Patent ID: 8755718

Claim:
An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium in a state where a cartridge having a photosensitive drum is detachably mounted to a main body of the image forming apparatus, comprising: a light emitting unit having a light emitting device and a lens, the light emitting device having a plurality of light emitting elements provided in a longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum for emitting light in accordance with image information to expose the photosensitive drum in accordance with the image information, and the lens condensing light emitted from the light emitting elements for exposing the photosensitive drum; a light emitting unit supporting member that supports the light emitting unit so that the light emitting unit is movable between an exposing position and a retracted position, the exposing position being a position for exposing the photosensitive drum via the lens as the light emitting elements emit light and the retracted position being a position at which the light emitting unit is retracted from the exposing position; a moving member for moving the light emitting unit supporting member so that the light emitting unit can be in the exposing position or the retracted position; and an opening and closing member that can open and close an opening to let the cartridge pass when the cartridge is inserted into the main body of the image forming apparatus, wherein the cartridge is capable of being inserted into or pulled out from the main body in the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum while the light emitting unit is in the retracted position, wherein the cartridge moves to an image forming position to form an image in conjunction with the light emitting unit supporting member moved by the moving member so that the light emitting unit is in the exposing position, and wherein the moving member moves the light emitting unit supporting member in conjunction with the opening and closing by the opening and closing member so that the light emitting unit can be in the exposing position or the retracted position.