Patent ID: 8977185
Filing Date: 2015-03-10
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a recording sheet storage unit configured to store recording sheets substantially in an upright position; an image forming unit configured to form an image on a recording sheet conveyed from the recording sheet storage unit, and including at least a photosensitive drum on which a latent image is to be formed, and a developing roller disposed directly opposite the photosensitive drum, the developing roller configured to supply developer to the photosensitive drum to form a developer image; a developer receptacle configured to store developer to be supplied to the image forming unit; and a recording sheet receiving unit configured to store the recording sheet conveyed from the image forming unit substantially in an upright position, wherein a sheet conveyance passage for conveying the recording sheet extends upward from a lower portion of the recording sheet storage unit toward the recording sheet receiving unit, wherein the image forming unit is positioned on the sheet conveyance passage and comprises a fixing device and a developer unit including the photosensitive drum and the developer roller, and the fixing device is arranged above the developer unit in a vertical direction when the image forming apparatus is in an operating orientation, and wherein the developing roller is configured to rotate about a rotation axis which extends toward the developer receptacle, and wherein the developer receptacle is configured to be movable relative to the developing roller between a supplying position in which the developer receptacle supplies the developer to the image forming unit and a separate position in which the developer receptacle is separated from the developing roller, and the rotation axis of the developing roller intersects at least a portion of the developer receptacle when the developer receptacle is in the supplying position.