Patent ID: 8014699

Claim:
An image forming apparatus which forms an image, comprising: a plurality of process units arranged in a predetermined direction to form a process-unit row, each of the process units having a photosensitive body and a developer container; a casing accommodating the process units, and having an opening which is formed in the casing at one side in the predetermined direction, and a cover which opens and closes the opening; and an exposure member exposing the photosensitive body, and having a laser source, a deflector which deflects a laser beam emitted from the laser source, and an optical element which focuses the emitted laser beam, the exposure member being arranged to face the developer container of each of the process units in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction; wherein the process units are detachable, with respect to the casing, through the opening of the casing; wherein the developer container of one process unit, among the process units, arranged at one end of the process-unit row has a protruding portion which protrudes toward the exposure member to overlap with the exposure member in the direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction; wherein the one process unit arranged at one end of the process-unit row is separable into a photosensitive-body unit having the photosensitive body, and a developer unit having the developer container and developer rollers; and wherein the developer unit is detachable, through the opening of the casing, in a state of being separated from the photosensitive-body unit.