Abstract: A chemically amplified resist material comprises: a polymer component that is capable of being made soluble or insoluble in a developer solution by an action of an acid; and a generative component that is capable of generating a radiation-sensitive sensitizer and an acid upon an exposure. The polymer component comprises: a first polymer comprising a first structural unit that comprises a fluorine atom and does not comprise a salt structure; or a second polymer comprising a second structural unit that comprises a fluorine atom and a salt structure. The generative component comprises: a radiation-sensitive acid-and-sensitizer generating agent; any two of the radiation-sensitive acid-and-sensitizer generating agent, a radiation-sensitive sensitizer generating agent and a radiation-sensitive acid generating agent; or the radiation-sensitive acid-and-sensitizer generating agent, the radiation-sensitive sensitizer generating agent and the radiation-sensitive acid generating agent.

Abstract: A pattern forming method includes, in this order, forming a film on a substrate, using an active-light-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition containing a resin (A) which has a repeating unit having a phenolic hydroxyl group, and a repeating unit having a group that decomposes by the action of an acid to generate a carboxyl group, and a compound (B) that generates an acid upon irradiation with active light or radiation; exposing the film; and developing the exposed film using a developer including an organic solvent, in which the developer including an organic solvent contains an organic solvent having 8 or more carbon atoms and 2 or less heteroatoms in the amount of 50% by mass or more.

Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of: a) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, and a coating provided thereon, the coating including a photopolymerisable layer including a photopolymerisable composition, b) image-wise exposing the precursor, c) optionally heating the precursor, d) developing the precursor by treating the precursor with a gum solution so that the precursor is developed and gummed in one single step, characterized in that the photopolymerisable composition includes a monomer represented by Formula (I) and/or Formula (II): wherein *denotes the linking positions to the rest of the compound.

Abstract: A resist pattern-forming method comprises applying a chemically amplified resist material on a substrate to form a resist film on the substrate. The resist film is patternwise exposed to a radioactive ray having a wavelength of no greater than 250 nm. The resist film patternwise exposed is floodwise exposed to a radioactive ray having a wavelength of greater than 250 nm. The resist film floodwise exposed is baked and developed with a developer solution comprising an organic solvent. The chemically amplified resist material comprises a component that is capable of generating a radiation-sensitive sensitizer and an acid upon an exposure. The component comprises: a radiation-sensitive sensitizer generating agent, and at least one of a radiation-sensitive acid-and-sensitizer generating agent and a radiation-sensitive acid generating agent. The radiation-sensitive sensitizer generating agent comprises a compound represented by formula (B).

Abstract: A method to easily determine the parameters of a second process for manufacturing from the parameters of a first process is provided. Metrics representative of the differences between the two processes are computed from a number of values of the parameters, which can be measured for the two processes on a calibration layout, or which can be determined from pre-existing values for layouts or reference data for the two processes by an interpolation/extrapolation procedure. The number of metrics is selected so that their combination gives a precise representation of the differences between the two processes in all areas of a design. Advantageously, the metrics are calculated as a product of convolution of the target design and a compound of a kernel function and a deformation function.

Abstract: An imaging device is disclosed for projecting individually controllable laser beams onto an imaging surface that is movable relative thereto in X-direction. The device includes a plurality of semiconductor chips comprising a plurality of individually controllable laser emitting elements arranged in a two dimensional array of M rows and N columns. The chips are mounted on a support in at least one pair of rows, such that each pair of adjacent chips in Y-direction are offset from one another in the X-direction, and the laser beams are substantially uniformly spaced in the Y-direction. The chips are arranged such that corresponding elements in any group of three adjacent chips in the X and Y-directions lie at the apices of congruent equilateral triangles. A plurality of GRIN rod based lens systems focuses the beams for each of the chips onto the imaging surface.

Abstract: A surface position detection apparatus capable of highly precisely detecting the surface position of a surface to be detected without substantially being affected by relative positional displacement due to a polarization component occurring in a light flux having passed through a reflective surface. In the apparatus, a projection system has a projection side prism member having first reflective surfaces, and a light receiving system has a light receiving prism member having second reflective surfaces arranged in correspondence with the projection side prism member. The surface position detection apparatus further has a member for compensating relative positional displacement due to a polarization component of a light flux having passed through the first and second reflective surfaces.

