Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Yoshinaga

Hiroshi Yoshinaga 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: 11959039
    Abstract: A heating device includes a rotating body, a heating source, a rotating body holder, and a lubricant of liquid or semi-solid. The heating source heats the rotating body. The rotating body holder holds both longitudinal ends of the rotating body rotatably. The lubricant of liquid or semi-solid adheres to the rotating body holder. A temperature of the rotating body holder is lower than a generation temperature of fine particles of the lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Andoh, Masahiro Samei, Kota Shiodera, Toshiyuki Kabata, Hiroshi Yoshinaga
  • Publication number: 20240036500
    Abstract: A heating device includes a rotator, a heater, a rotator holder, lubricant, and a shield. The heater heats the rotator in a heat generation range. The rotator holder holds an end of the rotator in a longitudinal direction of the rotator. The lubricant adheres to the rotator holder. The shield shields heat transferred from the heater. The shield includes a first shield, a second shield, and a heat transfer reducer. The first shield faces the heater and the rotator. The second shield faces the rotator holder. The second shield is outside the heat generation range in the longitudinal direction. The heat transfer reducer is disposed between the first shield and the second shield. The heat transfer reducer reduces the heat transferred from the first shield to the second shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Masahiro SAMEI, Takayuki ANDOH, Kota SHIODERA, Hiroshi YOSHINAGA, Toshiyuki KABATA
  • Publication number: 20240004329
    Abstract: A heating device includes a rotator that rotates and a heater that is disposed opposite an inner circumferential face of the rotator. The heater heats the rotator. A rotator holder is disposed opposite the inner circumferential face of the rotator. The rotator holder holds a lateral end of the rotator in a longitudinal direction of the rotator. The rotator holder is adhered with a lubricating substance. A heat shield is disposed between the heater and the rotator and between the heater and the rotator holder. The heat shield blocks radiant heat radiated from the heater and is separated from the rotator holder. The heat shield includes a first portion and a second portion that is disposed outboard from the first portion in the longitudinal direction of the rotator. The second portion is separated from the inner circumferential face of the rotator farther than the first portion is.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Hiroshi YOSHINAGA, Takayuki ANDOH, Masahiro SAMEI, Kota SHIODERA, Toshiyuki KABATA, Ryohhei SUGIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20230359142
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a pair of conveyors each including a conveyance face to convey a recording medium inside an image forming apparatus. One of the pair of conveyors further includes an exposed face, a handle, and a swing fulcrum. The exposed face is exposed to an outside of the apparatus while an inside of the apparatus is open. The handle is exposed to the outside of the apparatus and operatable to expose the conveyance face to the outside of the apparatus while the inside of the apparatus is open. The swing fulcrum swings the one of the pair of conveyors to expose the conveyance face to the outside of the apparatus when the handle is operated while the inside of the apparatus is open. The handle includes a partial annular portion. The partial annular portion is included in a plane including a swing direction around the swing fulcrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Takahiro IMADA, Yoshikuni SASAKI, Hiromasa TAKAGI, Takuya SESHITA, Hiroshi YOSHINAGA, Arinobu YOSHIURA
  • Publication number: 20230350329
    Abstract: A heating device includes a rotator that rotates and a heater that heats the rotator. A rotator holder holds each lateral end of the rotator in a longitudinal direction of the rotator. The rotator holder is adhered with one of silicone oil and silicone grease, that contains siloxanes that are not smaller than a dodecamer and not greater than a heptadecamer and have a concentration not greater than 1,250 ppm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Toshiyuki KABATA, Kota SHIODERA, Takayuki ANDOH, Masahiro SAMEI, Hiroshi YOSHINAGA
  • Patent number: 11803143
    Abstract: A nip formation pad includes a base, a high thermal conduction member, and an attachment. The high thermal conduction member has a thermal conductivity greater than a thermal conductivity of the base. The attachment is attached to the high thermal conduction member by elastic deformation of the attachment on the base held between the high thermal conduction member and the attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Ippei Fujimoto, Takashi Seto, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Kentaro Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20230324838
