Abstract: A fluorinated elastic tube includes: an elastic hollow body made of a fluorinated polymer; and an amorphous perfluororesin membrane having a thickness of not greater than 1 ?m and being in direct close contact with the inner surface of the hollow body. The amorphous perfluororesin membrane may have a repeating unit of, for example, formula (1), (2a), or (2b). The fluorinated elastic tube can have further improved durability while ensuring solvent resistance. wherein R1, R2, and R3 are each independently a fluorine atom or a perfluoroalkyl group; p+q+r is an integer of from 1 to 6; p is an integer of from 0 to 5; q is an integer of from 0 to 4; and r is 0 or 1.

Abstract: An elastic member excellent in releasability which has a releasing layer, an elastic layer and a basic layer as component layers, wherein the releasing layer comprises a fluororesin film and the elastic layer comprises a porous fluororesin film having pores packed with an elastomer, and wherein the releasing layer is an uppermost layer and is contacted with the elastic layer. The above elastic member can have an elastic layer having a thickness less than that of a conventional elastic member and also can enhance the binding strength between an elastic layer and an releasing layer, and thus can achieve the saving of electric power and also an enhanced quality of an image.

Abstract: Polytetrafluoroethylene thin film comprising a thin film of polytetrafluoroethylene having thickness of ?20 ?m; surface roughness (Ra) of ?0.1 ?m; tensile strength of ?80 N/mm2; and light beam transmittance of ?80% for light of 500 nm wavelength. A process for manufacture of polytetrafluoroethylene film comprising compressing porous polytetrafluoroethylene film at a temperature above the melting point of the film, followed by cooling to a temperature below the melting point of the film while continuing to apply pressure.

Abstract: There is described a fluororesin tubular product suitable for the surface layer of a fixing roll or a fixing belt for electrophotography. The tubular product of the present invention is a fluororesin tubular product formed by rolling, layering, and sticking a dense fluororesin film, wherein the number of rolling of the film is 2 or higher.

Abstract: Polytetrafluoroethylene thin film comprising a thin film of polytetrafluoroethylene having thickness of ≦20 &mgr;m; surface roughness (Ra) of ≦0.1 &mgr;m; tensile strength of ≧80 N/mm2; and light beam transmittance of ≧80% for light of 500 nm wavelength. A process for manufacture of polytetrafluoroethylene film comprising compressing porous polytetrafluoroethylene film at a temperature above the melting point of the film, followed by cooling to a temperature below the melting point of the film while continuing to apply pressure.

Abstract: An elastic fixing roll having an elastic, compliant body material and release surface material is disclosed. The body material comprises porous silicone rubber or fluorosilicone rubber foam, or a porous synthetic polymer foam reinforced with silicone rubber or fluorosilicone rubber. The release surface material is formed of porous polytetrafluoroethylene film containing silicone rubber or fluorosilicone rubber. The elastic fixing roll has the strength, resilience, and heat resistance and is suitable for use in hot toner fixing assemblies of copying machines and printing machines.

Abstract: A liquid metering and coating assembly for use in a thermal toner fixation unit of a plain paper copier or printer. The assembly consists of a release oil-supply roll having a compliant and flexible porous permeation control layer and a cleaning blade. The cleaning blade is mounted so as to contact the surface of the permeation control material. The cleaning blade removes excess toner and other incidental debris from the surface of the permeation control layer thereby providing a freshly cleaned surface from which controlled amounts of release oil are uniformly coated onto the surface of an adjacent contacting roll.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a liquid metering and coating device comprising a perforated hollow member; a liquid-absorbent porous material within said hollow member; at least one shaft component which seals the liquid-absorbent porous material within the hollow member, a means for air passage; a liquid diffusion layer in contact with the perimeter of the perforated hollow member; and a liquid permeation regulating layer in contact with the perimeter of the liquid diffusion layer. The liquid metering and coating device can satisfactorily apply a liquid to a surface with exceptional accuracy, uniformity and durability.