Abstract: A pattern data generation method includes setting drawing pattern data based on design pattern data including first and second pattern regions. The drawing pattern data includes third and fourth pattern regions. The method includes setting the width of the third pattern region to a third width. The method includes setting first and second irradiation amount data based on the drawing pattern data. The method includes calculating a first thickness of the first pattern region and a second thickness of the second pattern region based on the first irradiation amount data, and calculating a third thickness of the third pattern region based on the second irradiation amount data. The method includes calculating, based on the first to third widths and the first to third thicknesses, a range of a first exposed region exposed onto a patterning substrate.

Abstract: At least one lithography apparatus that suppresses a decrease in the accuracy of stage control is provided. A lithography apparatus includes a moving unit configured to move with an original or a substrate mounted thereon, a plurality of measurement units configured to obtain information about a position of the moving unit, measurement areas of the respective measurement units overlapping each other, and a control unit configured to switch the measurement units used to obtain the information about the position of the moving unit, based on a switching position lying in an overlapping measurement area, wherein, in a case where a plurality of processes is performed on one of a plurality of processing targets on the original or on the substrate, the control unit makes the switching position changeable and controls the measurement units so that the same one of the measurement units is used in performing the plurality of processes.

Abstract: A method of calculating an overlay correction model in a unit for the fabrication of a wafer is disclosed. The method comprises measuring overlay deviations of a subset of first overlay marks and second overlay marks by determining the differences between the subset of first overlay marks generated in the first layer and corresponding ones of the subset of second overlay marks generated in the second layer.

Abstract: A reflective sample, such as a mask, is imaged in an optics system. A radiation source emits a light beam with relatively low coherence. A first focusing element focuses the beam before a mirror reflects the focused beam towards the sample at an incidence angle of between 2 and 25° A pinhole aperture plate upstream of the sample has a first aperture to focus and cut-off the beam diameter to form a more monochromatic beam. The sample is displaced by a mechanism in a direction perpendicular to the normal vector of the sample surface while it reflects the light beam. The reflected beam passes a second aperture in the pinhole aperture plate next to the first aperture on its way to a pixel detector. The second aperture limits the diameter of the reflected beam, thereby adjusting the diameter of the light beam before it reaches the pixel detector.

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: A vacuum system for extracting a stream of a multi-phase fluid from a photo-lithography tool comprises a pumping arrangement for drawing the fluid from the tool, and an extraction tank located upstream from the pumping arrangement for separating the fluid drawn from the tool into gas and liquid phases. The pumping arrangement comprises a first pump for extracting gas from the tank, and a second pump for extracting liquid from the tank. In order to minimize any pressure fluctuations transmitted from the vacuum system back to the fluid within the tool, a pressure control system maintains a substantially constant pressure in the tank by regulating the amounts of liquid and gas within the tank.

Abstract: A method for nanometre etching or printing using an electron beam in a humid environment, which belongs to the field of electronic exposure. The method comprises: first, attaching a solution, humid atmosphere or humid environment curing layer to the surface of a substrate required to be etched and printed; then placing same in an electron beam exposure device to conduct electron beam exposure, so that a required nanometre micromachining pattern can be etched and printed on the substrate. The humid environment solution used in the method is mostly deionized water, solution containing metal ions, complex or other environment-friendly solutions. In this method, a nanoscale micromachining finished product can be obtained after electron beam exposure without chemical components such as photoresist, etc. required in the traditional electron beam etching or printing process and complicated machining processes such as fixation, rinsing, etching, gold-plating, etc.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes a liquid immersion member including a first member and a second member and configured to form a liquid immersion space of the liquid, a driving apparatus configured to move the second member with respect to the first member; and a controller configured to control the driving apparatus. The controller controls the driving apparatus so that a first operation of the second member in a first movement period of the substrate between exposure termination of a first shot region and exposure start of a second shot region is different from a second operation of the second member in a second movement period of the substrate between exposure termination of a third shot region and exposure start of a fourth shot region, the first and second shot regions being included in the same row, the third and fourth shot regions being arranged in different rows.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor for use in an image forming apparatus having a proximity charge-type charging unit includes a conductive support and at least photosensitive layer and surface layer laminated in order on the conductive support, wherein the surface layer includes (A) a charge transport material, (B) a cured product of a composition containing a polymerizable compound and inorganic fine particles, and (C) organic fine particles, and the inorganic fine particles contain a metal oxide, has a surface treated with a surface treatment agent having a reactive organic group, and has a volume resistivity of 1.2×1011 ?·cm or more.

