Patent ID: 8600284
Filing Date: 2013-12-03
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 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 configured to convey 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 positioned on the sheet conveyance passage comprises a fixing device and a developer unit at least including a developer carrier, and the fixing device is arranged above the developer unit in a vertical direction when the image forming apparatus is in an operating orientation, wherein the recording sheet storage unit and the recording sheet receiving unit are arranged in a back and forth direction, and the recording sheet receiving unit is arranged in a front side of the image forming apparatus and positioned to be spaced apart from a bottom of the image forming apparatus, wherein the recording sheet storage unit, the image forming unit and the recording sheet receiving unit are configured to place, when the recording sheets are stored to the recording sheet receiving unit, a leading end of each of the recording sheets conveyed along the sheet conveyance passage upward and a trailing end of the each of the recording sheets downward with a side of the each of the recording sheets on which an image is formed being faced away from the recording sheet storage unit such that a recording sheet more recently stored to the recording sheet receiving unit is placed closer to the recording sheet storage unit than a recording sheet previously stored to the recording sheet receiving unit; and wherein the developer unit is positioned in a space below the recording sheet receiving unit and detachable through an opening formed in the front side.