Abstract: [Problem] To provide a composition capable of improving surface roughness of resist patterns, and also to provide a pattern formation method employing the composition. [Solution] The present invention provides a composition containing a particular nitrogen-containing compound, an anionic surfactant having a sulfo group, and water; and also provides a pattern formation method containing a step of applying the composition to a resist pattern beforehand developed and dried.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing overlay corrections are provided. A method may include: selecting an overlay model configured to perform overlay modeling for a wafer; obtaining a first set of modeled results from the overlay model, the first set of modeled results indicating adjustments applicable to a plurality of term coefficients of the overlay model; calculating a significance matrix indicating the significance of the plurality of term coefficients; identifying at least one less significant term coefficient among the plurality of term coefficients based on the calculated significance matrix; obtaining a second set of modeled results from the overlay model, the second set of modeled results indicating adjustments applicable to the plurality of term coefficients except for the identified at least one less significant term coefficient; and providing the second set of modeled results to facilitate overlay correction.

Abstract: An optical projection unit includes first and second optical element modules. The first optical element module includes a first housing unit and a first optical element received within the first housing unit and having an optically used first region defining a first optical axis. The second optical element module is located adjacent to the first optical element module and includes a second optical element which defines a second optical axis of the optical projection unit. The first housing unit has a central first housing axis and an outer wall extending in a circumferential direction about the first housing axis. The first optical axis is laterally offset and/or inclined with respect to the first housing axis. The first housing axis is substantially collinear with the second optical axis.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes an optical sensor, a movable body, a support, a deflector system, a first drive system and a second drive system. The movable body is moveable relative to the sensor. The support is for holding the sensor. The first drive system is arranged to move the movable body relative to the sensor. The second drive system is arranged to move the first drive system relative to the sensor. The second drive system is arranged to move the deflector system relative to the sensor. A disturbance is induced by a movement of the movable body. The deflector system is arranged to create a deflecting area for reflecting the disturbance away from the support.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator has a plurality of mirror elements each of which is controllable into a first state in which the mirror element reflects incident light with a change in a phase thereof by a first phase and a second state in which the mirror element reflects the incident light with a change in the phase thereof by a second phase 180° different from the first phase; and a boundary portion arranged between the mirror elements, which changes the phase of the incident light by a third phase substantially (90°+k·180°) (where k is an integer) different from the first phase. In projecting a pattern with the use of the spatial light modulator, an error caused in the pattern can be reduced even if the light quantity of light passing a gap region between the optical elements in the spatial light modulator is large.

Abstract: A microlithography projection exposure apparatus includes a projection lens at least one manipulator to change an optical effect of at least one optical element of the projection lens, and a travel establishing device for generating a travel command for the at least one manipulator.

Abstract: An immersion lithography apparatus has a controller configured to control a substrate table to move along an exposure route including in order: an entry motion in which the substrate moves from an off-substrate position at which the immersion space does not overlap the substrate to an on-substrate position at which the immersion space at least partially overlaps the substrate, a transfer motion in which the substrate table changes speed and/or direction and moves for at least a transfer time after the substrate moves to the on-substrate position, and an expose motion in which the substrate is scanned and the patterned beam is projected onto the substrate, wherein throughout the transfer motion at least a part of the immersion space overlaps the substrate and wherein the patterned beam is not projected onto the substrate during the entry motion and the transfer motion.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to apparatuses and systems for performing photolithography processes. More particularly, compact apparatuses for projecting an image onto a substrate are provided. In one embodiment, an image projection apparatus includes a light pipe coupled to a first mounting plate, and a frustrated prism assembly, one or more digital micro-mirror devices, one or more beamsplitters, and one or more projection optics, which are coupled to a second mounting plate. The first and second mounting plates are coplanar, such that the image projection apparatus is compact and may be aligned in a system having a plurality of image projection apparatuses, each of which is easily removable and replaceable.

Abstract: In an exposure apparatus and a method for defocus and tilt error compensation, each of alignment sensors (500a, 500b, 500c, 500d, 500e, 500f) corresponds to and has the same coordinate in the first direction as a respective one of focusing sensors (600a, 600b, 600c, 600d, 600e, 600f), so that each of the alignment sensors (500a, 500b, 500c, 500d, 500e, 500f) is arranged on the same straight line as a respective one of the focusing sensors (600a, 600b, 600c, 600d, 600e, 600f). As such, alignment marks can be characterized with both focusing information and alignment information. This enables the correction of errors in the alignment information and thus achieves defocus and tilt error compensation, resulting in significant improvements in alignment accuracy and the production yield.

