Patents by Inventor Shuntaroh Tamaki

Shuntaroh Tamaki has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9239559
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a heat source; a fixing member looped into a generally cylindrical shape to rotate in a circumferential direction thereof and partially heated by the heat source and to heat a surface of a recording medium bearing an unfixed toner image to fix the unfixed toner image thereon in a fixing process; a rotary pressing member disposed facing the fixing member to form a nip therebetween, through which the recording medium is transported in a transport direction; and a rotation driver to rotate one of the fixing member and the pressing member. In a case in which the fixing member is halted for a reason other than the fixing process while power of the fixing device is on, electric power is not supplied to the heat source and the fixing member is rotated by a predetermined amount or more after the fixing member is halted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Uchitani, Masahiko Satoh, Kenji Ishii, Tadashi Ogawa, Teppei Kawata, Arinobu Yoshiura, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Kensuke Yamaji, Takamasa Hase, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Hiromasa Takagi, Takahiro Imada, Hajime Gotoh, Akira Suzuki, Takuya Seshita, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Kazuya Saito, Shinichi Namekata, Takayuki Seki, Yuji Arai, Ryuuichi Mimbu, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Shuntaroh Tamaki, Yutaka Ikebuchi
  • Patent number: 9239553
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body and a heater disposed opposite the fixing rotary body. A heat shield is movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body and interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater. An overheating suppressor is interposed between the heater and the heat shield to shield the heat shield from the heater. The heat shield includes an intermediate portion spanning in the circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body and movable between a shield position where the intermediate portion is disposed opposite the heater directly and a retracted position where the intermediate portion is disposed opposite the heater via the overheating suppressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Arai, Takayuki Seki, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Shuntaroh Tamaki, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Kazuya Saito, Kenji Ishii, Tadashi Ogawa, Teppei Kawata, Arinobu Yoshiura, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Kensuke Yamaji, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Hiromasa Takagi, Naoki Iwaya, Takahiro Imada, Hajime Gotoh, Akira Suzuki, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Ryuuichi Mimbu, Takuya Seshita, Takeshi Yamamoto, Shuutaroh Yuasa
  • Patent number: 9229379
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable fixing member; a heating source configured to heat the fixing member; an opposing member configured to come into contact with an outer circumferential surface of the fixing member to form a nip portion; and a shielding member configured to block heat from the heating source. The shielding member is configured to rotate about a position different from the center of the heating source so as to be movable between a shielding position and a retraction position. The shielding position is a position where the shielding member comes close to the heating source to block heat from the heating source to the fixing member. The retraction position being a position where the shielding member is retracted away from the shielding position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Shuntaroh Tamaki, Takayuki Seki, Yuji Arai, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Kazuya Saito, Naoki Iwaya, Toshihiko Shimokawa
  • Publication number: 20150362861
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer to carry developer to a developer range where the developer bearer faces a latent image bearer, a development casing forming a developer storing part storing the developer to supply to the surface of developer bearer, a developer through opening communicating a space in where the developer bearer is disposed and the developer storing part, a cover sheet covering the developer through opening at the developing casing, and when the cover sheet is removed, the developer pass through the developer through opening, a sheet collecting shaft to collect the cover sheet by rotating, and a transmitting mechanism to transmit a force for rotating to the sheet collecting shaft. The transmitting mechanism does not transmit the force to the collecting shaft after the cover sheet is collected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Yuki OSHIKAWA, Noriyuki Kimura, Kenji Kikuchi, Yoshihiro Fujiwara, Shuntaroh Tamaki
  • Publication number: 20150355586
    Abstract: A fixing device to fix a toner image on a sheet includes a first rotary member that rotates in a predetermined direction and a second rotary member that contacts an outer circumferential surface of the first rotary member. A stationary member is fixed inside the first rotary member to press the first and second rotary members together to form a nip portion between the rotary members. A reinforcement member is fixedly provided inside the first rotary member and pressed against the stationary member. The fixing device includes heat source to heat the first rotary member and a reflector to reflect heater light emitted from the heat source toward the first rotary member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Ippei Fujimoto, Akira Shinshi, Naoki Iwaya, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Shuntaroh Tamaki, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Kenichi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 9152106
