Patent ID: 7212764

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a developer container configured to contain a developer; a transfer belt having a surface inclined with respect to the ground; a transfer member configured to apply an electric charge to the transfer belt; and a plurality of image forming units located opposite to the surface, a portion of each of the image forming units overlapping a portion of an adjacent image forming unit both in a horizontal direction parallel to the ground and a vertical direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction, at least one of the image forming units comprising a developing device including an input through which the developing device is configured to receive the developer from the developer container, the input disposed above a vertical projection of an adjacent image forming unit and above a vertical projection of a photosensitive member of an adjacent image forming unit; an agitator provided at a lower part of the input of the developing device; and a toner conveying path connected between the developer container and the agitator, wherein the developer container is separate and detachable from the image forming unit; and wherein the developer container is above an optical writing unit which is above and substantially parallel to the transfer belt.