Abstract: A substrate table for an immersion lithographic apparatus is disclosed having a recess, configured to receive a substrate of a given size, and a fluid extraction system, configured to extract fluid from a gap between the edge of the substrate and the edge of the recess, the fluid extraction system configured such that the rate of flow of fluid extracted from a localized section of the gap is greater than the rate of flow of fluid extracted from another section of the gap.

Abstract: A sensor system to measure a physical quantity, the system including a parallel detection arrangement with multiple detectors to allow measurements in parallel at different spatial locations, wherein the multiple detectors share a noise source, wherein the sensor system is configured such that the multiple detectors each output a signal as a function of the physical quantity, and wherein the sensor system is configured such that at least one detector responds differently to noise originating from the shared noise source than the one or more other detectors.

Abstract: In an immersion lithography apparatus in which immersion liquid is supplied to a localized space, the space is substantially polygonal in plan substantially parallel to the substrate. In an embodiment, two corners of the space have a radius of curvature no greater than the width of a transition zone between the space configured to contain liquid and a surrounding configured not to contain liquid.

Abstract: An immersion lithographic apparatus includes a projection system. The projection system is configured to project a patterned radiation beam through an immersion liquid onto a target portion of a substrate. An external surface of the projection system includes a first surface. The first surface has a non-planar shape. An element is attached to the first surface and positioned so that at least a portion of the element contacts the immersion liquid in use. The element includes a closed loop of continuously integral material in a preformed state and conforms to the non-planar shape of the first surface.

Abstract: An immersion lithography apparatus includes an optical assembly including an optical element, and configured to project a beam onto a substrate through immersion liquid, a containment member surrounding a path of the beam, a stage on which the substrate is held and moved below a bottom surface of the containment member with the substrate spaced from the bottom surface of the containment member, and a support system having an actuator to support and move the containment member. The containment member includes a first supply opening via which water as the immersion liquid is released, a recovery opening via which the immersion liquid is recovered from a gap between the containment member and the substrate and/or the stage, and a second supply opening via which the water is released to the gap, the second supply opening being provided radially inward of the recovery opening.

Abstract: A liquid immersion member is used in a liquid immersion exposure apparatus, and is capable of forming a liquid immersion space on a surface of an object opposite to an emitting surface of an optical member which emits exposure light. The liquid immersion member includes a first member that includes a first part disposed at surrounding of an optical path of the exposure light, and in which a first opening part, through which the exposure light is able to pass, and a first liquid supply part, which is disposed at at least a portion of surrounding of the first opening part and is capable of opposing the surface of the object, are provided at the first part, and a second member that includes a first liquid recovery part which is capable of opposing the surface of the object and is movable with respect to the first member outside the first part with respect to the optical path.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member, a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus wherein a streak-like image defect otherwise occurring in output in a low printing mode performed under a H/H environment can be reduced are provided. A surface of the photosensitive member has a convex and concave portions continuously in a peripheral direction of the photosensitive member, and alternately in an axial direction of the photosensitive member, a width w of the concave portion is 30 to 100 ?m, a depth d of the concave portion is 1 to 5 ?m, the convex portion has a rising slope and a descending slope in the peripheral direction of the photosensitive member, and a distance from a starting point of the rising slope to an end point of the descending slope and a distance from a starting point of the descending slope to an end point of the rising slope are 300 ?m or less.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image support includes: a conductive support; a photosensitive layer disposed on the conductive support; and a protective layer disposed on the photosensitive layer, the protective layer being formed of a polymerized cured product of a radically polymerizable composition containing a radically polymerizable monomer and a perfluoropolyether compound having a radically polymerizable functional group, the perfluoropolyether compound having the radically polymerizable functional group being represented by the following formula (1): [Chemical Formula 1] (B)l-A-CF2O(CF2CF2O)m(CF2O)nCF2-A-(B)l??(1) wherein A represents a linking group having a molecular weight of 100 or more and 400 or less, B represents a radically polymerizable functional group, l represents an integer of 2 or more, and m and n each represent an integer of 0 or more, wherein m+n?1.

