Patents by Inventor Yasuhisa Kato
Yasuhisa Kato 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).
-
Publication number: 20090123172Abstract: A heater is operable with a main power supply unit and a chargeable auxiliary power supplying unit. The heater includes a heater part having one or a plurality of heater elements to receive power from the main and auxiliary power supplying units, a detecting part to detect information related to the heater part, and a controller to vary an amount of power supplied from the auxiliary power supply unit to the heater part per unit time based on the information detected by the detecting part.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2009Publication date: May 14, 2009Inventors: Kazuhito KISHI, Yasuhisa Kato, Masami Okamoto, Yasutada Tsukioka, Hiromasa Takagi, Susumu Matsusaka, Akiyasu Amita
-
Patent number: 7515845Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a first heat generating member that generates heat upon receiving power from a commercial power source, an electrical condenser that stores charge when charged by the commercial power source, and a second heat generating member that generates heat upon receiving power from the electrical condenser. A fixing member is heated by the first and second heat generating members and fixes an image onto a recording medium. A control device is provided to restrict the power supplied from commercial power source to the first heat generating member when the temperature of the fixing member starts increasing. The electrical condenser starts supplying power to the second heat generating member before the control device terminates restriction of the power.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2005Date of Patent: April 7, 2009Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhito Kishi, Yasuhisa Kato, Akiyasu Amita, Masami Okamoto, Hiromasa Takagi, Yasutada Tsukioka, Ryuichi Kikegawa, Susumu Matsusaka, Naoki Sato
-
Patent number: 7496309Abstract: Power is supplied from a capacitor of an auxiliary power source to a secondary heating element of a heating unit, thereby preventing temperature drop of a fixing roller at the time of continuous paper delivery. An allowable range for starting discharge from the capacitor is set to, for example, 30 to 40 volts. A discharge time in which the voltage of the capacitor reduces to a termination value, such as 20 volts, is longer than a time necessary for a reading unit to read a maximum number (for example, 100 sheets) of documents that can be read at one time.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2007Date of Patent: February 24, 2009Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Susumu Matsusaka, Kazuhito Kishi, Yasuhisa Kato, Akiyasu Amita, Masami Okamoto, Yasutada Tsukioka, Hiromasa Takagi
-
Publication number: 20080316279Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes a nozzle plate having a nozzle that ejects liquid drops, an actuator that deforms a portion of the nozzle plate surrounding the nozzle with heat, and a flow path member opposing the nozzle plate, which forms a flow path for guiding liquid to the nozzle. A fluidity resistance path is provided in the flow path between a nozzle plate portion surrounding the nozzle and a portion of the flow path member opposing the nozzle plate portion. A fluidity resistance of the fluidity resistance path is changed by deforming the nozzle plate portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2008Publication date: December 25, 2008Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Takeshi Takemoto, Yasuhisa Kato, Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Minori Ichimura, Manabu Izumikawa
-
Publication number: 20080145088Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an image formed on a recording material in an image forming apparatus includes a fixing member, a heating part that heats the fixing member to fix an image formed on the recording material by heat, a storage unit that is charged by an external power source to supply power to the heating part, and a control unit that controls the external power source to supply power to the heating part and determines whether to start to supply power to the heating part from the storage unit. The control unit controls the external power source to charge the storage unit during a period from when power supply from the storage unit to the heating part is completed at the time of warming-up the fixing member by the heating part until when the power supply from the storage unit to the heating part is started.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2008Publication date: June 19, 2008Inventors: Susumu Matsusaka, Kazuhito Kishi, Yasuhisa Kato, Masami Okamoto, Akiyasu Amita, Yasutada Tsukioka, Hiromasa Takagi, Ryuichi Kikegawa
-
Patent number: 7373094Abstract: A fixing unit thermally fixes a toner on a recording medium by a fixing member having a plurality of internal heaters and an outer peripheral surface, and a temperature sensor detects a surface temperature of the fixing member at a temperature detecting position. At least one first heater, of the heaters, receives power from a first power supply, and remaining second heaters receive power from a second power supply. One of the second heaters closest to the temperature detecting position is the same distance from the temperature detecting position as or is closer to the temperature detecting position than a first heater which is closest to the temperature detecting position.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2006Date of Patent: May 13, 2008Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhito Kishi, Yasuhisa Kato, Akiyasu Amita, Masami Okamoto, Yasutada Tsukioka, Hiromasa Takagi
-
Patent number: 7366432Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an image formed on a recording material includes a fixing member and a pressing member which are rotatable to pass the recording material having an image through their nip part, a heating part that heats the fixing member, a storage unit that is charged by an external power source to supply power to the heating part, and a control unit that controls the external power source and the storage unit to supply power to the heating part without rotating the fixing member and pressing member at a time of warming-up the fixing member by the heating part in a first case. The control unit further controls the external power source to supply power to the heating part and controls the storage unit so as not to supply power to the heating part while rotating the fixing member and the pressing member in a second case.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2005Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhito Kishi, Susumu Matsusaka, Yasuhisa Kato, Akiyasu Amita, Masami Okamoto, Yasutada Tsukioka, Hiromasa Takagi, Ryuichi Kikegawa
