A plurality of process cartridges, each including an electrophotographic
photosensitive drum, and a process device actable on the photosensitive
drum, are detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming
apparatus for forming an image of a recording medium. The image forming
apparatus includes an opening and closing member; an intermediate
transfer member or a recording medium bearing member provided in the
opening and closing member such that the intermediate transfer member can
face the process cartridges under a condition in which the opening and
closing member is closed, and the intermediate transfer member can be
separated from the process cartridges under a condition in which the
opening and closing member is open; and a moving guide for holding the
process cartridges. The moving guide is moved in interlocking
relationship with a closing motion of the opening and closing member from
a load position, to which the process cartridges are loaded, to a mount
position, in which the process cartridges are capable of performing an
image forming operation, such that the process cartridges mounted to the
load position can be moved to the mount position.