Patents by Inventor Hitoshi Fujiwara
Hitoshi Fujiwara 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: 11966179Abstract: A fixing device includes a first rotator, a second rotator, a heater, and a discharger. The first rotator includes a conductive first layer, a non-conductive second layer, and a conductive third layer. The first to third layers exist in an order of the first layer to the third layer from a center of the first rotator to an outside of the first rotator. The second rotator forms a nip between the first rotator and the second rotator. A recording medium bearing a toner image passes through the nip. The heater is disposed inside a loop of the second rotator and heats the second rotator. The discharger is in contact with the first layer and the third layer and removes electric charge from the first rotator.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2022Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventor: Hitoshi Fujiwara
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Patent number: 11947295Abstract: A heating device includes a heater, a rotator, and a pressure rotator. The heater includes resistive heat generators forming a heat generation area and has a separation area formed by the resistive heat generators. The pressure rotator includes a first region and a second region. The first region faces the heater in a range of 20 mm from a center position of the heat generation area toward an end thereof in the arrangement direction. The second region faces the heater in at least a part of a range of 30 mm from a center position of the separation area toward the center position of the heat generation area. An outer diameter of the pressure rotator increases from the center toward the end. The outer diameter of the second region increases at an increasing rate larger than an increasing rate of the outer diameter of the first region.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2022Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Hitoshi Fujiwara
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Patent number: 11886134Abstract: A heating device includes a heater, a safety device, and a holder. The safety device has a heat-sensitive surface facing the heater. The safety device cuts off power supply to the heater in response to reaching a temperature of the heat-sensitive surface to be equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature. The holder holds the heater. The holder has a through hole that opens toward the heater and includes a step portion disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the through hole. The step portion supports an end of the heat-sensitive surface such that a central portion of the heat-sensitive surface of the safety device is not in contact with the heater.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2022Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventor: Hitoshi Fujiwara
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Patent number: 11874620Abstract: A fixing device includes a first rotator, a second rotator, a heater, a conductor, and a discharger. The first rotator includes a conductive first layer, a non-conductive second layer, and a conductive third layer. The first to third layers exist in an order of the first layer to the third layer from a center of the first rotator to an outside of the first rotator. The second rotator forms a nip between the first rotator and the second rotator. A recording medium bearing a toner image passes through the nip. The heater is disposed inside a loop of the second rotator and heats the second rotator. The conductor is in contact with one of the first layer and the third layer. The discharger is in contact with the conductor and the other one of the first layer and the third layer and removes electric charge from the first rotator.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2022Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventor: Hitoshi Fujiwara
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Publication number: 20230375965Abstract: A fixing device includes a first rotator, a second rotator, a heater, a separator, and a resistor. The second rotator is in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the first rotator to form a nip through which a recording medium bearing an unfixed image passes. The heater includes a heat generator and heats the first rotator. The separator is in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the first rotator and separates the recording medium passing through the nip from the first rotator. The resistor couples the second rotator and the separator to the ground.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2023Publication date: November 23, 2023Inventor: Hitoshi FUJIWARA
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Publication number: 20230297017Abstract: A pressure switching mechanism includes a rotatable support, a biasing member, and a switching rotation member. The rotatable support rotates around a first rotation shaft to support a contact member such that the contact member is movable in a direction toward or away from a contacted member. The biasing member has one end connected to a biased portion of the rotatable support, which is located on a side opposite the first rotation shaft with respect to a virtual line passing through a contact portion between the contact member and the contacted member, and applies a biasing force to the rotatable support. The switching rotation member is connected to another end of the biasing member opposite the one end of the biasing member, rotates around a second rotation shaft, and has a rotation operating end which is on a side opposite the second rotation shaft with respect to the virtual line.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2023Publication date: September 21, 2023Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Natsuki WATANABE, Hitoshi FUJIWARA, Shigeo NANNO, Yuusuke FURUICHI
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Publication number: 20230221664Abstract: A fixing device includes a first rotator, a second rotator, a heater, a conductor, and a discharger. The first rotator includes a conductive first layer, a non-conductive second layer, and a conductive third layer. The first to third layers exist in an order of the first layer to the third layer from a center of the first rotator to an outside of the first rotator. The second rotator forms a nip between the first rotator and the second rotator. A recording medium bearing a toner image passes through the nip. The heater is disposed inside a loop of the second rotator and heats the second rotator. The conductor is in contact with one of the first layer and the third layer. The discharger is in contact with the conductor and the other one of the first layer and the third layer and removes electric charge from the first rotator.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2022Publication date: July 13, 2023Inventor: Hitoshi FUJIWARA
