Patent ID: 7092657

Claim:
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which a plurality of process cartridges are detachably mountable for forming an image on a recording medium, the plurality of process cartridges each including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and process means actable on the photosensitive drum, said electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising: an opening and closing member openable and closable; an intermediate transfer member or a recording medium bearing member provided in said opening and closing member such that said intermediate transfer member or said recording medium bearing member is opposed to the plurality of process cartridges under a condition in which said opening and closing member is closed, and said intermediate transfer member or said recording medium bearing member are separated from the plurality of process cartridges under a condition in which said opening and closing member is opened; and a moving guide for holding the plurality of process cartridges, said moving guide being moved in interlocking relationship with a closing motion of said opening and closing member from a load position, in which the plurality of process cartridges are loaded, to a mount position, in which the plurality of process cartridges can perform an image forming operation, such that the plurality of process cartridges loaded in the load position is moved to the mount position.