Patent ID: 8493592

Claim:
An image forming apparatus having a connecting structure to a display apparatus, the image forming apparatus comprising an original reading portion, an image forming portion, an operation portion, and a first case, the image forming portion performing a printing operation according to an operation directed toward the operation portion; the display apparatus has a display screen on a rear face or a side face viewed from an operation side of the image forming apparatus being disposed and formed such that the display apparatus and the image forming apparatus are connectable and separable, the display apparatus comprising a second case, wherein, in the first case of the image forming apparatus, first power connector portions that supply power to the display apparatus or receive power from the display apparatus, first signal connector portions that send control signals or display data to the display apparatus or receive print data from the display apparatus are provided, and first connecting portions for connecting the display apparatus are provided, wherein, in the second case of the display apparatus, second power connector portions that receive power from the image forming apparatus or supply power to the image forming apparatus, second signal connector portions that receive control signals or display data from the image forming apparatus or sends print data to the image forming apparatus, and second connecting portions for connecting to the image forming apparatus are provided, wherein, upon connecting the first connecting portions of the image forming apparatus and the second connecting portions of the display apparatus, the first and second power connector portions are also simultaneously connected to each other, and the first and second signal connector portions are also simultaneously connected to each other, and wherein said first connecting portions includes a pair of left and right fixing members formed in the first case of the image forming apparatus, the fixing members including a flat body portion that protrudes from the first case of the image forming apparatus, a tapered portion formed at an end of the body portion, and a through-hole formed in a base portion of the body portion, and the second connecting portions includes an opening portion where the fixing members are inserted and a fixing catch for latching by insertion into the through-hole of the body portion provided in the opening portion.