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Publication number: 20230205119Abstract: A fixing device includes a first rotator, a second rotator, a heater, and a discharger. The first rotator includes a conductive first layer, a non-conductive second layer, and a conductive third layer. The first to third layers exist in an order of the first layer to the third layer from a center of the first rotator to an outside of the first rotator. The second rotator forms a nip between the first rotator and the second rotator. A recording medium bearing a toner image passes through the nip. The heater is disposed inside a loop of the second rotator and heats the second rotator. The discharger is in contact with the first layer and the third layer and removes electric charge from the first rotator.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2022Publication date: June 29, 2023Inventor: Hitoshi FUJIWARA
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Publication number: 20230004110Abstract: A heating device includes a heater, a rotator, and a pressure rotator. The heater includes resistive heat generators forming a heat generation area and has a separation area formed by the resistive heat generators. The pressure rotator includes a first region and a second region. The first region faces the heater in a range of 20 mm from a center position of the heat generation area toward an end thereof in the arrangement direction. The second region faces the heater in at least a part of a range of 30 mm from a center position of the separation area toward the center position of the heat generation area. An outer diameter of the pressure rotator increases from the center toward the end. The outer diameter of the second region increases at an increasing rate larger than an increasing rate of the outer diameter of the first region.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2022Publication date: January 5, 2023Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Hitoshi FUJIWARA
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Patent number: 11543765Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, a heater, a pressure rotator, a stay, a biasing member fixed to the stay, and a nip formation pad. The nip formation pad is supported by the stay, disposed inside the fixing rotator, and forms a nip. The nip formation pad includes at least one engaged portion at a position other than both ends of the nip formation pad or engaged portions at both ends of the nip formation pad. The at least one engaged portion engages an engaging portion in the stay to generate a first rotational moment. The engaged portions at both ends engage engaging portions in the stay to generate a second rotational moment. Each rotational moment is smaller than a rotational moment generated by engagement between an engaging portion in the stay and an engaged portion at only one end of the nip formation pad.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2021Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventor: Hitoshi Fujiwara
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Publication number: 20220397847Abstract: A heating device includes a heater, a safety device, and a holder. The safety device has a heat-sensitive surface facing the heater. The safety device cuts off power supply to the heater in response to reaching a temperature of the heat-sensitive surface to be equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature. The holder holds the heater. The holder has a through hole that opens toward the heater and includes a step portion disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the through hole. The step portion supports an end of the heat-sensitive surface such that a central portion of the heat-sensitive surface of the safety device is not in contact with the heater.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2022Publication date: December 15, 2022Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Hitoshi FUJIWARA
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Patent number: 11454910Abstract: A nip formation member includes a base, a high thermal conduction member, and a securing member. The high thermal conduction member has a thermal conductivity greater than a thermal conductivity of the base. The securing member is independent from the base and the high thermal conduction member. The securing member is configured to restrict movement of the base relative to the high thermal conduction member.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2020Date of Patent: September 27, 2022Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Naoki Iwaya, Hitoshi Fujiwara
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Publication number: 20220276593Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, a heater, a pressure rotator, a stay, a biasing member fixed to the stay, and a nip formation pad. The nip formation pad is supported by the stay, disposed inside the fixing rotator, and forms a nip. The nip formation pad includes at least one engaged portion at a position other than both ends of the nip formation pad or engaged portions at both ends of the nip formation pad. The at least one engaged portion engages an engaging portion in the stay to generate a first rotational moment. The engaged portions at both ends engage engaging portions in the stay to generate a second rotational moment. Each rotational moment is smaller than a rotational moment generated by engagement between an engaging portion in the stay and an engaged portion at only one end of the nip formation pad.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2021Publication date: September 1, 2022Inventor: Hitoshi FUJIWARA
