Abstract: A mask includes a plurality of line patterns provided on a substrate, the plurality of line patterns each including a line comprising a plurality of first layers and a plurality of second layers alternately stacked on the substrate. The lines of the plurality of line patterns extend in a first direction and the lines of the plurality of line patterns are spaced in a second direction crossing the first direction. A line of one of the plurality of line patterns has a first portion and a second portion on a side of the first portion in the first direction, the first portion wider than the second portion in the second direction.

Abstract: In a method of calculating a shift value of a cell contact, a reference region and a correction region may be set on an image of an actual cell block. The cell block may include a plurality of actual cell contacts formed using a mask. Each of preliminary shift values of the actual cell contacts with respect to target cell contacts in a target cell block to be formed using the mask may be measured based on the image. The preliminary shift values of the actual cell contacts in the reference region may be minimized. Actual shift values of the actual cell contacts in the correction region with respect to the minimized preliminary shift values may be calculated. Thus, the mask may be corrected using the accurately measured shift values so that the cell contacts may have designed positions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for isolating a membrane during fabrication. The membrane is connected to a substrate wafer using a plurality of magnets of uniform dimensions formed into two or more magnet stack beams. The magnet stack beams provide a gap between the wafer and the membrane. The wafer connected to the membrane by the magnet stack beams is received by a substrate holder so that a space is present between the membrane and the substrate holder. The membrane is rinsed by immersing, soaking, and withdrawing the substrate holder and the wafer connected to the membrane by the magnet stack beams using a rinse bath solution.

Abstract: A novel imprint material and film produced from the material, on which a pattern is transferred. An imprint material having: a component (A); a component (B); a component (C); and a component (D), wherein, (A): a compound of Formula (1), Formula (2), or Formula (3): wherein, X is C1-5 linear alkylene, R1 is H or CH3; each of R2, R3, and R4 is independently H, CH3, or C2H5; and the sum of the number of carbon atoms on R2, R3, and R4 is 0 to 2; (B): a silsesquioxane compound having a repeating unit of Formula (4), and having two or more polymerizable groups of Y; (C): a silicone compound having a repeating unit of Formula (5), and having two polymerizable groups on its ends: wherein, each of R6 and R7 is independently C1-3 alkyl; R5 is C1-3 alkylene; and k is 0 to 3; and (D): photopolymerization initiator.

Abstract: A slicing printing method for color 3D model is disclosed. The method comprises following steps of: building a color 3D object into a coloring model; dividing the coloring model into a plurality of color cells, wherein a shell of each of the color cells forms an accommodating space configured to accommodate a color material; setting respectively the color of the color material accommodated by each color cell according to the color of the color 3D object and generating a printing color data corresponding to the color 3D model; generating a printing object data associated with the printing color data according to the color cells. The disclosed example can effectively realize the printing of the color 3D model through the inkjet manner via generating color cells configured to accommodate color materials.

Abstract: A photoresist composition includes a radiation-sensitive acid generator, particles, and a first solvent. The radiation-sensitive acid generator is capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with a radioactive ray, an action of the acid allowing a solubility of a film made from the photoresist composition in a developer solution to be altered. The particles include a metal element and have a hydrodynamic radius as determined by a dynamic light scattering analysis of no greater than 20 nm. The photoresist composition may include an acid-labile compound including an acid-labile group. The radiation-sensitive acid generator may be the acid-labile compound including a group that is capable of generating an acid upon exposure to a radioactive ray.

Abstract: A solder resist composition includes: a carboxyl group-containing resin; a photopolymerizable compound; a photopolymerization initiator containing a bisacylphosphine oxide-based photopolymerization initiator and an ?-hydroxy alkylphenone-based photopolymerization initiator; and a phosphorescent dye. The bisacylphosphine oxide-based photopolymerization initiator contains bis-(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)-phenylphosphine oxide. The ?-hydroxy alkylphenone-based photopolymerization initiator contains 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenyl-propane-1-one. A mass ratio of the bis-(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)-phenylphosphine oxide to the 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenyl-propane-1-one is 2:1 to 1:10.

Abstract: A photoresist composition and methods of using the same are disclosed. The photoresist includes a polymer backbone, an acid labile group (ALG) chemically bonded to the polymer backbone, a photo-acid generator (PAG), a solvent, and a silicon-containing unit that is chemically bonded to one of: the ALG and a crosslinker. A method of using the photoresist composition includes forming a layer of the photoresist over a substrate, performing an exposing process to the photoresist layer; and developing the photoresist layer, thereby forming a patterned photoresist layer. The patterned photoresist layer includes the silicon-containing unit.

