Abstract: A substrate processing method includes: (A) preparing a substrate, on which a high-dielectric film having a higher permittivity than a SiO2 film is formed; (B) supplying, to the substrate, a metal solution containing a second metal element having a higher electronegativity or a lower valence than a first metal element contained in the high-dielectric film; and (C) forming a doping layer, in which the first metal element is substituted with the second metal element, on a surface of the high-dielectric film.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes an apparatus body including an opening portion, a storage configured to store a sheet, a pickup roller configured to pick up and feed the sheet, a separation conveyance unit including a separation nip, and a guide member including a guiding surface configured to guide the sheet such that the sheet passes under an upper edge of the opening portion while the storage is being drawn out of the apparatus body. A downstream end of the guiding surface in a sheet feeding direction is positioned downstream of the separation nip in the sheet feeding direction. An upstream end of the guiding surface in the sheet feeding direction is positioned upstream in the sheet feeding direction of a leading-edge position of the sheet stored in the storage.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet feeding portion, a side end regulating portion, a feeding portion, first and second feeding roller pairs, an abutment member, an obliquely feeding roller pair, and first and second contact-and-separation mechanisms. Feeding of a long sheet is stopped after the sheet is fed to an upstream side of the second feeding roller pair by the feeding portion, and then is resumed in a state in which the first feeding roller pair is changed from a separated state to a feedable state and in a state in which the obliquely feeding roller pair is put in a separated state, and then the sheet is fed to the second feeding roller pair. A short sheet fed by the first feeding roller pair is obliquely fed by the obliquely feeding roller pair and then is fed to the second feeding roller pair.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first supporting member supporting a long sheet, a feeding unit for feeding the long sheet supported by the first supporting member with respect to a feeding direction and a second supporting member, rotatable about a rotational shaft, for supporting the long sheet with the first supporting member. In a state in which the sheet is bent so that a first portion of the long sheet is supported by the first supporting member and a second portion which is a more rear side than the first portion is positioned above the first portion, the second supporting member is movable between a first position where the second supporting member supports the second portion of the sheet and a second position where the center of gravity of the second supporting member is positioned downstream of a rotational center with respect to the feeding direction and the second supporting member maintains an attitude thereof by its own weight.

Abstract: A sheet accommodating apparatus includes an apparatus body, a first cassette to be drawn out in a draw-out direction with respect to the apparatus body, a second cassette disposed adjacent to the first cassette in a vertical direction, a holder member attached to the apparatus body, and a first light emitting member and a second light emitting member that are supported by the holder member. The first cassette includes a first accommodating container and a first cover. The second cassette includes a second accommodating container and a second cover. The first cover has a first hole in a position opposing the first light emitting member such that the light emitted from the first light emitting member passes therethrough. The second cover has a second hole provided in a position opposing the second light emitting member such that the light emitted from the second light emitting member passes therethrough.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes an apparatus body including an opening portion, a storage configured to store a sheet, a pickup roller configured to pick up and feed the sheet, a separation conveyance unit including a separation nip, and a guide member including a guiding surface configured to guide the sheet such that the sheet passes under an upper edge of the opening portion while the storage is being drawn out of the apparatus body. A downstream end of the guiding surface in a sheet feeding direction is positioned downstream of the separation nip in the sheet feeding direction. An upstream end of the guiding surface in the sheet feeding direction is positioned upstream in the sheet feeding direction of a leading-edge position of the sheet stored in the storage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cassette, an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet fed from the cassette a set position, a guide rail configured to draw out the cassette from the set position, and a movable stopper unit that regulates a movement of the cassette in a draw-out direction by abutting with the cassette while the cassette is drawn out from the set position along the guide rail. The movable stopper unit includes a regulating portion movable between a regulating position where the regulating portion regulates a movement of the cassette within a moving trajectory of the cassette in moving in the draw-out direction and a retracting position where the regulating portion is located outside of the moving trajectory and does not regulate the movement of the cassette, and an urging portion configured to urge the regulating portion to the regulating position.

Abstract: A sheet accommodating apparatus includes a first cassette provided so as to be drawn out in a draw-out direction, a second cassette disposed adjacent to the first cassette in a vertical direction, one holder member, and a first light emitting member and a second light emitting member that are supported by the holder member. The first cassette includes a first accommodating container and a first cover. The second cassette includes a second accommodating container and a second cover. The first cover has a first hole provided in a position opposing the first light emitting member in the draw-out direction such that the light emitted from the first light emitting member passes therethrough. The second cover has a second hole provided in a position opposing the second light emitting member in the draw-out direction such that the light emitted from the second light emitting member passes therethrough.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cassette, an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet fed from the cassette a set position, a guide rail configured to draw out the cassette from the set position, and a movable stopper unit that regulates a movement of the cassette in a draw-out direction by abutting with the cassette while the cassette is drawn out from the set position along the guide rail. The movable stopper unit includes a regulating portion movable between a regulating position where the regulating portion regulates a movement of the cassette within a moving trajectory of the cassette in moving in the draw-out direction and a retracting position where the regulating portion is located outside of the moving trajectory and does not regulate the movement of the cassette, and an urging portion configured to urge the regulating portion to the regulating position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first supporting member supporting a long sheet, a feeding unit for feeding the long sheet supported by the first supporting member with respect to a feeding direction and a second supporting member, rotatable about a rotational shaft, for supporting the long sheet with the first supporting member. In a state in which the sheet is bent so that a first portion of the long sheet is supported by the first supporting member and a second portion which is a more rear side than the first portion is positioned above the first portion, the second supporting member is movable between a first position where the second supporting member supports the second portion of the sheet and a second position where the center of gravity of the second supporting member is positioned downstream of a rotational center with respect to the feeding direction and the second supporting member maintains an attitude thereof by its own weight.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet feeding portion, a side end regulating portion, a feeding portion, first and second feeding roller pairs, an abutment member, an obliquely feeding roller pair, and first and second contact-and-separation mechanisms. Feeding of a long sheet is stopped after the sheet is fed to an upstream side of the second feeding roller pair by the feeding portion, and then is resumed in a state in which the first feeding roller pair is changed from a separated state to a feedable state and in a state in which the obliquely feeding roller pair is put in a separated state, and then the sheet is fed to the second feeding roller pair. A short sheet fed by the first feeding roller pair is obliquely fed by the obliquely feeding roller pair and then is fed to the second feeding roller pair.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a side regulating plate provided in a sheet feeding cassette and a regulating surface to regulate an end position of a sheet stored in the sheet feeding cassette. A first arm connected with a first connector of the side regulating plate and a second arm connected with a second connector of the side regulating plate pivot on an axis extending in the gravity direction, wherein the second connector is different from the first connector in terms of a feeding direction. A first fixing part fixes the first arm to the sheet feeding cassette, and a second fixing part fixes the second arm to the sheet feeding cassette, wherein the first arm intersects with the second arm when viewed in the gravity direction when the side regulating plate is located in at least a part of a movable range of the side regulating plate.

