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).
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Patent number: 10012937Abstract: 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 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. A gap retainer contacts the nip former and is coupled to the presser to retain isolation of the presser from the nip former.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2017Date of Patent: July 3, 2018Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Shuutaroh Yuasa, Keisuke Kubota, Masami Okamoto, Seiji Saitoh, Fumihiro Hirose, Kensuke Yamaji, Jun Ogino, Yuuta Kanda
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Patent number: 9996035Abstract: 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 presser is disposed downstream from an exit of the fixing nip in the rotation direction of the fixing belt. The presser brings the fixing belt into contact with the pressure rotator. A mover is coupled to the presser to move the presser between a contact position where the presser brings the fixing belt into contact with the pressure rotator and an isolation position where the presser isolates the fixing belt from the pressure rotator.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2017Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Masami Okamoto, Seiji Saitoh, Keisuke Kubota, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Kensuke Yamaji, Fumihiro Hirose, Yuuta Kanda
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Patent number: 9939761Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless fixing belt stretched taut across a first roller and a second roller and rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation. A pressure rotator is pressed against the first roller via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the pressure rotator and the fixing belt, through which a recording medium is conveyed. A separation aid, disposed downstream from the fixing nip in the direction of rotation of the fixing belt to separate the recording medium from the fixing belt, includes a contact face contacting an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt and a bulge disposed at a center of the contact face in a longitudinal direction of the separation aid. The bulge projects toward the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt relative to each lateral end of the contact face in the longitudinal direction of the separation aid.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2015Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kenji Nozawa, Masahiko Satoh, Masami Okamoto, Keisuke Kubota, Yuuki Kikushima, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Fumihiro Hirose, Kensuke Yamaji, Kaori Hemmi
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Publication number: 20180088502Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2017Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventors: Ryohhei SUGIYAMA, Hironori YAMAOKA, Takashi SAKAMAKI, Tetsuo TOKUDA, Akiyasu AMITA, Shinichi NAMEKATA, Yohhei WATANABE, Fumihiro HIROSE, Teppei KAWATA, Masateru UJIIE
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Publication number: 20180081309Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2017Publication date: March 22, 2018Inventors: Fumihiro HIROSE, Keisuke KUBOTA, Masami OKAMOTO, Jun OGINO, Kensuke YAMAJI, Shuutaroh YUASA, Yuuta KANDA
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Publication number: 20170357197Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2017Publication date: December 14, 2017Inventors: Masami OKAMOTO, Keisuke Kubota, Seiji Saitoh, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Yuuta Kanda, Fumihiro Hirose, Kensuke Yamaji
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Publication number: 20170269522Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2017Publication date: September 21, 2017Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Keisuke KUBOTA, Seiji SAITOH, Masami OKAMOTO, Kensuke YAMAJI, Fumihiro HIROSE, Shuutaroh YUASA, Yuuta KANDA
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Publication number: 20170269526Abstract: 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 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. A gap retainer contacts the nip former and is coupled to the presser to retain isolation of the presser from the nip former.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2017Publication date: September 21, 2017Inventors: Shuutaroh YUASA, Keisuke Kubota, Masami Okamoto, Seiji Saitoh, Fumihiro Hirose, Kensuke Yamaji, Jun Ogino, Yuuta Kanda
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Publication number: 20170269524Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2017Publication date: September 21, 2017Inventors: Kensuke YAMAJI, Keisuke KUBOTA, Seiji SAITOH, Masami OKAMOTO, Fumihiro HIROSE, Shuutaroh YUASA, Kenji NOZAWA, Kaori HEMMI, Jun OGINO, Yuuta KANDA
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Publication number: 20170269525Abstract: 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 presser is disposed downstream from an exit of the fixing nip in the rotation direction of the fixing belt. The presser brings the fixing belt into contact with the pressure rotator. A mover is coupled to the presser to move the presser between a contact position where the presser brings the fixing belt into contact with the pressure rotator and an isolation position where the presser isolates the fixing belt from the pressure rotator.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2017Publication date: September 21, 2017Inventors: Masami OKAMOTO, Seiji SAITOH, Keisuke KUBOTA, Shuutaroh YUASA, Kensuke YAMAJI, Fumihiro HIROSE, Yuuta KANDA
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Publication number: 20170235259Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2017Publication date: August 17, 2017Inventors: Seiji SAITOH, Yohhei WATANABE, Fumihiro HIROSE, Naoto SUZUKI, Takashi SAKAMAKI
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Patent number: 9519249Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical heat roller; a plurality of heaters disposed inside the heat roller, extending along a longitudinal axis of the heat roller; and a heat adjuster, disposed among the plurality of heaters, to adjust heat from one to another of the plurality of heaters. An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section to form an image on a recording medium; and the fixing device as described above, to fix the image onto the recording medium.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2015Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Fumihiro Hirose, Masami Okamoto, Kenji Nozawa, Yuuki Kikushima, Kensuke Yamaji, Keisuke Kubota, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Kaori Hemmi
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Patent number: 9494904Abstract: A separation device separates a recording medium ejected from a fixing nip formed between a first rotator and a second rotator from the first rotator. The separation device includes a separator including a front end disposed opposite the fixing nip and the recording medium and a plurality of recesses disposed on the front end of the separator at least in a conveyance span on the separator 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 a recording medium conveyance direction and a second recess adjacent to the first recess and extending in a second extension line that is oblique relative to the recording medium conveyance direction. The second extension line overlaps the first extension line in a direction perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction to define an overlap span.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2015Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yohhei Watanabe, Takashi Sakamaki, Masateru Ujiie, Naoto Suzuki, Fumihiro Hirose