Abstract: A substrate having film type pattern and the manufacturing method, the substrate having film type pattern includes: a substrate; at least film type pattern layer which is allocated on the substrate; and a peripheral pattern layer which is allocated around the film type pattern layer.

Abstract: A method includes measuring properties of a three-dimensional topography of a lithographic patterning device, the patterning device including a pattern and being constructed and arranged to produce a pattern in a cross section of a projection beam of radiation in a lithographic projection system, calculating wavefront phase effects resulting from the measured properties, incorporating the calculated wavefront phase effects into a lithographic model of the lithographic projection system, and determining, based on the lithographic model incorporating the calculated wavefront phase effects, parameters for use in an imaging operation using the lithographic projection system.

Abstract: Lithographic apparatuses suitable for, and methodologies involving, complementary e-beam lithography (CEBL) are described. In an example, a column for an e-beam direct write lithography tool includes a first blanker aperture array (BAA) including a staggered array of openings having a pitch along an array direction. The array direction is orthogonal to a scan direction. Each opening has a first dimension in the array direction. The column also includes a second BAA including a staggered array of openings having the pitch along the array direction. Each opening has a second dimension in the array direction, the second dimension greater than the first dimension.

Abstract: In an inspection apparatus, a target on the surface is illuminated with illuminating radiation that comprises first and second illuminating components. The illuminating components form one or more periodic illuminating patterns on the surface. A plurality of scattered radiation patterns formed by the illuminating radiation after scattering by the target is captured at a detector for a number of values of a controllable characteristic of at least one of the illuminating components. The captured radiation is then used to reconstruct data describing the target.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are used to form patterns on a substrate. The apparatus comprises a projection system, a patterning device, a low-pass filter, and a data manipulation device. The projection system projects a beam of radiation onto the substrate as an array of sub-beams. The patterning device modulates the sub-beams to substantially produce a requested dose pattern on the substrate. The low-pass filter operates on pattern data derived from the requested dose pattern in order to form a frequency-clipped target dose pattern that comprises only spatial frequency components below a selected threshold frequency. The data manipulation device produces a control signal comprising spot exposure intensities to be produced by the patterning device, based on a direct algebraic least-squares fit of the spot exposure intensities to the frequency-clipped target dose pattern. In various examples, filters can also be used.

Abstract: An imprint apparatus forms a pattern on an imprint region of a substrate by bringing a mold into contact with an imprint material on the imprint region and curing the imprint material. The apparatus includes a controller for controlling an alignment operation of adjusting relative position between the mold and the imprint region in a state that the mold is in contact with the imprint material. The alignment operation includes a translation operation of performing relative translation between the imprint region and the mold, and a rotation operation of performing relative rotation between the imprint region and the mold. The rotation operation includes a first operation and a second operation, and a relative rotation direction between the imprint region and the mold in the second operation is opposite to a relative rotation direction between the imprint region and the mold in the first operation.

Abstract: A conductive support for an electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a cylindrical member containing aluminum, wherein the cylindrical member has an arithmetic mean roughness Ra of 1.3 ?m or less, a maximum height of roughness profile Rz of 5.0 ?m or less, and a mean width of roughness profile elements RSm in an axial direction of 80 ?m to 400 ?m.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes an electroconductive substrate, an organic photosensitive layer on the electroconductive substrate and an inorganic protective layer on the organic photosensitive layer, wherein a layer that forms a surface of the organic photosensitive layer contains a charge transporting material, a binder resin, and a silica particle; the inorganic protective layer contains a group 13 element, an oxygen atom, and a hydrogen atom; a sum of element constitution ratios of the group 13 element, the oxygen atom, and the hydrogen atom to all elements constituting the inorganic protective layer is equal to or more than 90 atomic %; and an element composition ratio (oxygen atom/group 13 element) of the oxygen atom and the group 13 element is 1.0 or more and less than 1.5.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer, wherein an outermost layer contains a compound having a structure represented by general formula (I) below: where R1 and R2 each independently represent a C1-12 alkyl group or a C5-12 cycloalkyl group; R3 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-6 alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-6 alkoxyl group, a C6-20 aryl group or a heterocycle group; X and Z each represent a single bond or a C1-6 alkylene group which may be substituted; and Y represents a OCO group or COO group. A method for manufacturing the photoreceptor and an electrophotographic device including the photoreceptor are additionally provided. The electrophotographic photoreceptor provides sufficient stain resistance and is less affected by temperature and humidity environments while maintaining various advantageous characteristics of photoreceptors.

