Patent ID: 7649543

Claim:
An image forming device comprising: a main casing having an upper side and a first side other than the upper side, the main casing being formed with an opening in the first side; a process cartridge including an image bearing member, the process cartridge being detachably attachable to the main casing through the opening; a cover provided to the first side of the main casing, the cover being selectively opened and closed; an LED array head disposed in the main casing, the LED array head irradiating a light on the image bearing member; a head moving mechanism that moves the LED array head toward or away from the image bearing member, independently of the opening and the closing of the cover, as the process cartridge is attached to or detached from the main casing, the head moving mechanism comprising: a contact member movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the contact member in the first position contacts the process cartridge in the state where the process cartridge is attached to the main casing, and the contact member in the second position is away from the process cartridge; a connecting member that is connected to the LED array head: and a linking mechanism that moves the LED array head in association with the movement of the contact member, wherein the linking mechanism comprises: a first rack gear formed at the contact member, a pinion gear engaging with the first rack gear; and a second rack gear formed at the connecting member and engaging with the pinion gear.