Patents by Inventor Fumihiro Hirose

Fumihiro Hirose 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: 11809107
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a heater, a fixing rotator, a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, a contact rotator, and circuitry. The fixing rotator has an outer circumferential surface having a first area and a second area. The first area contacts both a first sheet and a second sheet having a width narrower than the width of the first sheet. The second area contacts the first sheet but does not contact the second sheet. The first temperature sensor detects a first temperature of the first area. The second temperature sensor detects a second temperature of the second area. The contact rotator contacts both the first area and the second area and rotates at the one of at least two relative velocities with respect to the fixing rotator. The circuitry sets one of the at least two relative velocities based on the first temperature and the second temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Tokuda, Akiyasu Amita, Fumihiro Hirose, Daisuke Arai
  • Publication number: 20230136994
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a heater, a fixing rotator, a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, a contact rotator, and circuitry. The fixing rotator has an outer circumferential surface having a first area and a second area. The first area contacts both a first sheet and a second sheet having a width narrower than the width of the first sheet. The second area contacts the first sheet but does not contact the second sheet. The first temperature sensor detects a first temperature of the first area. The second temperature sensor detects a second temperature of the second area. The contact rotator contacts both the first area and the second area and rotates at the one of at least two relative velocities with respect to the fixing rotator. The circuitry sets one of the at least two relative velocities based on the first temperature and the second temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Tetsuo TOKUDA, Akiyasu AMITA, Fumihiro HIROSE, Daisuke ARAI
  • Patent number: 11550246
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device and circuitry. The fixing device includes a fixing rotator, an electromagnetic induction heater configured to heat the fixing rotator, and a magnetic flux control member. The circuitry is configured to control the electromagnetic induction heater to lead a temperature of the fixing rotator to a target temperature and change an upper limit of power supplied to the electromagnetic induction heater based on the target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Akiyasu Amita, Tetsuo Tokuda, Masateru Ujiie, Fumihiro Hirose, Daisuke Arai
  • Publication number: 20220082968
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device and circuitry. The fixing device includes a fixing rotator, an electromagnetic induction heater configured to heat the fixing rotator, and a magnetic flux control member. The circuitry is configured to control the electromagnetic induction heater to lead a temperature of the fixing rotator to a target temperature and change an upper limit of power supplied to the electromagnetic induction heater based on the target temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiyasu AMITA, Tetsuo TOKUDA, Masateru UJIIE, Fumihiro HIROSE, Daisuke ARAI
  • Patent number: 11150583
    Abstract: A belt device includes an endless belt, a plurality of support rotators configured to support the endless belt, and a support configured to support shaft portions of the plurality of support rotators. The support has an attaching and detaching path through which the shaft portions of the plurality of support rotators pass in a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of at least one of the plurality of support rotators when the shaft portions of the plurality of support rotators are detached from the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Hirose, Masateru Ujiie, Akiyasu Amita, Tetsuo Tokuda
  • Patent number: 11099506
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device, which is included in a fixing device and an image forming apparatus, includes a sheet contacting body and a lateral relative position shifting body. The sheet contacting body is configured to contact a sheet to be conveyed. The lateral relative position shifting body is configured to shift a passing position of the sheet being conveyed toward the sheet contacting body, in a width direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction and a relative position to the sheet contacting body, each time the sheet is conveyed by a number of sheets based on a setting. The setting of the number of sheets varies based on information of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Hirose, Naoto Suzuki, Yohhei Watanabe, Akiyasu Amita, Masateru Ujiie, Shinichi Namekata, Takashi Sakamaki, Teppei Kawata
  • Publication number: 20210096488
    Abstract: A belt device includes an endless belt, a plurality of support rotators configured to support the endless belt, and a support configured to support shaft portions of the plurality of support rotators. The support has an attaching and detaching path through which the shaft portions of the plurality of support rotators pass in a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of at least one of the plurality of support rotators when the shaft portions of the plurality of support rotators are detached from the support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Fumihiro HIROSE, Masateru UJIIE, Akiyasu AMITA, Tetsuo TOKUDA
  • Patent number: 10488796
    Abstract: A fixing device controller includes a plurality of voltage detectors to detect voltages of a plurality of power sources for supplying power to a plurality of heaters to heat a fixing member of a fixing device that fixes a toner image on a recording medium and a heater controller to execute duty control to turn on the plurality of heaters. The heater controller corrects a duty of at least one of the plurality of heaters based on the voltages detected by the plurality of voltage detectors and rated output values of the plurality of heaters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Teppei Kawata, Shinichi Namekata, Akiyasu Amita, Masateru Ujiie, Yohhei Watanabe, Fumihiro Hirose, Takashi Sakamaki