Abstract: A toner having a toner particle which contains a binder resin, a fatty acid metal salt, and a resin having an ionic functional group, in which the fatty acid metal salt is a fatty acid metal salt of a polyvalent metal with valency of 2 or higher and a fatty acid with carbon atom number of at least 8 and not more than 28, and the acid dissociation constant pKa of the resin having an ionic functional group is at least 6.0 and not more than 9.0.

Abstract: A toner including base particles and external additives on the base particles, the toner satisfying Conditions 1 and 2 defined in the specification, when a number distribution D of particle diameters of powder particles B generated from one base particle A is calculated from a density a of the base particles A and a density b of the powder particles B, where the base particles A and the powder particles B are deposited on an adhesive area and mica respectively by feeding the toner into a vacuumed space from an inlet, and allowing the toner to crush against a surface of a substrate having the adhesive area composed of a carbon tape, and the mica disposed in a manner that the surface is orthogonal to a direction connecting between center of the vacuumed space and center of the inlet, Powder particles B: particles detached from the base particles.

Abstract: Provided is an electrostatic latent image developing toner that, while ensuring low temperature fixability, can ensure image quality stability even during high-speed continuous printing. The toner is an electrostatic latent image developing core-shell type toner containing at least a binder resin. The binder resin includes a crystalline polyester resin, an amorphous polyester resin, and a hybrid amorphous vinyl resin in which a vinyl polymerization segment is chemically bonded to a polymerization segment other than the vinyl polymerization segment, in which a core portion of the toner contains the crystalline polyester resin and the amorphous polyester resin, whereas a shell portion of the toner contains the hybrid amorphous vinyl resin, and the hybrid amorphous vinyl resin has a vinyl polymerization segment content of from 51 to 99% by mass.

Abstract: Provided is a toner comprising a toner particle containing a binder resin, a resin A, and a pigment, wherein the resin A has a pKa of at least 6.0 and not more than 9.0, and also has a hydrophobic parameter HPA of at least 0.65 and not more than 0.95.

Abstract: An electrostatic charge image developing toner includes toner mother particles that contain a polyester resin which is a polycondensate of a polycarboxylic acid compound and a polyol compound; a graft polymer which includes a polyolefin chain and a vinyl resin chain; a coloring agent; and polyethylene wax, provided that the polyol compound includes a polyol compound having a bisphenol structure in an amount of 0 mol % to 5 mol %, wherein a normal temperature and normal humidity aggregation degree of the toner mother particles is from 70% to 97%.

Abstract: A toner is provided, which is obtained by heat treating a toner particle containing a crystalline polyester resin, an amorphous polyester resin, a hydrocarbon wax and a wax dispersant, wherein the crystalline polyester resin is a hybrid resin having crystalline polyester segments and amorphous vinyl segments, and a mass ratio of crystalline polyester segments and amorphous vinyl segments in the crystalline polyester resin (crystalline segments/amorphous segments) is 70/30 to 98/2.

Abstract: A toner comprising a toner particle containing a pigment, a resin A and a resin B, wherein the pigment is a pigment having a structure derived from a basic compound, the resin A has an acidic functional group, the resin B has an acid value of at least 2.0 mg KOH/g, the resin B has a glass transition temperature TgB of at least 50° C., and the hydrophobic parameter HPA of the resin A and the hydrophobic parameter of the resin B satisfy the following formulae: HPA?0.60 HPB?0.70 HPA?HPB>0.

Abstract: A toner containing a toner particle including a binder resin, a resin A having a pKa of 6.0-9.0, and a pigment having a pKb of 4.0-7.0, wherein the pKa is an acid dissociation constant measured by preparing a resin solution in which 1.0 part by mass of the resin A, 70.0 parts by mass of toluene and 30.0 parts by mass of ethanol are mixed, and carrying out neutralization titration with a potassium hydroxide ethanol solution of 0.1 mol/L, and the pKb is a basic dissociation constant measured by preparing a pigment dispersion in which 10.0 parts by mass of the pigment, 140.0 parts by mass of toluene and 60.0 parts by mass of ethanol are mixed, and carrying out neutralization titration with a hydrochloric acid ethanol solution of 0.1 mol/L.

