Image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a plurality of image forming cartridges arranged one above another, each containing a different color toner and a photoconductive drum;
• and
• a transfer belt support unit, including a transfer belt, hingedly attached to the image forming apparatus at a lower end position of the transfer belt unit and movable between a first position covering the plurality of the image forming cartridges and a second position uncovering the plurality of the image forming cartridges,
• wherein each of the image forming cartridges is configured to be mounted to or dismounted from the image forming apparatus when the transfer belt support unit is in the second position, and
• at least one of the image forming cartridges is configured to be mounted to or dismounted from the image forming apparatus in a direction other than along an axis of rotation of a photoconductive member disposed in the at least one image forming cartridge.

An image forming system, comprising:

• a plurality of image forming means arranged one above another for forming an image on a transfer medium;
• means for supporting a transfer belt, including a transfer belt, said transfer belt supporting means being hingedly attached to an image forming apparatus at a lower end position of the transfer belt supporting means and movable between a first position covering the plurality of the image forming means and a second position uncovering the plurality of the image forming means,
• wherein each of the image forming means is configured to be mounted to or dismounted from the image forming system when the transfer belt supporting means is in the second position, and
• at least one of the image forming means is configured to be mounted to or dismounted from the image forming system in a direction other than along an axis of rotation of a means for receiving a latent image disposed in the at least one image forming means.

A method of forming an image, comprising:

• emitting a plurality of light beams from a plurality of vertically arranged light emitting devices;
• passing the plurality of light beams through corresponding slots of a vertical stay;
• receiving on each of a plurality of image forming cartridges a respective one of the plurality of light beams which have passed through the corresponding slots of the vertical stay;
• forming a toner image using the plurality of light beams which have been received;
• and
• transferring the toner image to a transfer medium on a transfer belt housed in a transfer belt support unit including at least an upper roller and a lower roller around which the transfer belt moves, the transfer belt support unit being hingedly attached to an image forming apparatus at a lower end position of the transfer belt unit and movable between a first position covering the plurality of the image forming cartridges and a second position uncovering the plurality of the image forming cartridges,
• wherein each of the image forming cartridges is configured to be mounted to or dismounted from the image forming apparatus when the transfer belt support unit is in the second position, and
• at least one of the image forming cartridges is configured to be mounted to or dismounted from the image forming apparatus in a direction other than along an axis of rotation of a photoconductive member disposed in the at least one image forming cartridge.