Patent ID: 7778568

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a carrier unit that includes an image carrier that carries a toner image, and a frame that supports the image carrier; a transferring unit that transfers the toner image from the image carrier onto a recording medium being conveyed in a conveying path past the image carrier; and a detachable unit that is detachably mounted on an apparatus body, and located near the image carrier, wherein the detachable unit does not include the image carrier and is able to be detached from the image forming apparatus by movement in a path that crosses the conveying path from a side of the conveying path that is the same side as the location of the image carrier to a side of the conveying path that is opposite the location of the image carrier, and wherein the carrier unit further includes a first guide member that guides the recording medium, and prevents the detachable unit from contacting the image carrier when the detachable unit is attached or detached.