In an image forming apparatus (50) configured to form a toner image on a photoconductive element and transfer it to a recording medium, both the photoconductive element (6) and an image transferring member (5) pressed thereagainst are constructed into an image transferring unit (56). The image transferring unit is removable from the casing (2) of the apparatus independently of image forming devices (26) arranged around the photoconductive element other than the image transferring member.