Abstract: Provided is a toner that is excellent in development durability and has excellent solid followability even when the amount of the toner in a toner cartridge is small. The toner includes toner particles each having a surface layer containing an organosilicon polymer, in which: the organosilicon polymer includes a siloxane-based polymer having partial structures represented by the following formulae (1) and (2); and in a chart obtained by 29Si-NMR measurement of a tetrahydrofuran-insoluble matter of the toner particles, an area RT3 of a peak assigned to the partial structure represented by the following formula (1) and an area RfT3 of a peak assigned to the partial structure represented by the following formula (2) satisfy the following formula (3). 0.300>(RfT3/RT3)?0.

Abstract: A toner comprising: a toner particle containing a binder resin and a colorant, and an inorganic fine particle A and B present on the surface of the toner particle, wherein the inorganic fine particle A is a silica fine particle having a number-average particle diameter (D1) of primary particles in a specific range, the inorganic fine particle B has a number-average particle diameter (D1) of primary particles in a specific range, and is at least one fine particle selected from a group consisting of a silica fine particle, a titanium oxide fine particle, and an alumina fine particle, A total fixing ratio of the inorganic fine particle A and B is 75% or more, and an inter-particle force Fp(A) and an inter-particle force Fp(B) are within specific numerical ranges and satisfy a specific relationship.

Abstract: A developer according to an embodiment includes a toner having a color erasable by heating and a carrier. The carrier includes a core portion and a coating portion covering at least 50% of the core portion. The coating portion includes a white-colored additive agent which suppresses an increase in electrification due to friction between the toner and the carrier, a mass of the additive agent being between 20% and 60% of a total mass of the coating portion.

Abstract: An electrostatic charge image developing toner includes toner particles containing a binder resin and a release agent and an external additive containing fatty acid metal salt particles and abrasive particles, wherein a ratio (B/A) of an isolation amount B of the abrasive particles isolated from the toner particles after an ultrasonic isolation treatment to an isolation amount A of the fatty acid metal salt particles isolated from the toner particles after the ultrasonic isolation treatment is from 0.3 to 2.0.

Abstract: Provided in one example herein is a liquid electrophotographic ink composition, comprising: a carrier fluid comprising a polymer; ink particles comprising pigment particles and a polymeric resin, the pigment particles comprising titanium dioxide Sand being distributed in the polymeric resin; and a charge director, wherein the ink particles have an average diameter of between about 10 ?m and 50 ?m; and the pigment particles are between about 10 wt % and about 50 wt % of the ink particles. Methods of making and using the ink composition are also provided.

Abstract: An inner resistive film is applied to a conductive substrate. Ductile particles are disposed substantially uniformly throughout the inner resistive film. An outer resistive film is applied to the inner resistive film.

Abstract: An image formation device in which an image carrier is charged by a charging member includes: a power source configured to supply a charge voltage to the charging member, the charge voltage being formed such that an AC voltage is superimposed on a DC voltage; a detection unit configured to detect an alternating current value flowing through the charging member; and a control unit configured to control a peak-to-peak voltage value of the AC voltage, wherein the control unit executes: first processing of sequentially supplying a plurality of charge voltages from the power source to the charging member in non-image formation; second processing of obtaining, from an alternating current value detection result, a third approximate function indicating a difference value between a first approximate function and a second approximate function; and third processing of determining one of different predetermined ranges and determining a peak-to-peak voltage value in image formation.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser driver and an image forming apparatus incorporating the semiconductor laser driver. The semiconductor laser driver includes a light source including a plurality of laser-beam source units disposed in a sub-scanning direction that serves as a group direction, the laser-beam source units having a plurality of groups arranged in a main scanning direction, each of the laser-beam source units emitting a laser beam of a light quantity dependent upon a driving current, a shading corrector to correct, according to at least one shading correction value, the driving current given to the laser-beam source units for each of the groups, and a light quantity adjuster to adjust the driving current according to a light-quantity adjustment value for the laser-beam source units. The image forming apparatus includes a semiconductor laser drive circuit, and the semiconductor laser driver that serves as the semiconductor laser driver.

