Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heating rotatable member for heating an image on a recording material in a heating nip; a belt for cooperating with the heating rotatable member to form a heating nip; a pad for urging the belt toward the heating rotatable member at the heating nip; and a sheet covering a surface of the pad opposed to the heating rotatable member, the sheet being slidable on the belt, wherein includes a surface layer having a low friction property and a base layer having a tensile strength of 300-600 MPa.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heating rotatable member for heating an image on a recording material in a heating nip; a belt for cooperating with the heating rotatable member to form a heating nip; a pad for urging the belt toward the heating rotatable member at the heating nip; and a sheet covering a surface of the pad opposed to the heating rotatable member, the sheet being slidable on the belt, wherein includes a surface layer having a low friction property and a base layer having a tensile strength of 300-600 MPa.

Abstract: A garland light set is formed by a plurality of longitudinally-extending light strings physically twisted together to define a garland extending along a longitudinal axis. Each of the light strings includes a plurality of lamp sockets electrically wired in series and longitudinally spaced along a longitudinal axis of the respective light string, wires physically and electrically connecting in series each lamp socket of a respective light string along the respective longitudinal light string axis, and clips for orienting each lamp socket generally coaxially with the respective longitudinal light string axis.

Abstract: A garland light set is formed by a plurality of longitudinally-extending light strings physically twisted together to define a garland extending along a longitudinal axis. Each of the light strings includes a plurality of lamp sockets electrically wired in series and longitudinally spaced along a longitudinal axis of the respective light string, wires physically and electrically connecting in series each lamp socket of a respective light string along the respective longitudinal light string axis, and clips for orienting each lamp socket generally coaxially with the respective longitudinal light string axis.

Abstract: An economical method of making a net or mesh light with light nodes includes the step of providing a light set having a common wire collection extending in a first direction, the common wire collection including an active wire and a return wire. A plurality of series-connected light strings extend physically parallel to each other and in a second direction substantially transverse to the first direction, each light string including a plurality of lamp sockets and a plurality of intermediate lengths of wire connecting the lamp sockets in series. Plug means are disposed at one end of the common wire collection and include the active and return wires. Then at least one non-electrical rope is physically fastened to the lamp sockets of the plurality of light strings removed a common distance along the second direction from the common wire collection, thereby forming a net or mesh.

Abstract: A clip for use in connecting the wires of a mesh-defining lamp set intermediate the lamp sockets thereof, including a resiliently curved portion adapted to receive wires therethrough, a pair of intermediate portions extending outwardly of respective ends of the body portion and defining a neck extending outwardly of the body portion, and a pair of end portions extending from respective ones of the intermediate portions and configured and dimensioned to be locked together. A short one of the pair of end portions extends in a substantially transverse direction to the neck, is biased by the body portion in the substantially transverse direction, and terminates in a free end. A relatively longer one of the pair of end portions initially extends in the substantially transverse direction to the neck, parallel to the short end portion, and then defines a generally concave cap configured and dimensioned to receive and maintain therein against accidental dislodgement the short end portion free end.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing an image, a movable recording material carrying member for carrying a recording material on a first side thereof, the recording material carrying member cooperating with the image bearing member to form a nip therebetween, a transfer charging member, to which a voltage is applicable, the transfer charging member being contactable to a second side of the recording material carrying member to transfer in the nip an image from the image bearing member onto a recording material carried on the recording material carrying member, a pushing member for pushing the second surface of the recording material carrying member at a first position of the recording material carrying member to increase a width, measured along a movement direction of the recording material carrying member, of the nip, wherein the first position is remote from a second position where the transfer charging member is contactable to the recording material carrying member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing an image, a transfer charging device for transferring the image from the image bearing member onto a recording material at a transfer position, a power source for supplying a voltage to the transfer charging device during an image transfer operation, and a control device for changing an output of the transfer charging device from a first level to a second level prior to arrival of an image area of the image bearing member at the transfer position, wherein the second level is higher than a third level of the output which is a level when the image area is at the transfer position.

Abstract: This invention relates to an image forming apparatus which has a recording material support member for supporting a recording material and moving therewith, an image forming unit for forming an image on the recording material supported by the recording material support member, and attraction charging devices for electrostatically attracting the recording material to said recording material support member. The attraction charging devices are first and second electrodes positioned across the recording material support member from each other, wherein a center of charging of the first electrode to the recording material support member is shifted from a center of charging of the second electrode, in the moving direction of said recording material support member, and there may also be an auxiliary charger for charging, prior to image formation, the recording material attracted to the recording material support member.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus in which when separating a recording material from a recording-material conveying sheet, the recording-material conveying sheet is pressed and deformed by a pressing member, the pressing member has a convex curved portion contacting the recording-material conveying sheet in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the recording-material conveying sheet. It is thereby possible to sufficiently deform the recording-material conveying sheet while preventing it from being permanently deformed or broken.