Air supply tube, air supply device, and image forming apparatus

An air supply device comprising:

• an air supply that sends air;
• an air supply tube, the air supply tube provided with an inlet port that takes in air sent from the air supply, an outlet port that is arranged opposite a portion of an elongated target structure in a longitudinal direction, to which air taken in from the inlet port is to be supplied, and outputs air to flow in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and a channel portion in which a channel space for allowing air to flow between the inlet port and the outlet port is formed, the outlet port being formed in an elongated opening shape parallel to a portion of the target structure in the longitudinal direction, and the inlet port and the outlet port being formed in different opening shapes;
• and
• a plurality of suppressing portions that are provided indifferent parts in the air flow direction in a channel space of the channel portion of the air supply tube,
• wherein the plurality of suppressing portions include at least
• a most downstream suppressing portion that is provided in a most downstream-side part in the air flow direction of the channel portion and is configured such that a channel space in the most downstream-side part is closed by a ventilating member with a plurality of ventilation portions dotted therein, and
• a first upstream suppressing portion that is provided in a part initially located on the upstream side in the air flow direction relative to the most downstream suppressing portion in the channel portion, and is configured such that a portion of a channel space in the corresponding part is blocked along a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the outlet port and a gap in a shape extending in the direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the outlet port is provided to allow air to pass therethrough, and
• a gap regulating portion that forms an extended gap at the same interval as the gap extended and connected in a state of being bent in a direction away from the most downstream suppressing portion from the gap of the first upstream suppressing portion is provided in a part between the most downstream suppressing portion and the first upstream suppressing portion in the channel portion.