Patent ID: 6947689

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of developing devices for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member; a rotary member holding said plurality of developing devices for selectively moving any developing device to a developing position, wherein said rotary member starts a deceleration of a rotational speed of said rotary member before a selected developing device arrives at the developing position, wherein each of said plurality of developing devices includes a first developer carrying member and a second developer carrying member for developing the electrostatic image with developers carried by said first and second developer carrying members, respectively, and wherein said second developer carrying member is disposed upstream of said first developer carrying member in a rotating direction of said rotary member; a first abutting member provided on said first developer carrying member for abutting against said image bearing member to ensure a distance between said first developer carrying member and said image bearing member; and a second abutting member provided on said second developer carrying member for abutting against said image bearing member to ensure a distance between said second developer carrying member and said image bearing member, wherein during a movement of the selected developing device to said developing position in association with a rotation of said rotary member, said second abutting member is brought into contact with said image bearing member, thereafter said first abutting member is brought into contact with said image bearing member, wherein said first developer carrying member and said second developer carrying member are fixedly disposed in each of said plurality of developing devices, and each of said plurality of developing devices is held pivotally movable with respect to said rotary member.