Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a driving unit and an operation unit. The image forming section includes one or more image forming units. The driving unit generates driving force. The operation unit selectively performs a first operation and a second operation. The first operation is an operation to change over from a coupled state of the one or more image forming units and the driving unit, which the driving force is transmitted to the one or more image forming units, to a released state of the one or more image forming unit and the driving unit, which the driving force from the driving unit is not transmitted to the one or more image forming units. When the second operation is performed, the released state is maintained.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a driving unit and an operation unit. The image forming section includes one or more image forming units. The driving unit generates driving force. The operation unit selectively performs a first operation and a second operation. The first operation is an operation to change over from a coupled state of the one or more image forming units and the driving unit, which the driving force is transmitted to the one or more image forming units, to a released state of the one or more image forming unit and the driving unit, which the driving force from the driving unit is not transmitted to the one or more image forming units. When the second operation is performed, the released state is maintained.

Abstract: An illumination device 11 has: a light source 1 for emitting polarized light having a Gaussian beam profile and including a first polarized light component and a second polarized light component orthogonal to each other; and a spiral phase element for imparting a phase modulation amount which increases for each predetermined step amount along a circumferential direction about an optical axis OA to the first polarized light component of transmitted polarized light from the light source 1 and making the beam profile of the first polarized light component a Laguerre-Gaussian beam profile, and forming a composite beam having a top-hat-shaped beam profile in which the second polarized light component of the transmitted polarized light from the light source 1 and the first polarized light component having a Laguerre-Gaussian beam profile are synthesized.

Abstract: An illumination device 11 has: a light source 1 for emitting polarized light having a Gaussian beam profile and including a first polarized light component and a second polarized light component orthogonal to each other; and a spiral phase element for imparting a phase modulation amount which increases for each predetermined step amount along a circumferential direction about an optical axis OA to the first polarized light component of transmitted polarized light from the light source 1 and making the beam profile of the first polarized light component a Laguerre-Gaussian beam profile, and forming a composite beam having a top-hat-shaped beam profile in which the second polarized light component of the transmitted polarized light from the light source 1 and the first polarized light component having a Laguerre-Gaussian beam profile are synthesized.

Abstract: A reading apparatus includes a reading unit and a movement-restriction unit that restricts a movement of the reading unit. The reading unit includes a reading portion for reading an image, a holding portion that holds the reading portion. The holding portion has a first surface. The reading unit further includes a sliding portion that moves in contact with the movement-restriction unit. The sliding portion has a second surface facing the first surface. A first region is provided between the first surface of the holding portion and the second surface of the sliding portion so as to form a predetermined gap.

Abstract: A reading apparatus includes a reading unit and a movement-restriction unit that restricts a movement of the reading unit. The reading unit includes a reading portion for reading an image, a holding portion that holds the reading portion. The holding portion has a first surface. The reading unit further includes a sliding portion that moves in contact with the movement-restriction unit. The sliding portion has a second surface facing the first surface. A first region is provided between the first surface of the holding portion and the second surface of the sliding portion so as to form a predetermined gap.