Abstract: A substrate processing method includes steps of: supplying a developer onto a substrate surface from a discharge port while the substrate is rotated at a first rotation speed and a liquid contact surface faces the surface, and moving the nozzle while the liquid contact surface contacts with the developer so that a liquid film of the developer is formed on the surface; rotating the substrate at a second rotation speed slower than the first rotation speed, after the liquid film is formed, in a state where supply of the developer is stopped; rotating the substrate at a third rotation speed faster than the first rotation speed, after the substrate is rotated at the second rotation speed; and reducing rotation speed of the substrate to the second rotation speed or less, after the substrate is rotated at the third rotation speed, so that the liquid film is held on the surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for making a micro- or nano-scale patterned layer of material by photolitography, comprising steps of: positioning a photomask between a light source and a layer of light sensitive material, said mask comprising a support and a layer of micro- or nano-light focusing elements fixed to the support, activating the light source so that the light source emits light radiations through the mask towards a surface of the layer of light sensitive material, developing the layer of light sensitive material so as to obtain the micro- or nano-scale patterned layer of material, wherein, during exposure of the layer of light sensitive material to light radiations, the photomask is positioned relative to the light sensitive layer so that the distance between the surface of the light sensitive layer and the layer of micro- or nano-light focusing elements is greater than a back focal length of the micro- or nano-light focusing elements.

Abstract: Provided is a method of forming pattern including (a) forming a chemically amplified resist composition into a film, (b) exposing the film to light, and (c) developing the exposed film with a developer containing a first organic solvent, wherein in the developer, particles each having a diameter of 0.3 ?m or greater amount to a density of 30 particles/ml or less.

Abstract: Disclosed are a composition for coating a photoresist pattern and a method for forming a fine pattern using the same. The composition for coating a photoresist pattern includes a polymer compound containing a hydroxyl group and an ammonium base, and a solvent The method for forming a fine pattern includes coating the composition on a previously formed photoresist pattern to thereby effectively reduce the size of a photoresist contact hole or space, and can be used in all semiconductor processes in which a fine pattern is required to be formed.

Abstract: A method including obtaining a plurality of radiation distributions of measurement radiation redirected by the target, each of the plurality of radiation distributions obtained at a different gap distance between the target and an optical element of a measurement apparatus, the optical element being the nearest optical element to the target used to provide the measurement radiation to the target, and determining a parameter related to the target using data of the plurality of radiation distributions in conjunction with a mathematical model describing the measurement target.

Abstract: A lithographic projection apparatus is disclosed in which a space between the projection system and a sensor is filled with a liquid.

Abstract: A microlithography optical system includes a projection objective and an illumination system that includes a temperature compensated polarization-modulating optical element. The temperature compensated polarization-modulating optical element includes a first polarization-modulating optical element of optically active material, the first polarization-modulating optical element having a first specific rotation with a sign. The temperature compensated polarization-modulating optical element includes also includes a second polarization-modulating optical element of optically active material, the second polarization-modulating optical element having a second specific rotation with a sign opposite to the sign of the first specific rotation.

Abstract: A structure of interest is irradiated with radiation for example in the x-ray or EUV waveband, and scattered radiation is detected by a detector (306). A processor (308) calculates a property such as linewidth (CD) by simulating interaction of radiation with a structure and comparing the simulated interaction with the detected radiation. A layered structure model (600, 610) is used to represent the structure in a numerical method. The structure model defines for each layer of the structure a homogeneous background permittivity and for at least one layer a non-homogeneous contrast permittivity. The method uses Maxwell's equation in Born approximation, whereby a product of the contrast permittivity and the total field is approximated by a product of the contrast permittivity and the background field. A computation complexity is reduced by several orders of magnitude compared with known methods.

Abstract: Lithography methods disclosed herein accommodate shrinking pattern dimensions. An exemplary method includes receiving a pattern to be transferred to a workpiece by a pattern generator. The pattern generator is divided into a first segment set and a second segment set based on the pattern, such that a collective exposure dose from the first segment set and the second segment set satisfies an exposure dose specified by the pattern. The first segment set is offset from the second segment set in a first direction, and segments in the first segment set and segments in the second segment set are offset from each other in a second direction different than the first direction. The method further includes exposing the workpiece according to the first segment set and the second segment set.