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Patent number: 11408346Abstract: A fuel injector includes: a pilot fuel injection portion including a pilot fuel supply block and a pilot shroud; a main fuel injection portion arranged so as to surround the pilot fuel injection portion from an outer side in a radial direction; and an intermediate air passage arranged between the pilot fuel injection portion and the main fuel injection portion. The pilot shroud includes: a throat located at a downstream side of the pilot fuel supply block; and a flame holding portion surrounding flame located at the downstream side of the throat. An air injection slit is formed at the flame holding portion, the air injection slit being configured to inject compressed air of the intermediate air passage in a direction along an inner peripheral surface of the flame holding portion such that the compressed air covers the inner peripheral surface over an entire periphery.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2017Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Ryusuke Matsuyama, Hitoshi Fujiwara
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Publication number: 20220075302Abstract: A nip formation member includes a base, a high thermal conduction member, and a securing member. The high thermal conduction member has a thermal conductivity greater than a thermal conductivity of the base. The securing member is independent from the base and the high thermal conduction member. The securing member is configured to restrict movement of the base relative to the high thermal conduction member.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2020Publication date: March 10, 2022Inventors: Naoki IWAYA, Hitoshi FUJIWARA
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Publication number: 20210381436Abstract: A fuel injector includes: a pilot fuel injection portion including a pilot fuel supply block and a pilot shroud; a main fuel injection portion arranged so as to surround the pilot fuel injection portion from an outer side in a radial direction; and an intermediate air passage arranged between the pilot fuel injection portion and the main fuel injection portion. The pilot shroud includes: a throat located at a downstream side of the pilot fuel supply block; and a flame holding portion surrounding flame located at the downstream side of the throat. An air injection slit is formed at the flame holding portion, the air injection slit being configured to inject compressed air of the intermediate air passage in a direction along an inner peripheral surface of the flame holding portion such that the compressed air covers the inner peripheral surface over an entire periphery.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2017Publication date: December 9, 2021Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Ryusuke MATSUYAMA, Hitoshi FUJIWARA
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Publication number: 20210341150Abstract: An annular gas turbine combustor for use in an aircraft includes a plurality of resonators having respective resonance chambers and arranged in a fuel injector arrangement space so as to be lined up with fuel injectors in a radial direction of the fuel injector. A bulkhead configured to separate a combustion chamber and the fuel injector arrangement space from each other includes a plurality of openings each of which is arranged between each resonance chamber and the combustion chamber. The resonance chambers communicate with the combustion chamber through the openings. At least part of each of the resonance chambers is arranged at a radially inner side of a largest outer diameter portion of an outer liner when viewed in an axial direction of the fuel injector.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2019Publication date: November 4, 2021Applicants: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, JAPAN AEROSPACE EXPLORATION AGENCYInventors: Ryusuke MATSUYAMA, Seiji YOSHIDA, Hitoshi FUJIWARA
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Patent number: 11092340Abstract: A main fuel injector of a fuel injection device includes: a main outer air passage including an inlet that is open outward in a radial direction, the main outer air passage taking in compressed air through the inlet; a main inner air passage including an inlet that is open inward in the radial direction, the main inner air passage taking in the compressed air through the inlet; a merged air passage, in which the compressed air taken in by the main outer air passage and the compressed air taken in by the main inner air passage merge together; and a main fuel injection port configured to inject a fuel into the compressed air taken in by the main outer air passage or into the compressed air taken in by the main inner air passage.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2016Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Ryusuke Matsuyama, Takeo Oda, Hitoshi Fujiwara
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Patent number: 11054774Abstract: A nip forming member includes a base material and a thermal conductive member that overlaps the base material and has a higher thermal conductivity than a thermal conductivity of the base material. The base material has protrusions projecting to one side or another side in a short direction on a part of a longitudinal direction on both sides in the short direction. The thermal conductive member has fitting holes into which the protrusions are fitted in both sides in the short direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2020Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yoshiharu Takahashi, Naoki Iwaya, Hitoshi Fujiwara, Ippei Fujimoto, Yoshiki Yamaguchi
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Patent number: 11054775Abstract: A fixing device includes a belt, an opposed rotator, a nip formation pad, a heater, a stay, and a positioner. The nip formation pad has a plurality of projections in a longitudinal direction of the nip formation pad. The positioner is disposed between the nip formation pad and the stay to position the nip formation pad. The positioner has a plurality of insertion holes arranged in a longitudinal direction of the positioner to accept the projections and restrict movement of the nip formation pad with respect to the positioner in a rotation direction of the belt and a direction opposite the rotation direction. The plurality of insertion holes includes an insertion hole disposed at a position corresponding to an end portion of the nip formation pad to accept two or more projections of the projections arranged in the longitudinal direction of the nip formation pad.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2020Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Ryohei Matsuda, Yoshiharu Takahashi, Hitoshi Fujiwara, Naoki Iwaya