Patent ID: 8200144
Filing Date: 2012-06-12
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a carrier that carries a toner image; a transporting unit that transports a sheet along a transporting route; a transfer unit that transfers the toner image carried by the carrier to the sheet transported by the transporting unit; a fixing unit that fixes the toner image transferred by the transfer unit on the sheet; and an exit opening at which the sheet is discharged from the image forming apparatus, wherein the transporting route comprises a first transporting section in which the sheet is transported from a sheet source to a junction point, a second transporting section in which the sheet is transported from the junction point to a branch point at which the transporting route branches in a first direction to the transfer unit and in a second direction to the exit opening, a third transporting section in which the sheet is transported from the branch point in the first direction through a transfer position of the transfer unit and a fixing position of the fixing unit to the junction point, and a fourth transporting section in which the sheet is transported from the branch point in the second direction to the exit opening, and wherein a distance between a position of the exit opening and the transfer position of the transfer unit is less than a distance between the position of the exit opening and the fixing position of the fixing unit.