Patent ID: 8774701

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a transferring unit configured to transfer developer onto a sheet; a fixing unit configured to fix the developer transferred to the sheet to form a visible image on the sheet; a first sheet conveying path section extending through the transferring unit and the fixing unit, the sheet being conveyed from the transferring unit to the fixing unit along the first sheet conveying path section; a re-conveying unit constituting a second sheet conveying path section for re-conveying the sheet from the fixing unit to an inlet side of the transferring unit, the second sheet conveying path section being positioned below the first sheet conveying path section; and a charge-removing member made of a single flat metal plate and fixedly disposed between the first sheet conveying path section and the second sheet conveying path section, the charge-removing member constituting a part of the second sheet conveying path section and being configured to remove charge from the sheet conveyed along the first and second sheet conveying path sections, the charge-removing member having a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface, the first surface facing the first sheet conveying path section and being configured to remove charges from the sheet while the sheet is conveyed along the first sheet conveying path section, and the second surface facing the second sheet conveying path section to constitute the part of the second sheet conveying path section and being configured to remove charges from the sheet while the sheet is conveyed along the second sheet conveying path section.