Abstract: An actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition includes; a compound (A) which generates an acid by irradiation with actinic rays or radiation, wherein the acid is linked with a group represented by the following general formula (M) through covalent bonding. In the formula, Y1 and Y2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aryl group, or an acyl group. Z represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent.

Abstract: A resist composition comprising a base polymer and a phosphazene salt compound offers a high dissolution contrast, minimal LWR, and dimensional stability on PPD.

Abstract: A resist composition comprising a base polymer and a sulfonium salt capable of generating fluorinated aminobenzoic acid offers a satisfactory dissolution contrast and minimal LWR independent of whether it is of positive or negative tone.

Abstract: A photosensitive composition is disclosed including a fluorinated photo cross-linkable polymer provided in a fluorinated solvent such as a hydrofluoroether. The photo cross-linkable polymer includes a first repeating unit having a fluorine-containing group but not a cinnamate group, and a second repeating unit having a fluorine-containing cinnamate group. The polymer has a total fluorine content in a range of 30 to 60% by weight. The composition can be used to form patterned barrier or dielectric structures over substrates and devices such as organic electronic devices.

Abstract: A patternable layer is formed over a substrate. A photo-sensitive layer is formed over the patternable layer. The photo-sensitive layer contains an additive. The additive contains at least a floating control chemical and a volume control chemical. A spin drying or a baking process is performed to the photo-sensitive layer. The floating control chemical causes the additive to rise upward during the spin drying or baking process. Thereafter, as a part of an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography process, the photo-sensitive layer is exposed. One or more outgassing chemicals are generated inside the photo-sensitive layer during the exposing. The volume control chemical is sufficiently voluminous and dense to trap the outgassing chemicals inside the photo-sensitive layer.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention relates to coating compositions that comprise a resin component, wherein the predominant portion of the resin component comprising one or more resins that are at least substantially free of fluorine. Coating compositions of the invention are useful as photoresist overcoat layers, including in immersion lithography processing.

Abstract: A method comprises applying a composition on a substrate to form a coating film on the substrate. The coating film is heated in an atmosphere in which an oxygen concentration is less than 1% by volume and a temperature is higher than 450° C. and 800° C. or lower, to form a film on the substrate. The composition comprises a compound comprising an aromatic ring. The oxygen concentration in the atmosphere during the heating of the coating film is preferably no greater than 0.1% by volume. The temperature in the atmosphere during the heating of the coating film is preferably 500° C. or higher and 600° C. or lower.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to methods and apparatus for performing immersion field guided post exposure bake processes. Embodiments of apparatus described herein include a chamber body defining a processing volume. Electrodes may be disposed adjacent the process volume and process fluid is provided to the process volume via a plurality of fluid conduits to facilitate immersion field guided post exposure bake processes. A post process chamber for rinsing, developing, and drying a substrate is also provided.

Abstract: An illumination system for EUV projection lithography has a beam shaping optical unit for generating an EUV collective output beam from an EUV raw beam of a synchrotron-radiation-based light source. An output coupling optical unit serves for generating a plurality of EUV individual output beams from the EUV collective output beam. In each case a beam guiding optical unit serves for guiding the respective EUV individual output beam toward an object field in which a lithography mask is arrangable. The result is an illumination system with which EUV light of a synchrotron-radiation-based light source is guided to the greatest possible extent without losses and at the same time flexibly.

Abstract: Provided are apparatuses and methods for super resolution imaging photolithography. An exemplary apparatus may include an illumination light generation device configured to generate illumination light for imaging a pattern included in a mask through the mask. The illumination light may include a high-frequency spatial spectrum such that a high-frequency evanescent wave component of spatial spectrum information for the light is converted to a low-frequency evanescent wave component after being transmitted through the mask pattern. For example, the illumination light generation device may be configured to form the illumination in accordance with a high numerical aperture (NA) illumination mode and/or a surface plasmon (SP) wave illumination mode.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes a nozzle member which has at least one of a supply port for supplying a liquid and a recovery port for recovering the liquid, and a nozzle adjusting mechanism which adjusts at least one of a position and a posture of the nozzle member depending on a position or a posture of a substrate. The exposure apparatus forms an immersion area of the liquid on the substrate, and performs exposure for the substrate through the liquid in the immersion area. Accordingly, the liquid is satisfactorily retained between the projection optical system and the substrate, thereby making it possible to realize the exposure highly accurately.