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Publication number: 20160306304Abstract: A fixing device includes a heater, a fixing rotator, a pressure rotator, a slider, and a controller. The fixing rotator is heated by the heater. The pressure rotator presses at least a portion of the fixing rotator and forms a nip between the pressure rotator and the fixing rotator. The fixing rotator fixes an unfixed toner image on a recording material in the nip. The slider slides over a surface of the fixing rotator. The controller causes the slider to perform a first sliding operation for a predetermined time after a predetermined condition is satisfied. The controller causes the slider to perform a second sliding operation for a time equal to or less than the predetermined time at earlier timing than when the predetermined condition is satisfied, in addition to the first sliding operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2016Publication date: October 20, 2016Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kaori Hemmi, Masami Okamoto, Keisuke Kubota, Yuuki Kikushima, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Fumihiro Hirose, Kensuke Yamaji, Kenji Nozawa
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Publication number: 20160209789Abstract: A sheet separation device includes a separator disposed to contact one face of a sheet conveyed through a nip between conveyors contacting each other. The separator configured to separate from surfaces of the conveyors the sheet conveyed through the nip. The separator includes a conveyance face and a slanted face. The conveyance face is configured to contact and convey the sheet conveyed through the nip. The slanted face is disposed closer to the nip than the conveyance face and inclined with respect to the conveyance face toward one conveyor of the conveyors at a same side as the one face of the sheet.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2016Publication date: July 21, 2016Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kenji NOZAWA, Masami OKAMOTO, Yuuki KIKUSHIMA, Fumihiro HIROSE, Kensuke YAMAJI, Keisuke KUBOTA, Shuutaroh YUASA, Kaori HEMMI, Seiji SAITOH
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Patent number: 9389560Abstract: A fixing device includes a guide disposed downstream from a fixing nip formed between a fixing rotator and a pressure rotator, through which a recording medium is conveyed. A pressure rotator side separator, disposed downstream from the fixing nip in a recording medium conveyance direction, includes an opposed tip disposed opposite an outer circumferential surface of the pressure rotator and a separation-conveyance face that separates the recording medium from the pressure rotator. The opposed tip and the separation-conveyance face define a hypothetical circle having a curvature not smaller than 1/20 that intersects a guide face of the guide at an intersection at which a hypothetical tangent is tangent to the hypothetical circle. The hypothetical tangent and the guide face define a downstream intersection angle that is downstream from the hypothetical tangent in the recording medium conveyance direction and is greater than 90 degrees.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2015Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Fumihiro Hirose, Masami Okamoto, Kenji Nozawa, Yuuki Kikushima, Kensuke Yamaji, Keisuke Kubota, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Kaori Hemmi
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Patent number: 9383692Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body to come into contact with a toner image on a recording medium and a pressing rotary body separably pressed against the fixing rotary body to press the recording medium against the fixing rotary body. A cooler, disposed opposite the pressing rotary body to cool the pressing rotary body, includes a fan to move air to the pressing rotary body and at least one inlet duct interposed between the fan and the pressing rotary body to supply air from the fan to the pressing rotary body. The at least one inlet duct selectively cools the pressing rotary body in a variable axial span in an axial direction thereof.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2013Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Satoshi Ueno, Jun Okamoto, Tetsuo Tokuda, Naoto Suzuki, Takashi Sakamaki, Fumihiro Hirose, Motoyoshi Yamano
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Publication number: 20160170350Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical heat roller; a plurality of heaters disposed inside the heat roller, extending along a longitudinal axis of the heat roller; and a heat adjuster, disposed among the plurality of heaters, to adjust heat from one to another of the plurality of heaters. An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section to form an image on a recording medium; and the fixing device as described above, to fix the image onto the recording medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2015Publication date: June 16, 2016Inventors: Fumihiro HIROSE, Masami OKAMOTO, Kenji NOZAWA, Yuuki KIKUSHIMA, Kensuke YAMAJI, Keisuke KUBOTA, Shuutaroh YUASA, Kaori HEMMI
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Publication number: 20160170348Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical heat roller; a plurality of heaters disposed inside the heat roller, extending along a longitudinal axis of the heat roller; and a heat adjuster, disposed among the plurality of heaters, to adjust heat from one to another of the plurality of heaters. An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section to form an image on a recording medium; and the fixing device as described above, to fix the image onto the recording medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2015Publication date: June 16, 2016Inventors: Fumihiro HIROSE, Masami Okamoto, Kenji Nozawa, Yuuki Kikushima, Kensuke Yamaji, Keisuke Kubota, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Kaori Hemmi
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Publication number: 20160139549Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless fixing belt stretched taut across a first roller and a second roller and rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation. A pressure rotator is pressed against the first roller via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the pressure rotator and the fixing belt, through which a recording medium is conveyed. A separation aid, disposed downstream from the fixing nip in the direction of rotation of the fixing belt to separate the recording medium from the fixing belt, includes a contact face contacting an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt and a bulge disposed at a center of the contact face in a longitudinal direction of the separation aid. The bulge projects toward the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt relative to each lateral end of the contact face in the longitudinal direction of the separation aid.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2015Publication date: May 19, 2016Inventors: Kenji NOZAWA, Masahiko SATOH, Masami OKAMOTO, Keisuke KUBOTA, Yuuki KlKUSHIMA, Shuutaroh YUASA, Fumihiro HIROSE, Kensuke YAMAJI, Kaori HEMMI