Abstract: A polycarbonate copolymer includes a repeating unit A represented by a formula (1) below, chain ends of the PC copolymer being terminated by a monovalent aromatic group or a monovalent fluorine-containing aliphatic group. In the above formula (1), R1 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 2 carbon atoms; an average repeating number n is in a range from 6 to 40 and L is an integer of 1 to 4; and when an aromatic ring is substituted by two or more of R1 (L?2), the two or more of R1 are the same or different from each other.

Abstract: A method of forming an overcoat layer. The method comprises providing a substrate having an imaging structure formed thereon, the imaging structure comprising (i) a charge transport layer and a charge generating layer, or (ii) an imaging layer comprising both charge generating material and charge transport material. An overcoat composition is deposited on the imaging structure, the overcoat composition comprising a charge transport molecule, a fluorinated building block, a leveling agent, a liquid carrier and optionally a first catalyst. The fluorinated building block is a fluorinated alkyl monomer substituted at the ? and ? positions with a hydroxyl, carboxyl, carbonyl or aldehyde functional group or the anhydrides of any of those functional groups. The overcoat composition is cured to form an overcoat layer that is a fluorinated structured organic film, the curing comprising treating an outer surface of the overcoat composition with at least one cross-linking process.

Abstract: An electrostatic charge image developing toner includes toner mother particles containing at least a binder resin, elastomer particles including a first oil, and inorganic particles including a second oil, wherein a viscosity of the first oil is equal to or higher than a viscosity of the second oil.

Abstract: A process for preparing a polymer-encapsulated carbon nanotube material is described. The process comprises a suspension polymerization process involving a carbon nanotube material. The process can also involve a charge control agent. The polymer-encapsulated carbon nanotube material has particles size in the micron range. The material can be used in toner applications.

Abstract: There is provided a process for preparing a polymerized toner material which comprises silicon (Si) nanoparticles. The process comprises mixing together and allowing to react: a water-based dispersion medium comprising silicon (Si) nanoparticles and at least one conventional dispersant, a polymer resin comprising one type of monomers or more, a coloring agent, and a charge control agent.

Abstract: An electrostatic charge image developing toner includes toner particles including a binder resin and a metallic pigment and silica particles having an equivalent circle diameter E of greater than 0.10 ?m, wherein a relationship between a number-average maximum thickness C and a number-average equivalent circle diameter D of the toner particles satisfies 0.700<C/D<1.220, a number-average equivalent circle diameter d of the silica particles satisfies 0.10 ?m<d<0.30 ?m, and the content of silica particles, having a ratio F/G of a circumferential length F to a circumference G calculated from the equivalent circle diameter E of 1.10 to 3.00, with respect to the total number of silica particles is 30% by number to 100% by number.

Abstract: The toner has a toner particle that contains a binder resin and a wax, wherein the wax is present in domain form in the interior of the toner particle; the proportion of toner particles for which the position of the wax domains are controlled, is in a prescribed range; using d for a major axis length of the domain having the largest major axis length and using D for a number-average particle diameter of the toner, the d and D satisfy a prescribed relationship; and the ratio between the major axis length and the minor axis length of the domain having the largest major axis length is in a prescribed range.

Abstract: A shell layer of a toner particle includes first resin particles containing no charge control agent and second resin particles containing a charge control agent. A number average particle diameter of the first resin particles is at least 30 nm and no greater than 60 nm, and a number average particle diameter of the second resin particles is at least 30 nm and no greater than 60 nm. A shell coverage is at least 60% and no greater than 80%. A shell chargeable ratio is at least 0.10 and no greater than 0.20. A roughness of surface regions of toner particles in which no external additive is present is at least 10 nm and no greater than 15 nm.

Abstract: A part material for printing three-dimensional parts with an electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system, the part material including a composition having an engineering-grade thermoplastic material and a charge control agent. The part material is provided in a powder form having a controlled particle size, and is configured for use in the electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system having a layer transfusion assembly for printing the three-dimensional parts in a layer-by-layer manner.

