Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel including a thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate, an opposed substrate, and a liquid crystal layer between the TFT array substrate and the opposed substrate. A lower polarizer is disposed on a side of the TFT array substrate facing away from the liquid crystal layer, and the opposed substrate is provided with a polarization analyzer. The polarization analyzer includes a plurality of polarization regions and a plurality of non-polarization regions. A portion of the polarization analyzer corresponding to the polarization region is a polarization device, and the polarization regions and non-polarization regions are arranged alternately. The LCD can improve the security and confidentiality of the information displayed on the LCD when a user views the information. And special eyeglasses and display apparatus are also provided.

Abstract: A polarizer and a display device are disclosed. The present disclosure belongs to the technical field of display, through which the utilization ratio of the backlight emitted by the backlight module can be improved. The polarizer can be used in a display device and is provided with through holes, and a location of each through hole corresponds to a gate of a corresponding Thin Film Transistor of said display device. The polarizer of the present disclosure can be used in liquid crystal TV, liquid crystal display, mobile phone, tablet personal computer, and other display devices.

Abstract: Provided is a liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal cell having a liquid crystal layer between two glass substrates, a front-side polarizing plate provided on a front side of the liquid crystal cell, a rear polarizer provided on a rear side of the liquid crystal cell, and a backlight provided on a rear side of the rear polarizer, in which the front-side polarizing plate has a first protective film, a polarizer, and a second protective film in this order from a surface side opposite to the liquid crystal cell, the first protective film in the front-side polarizing plate is a film including a polyester resin or a polycarbonate resin as a main component, an Re of the first protective film is 3000 nm or higher, an equilibrium moisture content of the second protective film at 25° C. and a relative humidity of 60% is in a range of 1% to 3%, and in the second protective film, a contractile force in a direction orthogonal to an absorption axis of the polarizer is 1.

Abstract: A liquid crystal panel and a LCD are provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a backlight module backplane, which includes a frame and a board. The frame includes a first sidewall, a top wall, a second sidewall, and a bottom wall that are sequentially connected in an end-to-end manner. The first sidewall and the second sidewall are of a straight plate structure. The top wall and the bottom wall are of a curved plate structure. The board has four edges respectively positioned against and fixed to the first sidewall, the top wall, the second sidewall and the bottom wall, so that the frame sets the board in a form of a curved surface. The backlight module backplane has reliable accuracy of curvature, a reduced weight, and a low cost. Also disclosed are a backlight module and a liquid crystal display device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light source device for a reflective microdisplay panel is disclosed. The light source device comprises: a first light bar, disposed on a first side of the reflective microdisplay panel. The first light bar comprises: a substrate, a plurality of micro LED units, and a controlling unit. The micro LED units are formed on the substrate, each micro LED unit corresponding to a screen area of the reflective microdisplay panel. The controlling unit is coupled to the micro LED units, and utilized for controlling luminance of each of the micro LED units individually according to luminance of the screen areas of the reflective microdisplay panel.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel and an LCD device are disclosed. The LCD panel comprises a plurality of pixel units. Each pixel unit includes an upper substrates, a lower substrate and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the upper substrate and the lower substrate. A first common electrode, an insulating layer and a pixel electrode are sequentially disposed on one side of the lower substrate facing the liquid crystal layer. The pixel electrode includes a plurality of first electrodes and second electrodes which have strip structures and are alternately distributed. A second common electrode is disposed on one side of the upper substrate facing the liquid crystal layer. The LCD panel can improve the response speed of liquid crystal molecules and increase the transmittance of the liquid crystal layer when the pixel units are electrified.

Abstract: Provided is a liquid-crystal display (LCD) device. The LCD device includes: one pair of substrates; and a pixel electrode and a common electrode that are provided on the one pair of substrates to respectively face each other, wherein the pixel electrode includes: one pair of plate electrodes in which a horizontal slit and a plurality of first vertical slits that cross the horizontal slit are formed and that are divided by the horizontal slit and surround both sides of a cross pattern formed by the horizontal slit and the plurality of first vertical slits; and a plurality of fine branch electrodes that are obliquely formed to be connected to the plate electrode at a portion of the cross pattern including a point at which the horizontal slit and the first vertical slit cross each other, wherein one pixel region includes a first subpixel area and a second subpixel area that are divided by the horizontal slit.

