Patent ID: 6882815
Filing Date: 2005-04-19
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier which rotates; a latent image forming device which decomposes image information into a plurality of color information items, and emits, onto the image carrier, information light based on the decomposed color information items, thereby sequentially forming electrostatic latent images of different colors; a plurality of developing rollers which sequentially supply, at a developing position, respective color developers to the electrostatic latent images of different colors formed by the latent image forming device; a revolver unit which holds the developing rollers in a direction of rotation, and revolves the developing rollers about a shaft to move the developing rollers to the developing position; a support frame which supports the shaft of the revolver unit such that the revolver unit can rotate; and a positioning device which positions the image carrier out of contact with the revolver unit, thereby defining a predetermined gap between each of the developing rollers and the image carrier at the developing position, wherein the positioning device includes a holding plate, the holding plate having an end attached to the shaft of the revolver unit, a middle portion supporting the image carrier such that the image carrier can rotate, and another end fixed to the support frame.