Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of image forming units that are each configured to be detachably mountable and include an image carrier; a irradiation unit configured to irradiate respective image carriers of the plurality of image forming units with light to form one or more electrostatic latent images along a direction of the rotational driving; a detection unit configured to detect the electrostatic latent images; a determination unit configured to determine mounted states of the plurality of image forming units based on a detection result by the detection unit; and a control unit configured to perform control such that, for each of image carriers, the electrostatic latent images are not formed on an image carrier in a period in which at least one of the one or more electrostatic latent images is formed on a different image carrier.

Abstract: An image forming device in which a plurality of nozzles are aligned in a designated alignment direction, wherein a plurality of pixels constituting a formed image includes dot omission pixels continuous in a scan direction by a defective nozzle included in the plurality of nozzles, and neighboring pixels within a designated distance in the alignment direction from the dot omission pixels, the image forming device comprising a pattern determining unit configured to determine a dot pattern after supplementation formed on neighboring pixels within designated range based on at least the number of dots to be formed on the pixels within the designated range including a portion of the dot omission pixels and a portion of the neighboring pixels according to recording data before supplementation of dots by the defective nozzle, and a pattern forming unit configured to form the dot pattern after supplementation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lithography apparatus which performs a process of forming a pattern on a substrate conveyed from a coating apparatus which coats the substrate with a resist, the lithography apparatus including an obtaining unit configured to obtain, from the coating apparatus, first specifying information which specifies a processing target substrate conveyed from the coating apparatus to the lithography apparatus, out of a plurality of substrates which are coated with the resist by the coating apparatus and on which the process is to be performed, and a processing unit configured to select offset correction information corresponding to the processing target substrate from a plurality of pieces of offset correction information respectively corresponding to the plurality of substrates based on the first specifying information and perform the process on the processing target substrate by using the selected offset correction information.

Abstract: A table for a lithographic apparatus, the table having a catchment opening formed in an upper surface of the table, the catchment opening in fluid communication through the table with the environment of the table at a drain opening in a surface of the table other than the upper surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides an exposure apparatus which performs a scanning exposure of each of a plurality of shot regions on a substrate, comprising a measuring device including a first detector configured to perform detection with respect to a measurement point on the substrate and a second detector configured to perform detection with respect to the measurement point prior to detection by the first detector, and configured to measure a height of the substrate based on an output from the first detector and an output from the second detector, and a processor configured to determine, based on measurement obtained based on an output from the first detector along with a scanning exposure of a first shot region, a first measurement point where the measuring device performs measurement first based on an output from the second detector with respect to a second shot region.

Abstract: A system and method that bends a reticle and senses a curvature of a bent reticle in real-time. The system includes movable reticle stage, reticle vacuum clamps, sensor systems, and reticle bender. The reticle bender comprises piezo actuators. The sensor systems comprises measurement targets and corresponding sensors. The sensors are attached to the movable reticle stage and the measurement targets are attached to the reticle clamps, the reticle bender, or on reticle surfaces. The system is configured to determine a width of the reticle or distance between measurement targets at opposing ends of the reticle, measure a first rotational angle at a first end of the reticle, and measure a second local rotational angle at a second end of the reticle that is opposite to the first end. Based on the width or distance and the first and second angles, a field curvature of the reticle is determined.

Abstract: A method includes directing a beam of radiation along an optical axis toward a workpiece support, measuring a spectrum of the beam at a first time to obtain a first profile, measuring the spectrum of the beam at a second time to obtain a second profile, determining a spectral difference between the two profiles, and adjusting a position of the workpiece support along the optical axis based on the difference. A different aspect involves an apparatus having a workpiece support, beam directing structure that directs a beam of radiation along an optical axis toward the workpiece support, spectrum measuring structure that measures a spectrum of the beam at first and second times to obtain respective first and second profiles, processing structure that determines a difference between the two profiles, and support adjusting structure that adjusts a position of the workpiece support along the optical axis based on the difference.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a hole transporting layer containing a polyester resin having a structural unit expressed by formula (1) as a hole transporting substance.

