Patent ID: 9268285
Filing Date: 2016-02-23
CPC Classification: B65H,G03G

Claim Text:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming portion configured to form an image on a recording sheet; a main body including a pair of frames and a bridging member, the pair of frames facing each other with the image forming portion there between, the bridging member connecting the pair of frames, the bridging member having a lower surface exposed to an outside of the image forming apparatus; a feed roller; a sheet receiving plate configured to receive the recording sheet, and pivot between a nearby position where the sheet receiving plate is disposed near the feed roller and a remote position where the sheet receiving plate is disposed remote from the feed roller; and a lifting member disposed under the sheet receiving plate, the lifting member being configured to lift the sheet receiving plate such that the sheet receiving plate is disposed in the nearby position, the lifting member including a pivot shaft and a lift portion disposed downstream from the pivot shaft in a sheet conveying direction, the pivot shaft being rotatably supported by the bridging member, the lift portion being configured to contact a lower surface of the sheet receiving plate, wherein the bridging member covers, from below, a portion of the lower surface of the sheet receiving plate disposed immediately above the pivot shaft of the lifting member, the lower surface of the sheet receiving plate including an exposed portion downwardly exposed to the outside of the image forming apparatus without being covered by the bridging member.