Abstract: Provided is a toner comprising a toner particle containing: a binder resin; a pigment; a resin having an acidic functional group; and a fixing auxiliary agent, wherein the pigment is a pigment having a structure derived from a basic compound, and the binder resin and the fixing auxiliary agent satisfy following Formula (1): (TgA?TgB)?5.0° C.??Formula (1) and given HP1 as a hydrophobic parameter of the resin having an acidic functional group and HP2 as a hydrophobic parameter of the fixing auxiliary agent, the HP1 is at least 0.60, and following Formula (2) is satisfied: |HP1?HP2|?0.30??Formula (2).

Abstract: A carrier for developing electrostatic latent images is provided. The carrier includes a magnetic core particle and a resin layer coating a surface of the magnetic core particle. The resin layer includes a particulate material A having a volume average particle diameter (a) and a particulate material B having a volume average particle diameter (b). The volume average particle diameter (a) of the particulate material A is the largest among volume average particle diameters of all particulate materials included in the resin layer, and an inequation 100?(a)/(b)?5 is satisfied. The particulate material A is barium sulfate.

Abstract: A discharge member includes an electro conductive knit fabric and a support member. The electro conductive knit fabric is knitted in a cylindrical shape using twisted yarn made of twisted metal fibers. The support member is cylindrical and is inserted in the electro conductive knit fabric. The discharge member is disposed to face a member to be discharged in a noncontact manner, in a state where the electro conductive knit fabric is grounded or a voltage is applied to the electro conductive knit fabric.

Abstract: An image forming method includes developing an electrostatic charge image on the surface of an image holding member by a developer including toner particles which contain a binder resin, a flake shape brilliant pigment, and a layered inorganic material, transferring the developed toner image onto a surface of a recording medium, and fixing the toner image, which is a brilliant image, by passing the recording medium through a contact region between a fixing member and a pressing member pressed to the fixing member, the brilliant image satisfying (1) at a depth of 200 nm, A<10, 10?B?50, and 20?C?70 and (2) at a depth of 1,000 nm, 10?A?40, 20?B?60, and 20?C?50, wherein A, B and C are element amounts (atomic %) of aluminium, silicon, and carbon, respectively.

Abstract: In order to achieve at least one of the above-described objects, an image forming apparatus reflecting an aspect of the present invention includes: an image carrier configured to carry and transport a latent image; a charging member configured to be rotatable and disposed in contact with a surface of the image carrier; an acquisition device configured to acquire an electrical characteristic of the charging member; and a processor configured to calculate a range of fluctuation of the electrical characteristic associated with rotation of the charging member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a drive motor configured to rotate a rotary polygon mirror to deflect light beam; a signal generation unit configured to generate a rotation synchronous signal; and a rotation control unit configured to control a rotation speed of the rotary polygon mirror, wherein the rotation control unit executes a disabling processing of disabling control of the drive motor based on the rotation synchronous signal, wherein a term of a first disabling processing for a first rotation speed is shorter than a term of a second disabling processing for the second rotation speed, and wherein when the rotation speed of the rotary polygon mirror is changed from the first rotation speed to the second rotation speed, the rotation control unit switches the disabling processing from the first disabling processing to the second disabling processing after reduction of the rotation speed of the rotary polygon mirror is started.

Abstract: An accumulation device includes a container, an expansion mechanism, and a detector. The container has an opening through which the container receives powder. The expansion mechanism includes a separator which separates an interior of the container into a first space where the powder dropped through the opening is accumulated and a second space where the powder dropped through the opening is not accumulated. The expansion mechanism allows the first space to be enlarged by changing a state of the separator. The detector detects the powder accumulated in the first space.

Abstract: A toner cartridge for use with an image forming apparatus includes a memory storing identification data of the toner cartridge and parameter information including image formation process parameters dependent on toner characteristic or ambient conditions. A transceiver unit communicates with the image forming apparatus to send the process parameter information stored in the memory to the image forming apparatus when the identification data is authentic.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing and a developing roller. The casing has an accommodation chamber, first and second ribs, a handle, and first and second pressure members. The accommodation chamber has one end portion and another end portion in a first direction, and an outer surface. The developing roller is positioned at one side of the accommodation chamber in a second direction. The ribs, the handle, and the pressure members are positioned at another side of the accommodation chamber in the second direction. The ribs and the pressure members are positioned at the outer surface. The handle is positioned between the first rib and the second rib in the first direction. The first pressure member is positioned between the handle and the first rib in the first direction. The second pressure member is positioned between the handle and the second rib in the first direction.