Abstract: A light emitting element device includes: a light emitting thyristor having a layered structure including a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, a second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type, a third semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type, and a fourth semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type that are layered in this order; and a gate electrode for supplying gate current to the light emitting thyristor. The light emitting thyristor includes an etching stop layer disposed on a surface of the third semiconductor layer or included in the third semiconductor layer, the etching stop layer being a semiconductor layer having an etching rate lower than an etching rate of a semiconductor layer adjacent to the etching stop layer.

Abstract: Methods of recoating a developing member such as the doctor blade, developing member bar or a developing sleeve, of an electro-photographic image forming apparatus, such as a laser printer toner cartridge, methods of re-using the original components by re-coating them, to cut the cost of using new aftermarket parts and to reduce waste, which methods include close quality control and “tailoring” of formulations to a specific developing system, thus achieving better print quality in terms of density, page yield, and uniformity for the repaired or remanufactured toner cartridge.

Abstract: Provided is a developing roller including a shaft body, an elastic layer formed on an external circumference of the shaft body, and a surface layer formed on an external circumference of the elastic layer. The surface layer is formed of polyurethane containing a reaction product of a fluoroethylene vinyl ether copolymer and an isocyanurate form of isocyanate and having a film thickness of from 0.5 ?m through 2.0 ?m. The developing roller has grooves in a surface of the developing roller. The angle of the grooves from a circumferential direction is from 0 degrees through 30 degrees.

Abstract: A powder container includes a container chamber that contains powder; a transporting member that transports the powder in the container chamber; an opening that is provided in a wall of the container chamber and through which the powder is discharged out of the container chamber as the transporting member transports the powder; and a closing member that closes a lower portion of the opening and moves vertically relative to the opening in a direction opposite to a direction of vertical movement of the opening due to tilting of the container chamber.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly; a door; a discharging portion provided in the main assembly and provided with a first opening for discharging toner; and a toner receptor detachably mounted to the door to accommodate the toner, the toner receptor being provided with a second opening cooperative with the first opening to form a toner flow passage, wherein the receptor is movable, in a state that it is mounted on the door, between a contacting position in which the receptor contacts the discharging portion such that the second opening is in fluid communication with the first opening and a spacing position in which the receptor is spaced from the discharging portion, and wherein the receptor mounted on the door is movable between the contacting and the spacing positions in a direction inclined with respect to a contact plane of the discharging portion relative to the receptor.

Abstract: A toner container is detachably attachable to a developing device. The developing device includes an inlet to be poured with a toner, an inlet shutter to move between a closed position, at which the inlet is closed, and an open position, at which the inlet is open, a biasing mechanism to bias the inlet shutter toward the closed position, an engaged structure provided in the inlet shutter, an engaging structure to engage with the engaged structure and to retain the inlet shutter at the open position against a biasing force of the biasing mechanism, and an engagement releasing structure provided in the inlet shutter and to release an engaging state between the engaged structure and the engaging structure. The toner container includes a contacting surface to contact with the engagement releasing structure and to make the engagement releasing structure release the engaging state.

Abstract: A developing device has a developer container, first and second stirring members, and a developer carrying member. The developer container has a plurality of transport chambers including first and second transport chambers, a communication portion through which the first and second transport chambers mutually communicate in opposite end parts thereof in their longitudinal direction, a developer supply port, and a developer discharge port arranged in a downstream-side end part of the second transport chamber. The second stirring member has a second transport blade, a regulating portion formed on the downstream side of the second transport blade, a discharge blade formed on the downstream side of the regulating portion and discharging developer through the developer discharge port, and a disk formed at a position facing the downstream-side communication portion on the upstream side of the regulating portion and radially protruding over the entire circumference of a rotary shaft.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer cartridge and a developing unit. The developer cartridge, in some instances, may include a shutter. This shutter may have a wall for closing a developer supply hole, and be movable, with respect to a developer cartridge casing, between an open position where the supply hole is opened by the wall and a closed position where the supply hole is closed by the wall. The shutter may further include a protrusion that is movable with respect to the wall of the shutter between a first position and a second position in an axial direction. The protrusion, in the first position, is engageable with a developing unit and, in the second position, would be disengaged from the developing unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main casing, a developing roller, a connecting tube, and a toner container. The main casing includes a sheet supply tray. The developing roller is provided in the main casing. The connecting tube has one end portion and another end portion inside the main casing. The toner container is for accommodating toner. The one end portion of the connecting tube is connected to the toner container. The toner container has an inlet opening for replenishing toner. The toner container is pivotally movable between a first position and a second position about the connecting tube. A position of the inlet opening at the second position is higher than a position of the inlet opening at the first position.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a toner cartridge having a housing that defines a reservoir for containing toner. An exit port in fluid communication with the reservoir faces downward on the front of the housing near a first side. A toner delivery system for transferring toner from the reservoir includes a main interface gear exposed on the front of the housing near the top of the second side. A rearward facing opening is exposed at the rear of the housing near the first side of the housing for receiving a first engagement feature in an image forming device. A forward facing opening is exposed at the front of the housing near the first side of the housing for receiving a second engagement feature in the image forming device. The forward facing opening overlaps with the rearward facing in a side-to-side dimension of the housing.

