An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality
of image carriers arranged side by side and a charging device, exposing
device and developing device arranged around each image carrier. An image
transferring unit includes an image transfer belt and a plurality of bias
applying members for applying image transfer biases to image transfer
nips formed between the bias applying members and the image carriers,
which face each other with the intermediary of the image transfer belt.
Each image transferring member has an axis positioned downstream, in the
direction of movement of the image transfer belt, of a virtual vertical
line extending from the axis of the associated image carrier downward. At
least two of the bias applying members are provided with respective belt
holding members at the downstream side in the direction of movement of
the image transfer belt.