Abstract: A biological specimen containing a chemiluminescence substance that generates chemiluminescence is observed in a living state under a microscope. The microscope includes a light source that outputs control light that changes the state of the chemiluminescence, a defining unit that defines the radiation pattern of the control light with which an observation surface of the biological specimen is irradiated, and a detector that detects the chemiluminescence from the biological specimen.

Abstract: To efficiently transmit drive through couplings on one and another sides during forward rotation and reverse rotation. When first and second couplings are brought into engagement with each other and rotated in a forward direction, first and third drive transmission surfaces are brought into contact with each other to be rotated in the forward direction while producing components of force in directions in which the first and second couplings are drawn to each other in the rotational axis direction. When the first and second couplings are brought into engagement with each other and rotated in a reverse direction, second and fourth drive transmission surfaces are brought into contact with each other to be rotated in the reverse direction without producing components of force in directions in which the first and second couplings are separated from each other in the rotational axis direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image reading unit, an original conveyance unit, a reversing unit, an image forming unit, an image forming conveyance unit, and a control unit. The original conveyance unit conveys an original in a first direction toward the image reading unit, which reads an image of the original. The reversing unit conveys an original passing through the image reading unit in the first direction, or reversely conveys the original toward the image reading unit in a second direction. The image forming unit forms an image on a sheet. The image forming conveyance unit conveys, to the image forming unit, an original reversely conveyed by the reversing unit via the image reading unit. The control unit controls an operation for reading an image of the original by using the image reading unit and for overprinting the original with an image by using the image forming unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which at least part of an image scanner is disposed in an area below an original discharge unit and above an image forming unit.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device includes first and second discharge portions to discharge sheets, first and second stacking portions on which sheets are to be stacked, and a control unit to control the second stacking portion to move between a first position and a second position. The first position is that a downstream side of the second stacking portion is positioned and inclined upwardly with respect to an upstream side of the second stacking portion in a sheet conveyance direction of the sheets discharged from the second discharge portion. The second position is that the downstream side of the second stacking portion is positioned on a lower side of the first position of the downstream side of the second stacking portion.

Abstract: To efficiently transmit drive through couplings on one and another sides during forward rotation and reverse rotation. When first and second couplings are brought into engagement with each other and rotated in a forward direction, first and third drive transmission surfaces are brought into contact with each other to be rotated in the forward direction while producing components of force in directions in which the first and second couplings are drawn to each other in the rotational axis direction. When the first and second couplings are brought into engagement with each other and rotated in a reverse direction, second and fourth drive transmission surfaces are brought into contact with each other to be rotated in the reverse direction without producing components of force in directions in which the first and second couplings are separated from each other in the rotational axis direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a lever configured to move a secondary transfer roller from an endless belt. The lever is arranged between a primary transfer surface of the endless belt, which opposes a plurality of image bearing members between an opposing roller and a stretching roller, and a surface opposing the primary transfer surface. The lever is engaged with the secondary transfer roller to separate the secondary transfer roller from the endless belt. Such a simple contact-separation configuration for the secondary transfer roller achieves reduction in size and space of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: In connection with movement of an opening-closing member when a toner accommodating container is attached to the image forming apparatus, the urging direction of an urging member relative to the opening-closing member changes from a direction that causes the opening-closing member to close an opening portion to a direction that causes the opening-closing member to open the opening portion. By using the urging force of the urging member that acts in the direction that causes the opening-closing member to open the opening portion, the toner accommodating container is pulled into the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: Provided is a light-blocking pigment composition which has high insulation properties and a low dielectric constant and which can satisfy high optical density, and a light-blocking member for display, which contains the light-blocking pigment composition. When a pigment composition containing a benzimidazolone dioxazine-based pigment, a benzimidazolone-based pigment, and a carbazole dioxazine-based pigment in a specific ratio is used for a light-blocking member for display, since the light-blocking member has high insulation properties, a low dielectric constant, and high optical density, it is possible to provide a display having high light-blocking properties.

