Patent ID: 7991321

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of photoconductive elements arranged one above the other; a plurality of optical writing devices arranged one above the other respectively corresponding to the plurality of photoconductive elements; a stay disposed between the plurality of photoconductive elements and optical writing devices and extending parallel to a direction of arrangement of the plurality of optical writing devices and including slots configured to allow light beams emitted from the plurality of optical writing devices to pass therethrough to the plurality of photoconductive elements in order to form latent images on photoconductive drums; a first side wall; a second side wall facing the first side wall; a top wall; and a bottom wall facing the top wall, wherein the stay is affixed to the first side wall, the second side wall, the top wall, and the bottom wall, and wherein the plurality of optical writing devices are configured in the form of a flat box and the flat box is supported by the stay.