Abstract: A method for providing a developer mix having tribocharge uniformity across varying temperature and humidity conditions is provided. A developer mix used in a dual component development (DCD) system typically is a mixture of toner particles and magnetic carrier particles. Tribocharge uniformity is achieved in the developer mix by performing the step of treating the surface of the magnetic carrier particles with surface additives before the magnetic carrier particles are mixed with the toner particles. Surface additives include but are not limited to silica, titania and alumina.

Abstract: A method comprises receiving color data and gloss data of an image, converting the color data into a first signal representing a use amount of a dark print material having a relatively high density, generating a second signal in which a use amount corresponding to the gloss data, of the dark print material use amount indicated by the first signal, is replaced with a use amount corresponding to a light print material having a relatively low density, converting the second signal into path separation data corresponding to each printing scan of an apparatus, and performing halftone processing on the path separation data to generate a print signal indicating a print position of an on-dot, for each of the dark print material and the light print material, thereby generating the print signal which causes superposition of on-dots of the light print material in printing scan of the apparatus.

Abstract: The length of a developer bearing portion of a developing device is longer than the length of a transfer roller in the rotation axis direction of a photosensitive drum. The width of a light irradiation opening of a charge eliminating device is shorter than the length of the transfer roller in the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus configured such that a developer remaining on an image bearing member 1 without being transferred to a recording material P is moved from the image bearing member to a developer bearing member 31 and then recovered in a developer storage portion 35, when forming a second image on a rear face of the recording material P having a surface on which a first image is fixed with a fixing device 6, a second potential difference between surface potential of the image bearing member 1 after charging with a charging member 2 when forming the second image and potential of the developer bearing member 31 is less than a first potential difference when forming a first image.

Abstract: A light scanning apparatus, including: a light source configured to emit a light beam; a rotary polygon mirror configured to deflect the light beam emitted from the light source so that the light beam scans on a surface of a photosensitive member in a main scanning direction; a motor configured to rotate the rotary polygon mirror; and a rotational position detection unit configured to detect a magnetic flux change caused by rotation of the motor to generate a rotational position detection signal, wherein an emitting start timing of the light beam from the light source is determined based on the rotational position detection signal in order to maintain a writing start position of the light beam with respect to the photosensitive member in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: A light source device includes a light source configured to emit a laser beam; a lens through which the laser beam emitted from the light source passes; and a holder member for holding the light source and the lens; wherein the holder member is provided with an opening through which the laser beam is outputted; wherein the lens is bonded with the holder member at whole circumference of the opening by an adhesive material without contact with the holder member.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing roller, a toner supplying roller, a regulation blade, a casing, a toner receiver support member, a toner receiver member, and a vibration generator. The toner receiver member is disposed along a longitudinal direction of the toner receiver support member facing the developing roller, and has a toner receiving surface inclined downward from the image-carrier side toward the toner-supplying-roller side. The toner receiving surface is disposed to be inclined so as to rise from the toner-supplying-roller side toward the image-carrier side. The toner receiving surface has a plurality of grooves formed therein to be inclined to approach a center part of the toner receiving surface from each end side of the toner receiving surface in its longitudinal direction, from an edge of the toner receiving surface on the image-carrier side toward an edge of the toner receiving surface on the toner-supplying-roller side.

Abstract: Provided is a conductive foam roll having a high surface opening ratio that achieves both cleaning performance and low resistance. A conductive foam roll 10 includes a shaft body 12 and a conductive foam layer 14 around the shaft body 12, wherein the conductive foam layer 14 has a surface opening ratio of 50% to 90%, and wherein the conductive foam layer 14 contains an ionic conductive agent that contains salt of diallyl-type ammonium cations, and at least one selected from the group consisting of N,N-bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide anions, and N,N-bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide anions.