Abstract: An immersion lithography apparatus and method places an object for a cleanup process on a holder of a movable stage of the immersion lithography apparatus, a wafer being held on the holder of the stage and exposed during a liquid immersion lithography process. During the liquid immersion lithography process, device pattern projection is performed and a device pattern image is projected onto the wafer held on the holder to fabricate semiconductor devices. During the cleanup process, a liquid is supplied via a supply port from above the stage holding the object on the holder. During the cleanup process, the object is held on the holder in place of the wafer and the object is used without performing device pattern projection.

Abstract: A method of exposing a patterned area on a substrate using an EUV lithographic apparatus having a demagnification of about 5× and a numerical aperture of about 0.4 is disclosed. The method comprises exposing a first portion of the patterned area on the substrate using a first exposure, the first portion dimensions are significantly less than the dimensions of a conventional exposure, and exposing one or more additional portions of the patterned area on the substrate using one or more additional exposures, the additional portions having dimensions which are significantly less than the dimensions of a conventional exposure. The method further comprises repeating the above to expose a second patterned area on the substrate, the second patterned area being provided with the same pattern as the first patterned area, wherein a distance between center points of the first and second patterned areas corresponds with a dimension of a conventional exposure.

Abstract: A lithographic reticle is illuminated to transfer a pattern to a substrate, inducing distortions due to heating. The distortions are calculated using reference marks in a peripheral portion of the reticle and measuring changes in their relative positions over time. A plurality of cells are defined for which a system of equations can be solved to calculate a dilation of each cell. In an embodiment, each equation relates positions of pairs of marks to dilations of the cells along a fine (s, s1, s2) connecting each pair. Local positional deviations can be calculated for a position by combining calculated dilations for cells between at least one measured peripheral mark and the position. Corrections can be applied in accordance with the result of the calculation. Energy may be applied to the patterning device (for example by thermal input or mechanical actuators) to modify a distribution of the local positional deviations.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of determining a correction for measured values of radiation diffracted from a target comprising a plurality of periodic structures, subsequent to measurement of the target using measurement radiation defining a measurement field. The correction acts to correct for measurement field location dependence in the measured values. The method comprises performing a first and second measurements of the periodic structures; and determining a correction from said first measurement and said second measurement. The first measurement is performed with said target being in a normal measurement location with respect to the measurement field. The second measurement is performed with the periodic structure in a shifted location with respect to the measurement field, said shifted location comprising the location of another of said periodic structures when said target is in said normal measurement location with respect to the measurement field.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of measuring overlay between upper and lower layers on a substrate using metrology targets formed by a lithographic process. The lithographic process is of a multiple-patterning type whereby first and second distinct populations of structures are formed in a single one of said layers (L1) by respective first and second patterning steps. The metrology target (620) in the single one of said layers comprises a set of structures of which different subsets (642A, 642B) are formed in said first and second patterning steps. An overlay measurement on this target can be used to calculate a combined (average) overlay performance parameter for both of the first and second patterning steps.

Abstract: Disclosed is an inspection apparatus for use in lithography. It comprises a support for a substrate carrying a plurality of metrology targets; an optical system for illuminating the targets under predetermined illumination conditions and for detecting predetermined portions of radiation diffracted by the targets under the illumination conditions; a processor arranged to calculate from said detected portions of diffracted radiation a measurement of asymmetry for a specific target; and a controller for causing the optical system and processor to measure asymmetry in at least two of said targets which have different known components of positional offset between structures and smaller sub-structures within a layer on the substrate and calculate from the results of said asymmetry measurements a measurement of a performance parameter of the lithographic process for structures of said smaller size. Also disclosed are substrates provided with a plurality of novel metrology targets formed by a lithographic process.

