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).

  • METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING MILL ROLL, MILL ROLL AND MANUFACTURING APPARATUS OF MILL ROLL
    Publication number: 20160023300
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a mill roll including a preheating process for joining end portions 16 to 19 of a roll barrel member 13 and/or shaft materials 14, 15,and a friction pressure welding process strongly pressing and joining the shaft materials 14, 15 to a core material 11 after frictionally heating the joining end portions 16 to 19 by rotating the shaft materials 14, 15 while pressing to the core material 11, and a manufacturing apparatus including first and second holding means 29, 23 for the roll barrel member 13 and the shaft materials 14, 15, a rotating means rotating the shaft materials 14, 15, a pressing means 24 pressing the core material 11 and the shaft materials 14, 15 in an axial direction, and a preheating means 31 preheating the joining end portions 16 to 19 of the roll barrel member 13 and the shaft materials 14, 15.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Applicant: FUJICO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Kimura, Akio Sonoda, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Hideaki Nagayoshi
  • Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
    Patent number: 9244411
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable, endless belt, a stationary heater, a stationary pad, a rotatable pressure member, and a heat conductive member. The rotatable, endless belt is looped into a generally cylindrical configuration. The stationary heater is disposed inside the loop of the belt to radiate heat to the belt. The stationary pad is disposed inside the loop of the belt. The rotatable pressure member is disposed parallel to the stationary pad with the belt interposed between the pressure member and the stationary pad. The pressure member presses against the stationary pad via the belt to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium passes. The heat conductive member is interposed between the belt and the heater to transfer heat radiated from the heater by conduction therethrough to the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Seshita, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Takeshi Uchitani, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Takamasa Hase, Shuutaroh Yuasa
  • Fixing device and image forming apparatus
    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
  • Fixing device and image forming apparatus including same
    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
  • Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
    Patent number: 9235177
    Abstract: A fixing device comprises a rotatable fixing member to apply heat to a recording medium bearing an unfixed image thereon, a heat source to heat the fixing member, and a rotatable pressing member pressing against the fixing member forming a nip therebetween. A driving source rotates and drives the fixing member and the pressing member. An overheat safety device has a relay to open and close a power supply path connected to the heat source. A temperature detector is connected to both the relay and the control unit to detect temperature of the fixing member. The overheat safety device turns off the relay and cuts off power supply to the heat source when the fixing member is overheated. The fixing member is allowed to radiate heat and cool down when the temperature detected by the temperature detector is more than a prescribed level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Seshita, Masahiko Satoh, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Kenji Ishii, Tadashi Ogawa, Takahiro Imada, Hiromasa Takagi, Kazuya Saito, Naoki Iwaya, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Kensuke Yamaji, Teppei Kawata, Takamasa Hase, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Takeshi Uchitani, Arinobu Yoshiura, Hajime Gotoh, Akira Suzuki, Ryota Yamashina, Yasunori Ishigaya
  • FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20160004197
    Abstract: According to an embodiments, a fixing device includes: an endless fixing member; a heating unit that is provided inside an inner peripheral surface of the fixing member; and a nip forming unit that comes into press-contact with a rotationally driven pressing member with the fixing member interposed therebetween to form a nip. The nip forming unit has a shape in which a center of a contact surface protrudes toward the pressing member compared to both ends. The nip forming unit has a protruding amount at a center toward the pressing member compared to both ends of the nip forming unit in no-load state is set to be less than a bent amount of the nip forming unit when the nip forming unit comes into press-contact with the pressing member with the fixing member interposed therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Takahiro IMADA, Masaaki YOSHIKAWA, Kenji ISHII, Hiroshi YOSHINAGA, Yuji ARAI, Naoki IWAYA, Tetsuo TOKUDA, Hiromasa TAKAGI, Yoshiki YAMAGUCHI, Ippei FUJIMOTO, Takuya SESHITA, Yutaka IKEBUCHI, Arinobu YOSHIURA, Toshihiko SHIMOKAWA, Hajime GOTOH
  • FIXING DEVICE CAPABLE OF ENHANCING DURABILITY OF ENDLESS BELT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING THE SAME
    Publication number: 20150378290
    Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a nip formation assembly disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt. An opposed rotary body is pressed against the nip formation assembly via the endless belt to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the opposed rotary body through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A belt holder contacts and supports each lateral end of the endless belt in an axial direction thereof. The belt holder is isolated from the opposed rotary body with a first interval interposed therebetween in the axial direction of the endless belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Teppei KAWATA, Masahiko Satoh, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Kenji Ishii, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Tadashi Ogawa, Takahiro Imada, Hiromasa Takagi, Kazuya Saito, Naoki Iwaya, Kensuke Yamaji, Takamasa Hase, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Takuya Seshita, Takeshi Uchitani, Arinobu Yoshiura, Hajime Gotoh, Akira Suzuki
