Patent ID: 8503909

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising, in an apparatus main body: a photosensitive unit having a photosensitive drum on which a toner image is formed; a developing unit supplying a toner to the photosensitive unit; an intermediate transfer unit having an intermediate belt onto which the toner image on the photosensitive unit is transferred, and a primary transfer roller pressing the intermediate transfer belt against the photosensitive unit; an openable and closable first cover door being opened at the time of drawing out at least one of the photosensitive unit and the developing unit; an openable and closable second cover door being opened at the time of drawing out the intermediate transfer unit, wherein at least one of the photosensitive unit and the developing unit can be drawn out of the apparatus main body along an axial direction of the photosensitive drum, and the intermediate transfer unit can be drawn out of the apparatus main body along a moving direction of the intermediate transfer unit, wherein a pressing release mechanism is provided which releases the pressing against the photosensitive drum by the primary transfer roller in conjunction with an operation required at a time of drawing out any of the photosensitive unit, the developing unit, and the intermediate transfer unit, wherein the pressing release mechanism releases the pressing against the photosensitive drum by the primary transfer roller in conjunction with the opening of either of the first cover door or the second cover door, wherein the pressing release mechanism includes a pressing member pressing the primary transfer roller against the photosensitive unit, and a release member releasing the pressing by the pressing member following the opening of either of the first cover door or the second cover door, wherein the pressing member includes a pressing shaft biased in such a manner as to be movable towards the first cover door, and a support holder coupled to the pressing shaft in such a manner as to be capable of moving to approach or separate from the primary transfer roller, the support holder supporting the primary transfer roller to thereby press the primary transfer roller against the photosensitive drum, wherein the release member includes a slider provided between the pressing shaft and the first cover door to stop movement of the pressing shaft, and wherein the slider permits movement of the pressing shaft towards the first cover door as a result of the opening of the first cover door, the movement causing the movement of the support holder whereby the primary transfer roller separates from the abutted photosensitive drum.