Abstract: A seal member 14 which seals a gap among a rotating body 9 provided in an opening of a frame body 13, a blade 18a, and the frame body 13 in an end region in an axial direction of the rotating body 9, the seal member 14 including: a first seal portion 14b which comes into contact with the rotating body 9; a second seal portion 14e which comes into contact with the blade 18a; and a third seal portion 14f which is constituted by a surface formed in a stair shape and sequentially arranged between the first seal portion 14b and the second seal portion 14e and which is capable of reducing a gap formed between the rotating body 9 and the blade 18a due to rotation of the rotating body 9.

Abstract: Provided is a developer container, including: a frame body having an opening; a sealing member configured to seal the opening; an unsealing member configured to unseal the opening by moving the sealing member and accommodated inside the frame body; and a part of the sealing member peelably bonded to an outer peripheral edge of the opening on an opposite side of the unsealing member with respect to the opening.

Abstract: A toner supply container includes a toner container body including a cylindrical portion and an opening, and a sealing member provided at one axial end portion of the container body. The sealing member is movable relative to the container body in an axial direction and includes a sealing portion provided at a side adjacent the container body and a coupling portion provided at a side remote from the container body. The coupling portion includes a supporting portion provided on the sealing portion, an engaging portion provided at a free end of the supporting portion, and a displacing force receiving portion provided on the supporting portion at a position closer to the container body than the engaging portion. The displacing force receiving portion is displaceable with the supporting portion and has a radially outermost part that is more remote from a rotation axis of the container body than a radially outermost part of the engaging portion.

Abstract: A unit includes a part that is detachably attachable relative to an other unit, wherein the other unit includes an opening through which image forming powder is supplied from or received by the other unit, and a shutter that opens and closes the opening, and a collecting member that collects the image forming powder falling from at least one of the opening and the shutter by making contact with the shutter when detaching the unit from the other unit.

Abstract: A wet type developing device including a developing roller and an anilox roller, the wet type developing device includes: a dual purpose roller being opposite to the surface of the anilox roller, leaving a gap therebetween, upstream of a region of contact between the surfaces of the anilox roller and the developing roller and being in contact with the surface of the developing roller upstream of the region of contact between the surfaces of the anilox roller and the developing roller and being rotationally driven. A surface part of the dual purpose roller is made of a porous member that has flexibility and elasticity.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that carries a toner image; a transfer part that is disposed so as to be in contact with the image carrier and transfers the toner image carried by the image carrier to a recording medium; and a charge applying part that is disposed on an upstream side of the transfer part in a recording-medium transport direction and charges the recording medium such that an amount of charge in the recording medium varies according to the position therein in a direction intersecting a recording-medium transport direction when the recording medium has reached the transfer part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes halogen lamp heaters, an AC power supply, a temperature detection unit and a control unit. The heaters have a same light distribution and heat a fixing member of an image fixing unit. The detection unit detects a temperature of the fixing member. The control unit determines a combination of the heaters based on output of the detection unit and applies a drive voltage of a half-wave of an AC waveform of the AC power supply to a heater of the heaters. The half-wave is selected based on an application pattern having a duty cycle of a predetermined value or more. The heaters include at least one heater which generates a heat amount being a minimum heat amount required for fixing or less when turned on with the application pattern having the duty cycle of the predetermined value.

