Patent ID: 8169460

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a photosensitive image carrier; a latent image writing unit that writes a latent image on the image carrier; a holding unit for holding the latent image writing unit, which is configured to turn centered on a turning axis that is arranged on a main body of the image forming apparatus between an opening position and a closing position with respect to the main body; a positioning unit that is arranged on the main body and that positions the latent image writing unit with respect to the image carrier, when the holding unit is at the closing position; a first biasing unit that biases the latent image writing unit and causes the latent image writing unit to make a contact with the positioning unit; and a shock absorbing unit that absorbs a shock that is received by the holding unit and the latent image writing unit when the holding unit is moved from the opening position to the closing position, wherein the shock absorbing unit is recessed in the positioning unit, and the shock absorbing unit functions to bias the holding unit in an opening direction with respect to the main body when an angle formed by the holding unit and the main body of the image forming apparatus is smaller than a predetermined value.