Abstract: An electroconductive endless belt can withstand repeated continuous operation, in particular has anti-setting properties, and has consistent gloss and electrical conductivity. An image-forming apparatus including the electroconductive endless belt is also provided. The electroconductive endless belt contains a substrate and a conductive filler. The substrate contains a thermoplastic polyalkylene naphthalate resin and at least two types of thermoplastic resins having an ester bond other than the thermoplastic polyalkylene naphthalate resin. The weight ratio of the thermoplastic polyalkylene naphthalate resin to the at least two types of thermoplastic resins having an ester bond is in the range of 95:5 to 55:45. The at least two types of thermoplastic resins having an ester bond contains at least one amorphous thermoplastic resin and at least one crystalline thermoplastic resin.

Abstract: An electroconductive endless belt can withstand repeated continuous operation, in particular has anti-setting properties, and has consistent gloss and electrical conductivity. An image-forming apparatus including the electroconductive endless belt is also provided. The electroconductive endless belt contains a substrate and a conductive filler. The substrate contains a thermoplastic polyalkylene naphthalate resin and at least two types of thermoplastic resins having an ester bond other than the thermoplastic polyalkylene naphthalate resin. The weight ratio of the thermoplastic polyalkylene naphthalate resin to the at least two types of thermoplastic resins having an ester bond is in the range of 95:5 to 55:45. The at least two types of thermoplastic resins having an ester bond contains at least one amorphous thermoplastic resin and at least one crystalline thermoplastic resin.

Abstract: A bearing device includes a lubricating device that supplies a lubricant to a first lubricating path when a rotating speed of an inner ring member is detected to be no more than a predetermined speed and supplies the lubricant to the first lubricating path and a second lubricating path when the rotating speed of the inner ring member is detected to be higher than the predetermined speed, the lubricating device including a changeover valve that controls a supply of the lubricant to the first and second lubricating paths according to the rotating speed of the inner ring member.

Abstract: A bearing device includes: an inner ring member through which a shaft is passed and which is supported rotatably about an axis of the shaft and includes an inner ring raceway surface; an outer ring member arranged concentrically with the inner ring member and including an outer ring raceway surface; a plurality of rollers arranged rollably between the inner ring raceway surface and the outer ring raceway surface; a lubricating path through which lubricant is supplied to at least one of the inner ring raceway surface and the outer ring raceway surface; and a lubricating device which supplies the lubricant to the lubricating path according to rotating speed of the inner ring member about the axis.

Abstract: A high performance conductive endless belt and an image forming apparatus using the same are provided, the conductive endless belt having superior strength, in particular, superior folding endurance, stable and appropriate electrical resistance even in high voltage application, less voltage dependence of electrical resistance, and superior durability in image output and transfer efficiency. The conductive endless belt is formed by adding a high molecular weight ionic conductive agent and a fluorinated surfactant to a base material selected from the group consisting of (a) a thermoplastic PA, (b) an ABS resin, (c) a thermoplastic POM, (d) a polymer alloy or a polymer blend containing at least two of the above (a) to (c), and (e) a polymer alloy or a polymer blend containing a thermoplastic resin and at least one of the above (a) to (c).

Abstract: An electroconductive endless belt is used for a tandem transfer/transport system. The system is configured to allow the electroconductive endless belt to hold a recording medium using electrostatic attraction, to drive the belt circularly by the action of a drive member so as to transport the recording medium held by the belt to four different image-forming members, and to transfer respective toner images provided on the image-forming members sequentially onto the recording medium. The electroconductive endless belt includes a thermoplastic resin as a base resin, an acrylic-modified polytetrafluoroethylene, and an electroconductive material.

Abstract: A high performance conductive endless belt and an image forming apparatus using the same are provided, the conductive endless belt having superior strength, in particular, superior folding endurance, stable and appropriate electrical resistance even in high voltage application, less voltage dependence of electrical resistance, and superior durability in image output and transfer efficiency. The conductive endless belt is formed by adding a high molecular weight ionic conductive agent and a fluorinated surfactant to a base material selected from the group consisting of (a) a thermoplastic PA, (b) an ABS resin, (c) a thermoplastic POM, (d) a polymer alloy or a polymer blend containing at least two of the above (a) to (c), and (e) a polymer alloy or a polymer blend containing a thermoplastic resin and at least one of the above (a) to (c).

Abstract: A bearing device includes: an inner ring member through which a shaft is passed and which is supported rotatably about an axis of the shaft and includes an inner ring raceway surface; an outer ring member arranged concentrically with the inner ring member and including an outer ring raceway surface; a plurality of rollers arranged rollably between the inner ring raceway surface and the outer ring raceway surface; a lubricating path through which lubricant is supplied to at least one of the inner ring raceway surface and the outer ring raceway surface; and a lubricating device which supplies the lubricant to the lubricating path according to rotating speed of the inner ring member about the axis.

Abstract: A roller bearing device having two roller bearings positioned in an axially spaced relation, in which even when in high speed rotation, a fixed pilot pressure of bearings is maintained by differentiating the thermal expansibility of a distance piece between tracks of the roller bearings and the thermal expansibility of a collar interposed between the track race and a mating member.

Abstract: Disclosed is an intermediate transfer member used for printing by an intermediate transfer method in an electrostatic recording process, which is capable of preventing adhesion and fusion of a tone on the surface of the intermediate transfer member as mush as possible, thereby obtaining a high quality image without dimming, positional offset and unevenness of color. The intermediate transfer member is disposed between an image forming body and a recording medium for allowing a toner image formed on the surface of the image forming body to be once transferred and held on the surface of the intermediate transfer member and to be then transferred on the recording medium. The intermediate transfer member includes a fabric layer having a structure of one or more layers; and an elastic layer laminated on either or each of surfaces of the fabric layer.