  • Patent number: 10481530
    Abstract: A separation member that is used to separate a conveyance object from two rotation members, the conveyance object having been sent out from a nip that is formed by the two rotation members that are in contact with one another, the separation member includes a wavy part directed toward the nip and inclined from a normal to a center line of the two rotation members at a predetermined angle. The wavy part covers a contact zone where the conveyance object can come into contact with the separation member along a conveyance direction and along a width direction of the conveyance object, and the wavy part has a plurality of depressions parallel to each other and extending in a direction inclined from the conveyance direction and inclined from the width direction, at least two of the depressions overlapping along the conveyance direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Seiji Saitoh, Keisuke Kubota, Masami Okamoto, Kenji Nozawa, Fumihiro Hirose, Kensuke Yamaji, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Yuuki Kikushima, Kaori Hemmi, Yuuta Kanda
  • Patent number: 10394169
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a tubular rotator and a first heater disposed inside the tubular rotator and extended in a longitudinal direction of the first heater. The first heater heats the tubular rotator. A second heater is disposed inside the tubular rotator and extended in a longitudinal direction of the second heater. The second heater heats the tubular rotator. A heating adjuster is interposed between the first heater and the second heater. The heating adjuster adjusts heat conduction from the first heater to the second heater. A joint combines the heating adjuster with the second heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Hirose, Keisuke Kubota, Masami Okamoto, Jun Ogino, Kensuke Yamaji, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Yuuta Kanda
  • Patent number: 10234798
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, a pressure rotator, and a pressure assembly that forms a fixing nip therebetween and includes a first adjuster and a second adjuster. The first adjuster includes a pressure cam, a first biasing device, a first pressure lever that holds the pressure rotator, and a second pressure lever that moves with the pressure cam and presses against the first pressure lever via the first biasing device. The first adjuster adjusts a load of the first biasing device to adjust a pressure force from the pressure rotator to the fixing rotator. The second adjuster includes an adjustment screw is driven into the second pressure lever, and a retainer that retains an adjusted state between the adjustment screw and the first pressure lever. The second adjuster adjusts a holding position of the first pressure lever to hold the pressure rotator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohhei Watanabe, Naoto Suzuki, Shinichi Namekata, Akiyasu Amita, Takashi Sakamaki, Teppei Kawata, Masateru Ujiie, Fumihiro Hirose
  • Patent number: 10191423
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing belt stretched across a first roller and a second roller including an elastic layer. A pressure rotator presses against the second roller via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the pressure rotator and the fixing belt. A recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed through the fixing nip. A clearance detector detects a clearance between the first roller and the second roller. A mover moves the pressure rotator with respect to the second roller in a pressing direction in which the pressure rotator presses against the second roller via the fixing belt and a separation direction in which the pressure rotator separates from the second roller. A controller controls an amount of movement of the pressure rotator moved by the mover toward the second roller based on the clearance detected by the clearance detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryohhei Sugiyama, Hironori Yamaoka, Takashi Sakamaki, Tetsuo Tokuda, Akiyasu Amita, Shinichi Namekata, Yohhei Watanabe, Fumihiro Hirose, Teppei Kawata, Masateru Ujiie
  • Publication number: 20190018351
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device, which is included in a fixing device and an image forming apparatus, includes a sheet contacting body and a lateral relative position shifting body. The sheet contacting body is configured to contact a sheet to be conveyed. The lateral relative position shifting body is configured to shift a passing position of the sheet being conveyed toward the sheet contacting body, in a width direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction and a relative position to the sheet contacting body, each time the sheet is conveyed by a number of sheets based on a setting. The setting of the number of sheets varies based on information of the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: Fumihiro HIROSE, Naoto SUZUKI, Yohhei WATANABE, Akiyasu AMITA, Masateru UJIIE, Shinichi NAMEKATA, Takashi SAKAMAKI, Teppei KAWATA
  • Publication number: 20190018348
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, a pressure rotator, and a pressure assembly that forms a fixing nip therebetween and includes a first adjuster and a second adjuster. The first adjuster includes a pressure cam, a first biasing device, a first pressure lever that holds the pressure rotator, and a second pressure lever that moves with the pressure cam and presses against the first pressure lever via the first biasing device. The first adjuster adjusts a load of the first biasing device to adjust a pressure force from the pressure rotator to the fixing rotator. The second adjuster includes an adjustment screw is driven into the second pressure lever, and a retainer that retains an adjusted state between the adjustment screw and the first pressure lever. The second adjuster adjusts a holding position of the first pressure lever to hold the pressure rotator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohhei Watanabe, Naoto Suzuki, Shinichi Namekata, Akiyasu Amita, Takashi Sakamaki, Teppei Kawata, Masateru Ujiie, Fumihiro Hirose
