Abstract: A heater includes a substrate, a first electrical contact, second electrical contacts, first electrode portions and second electrode portions, heat generating portions, a first electroconductive line portion, and a second electroconductive line portion. The heat generating portions are disposed so as to be offset from a center line of the substrate with respect to a widthwise direction of the substrate.

Abstract: A fixing member includes a substrate and an elastic layer on the substrate. The elastic layer comprises a cured product of a silicone rubber composition containing an anatase titanium oxide particle and an addition-curable silicone rubber, and undergoes cohesive failure in 90° peel test specified in JIS K6854-1: 1999. In the fixing member, an allyl group bound to a silicon atom is present at the interface between the substrate and the elastic layer.

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: The present invention relates to an electrophotographic member having electroconductivity for suppressing peeling offset and also having a high cracking resistance. The electrophotographic member has an endless belt shape, and includes a cylindrical or columnar substrate, a rubber elastic layer that covers a periphery of the substrate, and a fluororesin tube that covers a periphery of the rubber elastic layer, wherein the fluororesin tube is crystalline-orientated in a substantially axial direction of the substrate and includes a fluororesin and carbon black dispersed in the fluororesin, and a primary average particle diameter of the carbon black is 50 nm or more and 100 nm or less.

Abstract: A heater includes a substrate, electrode portions, electrical contact portions, heat generating portions, and electroconductive line portions. The electrode portions include first group electrode portions and second group electrode portions. The electroconductive line portions include a main line portion extending from the electrical contact portions in the longitudinal direction, a first branch line portion branching from the main line portion so as to electrically connect with a first electrode portion of the first group electrode portions, and a second branch line portion branching from the main line portion so as to electrically connect with a second electrode portion of the first group electrode portions. The second electrode portion is spaced farther from the electrical contact portions than the first electrode portion in the longitudinal direction, and the electric resistance of the first branch line portion is larger than the electric resistance of the second branch line portion.

Abstract: An electrophotographic fixing member includes a substrate, a cured silicone rubber layer and a fluorine resin layer bonded onto the cured silicone rubber layer, wherein a micro hardness of a cured silicone rubber constituting the cured silicone rubber layer is designated as H?0, and a micro hardness of a rubber obtained by soaking the cured silicone rubber in a methyl hydrogen silicone oil for 24 hours and then further curing the cured silicone rubber, is designated as H?1, H?1/H?0 is 1.5 or more and 5.0 or less, and the cured silicone rubber layer comprises a titanium oxide crystal having an anatase type structure.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable heating member and a rotatable pressing member which are configured to fix a toner image on a recording material in a nip therebetween; and a heating mechanism configured to selectively heat regions of the rotatable heating member depending on sizes of the recording material when the sizes are predetermined ones of all sizes usable in the fixing device. The rotatable pressing member includes a base layer and a porous elastic layer provided on the base layer and containing a needle-like filler. The elastic layer having 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.

Abstract: A pressing roller includes a cylindrical core metal; a first rubber layer of non-porous material provided on the core metal; and a second rubber layer of porous material provided on the first rubber layer, wherein the second rubber layer includes a thermo-conductive filler dispersed therein such that a thermal conductivity of the second rubber layer in a longitudinal direction is higher than a thermal conductivity thereof in a thickness direction, and wherein the first rubber layer includes a thermo-conductive filler dispersed therein such that a thermal conductivity of the first rubber layer in an thickness direction is higher than a thermal conductivity of the second rubber layer in the thickness direction of the second rubber layer.

Abstract: Provided is a fixing member having a silicone rubber elastic layer blended with a carbon nanotube, the fixing member suppressing peeling at an interface in association with insufficient adhesion between a base member and the silicone rubber elastic layer at the time of the use of the fixing member, and hence securing adhesion durability. The fixing member includes a base member, an elastic layer, and a surface layer, in which: the elastic layer contains a silicone rubber and a carbon nanotube; a ratio E200/E50 of an elastic modulus E200 of the elastic layer at 200° C. to an elastic modulus E50 of the elastic layer at 50° C. is 0.5 or more and less than 1.0; an adhesive strength between the elastic layer and the base member is 3.0 N/cm or more and 20.0 N/cm or less; and the elastic layer undergoes a cohesive failure at the time of a peel test.

