Patent ID: 7277663

Claim:
A drive force transmitting mechanism, comprising: a first gear rotatably supported by a first shaft element; a first holding unit configured to hold the first gear, the first holding unit including: the first shaft element; and a first support element configured to support the first shaft element, the first support element including a curved surface that curves at a predetermined curvature relative to an axis line of the first shaft element; a second gear rotatably supported by a second shaft element; a second holding unit configured to hold the second gear, the second holding unit including: the second shaft element; and a second support element configured to support the second shaft element, wherein the second holding unit is configured to move relative to the first holding unit, to thereby contact and separate the second gear with and from the first gear, a drive force is transmitted from the first gear to the second gear that is engaged with the first gear when the second holding unit moves to a predetermined position, and a movement of the second gear held by the second holding unit is regulated by abutting the second shaft element against the curved surface.