Abstract: An array substrate, a liquid crystal display panel (20) and a display device. The array substrate comprises: a substrate (10); a first transparent conductive layer (11) disposed on the substrate (10); an insulating layer (12) disposed on the first conductive layer (11); and a second transparent conductive layer (13) disposed on the insulating layer (20) and configured for forming a horizontal electric field with the first transparent conductive layer (11); the second conductive layer (13) comprises a plurality of transparent electrodes (14), adjacent transparent electrodes (14) possess a slit structure therebetween, and two ends of each transparent electrode each possess a bent structure (16).

Abstract: Provided is a display apparatus which narrows the frame of the panel to a level that the seal for bonding the substrates is not easily broken, and reduces an influence of a parasitic capacitance due to portions in which scanning lines and signal lines intersect. The display apparatus includes two substrates facing each other, a first signal line layer provided on one substrate of the two substrates, a second signal line layer provided in the first signal line layer through a plurality of first insulation layers, and a sealing body which is provided on a peripheral edge part of the one substrate through one or a plurality of second insulation layers having the number of layers less than the number of layers of the first insulation layer, and seals an opposing gap between the two substrates.

Abstract: A gate line (40) has a two-layered structure comprising a lower gate line (40a) made of material identical to a pixel electrode (70), and positioned in the same layer as the pixel electrode (70), and an upper gate line (40b) layered on the lower gate line (40b), and made of material having a higher electrical conductivity than the transparent conductive material. According to this structure, it is possible to reduce the number of times performing exposure processes in manufacturing an in-plane switching type liquid crystal panel.

Abstract: An example method for manufacturing a display panel, wherein the display panel includes: a signal wiring that transmits a signal for displaying an image and is formed on a substrate holding liquid crystal; and a voltage application wiring for applying voltage to the signal wiring, comprising: forming the signal wiring on the substrate; forming the voltage application wiring on the substrate; cutting the signal wiring; and connecting one side of the signal wiring cut by the cutting and the voltage application wiring by an ion implantation method.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a display device, the method including: forming, on a first surface of a substrate, a gate line and a gate electrode; forming a first dielectric layer on the gate line and the gate electrode; forming a data line, a source electrode and a drain electrode on the first dielectric layer; forming a black matrix layer on the first dielectric layer, the data line, the source electrode, and the drain electrode; radiating ultraviolet light on a second surface of the substrate opposing the first surface, the ultraviolet light developing exposed parts of the black matrix layer to form a black matrix pattern; and etching the first dielectric layer using the black matrix pattern as an etching mask to respectively form a first dielectric pattern on the gate line and a gate dielectric pattern on the gate electrode.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes: first and second gate lines disposed on the first substrate and which respectively transmit first and second gate signals; first, second and third data lines disposed on the first substrate; a first switching element connected to the first gate line and the first data line; a second switching element connected to the first gate line and the second data line; a third switching element connected to the second gate line and the second data line; a fourth switching element connected to the second gate line and the third data line; first and second pixel electrodes respectively connected to the first and second switching and which form a first liquid crystal capacitor; and third and fourth pixel electrodes respectively connected to the third and fourth switching elements and which form a second liquid crystal capacitor.

Abstract: An optical module (1A) includes a polarization beam splitter (10) that receives input light (L1) including a p-polarization component using a light splitting surface (11), a first polarization element (20) that rotates a polarization plane of the input light (L1) transmitted through the light splitting surface (11), a first reflective SLM (30) that modulates the input light (L1) to generate first modulation light (L2), a second polarization element (40) that rotates a polarization plane of the first modulation light (L2) passing through the first polarization element (20) again and reflected by the light splitting surface (11), and a second reflective SLM (50) that modulates the first modulation light (L2) to generate second modulation light (L3). The second modulation light (L3) passes through the second polarization element (40) again, is transmitted through the light splitting surface (11), and then is output.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to devices for stabilizing and holding devices that record visual images (e.g., cameras, smartphones, etc.), where the devices have integrated power sources (e.g., batteries), and methods related to such devices. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a device for stabilizing a camera, wherein the device comprises: a stabilizer body; a power source (e.g., battery) included within the stabilizer body; a camera mount connected to the stabilizer body; an internal power bridge connecting the battery pack to a power out supply; an exterior power bridge connected to the power out supply; a camera attached to the exterior power bridge, wherein the camera is attached to the camera mount.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a low EUV reflectivity (LEUVR) mask. The LEUVR mask includes a low thermal expansion material (LTEM) layer; a reflective multilayer (ML) over the LTEM layer; and a patterned absorption layer over the reflective ML. The reflective ML has less than 2% EUV reflectivity.