Abstract: A developing device including a developer carrying sleeve; a first chamber; a second chamber; a partition having a first opening for relaying the developer from the first chamber into the second chamber and a second opening for relaying back, the partition partitioning between the chambers; a first feeder in the first chamber to feed the developer from the second opening toward the first opening; a second feeder the second chamber to feed the developer in the second chamber from the first opening toward the second opening; a first regulating portion above the second feeder, extended in a direction crossing with the second feeder to regulate movement of the developer fed by the second feeder; and a second regulating portion provided above the second feeder upstream of the first regulating member, extended in a direction crossing with the second feeder to regulate movement of the developer fed by second feeder.

Abstract: A toner container includes a container main body having a toner replenishment port and a shutter mechanism. The shutter mechanism has a shutter member having a discharge port and a cover member supported by the shutter member so as to extend toward the replenishment port. The shutter member is movable in an opening direction from a closing position where the discharge port is retracted from the replenishment port to an opening position where the discharge port is communicated with the replenishment port and in a closing direction from the opening position to the closing position. The cover member has a tip end portion that extends toward the replenishment port as the shutter member moves in the closing direction, comes into contact with a downstream side edge portion of the replenishment port at the closing position and retracts from the replenishment port as the shutter member moves in the opening direction.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a developing roller, a shaft, a gear, an electric contact, and a gear cover. The developing roller is rotatable about a first axis extending in a predetermined direction and includes a developing roller shaft extending along the first axis. The shaft extends in the predetermined direction and has a peripheral surface. The gear is rotatable about the shaft. The electric contact is positioned at the peripheral surface of the shaft. The gear cover covers at least a portion of the gear and electrically connects the electric contact and the developing roller shaft.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing roller, a conveyor roller, a developer stirring unit and a development bias applying unit. The developing roller is arranged to face a photoconductive drum at a predetermined developing position and supplies the toner. The conveyor roller is arranged to face the developing roller at a predetermined facing position and supplies the developer to the developing roller. The development bias applying unit applies development biases to the first sleeve of the developing roller and the second sleeve of the conveyor roller during a developing operation of developing the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive drum with the toner. The development bias applying unit applies the development biases such that a shifting electric field to move the toner on the first sleeve of the developing roller toward the second sleeve of the conveyor roller is formed at the facing position during the developing operation.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing roller and a conveyor roller. The developing roller includes a first magnet. The conveyor roller includes a second magnet. The first magnet includes a first magnetic pole and a second magnetic pole. The second magnet includes a third magnetic pole and a fourth magnetic pole. The first and fourth magnetic poles are magnetic poles having the same polarity. One of the second and third magnetic poles is a magnetic pole having the same polarity as the first magnetic pole. The other of the second and third magnetic poles is a magnetic pole having a polarity different from the first magnetic pole. The developer is transferred from the conveyor roller to the developing roller by the third and second magnetic poles. The developer is transferred from the developing roller to the conveyor roller by the first and fourth magnetic poles.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing roller, a conveyor roller and a developer stirring unit. The developing roller is arranged to face a photoconductive drum at a predetermined developing position. The developing roller includes a fixed first magnet and a first sleeve. The conveyor roller is arranged to face the developing roller at a predetermined facing position. The conveyor roller includes a fixed second magnet and a second sleeve. The developer stirring unit stirs the developer and supplies the developer to the conveyor roller. The first magnet includes a first magnetic pole composed of a predetermined magnetic pole and a second magnetic pole arranged downstream of and adjacent to the first magnetic pole and having the same polarity as the first magnetic pole. The developer is transferred from the developing roller to the conveyor roller after passing through a repulsive magnetic field formed by the first and second magnetic poles.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a cleaning blade disposed in contact with a rotator, a toner collecting section disposed along the rotator and the cleaning blade and includes a groove extending in an axial direction of the rotator, a conveyor disposed in the groove, and an agitator disposed on a side of a rim of the groove. The conveyor rotates to convey the toner in a longitudinal direction of the groove. The agitator vibrates through contact with the conveyor and includes comb-tooth portions lined in a comb shape in the longitudinal direction of the groove, and bent portions, each of which is bent from an end of one of the comb-tooth portions. The comb-tooth portions contact a circumference of the conveyor to vibrate. The bent portions are lined at intervals smaller than intervals on a base side of the comb-tooth portions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that carries an image, a transfer body that transports a recording medium in a contact region between the image carrier and the transfer body, a pair of transport members that are disposed upstream of the contact region in a transport direction, and transport the recording medium to the contact region, a guide member that includes, between the contact region and the pair of transport members, a portion on a downstream side in the transport direction which serves as a free end portion and a portion on an upstream side in the transport direction which is supported in a cantilever state, that guides a non-transfer surface of the recording medium, that is elastically deformed, and that has a cutout, and a detection unit that detects an image on an outer peripheral surface of the image carrier on a optical path.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer belt, configured to receive a toner image formed by developing a latent image formed on an image bearing member with a toner, includes a base layer and an elastic layer. The elastic layer has an irregular surface formed with spherical particles, and the spherical particles include flexible particles having 0.1 MPa to 30 MPa of compressive strength and 15% to 50% of restoring ratio at the time of 10% deformation. Image forming apparatus. Image forming method.