Abstract: A photoconductor and method of forming a photoconductor comprising forming a charge generation material comprising a plurality of quantum dots, and forming an active region comprising one or more photoconductor layers comprising the charge generation material including the surface modified quantum dots is disclosed.

Abstract: An electrostatic charge image developing toner has toner particles that contain a binder resin containing a polyester resin, a release agent containing hydrocarbon-based wax, styrene(meth)acrylic resin particles, and an aluminum element, wherein fluorescent X-ray NET intensity of the aluminum element existing in the toner particles is from 0.1 to 0.3, and 70% or more of the release agent among the entire release agent exists within 800 nm from the surface of the toner particles.

Abstract: The present disclosure is drawn to an electrostatic ink composition comprising a resin and an elongate conductive species. Also disclosed herein is a substrate on which is electrostatically printed a conductive trace, wherein the trace comprises a resin and an elongate conductive species. Further disclosed herein is a method of electrophotographic printing an electrostatic ink composition comprising a resin and an elongate conductive species.

Abstract: Provided is a toner, including: a crystalline resin; and a colorant, wherein the toner has a sea island structure in which a crystal region containing the crystalline resin is formed as a sea, and a non-crystalline region containing the colorant is formed as an island.

Abstract: Hyperpigmented magenta toner, that is indistinguishable from standard and conventional magenta toner, contains PR122 and PR260 in a 56:44 weight ratio and can be used with reduced TMA as compared to conventional magenta toner.

Abstract: Provided is a toner that shows both developability and electrostatic offset resistance. The toner includes a charge controlling agent that is represented by the following formula (1), and that has peaks at 15.000°±0.150° and 20.100°±0.150° in CuK? X-ray diffraction spectrum obtained in 2? range of 10° or more to 40° or less where ? represents Bragg angle, one of the peaks being a peak having a maximum intensity and the other being a peak having a second maximum intensity.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method for manufacturing carrier core particles for electrophotographic developer containing iron, manganese, and calcium as a core composition. The method includes (A) a mixing step of mixing an iron-containing raw material, a manganese-containing raw material, and a calcium-containing raw material to prepare a mixture thereof, (C) a granulation step of granulating the mixture after the mixing step, and (D) a firing step of firing a powdery material, which is obtained by granulating the mixture in the granulation step, at a predetermined temperature to form a magnetic phase. The calcium-containing raw material is provided in a granular form, and primary particles of the calcium-containing raw material have a volume mean diameter of 1 ?m or less.

Abstract: A liquid developer includes an insulating liquid and toner particles which are dispersed in the insulating liquid and contain a resin and a coloring agent. The coloring agent contains nigrosine and a pigment derivative, and preferably further contains carbon black. Preferably, Wn and Ws satisfy relation of 0.15?Ws/Wn?0.80, where Wn represents a ratio of content (mass %) of nigrosine in the toner particles and Ws represents a ratio of content (mass %) of the pigment derivative in the toner particles.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an exposure device configured to expose image bearing members charged by charging devices to form latent images on the image bearing members, and a control unit configured to, in ether one or both of an image forming unit A and an image forming unit B, adjust an amount of exposure by which the image bearing member is exposed and a charging voltage based on information about the image bearing members of the image forming units A and B. The control unit is configured to make the charging voltage and the amount of exposure in the image forming unit A different from the charging voltage and the amount of exposure in the image forming unit B.

Abstract: A developing device, comprising: a developer bearing member which bears a two-component developer including a toner and carrier; a magnet member disposed inside the developer bearing member, the magnet member making the developer bearing member bear the two-component developer on the developer bearing member by magnetic force; and a developer regulating member which regulates a layer thickness of the developer borne on the developer bearing member, the developer regulating member being made of magnetic material, the developer regulating member being fixed at both end portions in a longitudinal direction, wherein grooves are formed on a surface of the developer bearing member, and a developer conveying force of the grooves at a central portion of the developer bearing member in the longitudinal direction is larger than a developer conveying force of the grooves at an end portion of the developer bearing member in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes multiple image forming units each accommodating an image bearer and a developer bearer to develop a latent image formed on the image bearer. Each of the image forming units other than a prescribed image forming unit runs in an ordinary reverse rotation mode, in which at least one of the image bearer and the developer bearer rotates in an opposite direction during a non-image formation time period. The prescribed image forming unit runs in a special reverse rotation mode, in which at least one of the image bearer and the developer bearer rotates in the opposite direction during the non-image formation time period based on a differentiated one of a rotation time period, a start timing, a rotational speed, and a frequency of operation from those of the other image forming units, or does not run in the special reverse rotation mode.

Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing that has an elongated shape extending from a first side to a second side. The housing defines a reservoir for containing toner therein. An exit port is in fluid communication with the reservoir and faces downward on the front of the housing near the first side. A first leg portion and a second leg portion each projects from the bottom of the housing and extends along a front-to-rear dimension of the housing. The first leg portion has a first outer side spaced inward from the first side of the housing and the second leg portion has a second outer side spaced inward from the second side of the housing. The first outer side and the second outer side are unobstructed to limit the side-to-side travel of the toner cartridge during insertion into the image forming device.

Abstract: A cleaning unit includes a cleaning frame, a drum, a sheet member coming in contact with a surface of the drum, and an adhesive sealing member compressed between the cleaning frame, the drum, and the sheet member. The cleaning unit includes an end seal portion that is integrally molded with the cleaning frame by injection molding of a resin material, and the end seal portion is compressed and deformed between the cleaning frame and the adhesive sealing member and between the cleaning frame and the sheet member.

Abstract: A shutter for use in a toner cartridge of an imaging device according to one example embodiment includes a toner path. The toner path includes an entrance opening positioned to receive toner and an exit opening positioned to exit toner from the toner path. An air duct through the shutter is separated from the toner path. The air duct has a first opening positioned next to the exit opening of the toner path. The air duct has a second opening.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a first conveying unit provided within a developing agent storage chamber and that is configured to convey developing agent from one end of the developing agent storage chamber to another end of the developing agent storage chamber in a longitudinal direction of a developing agent carrier that is disposed with in a developing chamber and to supply the developing agent from the developing agent storage chamber to the developing chamber; a second conveying unit provided within the developing chamber and that is configured to convey the developing agent from the other end of the developing chamber to the one end of the developing chamber in the longitudinal direction and to supply the developing agent toward a developing agent carrier; and a third conveying unit provided between the one end of the developing agent storage chamber and the one end of the developing chamber.

Abstract: An image forming unit includes a first developer supply member that is arranged inside a developer container and supplies a developer to a developer carrier, a seal member of which a fixed end is fixed on a case. The case has a first wall part that extends from the fixed end obliquely downward with respect to a vertical direction and a second wall part that continues from the first wall part and extends along an outer peripheral surface of the first developer supply member, and a first distance between an inner peripheral surface of the first wall part and the outer peripheral surface of the first developer supply member becomes smaller with increasing distance from the fixed end of the seal member.

Abstract: A transfer member includes a shaft and a body. When a measurement member is brought into contact with an outer surface of the body and voltage applied to the measurement member is changed by electrically connecting the shaft to ground, a time constant ?v is measured based on a change in electric potential occurring on a surface of the measurement member. When a first measurement member is brought into contact with the outer surface, a second measurement member is brought into contact with the outer surface while being spaced apart from the first member by a predetermined distance in a circumferential direction of the outer surface, and voltage applied to the first member is changed by electrically connecting the shaft to ground, a time constant ?s is measured based on a change in electric potential occurring on a surface of the second member. ?v is larger than ?s.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer member, plural transfer sections, and a medium transfer section. The transfer member has an endless shape. An image is transferred to the transfer member during circulation of the transfer member. The transfer sections transfer the image to a surface of the transfer member through a first transfer current. The transfer sections include a most-downstream transfer section provided most downstream in a circulation direction of the transfer member. The medium transfer section transfers the image transferred to the transfer member to a recording medium through a second transfer current. A current flows through the most-downstream transfer section even in the case where the image is transferred to the transfer member by at least one of the transfer sections excluding the most-downstream transfer section, and the most-downstream transfer section does not transfer an image to the transfer member.