Abstract: A layout pattern decomposition method includes following steps. A layout pattern is received. The layout pattern includes a plurality of features, and an edge-to-edge space is respectively defined in between two adjacent features. A sum of a width of the edge-to-edge space and a width of the feature on a left side of the edge-to-edge space and a sum of the width of the edge-to-edge space and a width of the feature on a right side of the edge-to-edge space are respectively calculated. The sums and a predetermined value are respectively compared. When any one of the sums is smaller than the predetermined value, the two features on the two sides of the edge-to-edge space are colored by a first color and alternatively a second color. The features including the first color are assigned to a first pattern and the features including the second color to a second pattern.

Abstract: Provided are photomasks, methods of fabricating the photomasks, and methods of fabricating a semiconductor device by using the photomasks, in which a critical dimension (CD) of a pattern of a specific region of the photomask is corrected to improve the distribution of CDs of the pattern formed on a wafer. The photomasks may include a substrate and a light-blocking pattern formed on the substrate that includes an absorber layer and an anti-reflection coating (ARC) layer. The light-blocking pattern may include at least one of a first corrected area in which a top surface of the absorber layer is exposed, and a second corrected area in which a correction layer is formed on the ARC layer.

Abstract: Methods of forming a pattern in a semiconductor device structure include deprotecting an outer portion of a first photosensitive resist material, forming a second photosensitive resist material, exposing portions of the first and second photosensitive resist materials to radiation, and removing the deprotected outer portion of the first photosensitive resist material and the exposed portions of the first and second photosensitive resist materials. Additional methods include forming a first resist material over a substrate to include a first portion and a relatively thicker second portion, deprotecting substantially the entire first portion and an outer portion of the second portion while leaving an inner portion of the second portion protected, and forming a second resist material over the substrate. A portion of the second resist material is exposed to radiation, and deprotected and exposed portions of the first and second resist materials are removed.

Abstract: There is provided a pattern forming method comprising (i) forming a film on a substrate using an actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition which contains (A) a resin which decomposes due to an action of an acid to change its solubility with respect to a developer and (C) a specific resin, (ii) forming a top coat layer using a top coat composition which contains a resin (T) on the film, (iii) exposing the film which has the top coat layer to actinic rays or radiation, and (iv) forming a pattern by developing the film which has the top coat layer after the exposing.

Abstract: A positive resist composition is provided comprising a polymer having an acid labile group and an acid generator bound to its backbone, in admixture with an onium salt having a specific cation structure capable of generating sulfonic acid having a molecular weight of at least 540. The composition is effective for suppressing acid diffusion, has high resolution, and forms a pattern of satisfactory profile and minimal edge roughness after exposure and development.

Abstract: This invention provides a composition containing an organometallic compound having a chromophore moiety in the metal polymer backbone which allows a wider range of n/k values such that substrate reflectivity can be controlled under various conditions.

Abstract: An electrically-conductive pattern is prepared using a reactive composition having: (1) a reactive polymer; (2) a compound that provides a cleaving acid upon exposure to radiation; and (3) a crosslinking agent that reacts in the presence of the cleaving acid, to provide crosslinking in the reactive polymer. A polymeric layer of the reactive composition is patternwise exposed to provide a polymeric layer comprising non-exposed regions and exposed regions comprising a polymer comprising sulfonic acid or sulfonate groups. The exposed regions are contacted with electroless seed metal ions to form a pattern of electroless seed metal ions, which pattern is reduced to provide a pattern of corresponding electroless seed metal particles. Electrolessly plating is then carried out in the exposed regions. The unique reactive comprises (a) recurring units represented Structure (A) as described in the disclosure, and can also include other recurring units that are crosslinkable or provide other properties.

Abstract: A pellicle for an EUV lithography may include a pellicle film, a supporting structure and a handling block. The pellicle film may have a first surface for orienting opposite to a mask, and a second surface opposite to the first surface and for orienting toward the mask. The pellicle film may allow the EUV, which may pass through the mask, to penetrate the pellicle film. The supporting structure may be arranged on the second surface of the pellicle film to support the pellicle film. The handling block may be arranged on the first surface of the pellicle film. The handling block may have an opening configured to expose the pellicle film. Thus, the pellicle may be handled using the thick handling block, not the thin pellicle film, so that the thin pellicle film may not be damaged. The pellicle may protect the mask from byproducts generated in the EUV lithography process so that the mask may not be contaminated.

