Abstract: An electrochromic element including: a first electrode; a second electrode disposed to face the first electrode with a gap between the first electrode and the second electrode; a first electrochromic layer disposed on or above the first electrode, including conductor or semiconductor nano-structures and an electrochromic compound; and an electrolyte layer including an electrolyte, disposed between the first electrochromic layer and the second electrode, wherein the electrochromic compound is a compound represented by General Formula 1, and an anion of the electrolyte is a monovalent anion having oxidation potential higher than reduction potential of a dication of General Formula 1 by 3.1 V or greater, where X? is a monovalent anion having oxidation potential higher than reduction potential of the dication of General Formula 1 by 3.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a fixing belt, a heating roller, a nip portion forming member, a pressing rotary member, a suspending roller, and an urging unit. The heating roller is in contact with an inner surface of the fixing belt and heats the fixing belt. The suspending roller has a center and both ends in an area where the fixing belt and the suspending roller are in contact with each other in a width direction of the suspending roller. Outside diameters at both ends are greater than an outside diameter at the suspending roller center by a value between 50 micrometer and 300 micrometer, inclusive. The urging unit urges the suspending roller from the inner surface of the fixing belt toward an outer circumference surface of the fixing belt. A force that the urging unit applies to the suspending roller ranges between 50 newtons and 100 newtons, inclusive.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable endless belt, a pressing roller and a fixing pad. The pressing roller contacts an outer peripheral surface of the belt and forms a nip portion in cooperation with the belt. A toner image is formed in the nip portion and fixed onto the recording material by application of heat and pressure. The fixing pad contacts an inner peripheral surface of the belt. The fixing pad includes a contact area in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the belt. The contact area includes a downstream end portion with respect to a conveyance direction of the recording material. The downstream end portion includes a central portion and both end portions with respect to a widthwise direction of the belt. The central portion locates downstream of the both end portions with respect to the conveyance direction.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless and rotatable belt of which an inner peripheral surface is applied with lubricant, a heater, a rotatable member to rotatably contact the belt and a nip forming member in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the belt. The nip forming member includes a holding portion, an upstream sliding portion and a downstream sliding portion. The downstream and upstream sliding portions have first and second sliding surfaces sliding with the inner peripheral surface of the belt, respectively. The second sliding surface has a curved shape, and when a force applied to the belt with respect to a length of the second sliding surface is defined as w (N/mm) and a curvature radius of the second sliding surface is defined as R (mm), R/w of the second sliding surface is equal to 5 (mm2/N) or larger and equal to 80 (mm2/N) or less.

Abstract: A fixing device including an endless belt, a heat source, a rotatable member forming a nip together with a belt, a nip forming member, a contact member contacting an inner peripheral surface of the belt, a reflecting portion reflecting radiation heat from the heat source toward the nip forming member, a heat conducting portion, and a heat insulating member. The nip forming member includes a first member having a U-shape made of metal and open on a side opposite from the rotatable member and a second member provided inside the first member. The heat conducting portion conducts heat of the reflecting portion to the contact member. The heat insulating member is provided between the first member and the second member. A thickness t (?m) and thermal conductivity ? (W/m·K) of the heat insulating member satisfy: t?100 (?m) 0.02 (W/m·K)???0.05 (W/m·K).

Abstract: An endless belt, a heat source, a rotatable member forming a nip together with a belt, a nip forming member which includes a first member having a U-shape made of metal and open on a side opposite from the rotatable member and which includes a second member provided inside the first member, a contact member contacting an inner peripheral surface of the belt, a reflecting portion for reflecting, toward the inner peripheral surface of the belt, radiation heat from the heat source toward the nip forming member, and a heat conducting portion, contacting the contact member, for conducting heat of the reflecting portion to the contact member, and a heat insulating member provided between the first member and the second member are provided, and a thickness t (?m) and thermal conductivity ? (W/m·K) satisfy: t?100 (?m) 0.02 (W/m·K)???0.05 (W/m·K).

Abstract: Provided is an endless belt-shaped electrophotographic member having a superior durability. The member comprises an endless belt-shaped substrate and a surface layer, the surface layer comprising an ionizing radiation crosslinked product of a tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer (PFA), the surface layer is formed by irradiation of electron beam to a resin layer, the resin layer comprising the PFA, the surface layer has a universal hardness HU at 200° C. of 18 N/mm2?HU?40 N/mm2, and when a degree of orientation of the PFA in the resin layer in a direction orthogonal to the circumferential direction of the substrate is defined as Ri, and a degree of orientation of the crosslinked PFA in the surface layer in the direction orthogonal to the circumferential direction of the substrate is defined as Rf, Ri and Rf satisfy a relationship represented by expression (1): Ri×0.8?Rf?Ri??(1).

Abstract: Provided is an endless belt-shaped electrophotographic member having a superior durability. The member comprises an endless belt-shaped substrate and a surface layer, the surface layer comprising an ionizing radiation crosslinked product of a tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer (PFA), the surface layer is formed by irradiation of electron beam to a resin layer, the resin layer comprising the PFA, the surface layer has a universal hardness HU at 200° C. of 18 N/mm2?HU?40 N/mm2, and when a degree of orientation of the PFA in the resin layer in a direction orthogonal to the circumferential direction of the substrate is defined as Ri, and a degree of orientation of the crosslinked PFA in the surface layer in the direction orthogonal to the circumferential direction of the substrate is defined as Rf, Ri and Rf satisfy a relationship represented by expression (1): Ri×0.8?Rf?Ri??(1).

Abstract: A fixing apparatus including a flexible belt having a heat generating layer, an outer ring provided on one edge side of the belt and along an outer peripheral surface of the belt, the outer ring being electrically connected to the heat generating layer, an inner ring provided on the one edge side of the belt and along an inner peripheral surface of the belt to face the outer ring through the belt, and a power supply unit that is electrically connected to the outer ring and that feeds power. A difference obtained by subtracting a diameter of the inner ring at a normal temperature from a diameter of the inner ring at a fixing temperature is equivalent to or larger than a difference obtained by subtracting a diameter of the outer ring at the normal temperature from a diameter of the outer ring at the fixing temperature.

Abstract: An image heating device includes a fixing belt (100) including a heat generating layer (102); a pressure roller (110) configured to rotationally drive the fixing belt; a power feed ring (119) disposed at one end of the fixing belt in a longitudinal direction and extending along an outer periphery of the fixing belt, the power feed ring being electrically connected to the heat generating layer; a brush (81) configured to be brought into contact with an outer periphery of the power feed ring and electrically connected to the power feed ring; a power supply circuit (79) configured to feed power to the brush; and a leaf spring (82) configured to elastically press the brush toward the power feed ring, the leaf spring being configured to come into contact with the power feed ring when the brush wears by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heating belt having a heat generating layer configured to generate heat by energization, a pressing roller configured to abut on an outer peripheral surface of the heating belt to form a nip portion, a pressing mechanism configured to press the heating belt against the pressing roller, an outer ring electrically connected to the heating belt in an end portion of the heating belt, a power feed member configured to abut on the outer ring to feed power to the outer ring, and an inner ring configured to clamp the end portion of the heating belt between the inner ring and the outer ring. A chamfered portion of the inner ring is chamfered.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus including a flexible belt having a heat generating layer, an outer ring provided on one edge side of the belt and along an outer peripheral surface of the belt, the outer ring being electrically connected to the heat generating layer, an inner ring provided on the one edge side of the belt and along an inner peripheral surface of the belt to face the outer ring through the belt, and a power supply unit that is electrically connected to the outer ring and that feeds power. A difference obtained by subtracting a diameter of the inner ring at a normal temperature from a diameter of the inner ring at a fixing temperature is equivalent to or larger than a difference obtained by subtracting a diameter of the outer ring at the normal temperature from a diameter of the outer ring at the fixing temperature.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heating belt having a heat generating layer configured to generate heat by energization, a pressing roller configured to abut on an outer peripheral surface of the heating belt to form a nip portion, a pressing mechanism configured to press the heating belt against the pressing roller, an outer ring electrically connected to the heating belt in an end portion of the heating belt, a power feed member configured to abut on the outer ring to feed power to the outer ring, and an inner ring configured to clamp the end portion of the heating belt between the inner ring and the outer ring. A chamfered portion of the inner ring is chamfered.

Abstract: Provided is a fixing device, the heat generation amount of which can be obtained with a smaller amount of a microwave absorbing material. As a result, the start-up (warm-up) time for achieving a fixing temperature can be shortened without impairing characteristics such as flexibility, releasing property, and durability. The fixing device includes a heating member; a pressurizing member; and a microwave generating unit. It is configured to fix an unfixed toner on a recording material by passing the recording material through a nip formed between the heating member and the pressurizing member. The heating member includes a heat generating layer for generating heat with microwaves generated by the microwave generating unit. The heat generating layer contains a high molecular compound and a carbon fiber having an average fiber diameter of 80-150 nm, an average fiber length of 6-10 ?m, and an absorption peak in a Raman spectrum resulting from a graphite structure.

Abstract: Provided is a fixing device whose required heat generation amount can be obtained with a smaller amount of a microwave absorbing material, hence start-up (warm-up) time for achieving fixable temperature of the fixing device can be shortened without impairing characteristics such as flexibility, releasing property, durability. The fixing device comprises: a heating member; a pressurizing member; and a microwave generating unit, the fixing device being configured to fix an unfixed toner on a recording material by passing the recording material through a nip formed between the heating member and the pressurizing member, wherein: the heating member includes a heat generating layer for generating heat with microwave generated by the microwave generating unit; and the heat generating layer contains a high molecular compound and a carbon fiber having an average fiber diameter of 80-150 nm, an average fiber length of 6-10 ?m, and in Raman spectrum, an absorption peak resulting from graphite structure.