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotary fixing member, a heater, a pressing member, a nip formation member, a reinforcement member, a sliding sheet, and a holding member. The nip formation member is disposed at an inner circumferential side of the fixing member and pressed by the pressing member via the fixing member to form a nipping portion. The reinforcement member is stationarily disposed in an internal diameter area of the fixing member to support the nip formation member. The sliding sheet is disposed between the nip formation member and an inner circumferential face of the fixing member. The holding member is disposed at a member differing from the nip formation member to hold the sliding sheet in a state in which the sliding sheet is in close contact with a nipping face of the nip formation member facing the nipping portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Takayuki Seki, Yuji Arai, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Shuntaroh Tamaki, Kazuya Saito, Kenji Ishii, Tadashi Ogawa, Teppei Kawata, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Arinobu Yoshiura, Kensuke Yamaji, Hiromasa Takagi, Naoki Iwaya, Takahiro Imada, Akira Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20150268597
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body and a heater disposed opposite the fixing rotary body. A heat shield is movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body and interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater. An overheating suppressor is interposed between the heater and the heat shield to shield the heat shield from the heater. The heat shield includes an intermediate portion spanning in the circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body and movable between a shield position where the intermediate portion is disposed opposite the heater directly and a retracted position where the intermediate portion is disposed opposite the heater via the overheating suppressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Yuji ARAI, Takayuki SEKI, Yoshiki YAMAGUCHI, Shuntaroh TAMAKI, Yutaka IKEBUCHI, Kazuya SAITO, Kenji ISHII, Tadashi OGAWA, Teppei KAWATA, Arinobu YOSHIURA, Toshihiko SHIMOKAWA, Kensuke YAMAJI, Masaaki YOSHIKAWA, Hiromasa TAKAGI, Naoki IWAYA, Takahiro IMADA, Hajime GOTOH, Akira SUZUKI, Hiroshi YOSHINAGA, Ryuuichi MIMBU, Takuya SESHITA, Takeshi YAMAMOTO, Shuutaroh YUASA
  • Patent number: 9128426
    Abstract: A fixing device to fix a toner image on a sheet includes a first rotary member that rotates in a predetermined direction and a second rotary member that contacts an outer circumferential surface of the first rotary member. A stationary member is fixed inside the first rotary member to press the first and second rotary members together to form a nip portion between the rotary members. A reinforcement member is fixedly provided inside the first rotary member and pressed against the stationary member. The fixing device includes heat source to heat the first rotary member and a reflector to reflect heater light emitted from the heat source toward the first rotary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ippei Fujimoto, Akira Shinshi, Naoki Iwaya, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Shuntaroh Tamaki, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Kenichi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 9046838
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body and a heater disposed opposite the fixing rotary body. A heat shield is movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body and interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater. An overheating suppressor is interposed between the heater and the heat shield to shield the heat shield from the heater. The heat shield includes an intermediate portion spanning in the circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body and movable between a shield position where the intermediate portion is disposed opposite the heater directly and a retracted position where the intermediate portion is disposed opposite the heater via the overheating suppressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Arai, Takayuki Seki, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Shuntaroh Tamaki, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Kazuya Saito, Kenji Ishii, Tadashi Ogawa, Teppei Kawata, Arinobu Yoshiura, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Kensuke Yamaji, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Hiromasa Takagi, Naoki Iwaya, Takahiro Imada, Hajime Gotoh, Akira Suzuki, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Ryuuichi Mimbu, Takuya Seshita, Takeshi Yamamoto, Shuutaroh Yuasa
  • Patent number: 9046833
    Abstract: A fixing device included in an image forming apparatus includes a fixing rotary body, a heater disposed opposite the fixing rotary body, an opposed body contacting an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotary body, a reflector disposed opposite the heater, and a heat shield disposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body and includes a shield portion to shield heat radiated from the heater to the fixing rotary body. Heat reflectance of at least a surface of the shield portion where the heat shield faces the heater is set to a value smaller than heat reflectance on a surface of the reflector opposite and facing the heater. Also, heat absorptance of at least a surface of the shield portion where the heat shield faces the heater is set to a value greater than heat absorptance on a surface of the reflector opposite and facing the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Seki, Yuji Arai, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Shuntaroh Tamaki, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Kazuya Saito, Naoki Iwaya, Toshihiko Shimokawa