    Abstract: A heating device includes a rotator, a heater heating the rotator, a rotator holder holding a longitudinal end of the inner peripheral surface of the rotator, and lubricant applied to the rotator holder. The rotator holder includes a holding portion contacting the end of the inner peripheral surface, a flange portion contacting a longitudinal end of the rotator and extending outward in a radial direction of a loop of the rotator, and an inclined surface. The inclined surface is inclined in a direction away from an inner peripheral surface of the rotator from the holding portion toward the flange portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro SAMEI, Takyuki Andoh, Kota Shiodera, Toshiyuki Kabata, Hiroshi Yoshinaga
  • Publication number: 20230305451
    Abstract: A heating device includes a rotator, a heating source, a reflector, a rotator holder, and a liquid or semi-solid substance. The rotator is rotatably held. The heating source heats the rotator. The reflector includes a reflection face that reflects radiant heat emitted from the heating source. The reflection face has a reflectance lower at each end portion of the reflection face in a longitudinal direction of the rotator than at a center portion of the reflection face in the longitudinal direction of the rotator. The rotator holder holds a longitudinal end portion of the rotator. The liquid or semi-solid substance has lubricity and adheres to the rotator holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryohhei Sugiyama, Takayuki Andoh, Masahiro Samei, Kota Shiodera, Hiroshi Yoshinaga
  • Patent number: 11766877
    Abstract: A conveyance device includes a conveyor that conveys a sheet. A ventilator sends air to the sheet conveyed by the conveyor in a predetermined region. A controller controls the ventilator to change an air capacity of the air at a time when a leading end of the sheet in a sheet conveyance direction is in the predetermined region and at a time when the leading end of the sheet is past the predetermined region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yoshinaga
  • Publication number: 20230297011
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotator, a heater, a rotator support, a nip formation pad, lubricant, and a pressure rotator. The heater heats an inner circumferential surface of the rotator. The rotator support supports an end of the inner circumferential surface of the rotator in an axial direction of the rotator. The rotator slides on the rotator support. The nip formation pad is in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the rotator. One end of the nip formation pad in a longitudinal direction of the nip formation pad is separated from the rotator support with a clearance of 2 mm or more. The lubricant is between the rotator and the nip formation pad. The pressure rotator presses the nip formation pad via the rotator to form a nip between the rotator and the pressure rotator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kota SHIODERA, Takayuki ANDOH, Masahiro SAMEI, Toshiyuki KABATA, Hiroshi YOSHINAGA
  • Publication number: 20230297010
    Abstract: A heating device includes a rotator, a heating source, a reflector, a shield, a rotator holder, and a liquid or semi-solid substance. The rotator is rotatably held. The heating source heats the rotator. The reflector reflects radiant heat emitted from the heating source. The shield is disposed closer to a longitudinal end portion of the rotator than to a longitudinal center portion of the rotator to shield, between the heating source and the rotator, the radiant heat emitted from the heating source. The shield has a reflectance lower than a reflectance of the reflector. The rotator holder holds the longitudinal end portion of the rotator. The liquid or semi-solid substance has lubricity and adheres to the rotator holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke INOUE, Takayuki ANDOH, Masahiro SAMEI, Kota SHIODERA, Hiroshi YOSHINAGA
  • Publication number: 20230297015
    Abstract: A heating device includes a rotator, a heating source, a rotator holder, and a liquid or semi-solid substance. The rotator is rotatably held. The heating source heats the rotator. The rotator holder holds a longitudinal end portion of the rotator. The rotator holder includes a reflector disposed at least at a portion to be irradiated with radiant heat emitted from the heating source to reflect the radiant heat. The reflector has a reflectance of not less than 60%. The liquid or semi-solid substance has lubricity and adheres to the rotator holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi YOSHINAGA, Takayuki ANDOH, Masahiro SAMEI, Kota SHIODERA, Toshiyuki KABATA
  • Publication number: 20230300269
    Abstract: A heating device includes a rotating body, a heating source, a rotating body holder, and a lubricant of liquid or semi-solid. The heating source heats the rotating body. The rotating body holder holds both longitudinal ends of the rotating body rotatably. The lubricant of liquid or semi-solid adheres to the rotating body holder. A temperature of the rotating body holder is lower than a generation temperature of fine particles of the lubricant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki ANDOH, Masahiro SAMI, Kota SHIODERA, Toshiyuki KABATA, Hiroshi YOSHINAGA
  • Publication number: 20230297026
