Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a tubular film, an elongate plate-like heater including a first surface in contact with an inner surface of the film and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the heater being in contact with the inner surface of the film with the second surface, a heat conducting member that is long along the length of the heater and is in contact with the second surface of the heater, and a support member capable of rotating the film while supporting the heater, with the heat conducting member therebetween. The heat conducting member includes an extending portion extending, outside an upstream end of the heater in a rotational direction of the film, in a direction from the second surface of the heater toward the first surface. The extending portion includes a contact portion protruding from the first surface of the heater toward the film into contact therewith.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a tubular film, an elongate plate-like heater including a first surface in contact with an inner surface of the film and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the heater being in contact with the inner surface of the film with the second surface, a heat conducting member that is long along the length of the heater and is in contact with the second surface of the heater, and a support member capable of rotating the film while supporting the heater, with the heat conducting member therebetween. The heat conducting member includes an extending portion extending, outside an upstream end of the heater in a rotational direction of the film, in a direction from the second surface of the heater toward the first surface. The extending portion includes a contact portion protruding from the first surface of the heater toward the film into contact therewith.

Abstract: A method performed by a computer for image analyzation includes: receiving, by a processor of the computer, an image captured by an imaging device; specifying, by the processor of the computer, first and second areas in the image; detecting, by the processor of the computer, a target object from the image in accordance with a certain pattern indicating a range of color saturation in an analysis of a color of the target object; and extending, by the processor of the computer, the range of color saturation in processing of the detecting the target object, when luminance of the first area in the image is lower than a first threshold and luminance of the second area in the image is equal to or higher than a second threshold.

Abstract: A method performed by a computer, the method includes obtaining a plurality of images each of which includes a plurality of animals, the plurality of animals being attached with a plurality of attachment objects respectively, the attachment objects having respective different colors, using at least one image among the plurality of images, detecting the colors of the plurality of attachment objects respectively, using the plurality of images, detecting movements of the plurality of respective attachment objects, based on the colors of the plurality of attachment objects, and in accordance with the respective movements of the plurality of attachment objects, determining respective activity quantities of the plurality of animals.

Abstract: A method performed by a computer for image analyzation includes: receiving, by a processor of the computer, an image captured by an imaging device; specifying, by the processor of the computer, first and second areas in the image; detecting, by the processor of the computer, a target object from the image in accordance with a certain pattern indicating a range of color saturation in an analysis of a color of the target object; and extending, by the processor of the computer, the range of color saturation in processing of the detecting the target object, when luminance of the first area in the image is lower than a first threshold and luminance of the second area in the image is equal to or higher than a second threshold.

Abstract: A method performed by a computer, the method includes obtaining a plurality of images each of which includes a plurality of animals, the plurality of animals being attached with a plurality of attachment objects respectively, the attachment objects having respective different colors, using at least one image among the plurality of images, detecting the colors of the plurality of attachment objects respectively, using the plurality of images, detecting movements of the plurality of respective attachment objects, based on the colors of the plurality of attachment objects, and in accordance with the respective movements of the plurality of attachment objects, determining respective activity quantities of the plurality of animals.

Abstract: A non-transitory, computer-readable recording medium stores therein a vegetation assessing program that causes a computer to execute a process including assessing whether a state of vegetation of a pasture is a state suitable for pasturing, based on temporal changes of step count measurement results obtained by a step measuring device attached to a livestock animal pastured in the pasture; and outputting an obtained assessment result.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to suppressing cracks in the surface layer of the rotating member including fluororesin. According to the present invention, there is provided a heating apparatus comprising: a rotating member which has a surface layer comprising fluororesin, flexibility, and is open at both ends thereof; a heating member for heating the rotating member; a holding member for the rotating member, which is disposed inside the rotating member and has a sliding surface against an inner peripheral surface of the rotating member; and a pressurizing member for forming a nip portion together with the rotating member, the heating apparatus heating a recording material while conveying the recording material by nipping at the nip portion and rotating the rotating member and the pressurizing member, wherein a lubricant comprising a straight-chain and a side-chain type perfluoropolyethers is interposed between the rotating member and the sliding surface of the holding member.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heating rotatable member; a pad-like pressing member contacted to the heating rotatable member and cooperating with the heating rotatable member to provide a nip for nipping and feeding a recording material, wherein the pressing member includes a base material having a roughened surface and a parting layer on the roughened surface, the parting layer being contacted to the heating rotatable member.

Abstract: An image heating device includes a rotatable image heating member including an elastic layer and a surface layer in which a filler is dispersed; and a fixed pressing member which is contacted to a surface of the rotatable image heating member and forms a nip, between itself and the rotatable image heating member, in which a recording material for carrying an image is to be nip-conveyed. The surface of the rotatable image heating member has a shape such that projections are distributed by the filler so that a coefficient of dynamic friction ?(hot) relative to said fixed pressing member when a surface temperature of the rotatable image heating member is a temperature during image heating and a coefficient of dynamic friction ?(cold) relative to the fixed pressing member when the surface temperature is a normal temperature satisfy, ?(hot)<1.2×?(cold).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to suppressing cracks in the surface layer of the rotating member including fluororesin. According to the present invention, there is provided a heating apparatus comprising: a rotating member which has a surface layer comprising fluororesin, flexibility, and is open at both ends thereof; a heating member for heating the rotating member; a holding member for the rotating member, which is disposed inside the rotating member and has a sliding surface against an inner peripheral surface of the rotating member; and a pressurizing member for forming a nip portion together with the rotating member, the heating apparatus heating a recording material while conveying the recording material by nipping at the nip portion and rotating the rotating member and the pressurizing member, wherein a lubricant comprising a straight-chain and a side-chain type perfluoropolyethers is interposed between the rotating member and the sliding surface of the holding member.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heating rotatable member; a pad-like pressing member contacted to the heating rotatable member and cooperating with the heating rotatable member to provide a nip for nipping and feeding a recording material, wherein the pressing member includes a base material having a roughened surface and a parting layer on the roughened surface, the parting layer being contacted to the heating rotatable member.

Abstract: An image heating device includes a rotatable image heating member including an elastic layer and a surface layer in which a filler is dispersed; and a fixed pressing member which is contacted to a surface of the rotatable image heating member and forms a nip, between itself and the rotatable image heating member, in which a recording material for carrying an image is to be nip-conveyed. The surface of the rotatable image heating member has a shape such that projections are distributed by the filler so that a coefficient of dynamic friction ?(hot) relative to said fixed pressing member when a surface temperature of the rotatable image heating member is a temperature during image heating and a coefficient of dynamic friction ?(cold) relative to the fixed pressing member when the surface temperature is a normal temperature satisfy, ?(hot)<1.2×??(cold).

Abstract: The image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a recording medium has an endless belt with a base layer made of a metal material; a heater that contacts with an inner surface of the endless belt; and a backup member that forms a nip portion together with the heater through the endless belt. The image formed on the recording medium is heated while being pinched and conveyed in the nip portion. An end surface of the base layer includes a plane region and a curved surface region. When the thickness of the base layer is t, the width of the plane region in a thickness direction of the base layer is h, and the flatness ratio H of the end surface of the base layer is defined as h/t, the flatness ratio H satisfies 50%?H?90%.

Abstract: The image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a recording medium includes an endless belt that includes a base layer made of a metal material; a heater that contacts with an inner surface of the endless belt; and a backup member that forms a nip portion together with the heater through the endless belt. The image formed on the recording medium is heated while being pinched and conveyed in the nip portion. An end surface of the base layer includes a plane region and a curved surface region. When the thickness of the base layer is t, the width of the plane region in a thickness direction of the base layer is h, and the flatness ratio H of the end surface of the base layer is defined as h/t, the flatness ratio H satisfies 50%?H?90%.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a recording material, the apparatus including a conveying roller for conveying a recording material, the conveying roller including a metal core and an elastic layer provided outside the metal core, wherein the metal core has, in a central portion in the longitudinal direction thereof, a straight shape area having a substantially uniform diameter along the longitudinal direction and tapered shape areas, on both sides of the straight shape area, in which a diameter gradually decreases toward ends in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the elastic layer has, in a central portion in the longitudinal direction thereof, a straight shape area having a substantially uniform diameter along the longitudinal direction and inverted crown shape areas, on both sides of the straight shape area, in which a diameter gradually increases toward ends in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a temperature sensing part of temperature sensing means is arranged to come into contact with the surface opposite to the image surface of a recording material at the time of one-sided printing without providing such an opposed member that comes into contact with the image surface of the recording material at least in a position corresponding to the position of the temperature sensing part that is in contact with the recording material.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a recording material, the apparatus including a conveying roller for conveying a recording material, the conveying roller including a metal core and an elastic layer provided outside the metal core, wherein the metal core has, in a central portion in the longitudinal direction thereof, a straight shape area having a substantially uniform diameter along the longitudinal direction and tapered shape areas, on both sides of the straight shape area, in which a diameter gradually decreases toward ends in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the elastic layer has, in a central portion in the longitudinal direction thereof, a straight shape area having a substantially uniform diameter along the longitudinal direction and inverted crown shape areas, on both sides of the straight shape area, in which a diameter gradually increases toward ends in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus has a heating member, a flexible sleeve, a guide member, a flange member, and a pressure member forming a nip part to nip and convey the heating member and the recording material through the sleeve. In this structure, in a recording material movement direction, a sliding-rubbing part of the flange member on a downstream side of the nip part has a shape to project the sleeve toward the downstream side. Alternately, the guide member may have a plurality of ribs on both an upstream side and downstream side of the nip.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a temperature sensing part of temperature sensing means is arranged to come into contact with the surface opposite to the image surface of a recording material at the time of one-sided printing without providing such an opposed member that comes into contact with the image surface of the recording material at least in a position corresponding to the position of the temperature sensing part that is in contact with the recording material.