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 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 compact excavator including: a swing post (3) which is attached to a upperstructure (2) and which can swing in a left/right direction; a working device (4) which is attached to the swing post (3) and which includes a boom cylinder (5a), etc.; a counterweight (10) which is disposed in a rear part of the upperstructure (2); and hydraulic hoses (14) which extend upwards between opposite side plates (3a and 3b) of the swing post (3), and through which pressure oil for driving the boom cylinder (5a), etc. of the working device (4) is guided; wherein: the compact excavator further includes a guide plate (20) which is provided in the swing post (3), and which guides the hydraulic hoses (14) downwards while restricting the hydraulic hoses (14) from moving to approach a handrail (11) when the hydraulic hoses (14) attempt to expand toward the handrail (11) due to driving of the working device (4).

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 fixing belt includes an inner layer, serving as a sliding layer, in which filler particles having an aspect ratio of 5 or more are oriented substantially in the longitudinal direction of the fixing belt.

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: 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: 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 method for forming a coating film includes: supplying a first liquid from a nozzle to a cylindrical substrate to thereby form the coating film of the first liquid, wherein the method includes, pressing a member including a second liquid, to form a liquid film of the second liquid on the peripheral surface, and forming the coating film of the first liquid includes: supplying the first liquid onto the liquid film of the second liquid formed on the peripheral surface of the substrate to form a bead of the first liquid between the liquid-supplying unit and the liquid film of the second liquid, and extending the bead in a circumferential direction of the substrate.

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: Provided is a working machine, which can release exhaust gas at a position above a counterweight even if no space is secured for the installation of an exhaust pipe on an upperstructure or on an upper wall of the counterweight, and which can suppress heating of the counterweight by exhaust gas. The working machine is provided with a muffler (10) into which exhaust gas is guided from an engine, and a tailpipe (11) connected to the muffler (10). Defined through a counterweight (7) is a passage (7a) in which the tailpipe (11) is inserted. The working machine is further provided with an exhaust pipe holding member (12) and an exhaust pipe (13). The exhaust pipe holding member (12) is attached to an outer side wall of the counterweight (7), and has a passage (12a) which is in communication with the passage (7a) of the counterweight (7) and in which the tailpipe (11) is inserted.

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: The method for forming a coating film includes: supplying a first liquid from a nozzle to a cylindrical substrate to thereby form the coating film of the first liquid, wherein the method includes, pressing a member including a second liquid, to form a liquid film of the second liquid on the peripheral surface, and forming the coating film of the first liquid includes: supplying the first liquid onto the liquid film of the second liquid formed on the peripheral surface of the substrate to form a bead of the first liquid between the liquid-supplying unit and the liquid film of the second liquid, and extending the bead in a circumferential direction of the substrate.