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 image transfer product is provided which includes a phase change material in one or more layers of the product to regulate the temperature of the product during printing operations. The image transfer product may be in the form of a printing blanket, printing sleeve, electrophotographic/xerographic transfer blanket, image transfer belt, or roller which includes a print surface layer and at least one layer underlying the printing surface layer. The phase change material may be included in any of the layers of the image transfer product, but is not present at the upper surface of the print surface layer. The phase change material may be in the form of a powder, fibers, capsules, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A heating composite, including a polymer matrix; and a carbon nanotube structure including a plurality of carbon nanotubes continuously connected to each other and integrated with the polymer matrix.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a mold frame, a backlight module and a display device. The mold frame includes sidewalls for limiting a periphery of a light guide plate and optical films in the backlight module, and a boss for limiting the light guide plate and the optical films in a direction perpendicular to an output surface of the light guide plate. The boss is provide with a recess opening towards the light guide plate. The recess is provided with a number of rollers therein in a lengthwise direction thereof. A diameter of the rollers is greater than a depth of the recess. The mold frame is applied to the backlight module. In assembly, the light guide plate, the light source and the optical films are placed in the mold frame.

Abstract: The fixing device includes a fixing member heated from inside; and a pressing member forming a fixing nip with the fixing member. A toner image transferred on a sheet is heated and pressed so as to be fixed on the sheet at the fixing nip through which the sheet is nipped and conveyed. The fixing member includes, on an inner circumferential surface thereof, a heat absorbing layer containing heat-conductive fillers oriented in a direction intersecting with a conveying direction of the sheet.

Abstract: A functional amine release agent displaying reduced coefficient of friction as compared to standard silicone oils, comprises a polydimethylsiloxane oil and a functional amine selected from the group consisting of pendant propylamines and pendant N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyl. The concentration of functional amine to polydimethylsiloxane oil is approximately less than 0.0001 meq/g. According to certain embodiments, the functional amine release agent is operable to impart a coefficient of friction of about 0.5 or more to the print media, resulting in improved finishing and converting equipment interaction. The release agent may have a viscosity of about 50 cSt.

Abstract: An improved contact nip roll, a method for assembling an improved contact nip roll, a system for nipping a web, and a method for nipping a web are provided. The improved contact nip roll integrates an inner softer core that can provide compliancy to web caliper variations, while rigid annular rings and a harder outer skin can maintain a uniform contact area.

Abstract: Provided is a fixing member including an annular base material, and an innermost layer that is formed on an inner circumferential surface of the annular base material, the innermost layer including heat-resistant fibers.

Abstract: A rotatable heating member incorporating a heat source configured to heat a toner image on a sheet includes an elastic layer and a surface layer provided on the elastic layer. When thermal effusivity of the surface layer is Bs and thermal effusivity of the elastic layer is Be, the following relationship is satisfied: ?0.04<(Be?Bs)/Be<0.04.

Abstract: There is provided a homogenous composite dispersion. The composite dispersion is made from ingredients comprising: a first dispersion comprising a filler dispersed in a liquid continuous phase, the filler selected from the group consisting of nanotubes, graphene or a combination thereof, the liquid continuous phase comprising an acid copolymer and a first solvent, the acid copolymer comprising at least one carboxyl functionalized polymeric unit and at least one carboxylate ester functionalized polymeric unit having an alkyl or fluorinated alkyl attached to an oxygen atom of the carboxylate ester; a second dispersion comprising a fluoroplastic dispersed in a second solvent; and a sacrificial polymeric binder material.

Abstract: An image fixing apparatus is provided including a pressing roller, a fixing belt rotatably disposed such that an outer circumferential surface of the fixing belt contacts the pressing roller, and a rotating bush to support rotation of the fixing belt. The fixing belt includes a load support member arranged in an axial direction, a heating layer formed on an outer circumferential surface of the load support member to generate heat, and an electrode layer provided with an first portion axially contacting the heating layer at an axial end of the load support member, the electrode layer transferring electric energy to the heating layer. An inner end of the rotating bush axially extends to an inner side of the electrode layer such that the electrode layer is supported by the rotating bush. The image fixing apparatus may uniformly form a fixing nip and improve durability of the fixing belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is configured to form a toner image by a toner image forming portion on an intermediate transfer belt, to transfer the toner image to a transfer and fixing belt, and to form a toner film by heating and pressurizing the toner image on the transfer and fixing belt. The transfer and fixing belt includes an elastic layer and when the toner film is pressurized to a recording medium in a body at a toner film transfer portion, the toner film is pressed to the recording medium while following surficial ruggedness of the recording medium. Because the toner image is formed by using toner particles containing a thermoplastic elastomer having crystallinity, the toner film formed of this toner image is fully resilient.