Abstract: During the drive of a stage, positional information in a movement plane of a stage is measured by three encoders that include at least one each of an X encoder and a Y encoder of an encoder system, and a controller switches an encoder used for a measurement of positional information of a stage in the movement plane from an encoder to an encoder so that the position of the stage in the movement plane is maintained before and after the switching. Therefore, although the switching of the encoder used for controlling the position of the stage is performed, the position of the stage in the movement plane is maintained before and after the switching, and a correct linkage becomes possible.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus having a reference body and a positioning system, the positioning system including a main body; a reaction body; an actuator; and a controller. The main body is moveable relative to the reference body along a path in a first direction and a second opposite direction. The reaction body is moveable relative to the main body along a further path in the first and second directions and is moveably connected to the reference body to be moveable relative to the reference body in the first and second directions. The controller provides a first and a second signal to the actuator. The actuator is arranged between the main body and the reaction body to accelerate the main body in the first direction and to accelerate the reaction body in the second direction under control of the first signal, and to accelerate the main body in the second direction and to accelerate the reaction body in the first direction under control of the second signal.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a management method of a manufacturing apparatus of a semiconductor device, the method includes measuring a weight of a pre-exposure substrate including a semiconductor substrate and a resist film provided on the semiconductor substrate, performing an exposure process for the resist film, measuring a weight of a post-exposure substrate including the semiconductor substrate and the resist film after the exposure process is performed, and acquiring a weight difference between the weight of the pre-exposure substrate and the weight of the post-exposure substrate.

Abstract: A spacer displacement device for a wafer illumination unit comprises an actuator, a spacer which can be displaced between an active and an inactive position by the actuator, and a force transmission element which is coupled to the actuator. The force transmission element consists of wire.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes an intermediate layer, a photosensitive layer, and a surface layer laminated on a conductive support in this order, wherein a cured product of a polymerizable monomer contains an electron transport agent and n-type metal oxide fine particles to which a reactive organic group is bonded in the surface layer.

Abstract: A toner process comprising (a) providing at least one amphiphilic block copolymer prepared by surfactant-free emulsion polymerization comprising: dissolving a hydrophilic monomer in water; adding a hydrophobic monomer; adding a feed initiator to produce a colloidal dispersion of amphiphilic block copolymer; and optionally, discharging the amphiphilic block copolymer; (b) contacting one or more of a latex polymer, a wax; and a colorant with the colloidal dispersion of amphiphilic block copolymer to form a blend; or contacting the discharged amphiphilic block copolymer with one or more of a latex polymer, a wax dispersion, and a colorant dispersion, and forming a further dispersion; (c) heating the blend or further dispersion at a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the latex polymer to form aggregated toner particles; (d) adding a coalescing agent to the toner particles thereby coalescing the toner particles; and (e) recovering the toner particles.

Abstract: There is provided a toner set including a yellow toner, a cyan toner and a magenta toner, the toners each comprising an external additive and colored resin particles comprising a binder resin, a colorant and a charge control agent. An absolute value of an average of q/d for any of the yellow, cyan and magenta toners is expressed by charge amount q (fC) and particle diameter d (?m). It is obtained by measurement using an electric field detachment-type charge amount distribution measurement device. It is in a range of 2.0 to 6.5 fC/10 ?m, and a standard deviation (SD) of q/d is 13 fC/10 ?m or less. A difference between average values of q/d for any two of the yellow, cyan and magenta toners is 2.0 fC/10 ?m or less. A difference (?SD) between standard deviations of q/d for the two toners is 5.0 fC/10 ?m or less.

Abstract: An electrostatic latent image developing toner includes a plurality of toner particles each having: a sea-like domain substantially formed from a plurality of resins including at least a polyester resin containing an alcohol component having a carbon number of 2-6; and a plurality of island-like domains distributed in an island-like pattern in the sea-like domain. The island-like domains are substantially formed from a resin containing a nigrosine pigment. A dispersion diameter of the island-like domains is 0.1-1.0 ?m. The polyester resin containing the alcohol component having a carbon number of 2-6 is contained in the sea-like domain in an amount of 5-50% by mass relative to a total amount of constituent resins (the plurality of resins). A ratio of an SP value of the resins forming the sea-like domain to an SP value of the resin forming the island-like domain is no greater than 0.98 or at least 1.20.