Abstract: A device manufacturing method develops a substrate that has been exposed with illumination light via a projection optical system. The exposing includes holding the substrate with a stage below the projection optical system; in an encoder system in which one of a grating section and a head is provided at the stage and the other of the grating section and the head is provided at a frame member disposed above the stage, on a lower end side of the projection optical system, and which irradiates the grating section with a measurement beam via the head, measuring positional information of the stage with a plurality of the heads that face the grating section; moving the stage based on the positional information measured with the encoder system while compensating for a measurement error of the encoder system related to a measurement direction of the positional information by the heads.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vibration control apparatus which controls vibration of an object supported via a support having a damping coefficient, the apparatus comprising a driving device configured to drive the object, and a controller configured to perform negative feedback control of the driving device based on information of vibration of the object, wherein the controller is configured to perform positive feedback control of the driving device based on information of a velocity of the object so as to reduce a force which the support causes to act on the object in accordance with the velocity.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor abuts against a charging member and/or a developer carrying member with an abutting member therebetween, has a first portion and a second portion abutting against the abutting member along the longitudinal direction of the photoreceptor, and includes a support, a charge generating layer containing a charge generation material, and a surface layer in this order. The first portion includes an undercoat layer containing a polymer of a composition containing an electron transport material and a crosslinking agent and being contiguous with the surface of the charge generating layer facing the support. The second portion includes (i) an intermediate layer being disposed between and being contiguous with the support and the charge generating layer and/or (ii) an intermediate layer being disposed between and being contiguous with the charge generating layer and the surface layer, wherein the intermediate layers each have a Martens hardness of 500 N/mm2 or less.

Abstract: Provided is a recorded material in which a recording liquid is satisfactorily fixed to a recording medium and which has a sufficient chroma and a sufficient lightness, in high-speed printing. The recorded material comprises a recording medium, a toner particle including colorant particles, and a cured resin including the toner particle and fixing a toner image formed of the toner particle onto the recording medium, wherein an average circularity of the toner particle is not less than 0.70 and not more than 0.99, the toner particle is not exposed from a surface of the cured resin, and an average distance between wall surfaces of the adjacent toner particles is not less than 10 nm and less than 125 nm.

Abstract: According to embodiments, there are provided a toner having excellent color reproducibility, light resistance, coloring power, low-temperature fixability, storage stability, and long life property, a method for producing the same, a toner cartridge, and an image forming apparatus. A toner according to an embodiment includes toner particles containing a coloring agent, a binder resin, and a specific ester wax. The coloring agent contains at least one pigment (X) selected from C.I. Pigment Red 48, C.I. Pigment Red 48:1, C.I. Pigment Red 48:2, C.I. Pigment Red 48:3, C.I. Pigment Red 48:4, and C.I. Pigment Red 48:5, and C.I. Pigment Red 122 (Y), and the mass ratio of the component (X) to the component (Y) is as follows: X:Y=30:70 to 60:40.

Abstract: An object to be achieved by embodiments is to provide a toner having excellent color reproducibility, light resistance, coloring power, low-temperature fixability, storage stability, and long life property, a method for producing the same, a toner cartridge, and an image forming apparatus. A toner according to an embodiment includes toner particles containing a coloring agent, a binder resin, and a specific ester wax. The coloring agent contains at least one pigment (X) selected from C.I. Pigment Red 48, C.I. Pigment Red 48:1, C.I. Pigment Red 48:2, C.I. Pigment Red 48:3, C.I. Pigment Red 48:4, and C.I. Pigment Red 48:5, and C.I. Pigment Red 122 (Y), and the mass ratio of the component (X) to the component (Y) is from 30:70 to 60:40.

Abstract: Temperature of a printing medium 110 is sufficiently decreased by stopping the printing medium 110 in a discharge path, conveying the printing medium at a low speed, switching a conveyance path, or the like. If the temperature of the printing medium 110 can be sufficiently decreased, the thermochromism phenomenon is suppressed. As a result, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of achieving highly accurate color matching and color stability.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus that forms an image onto a print medium based on input image data. The image forming apparatus includes a setting unit configured to set, based on component values of multiple colors acquired for each pixel of the image data, a limiting value on a toner amount to use in the image formation for each pixel, and an image forming unit configured to form an image onto the print medium with an amount of toner less than or equal to the set limiting value.