  • Pressure adjuster, fixing device, and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 9221661
    Abstract: A pressure adjuster for changing pressure between a plurality of opposed bodies pressed against each other includes a cam rotatable in a given direction of rotation and having a top dead center on an outer circumferential surface thereof that is distanced farthest from a rotation axis of the cam. A driver is connected to the cam to drive and rotate the cam. A cam rest contacts the cam and is connected to one of the plurality of opposed bodies. A cam regulation assembly is connected to the cam to regulate rotation of the cam at least when the top dead center of the cam passes a contact position where the cam contacts the cam rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryuuichi Mimbu, Takayuki Seki, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Yuji Arai, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Kazuya Saito, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Shuntaro Tamaki, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Naoki Iwaya
  • FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME
    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
  • Fixing device and image forming apparatus including same
    Patent number: 9207589
    Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt or a fixing belt; a pressure member to contact an outer circumferential surface of the fixing belt; a nip forming member disposed at an interior side of the fixing belt and contacting the pressure member via the fixing belt; a heat source disposed at an interior side of the fixing belt to heat the fixing belt with radiant heat, a plurality of shielding members disposed between the heat source and the fixing belt and movable between a shielding position where the shielding member shields a non-sheet passing area on the fixing belt from the radiant heat from the heat source and a retracted position; and a controller to move the plurality of shielding members between the shielding position and the retracted position at a predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Arai, Takayuki Seki, Ryuuichi Mimbu, Shuntaro Tamaki, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Kazuya Saito, Hiroshi Yoshinaga
  • Image forming apparatus including a fixing device
    Patent number: 9207596
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device. The fixing device includes a rotatable endless fixing member, a nip forming member arranged inside the fixing member, a pressing member in contact with the nip forming member via the fixing member, and a heating source configured to heat the fixing member. When an abnormality occurs in at least one of the fixing device and other devices included in the image forming apparatus, a rotation of the fixing member is stopped prior to stopping a rotation driving of a discharging unit and, after stopping, the fixing member is controlled to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Takamasa Hase, Masahiko Satoh, Shinichi Namekata, Kenji Ishii, Takeshi Uchitani, Tadashi Ogawa, Teppei Kawata, Arinobu Yoshiura, Kazuya Saito, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Kensuke Yamaji, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Hiromasa Takagi, Naoki Iwaya, Takuya Seshita, Takahiro Imada, Hajime Gotoh, Akira Suzuki
  • Fixing device and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 9164443
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a first heat generator and a second heat generator that heat a fixing rotator. A support is disposed inside the fixing rotator. A reflector is mounted on the support and interposed between the support and each of the first heat generator and the second heat generator to reflect light radiated from the first heat generator and the second heat generator toward the fixing rotator. The reflector includes a body mounted on the support and a shield portion projecting from the body toward the first heat generator and the second heat generator to shield the fixing rotator from the first heat generator and the second heat generator. The shield portion includes a wing disposed opposite a non-conveyance span of the fixing rotator in the axial direction thereof where a recording medium is not conveyed over the fixing rotator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Shimokawa, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Takayuki Seki, Yuji Arai, Takeshi Yamamoto, Ryuuichi Mimbu, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Takuya Seshita, Shuntaro Tamaki, Hajime Gotoh, Takahiro Imada, Kazuya Saito, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Kensuke Yamaji, Akira Suzuki, Hiroshi Yoshinaga
  • Fixing device and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 9158250
    Abstract: A fixing device includes: an endless fixing member; a heating unit that is provided inside an inner peripheral surface of the fixing member; and a nip forming unit that comes into press-contact with a rotationally driven pressing member with the fixing member interposed therebetween to form a nip. The nip forming unit has a shape in which a center of a contact surface protrudes toward the pressing member compared to both ends. The nip forming unit has a protruding amount at a center toward the pressing member compared to both ends of the nip forming unit in no-load state is set to be less than a bent amount of the nip forming unit when the nip forming unit comes into press-contact with the pressing member with the fixing member interposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Takahiro Imada, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Kenji Ishii, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Yuji Arai, Naoki Iwaya, Tetsuo Tokuda, Hiromasa Takagi, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Ippei Fujimoto, Takuya Seshita, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Arinobu Yoshiura, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Hajime Gotoh
  • Fixing device and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 9158248
