Abstract: A reinforced flame retardant resin composition including 20 to 87% by mass of an (A) thermoplastic resin, 3 to 20% by mass of a (B) aromatic phosphoric acid ester-based flame retardant agent, 5 to 40% by mass of (C) mica powder, and 0.5 to 30% by mass of (D) hydrous mineral powder having a dehydration starting temperature for crystallization water in a range of 400 to 600° C.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a polyphenylene ether powder that has a high loose apparent specific gravity and good handleability, as well as a high solvent solubility, and good covering properties by coating, applying and the like, and further, when formed as a covering film, providing the covering film with excellent mechanical properties. The polyphenylene ether powder according to the present invention has a loose apparent specific gravity of 0.40 or more and 0.85 or less, and includes 5 to 20 mass % of a component having a molecular weight of 50,000 or more and 12 to 30 mass % of a component having a molecular weight of 8,000 or less.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating element disposed inside a flexible fusing member, a nip member disposed to contact with a surface of the flexible fusing member and to allow the flexible fusing member to slide along the nip member, a reflecting plate for reflecting radiant heat from the heating element toward the nip member, and a backup member for nipping the flexible fusing member with the nip member. The reflecting plate includes a central reflecting portion extending along a longitudinal direction of the heating element at least in a region corresponding to along a heat generating portion of the heating element, and end reflecting portions stationarily provided on both ends of the central reflecting portion. The end reflecting portions are disposed in positions longitudinally outward of the heat generating portion and each has a reflecting surface tilted with respect to the longitudinal direction of the heating element.

Abstract: The polyphenylene ether according to the present invention includes 5 to 20% by mass of a component having a molecular weight of 50,000 or more and 12 to 30% by mass of a component having a molecular weight of 8,000 or less. The resin composition according to the present invention includes the polyphenylene ether (a) and a hydrogenated block copolymer (b) prepared by hydrogenating a block copolymer including at least two polymer blocks A having a vinyl aromatic compound and at least one polymer block B having a conjugated diene compound, wherein the number average molecular weight (Mnb) of the hydrogenated block copolymer is 100,000 or less, and the number average molecular weight (MnbA) of at least one polymer block of the polymer blocks A is 8,000 or more.

Abstract: A fixing device for thermally fixing a developer image transferred onto a recording sheet, includes: a flexible fusing member which is flexibly deformable; a heating element; a nip member disposed in such a manner as to contact with a surface of the flexible fusing member and to allow the flexible fusing member to slide along the nip member; a reflecting plate configured to reflect radiant heat from the heating element in a direction toward the nip member; a backup member configured to nip the flexible fusing member with the nip member to thereby form a nip portion for the recording sheet between the flexible fusing member and the backup member; and a stay configured to support both end portions of the nip member. The reflecting plate has at least one flange portion, and the flange portion is held and supported between the nip member and the stay.

Abstract: There is provided a fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet. The fixing device includes a tubular flexible member, a heater, a nip member, a reflection plate, a backup member, a stay and a temperature sensor. The flexible member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space. The heater is disposed in the internal space and is configured to generate a radiant heat. The nip member is disposed in the internal space, the inner peripheral surface being in sliding contact with the nip member. The reflection plate is configured to reflect the radiant heat from the heater toward the nip member, the reflection plate having an outer profile. The backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the nip member for nipping the flexible member between the backup member and the nip member.

Abstract: A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet fed in a sheet feeding direction includes: a tubular flexible member; a nip member; a heater; a reflection member; a backup member; and a temperature sensor. The tubular flexible member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space. The nip member is disposed in the internal space and has one surface and opposite surface. The inner peripheral surface is in contact with the one surface. The heater is disposed in the internal space and confronts the nip member in a confronting direction. The reflection member is configured to reflect a radiant heat from the heater toward the nip member. The backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the nip member for nipping the tubular flexible member between the backup member and the nip member. The temperature sensor is disposed in the internal space and is configured to detect a temperature of the nip member.

Abstract: In a fixing device, a nip plate is disposed on an inner surface of a tubular flexible fusing member which is flexibly deformable, and configured to be heated by a heating element disposed inside the fusing member. The fusing member is nipped between the nip plate and a backup member to form a nip portion. First and second portions of the nip plate which are located in positions upstream and downstream, respectively, with respect to a recording sheet conveyance direction and to be supported by a stay are each configured to be a flat plate extending along the recording sheet conveyance direction. A central portion between the first and second portions of the nip plate is in a position shifted from those of the first and second portions in a direction perpendicular to flat surfaces of the first and second portions.

Abstract: There is provided a fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet. The fixing device includes a tubular flexible member, a heater, a nip member and a backup member. The tubular flexible member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space. The heater is disposed within the internal space and is configured to generate a radiant heat. The nip member is disposed within the internal space and is configured to receive the radiant heat from the heater, the inner peripheral surface being in sliding contact with the nip member, and the nip member being electrically conductive and the tubular flexible member being grounded via the nip member. The backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the nip member for nipping the tubular flexible member between the backup member and the nip member.

