Image forming apparatus featuring a plurality or relatively moveable casings

An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a transfer material by transferring a toner image formed on an image supporting member to the transfer material conveyed by a transfer device, separating the transfer material to a fixing device, and then fixing the image on the transfer material, said image forming apparatus comprising:

• a stationary first portion;
• a second portion at which the transfer material is conveyed by the transfer device, said second portion openable relative to said stationary first portion so as to provide access therebetween;
• and
• a third portion at which the transfer material is conveyed to the fixing device after being separated from the transfer device, said third portion having a portion adjacent to said stationary first portion and a portion adjacent to said second portion,
• wherein said second portion and said third portion are openable relative to said stationary first portion together as a unit by rotating said second portion about a first rotational shaft which intersects the direction of conveyance of the transfer material at a right angle, said third portion is openable relative to said stationary first portion and relative to said second portion by rotating said third portion about a second rotational shaft which intersects the direction of conveyance of the transfer material at a right angle, independently of whether said second portion has been opened relative to said stationary first portion, and wherein the driving of the transfer device is released in response to an opening operation of at least one of said second portion and said third portion.

An image forming apparatus for forming image on a recording medium, said image forming apparatus comprising:

• image forming means for forming an image on the recording medium;
• a conveyance passage for conveying the recording medium such that said image forming means forms an image thereon;
• a development casing, including development means and having a portion of said conveyance passage;
• a transfer casing, including recording medium transfer means and a portion of said conveyance passage and being openable relative to said development casing so as to provide access therebetween;
• and
• a fixing portion casing, including image fixing means and a portion of said conveyance passage and having a portion adjacent to said development casing and a portion adjacent to said transfer casing,
• said transfer casing and said fixing portion casing being openable relative to said development casing together as a unit, and said fixing portion casing being openable relative to said development casing and relative to said transfer casing, independently of whether said transfer casing has been opened relative to said development casing.

An image forming apparatus, usable with a process cartridge and a feed cassette, for forming images on a recording medium, said image forming apparatus comprising:

• image forming means for forming an image on the recording medium;
• a conveyance passage for conveying the recording medium such that said image forming means forms an image thereon;
• a stationary first casing comprising a portion of said conveyance passage extending from the feed cassette for supplying the recording medium to an image transfer region, a mounting portion for the process cartridge, and exposure means;
• a second casing, openable relative to said stationary first casing so as to provide access therebetween, comprising a portion of said conveyance passage ranging from an image transfer region to a separation region, a transfer member, and a separation charger;
• and
• a third casing, openable together as a unit with said second casing relative to said stationary first casing and openable relative to said second casing and relative to said stationary first casing, independently of whether said second casing has been opened relative to said stationary first casing, comprising a fixing device, a portion of said conveyance passage ranging from said transfer member to a discharge portion through said fixing device, and at least one discharge roller, and having a portion adjacent to said second casing and a portion adjacent to said stationary first casing.