Abstract: In a case where a belt unit is not attached to an apparatus body, when an opening and closing member is closed against the apparatus body, a switching member cannot press a switch, and image formation operation is prohibited. In a case where the belt unit is attached to the apparatus body, when the opening and closing member is closed against the apparatus body, the switching member presses the switch, and the prohibition of the image formation is released.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a transfer unit including a stretching roller and a rotatable transfer belt stretched by the stretching roller; a cleaning unit, including a blade movable toward and away from the transfer belt, for collecting a toner removed from the transfer belt by the blade; a moving member for moving the blade between a contact position where the blade is contacted to the transfer belt and a retracted position where the blade is moved away from the transfer belt; and a drive transmission device for permitting transmission of a driving force between the stretching roller and the movable member. The drive transmission device has an idling region where the drive transmission device is rotatable by a predetermined amount without transmitting the driving force to the stretching roller when the driving force is transmitted from the moving member to the drive transmission device.

Abstract: An image fixing apparatus for heating and fixing an unfixed image formed on a recording material, comprising a heater including a substrate, a first electrode provided on one side of the substrate and a second electrode provided on the other side of the substrate; and a connector, connected with the heater, for receiving electric power, the connector including an electrically insulative housing, and a contact terminal provided inside the housing and having first spring contact contacted to the first electrode and a second spring contact contacted to the second electrode, wherein the contact terminal is swingable relative to the housing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a lever configured to move a secondary transfer roller from an endless belt. The lever is arranged between a primary transfer surface of the endless belt, which opposes a plurality of image bearing members between an opposing roller and a stretching roller, and a surface opposing the primary transfer surface. The lever is engaged with the secondary transfer roller to separate the secondary transfer roller from the endless belt. Such a simple contact-separation configuration for the secondary transfer roller achieves reduction in size and space of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: In a case where a belt unit is not attached to an apparatus body, when an opening and closing member is closed against the apparatus body, a switching member cannot press a switch, and image formation operation is prohibited. In a case where the belt unit is attached to the apparatus body, when the opening and closing member is closed against the apparatus body, the switching member presses the switch, and the prohibition of the image formation is released.

Abstract: In connection with movement of an opening-closing member when a toner accommodating container is attached to the image forming apparatus, the urging direction of an urging member relative to the opening-closing member changes from a direction that causes the opening-closing member to close an opening portion to a direction that causes the opening-closing member to open the opening portion. By using the urging force of the urging member that acts in the direction that causes the opening-closing member to open the opening portion, the toner accommodating container is pulled into the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A container is detachably mountable on an apparatus body in a mounting-detaching direction that is along the same direction as a mounting-detaching direction of a transfer unit and that is in the reverse direction of the mounting-detaching direction of the transfer unit. When the transfer unit and the container are mounted on the apparatus body, a belt, a cleaning device, and the container are arranged in that order in a transport direction of the belt. A discharge portion is provided, the discharge portion extending in the mounting-detaching direction of the container, for discharging the toner removed by the cleaning device to the container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a transfer unit including a stretching roller and a rotatable transfer belt stretched by the stretching roller; a cleaning unit, including a blade movable toward and away from the transfer belt, for collecting a toner removed from the transfer belt by the blade; a moving member for moving the blade between a contact position where the blade is contacted to the transfer belt and a retracted position where the blade is moved away from the transfer belt; and a drive transmission device for permitting transmission of a driving force between the stretching roller and the movable member. The drive transmission device has an idling region where the drive transmission device is rotatable by a predetermined amount without transmitting the driving force to the stretching roller when the driving force is transmitted from the moving member to the drive transmission device.

Abstract: In connection with movement of an opening-closing member when a toner accommodating container is attached to the image forming apparatus, the urging direction of an urging member relative to the opening-closing member changes from a direction that causes the opening-closing member to close an opening portion to a direction that causes the opening-closing member to open the opening portion. By using the urging force of the urging member that acts in the direction that causes the opening-closing member to open the opening portion, the toner accommodating container is pulled into the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image fixing apparatus for heating and fixing an unfixed image formed on a recording material, comprising a heater including a substrate, a first electrode provided on one side of the substrate and a second electrode provided on the other side of the substrate; and a connector, connected with the heater, for receiving electric power, the connector including an electrically insulative housing, and a contact terminal provided inside the housing and having first spring contact contacted to the first electrode and a second spring contact contacted to the second electrode, wherein the contact terminal is swingable relative to the housing.

Abstract: An image fixing apparatus for heating and fixing an unfixed image formed on a recording material, comprising a heater including a substrate, a first electrode provided on one side of the substrate and a second electrode provided on the other side of the substrate; and a connector, connected with the heater, for receiving electric power, the connector including an electrically insulative housing, and a contact terminal provided inside the housing and having first spring contact contacted to the first electrode and a second spring contact contacted to the second electrode, wherein the contact terminal is swingable relative to the housing.