  • Patent number: 8886090
    Abstract: A fixing device comprises a rotatable fixing member to heat a side of a recording medium bearing an unfixed image; a heat source to heat the rotatable fixing member; a rotatable pressing member disposed opposite the fixing member to press against an outer side of the fixing member; a housing to accommodate the fixing member and the pressing member; a conveyance path defined internally within the fixing device to convey a recording medium therethrough and between the fixing member and the pressing member, and a shutter actuator to move the shutter to open and close the conveyance path. The housing holds the shutter and the shutter actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Teppei Kawata, Kenji Ishii, Tadashi Ogawa, Arinobu Yoshiura, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Kensuke Yamaji, Yuji Arai, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Hiromasa Takagi, Naoki Iwaya, Takahiro Imada, Hajime Gotoh, Akira Suzuki, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Takayuki Seki, Shuntaroh Tamaki, Kazuya Saito, Yutaka Ikebuchi
  • Patent number: 8843043
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a flexible, endless belt-shaped fixing member that rotates in a predetermined direction of rotation, a substantially cylindrical metal heat conductor provided inside a loop formed by the fixing member and facing an inner circumferential surface of the fixing member, a pressing member that presses the fixing member against the metal heat conductor to form a nip between the fixing member and the pressing member through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes, and a separator that presses the fixing member against the metal heat conductor, provided downstream from the nip in the direction of rotation of the fixing member and contacting the recording medium discharged from the nip to separate the recording medium from the fixing member and guide the recording medium out of the fixing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Iwaya, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Akira Shinshi, Kenji Ishii, Kenichi Hasegawa, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Ippei Fujimoto, Shuntaroh Tamaki, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Tetsuo Tokuda
  • Publication number: 20140270872
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a heater disposed opposite and heating the fixing rotary body. An opposed body contacts the fixing rotary body to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed. A heat shield is movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body and interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater. A driver is connected to the heat shield to drive and move the heat shield between a shield position where the heat shield is interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater and a retracted position where the heat shield is retracted from the shield position. A reinforcement is mounted on a long edge of the heat shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shuntaroh Tamaki, Takayuki Seki, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Yuji Arai, Ryuuichi Mimbu, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Kazuya Saito, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Shuutaroh Yuasa
  • Publication number: 20140270820
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a heater disposed opposite and heating the fixing rotary body. A heat shield is movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body and interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater. A driver is connected to the heat shield to drive and move the heat shield within a circumferential moving span in the circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body. An abnormal temperature detector detects an abnormal temperature of the fixing rotary body that is not lower than a predetermined temperature. The abnormal temperature detector is disposed opposite a circumferential outboard span outboard from the circumferential moving span of the heat shield in the circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuya Saito, Takayuki Seki, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Yuji Arai, Ryuuichi Mimbu, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Shuntaroh Tamaki, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Shuutaroh Yuasa
  • Patent number: 8831494
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a substantially cylindrical metal member, a heater positioned to heat the metal member, an endless, flexible fixing member disposed rotatably around the metal member and heated by the metal member to heat and fix a toner image, a rotary pressing member disposed opposite the metal member and pressed against an outer circumferential surface of the fixing member to form a nip therebetween, and a stationary member disposed at an inner circumferential surface side of the fixing member and pressed by the pressing member via the fixing member to form the nip. At least when the fixing member is relatively moved toward the metal member during assembly of the fixing member with the metal member, the metal member includes at least one protruding portion protruding axially outward from an axial end of the metal member to guide the fixing member axially toward the metal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventors: Yutaka Ikebuchi, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Naoki Iwaya, Tetsuo Tokuda, Kenji Ishii, Ippei Fujimoto, Shuntaroh Tamaki, Akira Shinshi, Takahiro Imada, Takamasa Hase, Kenichi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8737878
