Abstract: There is provided a method for manufacturing a bearing, which has increased adhesive strength of lubricant to surfaces of rolling elements, a surface of a raceway or a surface of a cage. A surface of a ball, a raceway surface of an inner ring and a raceway surface of an outer ring are subjected to fluoride coating substitution process or ion bombardment process so that their oxygen concentration becomes not more than 2 ppm/mm.sup.2, by which surface oxide is removed. After the removal of the oxide, the surfaces are coated with a solid lubricant of silver, lead or the like. The surfaces from which oxide has been removed have good lubricant adhesion, making breaks in the lubricant unlikely to occur. Thus, the life of the bearing is prolonged.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heater; a film having a side for sliding movement relative to the heater through a lubricant and another surface contactable to a recording material carrying an image; driving member for driving the film in contact therewith; and wherein when the heater is not effecting its heating operation, a friction between the film and the driving member is smaller than a friction between the film and the heater.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a heat generating element for generating heat upon electric power supply thereto; a temperature detecting element a for detecting a temperature or the heat generating element; power application control for controlling the power to the heat generating element so that the temperature detected by the temperature detecting element maintains a fixing temperature; and a power setting device for pre-applying power to the heat generating element to detect a rate of temperature change during the pre-application of power, before power is applied to start up the heat generating element to the fixing temperature, and for setting the power to be applied during the start-up period, in accordance with the detected rate of temperature change.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heater which is stationary in use; a film slidable on the heater; a backup member cooperable the heater to form a nip, with the film being interposed between them, an image carried on a recording material being heated through the film in the nip by heat from the heater; and a feeding interval controlling device for varying the recording material interval with which the recording materials are consecutively fed.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a film contactable and movable together with a recording material carrying an unfixed image; a heater for increasing a temperature of the film, wherein the unfixed image is heated by heat from the film; driving roller contactable to the film to drive the film; wherein the driving roller have an elastic layer and a low thermal expansion coefficient layer outside the elastic layer.

Abstract: A heater includes a base plate, and a resistor, extending in a longitudinal direction of the base plate, for generating heat when a power supply is applied thereto. A recess, such as a hole or groove, is formed in the base plate in a longitudinal portion of the resistor, to bias the base plate to break at the longitudinal portion and to open a circuit including the power supply and the resistor, to safely prevent overheating or smoking of the heater.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a heating member; a temperature detecting member for detecting the temperature of the heating member; a power supply controller for controlling the power supply to the heating member so that the temperature detected by the temperature detecting element during a fixing operation is maintained substantially constant at a predetermined fixing temperature; and a temperature selecting device for selecting a fixing temperature in response to both the temperature of the heating member before beginning of the fixing temperature control and a rate of the temperature change of the heating member upon supplying a predetermined amount of power to the heating member or upon turning it off.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heater; temperature detector for detecting a temperature of the heater; electric power supply controller for controlling electric power supply to the heater during image heating, so that the temperature detector detects a predetermined set temperature; and a temperature determining device for determining the set temperature on the basis of a change of the temperature detected by the temperature detector when electric power supply to the heater is stopped.

Abstract: An image heating device which includes a heater; a temperature detecting element to detect a temperature of the heater; and a controller for controlling power supply to the heater, so that the temperature detected by the temperature detecting member is maintained at a predetermined temperature, and the controller controls the power supply to the heater, based on a rising speed of the temperature detected during a period from the time when the power supply to the heater is started till the time when the temperature reaches the predetermined temperature.

Abstract: An elastic roller includes a conductive base; an elastic layer on the conductive base; a surface parting layer on the elastic layer, the surface parting layer having a surface resistance of not less than 10.sup.10 ohm; wherein the elastic layer has a volume resistivity of not more than 10.sup.7 ohm.cm.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heater; a temperature detecting member for detecting a temperature of the heater; the controller for controlling electric power supplied to the heater so that the temperature detected by the temperature detecting member is maintained at a predetermined temperature; comparing device for comparing the temperature detected by the temperature detecting member to the reference temperature; wherein, when the detected temperature remains to be no less than the reference temperature for a predetermined period of time, the controller reduces a duty ratio of the electric power to be supplied to the heater.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heater and a film movable together with a recording material carrying an image so that the image on the recording material is heated by heat from the heater through the film. A guiding member guides a surface of the film that contacts the heater, and the guiding member has a surface with projections effective to reduce a contact area between the guiding surface and the film. In addition, a lubricant is supplied between the guiding surface and the film so as to reduce frictional contact.