Abstract: An electrophotographic electro-conductive member comprising an electro-conductive mandrel and an electro-conductive elastic layer on the electro-conductive mandrel, wherein the electro-conductive elastic layer has an elastic coefficient of 1 MPa or more and 100 MPa or less, as well as a matrix containing first rubber and a plurality of electro-conductive domains dispersed in the matrix. Each of the electro-conductive domains contains an electro-conductive particle, and the electro-conductive elastic layer includes regions containing second rubber in the circumferences of the electro-conductive domains. The matrix has an elastic coefficient R1, the regions containing second rubber have an elastic coefficient R2, and the elastic coefficients R1 and R2 satisfy a relationship: R1<R2.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus cartridge includes a casing, a developer roller having an axis L1, and a coupling member having an axis L2. The coupling member includes a first end portion operatively connected with the developer roller and a second end portion, the second end portion including at least one projection that is open to the axis L2 and an outer surface that faces away from the first end portion. For at least part of the outer surface, a maximum distance from the axis L2 to the outer surface along a line perpendicular to the axis L2 decreases as the distance along the axis L2 from the first end portion increases.

Abstract: A nonporous semiconductive roller is provided, which constantly ensures proper image formation substantially without image density unevenness attributable to the roughness of an outer peripheral extrusion surface thereof when being used as a developing roller. The semiconductive roller (1) is made of a nonporous crosslinking product of a rubber composition which contains a rubber component including only four types of rubbers including an epichlorohydrin rubber, a chloroprene rubber, a butadiene rubber and an acrylonitrile butadiene rubber.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a developing roller that rotates in a given rotation direction; and a regulating portion that regulates the amount of feed of developer. The developing roller includes a circumferential surface on which a regulating pole having single polarity is formed. At the regulating pole, a magnetic flux density in a direction normal to the circumferential surface of the developing roller takes a maximum in a first position on the circumferential surface in the rotation direction and takes a value half of the maximum in a second position and a third position on the circumferential surface in the rotation direction. The first position is shifted downstream from a intermediate position between the second and third positions. A tip portion of the regulating portion faces a position between the first position and the intermediate position or faces the first position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a casing, a toner container, a latch mechanism, a toner sensor, a determination section, and a locking control section. The latch mechanism locks the toner container in the casing. When the determination section determines that a detection result of the toner sensor is greater than an amount range of remaining toner in a nearly empty state, the locking control section controls the latch mechanism to lock the toner container in the casing. When the determination section determines that a detection result of the toner sensor falls in the amount range of remaining toner in the nearly empty state, the locking control section controls the latch mechanism to unlock the toner container in the apparatus main body in response to an unlocking operation input through an operation input section.

Abstract: A nozzle receiver is to be arranged in a powder container used in an image forming apparatus. The nozzle receiver includes a nozzle receiving opening, in which a conveying nozzle for conveying powder supplied from the powder container is inserted in the image forming apparatus; an opening/closing member to open and to close the nozzle receiving opening; and a supporter to support the opening/closing member. The opening/closing member includes a sealing portion to seal the nozzle insertion opening. The supporter includes an end surface portion perpendicular to a moving direction of the opening/closing member. The projection area of the end surface portion in the moving direction of the opening/closing member is smaller than a projection area of the sealing portion in the moving direction of the opening/closing member.