Abstract: An endless belt-shaped transfer member of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an elastic body layer and a surface layer formed on the elastic body layer. The transfer member has (i) an indentation depth of 400 nm or more and 1,500 nm or less with a load of 100 ?N applied to a surface of the transfer member with a Berkovich indenter and (ii) a hardness of 40° or more and 85° or less on the surface of the transfer member measured with a micro-rubber hardness tester.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier; an intermediate transfer body; a second-transfer member; a support mechanism that supports the second-transfer member in a second-transfer region; a surface-positioning member that is disposed upstream of the second-transfer member in a transport direction; a determination device that determines whether or not a recording medium is a thin medium; and a controller that, in a case where it is determined that the recording medium is a thin medium, controls the support mechanism so as to move the second-transfer member more upstream in the transport direction than in other cases and controls the position of the surface-positioning member so as to move the second-transfer member in a direction such that an angle between the intermediate transfer body and the second-transfer member on the upstream side becomes larger than in other cases.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller including a primary heating control portion to control a heater to perform a primary heating to heat a fixing rotator with a first amount of power determined based on a temperature of the fixing rotator, a secondary heating control portion to control the heater to perform a secondary heating to heat the fixing rotator with a preset second amount of power, and a switch portion to control the heater to switch between the primary heating and the secondary heating during an identical print job and to perform at least one of a primary switching from the primary heating to the secondary heating and a secondary switching from the secondary heating to the primary heating at a time different from a preset control cycle that defines a power supply time in the primary heating and the secondary heating.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller including a primary heating control portion that determines a first amount of power supplied to a heater based on a temperature of a fixing rotator detected by a temperature detector and controls the heater to perform a primary heating to heat the fixing rotator with the first amount of power, a secondary heating control portion that controls the heater to perform a secondary heating to heat the fixing rotator with a preset second amount of power, and a switch portion that controls the heater to switch between the primary heating and the secondary heating during an identical print job without changing a target temperature of the fixing rotator.

Abstract: A sheet conveyor, which is incorporated in an image forming apparatus, includes a first conveyor to convey a sheet via a first sheet conveying path and move in a direction intersecting a sheet thickness direction, a second conveyor to convey the sheet via a second sheet conveying path and include a third conveyor and a fourth conveyor bringing either one close to and away from the other via the second sheet conveying path in the sheet thickness direction, a first attaching part provided to the first conveyor to attach the first conveyor to the sheet conveyor, and a state changer to change a state of one of the first attaching part to a movement allowed state and the second conveyor to a sheet releasing state in conjunction with a releasing action of the other of the first attaching part and the second conveyor.

Abstract: A fuser for fixing an unfixed toner image on a recording material includes: an endless belt body heated by a heat source; a pressing body moved to be connected to and disconnected from an inner peripheral surface of the belt body; a pressure roller member making pressure-contact with the pressing body through the belt body; a tension body moved to be connected to and disconnected from the inner peripheral surface of the belt body, contrary to the connection and disconnection movement of the pressing body; and a rotation transmitting unit configured to transmit a rotational force of the pressure roller member to the belt body using the tension body, while the pressing body is separated from and the tension body makes contact with the inner peripheral surface of the belt body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image information acquisition unit that acquires image information; a toner image formation unit that forms, in response to a control parameter, a toner image on a surface of an image carrier based on the image information; an image density detection unit that produces a detection result indicative of image density of the toner image; and a control unit that determines whether to use a predetermined region in the toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier based on the image information for a detection of the image density of the toner image, and when the predetermined region is determined to be used for the detection of the image density, corrects the control parameter used by the toner image formation unit based on the detection result so as to maintain the image density in the predetermined region within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A moving device assembly includes a moving device and a shield. The moving device is movable between a first position and a second position, to move a detector including a detection surface relative to an opposing member disposed opposite the detector. The shield shields the detection surface of the detector. As the moving device is at the first position, the detector is at a proximal position at which the detector is near the opposing member, and as the moving device is at the second position, the detector is at a shield position at which the detector is separated from the opposing member and the detection surface of the detector is shielded by the shield.

