Patent ID: 6741820
Filing Date: 2004-05-25
Classification: G03G,H04N

Abstract:
An image forming apparatus, comprising:a flat bed type image reading device reads an image from an original document, as image data; an upper body that includes the image reading device; an image forming device, comprising: a conveying unit that conveys a recording medium; a light emitting unit that emits a light according to the image data read by the image reading device or data externally input; a photosensitive member where an electrostatic latent image is formed by the light of the light emitting unit; a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member as a visible image; a transfer unit that transfers the visible image developed by the developing unit onto the recording medium; a fixing unit that fixes the visible image transferred onto the recording medium by the transfer unit; and a detachable cartridge that accommodates at least the photosensitive member; a lower body that accommodates the image forming device and is disposed under the upper body; and a hinge member that connects the upper body and the lower body, the upper body being pivoted about the hinge member between an open position where the upper body is open with respect to the lower body and a close position where the upper body is closed with respect to the lower body, wherein the transfer unit is disposed above the photosensitive member accommodated in the cartridge, the cartridge is detachable from the lower body via a space provided between the upper body and the lower body by pivoting the upper body toward the open position, and the lower body is divided into an upper part and a lower part, the upper part has the same size as the upper body as to a lengthwise direction, a stepping portion is formed between the upper part and the lower part of the lower body, and the lower part is shorter than the upper part as to the lengthwise direction.