Abstract: Resist compositions for photosensitive chemically amplified resist processing, as well as methods for processing substrates using a photosensitive chemically amplified resist are disclosed for improved CD uniformity. A resist composition or layer generates photosensitizer when the resist is exposed to a first wavelength of light. A second wavelength of light is later used to amplify an acid reaction. The radiation-sensitive layer also includes a photo-active agent that, when exposed to a third light wavelength, modifies a concentration of photosensitizer in the radiation-sensitive layer. The third light wavelength can be projected as a pattern of radiation using a digital pixel-based projection system, with the projected pattern based on a critical dimension signature. In a subsequent exposure step, the resist layer is exposed to light of the second wavelength that induces or amplifies the acid concentration within the photoresist film.

Abstract: A maskless exposure device includes a stage on which a substrate is disposed, an optical head, and an optical source part. The optical head irradiates light to the substrate. The light source part provides the optical head with a light. The optical head irradiates the light, according to an average-focus distance, to the substrate. The average-focus distance is determined by averaging best-focus distances for a plurality of regions of the substrate, respectively.

Abstract: A pattern-forming method includes forming a film on a substrate by using an actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition containing at least a resin that exhibits, due to an action of an acid, increase in polarity and decrease in solubility with respect to a developer including an organic solvent, and a compound that generates an acid by being irradiated with actinic rays or radiation; exposing the film; and forming a negative tone pattern by developing the exposed film with a developer including an organic solvent, in which the developer includes at least one compound A selected from the group consisting of an onium salt, a polymer having an onium salt, a nitrogen-containing compound including three or more nitrogen atoms, a basic polymer, and a phosphorus-based compound.

Abstract: An illumination system for an optical arrangement such as an EUV lithography apparatus, having: at least one optical element which has at least one optical surface, on which a coating which reflects illumination radiation is applied, and an actuator device aligning the optical surface in at least two angular positions in the radiation path. The coating either has a thickness (dOPT1) at which a mean value (½ (R1+R2)) formed from a thickness-dependent reflectivity (R1, R2) of the coating at the at least two angular positions is maximized or has a thickness (dOPT2) at which a maximum change (max(?R1/R1, ?R2/R2)) in the reflectivity (R1, R2) caused by a thickness tolerance of the coating is minimized at the respective angular positions or else the reflecting coating has a thickness (dO2) at which the reflectivity (R1, R2) of the coating has the same magnitude in the at least two angular positions.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus performs scanning exposure of a substrate with an illumination light via a projection optical. A mask is supported on a first base member, with a slider provided inside a movable member. The first base member is arranged above the projection optical system and has a first opening through which the illumination light passes. The mask is supported in a second opening of the slider, through which the illumination light passes. The slider moves inside the movable member by a first drive system. A stage having a holder that holds the substrate is moved on a second base member by a second drive system. The first and the second drive systems move the mask and the substrate relative to the illumination light during scanning exposure. The movable member is moved by a reaction force generated by a movement of the slider by the first drive system.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus is described having a liquid supply system configured to at least partly fill a space between a projection system of the lithographic apparatus and a substrate with liquid, a barrier member arranged to substantially contain the liquid within the space, and a heater.

Abstract: A method of processing semiconductor chips includes measuring locations of semiconductor dies placed on a carrier with a scanner to generate die location information. The method includes applying a dielectric layer over the semiconductor dies and communicating the die location information to a laser assembly. The method includes aligning the laser assembly with the carrier and laser structuring the dielectric layer with the laser assembly based on the die location information generated by the scanner.

Abstract: A scanner and a method for performing an exposure process through a photomask on a wafer are provided. The exposure process includes an alignment step and an exposure step. The method includes the steps of moving a wafer table to align the wafer with an alignment apparatus, wherein the wafer table includes at least one chuck hole to attach the wafer to the wafer table by vacuum chucking, detecting an actual position of each of a plurality of alignment marks on the wafer, calculating an index value based on a difference between a predicted position and the actual position of each alignment mark, adjusting a vacuum pressure of the at least one chuck hole in the alignment step when the index value is larger than a first threshold value, and finishing the exposure process when the index value is smaller than or equal to the first threshold value.