Abstract: A tension applying device that applies tension to a strip-shaped body supported on a support member, the tension applying device is provided with a moving body that supports the support member, a holding body movably supporting the moving body in a direction in which the tension is applied to the strip-shaped body, a tension spring exerting the tension to the strip-shaped body, a first spring support portion disposed in the holding body and supporting one end of the tension spring, a second spring support portion disposed in the moving body in order to support the other end of the tension spring and disposed on an upstream side from the first spring support portion in the direction in which the tension is applied, and an opening formed in the holding body and in a position corresponding to the second spring support portion.

Abstract: A belt driving device that drives an endless belt, the belt driving device includes: circuitry configured to correct a belt position, which is the position of the endless belt in a width direction, to a set position; calculate an estimated life of the belt driving device based on correction time taken for the correction of the belt position; and output the estimated life.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a plurality of image formation units each configured to form an image of one of a plurality of colors, and a patch image transfer unit configured to control transfer conditions during transferring a patch group that is a pattern for detecting a position shift and formed on an intermediate transfer belt onto a secondary transfer belt. The patch image transfer unit is configured to transfer patches of at least single color for which a band of transfer efficiency is narrowest, of the patch group, onto the secondary transfer belt under transfer conditions for the color, and during transition to the transfer conditions for the color from other transfer conditions or during transition from the transfer conditions for the color to the other transfer conditions, patches of a color other than the color, of the patch group is transferred onto the secondary transfer belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms, when forming an image with a white toner on a colored recording medium, a base toner layer and a white toner layer in an overlapped manner such that the base toner layer is inserted between the white toner layer and the colored recording medium, and a fixing unit that fixes the base toner layer and the white toner layer that are formed by the image forming unit on the recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing section configured to fix a toner image formed on a recording medium to the recording medium by conveying the recording medium while heating and pressing the recording medium at a fixing nip; a conveyance section configured to convey the recording medium toward the fixing nip while sandwiching the recording medium; and a control section configured to control the fixing section such that, at a timing after an image formation operation on the recording medium is stopped during the image formation operation, conveyance of the recording medium in the fixing section is stopped before the conveyance of the recording medium in the conveyance section is stopped, and that a timing of stopping the conveyance of the recording medium in the fixing section is changed in accordance with a type of the recording medium.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a pair of fixing members disposed to face each other in a fixing area, a movable member movably supporting at least one of the fixing members between first and second positions, a driving device including a contact member and a drive source to move the movable member between the first and second positions, and a controller that controls the driving device, and if a temperature of the one of the fixing members is equal to or higher than a preset temperature when the driving device moves the movable member from the second position to the first position, changes the control to make driving force constantly exceed a rotational load of the driving device in accordance with advancement of a time of increase in the rotational load as compared with when the temperature of the one of the fixing members is lower than the preset temperature.

Abstract: An endless belt includes a base layer and a resin layer. The base layer includes a metal film. The resin layer is laminated on an outer side of the base layer. The resin layer includes edge portions in an axial direction with at least one edge ponton of the edge portions made narrower than the base layer in the axial direction such that the outer side of the base layer is exposed.