-
Patent number: 7356270Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an image formed on a recording material includes a fixing member disposed on a recording material conveyance path, a heating part configured to heat the fixing member to fix the image formed on the recording material by heat, and a storage unit configured to be charged by an external power source to supply power to the heating part. The fixing device further includes a local ambient temperature detecting unit configured to detect a local ambient temperature in the vicinity of the fixing member, and a control unit configured to change a supply of power from the storage unit to the heating part based on the local ambient temperature.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2005Date of Patent: April 8, 2008Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Susumu Matsusaka, Kazuhito Kishi, Yasuhisa Kato, Akiyasu Amita, Masami Okamoto, Yasutada Tsukioka, Hiromasa Takagi, Ryuichi Kikegawa
-
Patent number: 7343113Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an image formed on a recording material in an image forming apparatus includes a fixing member, a heating part that heats the fixing member to fix an image formed on the recording material by heat, a storage unit that is charged by an external power source to supply power to the heating part, and a control unit that controls the external power source to supply power to the heating part and determines whether to start to supply power to the heating part from the storage unit. The control unit controls the external power source to charge the storage unit during a period from when power supply from the storage unit to the heating part is completed at the time of warming-up the fixing member by the heating part until when the power supply from the storage unit to the heating part is started.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2005Date of Patent: March 11, 2008Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Susumu Matsusaka, Kazuhito Kishi, Yasuhisa Kato, Masami Okamoto, Akiyasu Amita, Yasutada Tsukioka, Hiromasa Takagi, Ryuichi Kikegawa
-
Patent number: 7333743Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an image formed on a recording material includes first and second rotary members having a nip part therebetween, a heating part that heats the first rotary member, a center portion temperature detecting unit that detects a temperature of a center portion of the first rotary member, and an end portion temperature detecting unit that detects a temperature of an end portion of the first rotary member. When recording materials each having a relatively large width consecutively pass through the nip part, a control unit controls a heating amount of a full width heating member based on the temperature detected by the center portion temperature detecting unit, and when recording materials each having a relatively small width consecutively pass through the nip part, the control unit controls the heating amount of the full width heating member based on the temperature detected by the end portion temperature detecting unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2005Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhito Kishi, Susumu Matsusaka, Yasuhisa Kato, Akiyasu Amita, Masami Okamoto, Yasutada Tsukioka, Hiromasa Takagi, Ryuichi Kikegawa
-
Patent number: 7308216Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an image formed on a recording material in an image forming apparatus includes a fixing member configured to fix an image formed on the recording material, a heating part that heats the fixing member, a storage unit that is charged by an external power source to supply power to the heating part, and a control unit that controls the storage unit so as not to supply power to the heating part during a warming-up period from when a power switch of the image forming apparatus switches on to when the image forming apparatus becomes ready to start an image forming operation and that controls the external power source and the storage unit to supply power to the heating part during a returning period from when an off-mode is completed to when the image forming apparatus becomes ready to start the image forming operation.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2005Date of Patent: December 11, 2007Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhito Kishi, Susumu Matsusaka, Yasuhisa Kato, Akiyasu Amita, Masami Okamoto, Yasutada Tsukioka, Hiromasa Takagi, Ryuichi Kikegawa
-
Publication number: 20070212090Abstract: Power is supplied from a capacitor of an auxiliary power source to a secondary heating element of a heating unit, thereby preventing temperature drop of a fixing roller at the time of continuous paper delivery. An allowable range for starting discharge from the capacitor is set to, for example, 30 to 40 volts. A discharge time in which the voltage of the capacitor reduces to a termination value, such as 20 volts, is longer than a time necessary for a reading unit to read a maximum number (for example, 100 sheets) of documents that can be read at one time.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2007Publication date: September 13, 2007Inventors: Susumu Matsusaka, Kazuhito Kishi, Yasuhisa Kato, Akiyasu Amita, Masami Okamoto, Yasutada Tsukioka, Hiromasa Takagi
-
Patent number: 7239821Abstract: Power is supplied from a capacitor of an auxiliary power source to a secondary heating element of a heating unit, thereby preventing temperature drop of a fixing roller at the time of continuous paper delivery. An allowable range for starting discharge from the capacitor is set to, for example, 30 to 40 volts. A discharge time in which the voltage of the capacitor reduces to a termination value, such as 20 volts, is longer than a time necessary for a reading unit to read a maximum number (for example, 100 sheets) of documents that can be read at one time.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2005Date of Patent: July 3, 2007Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Susumu Matsusaka, Kazuhito Kishi, Yasuhisa Kato, Akiyasu Amita, Masami Okamoto, Yasutada Tsukioka, Hiromasa Takagi
-
