Patent ID: 8488997

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image bearing member; a plurality of developing devices each having a developing-agent bearing member bearing developing agent, and each configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member, the plurality of developing devices including, a first developing device, and a second developing device configured to perform development in a color different from a color of the first developing device; a rotatable developing-device support body configured to support the developing devices, the developing-device support body rotating to move the developing devices to a developing position opposing the image bearing member and a developing standby position, the developing standby position being provided between the developing position where a certain developing device is placed and a position where a developing device to be used in the next image formation is placed when a certain developing device is placed at the developing position; a mode determining unit configured to determine whether the next image formation is performed in a monochromatic mode or a multicolor mode if continuous image formation is paused by moving at least one of the plurality of developing devices away from the developing position, wherein, when the next formation is in the monochromatic mode, development is performed only with the first developing device, and wherein, when the next formation is in the multicolor mode, development is performed with the first developing device after being performed with the second developing device; and a rotation control unit configured to control rotation of the developing device support body before the start of the next formation and while the continuous image formation is paused, wherein, if the mode determining unit determines the next image formation is performed in monochromatic mode, the rotation control unit rotates the developing-device support body so that the first developing device is placed at the developing standby position, and wherein, if the mode determining unit determines the next image formation is performed in multicolor mode, the second developing device is placed at the standby position.