Abstract: A first region of a guide surface of a guide member, being in contact with an inner surface of a film on an upstream side of a heater in a rotation direction of the film, has a higher percentage of the protrusions per unit length in a longitudinal direction of the guide member than a second region of the guide surface, and the first and second regions are a region of the guide surface that overlaps a temperature detecting member and a region of the guide surface that does not overlap the temperature detecting member, respectively, in the longitudinal direction of the guide member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second heaters and a controller. The first and second heaters have a same light distribution and heat a roller of an image fixing unit. The second heater generates a less heat amount than the first heater. The controller applies a drive voltage to a heater of the heaters. When a heat amount generated by the second heater has increased to a first threshold value by the controller controlling the drive voltage, the controller switches the drive-voltage-applied heater from the second heater to the first heater. When a heat amount generated by the first heater has decreased to a second threshold value smaller than the first threshold value by the controller controlling the drive voltage, the controller switches the drive-voltage-applied heater from the first heater to the second heater.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first support portion that supports an endless belt, and relatively moves with respect to a rotating body to press the endless belt against the rotating body, a second support portion that supports the first support portion to be relatively movable, a first member that is supported in the endless belt by the second support portion, a second member that is supported in the endless belt to be capable of approaching and being separated from the first support portion, a first biasing member that is provided in the first support portion, and biases the second member to a rotating body side, a second biasing member that is provided in the second support portion, and biases the first support portion to the rotating body side, and a switching portion that switches between a first state and a second state.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a belt member that moves in a circulating manner, a pressure member that is disposed to be in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the belt member, and pressurizes a recording material on which an image is formed, and a heating member. The heating member includes a curved portion that is curved along an inner circumferential surface of the belt member and is in contact with the inner circumferential surface, a bent portion that is bent from an upstream side end portion of the curved portion in a moving direction of the belt member and is separated from the inner circumferential surface, and a heat generation portion that is provided in the curved portion and heats the belt member. A generated heat amount in the curved portion on the upstream side is larger than that in the curved portion on a downstream side.

Abstract: A fixation apparatus includes a rotatable fixation belt, a pressurization roller which is in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the fixation belt and rotates the fixation belt, a pressing member which is provided to face the pressurization roller with the fixation belt being interposed and presses the fixation belt against the pressurization roller, a heating roller which provides heat to paper which passes through a portion of contact between the fixation belt and the pressurization roller by providing heat to the fixation belt, and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting an amount of attachment of a lubricant to an inner circumferential surface of the fixation belt. The adjustment mechanism adjusts the amount of attachment of the lubricant such that an amount of attachment of the lubricant while the fixation belt remains stopped is smaller than an amount of attachment of the lubricant during rotation of the fixation belt.

Abstract: A developing cartridge may include a rotary gear rotatable about one axis and a detection gear rotatable about another axis. The detection gear is configured to be not rotatable with the rotary gear in a case where the rotary gear rotates from a first rotational position to a second rotational position, while being configured to be rotatable with the rotary gear in a case where the rotary gear rotates from the second rotational position to a third rotational position.

Abstract: A customer replacement unit monitor (CRUM) unit that can be mounted in an image forming apparatus includes a decoder which receives first clock signals from the image forming apparatus and converts the first clock signals into second clock signals, a memory which stores data related with a consumable unit, and a controller which manages the memory based on data signals transmitted from the image forming apparatus and the second clock signals. The first clock signals are divided into a data section in which the data signals are transmitted and received and an idle section in which the data signals are not transmitted and received. The first clock signals have a first frequency on the data section while having a second frequency on the idle section, and the second clock signals are clock signals maintaining a high value or a low value on the idle section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a printer unit including a sheet ejection tray located on an upper surface of the printer unit; a scanner unit spaced above the sheet ejection tray of the printer unit in a vertical direction; an operation unit disposed at a front end portion of the scanner unit, the operation unit including a touchscreen; a cover covering a bottom side of the touchscreen in the vertical direction; and a fixing portion fixing the cover to the front end portion of the scanner unit. The cover includes a support portion that, when projected on an imaginary horizontal surface, overlaps a part of the touchscreen. The support portion is shaped like a box extending in the vertical direction and is coupled to a portion of the upper surface of the printer unit adjacent to the sheet ejection tray.