Patent ID: 8725034

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a process cartridge detachably installable in the image forming apparatus, the process cartridge comprising a developing device; and a drive unit provided opposite the process cartridge with a lateral plate of the image forming apparatus interposed therebetween to rotatively drive the developing device, the drive unit comprising: a drive force generator to generate a drive force to rotatively drive the developing device; a drive substrate to support the drive force generator; a drive shaft to transmit the drive force generated by the drive force generator to the developing device; a bracket provided between the lateral plate and the drive unit, the bracket comprising: a cylindrical bearing seating having a center through which the drive shaft passes; a bracket bearing provided inside the bearing seating to support the drive shaft in a thrust direction; and an elastic member provided between the bearing seating and the bracket bearing to allow movement of the drive shaft in a radial direction; and a substrate bearing provided to the drive substrate to support the drive shaft in both the radial and thrust directions, wherein the bracket further comprises a positioning rib on a surface thereof attached to the lateral plate to be fitted into an attachment hole in the lateral plate, wherein an outer diameter of the positioning rib and a diameter of the attachment hole in the lateral plate are both smaller than an outer diameter of the bracket bearing.