Abstract: A fixing belt includes a base member containing a metal, a sliding layer containing a filler and formed on a base member inner side, and a separation layer formed on a base member outer side. Assume that (i) a sliding layer cross section is obtained by cutting the sliding layer along a sliding layer thickness direction and is divided into sections each having a length that is the same as a sliding layer thickness in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction, and (ii) a ratio of a filler area to a sliding layer area in each cross section sections is an area ratio. A period coefficient is calculated using the formula (Ave %?Min %)/Ave %, where an average of area ratios of filler areas in all the sections is Ave % and a minimum of the area ratios is Min %, and the calculated period coefficient is 0.6 or more.

Abstract: A fixing film includes a cylindrical base layer, an elastic layer formed on an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical base layer, and a separation layer formed on an outer peripheral surface of the elastic layer. The separation layer includes fluororesin, and a degree of orientation of the fluororesin is greater than or equal to 40% and smaller than or equal to 59%.

Abstract: A fixing belt includes a base member containing a metal, a sliding layer containing a filler and formed on a base member inner side, and a separation layer formed on a base member outer side. Assume that (i) a sliding layer cross section is obtained by cutting the sliding layer along a sliding layer thickness direction and is divided into sections each having a length that is the same as a sliding layer thickness in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction, and (ii) a ratio of a filler area to a sliding layer area in each cross section sections is an area ratio. A period coefficient is calculated using the formula (Ave% - Min%)/Ave%, where an average of area ratios of filler areas in all the sections is Ave% and a minimum of the area ratios is Min%, and the calculated period coefficient is 0.6 or more.

Abstract: A fixing member includes a slide layer having a cylindrical shape and a thickness of 8 micrometers (?m) or more and 20 ?m or less, a base layer formed on an outer side of the slide layer, and a surface layer formed on an outer side of the base layer. The slide layer has Benard convection cell structure having an average diameter of 50 ?m or more and 200 ?m or less on a surface that is not in contact with the base layer, and the slide layer includes an additive having a median particle diameter D50 of 4.5 ?m or less and an aspect ratio of 30 or more and less than 50.

Abstract: An intermediary transfer belt having surface resistivity ?s of 1×109 ?/square or more and volume resistivity ?v of 1×1012 ?·cm or less includes a thermoplastic resin material containing carbon black. The carbon black contained in the thermoplastic resin material has a weight ratio of 22.5-28.5 weight % and include first carbon black and second carbon black. The first carbon black of the carbon black contained in the thermoplastic resin material has a weight ratio of 50-90 weight % and dibutyl phthalate absorption of 93-127 ml/100 g, and the second carbon black of the carbon black contained in the thermoplastic resin material has a weight ratio of 10-50 weight % and dibutyl phthalate absorption of 36-79 ml/100 g.

Abstract: A rotatable endless fixing belt configured to fix a toner image borne on a recording material includes a base body and a polyimide layer. The polyimide layer is formed on an inner-circumferential-surface of the base body and configured to slide on a backup member in contact with the backup member. The polyimide layer includes filler having shape anisotropy. An orientation ratio of the filler inclined with respect to a generating line of the fixing belt by a predetermined angle or less is smaller in a first area than in a second area in a cross section of the fixing belt taken along the generating line of the fixing belt, the first area being an area formed in an inner-circumferential-surface side of the polyimide layer in a thickness direction, the second area being an area formed in a base-body side of the polyimide layer in the thickness direction.

Abstract: A rotatable endless fixing belt configured to fix a toner image borne on a recording material includes a base body and a polyimide layer. The polyimide layer is formed on an inner-circumferential-surface of the base body and configured to slide on a backup member in contact with the backup member. The polyimide layer includes filler having shape anisotropy. An orientation ratio of the filler inclined with respect to a generating line of the fixing belt by a predetermined angle or less is smaller in a first area than in a second area in a cross section of the fixing belt taken along the generating line of the fixing belt, the first area being an area formed in an inner-circumferential-surface side of the polyimide layer in a thickness direction, the second area being an area formed in a base-body side of the polyimide layer in the thickness direction.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes an endless belt, and a pressing member including a base body and an elastic layer formed on the base body. A plurality of pore portions connected to each other are provided in the elastic layer. In a case where a binary image is generated from a three-dimensional image of the elastic layer, a threshold value X ?m corresponding to opening processing with which a number of pores derived from the pore portions takes a maximum value is obtained, and then pores derived from the pore portions in the elastic layer are extracted by performing opening processing with a threshold value of 2X ?m, an average value of angles ? is 120° or larger and smaller than 150°.

Abstract: An electrophotographic fixing member having an elastic layer that is high in thermal conductivity in the thickness direction, resists causing fracture or plastic deformation even by repeated compression in a high temperature state, and is low in hardness. The electrophotographic fixing member has a substrate, and an elastic layer provided on the substrate, wherein the elastic layer contains a filler containing an inorganic oxide and is provided on an outer circumference of the substrate, wherein (1) in a binarized image on a first cross-section in a thickness-circumferential direction of the elastic layer and a binarized image on a second cross-section in a thickness-axial direction of the elastic layer, 1.0?(A/B)?2.0 and 0.40?(A+B)?0.50 are satisfied; and (2) 50°??Ave?90° is satisfied.