Abstract: A device serves for controlling temperature of an optical element provided in vacuum atmosphere. The device has a cooling apparatus having a radiational cooling part, arranged apart from the optical element, for cooling the optical element by radiation heat transfer. A controller serves for controlling temperature of the radiational cooling part. Further, the device comprises a heating part for heating the optical element. The heating part is connected to the controller for controlling the temperature of the heating part. The resulting device for controlling temperature in particular can be used with an optical element in a EUV microlithography tool leading to a stable performance of its optics.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a toner which is able to inhibit the occurrence of fog, which is excellent in intermittent endurance, and which is excellent in followability during toner transfer and is thus excellent in top edge part uniformity in solid pattern printing. Disclosed is a toner for developing electrostatic images, comprising colored resin particles containing a binder resin, a colorant and a release agent, and an external additive, wherein static and kinetic friction coefficients obtained by measuring, using a 3-mm-diameter stainless-steel ball as a contactor, a 55-mm-diameter disk-shaped pellet obtained by pressing 4 g of the toner at 9 MPa for one minute, are 0.220 to 0.320 and 0.190 to 0.270, respectively, and a difference calculated by subtracting the kinetic friction coefficient from the static friction coefficient is 0.010 to 0.090.

Abstract: There is provided a toner for developing electrostatic images, including an external additive and colored resin particles containing a binder resin, a colorant and softening agents. The colored resin particles contain a monoester compound A represented by formula (1) and a monoester compound B represented by formula (2) as softening agents. A content of the monoester compound A is in the range from 95 to 99% by mass, a content of the monoester compound B is in the range from 1 to 5% by mass, and a content of the softening agents is in the range from 10 to 30 parts by mass, with respect to 100 parts by mass of the binder resin. Formula (1) is R1—COO—R2. Formula (2) is R3—COO—R4.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a controller configured to apply a charging bias to a charger during image formation on a photoconductive body, an absolute value of the charging bias being a first absolute value, apply a development bias to a development roller during the image formation, place the development roller in a development position during the image formation, after the image formation, reduce the absolute value of the charging bias to a second absolute value less than the first absolute value, after reducing the absolute value of the charging bias, separate the development roller away from the photoconductive body and place the development roller in a non-development position, and after placing the development roller in the non-development position, stop applying the development bias to the development roller.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a drum cartridge having a photosensitive drum and a drum drive input member; a developing cartridge configured to be movably mounted to the drum cartridge, the developing cartridge comprising a developing roller disposed so as to face the photosensitive drum and a developing drive input member; a drum drive transmission member configured to engage with the drum drive input member and configured to transmit drum driving force to the drum drive input member while permitting a positional gap of the drum drive input member within a predetermined range; and a developing drive transmission member configured to engage with the developing drive input member and configured to transmit developing driving force to the developing drive input member while permitting a positional gap of the developing drive input member within a predetermined range.

Abstract: Aspects described herein relate to a cap for a toner cartridge. In one example, the cap may be configured to close a toner supply opening of the toner cartridge. According to one or more aspects, the cap may include a sealing or covering portion configured to cover the toner supply opening and a shaft portion for rotatably supporting a to-be-detected rotary member. The to-be-detected rotary member 56 is rotatably supported around and fitted onto the shaft portion. Therefore, even if a toner supply opening of a cartridge is provided in a sidewall of the housing on a side where the to-be-detected rotary member is provided, e.g., a left sidewall, the toner supply opening and the to-be-detected rotary member can be provided in such a manner as to overlap each other.

Abstract: A developing device includes a development roller, a toner supply roller, a casing having an inner wall portion facing toward the development roller, a flexible film member, an urging member, a linkage member, and a linkage member driving mechanism. The flexible film member is disposed on the inner wall portion and has ends in a direction of an axis of the development roller that are opposite to each other. The urging member is connected with one of the ends of the film member and pulls the film member. The linkage member is connected with the other of the ends of the film member. The linkage member driving mechanism drives the linkage member in accompaniment to rotation of a gear to intermittently pull the film member, so that the film member reciprocates in directions parallel to the axis of the development roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes four first imaging units that use standard toners for colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively, a second imaging unit that uses a toner having a particle size smaller than a smallest one of particle sizes of the four standard toners, and a transfer unit that transfers first images formed by the respective first imaging units and a second image formed by the second imaging unit to a recording medium such that the first images are provided on the recording medium and the second image is provided on the first images.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus that performs primary transfer by allowing a current to flow to an intermediate transfer belt in the circumferential direction of the belt, the image forming apparatus has a control unit that can execute a second mode in which a second current amount which is larger than a first current amount is supplied from a current supply unit to an intermediate transfer belt and a toner image is primarily transferred only from a first photosensitive body to the intermediate transfer belt. The control unit can adjust surface potentials of the first photosensitive body and a second photosensitive body, and makes the absolute value of the surface potential of the second photosensitive body less than the absolute value of the surface potential of the first photosensitive body when the second mode is executed.

