Mounting structure of external device, and image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a mounting structure of an external device comprising
• an apparatus body in which an exhaust port or a suction port are formed,
• an external device that is connected to the apparatus body, and
• a mounting member that includes a body section having one side on which the external device is mounted and the other side which is mounted on the apparatus body so as to cover the exhaust port or the suction port, and a plurality of protruding sections which protrude from the body section and come into contact with the apparatus body in positions different from the exhaust port or the suction port, and that is provided to make flow paths at portions other than the plurality of protruding sections so as to intersect or branch between the body section and the apparatus body, and at a center portion of the body section;
• and
• an image forming section that is providing in the apparatus body and forms an image on a recording medium based on image information transmitted from the external device.