Patent ID: 8543038

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a first image supporting member for forming a first image; a second image supporting member arranged adjacent to the first image supporting member for forming a second image, said second image supporting member being arranged to be paired with the first image supporting member as a first pair; a third image supporting member for forming a third image; a fourth image supporting member for forming a fourth image, said fourth image supporting member being arranged to be paired with the third image supporting member as a second pair; a first drive unit having a first phase for driving the first image supporting member; a second drive unit having a second phase shifted from the first phase for driving the second image supporting member; a third drive unit having a third phase for driving the third image supporting member; a fourth drive unit having a fourth phase shifted from the third phase by an angle of about 180 degrees for driving the fourth image supporting member; and a transfer unit for transferring the first image and the second image to a printing medium, wherein said second drive unit is arranged to have the second phase shifted from the first phase by an angle of about 180 degrees, said third drive unit is arranged to have the third phase shifted from the first phase by an angle of about 90 degrees, and said fourth drive unit is arranged to have the fourth phase shifted from the first phase by an angle of about 90 degrees.