Abstract: A sheet storage apparatus includes: a storage portion configured to store a sheet and to be inserted into and drawn out of an apparatus body along a first direction; a regulation member configured to be movable in the first direction with respect to the storage portion and including a regulating surface configured to regulate an end position in the first direction of the sheet stored in the storage portion; a first arm and a second arm each pivotably connected with the regulation member; and a fixing portion configured to fix the first and second arms to the storage portion. A position of a first connecting portion where the first arm is connected with the regulation member is different from a position of a second connecting portion where the second arm is connected with the regulation member in terms of a second direction intersecting with the first direction.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a coupling device configured to couple a shaft and a rotating member supported on the shaft so as to be rotatable and demountable from the shaft including a contacting portion provided on a rotating member, and a restricting member provided on the shaft so as to be rotatable and configured to restrict a movement of the rotating member in the axial direction by coming into contact with the contacting portion.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a coupling device configured to couple a shaft and a rotating member supported on the shaft so as to be rotatable and demountable from the shaft including a contacting portion provided on a rotating member, and a restricting member provided on the shaft so as to be rotatable and configured to restrict a movement of the rotating member in the axial direction by coming into contact with the contacting portion.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a coupling device configured to couple a shaft and a rotating member supported on the shaft so as to be rotatable and demountable from the shaft including a contacting portion provided on a rotating member, and a restricting member provided on the shaft so as to be rotatable and configured to restrict a movement of the rotating member in the axial direction by coming into contact with the contacting portion.

Abstract: The present invention is for separating upper and lower sheets. The sheet feeder includes a feed roller that conveys the sheet fed by a pickup roller in a sheet feeding direction and a retard roller rotated in a sheet feeding direction at a rotational velocity faster than that of the feed roller by interposing a torque limiter. Meanwhile, the retard roller is rotated at a velocity equal to that of the feed roller when a single sheet is nipped in the roller nip portion. The sheet feeder further includes a controller that performs control such that, when double sheet feeding occurs by the pickup roller, the sheet of the retard roller side projects ahead of the sheet of the feed roller side in the sheet feeding direction by virtue of the torque limiter, and then, the retard roller is rotated in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction.

Abstract: The present invention is for separating upper and lower sheets. The sheet feeder includes a feed roller that conveys the sheet fed by a pickup roller in a sheet feeding direction and a retard roller rotated in a sheet feeding direction at a rotational velocity faster than that of the feed roller by interposing a torque limiter. Meanwhile, the retard roller is rotated at a velocity equal to that of the feed roller when a single sheet is nipped in the roller nip portion. The sheet feeder further includes a controller that performs control such that, when double sheet feeding occurs by the pickup roller, the sheet of the retard roller side projects ahead of the sheet of the feed roller side in the sheet feeding direction by virtue of the torque limiter, and then, the retard roller is rotated in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus has a sheet accommodating portion, a sheet stacking portion, a lift mechanism, a driving portion provided, and a damper portion. The lift mechanism can be engaged with and disengaged from the driving portion, and if the engagement between the lift mechanism and the driving portion is released, the lift mechanism lowers the sheet stacking portion, the damper portion is engaged with the lift mechanism, and if the engagement between the lift mechanism and the driving portion is released, the damper portion exerts damper effect on the lift mechanism to reduce a lowering speed of the sheet stacking portion, and wherein the damper portion does not exert the damper effect on the lift mechanism until the sheet stacking portion is lowered by a predetermined amount after the engagement between the lift mechanism and the driving portion is released.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a manual feed tray on which sheets are stacked, a feeding member, side regulating plates, a detecting portion which detects positions of the side regulating plates and detects a width size of the sheets, an operation panel which receives an input of width size information of the sheets from a user, and a control circuit which compares width size information detected by the detecting portion and the width size information input to the operation panel, and stops a sheet feeding operation of the feeding member when the two pieces of width size information are different, and the control circuit compares the width size information of the detecting portion and the width size information of the operation panel, per sheet before the feeding member starts feeding the sheet.