Abstract: A protruding portion that protrudes further toward a process cartridge than a contact portion coming in contact with a recording medium is provided at a contact terminal. A slide contact surface portion of the process cartridge is in a state of being in sliding contact with the protruding portion of the contact terminal by action of inserting the process cartridge, and the protruding portion is pressed in a direction being apart from the recording medium to limit contact between the contact terminal and the recording medium. The protruding portion fits in a fitting concave portion at a predetermined mounted position to make the contact terminal come in contact with the recording medium. The protruding portion is pulled out from the fitting concave portion by action of taking out the process cartridge to be in sliding contact with the slide contact surface portion.

Abstract: A process cartridge collectively accommodates at least a latent image carrier and a developer carrier carrying tonner for visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed on the latent image carrier and includes a side plate unit rotatably supporting the latent image carrier and the developer carrier. The side plate includes a bearing that rotatably supports a rotation shaft of the developer carrier; an elastic body that pushes the bearing against a rotation shaft of the latent image carrier; and a guiding unit that guides the bearing in a direction of the pushing. The guiding unit includes an abrasion preventing structure at a wall surface of the guiding unit that comes in contact with the bearing.