Abstract: To provide an elastic member for image forming apparatus, which contains: a base; and an elastic layer provided on the base, wherein the elastic layer contains a polymer having a structure derived from terpene and a structure where a main chain contains a silicon atom.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: photoconductor; charging unit; exposing unit; developing unit containing toner; transfer unit; and fixing unit, wherein the toner includes external additive and base particles containing binder resin, colorant, and release agent, the toner has melt viscosity at 100° C. of 500 Pa·s to 8,000 Pa·s and the release agent has melt viscosity at 100° C. of 20 mPa·s to 30 mPa·s, the fixing unit includes fixing member that has roller or belt shape and contacts toner image transferred onto recording medium, and the fixing member includes release layer on surface thereof that is to be brought into contact with the toner image transferred onto the recording medium, and wherein the release layer satisfies the following expressions: 45??c1?60, and 10??c1??c2, where ?c1 denotes receding contact angle [°] of the release agent to the release layer and ?c2 denotes receding contact angle [°] of the release agent to the toner.

Abstract: Provided are an electrophotographic member having excellent durability and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The electrophotographic member includes: an elastic layer including a silicone rubber; an intermediate layer including at least one of an aromatic polyimide and an aromatic polyamideimide, and a fluororesin; and a surface layer including a fluororesin, in which the aromatic polyimide or the aromatic polyamideimide is bonded to the silicone rubber through an amide bond-containing group, and in which a carbon atom constituting the amide bond is directly bonded to a carbon atom constituting an aromatic ring in a molecule of the aromatic polyimide or aromatic polyamideimide.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a nip formation pad disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of an endless belt and a pressing rotary body pressed against the nip formation pad via the endless belt to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the pressing rotary body, through which a recording medium is conveyed. The pressing rotary body has a diameter increasing from a center to each lateral end in an axial direction thereof. The nip formation pad includes a projection disposed downstream from a rotation axis of the pressing rotary body in a recording medium conveyance direction. The projection projects toward the pressing rotary body in an amount increasing from each lateral end to a center in a longitudinal direction of the nip formation pad parallel to the axial direction of the pressing rotary body.

Abstract: A cylindrical fixing member includes a substrate; an elastic layer overlying the substrate; an outermost surface release layer overlying the elastic layer; and a heat source inside. The elastic layer includes a carbon fiber and has a heat diffusivity (X) not less than 1.0×10?6 m2/s in a direction of a rotational axis of the fixing member, and the heat diffusivity (X) is not less than 2.0 times of a heat diffusivity (Z) in a direction of thickness of the elastic layer.

