Image forming apparatus, aspirator device, and method for aspirate dust in an image forming apparatus

An aspirator device for an image forming apparatus having a conveyer configured to convey a recording medium along a conveying path in a conveying direction, an image forming unit configured to form an image on the recording medium being conveyed, a supporting member arranged in a position to face the image forming unit and configured to support the recording medium, and a sensor configured to detect the recording medium conveyed by the conveyer, the aspirator device comprising:

• an aspirator configured to aspirate dust through an aspiration inlet, which is formed in a downstream position along the conveying direction with respect to the image forming unit and in proximity to a downstream end of the supporting member;
• and
• an aspiration controller configured to:
• control the aspirator to never generate an aspiration force at the aspiration inlet while the recording medium faces the aspiration inlet and until a rear end of the recording medium passes by the aspiration inlet along the conveying direction, based on a detected result by the sensor;
• and
• control the aspirator to start generating the aspiration force at the aspiration inlet within a predetermined time period after the rear end of the recording medium passes by the aspiration inlet along the conveying direction.