Image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image carrier which is attached to an apparatus main body so as to be movable in an axial direction and is configured to carry an electrostatic latent image while rotating around an axis;
• a developing device which includes a developing member which is configured to rotate around an axis while being close to or in contact with the image carrier to develop the electrostatic latent image, is attached to the apparatus main body so as to be movable in the axial direction, and is configured to be turned around a rocking shaft arranged in parallel with the developing member;
• a separation device which is configured to turn the developing device between a developing position where the developing member is brought close to or into contact with the image carrier and a separation position where the developing member is separated from the image carrier;
• and
• a drive input member which is supported by the separation device so as to be rotatable around an axis, and configured to input a driving force to the developing member, wherein
• the image carrier includes a plurality of image carriers including an image carrier for monochrome image and an image carrier for color image and arranged in a separation direction orthogonal to the axial direction,
• the developing device includes a plurality of developing devices including a developing device for monochrome image and a developing device for color image and arranged in the separation direction,
• the drive input member includes a plurality of drive input members including a drive input member for monochrome image and a drive input member for color image and arranged in the separation direction,
• the image carrier and the developing device are configured to be pulled out from the apparatus main body in one direction of the axial direction in a state where the developing device is arranged at the separation position,
• the developing member is disposed offset from the drive input member in the one direction in the axial direction and configured to be coupled to one end portion of the drive input member in the axial direction,
• the separation device is configured to
• separate the developing member from the drive input member in the axial direction and then turn the developing device from the developing position to the separation position and
• turn the developing device from the separation position to the developing position and then couple the developing member to the drive input member in the axial direction, and
• the separation device is configured to switch a state of the image forming apparatus to any one state of:
• an insertable/removable state where all of the plurality of developing devices are arranged at the separation position;
• a normal printing state where all of the plurality of developing devices are arranged at the developing position;
• and
• a monochrome printing state where the developing device for monochrome image is arranged at the developing position and the developing device for color image is arranged at the separation position.