Abstract: A developer container or a developing device including a sheet member having a plurality of holes and a plurality of protruded portions to be inserted into the holes.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a developing device including a developing roller and a developing frame including a toner receiving port, and a toner cartridge including a toner accommodation part and a conveyance device configured to convey toner from the toner accommodation part toward the developing device. The conveyance device includes a coupling tube and a shutter. The coupling tube includes a toner supply port faceable the toner receiving port, is coupleable to the developing device and is movable with respect to the toner accommodation part at a state where the coupling tube is coupled to the developing device and the toner supply port faces the toner receiving port. The shutter is movable between an opening position at which the toner supply port is opened with the coupling tube being coupled to the developing device and a closed position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive drum; a toner cartridge having a toner supply port; and a developing unit including: a developing roller; a developing frame; and a conveyance portion capable of being conveyed to toner contained in the toner cartridge to the developing frame, the conveyance portion including: a coupling tube capable of being coupled to the toner cartridge and having a toner receiving port that faces the toner supply port in a state where the coupling tube is coupled to the toner cartridge; a conveyance tube fixed to the developing frame, the conveyance tube being movable with respect to the coupling tube, in a state where the coupling tube is coupled to the toner cartridge and the toner receiving port faces the toner supply port; and a shutter movable between an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: Provided is a powder container having a new structure capable of stable discharge and transport of a powder contained in a container by enabling the powder to be reliably discharged to the outside of the package while preventing the powder from spilling and flying out of the container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms a developer image, a transfer portion that transfers the developer image to a transfer object, an endless transfer belt that rotates passing between the image forming unit and the transfer portion, a driving roller that drives the transfer belt to rotate, a plurality of marks provided on the transfer belt and arranged in a rotating direction of the transfer belt, a measurement unit that measures a rotation period of the transfer belt using the plurality of marks, and a controller that adjusts a timing at which the image forming unit forms the developer image, based on a measurement result of the rotation period measured by the measurement unit. A circumferential length L of the transfer belt in the rotating direction has a length based on a natural number multiple of a circumferential length m of the driving roller.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a transfer roller, a stripping electrode, and a protective member. The transfer roller transfers a toner image formed on an image bearing member to a sheet in a transfer position. The stripping electrode is arranged downstream from the transfer position to which the sheet is to be carried. The stripping electrode includes a plurality of needle electrodes. The protective member is arranged on the transfer roller side with respect to the stripping electrode and overlaid on the stripping electrode. The protective member includes a cutout provided in a position facing at least one of the needle electrodes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a fusing device. The fusing device includes a first heating source including a first heater and a first conductor connected to the first heater, a second heating source including a second heater and a second conductor connected to the second heater, a fusing member heated by at least one of the first heating source and the second heating source. The fusing device includes a pressing member disposed to face the fusing member to press a printing medium toward the fusing member, where the first heating source includes a first non-heater portion in which the first heater or the first conductor is sealed so that a part of the first heating source does not generate heat.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator to fix an image on a recording medium, a pressure rotator to press against an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator, a nip formation pad disposed inside the fixing rotator and opposite the pressure rotator to form an area of contact between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator, and a slide member disposed between the fixing rotator and the nip formation pad and applied with lubricant to slide the fixing rotator in a sliding direction. The slide member includes first strands disposed parallel to the sliding direction and second strands disposed perpendicular to the sliding direction and interwoven with the first strands. The first strands are woven over the second strands longer than the second strands woven over the first strands.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device, an ejection device and a conveyance guide. The fixing device is configured to fix a toner image onto a sheet. The ejection device is configured to eject the sheet having fixed toner image by the fixing device. The conveyance guide is configured to guide the sheet along a conveyance path from the fixing device to the ejection device. The conveyance guide is provided with a plurality of main ribs formed along a sheet conveyance direction so as to be located inwardly by a predetermined length from both side edges of sheets of a plurality of sizes in a sheet width direction intersecting with the sheet conveyance direction. The conveyance guide is provided with a sub-rib formed to be lower than the main ribs arranged at a space where the interval between the main ribs is wider than a predetermined interval.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet feeder, a sheet conveyor, an image former, a fixer, a colorimeter and a processor. The fixer fixes an image formed on a sheet by the image former. The colorimeter is provided on a down-stream side than the fixer in a sheet conveying direction and reads the image. The processor calibrates the colorimeter based on the image read by the colorimeter. When an image for calibration which is formed in advance on a color sample housed in the sheet feeder is made to be read by the colorimeter, the processor controls at least one of the sheet conveyor, the image former and the fixer according to a condition for controlling deterioration of the color sample which is different from a condition of when carrying out an image forming.