Abstract: A toner includes a toner particle containing a resin component. The resin component contains an ester group-containing olefin copolymer and an acid group-containing olefin copolymer. For example, the ester group-containing olefin copolymer is an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and the acid group-containing olefin copolymer is an ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer. The acid group-containing olefin copolymer has an acid value of 50 to 300 mg KOH/g. The content of the ester group-containing olefin copolymer in the resin component is 50 mass % or more based on the total mass of the resin component. The content of the unit derived from the vinyl acetate is 3 mass % or more and 35 mass % or less based on the total mass of the ester group-containing olefin copolymer.

Abstract: Provided is a toner including a toner particle containing a graft polymer, in which: the graft polymer has a crystalline polyester segment and an amorphous vinyl polymer segment; the crystalline polyester segment has a unit derived from a specific monomer (a) and a unit derived from a specific monomer (b); a content X (mol %) of the unit derived from the monomer (b) calculated from a specific formula is 1.0 mol % or more and 24 mol % or less; and a melting point of the graft polymer is 50° C. or more and 85° C. or less.

Abstract: Provided is an electroconductive member for electrophotography capable of charging an electrically chargeable body stably over a long period of time. The electroconductive member includes an electroconductive support and a surface layer on the electroconductive support. The surface layer has a skeleton that is three-dimensionally continuous and a pore that communicates in a thickness direction, and when any region measuring 150 ?m per side of a surface of the surface layer is photographed and equally divided into 60 parts in a vertical direction and 60 parts in a horizontal direction to form 3,600 squares, the number of squares including through holes is 100 or less. The skeleton is non-electroconductive and includes a plurality of particles connected to each other through a neck, and an average value D1 of circle-equivalent diameters of the particles is 0.1 ?m or more and 20 ?m or less.

Abstract: In a case where another first region exists which faces the edge pixel across a second region on a line in a predetermined direction passing through the edge pixel of the first region, the correcting unit selects a correction amount for correcting the exposure amount applied by the exposing unit for the pixel to be corrected from information describing a plurality of correction amounts in accordance with a first number of pixels being a number of pixels on the line within the second region between the first region and the other first region and corrects the exposure amount for the pixel to be corrected in accordance with the selected correction amount.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an identifying unit configured to identify on basis of image data, a pixel to be corrected from a plurality of pixels of an image to be formed from the image data, a holding unit configured to hold a plurality of correction information pieces describing correction amounts for exposure amounts, and a correcting unit configured to select a correction information piece from the plurality of correction information pieces on basis of distances between one of the pixels to be corrected and a plurality of edges of the image formed from the image data and to correct an exposure amount to be applied by an exposing unit to the pixel to be corrected on basis of the selected correction information piece from an exposure amount corresponding to the image data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device including a developer carrying member, a developer supplying member and a regulating member. Also provided are a first power source for the developer carrying member, a second power source for the regulating member, and a controller. In a period from a start of a developing operation to an end of the developing operation for printing an image on a single recording material, the controller effects control of a potential difference between the developer carrying member and the developing blade so that a force for urging the developer from the regulating member toward the developer carrying member acts on the developer at a contact portion between the regulating member and the developer carrying member. The force acting on the developer being is stronger at the end of the developing operation than at the start of the developing operation.

Abstract: A developing device includes a toner bearer to rotate while bearing toner and a toner regulator including a bend on a free end side. The bend is disposed in contact with a surface of the toner bearer and defines a regulation nip to adjust an amount of the toner on the toner bearer. The toner regulator further includes an area having a water contact angle greater than or equal to 70 degrees. The area having the water contact angle includes, at least, a downstream end of the bend in a rotation direction of the toner bearer.

