Patent ID: 7917057

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit which forms an image on a sheet; a sheet conveying section which conveys the sheet on which the image is formed; an apparatus main body in which the image forming unit and the sheet conveying section are installed; an operating unit to input operational information; a front cover to which the operating unit is mounted so that the operating unit is disposed at an upper end side of the front cover, the front cover being supported in a freely openable/closable manner by the apparatus main body, the front cover is capable of changing in position between a closed position to cover an anterior surface side of the apparatus main body and an open position to expose a part of the apparatus main body so that the upper end side of the front cover is separated away from the apparatus main body at the open position; and a retention mechanism which includes a lock member and a release member, the retention mechanism retains the front cover at the closed position with respect to the apparatus main body, wherein the lock member is a member which is supported by one of the apparatus main body and the front cover so as to be capable of making an engagement with and being detached from the other one, and the release member is a member to release engagement of the lock member, and the release member is installed at a region located posterior to the operating unit at the upper end side of the front cover and a region facing a back surface side as viewed from an opening and closing direction of the front cover.