Patent number: 7212758Abstract: An image-forming apparatus is disclosed. The image-forming apparatus includes a fixing unit. The fixing unit includes: a heating part including a heating element; a power storage unit including a chargeable and dischargeable capacitor and supplying power to the heating part so that the heating element of the heating part generates heat; and a controller controlling the operation of the power storage unit. When the image-forming operation of the image-forming apparatus is suspended by an abnormality, the controller performs control such that the capacitor is charged in accordance with its remaining amount of stored energy.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2006Date of Patent: May 1, 2007Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhito Kishi, Yasuhisa Kato, Akiyasu Amita, Masami Okamoto, Yasutada Tsukioka, Hiromasa Takagi
-
Patent number: 7212759Abstract: A heating device, a fixing device and an image forming device are disclosed for making the life-span of a capacitor thereof longer. The heating device includes a heating part having at least one heat generation part generating heat, an electricity storage device supplying electric power at a variable output voltage to the heating part and having at least one chargeable-dischargeable capacitor, a control part controlling the output voltage of the electricity storage device, and a temperature detection part detecting a temperature of a portion heated by the heat generation part. The heat generation part generates heat by using electric power supplied from the electricity storage device. When the temperature detected by the temperature detection part is higher than or equal to a predefined temperature, the control part sets a voltage of the capacitor such that the voltage of the capacitor is lower than or equal to a maximum voltage of the capacitor.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2004Date of Patent: May 1, 2007Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhito Kishi, Yasuhisa Kato, Akiyasu Amita, Masami Okamoto, Yasutada Tsukioka, Hiromasa Takagi
-
Patent number: 7209675Abstract: A fixing member, a power detector, and a controller are included. The fixing member is heated by a heating unit that generates heat when power is supplied by a commercial power and a capacitor. The power detector detects energy of power stored in the capacitor. The controller performs an identical control to reduce number of copies of an image formed (fixed) per minute (CPM) to a predetermined number (40 CPM) in any of three cases in which the energy is less than a threshold for starting electric discharge when a plurality of recording mediums is continuously passed through the fixing member, in which a cardboard paper is continuously passed, and in which an amount of data of an image to be transferred on the recording medium is large.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2005Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventors: Susumu Matsusaka, Kazuhito Kishi, Yasuhisa Kato, Akiyasu Amita, Masami Okamoto, Yasutada Tsukioka, Hiromasa Takagi
-
Publication number: 20070036573Abstract: A fixing unit thermally fixes a toner on a recording medium by a fixing member having a plurality of internal heaters and an outer peripheral surface, and a temperature sensor detects a surface temperature of the fixing member at a temperature detecting position. At least one first heater, of the heaters, receives power from a first power supply, and remaining second heaters receive power from a second power supply. One of the second heaters closest to the temperature detecting position is the same distance from the temperature detecting position as or is closer to the temperature detecting position than a first heater which is closest to the temperature detecting position.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2006Publication date: February 15, 2007Inventors: Kazuhito Kishi, Yasuhisa Kato, Akiyasu Amita, Masami Okamoto, Yasutada Tsukioka, Hiromasa Takagi
-
Publication number: 20070031159Abstract: A heating device, a fixing device and an image forming device are disclosed for making the life-span of a capacitor thereof longer. The heating device includes a heating part having at least one heat generation part generating heat, an electricity storage device supplying electric power at a variable output voltage to the heating part and having at least one chargeable-dischargeable capacitor, a control part controlling the output voltage of the electricity storage device, and a temperature detection part detecting a temperature of a portion heated by the heat generation part. The heat generation part generates heat by using electric power supplied from the electricity storage device. When the temperature detected by the temperature detection part is higher than or equal to a predefined temperature, the control part sets a voltage of the capacitor such that the voltage of the capacitor is lower than or equal to a maximum voltage of the capacitor.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2006Publication date: February 8, 2007Inventors: Kazuhito Kishi, Yasuhisa Kato, Akiyasu Amita, Masami Okamoto, Yasutada Tsukioka, Hiromasa Takagi
-
Patent number: 7130555Abstract: A fixing unit thermally fixes a toner on a recording medium by a fixing member having a plurality of internal heaters and an outer peripheral surface, and a temperature sensor detects a surface temperature of the fixing member at a temperature detecting position. At least one first heater, of the heaters, receives power from a first power supply, and remaining second heaters receive power from a second power supply. One of the second heaters closest to the temperature detecting position is the same distance from the temperature detecting position as or is closer to the temperature detecting position than a first heater which is closest to the temperature detecting position.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2004Date of Patent: October 31, 2006Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhito Kishi, Yasuhisa Kato, Akiyasu Amita, Masami Okamoto, Yasutada Tsukioka, Hiromasa Takagi
-
Patent number: 7116923Abstract: An apparatus for fusing toner with a sheet includes an electricity storage device, a heating unit configured to generate heat based on electric power supplied from the electricity storage device, a fusing member configured to fuse the toner with the sheet through heat applied by the heating unit, and a control unit which changes a rated power of the heating unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2004Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhito Kishi, Yasuhisa Kato, Akiyasu Amita, Masami Okamoto, Yasutada Tsukioka, Hiromasa Takagi