Patent ID: 7561826

Claim:
A support device for use in an image forming apparatus, the support device comprising: a process cartridge including, an image carrier rotatably supported on a support shaft, at least one sub unit disposed proximate to the image carrier and including a rotational member, the rotational member having a driven shaft via which rotation thereof is induced, a cartridge-side fitting portion; and an apparatus main body including, an apparatus-main-body-side fitting portion to cooperate with the cartridge-side fitting portion, and a driving device having a drive shaft to rotate the driven shaft of the rotational member; wherein the support shaft of the image carrier and the cartridge-side fitting portion locate the process cartridge on the apparatus main body so as to be detachably mounted thereon; wherein, in the driving device, the drive shaft is supported for radial adjustment at one support point and a flexible holding point along an axial direction thereof; and wherein the drive shaft is supported with a flexible holder at the flexible holding point, which is located farther from the drive joint of the drive shaft than the one support point.