Abstract: A heater includes a substrate, electrode portions, electrical contact portions, heat generating portions, and electroconductive line portions. The electrode portions include first group electrode portions and second group electrode portions. The electroconductive line portions include a main line portion extending from the electrical contact portions in the longitudinal direction, a first branch line portion branching from the main line portion so as to electrically connect with a first electrode portion of the first group electrode portions, and a second branch line portion branching from the main line portion so as to electrically connect with a second electrode portion of the first group electrode portions. The second electrode portion is spaced from the electrical contact portions more than the first electrode portion in the longitudinal direction, and an electric resistance of the first branch line portion is larger than an electric resistance of the second branch line portion.

Abstract: A heater includes a substrate, a first electrical contact, a plurality of second electrical contacts, a plurality of electrode portions including first electrode portions electrically connected with the first electrical contact and second electrode portions electrically connected with the second electrical contacts, the first electrode portions and the second electrode portions being arranged alternately with predetermined gaps in a longitudinal direction of the substrate, and a plurality of heat generating portions provided between adjacent ones of the electrode portions so as to electrically connect between adjacent electrode portions, the heat generating portions being capable of generating heat by the electric power supply between adjacent electrode portions. A part of the second electrical contacts is selectably electrically connectable with the second terminal.

Abstract: A pressing rotatable member for use with an image heating apparatus including a base layer; and a porous elastic layer provided on the base layer, wherein the elastic layer has a thermal conductivity in an axial direction thereof and a thermal conductivity in a circumferential direction thereof which are not less than 6-times and not more than 900-times a thermal conductivity in a thickness direction thereof.

Abstract: A joining device includes a first holding unit configured to load and hold the first member on its top surface; a second holding unit disposed above the first holding unit while facing the first holding unit and configured to hold the second member; and a position adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a joining position between the first member held by the first holding unit and the second member held by the second holding unit. The second holding unit is of a circular plate shape, and the position adjustment mechanism includes four position-adjusting cam members disposed at equal intervals along an outer peripheral surface of the second holding unit, and moves the second holding unit in a horizontal direction.

Abstract: A heater includes: a substrate; a first electrical contact; second electrical contacts; first electrode portions and second electrode portions; heat generating portions; a first electroconductive line portion electrically connecting the first electrical contact and the first electrode portions; and a second electroconductive line portion electrically connecting one of the second electrical contacts and a part of the second electrode portions. A cross-sectional area of a portion, of the first electroconductive line portion, into which all of currents flowing through the first electrode portions merge when the currents flow from the first electrode portions toward the first electrical contact is larger than a cross-sectional area of a portion, of the second electroconductive line portion, into which all of currents flowing through the part of the second electrode portions merge when the currents flow from the part of the second electrode portions toward the one of second electrical contacts.

Abstract: A heater includes a substrate; a first electrical contact a plurality of second electrical contacts an electroconductive line portion electrically connected with the first electrical contact; a plurality of electrode portions including first electrode portions electrically connected with the first electrical contact through the electroconductive line portion and second electrode portions electrically connected with the second electrical contacts; and a plurality of heat generating portions provided between adjacent ones of the electrode portions. A cross-section of the electroconductive line portion in a side closer to the first electrical contact than the plurality of heat generating portions are with respect to the longitudinal direction is larger than a cross-section of a predetermined electrode portion, between adjacent heat generating portions, of the plurality of electrode portions.

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 device includes a rotatable heating member and a rotatable pressing member which are configured to fix a toner image on a recording material in a nip therebetween; and a heating mechanism configured to selectively heat regions of the rotatable heating member depending on sizes of the recording material when the sizes are predetermined ones of all sizes usable in the fixing device. The rotatable pressing member includes a base layer and a porous elastic layer provided on the base layer and containing a needle-like filler. The elastic layer having 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.

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 first step of externally fitting a resin tube around an elastic material; and a second step of squeezing an excessive adhesive between the elastic material and the resin tube. The second step includes: a step of externally fitting, around the resin tube in a longitudinal end side, a ring member having an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the resin tube externally fitted around the elastic material; and a step of moving the ring member from the longitudinal end side toward another longitudinal end side of the resin tube while bringing the ring member into contact with an outer peripheral surface of the resin tube by air pressure.

Abstract: A bonding device for bonding substrates together, includes: a processing vessel configured to accommodate and bond first and second substrates; a first holding unit fixed within the processing vessel and configured to hold the first substrate on a lower surface thereof; a second holding unit located below the first holding unit within the processing vessel and configured to hold the second substrate on an upper surface thereof; a moving mechanism configured to move the second holding unit in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction; a first image pickup unit located in the first holding unit and configured to pick up an image of a front surface of the second substrate held in the second holding unit; and a second image pickup unit located in the second holding unit and configured to pick up an image of a front surface of the first substrate held in the first holding unit.