Abstract: A toner cartridge comprises a tubular body, a sliding base, a swinging member and a returning member. A first end of the tubular body provides with an arc-shape rail and an imaginary axis. The sliding base is slidable along the rail. The swinging member includes a pivotal portion pivotally connected with the sliding base, an inner end portion, and an outer end portion that is farther from the imaginary axis than the pivotal portion is. The swinging member is swingable between an inward position and an outward position relative to the sliding base. The returning member is connected with the swinging member and applies a force returning the swinging member to the inward position. Accordingly, the toner cartridge can be rotated into positioned actually, so as to engage with an electronic image forming apparatus successfully, and a lock mechanism of the electronic image forming apparatus can be released actually.

Abstract: A container for powder detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus body includes a discharge channel and a wall member. The discharge channel has an upper end. Powder is discharged through the discharge channel. The wall member is disposed such that a gap is formed between the wall member and the upper end of the discharge channel. A transport part that transports the powder toward the discharge channel is provided in the container.

Abstract: A magnetic carrier according to the present invention includes a magnetic carrier core and a resin covering layer formed on a surface of the magnetic carrier core, wherein the resin covering layer contains a resin component and an inorganic fine particle, the inorganic fine particle contains an oxide of a typical metal element or a carbonate of a typical metal element, a moisture adsorption rate of the inorganic fine particle when allowed to stand in an environment of a temperature of 30° C. and a humidity of 80% for 72 hours is 25.0% by mass or less, an electrical conductivity of the inorganic fine particle is 2.0×10?9 ?S/m or more and 2.5×10?5 ?S/m or less, and a degree of crystallinity of the inorganic fine particle is 60% or less.

Abstract: A belt unit includes: a belt member; a roller rotatably placed on an inner peripheral surface of the belt member; and a meander restraint member facing an edge portion of the belt member and configured to restrain the belt member from meandering while the belt member is running. The edge portion of the belt member includes a modification layer.

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: The intermediate transferring belt is to be mounted in an electrophotographic image-forming apparatus. The intermediate transferring belt includes the following, in sequence, a substrate; an elastic layer; and a surface layer. The surface layer has an elongation of 5% or more and a stress of 5MPa or more at an elastic limit determined by a stress-strain curve obtained according to JIS K7161.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transferring belt, photosensitive drums, primary transferring parts, a transfer voltage applying part, a resistance value measuring part, a cleaning device, a pre-brush, a pre-brush current detecting part and a transfer voltage correcting part. The pre-brush applies a cleaning charge voltage to the remained toner at an upstream side from the cleaning device in the rotation direction of the transferring belt. The transfer voltage correcting part, by a subject resistance value of the primary transferring part measured by the resistance value measuring part, corrects a transfer voltage of the primary transferring part. As a measurement condition, if a change quantity of the pre-brush current from the last transfer voltage correction is equal to or more than a predetermined change threshold, the resistance value measuring part executes measurement of the subject resistance value and the transfer voltage correcting part executes correction of the transfer voltage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second feeding units for feeding a recording material while nipping the recording material; a guiding member for guiding the recording material passed through the first feeding unit toward the second feeding unit; a measuring unit for measuring a time required for the recording material to pass from a first point to a second point provided downstream of the first point with respect to a recording material feeding direction; and a discriminating unit for discriminating stiffness of the recording material on the basis of a measurement result of the measuring unit. The guiding member is flexed and is in a non-overlapping state with a virtual line connecting a first nip where the first feeding unit nips the recording material and a second nip where the second feeding unit nips the recording material.