Abstract: To provide a technique for enabling to calculate a color material consumption amount with higher accuracy, an image processing apparatus comprises: an edge counting unit configured to count a number of edges forming boundaries between recording pixels and non-recording pixels of an image having undergone halftone processing; a pixel counting unit configured to count the number of recording pixels of the image; an image feature determination unit configured to determine an image feature of the image based on the number of edges, the number of recording pixels, and a resolution of the halftone processing; and a toner consumption amount calculation unit configured to calculate a toner consumption amount in the image using a toner consumption amount table corresponding to the image feature determined by the image feature determination unit.

Abstract: An edge counter counts an edge count that is the number of edges satisfying a predetermined condition. A pixel counter counts a pixel count that is the number of pixels satisfying a predetermined condition. An image determination unit and a toner amount acquisition unit obtain a toner consumption amount based on the edge count and the pixel count for each area.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a conveyer, an image forming unit, and paired bearings, is provided. The conveyer unit includes a first roller, a second roller, and a belt strained around the first and second rollers. The belt includes a first surface to contact the sheet. The image forming unit forms an image on the sheet being conveyed in an image forming area. The image forming area has a width which is larger than a width of the belt along a direction of rotation axis of the first and second rollers. The paired bearings support the first roller rotatably. The paired bearings are arranged on both sides of the belt with regard to the direction of rotation axis. A distance between the paired bearings is shorter than the width of the image forming area.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a conveyer, an image forming unit, and a guide member to guide a sheet, is provided. The conveyer includes a first roller, a second roller, and a belt strained around the first and second rollers and including a first surface to contact the sheet. The image forming unit forms an image on the sheet in an image forming area, which includes at least a part of an overlapping area coincident with the belt and at least a part of a displaced area being displaced from the belt along a direction of rotation axis of the rollers. The guide member is arranged in a position displaced from the belt along the direction of rotation axis and at least in a position displaced from the image forming area along a direction of conveyance to convey the sheet by the conveyer.

Abstract: A belt transport apparatus includes a first computation unit that computes a first deviation between a surface speed of a belt and a target speed of the belt, a position controller that computes a speed correction value based on the first deviation, a speed deviation ratio computation unit that computes a ratio of the belt surface speed and a rotational speed of a driving roller, a second computation unit that selectively computes according to predetermined conditions one of a second deviation between the rotational speed and a sum of an increment of the speed correction value and the target speed and a third deviation between the rotational speed and a sum of a value corrected according to the ratio stored in a storage unit and the target speed, and a control unit that controls the rotational speed based on the one of the second and third deviations.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a conveyer unit, an image forming unit, and a registration unit, is provided. The conveyer includes a first roller, a second roller, and a belt having a first surface to contact the sheet. The image forming unit forms an image on the sheet in an image forming area. The registration unit is on an upstream side of the image forming area and includes a third roller and a fourth roller. A rotation axis of the third roller is on a side of the first surface, and a rotation axis of the fourth roller is on a side of a second surface of the belt, which is a reverse surface of the first surface. The registration unit manipulates the third and fourth rollers to align the sheet with a reference orientation and convey the sheet to the belt.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for printing a color image with a predefined local gloss appearance, using a printer having means to control an amount of colorant in dependence on a position on a receiving material and having means to control an amount of gloss appearance in dependence on a position on said receiving material using at least one process control parameter, wherein a color of the color image is converted into a colorant composition, the method comprising the step of determining a colorant composition and at least one process control parameter in dependence on both a predefined color and a predefined amount of local gloss appearance.