Abstract: A developing device of the present disclosure includes a developing roller, a toner supplying roller, a regulation blade, a casing, a toner receiver support member, a toner receiver member, and a vibration generator. The toner receiver support member is disposed inside the casing so as to face the developing roller or the toner supplying roller between the regulation blade and an image carrier. The toner receiver member is disposed along a longitudinal direction of the toner receiver support member, and has a toner receiving surface that receives toner falling from the developing roller. The vibration generator vibrates the toner receiver member. At each end part of the toner receiving surface in its longitudinal direction, there is formed a thin-walled portion that is thinner in thickness than other parts of the toner receiving surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a toner cartridge and a side cover thereof. The toner cartridge has a side opening, where the side cover is disposed, and a transmission device passing through the side opening. The toner cartridge is disposed in an electronic imaging device which is provided therein with a sliding rail, a moving piece, and an elastic member disposed between the sliding rail and the moving piece. The toner cartridge is installed into or unloaded from the electronic imaging device by sliding along the sliding rail. The side cover has a pushing portion located above the sliding rail for pushing the moving piece to move toward the elastic member in the process that the toner cartridge is unloaded from the electronic imaging device, so as to prevent the transmission device from being damaged by the moving piece, thereby extending the life time of the transmission device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, an image carrier, a developing device, a developer housing container, and a regulating member. The developer housing container takes a posture changeable between a first posture and a second posture. The developer discharge port communicates with the developer replenishment port such that the developer is replenishable to the developing device in the first posture. The second posture locates the developer discharge port separate from the developer replenishment port and seals the developer discharge port. The regulating member allows the cover member to be closed with respect to the apparatus main body while the developer housing container takes the first posture in the apparatus main body. The regulating member regulates the cover member to be closed with respect to the apparatus main body by an interference with the developer housing container while the developer housing container takes the second posture.

Abstract: A toner agitation system according to one example embodiment includes a toner agitator movable in a reciprocating manner. A cam follower is operatively connected to the toner agitator. A rotatable cam has a cam surface that contacts the cam follower. A biasing member biases the cam follower into contact with the cam surface. Contact between the cam surface and the cam follower during rotation of the cam causes the toner agitator to move in the reciprocating manner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, an image carrier, a developing device, and a developer container. The developing device includes a developer supply port and a mounting section. The developing device is mounted onto a developing position facing the image carrier through a specific insertion path in the apparatus body. The developer container includes a developer discharge port. The developer container is mounted onto the mounting section of the developing device through the insertion path. The developing device is dismounted from the apparatus body through the insertion path after being rotated from the developing position to a standby position in a first direction around a first axis extending in parallel with a rotary axis of the image carrier. The developer container is dismounted from the apparatus body after being rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction around a second axis in the mounting section.

Abstract: Provided is a remanufacturing method of a developer accommodating unit including a flexible container provided with an opening and configured to accommodate developer, and a frame member configured to accommodate the flexible container. The remanufacturing method includes refilling the developer into the flexible container.

Abstract: An image formation unit that forms an image on a transfer medium, a conveyance unit that conveys the transfer medium, a control unit that controls formation of the image and conveyance of the transfer medium are provided. The control unit has a sheet gap image forming function of forming a predetermined toner image in a sheet gap between the transfer media conveyed by the conveyance unit. When the transfer medium is conveyed, the control unit acquires information of a tilt angle on a conveyance surface of the transfer medium conveyed to the image formation unit, calculates a sheet gap between the transfer media based on the tilt angle, determines whether or not a toner image of a required amount is able to be formed in the sheet gap when performing the sheet gap image forming function, and controls formation of the sheet gap image based on the determination result.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes: an intermediate transfer belt that carries and conveys a developer image formed by an image formation section; a driver that conveys the intermediate transfer belt in a predetermined direction; a transfer device that transfers the developer image carried on the intermediate transfer belt onto a predetermined medium; a first detector that detects a belt conveyance speed, which is the speed of the intermediate transfer belt conveyed; a controller that controls the driver; a conveyer section that conveys the medium to the transfer device; and a second detector that detects a medium conveyance speed, which is the speed of the medium conveyed by the conveyer section. The controller controls driving of the driver on the basis of the belt conveyance speed and the medium conveyance speed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a transferred member, a transferring member, and a separator. The image forming section forms a developer image by developing a developer. The transferred member is conveyed in a first direction and the developer image is to be transferred on the transferred member. The transferring member faces the transferred member, and makes a transition between a biasing state in which the transferred member is biased by the transferring member and a separated state in which the transferring member is separated away from the transferred member. The separator separates, in the separated state, a medium away from the transferred member, in which the medium is held between the transferred member and the transferring member in the biasing state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a transfer member that secondarily transfers a developer image primarily transferred to a intermediate transfer medium, to a recording medium; a charging member that charges residual developer remaining on the intermediate transfer medium after the developer image is secondarily transferred from the intermediate transfer medium to the recording medium; and a storage portion that stores information on a image bearing member. A bias applied to the charging member is changed based on the information when the residual developer charged by the charging member is collected by being transferred from the intermediate transfer medium to the image bearing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by irradiation of the photoconductor with light, a charger, a developing device, a transfer device, a charge removal execution determiner, and a power supply controller. The charger receives a superimposed voltage of a DC voltage and an AC voltage to charge the photoconductor. The developing device develops the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor into a toner image. The transfer device transfers the developed toner image to a recording medium. The charge removal execution determiner issues a charge removal command when a flow of electric charge from the transfer device into the photoconductor has occurred in an image forming outputting operation. The power supply controller applies only the AC voltage to the charger for a predetermined period in a state in which the photoconductor is rotated, when the charge removal command is issued.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a detecting portion that detects a load applied to a driving portion configured to drive a fixing portion configured to fix an image formed on a medium, an identifying portion that identifies a type of the medium from a result of detection performed by the detecting portion, and a setting portion that sets a threshold with reference to which the identifying portion identifies the type of the medium. The threshold is set for each of different temperatures detected by a temperature detecting portion that detects a temperature of the fixing portion or for each predetermined number of media on which images are fixed.