Abstract: Provided is a member for electrophotography including a fluorine resin surface layer formed by melting fluorine resin powder, the member being capable of stably maintaining rubber elasticity over a long time period. Further, provided are a fixing member, a fixing device, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus each capable of stably providing the image quality of an electrophotographic image. The member for electrophotography is a member for electrophotography, comprising: a substrate; a cured silicone rubber elastic layer; and a fluorine resin surface layer obtained by melting a fluorine resin powder, wherein: when a microhardness of a cured rubber forming the cured silicone rubber elastic layer is defined as H?0, and a microhardness of a rubber obtained by soaking the cured rubber in a methyl hydrogen silicone oil for 24 hours, and then further curing the cured rubber is defined as H?1, H?1/H?0 is 2.5 or more and 5.0 or less.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming a composite micropowder, including mixing 100 parts by weight of fluorine-containing polymer, 10 to 140 parts by weight of silane, catalyst, and water, such that the silane is in-situ polymerized in the fluorine-containing polymer to form a polysiloxane, and the fluorine-containing polymer and the polysiloxane form a composite. The composite is dried, and then physically crushed to form composite micropowder. The total weight of the fluorine-containing polymer and the silane and the weight of the catalyst have a ratio of 100:1 to 100:0.0001. The silane and the water have a molar ratio of 1:0.5 to 1:3. The composite micropowder has a diameter of 0.1 ?m to 15 ?m. The fluorine-containing polymer and the polysiloxane in the composite micropowder have a weight ratio of 95:5 to 60:40.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating member, a pressing member, a first heating source, a second heating source and a reflection body. The reflection body reflects radiant heat irradiated from the first heating source toward a fixing nip side portion of the heating member and blocks radiant heat irradiated from the second heating source toward the fixing nip side portion of the heating member. After the heating of the heating member by either one of the heating sources is started until the heating member is heated to the sheet-passable temperature, an amount of radiant heat from the second heating source is larger than that of radiant heat from the first heating source, and after the heating member is heated to the sheet-passable temperature, an amount of radiant heat from the first heating source is larger than that of radiant heat from the second heating source.

Abstract: A roller-shaped rotator includes an endless belt and a roller-shaped base member. The roller-shaped base member is formed by winding a thin plate material plural times through elastic deformation into a roller shape. The roller-shaped base member is inserted into the endless belt, and brought into press contact with an inner peripheral surface of the belt by an elastic repulsive force due to the deformation. The roller-shaped base member is supported at both end portions in an axial direction so as to be rotatable about an axis of the roller-shaped base member.

Abstract: The invention provides a fixing pressure roller having an elastic layer formed of a porous material produced from an emulsion, the roller having improved durability. The fixing pressure roller has a core, a rubber layer which has a thickness of 1.0 mm or less and which is provided around the core, and an elastic layer which is formed of a porous elastomer produced from an emulsion composition and which is provided around the rubber layer, the emulsion composition having a continuous phase of a liquid rubber material which forms an elastomer through curing.

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: The present teachings provide a fuser system for use in a xerographic apparatus. The fuser system includes a fuser roller and a pressure roller. The fuser roller and the pressure roller create a nip. The fuser roller has an outer layer of carbon nanotubes dispersed in a fluoropolymer wherein the carbon nanotubes comprise from about 0.1 weight percent to about 10 weight percent of the outer layer. The pressure roller comprises a static dissipative outer surface having a surface resistivity of less than about 1010 ?/cm.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to providing a fixing member that has a flexible surface and that can supply a larger amount of heat to a material to be recorded and a toner in a shorter period of time. The fixing member comprises a substrate, an elastic layer and a releasing layer, wherein thermal effusivity in a depth region from a surface of the releasing layer is 1.5 [kJ/(m2·K·sec0.5)] or more, the depth region corresponding to a thermal diffusion length when an alternating-current temperature wave having a frequency of 10 Hz is applied to the surface of the releasing layer, and a surface micro rubber hardness is 85 degrees or less.

Abstract: A heating member includes: a resistive heating layer which generates heat when supplied with electrical energy; a release layer as an outermost layer of the heating member and including a polymer; an intermediate layer disposed between the resistive heating layer and the release layer. The resistive heating layer includes a base polymer, and an electroconductive filler dispersed in the base polymer. The intermediate layer includes a polymer material being a same type as the base polymer of the resistive heating layer or the polymer of the release layer.

Abstract: A heating roller includes: a core bar having a cylindrical shape; a rubber layer arranged on an outer circumferential surface of the core bar; and a release layer arranged on an outer circumferential surface of the rubber layer, wherein when thermally fixing a developer on a recording medium, the heating roller is heated to a temperature within a fixing temperature range including a minute particle-scattering start temperature at which minute particles start to scatter from the rubber layer. The heating roller is arranged inside a casing which is connected to a minute particle density measuring device; then the core bar of the heating roller inside the casing is heated to 230° C. by a heater; and when the density of the minute particles inside the casing is measured after elapse of 20 minutes since start of the heating, the density of the minute particles is less than 2,000 pieces/cm3.

