Patent ID: 7130560

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: an opening and closing device that is capable of being opened or closed with respect to a main body of the image forming apparatus; a support member which pivotably supports said opening and closing device; a plurality of image forming devices capable of being detachably mounted on the main body in a state where said opening and closing device is opened; a recording material containing device which contains a recording material and which is capable of being detachably mounted on the main body, wherein said plurality of image forming devices are provided above said recording material containing device, wherein a surface of the main body for attaching or detaching said recording material containing device is the same as a surface of the main body for attaching or detaching said plurality of image forming devices, wherein a detaching direction of said plurality of image forming devices is inclined upwards, while a detaching direction of said recording material containing device is substantially horizontal; and a positioning device configured to position said opening and closing device by regulating movement of said opening and closing device when said opening and closing device is opened around said support member, wherein said positioning device positions said opening and closing device in a space defined between the inclined-upward detaching direction of said plurality of image forming devices and the substantially horizontal detaching direction of said recording material containing device.