Patent ID: 7529500

Claim:
An image forming apparatus having an image reading unit for reading optically an image on an original document and an image forming unit for forming said image on a recording medium based on image information read with said image reading unit comprising: a mounting member including a first mounting member mounting said image forming unit thereto and a second mounting member mounting said image reading unit thereto, said second mounting member being formed above said first mounting member and being movable up and down with respect to said first mounting member; a pushing section for pushing upward said second mounting member; a level setting section for setting said second mounting member at plural prescribed levels; a releasing section for releasing a level set by said level setting section; and an upward moving section for moving upward said second mounting member in association with opening of a cover for opening and closing an upper surface of said image forming unit; wherein said level setting section sets selectively said image reading unit at either a first level at which said image reading unit is ordinarily used or a second level, higher than said first level, at which a top cover of said image forming unit can be opened; wherein said pushing section is set to have a pushing force to move upward said second mounting member where said releasing section releases said level set at said first level with said level setting section as well as to move downward said second mounting member where said releasing section releases said level set at said second level with said level setting section; and wherein said releasing section has a wire connecting a distant location and said releasing section so that said level set by said level setting section is released by operation of said wire at said distant location.