Patent attributes
The present invention provides an image forming apparatus which prevents the rusting of metallic components and paper jams and improves the cooling capability of a heat pipe by ensuring that water droplets do not become adhered to the heat pipe, thereby reducing thermal resistance. A fixing apparatus and a printer engine are shielded from each other by a heat receiving plate, a thermal insulation member, and a heat radiating plate. A heat pipe is provided in the shielding member. One end side of the heat pipe is disposed between the fixing apparatus and printer engine to serve as a heat receiving portion, and the other end side of the heat pipe is disposed in a higher position than the one end side to serve as a heat radiating portion. The thermal insulation member covers the periphery of an intermediate portion of the heat pipe between the two end sides of the heat pipe.
