Patent ID: 7885562

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: an apparatus main body; a plurality of image carrying members disposed in parallel in the apparatus main body; a plurality of developing members for developing latent images formed on the image carrying members, each developing member being associated with a respective image carrying member; a translation member that reciprocates in a straight line in a direction in which the image carrying members are aligned to move the developing members between an engagement position where the developing members are brought into contact with the image carrying members and a disengagement position where the developing members are disengaged from the image carrying members; and a force imparting mechanism, when at least one of the developing members is moved from the disengagement position to the engagement position by a movement of the translation member in a first direction, the force imparting mechanism being brought into abutment with the translation member in motion, and imparting a force that includes a force component directed to a second direction opposite to the first direction.