Abstract: To provide a fixing member, which contains a base, and a polyorganosiloxane layer provided on the base, where the polyoranosiloxane layer contains polyoranosiloxane including a silicon atom bonded to three or four oxygen atoms, and wherein the fixing member is designed to be used in a process for heating a toner image on a recording medium to fix the toner image onto the recording medium.

Abstract: A fixing member is provided which is excellent in durability and hardly undergoes the peeling of the surface layer even when used in a heating apparatus over a long term. The fixing member is an electrophotographic fixing member including a substrate, an elastic layer, an intermediate layer and a fluororesin-containing surface layer. The elastic layer includes a silicone rubber and sodium ions, and the intermediate layer includes an amino group-containing polysiloxane. The surface layer is formed by forming, on the intermediate layer, a primer layer including a copolymer, to which a phosphate group is bound, of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether), forming, on the primer layer, a coating film including the copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) or a coating film including a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene, and melting the copolymer in the primer layer and the copolymer in the coating layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a thin film resistive heating layer, the method including: forming a polymer layer by extruding a polymer paste, in which an electrically conductive filler is dispersed, by using an extrusion molding operation, on an outer circumferential surface of a cylindrical member; and forming a thin film resistive heating layer by making an outer diameter of the polymer layer uniform by using a ring blading operation.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fuser member is described. The method includes obtaining a substrate and coating a composition of an anhydride capped polyamic acid oligomer, a multi-amine and a solvent on the substrate to form a polyimide gel layer on the substrate. The solvent is extracted from the polyimide gel layer with an extraction solvent. The extraction solvent is removed to form a polyimide aerogel layer having a porosity of from about 50 percent to about 95 percent. A fluoropolymer is coated on the polyimide aerogel layer and cured or melted to form a release layer.

Abstract: To provide a fixing pressure roller having low roller hardness, low heat capacity, and low thermal expansion coefficient, and a fixing device including the fixing pressure roller. The fixing pressure roller of the invention for employment in a fixing unit of a fixing device has a core, and an elastic layer provided around the core, wherein the elastic layer is formed of a silicone rubber product formed by mixing a raw silicone rubber with resin microballoons and water, to thereby prepare a dispersion, and then curing the raw silicone rubber; and the silicone rubber product includes therein first voids provided from the resin microballoons and second voids which are smaller than the first voids and which are provided by evaporation of water.

Abstract: A fuser assembly for an imaging device is shown and described. The fuser assembly includes a heat transfer member for generating heat and a backup roll coupled to the heat transfer member and rotatable therewith. The backup roll includes a central core and a rubber layer surrounding the central core. The fuser assembly further includes a plurality of end cap members, each end cap member being disposed at an end of the backup roll and dimensioned for substantially preventing outward expansion of the rubber layer in an axial direction of the backup roll.

Abstract: The present teachings disclose a fuser member comprising a substrate, a functional layer disposed on the substrate and an outer layer disposed on the functional layer. The outer layer comprises a cross-linked perfluorinated polyether.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating a recording material, on which a toner image is carried, while conveying the recording material in a nip includes: a fixing roller including a metal core, a heat insulating layer formed on a surface of the core metal, and a high heat transfer layer which is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the heat insulating layer and has a higher thermal conductivity than the heat insulating layer; a heating member for heating the fixing roller from an outside; and a back-up member for forming the nip together with the fixing roller. When the fixing roller and the back-up member opposing the fixing roller are supplied with the same heat quantity, the temperature rise rate in a neighborhood of the surface of the back-up member supplied with the heat quantity is higher than that of the fixing 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: Provided is a sliding member for a fixing device including in order a first fluororesin layer having a sliding surface dotted with recessed portions, a substrate, and a second fluororesin layer.

Abstract: A heating member includes: a resistive heating layer including: a medium-passing area, and non-medium-passing areas respectively on opposing sides of the medium-passing area at opposing side portions of the resistive heating layer; a core which supports the resistive heating layer; a thermally conductive layer between the resistive heating layer and the core, and disposed in a non-medium passing area at a side portion of the resistive heating layer; and an electrode which is between the resistive heating layer and the core, contacts the side portion of the resistive heating layer and supplies current to the resistive heating layer. A ratio of a contact area between the thermally conductive layer and the resistive heating layer to an area of the non-medium-passing area in which the thermally conductive layer is disposed, ranges from about 5% to about 25%.

