IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrophotographic image forming apparatus which can protect an electrophotographic photoreceptor drum from a developing roller and other members abutted on the photoreceptor drum when being transported while a process cartridge is mounted in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus body. SOLUTION: In the image forming apparatus which is loaded with the process cartridge including at least the photoreceptor drum and the developing roller and forms an image, separating members 8R and 8L and auxiliary separating members 42R and 42L are operated to abutting the developing roller etc. on the photoreceptor drum when the developing roller etc. are separated from the photoreceptor drum. At this time, operation timings of right and left auxiliary separating members 42R and 42L are made to be different from each other. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT