Abstract: To provide a technique for allowing a search for a route taking into account turnarounds in the entire way from a point of departure to a destination. A route search system includes a node obtaining part that obtains nodes present between a point of departure and a destination of a vehicle; a passage cost obtaining part that obtains a passage cost of a road section between the nodes and the passage costs of intersections represented by the nodes; and a route searching part that searches for a route with the smallest sum of the passage costs between the point of departure and the destination, and the route searching part sets the passage cost for a case of making a turnaround, for all of the intersections included in a candidate for a route from the point of departure to the destination, based on the road section traveled after the turnaround.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming a toner image on a recording material. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion configured to form the toner image on the recording material, a fixing portion including a heater and configured to fix the toner image on the recording material by heating the toner image formed on the recording material, and a controller configured to control the image forming apparatus. When toner images are continuously formed on a plurality of recording materials, the controller sets an interval between a preceding recording material and a subsequent recording material depending on unevenness of a print ratio of the subsequent recording material with respect to a direction perpendicular to a recording material feeding direction of the subsequent recording material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming a toner image on a recording material includes an image forming portion configured to form the toner image on the recording material, a fixing portion including a heater and configured to fix the toner image on the recording material by heating the toner image formed on the recording material, and a controller configured to control the image forming apparatus. When toner images are continuously formed on a plurality of recording materials, the controller sets an interval between a preceding recording material and a subsequent recording material depending on unevenness of a print ratio of the subsequent recording material with respect to a direction perpendicular to a recording material feeding direction of the subsequent recording material.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a pad and a holder that holds the pad at a side opposite from a side on which the pad opposes a rotatable member. The holder includes a first portion provided at a position in which a recording material is separated from the rotatable member, with a gap being provided between the pad and the first portion with respect to a recording material feeding direction, and a second portion that holds the pad and extends in the recording material feeding direction. In addition, a leaf spring member urges the holder toward the rotatable member. Further, a recording material, carrying a toner image thereon, is nipped and fed through a nip, formed by sandwiching an endless belt between the rotatable member and the pad, and the toner image is fixed on the recording material in the nip.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a cylindrical heating rotating member, a nip portion forming member having first and second surfaces, and provided in a hollow portion of the heating rotating member so that the first surface contacts an inner surface of the heating rotating member, and a roller that, sandwiches the heating rotating member with the nip portion forming member to form a nip portion. A plurality of recessed portions are on the first surface, so a size of an area in which the first surface is in contact with the heating rotating member in an upstream area of the nip portion is less than a size of the area in which the first surface of the nip portion forming member is in contact with the heating rotating member in a downstream area of the nip portion with respect to a center of the nip portion.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable member, a rotatable endless belt, a pad, a holder including a recording material separating portion and a pad holding portion, and a leaf spring member. Between the rotatable member and the endless belt, a nip is formed by sandwiching the endless belt by the rotatable member and the pad. With respect to a recording material feeding direction, a gap is provided between the pad and the recording material separating portion of the holder.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a cylindrical heating rotating member, a nip portion forming member having first and second surfaces, and provided in a hollow portion of the heating rotating member so that the first surface contacts an inner surface of the heating rotating member, and a roller that, sandwiches the heating rotating member with the nip portion forming member to form a nip portion. A plurality of recessed portions are on the first surface, so a size of an area in which the first surface is in contact with the heating rotating member in an upstream area of the nip portion is less than a size of the area in which the first surface of the nip portion forming member is in contact with the heating rotating member in a downstream area of the nip portion with respect to a center of the nip portion.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a heating rotating member, a nip portion forming member, and a pressure member which, together with a first surface of the nip portion forming member, sandwiches the heating rotating member to form a nip portion. A plurality of grooves is provided on the first surface of the nip portion forming member, so that a size of an area in which the first surface of the nip portion forming member is in contact with the heating rotating member in an upstream area of the nip portion is less than a size of the area in a downstream area of the nip portion with respect to a center of the nip portion in a rotation direction of the heating rotating member. In addition, each groove of the plurality of grooves extends in a direction crossing the rotation direction of the heating rotating member.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a recording material includes a tubular rotary member including a conductive layer, a magnetic core inserted into a hollow portion of the rotary member, a coil helically wound around an outer side of the magnetic core in the hollow portion, and a control unit configured to control a frequency of an alternating current flowing through the coil, in which the conductive layer generates heat by an electromagnetic induction in an alternating magnetic field formed when the alternating current flows through the coil, and the control unit controls the frequency in accordance with a size of the recording material.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus comprising: a heating rotating member having a cylindrical shape; a nip portion forming member which includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and which is provided in a hollow portion of the heating rotating member so that the first surface faces an inner surface of the heating rotating member; and a pressure member which, together with the first surface of the nip portion forming member, so that an area size where the first surface of the nip portion forming member is in contact with the heating rotating member is smaller in an upstream area of the nip portion than in a downstream area of the nip portion with respect to a center of the nip portion in a rotation direction of the heating rotating member.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a recording material includes a tubular rotary member including a conductive layer, a magnetic core inserted into a hollow portion of the rotary member, a coil helically wound around an outer side of the magnetic core in the hollow portion, and a control unit configured to control a frequency of an alternating current flowing through the coil, in which the conductive layer generates heat by an electromagnetic induction in an alternating magnetic field formed when the alternating current flows through the coil, and the control unit controls the frequency in accordance with a size of the recording material.

