Image forming apparatus which includes spurred wheels provided on a conveyance section in a manner which makes jam clearance easy and which avoids damage to both the apparatus and an operator's hands

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• (a) an image forming body for carrying thereon a toner image;
• (b) a belt-shaped intermediate transfer body for carrying thereon the toner image transferred from the image forming body;
• (c) first transfer means for transferring a toner image carried by the image forming body onto an obverse side of a transfer member conveyed by the intermediate transfer body;
• (d) second transfer means for transferring the toner image carried on the intermediate transfer body onto a reverse side of the transfer member;
• and
• (e) fixing means for fixing the toner images transferred on both sides of the transfer member which is separated from the intermediate transfer body;
• wherein the apparatus has a structure including two frames which can be opened,
• wherein when the frames are closed, the image forming body is set to a first position adjacent to and facing the intermediate transfer body and the second transfer means is set to a second position adjacent to and facing the intermediate transfer body, and when the frames are opened, the image forming body is apart from the first position and the second transfer means is apart from the second position,
• and wherein said second transfer means is integrally provided on said fixing means.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• (a) an image forming body for carrying thereon a toner image;
• (b) a belt-shaped intermediate transfer body for carrying thereon the toner image transferred from the image forming body;
• (c) first transfer means for transferring a toner image carried by the image forming body onto an obverse side of a transfer member conveyed by the intermediate transfer body;
• (d) second transfer means for transferring the toner image carried on the intermediate transfer body onto a reverse side of the transfer member;
• and
• (e) fixing means for fixing the toner images transferred on both sides of the transfer member which is separated from the intermediate transfer body;
• wherein the apparatus has a structure including two frames which can be opened,
• wherein when the frames are closed, the image forming body is set to a first position adjacent to and facing the intermediate transfer body and the second transfer means is set to a second position adjacent to and facing the intermediate transfer body, and when the frames are opened, the image forming body is apart from the first position and the second transfer means is apart from the second position,
• and wherein when the frames are opened, a surface of a discharging portion of said second transfer means is protected by a protective cover movable in association with an opening movement of the frames.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• (a) an image forming body for carrying thereon a toner image;
• (b) a belt-shaped intermediate transfer body for carrying thereon the toner image transferred from the image forming body;
• (c) first transfer means for transferring a toner image carried by the image forming body onto an obverse side of a transfer member conveyed by the intermediate transfer body;
• (d) second transfer means for transferring the toner image carried on the intermediate transfer body onto a reverse side of the transfer member;
• (e) fixing means for fixing the toner images transferred on both sides of the transfer member which is separated from the intermediate transfer body;
• and
• (f) a conveyor portion having spurred wheels provided between the intermediate transfer body and the fixing means for conveying the transfer member to the fixing means,
• wherein the apparatus has a structure including two frames which can be opened,
• and wherein when the frames are closed, the conveyor portion is set to a predetermined position between the intermediate transfer body and the fixing means, and when the frames are opened, the conveyor portion is apart from the predetermined position.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• (a) an image forming body for carrying thereon a toner image;
• (b) a belt-shaped intermediate transfer body for carrying thereon the toner image transferred from the image forming body;
• (c) first transfer means for transferring a toner image carried by the image forming body onto an obverse side of a transfer member conveyed by the intermediate transfer body;
• (d) second transfer means for transferring the toner image carried on the intermediate transfer body onto a reverse side of the transfer member;
• (e) fixing means for fixing the toner images transferred on both sides of the transfer member which is separated from the intermediate transfer body;
• (f) a conveyor portion having spurred wheels provided between the intermediate transfer body and the fixing means for conveying the transfer member to the fixing means;
• and
• (g) means for enabling the the conveyor portion and the second transfer means to be apart from the transfer member in a direction opposite to each other.