  • Publication number: 20190011864
    Abstract: A fixing device controller includes a plurality of voltage detectors to detect voltages of a plurality of power sources for supplying power to a plurality of heaters to heat a fixing member of a fixing device that fixes a toner image on a recording medium and a heater controller to execute duty control to turn on the plurality of heaters. The heater controller corrects a duty of at least one of the plurality of heaters based on the voltages detected by the plurality of voltage detectors and rated output values of the plurality of heaters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Teppei KAWATA, Shinichi Namekata, Akiyasu Amita, Masateru Ujiie, Yohhei Watanabe, Fumihiro Hirose, Takashi Sakamaki
  • Publication number: 20180299809
    Abstract: A separation member that is used to separate a conveyance object from two rotation members, the conveyance object having been sent out from a nip that is formed by the two rotation members that are in contact with one another, the separation member includes a wavy part directed toward the nip and inclined from a normal to a center line of the two rotation members at a predetermined angle. The wavy part covers a contact zone where the conveyance object can come into contact with the separation member along a conveyance direction and along a width direction of the conveyance object, and the wavy part has a plurality of depressions parallel to each other and extending in a direction inclined from the conveyance direction and inclined from the width direction, at least two of the depressions overlapping along the conveyance direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Seiji Saitoh, Keisuke Kubota, Masami Okamoto, Kenji Nozawa, Fumihiro Hirose, Kensuke Yamaji, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Yuuki Kikushima, Kaori Hemmi, Yuuta Kanda
  • Patent number: 10095166
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a separator disposed downstream from a nip former in a recording medium conveyance direction and isolated from a pressure rotator via a fixing belt. The separator stretches the fixing belt. A presser is interposed between a fixing nip formed between the living belt and the pressure rotator and an upstream end of the separator in a rotation direction of the fixing belt. The presser comes into contact with an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt to press the fixing belt against the pressure rotator. A pressure adjuster, contacting the pressure rotator, changes a pressing position of the pressure rotator relative to the fixing belt to adjust pressure exerted from the pressure rotator to the fixing belt. A presser position adjuster, contacting the presser, changes a presser position of the presser relative to the fixing belt according to the pressing position of the pressure rotator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Okamoto, Keisuke Kubota, Seiji Saitoh, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Yuuta Kanda, Fumihiro Hirose, Kensuke Yamaji
  • Patent number: 10088786
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt that is endless and rotatable in a rotation direction and a nip former stretching the fixing belt. A pressure rotator presses against the nip former via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the pressure rotator, through which a recording medium is conveyed. A separator is disposed downstream from the nip former in a recording medium conveyance direction and stretches the fixing belt. The separator is spaced apart from the pressure rotator via the fixing belt. A presser is interposed between an exit of the fixing nip and an upstream end of the separator in the rotation direction of the fixing belt. The presser comes into contact with an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt to press the fixing belt against the pressure rotator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Keisuke Kubota, Seiji Saitoh, Masami Okamoto, Kensuke Yamaji, Fumihiro Hirose, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Yuuta Kanda
  • Patent number: 10042294
    Abstract: A separation device includes a separator that separates a recording medium from a rotator and a plurality of recesses disposed on a conveyance path side face of the separator over which the recording medium is conveyed in a recess span in a recording medium conveyance direction and at least in a conveyance span where the recording medium is conveyed. The plurality of recesses includes a first recess extending in a first extension line that is oblique relative to the recording medium conveyance direction and a second recess being adjacent to the first recess in a direction perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction. The second recess extends in a second extension line that is oblique relative to the recording medium conveyance direction and overlaps the first extension line of the first recess in the direction perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction to define an overlap span.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Saitoh, Yohhei Watanabe, Fumihiro Hirose, Naoto Suzuki, Takashi Sakamaki
  • Patent number: 10012936
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt that is endless and rotatable in a rotation direction and a nip former stretching the fixing belt and including an elastic layer as a surface layer. A pressure rotator presses against the nip former via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the pressure rotator, through which a recording medium is conveyed. A presser is disposed downstream from an exit of the fixing nip in a recording medium conveyance direction. The presser brings the fixing belt into contact with the pressure rotator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kensuke Yamaji, Keisuke Kubota, Seiji Saitoh, Masami Okamoto, Fumihiro Hirose, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Kenji Nozawa, Kaori Hemmi, Jun Ogino, Yuuta Kanda