Patent ID: 7245858

Claim:
An electro-photographic image forming apparatus adopting a gear mechanism that causes a first gear, which is detachable with respect to a first rotating shaft around which the first gear rotates, to move in a fitting direction along an axis of the first rotating shaft, so as to fit the first gear with the first rotating shaft, the gear mechanism thereby allowing the first gear to engage with a second gear that has been positioned, the first gear being detachable with respect to the image forming apparatus and provided in a unit including an image supporter, the second gear being provided in the image forming apparatus, and when the first gear is moved in the fitting direction and the first gear and the second gear are about to engage with each other, the first gear and the second gear separated from each other in a direction perpendicular to the fitting direction, wherein, in the unit, a cleaning blade for gathering toner remaining on a surface of the image supporter is provided on a same side with the second gear, with respect to the image supporter.