A transfer mechanism includes: a transfer unit having a transfer belt; and a belt contact and separation assembly for bringing the transfer belt into, and separating it away from, an electrostatic latent image support by shifting the position of the transfer unit. The belt contact and separation assembly includes: a multiple number of transfer unit shifters that abut the transfer unit and shift the position of the transfer unit; a multiple number of linkage members that link with the plural transfer unit shifters, correspondingly; an elastic member for coupling the plural linkage members; and a driver for actuating the transfer unit shifters through the linkage members.