Image forming apparatus having supporting member with rigidity

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a main casing;
• a first cartridge extending in a first direction and configured to accommodate developer;
• a second cartridge extending in the first direction and configured to accommodate developer;
• a supporting member configured to support the first cartridge and the second cartridge such that the first cartridge and the second cartridge are arranged in a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction, the supporting member being configured to move between an inner position disposed within the main casing and an outer position disposed outside of the main casing in the second direction, the supporting member comprising:
• a first side plate extending in the second direction, the first side plate having a first upper hole and a first lower hole spaced away from each other in an up-down direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction, the first side plate being a single member;
• a second side plate extending in the second direction and positioned opposite the first side plate to be spaced away therefrom in the first direction, the second side plate having a second upper hole and a second lower hole spaced away from each other in the up-down direction, the second side plate being a single member;
• a first beam plate interposed between the first cartridge and the second cartridge in the second direction when the supporting member supports the first cartridge and the second cartridge, the first beam plate extending in the first direction between the first side plate and the second side plate, the first beam plate being a flat plate and including a first upper groove corresponding to the first upper hole, a first lower groove corresponding to the first lower hole, a second upper groove corresponding to the second upper hole, and a second lower groove corresponding to the second lower hole;
• a first upper screw inserted into both the first upper hole of the first side plate and the first upper groove of the first beam plate;
• a first lower screw inserted into both the first lower hole of the first side plate and the first lower groove of the first beam plate, the first upper screw and the first lower screw directly fastening the first beam plate to the first side plate;
• a second upper screw inserted into both the second upper hole of the second side plate and the second upper groove of the first beam plate;
• and
• a second lower screw inserted into both the second lower hole of the second side plate and the second lower groove of the first beam plate, the second upper screw and the second lower screw directly fastening the first beam plate to the second side plate,
• wherein an uppermost surface of the first beam plate is flush with an uppermost surface of the first side plate and an uppermost surface of the second side plate.