Patent ID: 8103186

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming section configured to form an image on a sheet; an upper unit which is located over the image forming section with a space therebetween and which is slid in a first direction of from a front side to a rear side of the image forming apparatus and a second direction of from the rear side to the front side thereof; a sheet discharger configured to discharge the sheet bearing the image thereon into the space in the first or second direction; a sheet stacker configured to receive the sheet from the sheet discharger to store the sheet thereon; a support which is located on both side ends of the sheet stacker, such that the sheet is discharged between side portions of the support, and extends in the first direction and supports the upper unit so that the upper unit is slid in the first and second directions; and at least one of a release preventing member which forms part of the support and is configured to prevent releasing of the upper unit from the support and a covering member hinged to the support and which is moved from a first position to a second position in conjunction with sliding of the upper unit and which covers an opening in an end portion of the support when acquiring the first position.