An image forming apparatus including: an image carrier; a toner image forming section; a transfer section for transferring the toner image onto transfer sheet; a separation section for separating the transfer sheet from the image carrier; and a process cartridge for holding as a unit and detachably from the main unit the image carrier, the toner image forming section, the transfer section, and the separation section wherein the separation section comprises a resin guide member, which is the base for the separation section, a separation pawl for separating transfer sheet from the image carrier, a metal reference plate fixed to the resin guide member and a resin engaging member fixed to the reference plate, the engaging member engaging with the support provided in the process cartridge so that the support supports the separation section in a way that the separation section can move in the axial direction of the image carrier.