Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, at least a part of a transporting passage for guiding a recording sheet of paper to an image forming unit is opened from the front side of an apparatus body. According to the image forming apparatus, a paper jam can be easily removed and a space necessary for maintenance/inspection such as removal of the paper jam can be minimized.

Abstract: A sheet feed cassette to be installed to a sheet feed unit of an image forming apparatus. The sheet feed cassette includes a frame unit having at least a side frame and a bottom frame; a bottom plate, provided above the bottom frame of the frame unit, for placing and supporting sheets thereon, the bottom plate being capable of moving up and down; a pushing-up unit, provided at a front end portion of a sheet feed side of the bottom plate, for pushing up the bottom plate with respect to the bottom frame of the frame unit when the sheet feed cassette is installed to the sheet feed unit of the image forming apparatus; and a spring, provided at an end portion opposite to the sheet feed side of the bottom plate, for urging up the bottom plate with respect to the bottom frame of the frame unit.

Abstract: A paper path for guiding and transporting sheets of paper in an image former such as a printer or a photocopier which forms an image on both sides of the sheet of paper. The paper path has three channels: an image forming channel, a paper discharging channel, and a paper reversing channel. At the point where all three channels merge, a paper gate is provided for both guiding sheets of paper and signaling the presence of paper at the point where the three channels merge. The top surface of a paper tray containing unused sheets of paper is part of the paper reversing channel. When paper passes over the top surface of the paper tray, a roller momentarily stops the motion of the paper to prevent skew. A claw connected to the paper tray separates paper with an image formed on one side from paper in the tray. Guides provided over the claw prevent paper jams.