Abstract: A print control apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store therein a plurality of surface-effect selection tables for respective pieces of recording medium information on a recording medium. Different types of same surface effects are registered in each of the surface-effect selection tables. The print control apparatus also includes a determining unit configured to determine a surface-effect selection table corresponding to a piece of recording medium information from the storage unit; an image data generating unit configured to generate image data based on the determined surface-effect selection table and based on gloss-control plane data in which a type of a surface effect to be applied to the recording medium and an area of the recording medium to which the surface effect is to be applied are specified; and an output unit configured to output the image data.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a control unit for converting image information into an image signal and output the image signal with reference to a timing signal, a sheet feeding control unit for feeding a recording material, an image forming unit for forming the image on a photosensitive drum based on the image signal output from the control unit, a transmission unit for transmitting a length of the image corresponding to a length of an output period of the image signal, an automatic sheet length detection mechanism for acquiring a length of the recording material in a conveyance direction thereof, and an image control unit for controlling a time interval at which the timing signal is output based on the size of the image and the size of the recording material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for heating and fixing a toner image formed on a recording medium, comprising: a feeding unit configured to respectively set the recording medium of different sizes; a plurality of heating units with heat generation parts, which generates heat by receiving power supply, each of the heat generation part is provided at different positions on the respective heating unit; a control unit configured to individually control power supply or power interruption to the plurality of heating units in accordance with a size of the recording medium set in the feeding unit; and a detection unit configured to detect a current value of the heating unit to which power is supplied.

Abstract: A power controller includes: a measuring unit that measures outputs from plural power generating devices outputting power to a common load in parallel; an adjusting unit that controls the outputs of the plural power generating devices to adjust output voltages of the plural power generating devices to a predetermined value; and a matching control unit that calculates power-voltage characteristics of the plural power generating devices based on values measured by the measuring unit, determines a target value of output voltage to be shared by all the plural power generating devices based on the power-voltage characteristics thus calculated and corresponding to the whole parallel connection of the plural power generating devices, and allows the adjusting unit to match the predetermined value with the target value.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes: a rotatable member; a web; a mechanism; a contact portion; a plurality of displacing portions; a detecting portion; a notifying portion; a first counting portion; a prohibiting portion; and a second counting portion. The prohibiting portion prohibits an image forming process when the detecting portion detects displacement of the contact portion when the number of times of the image forming process counted by the second counting portion is less than a predetermined number. The notifying portion prompts an exchange of the web when the detecting portion detects the displacement of the contact portion when the number of times is not less than the predetermined number.

Abstract: A roller to be provided in a main assembly of an image forming apparatus or in a cartridge detachably mountable to the main assembly includes: a cylindrical shaft supported by the main assembly or the cartridge, wherein the cylindrical shaft includes, in at least one position on a circumference thereof, a separation region where a pair of end portions thereof which oppose to or contact each other with respect to a circumferential direction, and wherein the separation region extends in an axial direction of the cylindrical shaft; and a rotatable cylindrical member mounted around an outer circumference of the cylindrical shaft, wherein the rotatable cylindrical member is rotatable about the cylindrical shaft while an inner peripheral surface thereof is press-contacted to an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical shaft in a region other than the separation region with respect to the circumferential direction.

Abstract: A frame for an image forming apparatus, includes: first and second plate members; a bent portion provided as a part of the first plate member and bent along the second plate member; a portion-to-be-fixed provided as a part of the bent portion; a positioning portion, provided on the first plate member, for positioning the second plate member relative to the first plate member by being abutted vertically against the second plate member, wherein a free end projects toward the second plate member more than the portion-to-be-fixed; and a fixing portion, provided as a part of the second plate member, to which the portion-to-be-fixed is fixed. The second plate member is deformed to contact and deform the fixing portion to the portion-to-be-fixed while the second plate member is in contact to the positioning portion, so that the first plate member and the second member are fixed to each other.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including a main casing, an opening-closing member configured to open and close an opening on a side of the main casing and to move between an open position and a closed position, a belt unit configured to move between a first position and a second position, a drum unit configured to move between a third position and a fourth position, a developing device unit configured to move in an arrangement direction of developing rollers, and an interlock mechanism configured such that in response to a movement of the opening-closing member from the closed position to the open position, the belt unit moves from the first position to the second position and the drum unit moves from the third position to the fourth position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet includes a drum cartridge including an image bearing drum; a developing cartridge including a developing device for developing the image on the drum; a cartridge mounting member to which the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are detachably mountable; a transferring device for transferring an image provided by the developing device on the drum, onto the sheet fed along a feeding path; and an opening and closing cover provided across the feeding path from the drum, wherein the cartridge mounting member is capable of permitting the developing cartridge to be mounted thereto and dismounted therefrom across the feeding path through an opening provided by opening the opening and closing cover, without removing the drum cartridge.