Patent ID: 7965974
Filing Date: 2011-06-21
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image; a plurality of developing devices that store respective developers of different colors and visualize the electrostatic latent image with the developers; a developing device switching mechanism that switches among the developing devices to allow one of the developing devices to visualize the electrostatic latent image carried by the image carrier; a transfer unit that transfers a developer image visualized by the one of the developing devices to a recording medium; a fixing device that fixes the developer image transferred by the transfer unit onto the recording medium; a first transporter that transports in a first direction the recording medium with the developer image fixed thereon by the fixing device; a second transporter that transports in a second direction the recording medium with the developer image fixed thereon by the fixing device; and a transporter switching mechanism that switches between the first transporter and the second transporter in conjunction with an operation of the developing device switching mechanism for switching among the developing devices, the developing device switching mechanism mechanically actuating the transporter switching mechanism.