Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a unit arranging portion that is provided with a unit containing a powder tank; a determination unit that determines the unit provided in the unit arranging portion; and a control unit that supplies a recording medium from a first sheet feeding portion in a case where the determination unit determines that the unit provided in the unit arranging portion is a unit corresponding to a binder toner, and supplies the recording medium from a second sheet feeding portion different from the first sheet feeding portion in a case where the determination unit determines that the unit provided in the unit arranging portion is a unit corresponding to a toner of a predetermined color.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a body of the image forming apparatus; and a cartridge installable with respect to the body, wherein the cartridge includes a developer accommodating portion accommodating a developer; a developing portion supporting a developer holding member holding the developer thereon; and a shutter configured to be movable between an open position at which the shutter opens a communication port and a closed position at which the shutter closes the communication port. The body includes a detecting section detecting a state of the cartridge which changes as the cartridge is used, and a judging section judging whether or not a cartridge exchange timing for exchanging the cartridge has arrived, based on the state of the cartridge detected by the detecting section; and the shutter moves to the closed position under a condition that the judging section judges that the cartridge exchange timing has arrived.

Abstract: A sheet guiding unit separating mechanism includes a pair of first and second sheet guiding units disposed facing first and second sides of a recording medium, respectively, to guide a recording medium discharged from a fixing nip downstream. One of the pair of sheet guiding units facing the first side includes a first sheet guiding element disposed immediately downstream of the fixing nip and a second sheet guiding element disposed downstream of the first sheet guiding element. The second sheet guiding element is displaceable substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording medium and separate from the sheet guiding unit facing the second side when the sheet guiding unit separating mechanism is moved to separate from the fixing nip. The first and second sheet guiding elements together pivot around a first rotation fulcrum to separate from the fixing nip after the second sheet guiding element is displaced.