Patent ID: 7689142

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a latent image carrier to carry a latent image on an endless moving surface; a latent image writing device to optically scan the latent image carrier and form latent images on the latent image carrier, the device being movable between an operation position in which a write operation for writing a latent image on the surface is performed by the device and a retreat position in which the write operation is not performed; and a support body to support the latent image carrier and the latent image writing device, the support body being configured as an integrally molded part by being unified at a location to support the latent image carrier and a location to support the latent image writing device, wherein the support body comprises a first support part to support one end side of the latent image carrier and the latent image writing device and a second support part to support an other end side of the latent image carrier and the latent image writing device, a location to support the one end side of the latent image carrier and a location to support the one end side of the latent image writing device at the first support part being configured in the integrally molded part, and a location to support the other end side of the latent image carrier and a location to support the other end side of the latent image writing device at the second support part being configured in the integrally molded part.