Abstract: An elastic fixing roll having an elastic, compliant body material and release surface material is disclosed. The body material can be made of porous silicone rubber or fluorosilicone rubber foam, or a porous synthetic polymer foam reinforced with silicone rubber or fluorosilicone rubber. The release surface material is formed of porous polytetrafluoroethylene film containing silicone rubber or fluorosilicone rubber.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus for an image forming apparatus of the present invention includes: a rotatable heat roll; a heat-resistant elastic member fixedly disposed to form a nip section in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the heat roll, the heat-resistant elastic member being impregnated with a liquid release agent which is supplied to the nip section; and a porous fluororesin film formed by sintering a fluororesin powder for coating a surface of the heat-resistant elastic member coming in contact with the heat roll so that the release agent can be supplied by a predetermined amount while permeating through the film. The porous fluororesin film may include: a film formed by using metal fibers, glass fibers, or the like as a supporting member thereof, and a film formed by applying a gelled dimethyl silicone oil at least to a single surface of the film.

Abstract: A liquid metering and coating device made of a liquid permeation control material including porous polytetrafluoroethylene, adhered to a porous support material of open-celled foam. The porous support and permeation control material contain mixtures of silicone oil and silicone rubber which bond to the porous support material and form an interconnected network of silicone rubber throughout the device. The device is suitable for use as a part of a toner fixation mechanism in a plain paper copying machine.

Abstract: An elastic fixing roll having an elastic, compliant body material and release surface material is disclosed. The body material comprises porous silicone rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, or fluorocarbon rubber foam, or a porous synthetic polymer foam reinforced with silicone rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, or fluorocarbon rubber. The release surface material is formed of porous polytetrafluoroethylene film containing silicone rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, or fluorocarbon rubber and is bonded to the body material by a non-continuous layer of adhesive.

Abstract: A fixing unit has a fixing roller and an endless belt. When a recording sheet bearing a toner image not yet fixed passes between the fixing roller and the endless belt, the fixing unit fixes the toner image onto the recording sheet in the nip area. The endless belt is a film-like belt consisting of a base film and a layer on the base film, the layer being made of a composite material containing porous material and elastomer. A fixing unit is thus provided which is free from the problems of image offset and lifetime shortening, and can realize the increase of fixing speed and/or size reduction.

Abstract: A liquid metering and coating device made of a liquid permeation control layer adhered to a porous support in which the support is an open-celled foam internally reinforced to obtain the strength, resilience, and heat resistance needed for high durability in use as a part of a hot toner image fixation mechanism in a plain paper copying machine.

Abstract: An elastic roll of the first embodiment comprises an elastic body layer formed in a thickness not less than 200 .mu.m on a metal core bar; and a covering layer with a release property formed in a thickness ranging from 3 .mu.m to 200 .mu.m on the surface of the elastic body, the covering layer being formed of a composite material composed of fibrillated polytetrafluoroethylene and elastomer having releasing properties. An elastic fixing roll of second embodiment comprises a heat-conductive elastic body layer formed of heat-resistant elastomer in a thickness not less than 200 .mu.m on a metal core bar; an oil-resistant layer formed of oil-resistant elastomer in a layer thickness ranging from 3 .mu.m to 200 .mu.m on the elastic body layer; and a covering layer having a release property and formed of a composite material composed of fibrillated polytetrafluoroethylene and elastomer with a release property in a thickness ranging from 3 .mu.m to 200 .mu.m on the oil-resistant layer.

Abstract: A process for selectively separating water vapor from a multiple component gaseous mixture is provided. The process comprises passing a multicomponent gaseous mixture including water vapor along and in contact with a membrane which is selectively permeable to water vapor and wherein the water vapor permeation rate Q.sub.H.sbsb.2.sub.O is greater than 30 Nm.sup.3 /m.sup.2 .multidot.hr.multidot.atm at 25.degree. C. and the ratio of Q.sub.H.sbsb.2.sub.O to the permeation rate Q.sub.G of the gas to be separated from the water vapor, i.e., Q.sub.H.sbsb.2.sub.O Q.sub.G, is greater than 10,000. The membrane preferably has a thickness of about 0.1 microns to about 50 microns.