Patent ID: 9323206
Filing Date: 2016-04-26
CPC Classification: B65H,G03G,H05K

Claim Text:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a photosensitive drum configured to carry a developer image to be transferred onto a sheet; a light exposure device configured to expose the photosensitive drum to light by scanning; a developing device configured to supply developer to the photosensitive drum exposed by the light exposure device; a charger disposed opposite to the light exposure device relative to the developing device and configured to charge the photosensitive drum; a fixing unit configured to fix the developer image transferred on the sheet; a sheet supply tray disposed below the developing device in a vertical direction and configured to receive sheets to be supplied to the photosensitive drum; an ejection tray configured to receive a sheet on which image formation is finished and disposed above the developing device in the vertical direction, the ejection tray having a sheet receiving surface provided on an upper surface of the ejection tray in the vertical direction, the sheet receiving surface being inclined downward, relative to a horizontal direction, toward the charger; and a sheet conveying mechanism having a sheet conveying path including a first U-shaped portion disposed downstream relative to the sheet supply tray in a sheet conveying direction in which a sheet is conveyed from the sheet supply tray toward the fixing unit, a second U-shaped portion disposed downstream relative to the fixing unit in the sheet conveying direction and above the first U-shaped portion in the vertical direction, and a connection portion connecting the first U-shaped portion and the second U-shaped portion, wherein a lowest end portion of the sheet receiving surface is disposed below an upper end of the charger in the vertical direction, wherein the charger is disposed opposite to the developing device relative to the lowest end portion of the sheet receiving surface, and wherein the charger, the lowest end portion of the sheet receiving surface, and the developing device are arranged in this order along a circumference of a circle having a radius extending from an axis of the photosensitive drum to an upper end of the charger.