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device, a temperature detector, and a support member. The fixing device is removably installable in the image forming apparatus and includes a rotary fixing member to fuse a toner image on a recording medium, a fixing frame to support the fixing member, and an outer fixing cover provided to cover the fixing member and the fixing frame and having an opening from which a portion of a surface of the fixing member is exposed to the outside. The temperature detector is disposed opposing the fixing member to detect a temperature of the surface of the fixing member without contacting the fixing member when the fixing member is installed in the image forming apparatus. The support member supports the temperature detector to introduce the temperature detector into the inside of the fixing cover through the opening upon installation of the fixing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Akira Shinshi, Kenichi Hasegawa, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Naoki Iwaya, Ippei Fujimoto, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Shuntaroh Tamaki, Toshihiko Shimokawa
  • Patent number: 8724178
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form a color toner image using a color toner and a transparent layer using a transparent toner on a sheet of recording media, a sheet conveyance unit to transport the sheet, a 3D display lens forming unit disposed downstream from the image forming unit in a sheet conveyance direction, and a controller. The 3D display lens forming unit includes a shaping member including an uneven portion having predetermined surface unevenness, and a pressure member to press the shaping member against the sheet, forming a shaping nip between the shaping member and the pressure member. The 3D display lens forming unit shapes the transparent layer that is an outermost layer on the sheet into a stereoscopic display lens by transferring the surface unevenness of the uneven portion of the shaping member to the transparent layer formed on the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kunii, Akiyasu Amita, Shuntaroh Tamaki
  • Patent number: 8718502
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation to radiate infrared rays; a pressing rotary body, rotatable in a direction counter to the direction of rotation of the fixing rotary body, pressed against the fixing rotary body to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed; a heater disposed opposite the fixing rotary body to heat the fixing rotary body; a temperature detector spaced apart from the fixing rotary body to detect a temperature of the fixing rotary body based on the infrared rays from the fixing rotary body and disposed below the fixing nip in a vertical direction; and a tube disposed between the fixing rotary body and the temperature detector, the tube through which the infrared rays from the fixing rotary body enter the temperature detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuutaroh Yuasa, Masanao Ehara, Tadashi Ogawa, Satoshi Ueno, Hiroshi Seo, Teppei Kawata, Shuntaroh Tamaki, Takamasa Hase, Kazuya Saito, Kensuke Yamaji
  • Publication number: 20140079455
    Abstract: A fixing device included in an image forming apparatus includes a fixing rotary body, a heater disposed opposite the fixing rotary body, an opposed body contacting an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotary body, a reflector disposed opposite the heater, and a heat shield disposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body and includes a shield portion to shield heat radiated from the heater to the fixing rotary body. Heat reflectance of at least a surface of the shield portion where the heat shield faces the heater is set to a value smaller than heat reflectance on a surface of the reflector opposite and facing the heater. Also, heat absorptance of at least a surface of the shield portion where the heat shield faces the heater is set to a value greater than heat absorptance on a surface of the reflector opposite and facing the heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki SEKI, Yuji ARAI, Yoshiki YAMAGUCHI, Shuntaroh TAMAKI, Yutaka IKEBUCHI, Kazuya SAITO, Naoki IWAYA, Toshihiko SHIMOKAWA
  • Publication number: 20140079424
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body, a heat shield movably disposed opposite the fixing rotary body, an opposed body contacting the fixing rotary body to form a nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed, and a temperature detector to detect a temperature of at least one of the fixing rotary body and the opposed body. A controller, operatively connected to the heat shield and the temperature detector, determines a rotation angled position to which the heat shield is moved based on a size of the recording medium and the temperature of the at least one of the fixing rotary body and the opposed body detected by the temperature detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Inventors: Yutaka IKEBUCHI, Takayuki SEKI, Yuji ARAI, Yoshiki YAMAGUCHI, Shuntaroh TAMAKI, Kazuya SAITO