Image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a rotating body having a recess in an outer peripheral surface thereof;
• a sprocket provided coaxially with the rotating body to rotate integrally with the rotating body;
• a chain having a plurality of links, the chain being wound around the sprocket to circulate in a circulating direction so as to shift from a rotary movement in which the chain rotates in an arc shape conforming to an outer periphery of the sprocket along with the sprocket, to a linear movement;
• a holder fixed to at least one link of the links of the chain, the holder being configured to hold a leading end portion of a recording medium, the holder being configured to transport the recording medium by
• performing the rotary movement along with the rotating body and the chain in a state of (i) holding the leading end portion of the recording medium placed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body and (ii) being located in the recess, and
• then shifting to the linear movement along with the chain;
• and
• an image forming unit configured to form an image on the recording medium placed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body, wherein
• a holding position where the holder holds the recording medium is arranged downstream of an upstream roller of rollers of a most downstream link in the circulating direction among the at least one link to which the holder is fixed, and
• a distance from a most upstream portion of the holding position is to a downstream roller of the rollers of the most downstream link is shorter than a distance of the most upstream portion from the upstream roller.