Abstract: A heater including a substrate, a first heat generating line provided on the substrate and in a longitudinal direction of the substrate, the first heat generating line being divided into a plurality of heat generating blocks in the longitudinal direction, the plurality of heat generating blocks being controllable independently, and a second heat generating line provided on the substrate and in the longitudinal direction of the substrate, the second heat generating line being divided into a plurality of heat generating blocks in the longitudinal direction, the plurality of heat generating blocks being controllable independently. In the heater, divided positions of the first heat generating line and divided positions of the second heat generating line are different.

Abstract: An image heating device includes a heater having a substrate, a first heat generating block which is formed on the substrate and generates heat by supplied power, and a second heat generating block which is arranged at a position different from a position at which the first heat generating block is arranged in a longitudinal direction of the substrate. The device also includes a temperature detecting element and a controller to which a signal from the temperature detecting element is input. The controller controls a ratio of power supplied to the first heat generating block to power supplied to the second heat generating block to thereby switch heat generation distribution of the heater, and the temperature detecting element is arranged so as to extend across both of the first heat generating block and the second heat generating block.

Abstract: A heater of the invention includes a substrate; a first conductive element and a second conductive element which are provided on the substrate along a longitudinal direction of the substrate; a heat generating element which is provided between the first conductive element and the second conductive element and generates heat with power supplied via the first conductive element and the second conductive element; and an electrode to which a conductive member for supplying power is connected, in which a heat generation amount of a region corresponding to a position at which an electrode of the heat generating element is provided is set to be greater than a heat generation amount of other regions.

Abstract: The heater to be used for an image heating apparatus includes a substrate, and first and second heat generation lines that are provided on the substrate along a longitudinal direction of the substrate, and are each divided into a plurality of heat generation blocks that can be mutually independently controlled, in the longitudinal direction, wherein in the plurality of heat generation blocks in the second heat generation line, a heat generation block is provided that overlaps one heat generation block in the first heat generation line in the longitudinal direction, and has a different heat generation distribution in the longitudinal direction, and can be independently controlled. Accordingly, the heater can form a heat generation distribution that is suitable for various paper sizes.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided which can properly manage individual information after replacement and history of replacement on the apparatus side. If individual information is successfully read from a toner cartridge storing the individual information, the image forming apparatus records the individual information in an apparatus-side memory. At a predetermined timing of when there is a possibility that the toner cartridge is replaced, the image forming apparatus attempts to read information from the toner cartridge. If the reading fails and the individual information recorded in the apparatus-side storage is not information read from the toner cartridge, the image forming apparatus writes new individual information about the toner cartridge to the apparatus-side storage, and records information generated on the apparatus side in the written individual information.