Patent ID: 7347543

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a battery for driving the image forming apparatus; and charging means for charging the battery, wherein the charging means being mounted to the image forming apparatus and having first contact point portion, second contact point portion and third contact point portion, wherein the image forming apparatus being containable in a separate container stand, the battery is charged by containing the image forming apparatus in the container stand and the container stand having first contact terminal portion, second contact terminal portion, and third contact terminal portion, and the first contact terminal portion and the third contact terminal portion is conducted with the same polarity, wherein said first contact point portion contacts with said first contact terminal portion, said second contact point portion contacts with said second contact terminal portion and said third contact point portion contacts with said third contact terminal portion for charging the battery when the image forming apparatus is contained in the container stand in a predetermined direction, and wherein said contact point portions and said contact terminal portions are arranged such that said first contact point portion contacts with said third contact terminal portion, said second contact point portion contacts with said second contact terminal portion and said third contact point portion contacts with said first contact terminal portion when the image forming apparatus is contained in the container stand in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction, and the battery is chargeable when the image forming apparatus is contained in the container stand in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction.