Abstract: The image heating apparatus includes a rubber layer and a resin tube layer on a metal core. The rubber layer includes a solid rubber layer having a thermal conductivity in a thickness direction of 0.16 W/(m·K) or more and 0.40 W/(m·K) or less, and a self-bonded silicone rubber layer that contains a filler of 5 vol % or more and 40 vol % or less, and has a thermal conductivity in an axial direction of 2.5 W/(m·K) or more and a thickness of 0.5 mm or more and 5.0 mm or less, the filler having a length of 0.05 mm or more and 1 mm or less and a thermal conductivity in a length direction of 500 W/(m·K) or more, so that a pressure roller to moderate temperature rise in a non-sheet feeding area when a small sized recording material has undergone sheet feeding can be easily manufactured.

Abstract: A performance value DB stores multiple states of parts comprising a system, and the consumed power of parts in those states. In addition, a condition DB stores conditions when the states of the parts change. A calculator generates state sequences in which the states are arrayed in the order of change in accordance with conditions stored in the condition DB, when information indicating the states of the parts is not communicated. The calculator computes the percentage of the time the parts are in each state per unit time for each state comprising this state sequence. Furthermore, the calculator finds the products of the computed ratios and the consumed power stored in the performance value DB for each state comprising the state sequence, and estimates the sum of the products found as the consumed power of the part.

Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle display includes receiving from a user interface a request to modify a display screen of the vehicle display. In response to the received request to modify, the method can further include displaying a query on the display screen prompting an operator to choose a portion of the display screen that is to be modified. The method can further include receiving an input selection corresponding to a chosen portion of the display screen to be modified. The input selection can be received from the user interface into a control unit in communication with the vehicle display, which is in communication with the control unit. In response to the received input selection, the method can further include displaying an image on the chosen portion of the display screen in accordance with the received request to modify the display screen. A vehicle display system is also provided.

Abstract: A sample transfer mechanism of the present invention is characterized broadly by a sample gripping method in which a downward part of a sample vessel is gripped and a cover that achieves an effect as a guide such that gripping arms that grip the sample vessel avoid contact with other objects and bypass surrounding objects, particularly, the sample vessels in approaching and retracting motions. To enhance the effect as the guide and to ensure that the sample vessels can be mounted with a high degree of integration, the shape of the cover and disposition of the sample transfer mechanism are characterized in a number of manners. Thus, a sample transfer mechanism that can perform a transfer process safely with high throughput even under conditions in which a variety of types of sample vessels is mixed together and the sample vessels are mounted with a high degree of integration is provided.

Abstract: A pressing member for creating a nip in which the pressing member contacts a heating member and a recording material is heated while being nip-conveyed, includes an elastic layer and a high thermal conductive elastic layer, which is provided on the elastic layer and has a thermal conductivity which is higher than that of the elastic layer. In the high thermal conductive elastic layer, carbon fibers and carbon nanofibers are dispersed in a heat-resistant elastic material.

Abstract: A pressure roller forms a nip for contacting a heating member to pinch and convey a heat recording material. The roller includes a core metal and an elastic layer containing filler. The elastic layer containing the filler includes thermal conductive filler with a length of not less than 0.05 mm and not more than 1 mm with a thermal conductivity ?f in the longitudinal direction in a range of ?f?500 W/(m·k), being dispersed in not less than 5 vol % and not more than 40 vol %. The elastic layer containing the filler has a thermal conductivity ?y in the longitudinal direction perpendicular to a recording material conveyance direction, of ?y?2.5 W/(m·k) and an ASKER-C hardness of the filler is not more than 60 degrees. A solid rubber elastic layer with a thermal conductivity ? in a thickness direction of not less than 0.16 W/(m·k) and not more than 0.40 W/(m·k) is included.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of controllers which controls a nozzle group forming an image on an image forming medium on the basis of image data; and a plurality of distribution units which is connected to one or more controllers and transmits the image data, which is used to control the nozzle group controlled by the controller, to the controller. A first distribution unit, which is the uppermost unit, to a second distribution unit, which is the lowermost unit, are connected such that upper and lower distribution units are connected to each other in a communicable way, and the first distribution unit is connected to an external apparatus in a communicable way.

Abstract: A printer includes a print head in which nozzles that form an image by discharging ink are arranged in a plurality of lines. The printer prints out an image on the basis of print form data in which information of layout contents of printing elements that form the content of print is set according to the attribute of each printing element. The printer includes a print form data storage unit, a printing element data storage unit, a print form data selection unit, a printing element data selection unit, and a printing element data insertion unit.

Abstract: A printer includes a print head in which nozzles that form an image by discharging ink are arranged in a plurality of lines. The printer prints out an image on the basis of print form data in which information of layout contents of printing elements that form the content of print is set according to the attribute of each printing element. The printer includes a print form data storage unit, a printing element data storage unit, a print form data selection unit, a printing element data selection unit, and a printing element data insertion unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of controllers that controls nozzle groups for forming an image on an image forming medium based on image data; a plurality of distribution processing units that are connected to a portion of the controllers to transmit to the controllers image data for controlling the nozzle groups allocated to the controllers; and a transmitting processing unit that transmits the image data to the distribution processing unit. Upper and lower level distribution processing units from the first distribution processing unit at the uppermost level to the second distribution processing unit at the lowermost level are communicatably connected to each other. The first distribution processing unit is communicatably connected to the transmitting processing unit.