Abstract: A metal plate, which reinforces a backup member in contact with an inner surface of a fixing film, has a flat portion pressed against the backup member. The fixing film includes an electrically conductive layer. A current flows through the electrically conductive layer entirely in a circumferential direction of the fixing film, thereby causing the fixing film to generate heat.

Abstract: An image heating device for heating a toner image while nip-conveying a recording material, in a nip, on which the toner image is carried, includes a heating member; and a pressing roller, including an elastic layer, for forming the nip in contact with the heating member. The elastic layer of the pressing roller includes a thermosetting silicon rubber containing a thermal conductive filler. The thermosetting silicon rubber includes pore portions formed with resin microballoons and a pore connecting portion for connecting the pore portions. The elastic layer has a thermal conductivity of 0.15 W/mK to 0.5 W/mK.

Abstract: A metal plate, which reinforces a backup member in contact with an inner surface of a fixing film, has a flat portion pressed against the backup member. The fixing film includes an electrically conductive layer. A current flows through the electrically conductive layer entirely in a circumferential direction of the fixing film, thereby causing the fixing film to generate heat.

Abstract: There is provided a map information providing technology that can keep map information very fresh at all times.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing on a recording material a toner image formed on the recording material includes: a flexible sleeve including a resinous base layer, a parting layer, and an adhesive layer for bonding the base and parting layers; a heater contacting the sleeve; a pressor for forming a nip with the sleeve, in which the recording material is nipped and conveyed; a member for applying a voltage, with the same polarity as toner; and a grounder contacting the recording material in the nip, for grounding the recording material. In a thickness direction of the layers, the electric resistance of the adhesive layer is larger than that of the parting layer, which is larger than that of the base layer. The member applies the voltage to the sleeve in contact with the base layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image heating apparatus in which a nip portion is formed by a heating unit, which includes a flexible sleeve and a heater, and a pressure roller. The position of the heating unit is appropriately maintained by pressing the heating unit against the pressure roller using a pressure member so that the heating unit can contact two or more portions of a downstream side rim of a groove arranged on a frame that holds the heating unit, even when the pressure roller is rotated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image heating apparatus in which a nip portion is formed by a heating unit, which includes a flexible sleeve and a heater, and a pressure roller. The position of the heating unit is appropriately maintained by pressing the heating unit against the pressure roller using a pressure member so that the heating unit can contact two or more portions of a downstream side rim of a groove arranged on a frame that holds the heating unit, even when the pressure roller is rotated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image heating apparatus in which a nip portion is formed by a heating unit, which includes a flexible sleeve and a heater, and a pressure roller. The position of the heating unit is appropriately maintained by pressing the heating unit against the pressure roller using a pressure member so that the heating unit can contact two or more portions of a downstream side rim of a groove arranged on a frame that holds the heating unit, even when the pressure roller is rotated.

Abstract: An image heating device for heating a toner image while nip-conveying a recording material, in a nip, on which the toner image is carried, includes a heating member; and a pressing roller, including an elastic layer, for forming the nip in contact with the heating member. The elastic layer of the pressing roller includes a thermosetting silicon rubber containing a thermal conductive filler. The thermosetting silicon rubber includes pore portions formed with resin microballoons and a pore connecting portion for connecting the pore portions. The elastic layer has a thermal conductivity of 0.15 W/mK to 0.5 W/mK.