Abstract: A fuser unit, which heat-fixes a developer image on a recording sheet, the fuser unit comprising: a cylindrical member having flexibility; a heat generation member; a nip member; a stay; a first frame; a second frame, and a wiring, wherein the first frame is provided with a pair of openings through which both axial end sides of the stay are exposed, wherein the second frame is configured to cover a central portion of the wiring, which is positioned at an inward side more than the pair of openings in the axial direction, wherein both axial sides of the second frame are provided with pressing protrusions that directly press the stay through the openings, and wherein both axial sides of the second frame are provided with third frames that cover a part of the wiring arranged at both axial end sides of the first frame.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a tubular fusing film, a heater, a nip member, a backup member, a first supporting member, and a second supporting member. The heater may be disposed inside the tubular shape of the fusing film. The nip member may be disposed so as to be in sliding contact with the inner surface of the fusing film and heated by the heater. The backup member may form a nip portion between the backup member and the fusing film with the fusing film between the backup member and the nip member. The first supporting member may be configured to support the nip member. The second supporting member may be configured to support the heater and movably support the first supporting member so that the nip member moves relative to the backup member and the heater.

Abstract: A polyphenylene ether resin composition obtainable by melt-mixing a polyphenylene ether (A) comprising a structural unit (a) represented by formula (1): (wherein R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an optionally substituted alkyl group, and the like), and/or a structural unit (b) represented by formula (2): (wherein R3 and R4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an optionally substituted alkyl group, and the like), with a nitrogen compound (B) comprising at least one group selected from the group consisting of primary amino groups, secondary amino groups and tertiary amino groups in a single molecule thereof, wherein the polyphenylene ether (A) comprises 0.1% by mass or more and 1.5% by mass or less of at least one type of aromatic hydrocarbon (C) containing 7 or 8 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A fixing device for thermally fixing a developer image transferred onto a recording sheet, includes: a flexible fusing member which is flexibly deformable; a heating element; a nip member disposed in such a manner as to contact with a surface of the flexible fusing member and to allow the flexible fusing member to slide along the nip member; a reflecting plate configured to reflect radiant heat from the heating element in a direction toward the nip member; a backup member configured to nip the flexible fusing member with the nip member to thereby form a nip portion for the recording sheet between the flexible fusing member and the backup member; and a stay configured to support both end portions of the nip member. The reflecting plate has at least one flange portion, and the flange portion is held and supported between the nip member and the stay.

Abstract: There is provided a fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet. The fixing device includes: a tubular flexible member having an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space; a nip member disposed in the internal space and having one surface, the inner peripheral surface being in sliding contact with the one surface; a heater disposed in the internal space: a reflection plate configured to reflect a radiant heat from the heater toward the nip member; a backup member providing a nip region in cooperation with the nip member for nipping the flexible member between the backup member and the nip member; and a temperature sensor disposed in the internal space to detect a temperature of the reflection plate.

Abstract: [Problem to be Solved] A polyphenylene ether is provided which can effectively suppress the occurrence of black foreign matters, and is excellent in the electric characteristics and the appearance characteristic. [Solution] A polyphenylene ether is provided which has a content of a metal magnetic material of 0.001 ppm or higher and lower than 1.000 ppm.

Abstract: A reinforced flame retardant resin composition including 20 to 87% by mass of an (A) thermoplastic resin, 3 to 20% by mass of a (B) aromatic phosphoric acid ester-based flame retardant agent, 5 to 40% by mass of (C) mica powder, and 0.5 to 30% by mass of (D) hydrous mineral powder having a dehydration starting temperature for crystallization water in a range of 400 to 600° C.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a tubular flexible fusing member, a heater, a nip member, a backup member, and a restricting member. The fusing member is rotatable about an rotational axis defining an axial direction and has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space. The heater is disposed in the internal space. The nip member is disposed in the internal space for receiving radiant heat from the heater. The nip member is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface. The backup member nips the fusing member in cooperation with the nip member. The restricting member restricts displacement of the fusing member in the axial direction and is tiltable about a fulcrum portion.

Abstract: A control model calculating portion for calculating a control model using analysis data, a control model updating portion for updating by accepting the control model, and a data suitability evaluating portion for evaluating the suitability of analysis data are provided. The data suitability evaluating portion comprises a function characteristic prior knowledge storing portion for storing prior knowledge regarding a characteristic obtained in advance regarding the subject of control, a quadratic polynomial calculating portion for calculating a quadratic polynomial wherein the analysis data is approximated by a quadratic function, and a characteristic evaluating portion for comparing a characteristic of the quadratic polynomial, calculated by the quadratic polynomial calculating portion, to prior knowledge stored in the function characteristic prior knowledge storing portion. The control model updating portion updates the control model if the two match in the comparison.

Abstract: There is provided a fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet. The fixing device includes a tubular flexible member, a nip member, a backup member and a restricting member. The tubular flexible member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space and an outer peripheral surface opposite to the inner peripheral surface, the tubular flexible member defining an axis extending in an axial direction. The nip member is disposed within the internal space. The backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the nip member for nipping the tubular flexible member between the backup member and the nip member.

Abstract: There is provided a fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet. The fixing device includes a tubular flexible member, a nip member, a backup member and a restricting member. The tubular flexible member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space and an outer peripheral surface opposite to the inner peripheral surface, the tubular flexible member defining an axis extending in an axial direction. The nip member is disposed within the internal space. The backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the nip member for nipping the tubular flexible member between the backup member and the nip member.