Abstract: An image heating member for heating an image formed on a recording material includes a base material, an elastic layer which contains a thermally conductive filler of 5 ?m or more in average diameter and which is provided on the base material, and a parting layer which is provided on the elastic layer so as to contact the elastic layer and which is formed of a fluorine-containing resin tube provided on the elastic layer. The fluorine-containing resin tube has 3% or more in heat contraction rate with respect to a widthwise direction of the image heating member before and after the fluorine-containing resin tube is heated and left standing in an oven at 200° C. for 30 minutes.

Abstract: An electrophotographic fixing member having an elastic layer that is high in thermal conductivity in the thickness direction, resists causing fracture or plastic deformation even by repeated compression in a high temperature state, and is low in hardness. The electrophotographic fixing member has a substrate, and an elastic layer provided on the substrate, wherein the elastic layer contains a filler containing an inorganic oxide and is provided on an outer circumference of the substrate, wherein (1) in a binarized image on a first cross-section in a thickness-circumferential direction of the elastic layer and a binarized image on a second cross-section in a thickness-axial direction of the elastic layer, 1.0?(A/B)?2.0 and 0.40?(A+B)?0.50 are satisfied; and (2) 50°??Ave?90° is satisfied.

Abstract: An image heating member for heating an image formed on a recording material includes a base material, an elastic layer which contains a thermally conductive filler of 5 ?m or more in average diameter and which is provided on the base material, and a parting layer which is provided on the elastic layer so as to contact the elastic layer and which is formed of a fluorine-containing resin tube provided on the elastic layer. The fluorine-containing resin tube has 3% or more in heat contraction rate with respect to a widthwise direction of the image heating member before and after the fluorine-containing resin tube is heated and left standing in an oven at 200° C. for 30 minutes.

Abstract: An intermediary transfer belt having surface resistivity ?s of 1×109 ?/square or more and volume resistivity ?v of 1×1012 ?·cm or less includes a thermoplastic resin material containing carbon black. The carbon black contained in the thermoplastic resin material has a weight ratio of 22.5-28.5 weight % and include first carbon black and second carbon black. The first carbon black of the carbon black contained in the thermoplastic resin material has a weight ratio of 50-90 weight % and dibutyl phthalate absorption of 93-127 ml/100 g, and the second carbon black of the carbon black contained in the thermoplastic resin material has a weight ratio of 10-50 weight % and dibutyl phthalate absorption of 36-79 ml/100 g.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes an endless belt, and a pressing member including a base body and an elastic layer formed on the base body. A plurality of pore portions connected to each other are provided in the elastic layer. In a case where a binary image is generated from a three-dimensional image of the elastic layer, a threshold value X ?m corresponding to opening processing with which a number of pores derived from the pore portions takes a maximum value is obtained, and then pores derived from the pore portions in the elastic layer are extracted by performing opening processing with a threshold value of 2X ?m, an average value of angles ? is 120° or larger and smaller than 150°.

Abstract: A manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a fixing member includes: a metal mold capable of holding a base material of the fixing member in an inside thereof; and an injecting member including a group of openings configured to inject a liquid rubber containing a needle-like filler into the metal mold in which the base material is held. The injecting member is configured so that a ratio of a total perimeter of the group of openings to a sum of a perimeter of an inner surface of the metal mold and an outer surface of the base material is 1.3 or more and 3.3 or less.

Abstract: An elastic layer includes a needle-shaped filler and a void and has a porosity of 20 vol % or more and 60 vol % or less. The elastic layer contains a first area and a second area. The first area extends from a surface of the elastic layer opposite to a surface facing the mandrel toward the mandrel and has a thickness of 30% of the thickness of the elastic layer. The second area is a central area in a thickness direction of the elastic layer and has a thickness of 40% of the thickness of the elastic layer. The needle-shaped filler in the second area has an orientation degree of 50% or lower. The needle-shaped filler in the first area has an orientation degree higher than that of the needle-shaped filler in the second area.

Abstract: A fixing member manufacturing method includes: a step of holding a longitudinal end of a resin tube by a first holding tool; a step of holding another longitudinal end of the resin tube by a second holding tool; a step of decreasing a distance between the first and second holding tools each holding the resin tube, by a predetermined amount; a step of expanding, after the decreasing step, the resin tube in a radial direction; and a step of externally fitting the resin tube, expanded in the radial direction, around an elastic material coated with an adhesive.

Abstract: Provided is a member for electrophotography. The member for electrophotography includes: a substrate; an elastic layer containing a cured silicone rubber having a methyl group bonded to a silicon atom; and a fluorine resin release layer bonded to a surface of the elastic layer by an addition-curing-type silicone rubber adhesive. The elastic layer contains a titanium oxide particle having an anatase-type crystal structure.

Abstract: A fixing member used for fixing a toner image on a recording material includes: a base layer; and a porous elastic layer provided on the base layer and containing a needle-like filler. The elastic layer has a thermal conductivity with respect to a longitudinal direction thereof in a first region where the elastic layer is contactable to the recording material on the fixing member, and the thermal conductivity is 6 times to 900 times a thermal conductivity with respect to a thickness direction in the first region. The elastic layer has a thermal conductivity with respect to the thickness direction thereof in a second region outside the first region with respect to the longitudinal direction, and the thermal conductivity with respect to the thickness direction in the second region is larger than the thermal conductivity with respect to the thickness direction in the first region.

Abstract: A fixing member, includes: a base layer; and a porous elastic layer provided on the base layer and configured to contain a needle-like filler. The elastic layer has a thermal conductivity, with respect to a longitudinal direction thereof, which is 6 times to 900 times a thermal conductivity with respect to a thickness direction thereof. The elastic layer has an open cell rate larger at longitudinal end portions than at a longitudinal central portion.