Patent ID: 7184688
Filing Date: 2007-02-27
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a mainframe; a plurality of developing units, each corresponding to a plurality of colors and each including a developing agent container that contains a developing agent and a developing agent carrier that carries the developing agent; and a plurality of image carrying units disposed correspondingly to the plurality of developing units and each including an image carrier that carries a developing agent image formed by an electrostatic latent image being developed by the developing agent carried on the developing agent carrier; wherein each of the developing units is attachable to and detachable from the corresponding image carrying unit; the developing units are loadable in and unloadable from the mainframe in a state where the developing units are integrally attached to the image carrying units; and each of the image carrying units is disposed separately from one another and is loadable in and unloadable from the mainframe independently from one another, wherein each of the image carrying units includes: a shutter member movable between a cover position where the shutter member covers a transfer position to which the carried developing agent image is to be transferred and an exposure position where the shutter member exposes the transfer position: and an urging unit that urges the shutter member to the cover position.