Patent ID: 7773911
Filing Date: 2010-08-10
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, to which a plurality of process cartridge are detachably mountable, each process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller configured and positioned to develop, with a developer, an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a first frame supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a second frame supporting the developing roller which is movable between a contact position where the developing roller contacts the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a spacing position where the developing roller is spaced from the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said apparatus comprising: a drawing member to which the plurality of process cartridges are detachably mountable, said drawing member being movable in a substantially horizontal direction crossing an axial direction of each electrophotographic photosensitive drum between a mount position where the process cartridges are mounted in a main assembly of said apparatus and a drawn position where said drawing member is drawn out of said main assembly of said apparatus, wherein said drawing member is configured and positioned to support the process cartridges positioned alongside each other horizontally; a spacer member provided in said main assembly and movable between a retracted position where said spacer member is retracted, in the axial direction of the photosensitive drums, from a movement path of each of the process cartridges to permit movement of each process cartridge mounted on the drawing member and an operating position where said spacer member is in the movement path to move the second frame between the contact position and the spacing position.