Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt, a rotatable pressing member, a pad member inside of the belt, and a sliding member held by the pad member and sliding on an inner circumferential surface of the belt in a nip. The rotatable pressing member nips and feeds a recording material in the nip in cooperation with the belt and fixes a toner image on the recording material by applying heat and pressure. The sliding member includes a base material layer on which a plurality of projections projecting toward the rotatable pressing member are formed on a side sliding with the belt and a sliding layer provided on an outer surface of the plurality of projections. A shape of a surface of the sliding layer is a curved surface and a radius of curvature R of the curved surface satisfies 300 ?m?R?850 ?m.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt, a rotatable pressing member, a pad member inside of the belt, and a sliding member held by the pad member and sliding on an inner circumferential surface of the belt in a nip. The rotatable pressing member nips and feeds a recording material in the nip in cooperation with the belt and fixes a toner image on the recording material by applying heat and pressure. The sliding member includes a base material layer on which a plurality of projections projecting toward the rotatable pressing member are formed on a side sliding with the belt and a sliding layer provided on an outer surface of the plurality of projections. A leading end of the plurality of projections is a plane and an average roughness (Ra) of the plane satisfies 0.13 ?m?Ra?1.67 ?m.

Abstract: A power coupling mechanism includes a flexible disk-like plate, a ring element, first and second input plates and a driven plate. The ring element is coupled to an outer radial portion of the flexible plate. The input plates are formed of deformed sheet metal material to at least partially define a viscous fluid filled chamber that encloses a dampening mechanism. The input plates are fixed to the ring element and the flexible plate such that center and inner radial portions of the flexible plate are axially spaced from the input plates to permit axial flexing. The driven plate at least partially extends into an annular housing of the dampening mechanism and has grooves interfitting with protrusions of the annular housing to provide structural support against thrust and radial forces. An inertia element with a ring gear is preferably connected to the driven plate.

Abstract: A power coupling mechanism having fluid dampening device with interfitting members which assist in the absorption and transmittance of stress due to torsion and thrust loads, thus reducing the size of a bearing supporting relatively rotatable parts.

Abstract: A power coupling mechanism having fluid dampening device with interfitting members which assist in the absorption and transmittance of stress due to torsion and thrust loads, thus reducing the size of a bearing supporting relatively rotatable parts.

Abstract: A flywheel assembly comprising a unitary first flywheel having a hub portion and a radial circumferential portion, the first flywheel connectable to an output shaft, a viscous fluid damping mechanism having a drive member and a driven member, the drive member connected to the first flywheel radial portion, a bearing attached to the driven member and the first flywheel hub portion providing limited rotary displacement therebetween, the bearing, the drive member and the first flywheel defining an annular fluid chamber confining the dampening mechanism, and a second flywheel removably mounted to the driven member.

Abstract: A power coupling mechanism having fluid dampening device with interfitting members which assist in the absorption and transmittance of stress due to torsion and thrust loads, thus reducing the size of a bearing supporting relatively rotatable parts.

Abstract: A power coupling mechanism having fluid dampening device with interfitting members which assist in the absorption and transmittance of stress due to torsion and thrust loads, thus reducing the size of a bearing supporting relatively rotatable parts.

Abstract: A flywheel assembly comprises a first flywheel, a second flywheel supported on the first flywheel so as to be rotatable, a drive member connected to said first flywheel to ensure a space in which viscous fluid can be contained therebetween, a driven member connected to the second flywheel to constitute, together with the first flywheel and the drive member, a fluid chamber with which viscous fluid is filled, a coil spiring for elastically connecting the members to each other, and a viscous damper part for moving viscous fluid in the fluid chamber in response to relative rotation between both the members to create viscous resistance. The driven member has a window hole containing the coil spring and a fluid supplying path connecting with the fluid chamber from the window hole. The viscous damper part has chokes for creating viscous resistance when the first flywheel and the driven member are relatively rotated.