Abstract: A control device includes a memory and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor executes a process comprising determining the order of setting of operating conditions which are set to a plurality of virtual machines and make the virtual machines operate, respectively, in accordance with processing dependency between software executed by the plurality of virtual machines and first setting the respective operating conditions of the virtual machines in the setting order at the determining.

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: An image heating apparatus includes an endless belt configured to heat an image on a sheet at a nip potion, a heat generation device configured to cause the belt to generate heat, a nip forming member configured to form the nip portion between the nip forming member and the belt, and a pressing roller configured to press an inner surface of the belt toward the nip forming member, the pressing roller including an elastic porous layer containing a plurality of filler particles, wherein a thermal conductivity of the elastic porous layer in an axial direction of the pressing roller is in a range of 6 times to 900 times a thermal conductivity of the elastic porous layer in a radial direction of the pressing roller.

Abstract: A fixing member manufacturing method includes: a step of coating an outer peripheral surface of an elastic material with an adhesive; a step of externally fitting a resin tube around the elastic material coated with the adhesive; a step of temporarily fixing the resin tube onto the elastic material by heating the resin tube at a longitudinal end portion; a step of temporarily fixing the resin tube onto the elastic material by heating the resin tube at the other longitudinal end portion except for a circumferential part of the resin tube; a step of squeezing out an excessive adhesive from between the elastic material and the resin tube, in a direction from the longitudinal end portion to the other longitudinal end portion of the resin tube; and a step of fixing the resin tube onto the elastic material by heating the adhesive.

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 fixing member manufacturing method includes: a step of coating an outer peripheral surface of an elastic material with an adhesive; a step of externally fitting a resin tube around the elastic material coated with the adhesive; a step of temporarily fixing the resin tube onto the elastic material by heating the resin tube at a longitudinal end portion; a step of temporarily fixing the resin tube onto the elastic material by heating the resin tube at the other longitudinal end portion except for a circumferential part of the resin tube; a step of squeezing out an excessive adhesive from between the elastic material and the resin tube, in a direction from the longitudinal end portion to the other longitudinal end portion of the resin tube; and a step of fixing the resin tube onto the elastic material by heating the adhesive.

Abstract: Provided is a member for electrophotography. The member for electrophotography includes: a substrate; an elastic layer containing a cured silicone rubber having a methyl group bonded to a silicon atom; and a fluorine resin release layer bonded to a surface of the elastic layer by an addition-curing-type silicone rubber adhesive. The elastic layer contains a titanium oxide particle having an anatase-type crystal structure.

Abstract: Provided is a fixing device, the heat generation amount of which can be obtained with a smaller amount of a microwave absorbing material. As a result, the start-up (warm-up) time for achieving a fixing temperature can be shortened without impairing characteristics such as flexibility, releasing property, and durability. The fixing device includes a heating member; a pressurizing member; and a microwave generating unit. It is configured to fix an unfixed toner on a recording material by passing the recording material through a nip formed between the heating member and the pressurizing member. The heating member includes a heat generating layer for generating heat with microwaves generated by the microwave generating unit. The heat generating layer contains a high molecular compound and a carbon fiber having an average fiber diameter of 80-150 nm, an average fiber length of 6-10 ?m, and an absorption peak in a Raman spectrum resulting from a graphite structure.

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: An image heating apparatus includes an endless belt configured to heat an image on a sheet at a nip potion, a heat generation device configured to cause the belt to generate heat, a nip forming member configured to form the nip portion between the nip forming member and the belt, and a pressing roller configured to press an inner surface of the belt toward the nip forming member, the pressing roller including an elastic porous layer containing a plurality of filler particles, wherein a thermal conductivity of the elastic porous layer in an axial direction of the pressing roller is in a range of 6 times to 900 times a thermal conductivity of the elastic porous layer in a radial direction of the pressing roller.

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 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 bonding device for bonding substrates together, includes: a first holding unit configured to hold a first substrate on a lower surface thereof; a second holding unit located below the first holding unit and configured to hold a second substrate on an upper surface thereof; a moving mechanism configured to move the first holding unit or 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 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 the first substrate held in the first holding unit, at least one of the first image pickup unit and the second image pickup unit including an infrared camera.

Abstract: A fixing member includes an elastic layer and a toner parting layer. The elastic layer includes a laser-irradiated region formed by being irradiated at longitudinal end portions of the elastic layer with laser light except for at least one non-laser-irradiated region with respect to a circumferential direction of the elastic layer. The elastic layer is coated with the toner parting layer.

Abstract: A system includes circuitry configured to: read a plurality of character information and a plurality of identifiers that are included in a text file; determine whether a character information among the plurality of character information is included between the at least one pair of identifiers among the plurality of identifiers in the text file; and associate the character information with the at least one pair of identifiers when it is determined that the character information is included between the at least one pair of identifiers.

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: Provided is a fixing device whose required heat generation amount can be obtained with a smaller amount of a microwave absorbing material, hence start-up (warm-up) time for achieving fixable temperature of the fixing device can be shortened without impairing characteristics such as flexibility, releasing property, durability. The fixing device comprises: a heating member; a pressurizing member; and a microwave generating unit, the fixing device being configured to fix an unfixed toner on a recording material by passing the recording material through a nip formed between the heating member and the pressurizing member, wherein: the heating member includes a heat generating layer for generating heat with microwave generated by the microwave generating unit; and the heat generating layer contains a high molecular compound and a carbon fiber having an average fiber diameter of 80-150 nm, an average fiber length of 6-10 ?m, and in Raman spectrum, an absorption peak resulting from graphite structure.

Abstract: A mounting method of sequentially mounting elements on a substrate includes a mounting process of mounting one element, which is taken out by a take-out part from an accommodating part in which the elements are accommodated, on a first contact region of the surface of the substrate where a liquid is coated. The method further includes a coating process of coating a liquid, by a coating part movably provided together with the take-out part, on a contact region of the surface of the substrate different from the first contact region when the one element is mounted on the first region.

Abstract: A fixing member manufacturing method includes: a step of holding a longitudinal end of a resin tube by a first holding tool; a step of holding another longitudinal end of the resin tube by a second holding tool; a step of decreasing a distance between the first and second holding tools each holding the resin tube, by a predetermined amount; a step of expanding, after the decreasing step, the resin tube in a radial direction; and a step of externally fitting the resin tube, expanded in the radial direction, around an elastic material coated with an adhesive.

Abstract: A fixing member includes an elastic layer and a toner parting layer. The elastic layer includes a laser-irradiated region formed by being irradiated at longitudinal end portions of the elastic layer with laser light except for at least one non-laser-irradiated region with respect to a circumferential direction of the elastic layer. The elastic layer is coated with the toner parting layer.