Patent ID: 8768237
Filing Date: 2014-07-01
Classification: B41J,B65H,G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image forming unit, which is configured to form an image on a recording sheet; a return-sheet conveyer unit, which is configured to convey the recording sheet carried from the image forming unit along a return-sheet path to return to the image forming unit, wherein the return-sheet conveyor unit has a cover which forms a part of an exterior surface of the image forming apparatus, wherein the cover includes contact portions on a top surface thereof; an upper frame unit, which includes a pair of side frames and a crossing beam arranged to connect the pair of side frames with one another and formed to have a shape of a rectangular prism, the crossing beam having contact areas on a bottom surface thereof, wherein the upper frame unit is configured to support the image forming unit in a position between the pair of side frames; and a pair of lower frames, which are arranged to have a predetermined amount of clearance there-between and to have the return-sheet conveyer unit in the clearance, and are configured to be less rigid than the upper frame unit and to support lower sections of the pair of side frames; wherein the contact areas on the bottom surface of the crossing beam confront the contact portions on the top surface of the cover in the return-sheet conveyer unit to thereby align a vertical position of the return-sheet conveyer unit with respect to the image forming unit.