Abstract: An upper end 3 of a nozzle tip 2 is adapted to have an inside diameter dimension smaller than an outside diameter of a lower portion of a barrel 4, so that nozzle tips 2 are not piled up. An upper curved surface 11, which is curved in an outer direction of the nozzle tip 2 starting with a boundary portion between the barrel 4 and a leading end opening 5 of the nozzle tip 2 and the leading end opening 5, is formed. A lower curved surface 12 is formed continuously from the upper curved surface 11 to be curved in an inner direction. An angle formed between a line tangent to a boundary portion 13 between the upper curved surface 11 and the lower curved surface 12 and a center axis of the nozzle tip 2 is adapted to fall within a range between 45° and 20°.

Abstract: A pressure roller forms a nip for contacting a heating member to pinch and convey a heat recording material. The roller includes a core metal and an elastic layer containing filler. The elastic layer containing the filler includes thermal conductive filler with a length of not less than 0.05 mm and not more than 1 mm with a thermal conductivity ?f in the longitudinal direction in a range of ?f?500 W/(m·k), being dispersed in not less than 5 vol % and not more than 40 vol %. The elastic layer containing the filler has a thermal conductivity ?y in the longitudinal direction perpendicular to a recording material conveyance direction, of ?y?2.5 W/(m·k) and an ASKER-C hardness of the filler is not more than 60 degrees. A solid rubber elastic layer with a thermal conductivity ? in a thickness direction of not less than 0.16 W/(m·k) and not more than 0.40 W/(m·k) is included.

Abstract: A printer includes a print head in which nozzles that form an image by discharging ink are arranged in a plurality of lines. The printer prints out an image on the basis of print form data in which information of layout contents of printing elements that form the content of print is set according to the attribute of each printing element. The printer includes a print form data storage unit, a printing element data storage unit, a print form data selection unit, a printing element data selection unit, and a printing element data insertion unit.

Abstract: A pressure roller forms a nip for contacting a heating member to pinch and convey a heat recording material. The roller includes a core metal and an elastic layer containing filler. The elastic layer containing the filler includes thermal conductive filler with a length of not less than 0.05 mm and not more than 1 mm with a thermal conductivity ?f in the longitudinal direction in a range of ?f?500 W/(m·k), being dispersed in not less than 5 vol % and not more than 40 vol %. The elastic layer containing the filler has a thermal conductivity ?y in the longitudinal direction perpendicular to a recording material conveyance direction, of ?y?2.5 W/(m·k) and an ASKER-C hardness of the filler is not more than 60 degrees. A solid rubber elastic layer with a thermal conductivity ? in a thickness direction of not less than 0.16 W/(m·k) and not more than 0.40 W/(m·k) is included.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a fixing unit, and a power control unit. The image forming unit forms an unfixed image on a recording material. The fixing unit includes an endless belt, a heater held in contact with the endless belt, a pressurization roller to form a fixing nip portion for pinching and conveying the recording material together with the heater via the endless belt, and a pressure changing mechanism to effect switching between a pressurization state and a pressure release state. The power control unit controls power to the heater. In response to transitioning from the pressure release state to the pressurization state, the power control unit starts power to the heater during a transition period before the pressurization state is attained and controls power to the heater such that a heater temperature does not exceed a predetermined upper limit temperature during the transition period.

Abstract: A pressure roller forming a nip portion for contacting to a heating member to pinch and convey and heat recording material includes: a core metal and an elastic layer containing filler, the elastic layer containing the filler including thermal conductive filler with length of not less than 0.05 mm and not more than 1 mm and with thermal conductivity ?f in the longitudinal direction in a range of ?f?500 W/(m·k) being dispersed in not less than 5 vol. % and not more than 40 vol % and the elastic layer containing the filler providing thermal conductivity ?y in the longitudinal direction perpendicular to a recording material conveyance direction being ?y?2.5 W/(m·k) and ASKER-C hardness of the filler being not more than 60 degrees, wherein a solid rubber elastic layer with thermal conductivity ? in a thickness direction being not less than 0.16 W/(m·k) and not more than 0.

Abstract: The image heating apparatus includes a rubber layer and a resin tube layer on a metal core. The rubber layer includes a solid rubber layer having a thermal conductivity in a thickness direction of 0.16 W/(m·K) or more and 0.40 W/(m·K) or less, and a self-bonded silicone rubber layer that contains a filler of 5 vol % or more and 40 vol % or less, and has a thermal conductivity in an axial direction of 2.5 W/(m·K) or more and a thickness of 0.5 mm or more and 5.0 mm or less, the filler having a length of 0.05 mm or more and 1 mm or less and a thermal conductivity in a length direction of 500 W/(m·K) or more, so that a pressure roller to moderate temperature rise in a non-sheet feeding area when a small sized recording material has undergone sheet feeding can be easily manufactured.

Abstract: A pressure roller forms a nip for contacting a heating member to pinch and convey a heat recording material. The roller includes a core metal and an elastic layer containing filler. The elastic layer containing the filler includes thermal conductive filler with a length of not less than 0.05 mm and not more than 1 mm and with a thermal conductivity ?f in the longitudinal direction in a range of ?f?500 W/(m·k), being dispersed in not less than 5 vol % and not more than 40 vol %. The elastic layer containing the filler has a thermal conductivity ?y in the longitudinal direction perpendicular to a recording material conveyance direction, of ?y?2.5 W/(m·k) and an ASKER-C hardness of the filler is not more than 60 degrees. A solid rubber elastic layer with a thermal conductivity ? in a thickness direction of not less than 0.16 W/(m·k) and not more than 0.40 W/(m·k) is included.