Desktop color image forming apparatus and method of making the same

A method of making a color image forming apparatus which includes a plurality of image creating devices each of which is configured to form an image and includes a photosensitive member, an optical writing device configured to optically write an image on the photosensitive member of each of the plurality of image creating devices, an intermediate image-transfer member configured to form an image transfer bed moving in a predetermined direction in a lower part of the intermediate image-transfer member to receive on a surface of the image transfer bed a transfer of a plurality of the images from the respective photosensitive members of the plurality of image creating devices such that the plurality of the images are sequentially overlaid to form a multi-overlaid image, a fixing device configured to fix the multi-overlaid image on a recording sheet, a sheet ejecting device configured to eject the recording sheet having the fixed multi-overlaid image thereon, a container configured to replenish toner to the image forming device, an electrical circuit which includes a plurality of circuit blocks and supplies power and necessary signals to the apparatus and a sheet supply device configured to supply recording sheets through a sheet inlet thereof to the image forming apparatus, the method further comprising:

• arranging the intermediate image-transfer member with a predetermined angle θ relative to a horizontal line such that a rear side of the intermediate image-transfer member away from the recording sheet inlet is lifted and a front side of the intermediate image-transfer member closer to the recording sheet inlet is lowered;
• aligning the plurality of image creating devices in parallel to the image transfer bed of the intermediate image-transfer member and arranging along and parallel to the image transfer bed of the intermediate image-transfer member, such that one of the plurality of image creating devices primarily forming an image faces the rear side of the image transfer bed and another one of the plurality of image creating devices lastly forming an image faces the front side of the image transfer bed;
• and
• arranging the optical writing device in parallel to the intermediate image-transfer member so as to sandwich the plurality of image creating devices therebetween, the electrical circuit including a plurality of electrical components provided in a stacked manner.

A color image forming apparatus, comprising:

• image creating means for forming an image;
• optical writing means for optically writing an image on the image creating means;
• intermediate image transfer means for forming an image transfer bed moving in a predetermined direction in a lower part of the intermediate image transfer means to receive on a surface of the image transfer bed a transfer of a plurality of the images from the image creating means such that the plurality of the images are sequentially overlaid to form a multi-overlaid image;
• fixing means for fixing the multi-overlaid image on a recording sheet;
• sheet ejecting means for ejecting the recording sheet having the fixed multi-overlaid image thereon;
• container means for replenishing toner to the image creating means;
• and
• electrical circuit means for supplying power and necessary signals to the color image forming apparatus;
• and
• sheet supply means for supplying recording sheets through a sheet inlet thereof,
• wherein the intermediate image transfer means is arranged with a predetermined angle θ relative to a horizontal line such that a rear side of the intermediate image transfer means away from the recording sheet inlet is lifted and a front side of the intermediate image transfer means closer to the recording sheet inlet is lowered, and
• wherein the image creating means are aligned in parallel and are arranged along and parallel to the image transfer bed of the intermediate image transfer means, such that one of the image creating means firstly forming an image faces the rear side of the image transfer bed and another one of the image creating means lastly forming an image faces the front side of the image transfer bed, and
• wherein the optical writing means is arranged in parallel to the intermediate image-transfer means so as to sandwich the image creating means therebetween, the electrical circuit means including a plurality of electrical components provided in a stacked manner.