Patent ID: 7400843

Claim:
A color image forming apparatus configured to form a color image using plural colors of developer, comprising: photoconductor elements linearly arranged in association with each color of the developer, each photoconductor element configured to have an electrostatic latent image of corresponding color formed thereon; developing rollers provided in association with each photoconductor element, each developing roller configured to supply the developer to the associated photoconductor element and to develop the electrostatic latent image into a developer image; a plurality of cases, each case associated with a corresponding photoconductor element and configured to hold the developer to be supplied to the corresponding photoconductor element from the developing roller, and each case having an elongated opening in which the developing roller is disposed; a side seal member disposed at each end of the elongated opening of each case with respect to a longitudinal direction of the elongated opening, each side seal member contacting a peripheral surface of the developing roller at each end of an axial direction of the developing roller; and a belt configured to move in a transporting direction parallel to an arrangement direction of the photoconductor elements, the belt being disposed below the developing rollers so as to face the photoconductor elements; wherein the belt is disposed so as not to contact any of the photoconductor elements in an area defined by the side seal members being projected onto a plane on a surface of the belt, the plane being parallel to an axis of the photoconductor elements.