Abstract: An image forming apparatus and sheet feeder in which a recording-material transporting system is provided for transporting to an image forming section recording material supplied from a recording-material supplying section and for subsequently guiding the recording material to a recording-material discharging section. A portion of the transporting path is arranged on a rear side of the apparatus body located on an opposite side to the user operation side. At least either one of the recording-material supplying section and the recording-material transporting system is provided with a jam clearing section for allowing recording material jammed in the recording-material transporting system to be both accessed from and cleared on the user operation side without need to open any access panels on the side portions or rear portion of the apparatus body. As a result the apparatus may be located without reserving space for opening a side or rear access portion.

Abstract: A recording-material discharging section 3 is disposed above an image forming section 1, and a recording-material supplying section 4, in which a user operation-side surface of a recording material cassette 5 is set substantially flush with a surface of the apparatus body, is disposed below the image forming section 1. A recording-material transporting system 6 is provided in which transporting paths are provided for transporting to the image forming section 1 the recording material supplied from the recording-material supplying section 4 and for subsequently guiding the recording material to the recording-material discharging section, and in which a portion of the transporting path leading to the image forming section is arranged on a rear side of the apparatus body located on an opposite side to the user operation side. At least either one of the recording-material supplying section 4 and the recording-material transporting system 6 is provided with a jam clearing section 8 (e.g.