Abstract: In a method for evaluating a fixing member to fix a toner having a surface layer, a hardness test is carried out by applying a pressure deformation from the surface side of the fixing member, and when a deformation of the surface layer by the pressure deformation is within an elastic range, the fixing member is regarded as a standard product.

Abstract: In a method for evaluating a fixing member to fix a toner having a surface layer, a hardness test is carried out by applying a pressure deformation from the surface side of the fixing member, and when a deformation of the surface layer by the pressure deformation is within an elastic range, the fixing member is regarded as a standard product.

Abstract: A fixing member includes a base member and an outermost layer located overlying the base member and having different fluororesins to fix a toner onto a sheet.

Abstract: Disclosed are a fixing belt and a method for evaluating it in which an occurrence of crumple can be prevented by means of accurate evaluation whether a surface of the fixing belt has a appropriate flexibility or not. In this method for evaluating, a universal hardness test is achieved for the fixing belt in which an elastic layer and a mold releasing layer are laminated on a substrate, the fixing belt is judged as an acceptable product if a creep value CHU is included within a range of 0.40?CHU?3.50 (%) when a creep value CHU which is measured from the mold releasing layer side is defined by CHU=(h2?h1)/h1×100 (%) where h1 is a pushed depth (mm) when a test load reaches a predetermined value which is kept for a predetermined period of time, and h2 is a pushed depth (mm) when a predetermined period of time is elapsed after the test load is removed.

Abstract: Disclosed are a fixing belt and a method for evaluating it in which an occurrence of crumple can be prevented by means of accurate evaluation whether a surface of the fixing belt has a appropriate flexibility or not. In this method for evaluating, a universal hardness test is achieved for the fixing belt in which an elastic layer and a mold releasing layer are laminated on a substrate, the fixing belt is judged as an acceptable product if a creep value CHU is included within a range of 0.40?CHU?3.50(%) when a creep value CHU which is measured from the mold releasing layer side is defined by a formula below. CHU=(h2?h1)/h1×100(%) where h1 is a pushed depth (mm) when a test load reaches a predetermined value which is kept for a predetermined period of time, and h2 is a pushed depth (mm) when a predetermined period of time is elapsed after the test load is removed.

Abstract: In a fixing member (10) having an elastic layer (2) of heat resistance rubber provided on a substrate 1 and a separation layer (3) of fluorocarbon resin provided on the elastic layer, the fluorocarbon resin is that a tensile strength of a 30 &mgr;m coating film burned at 340° C. is equal or greater than 25 MPa. The heat resistance rubber includes, for example, silicone rubber or fluorosilicone rubber as a major component. The fluorocarbon resin includes PFA as a major component, for example.

Abstract: In a method for evaluating a fixing member to fix a toner having a surface layer, a hardness test is carried out by applying a pressure deformation from the surface side of the fixing member, and when a deformation of the surface layer by the pressure deformation is within an elastic range, the fixing member is regarded as a standard product.

Abstract: A test measurement of the universal hardness is carried for a fixing belt (20) formed by sequentially coating an elastic layer (22) and a separation layer onto a base element (21), in which case, the universal hardness is determined for each of indentation depths of 1 &mgr;m and 4 &mgr;m from the surface side of the separation layer (23). The fixing belt (20) can be regarded as a standard product, when the universal hardness HU for the indentation depth of 1 &mgr;m satisfies the relation, HU≦30 [N/mm2], and, at the same time, when the universal hardness HU for the indentation depth of 4 &mgr;m satisfies the relation, HU≦12 [N/mm2].

Abstract: Disclosed are a fixing belt and a method for evaluating it in which an occurrence of crumple can be prevented by means of accurate evaluation whether a surface of the fixing belt has a appropriate flexibility or not.

Abstract: In an all-phase de-energized state of the stepping motor, all motor windings having different phases are energized. After the all-phase de-energized state is detected, the motor windings are sequentially energized in accordance with predetermined phase energization patterns. Each of the energizations of the motor windings lasts for a given interval chosen to allow the stepping motor to generate a starting torque greater than a maximal load torque. After energizations of the motor windings corresponding to one cycle of the phase energization patterns are completed, durations of the energizations of the motor windings are gradually shortened to increase a rotational speed of the stepping motor.

Abstract: A vehicle height sensor includes a switching circuit which is turned on and off in accordance with a vehicle height. When a drive signal is outputted to the vehicle height sensor, the vehicle height sensor is activated. A connector is connected to an output side of the switching circuit. A digital vehicle height data signal is transmitted from the switching circuit via the connector. A preset signal is outputted from the vehicle height sensor to the connector when a check signal is generated. The preset signal represents preset check data. A data receives the preset signal via the connector and reads the check data from the preset signal. The read check data is compared with a predetermined reference data. The connector is judged to be wrong when the read check data differs from the reference data.

Abstract: A vehicle height sensor includes switching circuits which are turned on and off in accordance with height of a vehicle. The vehicle height sensor is driven when a drive signal is outputted to the sensor. A preset voltage is fed to terminals of the respective switching circuits via resistors. Voltages at the terminals are outputted as vehicle height data having bits corresponding to the respective switching circuits. When the output of the drive signal is suspended, the vehicle height data are read as vehicle height sensor malfunction detecting data. The malfunction detecting data are compared to preset reference data. The vehicle height sensor is judged to be wrong when the malfunction detecting data differ from the preset reference data.

Abstract: A shock absorber control system controls vehicle shock absorbers by bringing them selectively into a softer dampening mode or a harder dampening mode in response to operation of a steering wheel of a vehicle. The shock absorbers are changed from the softer to the harder dampening mode only when the vehicle speed is higher than a reference vehicle speed and the steering wheel is turned at an angular velocity greater than a predetermined reference angular velocity. The angular velocity of rotation of the steering wheel is used as a parameter to select one of the softer and harder dampening modes only when the vehicle wheel has been angularly moved beyond a certain reference angle dependent on the vehicle speed. Therefore, no unwanted switching between the softer and harder dampening modes takes place when the steering wheel is angularly moved back and forth through relatively small angles. The harder dampening mode continues for a preset interval of time.