Patent ID: 8311458

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image bearing member on which an electrostatic image is to be formed; a predetermined number of developing units including a first developing unit configured to contain a first color toner, a second developing unit configured to contain a second color toner, lightness of which is lower than that of the first color toner, and a clear developing unit configured to contain a clear toner; a mechanism configured to hold the predetermined number of developing units and to rotate the developing units held around a rotation shaft so that one of the developing units is opposed to the image bearing member so as to develop the electrostatic image formed on the image bearing member, wherein the clear developing unit held by the mechanism is disposed adjacent to the first developing unit and the second developing unit, wherein a pitch angle between the clear developing unit and the second developing unit is larger than a pitch angle between the clear developing unit and the first developing unit; and a balancer held between the clear developing unit and the second developing unit and configured to reduce the sum of moments of force around the rotation shaft.