Patent ID: 7418234

Claim:
An image forming apparatus that has a duplex printing function, wherein while transporting a recording medium, after recording an image formed on an image carrier to a first side of the recording medium, this recording medium is re-transported towards the image carrier and an image formed on the image carrier is recorded on a second side of this recording medium that differs from the first side, the image forming apparatus comprising: a switching means for switching the transport position of the recording medium when recording the image on the recording medium, such that it differs in the direction perpendicular to the recording medium transport direction when recording the image on the first side and when recording the image on the second side, a discharge portion for discharging the recording medium on which the image has been printed; wherein the switching means has an offset function, provided in this discharge portion, that varies the discharge position of the recording medium that is discharged; and wherein the transfer position of the recording medium when recording an image on the recording medium is switched by the offset function of the switching means.