Abstract: The task is accomplished by an image forming system comprising an image forming apparatus including a heating fixing portion and a host computer capable of instructing printing. In an image forming apparatus, a throughput can be changed and discriminated in accordance with a printing number, wherein for printing on a small size sheet, said system is operable in a normal small size sheet mode, and in a high speed small size sheet output mode in which the printing is effected at a throughput which is higher than in the normal small size sheet mode, and after completion of the printing, the image forming apparatus rests for a predetermined rest period, wherein said host computer includes a mode selector for selecting a mode from the high speed small size sheet output mode and the normal small size sheet mode, and a controller for transmitting the mode selected by said mode selector to said image forming apparatus.

Abstract: The heat fixing apparatus includes a fixing heater and a pressure roller. The fixing heater has a plurality of resistance-type heat generation layers which are different in heat distribution in the longitudinal direction perpendicular to the direction of conveying a recording material. The recording material P is heated when passed through a fixing nip portion formed between the fixing heater and the pressure roller. The pressurization conditions between the fixing heater and the pressure roller can be changed. The heat fixing apparatus includes a fixing member which adjusts the lengthwise heat distribution of the fixing heater by changing the applied current proportion of the plurality of resistance-type heat generation layers according to the pressurization conditions between the fixing heater and the pressure roller.

Abstract: An optical member produced from a ceramic in which transparency in each wavelength region can be selectively improved, and a process for producing the optical member. The optical member is obtained by bringing a treatment gas comprising a fluorine atom into contact with an optical material comprising a specific ceramic under conditions according to the specific ceramic to thereby from a fluorinated film capable of improving the transmittance of light having wavelengths in a specific region, on at least some of the surface of the optical material.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus including a fixing portion in which a fixing nip portion is defined between a heater and a pressure roller via an endless belt, a pressure setting portion, which sets a pressure to be exerted on the fixing nip portion, sets a first pressure during fixing, sets a second pressure lower than the first pressure when the apparatus is not used, and sets a third pressure lower than the first pressure and higher than the second pressure when a recording material is jammed.

Abstract: An object the invention is to provide a phosphorus pentafluoride producing process wherein phosphorus pentafluoride is separated/extracted from a pentavalent phosphorus compound or a solution thereof, or a composition obtained by allowing the pentavalent phosphorus compound or the solution thereof to react with hydrogen fluoride, thereby producing phosphorus pentafluoride; and a phosphate hexafluoride producing process wherein the resultant phosphorus pentafluoride is used as raw material to produce a phosphate hexafluoride high in purity. The present invention relates to a process for producing phosphorus pentafluoride, wherein a carrier gas is brought into contact with either of the following one: a pentavalent phosphorus compound, a solution thereof, or a solution in which a composition obtained by allowing the pentavalent phosphorus compound or the solution thereof to react with hydrogen fluoride is dissolved, thereby a phosphorus pentafluoride is extracted into the career gas.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a carbon material dispersion, including: a fluorinated carbon material having a fluorinated surface formed by bringing a treatment gas with a fluorine concentration of 0.01 to 100 vol % into contact with a carbon material under conditions at 150 to 600° C.; and a dispersion medium in which the fluorinated carbon material is dispersed.

Abstract: The invention aims at providing a platinum black material, without using an expensive and rare material, which is excellent in CO poisoning inhibiting effect, H2S poisoning inhibiting effect, SO4 poisoning inhibiting effect and HCHO poisoning inhibiting effect, and a method for fluorinating platinum black. The platinum black material is characterized by fluorine adsorbed on its surface. The method for fluorinating platinum black is characterized by allowing platinum black to stand in a mixed gas atmosphere of n inert gas and fluorine in a low-pressure chamber to make fluorine adsorbed on the surface of the platinum black.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a feeding controller for controlling feeding of the recording material, wherein when a size of the recording material is smaller than a reference size, the feeding controller expands a feeding interval between a precedent recording material and a subsequent recording material gradually, and wherein when image formation on a plurality of recording materials which are smaller than a reference size is started, at timing at which an elapsed time from an end of a last image formation exceeds predetermined time, the feeding control means sets an initial value of the feeding interval to a predetermined minimum value, and wherein when image formation on a plurality of recording materials smaller than the reference size is started, at the timing at which the elapsed time is shorter than the predetermined time, the feeding control means sets the initial value of the feeding interval in accordance with the elapsed time and a last feeding interval at the time of an image formation of t

Abstract: It is intended to provide a method of producing a hollow construct, which may be in various shapes such as a fiber or a film as well as in various sizes and has chemical resistance, made of a fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer, a fluorinated carbon polymer or a polymer carrying a nitrogen-containing group, a silicon-containing group, an oxygen-containing group, a phosphorus-containing group or a sulfur-containing group having been introduced into the above-described polymer; and a hollow construct obtained by this method.

Abstract: A carbon nanotube aggregate and a method for forming a carbon nanotube aggregate are provided. The carbon nanotube aggregate can be formed by treating carbon nanotubes with fluorine gas and sintering the resulting fluorinated carbon nanotubes. A carbon nanotube aggregate can be formed which does not contain a binder or resin matrix.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus including a fixing portion in which a fixing nip portion is defined between a heater and a pressure roller via an endless belt, a pressure setting portion, which sets a pressure to be exerted on the fixing nip portion, sets a first pressure during fixing, sets a second pressure lower than the first pressure when the apparatus is not used, and sets a third pressure lower than the first pressure and higher than the second pressure when a recording material is jammed.

Abstract: The heat fixing apparatus includes a fixing heater and a pressure roller. The fixing heater has a plurality of resistance-type heat generation layers which are different in heat distribution in the longitudinal direction perpendicular to the direction of conveying a recording material. The recording material P is heated when passed through a fixing nip portion formed between the fixing heater and the pressure roller. The pressurization conditions between the fixing heater and the pressure roller can be changed. The heat fixing apparatus includes a fixing member which adjusts the lengthwise heat distribution of the fixing heater by changing the applied current proportion of the plurality of resistance-type heat generation layers according to the pressurization conditions between the fixing heater and the pressure roller.

Abstract: The invention aims at providing a platinum black material, without using an expensive and rare material, which is excellent in CO poisoning inhibiting effect, H2S poisoning inhibiting effect, SO4 poisoning inhibiting effect and HCHO poisoning inhibiting effect, and a method for fluorinating platinum black. The platinum black material is characterized by fluorine adsorbed on its surface. The method for fluorinating platinum black is characterized by allowing platinum black to stand in a mixed gas atmosphere of n inert gas and fluorine in a low-pressure chamber to make fluorine adsorbed on the surface of the platinum black.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image thermal apparatus including a flexible metallic sleeve, the inner peripheral surface of which contacts a heater. In order to provide increased durability for the sliding face of the heater, an imide resin that contains silicon nitride elementary particles is used to coat the sliding face of the heater.

Abstract: In an image-forming apparatus, a temperature sensor is situated in the position where the sensor is insusceptible to steam. The position is, for example, a portion, of a discharge-sensor lever, where a printing material abuts on the discharge-sensor lever. Accordingly, the temperature sensor becomes insusceptible to steam, whereby the image-forming apparatus can more appropriately control the fixing temperature than conventional image-forming apparatuses. In other words, the image-forming apparatus can more reduce the incidence rate of defects, such as increase, due to excess heating, in the amount of hot-offsets and curls, deterioration of loading capacity, and defective fixing due to scarcity of the amount of heat, than the conventional image-forming apparatuses.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a movable lever which functions as a recording medium detector for detecting the passage of a recording medium and a temperature detecting portion provided on the movable lever. The temperature of the recording medium is detected without providing an additional space for a sensor for detecting the temperature of the recording medium.

Abstract: Provided is a method for purifying a quaternary alkyl ammonium salt enabling the obtainment of a particulate quaternary alkyl ammonium salt having a low water content at a high yield which is suitably used as an electrolyte in an electrolytic solution. The method for the purification of a quaternary alkyl ammonium salt comprises dispersing a quaternary alkyl ammonium salt to be purified into an organic solvent to allow it to form a suspension there. The alkyl groups constituting the quaternary alkyl ammonium salt have 1 to 5 carbon atoms each. The quaternary alkyl ammonium salt to be purified is dispersed into the organic solvent to make a suspension, and then the particles are washed with an alcohol solvent.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide tantalum oxide and/or niobium oxide in the form of hollow particles. Disclosed is a method comprising adding hydrazine or an aqueous solution of hydrazine to (1) an aqueous solution of a tantalum compound and/or a niobium compound, to (2) an aqueous solution of fluorotantalic acid and/or fluoroniobic acid, or to (3) a solution obtained by dissolving crystallized fluorotantalic acid and/or crystallized fluoroniobic acid in water, to produce tantalum hydroxide and/or niobium hydroxide, and firing the tantalum hydroxide and/or niobium hydroxide.

Abstract: A method for preparing tantalum oxide and/or niobium oxide, characterized in that it comprises adding a basic aqueous solution to an aqueous solution of tantalum fluoride salt and/or niobium fluoride salt, to form tantalum hydroxide and/or niobium hydroxide, and then firing said tantalum hydroxide and/or niobium hydroxide. The above method allows the preparation of the tantalum oxide and/or niobium oxide in the state of a needle crystal or columnar crystal, not of a spherical crystal or an assemblage form.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a recording material, the apparatus including a conveying roller for conveying a recording material, the conveying roller including a metal core and an elastic layer provided outside the metal core, wherein the metal core has, in a central portion in the longitudinal direction thereof, a straight shape area having a substantially uniform diameter along the longitudinal direction and tapered shape areas, on both sides of the straight shape area, in which a diameter gradually decreases toward ends in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the elastic layer has, in a central portion in the longitudinal direction thereof, a straight shape area having a substantially uniform diameter along the longitudinal direction and inverted crown shape areas, on both sides of the straight shape area, in which a diameter gradually increases toward ends in the longitudinal direction.