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a heating device, a recording medium ejector, a recording medium tray, an outer wall having an intake, and a filter. The heating device heats a recording medium having an image on one side of the recording medium. The recording medium ejector ejects the recording medium with the one side facing downward. On the recording medium tray, the recording medium ejected by the recording medium ejector is stacked. The intake is open toward the recording medium tray and is disposed at a position below the recording medium ejector. At the position, a maximum amount of recording media placeable on the recording medium tray does not cover at least a part of the intake. The filter collects foreign substances in air sucked from the intake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki ANDOH, Masahiro Samei, Kota Shiodera, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Toshiyuki Kabata, Tomoyuki Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 11681250
    Abstract: A nip former that forms a nip between an endless belt and a pressure rotator includes a base that is made of aluminum and has a nip forming face disposed opposite the nip. An anodic oxidation coating is treated with sealing and coats at least the nip forming face. The anodic oxidation coating has a thickness that is not smaller than 22 ?m and is not greater than 45 ?m and a variation in thickness that is not greater than 20 percent. The base and the anodic oxidation coating define a nip forming portion that is disposed opposite the nip. The nip forming portion has a thickness that is not smaller than 0.40 mm and is not greater than 1.20 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Kabata, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Takashi Seto, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Kentaro Yamashita, Daisuke Inoue
  • Publication number: 20230093465
    Abstract: A nip former that forms a nip between an endless belt and a pressure rotator includes a base that is made of aluminum and has a nip forming face disposed opposite the nip. An anodic oxidation coating is treated with sealing and coats at least the nip forming face. The anodic oxidation coating has a thickness that is not smaller than 22 ?m and is not greater than 45 ?m and a variation in thickness that is not greater than 20 percent. The base and the anodic oxidation coating define a nip forming portion that is disposed opposite the nip. The nip forming portion has a thickness that is not smaller than 0.40 mm and is not greater than 1.20 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Toshiyuki KABATA, Yoshiki YAMAGUCHI, Takashi SETO, Hiroshi YOSHINAGA, Kentaro YAMASHITA, Daisuke INOUE
  • Publication number: 20220291613
    Abstract: A nip formation pad includes a base, a high thermal conduction member, and an attachment. The high thermal conduction member has a thermal conductivity greater than a thermal conductivity of the base. The attachment is attached to the high thermal conduction member by elastic deformation of the attachment on the base held between the high thermal conduction member and the attachment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Yoshiki YAMAGUCHI, Ippei FUJIMOTO, Takashi SETO, Hiroshi YOSHINAGA, Kentaro YAMASHITA
  • Publication number: 20220281234
    Abstract: A conveyance device includes a conveyor that conveys a sheet. A ventilator sends air to the sheet conveyed by the conveyor in a predetermined region. A controller controls the ventilator to change an air capacity of the air at a time when a leading end of the sheet in a sheet conveyance direction is in the predetermined region and at a time when the leading end of the sheet is past the predetermined region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventor: Hiroshi YOSHINAGA
  • Patent number: 11409212
    Abstract: A heating device includes a heater, a housing, an airflow path, and an outer airflow path. The airflow path is configured to flow air from an airflow generator into the housing. The outer airflow path is configured to flow air from the airflow generator to an outer face of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yoshinaga
  • Patent number: 11353812
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotary endless fixing belt; a nip forming member disposed in an interior of the fixing belt; a rotary opposed member to contact the nip forming member via the fixing belt to form a nip together with the fixing belt; a heat source to directly heat the fixing belt at a portion other than the nip, including at lease one heat-generation part disposed outside lateral ends of a maximum area of the fixing belt where a recording medium passes through, wherein a recording medium carrying an unfixed image is conveyed to the nip and the fixing device fixes the unfixed image onto the recording medium; and a shielding member disposed between the fixing belt and the heat generation part of the heat source and configured to shield heat from the heat source at least at an area outside the maximum passing area of the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takamasa Hase, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Takeshi Uchitani, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Takuya Seshita, Shuutaroh Yuasa