Patent ID: 7242888

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: processing units for respective colors of developing agents each of which can be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus body, the processing units including: a developing portion that includes a developing agent storage chamber that stores developing agent therein and a developing agent holding member that holds the developing agent; and an image holding portion that includes an image holding member that holds a developing agent image that is formed by development of an electrostatic latent image by the developing agent held by the developing agent holding member, wherein the developing portion and the image holding portion can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus body in a state where the developing portion and the image holding portion are integrated with each other, and the developing portion can be attached to and detached from the image holding portion; exposing devices for the respective colors of the developing agents, each of which is fixed to the image forming apparatus body and scans a laser beam to the image holding member in order to form the electrostatic latent image onto the image holding member; and a cover member that is provided on a side opposite to a transfer position where the developing agent image held by the image holding member is transferred and that opens and closes with respect to the image forming apparatus body, wherein: the processing units and the exposing devices are alternately disposed, and the processing units are attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus body via an opening defined by the cover member that is opened with respect to the image forming apparatus body; and the image holding portion includes a first guiding portion that guides the developing portion so that the developing agent holding member faces the image holding member, and the developing portion includes a first guided portion that is guided by the first guiding portion.