Abstract: A control method of an image forming apparatus including a fixing device including a fixing rotator includes starting warming up the fixing device; detecting at least one of an electric voltage, an electric current, and an electric power input to the image forming apparatus when the fixing device is warmed up; detecting a temperature of the fixing rotator when the fixing device is warmed up; determining that the image forming apparatus is in a low input state that does not satisfy a predetermined input condition based on the detected one of the electric voltage, the electric current, and the electric power; determining that the fixing rotator is in a low temperature state that does not satisfy a predetermined heating condition based on the detected temperature of the fixing rotator; and issuing a notification that urges a recovery operation of the fixing device.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus is provided which enables more productive image formation. When an option unit implements a change from a second operation mode that exhibits high power consumption to a first operation mode that exhibits low power consumption while images are being consecutively formed on a plurality of recording materials, an upper limit on power that can be supplied to a fixing section is set higher than that in the second operation mode, and intervals, at which recording materials are consecutively fed, are set narrower than those in the second operation mode.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a film, a first heat element, a second heat element, a nip member, a reflection member and a supporting member, which are disposed inside a loop of the film, and a pressing member. The nip member contacts the inner circumferential surface of the film. The reflection member surrounds the first heat element with the nip member and reflects radiant heat from the first heat element to the nip member. The pressing member presses the film toward the nip member. The supporting member covers the reflection member, supports the nip member, and includes a first plate portion, a second plate portion and a third plate portion. The second heat element is disposed in at least one of the second plate portion, the third plate portion, one end portion of the nip member, and another end portion of the nip member.

Abstract: A fixing device including an endless belt, a rotary body positioned outside of the endless belt, the rotary body having an axis extending in an axial direction, an elastic member positioned at an inner space of the endless belt and configured to nip the endless belt in cooperation with the rotary body, and an adhering member having rigidity higher than rigidity of the elastic member. The elastic member has a contact surface in contact with the endless belt. The adhering member has an adhered portion adhered to an opposite surface opposite to the contact surface. The adhering portion has a length in the axial direction smaller than the length of the elastic member in the axial direction.

Abstract: A fusing apparatus, including a base member, a sheet member, a fixing portion, and an endless member, is provided. The sheet member includes a contact portion to contact an inner peripheral surface of the endless member, a first portion having a first hole, and a second portion to be fixed to the base member. The base member includes a first face to support the contact portion, a second face, and an inner face recessed from the second face to form a recessed portion. The fixing portion includes a first engagement portion protruding from the inner face of the recessed portion to be engageable with the first hole, and a holder provided at the first engagement portion to hold a peripheral portion around the first hole in the first portion of the sheet member at a position between the inner face of the recessed portion and the holder.

Abstract: In a front/back reversing unit, a base metal sheet having rollers attached thereon is engaged with a rotation spindle fixed to a fitting such that the base metal sheet is rotatable in a horizontal direction. When an operation of rolling up a print target medium is started and if winding tension with respect to the print target medium to be wrapped around a winding shaft becomes unbalanced, the front/back reversing unit rotates in accordance with the winding tension so as to balance the winding tension. Then, when the winding tension applied to the print target medium becomes balanced, the front/back reversing unit is returned to its original position by an elastic member, and the roller of the front/back reversing unit and the winding shaft become substantially parallel to each other.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium, and an applying unit that causes powder included in a liquid mixture to be interposed between the recording medium and the image forming unit by applying the liquid mixture to the recording medium, or to the image forming unit which comes into contact with the recording medium, wherein the recording medium includes an image forming layer, an adhesive layer, and a base layer, and the liquid mixture includes the powder reducing adhesion of the adhesive layer and volatile liquid.

Abstract: An electrical connecting member electrically connects between two conductive members. The electrical connecting member includes a coil spring part formed by winding a wire around a coil axis. The electrical connecting member comes into contact with one of the conductive members with elastic force in a circumferential direction around the coil axis and comes in contact with the other of the conductive members with elastic force in an axial direction of the coil axis so that the conductive members are electrically connected.

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: Provided is an image forming apparatus that reduces replacement frequency for waste toner container, and efficiently performs waste toner accommodation with a waste toner container. The image forming apparatus includes a toner detection sensor detecting a quantity of a toner in a toner container; a waste toner detection sensor detecting an accommodation quantity of a waste toner removed from a photosensitive medium and accommodated in a waste toner container; a waste toner container full-state forecasting part that, upon toner detection sensor detecting empty state of toner container, forecasts whether waste toner container is filled up with waste toner before toner container newly loaded is emptied, on detection result by waste toner detection sensor; and a system control part that, upon waste toner container full-state forecasting part forecasting waste toner container being filled up, notifies a replacement message urging replacement of waste toner container to a panel part.