that conducts the air discharged from the cooling fan to the fixing device, and to a transport route of the recording sheet from the fixing device to the output tray,
• wherein the outer wall includes a plurality of intake holes for sucking air into the upstream duct,
• the image forming apparatus further comprises a relay transport device removably mounted above the outer wall when the output tray is removed, to perform relay transport of the recording sheet discharged from the fixing device, and
• the relay transport device includes an air passage or an opening for conducting air to the intake holes of the outer wall.