Abstract: A fuser comprises a substrate and a composite layer formed on the substrate. The composite layer comprises a plurality of fluorosilane-treated graphene-comprising particles and a fluoropolymer. Methods of making a fuser and methods of fusing toner particles are also disclosed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a fuser member include a substrate layer and a release layer disposed on the substrate layer. The release layer includes a plurality polyimide particles dispersed in a fluoropolymer. An image forming apparatus equipped the fuser member is also described.

Abstract: To provide an elastic member for image forming apparatus, which contains: a base; and an elastic layer provided on the base, wherein the elastic layer contains a polymer having a structure derived from terpene and a structure where a main chain contains a silicon atom.

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 cylindrical film used in an image heating device heating a recording material, on which an image has been formed, has a resin layer, this resin layer being made from a resin in which a crystalline resin and an amorphous resin having a higher glass transition temperature than the crystalline resin are blended, wherein a volume ratio of the crystalline resin with respect to the amorphous resin in the resin layer is 70/30 to 99/1.

Abstract: Provided is a roller for an image-forming apparatus which includes a base member and a fluororesin layer provided on an outer circumferential surface of the base member directly or through an adhesive layer, the roller for an image-forming apparatus being characterized in that the fluororesin layer contains phosphorus-doped tin oxide. The roller for an image-forming apparatus has a surface resistance capable of stably and effectively preventing the occurrence of electrostatic offsets, and also has an excellent releasing property. Also provided is a process for producing the roller for an image-forming apparatus, characterized by including the steps of applying a fluororesin dispersion containing an aqueous dispersion of phosphorus-doped tin oxide onto a base member or an adhesive layer disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the base member, and then sintering the fluororesin.

Abstract: A fixing member having a roller shape or a seamless belt shape for fixing toner is provided. The fixing member includes an elastic layer; an adhesive layer located overlying the elastic layer; and a release layer including a particulate material, which is arranged along the surface of the adhesive layer.

Abstract: When filler particles are added to a surface layer of a fixing member in order to enhance a toner releasing property, if the filler particles are randomly oriented, chemical affinity between the surface layer of the fixing member and toner is enhanced and a sufficient effect cannot be accomplished. Therefore, whisker-shaped filler particles are added to the surface layer of the fixing member, and the filler particles are oriented to approximately follow a rotation direction of the fixing member.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a heating roller and a nip forming unit facing the heating roller to form a fixing nip. The heating roller includes a resistive heating layer receiving an electric current to generate heat, and a base material supporting the resistive heating layer, wherein a resistance per unit length of the resistive heating layer at opposite sides in a length direction is less than a resistance per unit length of the resistive heating layer at a center portion.

Abstract: An image heating rotatable member for heating an image on a recording material, comprising a base layer; a heat generation layer, provided on the base layer, for generating heat by being supplied with electric power; an electrode layer, provided outside of the heat generation layer with respect to a widthwise direction and having an electric resistance which is smaller than that of the heat generation layer, for supplying the electric power to heat generation layer; an elastic layer provided on the electrode layer and having a length longer than that of the electrode layer measured in the widthwise direction; and a parting layer provided on the elastic layer and having a length which is substantially equal to the length of the electrode layer measured in the widthwise direction.

Abstract: A fixing-unit roller includes: a core bar; and an elastic layer formed on an outer peripheral surface of the core bar. The elastic layer is formed from a porous material that contains a plurality of cells. Cells in a cross section obtained by cutting across the porous material are 0.1 ?m or greater and 50 ?m or less in size. A ratio of an area occupied by composite cells, which are made of partially-overlapping spherical cells, in a 200-?m square in the cross section to an area of the square is 60% or greater and 70% or less.

Abstract: A cylindrical fixing member includes a substrate; an elastic layer overlying the substrate; an outermost surface release layer overlying the elastic layer; and a heat source inside. The elastic layer includes a carbon fiber and has a heat diffusivity (X) not less than 1.0×10?6 m2/s in a direction of a rotational axis of the fixing member, and the heat diffusivity (X) is not less than 2.0 times of a heat diffusivity (Z) in a direction of thickness of the elastic layer.