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body and a heater disposed opposite and heating the fixing rotary body. A nip formation assembly presses against an opposed body via the fixing rotary body to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotary body and the opposed body, through which a recording medium is conveyed. A movable heat shield movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body is interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater in a variable axial span of the fixing rotary body. A stationary heat shield, interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater, is disposed outboard from a lateral edge of a heat generator of the heater in an axial direction of the fixing rotary body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Arai, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Takayuki Seki, Takeshi Yamamoto, Ryuuichi Mimbu, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Takuya Seshita, Shuntaro Tamaki, Hajime Gotoh, Takahiro Imada, Kazuya Saito, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Kensuke Yamaji, Akira Suzuki, Hiroshi Yoshinaga
  • Fixing device capable of enhancing durability of endless belt and image forming apparatus incorporating the same
    Patent number: 9152108
    Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a nip formation assembly disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt. An opposed rotary body is pressed against the nip formation assembly via the endless belt to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the opposed rotary body through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A belt holder contacts and supports each lateral end of the endless belt in an axial direction thereof. The belt holder is isolated from the opposed rotary body with a first interval interposed therebetween in the axial direction of the endless belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Teppei Kawata, Masahiko Satoh, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Kenji Ishii, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Tadashi Ogawa, Takahiro Imada, Hiromasa Takagi, Kazuya Saito, Naoki Iwaya, Kensuke Yamaji, Takamasa Hase, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Takuya Seshita, Takeshi Uchitani, Arinobu Yoshiura, Hajime Gotoh, Akira Suzuki
  • Fixing device, image forming apparatus, and fixing method
    Patent number: 9146508
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator heated by a heater and a pressing rotator pressed against the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A heat shield interposed between the heater and the fixing rotator is movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotator to shield the fixing rotator from the heater in a variable axial shield span of the fixing rotator. The fixing rotator performs fixing rotation to convey the recording medium through the fixing nip while heating the recording medium and supplemental rotation other than fixing rotation. The heat shield moves to a decreased shield span position where the heat shield shields the fixing rotator from the heater in a decreased axial shield span of the fixing rotator during supplemental rotation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Imada, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Takayuki Seki, Yuji Arai, Takeshi Yamamoto, Ryuuichi Mimbu, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Takuya Seshita, Shuntaro Tamaki, Hajime Gotoh, Kazuya Saito, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Kensuke Yamaji, Akira Suzuki, Hiroshi Yoshinaga
  • FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
    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
  • Fixing device and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 9141051
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a support member disposed to support a nip formation member on an inner peripheral surface of a fixing belt. The support member includes a parallel portion that supports the nip formation member and extends parallel to a sheet transport direction in a nip portion, and a rise portion that extends from the parallel portion in a direction drawn apart from the nip portion. The rise portion is inclined to the parallel portion such that an inclination direction of the rise portion is substantially parallel to a virtual straight line connecting a center of rotation of the fixing belt and an inlet point of the nip portion or falls within a range of rotational angles of ±15° by which the virtual straight line is rotated around the center of rotation of the fixing belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Takayuki Seki, Yuji Arai, Ryuuichi Mimbu, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Shuntaro Tamaki, Kazuya Saito, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Toshihiko Shimokawa
  • Fixing device and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 9141047
    Abstract: A fixing device capable of shifting to a sleep state includes a heat source; a rotatable fixing member that is partly heated by the heat source to heat an unfixed image carrying surface of a recording medium; a rotatable pressing member that is in pressure contact with the fixing member to form a nip portion between the pressing member and the fixing member; a rotation drive unit that directly or indirectly rotates the fixing member; a temperature detecting unit that detects a temperature of the fixing member; and a controller configured to prohibit the fixing device from shifting to the sleep state when the temperature of the fixing member in a region facing the heat source is equal to or more than a predetermined temperature T1 at a point when a predetermined time period t1 has elapsed from the stop of rotation drive of the rotation drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Takeshi Uchitani, Masahiko Satoh, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Kenji Ishii, Tadashi Ogawa, Takahiro Imada, Hiromasa Takagi, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Arinobu Yoshiura, Teppei Kawata, Takamasa Hase, Hajime Gotoh, Takuya Seshita, Kazuya Saito, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Kensuke Yamaji, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Akira Suzuki, Shinichi Namekata, Ryota Yamashina, Yasunori Ishigaya
  • Air purifier
    Patent number: D744077
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: FUJICO CO., LTD
    Inventors: Wataru Yasukochi, Yoshiaki Yokoyama, Shinsuke Moritsugu, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Yong-Hwan Mo, Katsuhiro Ueta, Kyoichiro Ohno