Patent ID: 7869750

Claim:
An image forming apparatus that employs electrophotographic technique to form an image on a recording medium, the image forming apparatus comprising: a reciprocating-motion converting mechanism that includes: a cam that rotates around a rotation center; a reciprocating member that is reciprocated due to rotation of the cam, wherein a first load torque is generated by a first load applied at a point of contact of the cam and the reciprocating member; and a pressing unit that presses the reciprocating member to the cam; and a load applying unit that applies a second load to the cam to generate a second load torque, wherein a phase of the second load torque is substantially opposite to a phase of the first load torque; wherein the load applying unit applies the second load to a point of the cam as a load applied point, the load applied point moving in a circle around the rotation center of the cam in synchronization with the rotation of the cam, and wherein when the reciprocating member is in farthest position from the rotation center due to the rotation of the cam, the second load torque is exerted onto a point on a first infinite line that extends from the rotation center and is tilted around the rotation center within a range of 0 degrees to 90 degrees with respect to a second infinite line that extends from the rotation center by passing through the load applied point.