Abstract: An image forming method includes forming an unfixed toner image on a recording medium using a toner that contains a carboxyl group-containing resin having a carboxyl group and an oxazoline group-containing resin having an oxazoline group, fixing the unfixed toner image to the recording medium to form a fixed toner image, and performing a heat treatment on the fixed toner image at a temperature higher than or equal to a fixing temperature.

Abstract: Example updating a supported-supplies database of an image forming apparatus are disclosed. An example method includes receiving an imaging supply in a printer; accessing an action identifier on the imaging supply; and in response to the action identifier, at least one of updating a database of the printer to include a first supported imaging supply previously not supported by or compatible with the printer, or removing a second supported imaging supply previously supported by or compatible with the printer from the database.

Abstract: In the conventional toner save processing, in the case where the color of each element, such as a character, a graphics, and an image, constituting an image is a pale color or bright color, visual recognizability will be degraded even by maintaining the density of an edge portion of each element. An image processing apparatus that performs color material save processing to perform color printing while suppressing a color material consumption compared to that at the time of normal printing, includes an edge detection unit configured to detect an edge pixel constituting an edge of an object within input image data, and a density adjustment unit configured to convert the color of a detected edge pixel into an achromatic color and to decrease the density of the color of a non-edge pixel, which is a pixel other than the edge pixel of the object.

Abstract: In a device or method for insertion of a recording medium into a transport path of a printer an elastic insertion plate is provided that, at an end facing away from a transport direction of the transport path, has a clamper to accept the recording medium to be inserted as well as at least one transport surface for interaction with at least one transport roller. The clamper comprises a magnet and an associated metal surface that accepts a leading end of the recording medium between the magnet and the metal surface such that the recording medium leading end is releasably clamped.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section; a pair of rollers; a displacement detection section; a displacement correction section; a translation amount determination section; and a control section configured to refer to a translation control table, operate the displacement correction section in accordance with a translation command value corresponding to a detection result obtained by the displacement detection section, obtain at a predetermined timing a relationship between the translation command value and a translation amount of the sheet, and update the translation control table on the basis of the relationship. The control section updates the translation control table when a displacement of a sheet is correctable, but does not update the translation control table when a displacement of a sheet is correctable.

Abstract: A color multifunction printer as an example of an image forming apparatus includes a plurality of cartridges each containing a photoconductor; a support frame configured to support the cartridges arranged in tandem, the support frame being allowed to be pulled out horizontally from a casing of the apparatus to a position in which each of the cartridges is detachable from the support frame; and a plurality of exposure units mounted to the support frame, wherein each of the exposure units is disposed opposite to a corresponding photoconductor and is configured to expose the photoconductor to light to form an electrostatic latent image thereon. Each of the cartridges is configured to be detachable in such a direction that the photoconductor in the cartridge moves away from the corresponding exposure unit upon detachment.

Abstract: A bearing member is configured to be arranged in an end portion of a columnar rotary body, in which a shaft member is attached to the bearing member. The bearing member includes a body which includes a cylindrical body and a holding portion which is arranged inside the cylindrical body, and an intermediate member which is held by the holding portion of the body. The holding portion includes an intermediate member guide which guides the intermediate member so that the intermediate member rotates. The intermediate member includes a portion in which the shaft member is arranged.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes image forming stations including respective electrophotographic photosensitive drums; an image transfer belt contactable to the drums; image transfer rollers, contactable to the transfer belt to urge the belt to the drums for transferring the toner images from the drums onto the belt, the rollers being provided with respective rotational shafts about an axis of which the rollers are rotatable; and a slidable member slidable in a direction in which the stations are arranged to retract the rollers away from the corresponding drums, the slidable member being provided with inclined surfaces contactable to the shafts, the inclined surfaces being disposed at such positions that the rollers are retracted from respective drums sequentially with the movement of the slidable member in the direction.