Abstract: A temperature detection device includes first and second temperature detection units configured to detect first and second temperatures, respectively, of a first roller at first and second positions in an axis direction, heated by a central heating unit and an end part heating unit; third and fourth temperature detection units configured to detect third and fourth temperatures, respectively, of a second roller which can be in pressure-contact with the first roller, at the first and second positions; and a control unit configured to control the heating units. The control unit determines a state of at least one of the first, second, third and fourth temperature detection units based on a comparison between first and third rise rates of the first and third temperatures, respectively, or on a comparison between second and fourth rise rates of the second and fourth temperatures, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image heating apparatus that includes a heater including a plurality of independently controllable heating blocks in a longitudinal direction thereof, each including a first conductor, a second conductor, and a heating element. At least one of electrodes corresponding to the respective heating blocks is disposed in an area where the heating element is located in the longitudinal direction on a second surface of the heater that is opposite to a first surface that comes into contact with an endless belt. An electrical contact is arranged so as to face the second surface of the heater. An overheating occurring in a no-media passage portion when an image formed on a recording material having a small size is heated is suppressed or reduced.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical belt; a heater including an elongated substrate and a heat generating resistor provided on the substrate; a heat-conductive member contacting a surface of the heater opposite from a belt contacting surface of the heater, and having thermal conductivity higher than that of the substrate; a supporting member; and a pressing member. The nip includes a region where a width of the nip with respect to a feeding direction of the recording material gradually increases from a longitudinal central portion toward a longitudinal end portion. The heat-conductive member includes a preventing portion for preventing movement thereof relative to the supporting member in a longitudinal direction of the heater. The preventing portion is provided in a region of the heat-conductive member corresponding to a position of the nip closer to the longitudinal end portion than to the longitudinal central portion.

Abstract: According to an embodiments, a fixing device includes: an endless fixing member; a heating unit that is provided inside an inner peripheral surface of the fixing member; and a nip forming unit that comes into press-contact with a rotationally driven pressing member with the fixing member interposed therebetween to form a nip. The nip forming unit has a shape in which a center of a contact surface protrudes toward the pressing member compared to both ends. The nip forming unit has a protruding amount at a center toward the pressing member compared to both ends of the nip forming unit in no-load state is set to be less than a bent amount of the nip forming unit when the nip forming unit comes into press-contact with the pressing member with the fixing member interposed therebetween.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image processing section that converts image data into pixel data, an image forming section that forms a toner image based on the pixel data, and a fixing section that fixes the toner image to the recording material by heating the recording material with the toner image formed thereon while conveying the recording material through a nip portion, wherein the image processing section divides the pixel data corresponding to one recording material into a plurality of areas each formed of a predetermined number of pixels and acquires density information on some of the pixels within each of the areas as representative values, wherein the fixing section carries out a process of fixing the toner image for which the density information has been acquired, under a fixing condition according to a maximum value of the representative values.

Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus and a discharging device. The image forming apparatus includes a first rotatable member, a second rotatable member positioned downstream of the first rotatable member, a first driving portion for driving the first and second rotatable members, and a first controller for controlling the first driving portion. The discharging device includes a third rotatable member, a second driving portion for driving the third rotatable member, and a second controller for controlling the second driving portion. The first controller controls a driving speed of the second rotatable member depending on a driving speed of the first rotatable member and feeds the driving speed of the first rotatable member to the second controller. The second controller controls a driving speed of the third rotatable member depending on the driving speed fed from the first controller.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt rotatably located around a rotation axis, a pressure member rotatably located, and a pressing member. The pressure member is brought into pressure contact with the fixing belt to form a fixing nip. The pressing member includes a pressing surface that presses the fixing belt toward a side of the pressure member. The pressing surface includes a plane surface portion extending along a conveyance direction of a recording medium, and a curved surface portion located at a downstream side of the plane surface portion in the conveyance direction of the recording medium. The curved surface portion is curved along an outer peripheral surface of the pressure member. The curved surface portion has a curvature radius larger than a curvature radius of the outer peripheral surface of the pressure member before a deformation in association with a formation of the fixing nip.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical rotatable heating member; a nip-forming member having a first surface and a second surface opposite from the first surface and contacting an inner surface of the rotatable heating member at the first surface; a supporting member having a supporting surface, contacting the second surface, for supporting the nip-forming member; and a pressing member for forming a nip in cooperation with the nip-forming member though the rotatable heating member. A recording material on which an image is formed is heated at the nip while being feed through the nip, and the image is fixed on the recording material. The supporting surface of the supporting member supports the second surface of the nip-forming member so that the nip-forming member is swingable relative to the supporting member about an axis substantially parallel with a rotational axis of the cylindrical rotatable heating member.

Abstract: A printer includes a casing, a print mechanism disposed inside the casing, and a motor. A sheet cassette has an attached position in which the sheet cassette is supported by the casing and a separated position in which the sheet cassette is at least partially separated from the casing. The sheet cassette includes a movable sheet support plate configured to support a sheet stack including one or more sheets. An actuator, such as a clutch, has a transmission mode in which the drive force is allowed to be transmitted from the motor to the sheet support plate to move the sheet support plate, and an interruption mode in which the drive force is prevented from being transmitted from the motor to the sheet support plate. The actuator is configured to be selectively placed in one of the transmission mode and the interruption mode. A controller is configured to selectively place the actuator into the transmission mode and the interruption mode.

