Image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• image reading means for reading information about an image on a document;
• sheet supporting means, disposed below said image reading means, for supporting a sheet thereon;
• image forming means, disposed between said image reading means and said sheet supporting means, for forming an image on a sheet;
• a pair of discharging rollers for discharging a sheet having an image formed by said image forming means into a sheet discharging space;
• and
• opening means for exposing said image forming means to the exterior of the image forming apparatus through the sheet discharging space,
• wherein said sheet discharging space is disposed below said image reading means and above said sheet support.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image sensor for reading information about an image on a document placed on a platen glass;
• a sheet cassette for containing sheets;
• a supply roller for feeding sheets contained in said sheet cassette;
• a guide for guiding the sheet fed by said supply roller along a sheet path;
• a photoconductive drum disposed along said sheet path for bearing a toner image;
• a transfer roller for transferring the toner image on said photoconductive drum onto the sheet fed by said supply roller;
• and
• a pair of discharging rollers for discharging a sheet having an image transferred by said transfer roller into a sheet discharge space, said sheet discharge space is disposed below said platen glass and above said sheet cassette,
• wherein said guide is movable into said sheet discharge space so as to open said sheet path.