Abstract: With reference to a correction value revision parameter table, a periodic non-uniformity correction value corresponding to changed rotational speed is obtained from the correction value revision parameter table, and set as a new periodic non-uniformity correction value corresponding to the rotational speed of a rotary component, and thereby a gradation which is an image formation parameter of image data is corrected.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section; a density detection section configured to detect the density of toner image formed on an image bearing member in a sub scanning direction; and a density-unevenness correction section configured to calculate a first correction amount based on the detection result of the density detection section and calculate a second correction amount different from the first correction amount in phase.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an ejecting port, an ejected sheet tray and a guiding member. The ejected sheet tray has a sheet stacking face inclined upwardly towards a downstream side from a lower side of the ejecting port. The guiding member is provided at a position on the sheet stacking face to contact with a tip end of the ejected sheet at the position. The guiding member includes a base member attached to the sheet stacking face, a movable guide for stacking the ejected sheet and a biasing member. The movable guide is turnably supported on the base member around a supporting shaft. The biasing member is interposed between the base member and the movable guide at an upstream side from the supporting shaft to bias the movable guide upwardly. The movable guide is turned downwardly against a biasing force of the biasing member by weight of stacked sheets.

Abstract: A paper delivery device includes a shift frame movable in a second direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a first direction along which paper is delivered to outside, a driver that moves the shift frame in the second direction, a drive roller with a first outer peripheral surface extending in the second direction and supported by the shift frame such that the drive roller is rotatable about a first shaft parallel or substantially parallel to the second direction, a first driven roller with a second outer peripheral surface extending in the second direction and contactable with the first outer peripheral surface at a first contact position, the first driven roller supported by the shift frame such that the first driven roller is rotatable about a second shaft parallel or substantially parallel to the second direction following the rotation of the drive roller, the first driven roller being rotated in a state where the paper is nipped between the first outer peripheral surface and the second

Abstract: An image formation device includes a power controller that controls transition to an energy-saving mode to reduce power consumption in a standby state and starts up out of the energy-saving mode and a timer in which a timing schedule that starts up the device out of the energy-saving mode is set. The power controller controls the surface temperature of the fixing roller of the image generator to be a temperature lower than the fixing temperature that enables image formation when the image formation device is started up out of the energy-saving mode according to the timing schedule set in the timer.

Abstract: A device disposed opposing an image bearer includes a roller to rotate while contacting a surface of the image bearer, a rolling bearing fitted around a shaft located at an end of the roller in an axial direction of the roller, a frame to house the roller, and a bearing support removably attached to the frame. The rolling bearing includes an outer ring, an inner ring, and a rolling element disposed between the outer ring and the inner ring. The bearing support holds, from an outer-ring side, the rolling bearing interposed between the bearing support and the frame. The bearing support includes a receiving portion to contact the outer ring of the rolling bearing and bias the rolling bearing toward the frame in a direction in which the rolling bearing is interposed between the bearing support and the frame.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a cleaning portion has a discharge pipe that guides toner that has been collected from a peripheral surface of a photoreceptor drum as waste toner to the outside of a process unit. The discharge pipe is drawn from a side surface of the process unit and includes at a tip portion a discharge port that discharges the waste toner. A restricting portion is arranged on a side surface of the discharge pipe, between a position corresponding to an insertion port and the discharge port, and restricts a flow of air moving from the discharge port to the insertion port. The insertion port is provided on a same surface as the side surface of the process unit from which the discharge pipe is drawn. And the insertion port is configured to be inserted by a cleaning tool for the electrode.

Abstract: A waste toner detection mechanism includes a transmission member and a flag member. The transmission member transmits the rotation of a rotation transmission member to a stirring shaft. The transmission member can move between the farthest position and the closest position to the rotation transmission member in the axial direction of the stirring shaft and moves from the farthest position to the closest position with an increase in difference in rotation between the rotation transmission member and the stirring shaft. The transmission member has a locking portion elastically engaged with the rotation transmission member in the closest position and restricts movement of the transmission member to the farthest position. The flag member moves from a retracting position of being stored in the waste toner container to an exposing position of being exposed from the waste toner container with the transmission member moving from the farthest position to the closest position.