Patents by Inventor Kazuya Saito

Kazuya Saito 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).

  • Fixing device, image forming apparatus, and fixing method
    Patent number: 9405239
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body, a heat shield movably disposed opposite the fixing rotary body, an opposed body contacting the fixing rotary body to form a nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed, and a temperature detector to detect a temperature of at least one of the fixing rotary body and the opposed body. A controller, operatively connected to the heat shield and the temperature detector, determines a rotation angled position to which the heat shield is moved based on a size of the recording medium and the temperature of the at least one of the fixing rotary body and the opposed body detected by the temperature detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Ikebuchi, Takayuki Seki, Yuji Arai, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Shuntaroh Tamaki, Kazuya Saito
  • Fixing device, image forming apparatus, and fixing method
    Patent number: 9389550
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a heater disposed opposite and heating the fixing rotary body. An opposed body contacts the fixing rotary body with releasable pressure therebetween to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed. A heat shield is interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body and movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body between a home position where the heat shield is disposed opposite the heater indirectly and a shield position where the heat shield is disposed opposite the heater directly to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater. A controller is operatively connected to the heat shield to move the heat shield to the home position when a print job is finished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Saito, Takayuki Seki, Yuji Arai, Ryuuichi Mimbu, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Shuntaro Tamaki, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Shuutaroh Yuasa
  • Fixing device, image forming apparatus, and fixing method
    Patent number: 9383693
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body and a heater for heating the fixing rotary body. An opposed body contacts the fixing rotary body with releasable pressure therebetween to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed. A heat shield is interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body and movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater in a variable circumferential direct heating span of the fixing rotary body where the heater is disposed opposite the fixing rotary body directly. A controller is operatively connected to the heater and the heat shield to move the heat shield after the controller turns on the heater as a print job starts so as to change an area of the direct heating span of the fixing rotary body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuutaroh Yuasa, Shuntaro Tamaki, Takayuki Seki, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Yuji Arai, Ryuuichi Mimbu, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Kazuya Saito
  • Fixing device and image forming device
    Patent number: 9367010
    Abstract: According to an embodiments, provided is a fixing device that includes: an endless fixing belt, heats and melts a toner image, and has flexibility; a stationary member that is set stationary on an inner peripheral surface side of the fixing belt and comes into contact under pressure to form a nip portion; and a reinforcement member that is set stationary on the inner peripheral surface side of the fixing belt and comes into abutment with the stationary member. If it is assumed that a length of the nip portion in a direction of conveyance of the recording medium is designated as A; and a length between an upstream-side abutment portion and a downstream-side abutment portion at which the stationary member and the reinforcement member come into abutment with each other is designated as B, following relation is established: A<B, and interval B includes interval A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: RICOII COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiromasa Takagi, Masahiko Satoh, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Kenji Ishii, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Tadashi Ogawa, Takahiro Imada, Kazuya Saito, Naoki Iwaya, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Kensuke Yamaji, Teppei Kawata, Takamasa Hase, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Takuya Seshita, Takeshi Uchitani, Arinobu Yoshiura, Hajime Gotoh, Akira Suzuki
  • FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20160154350
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a nip formation pad pressing against a pressure rotator via a fixing rotator to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator. The nip formation pad includes a base and a first thermal conductor sandwiched between the base and the fixing rotator at the fixing nip and having a first thermal conductivity greater than a basic thermal conductivity of the base. A first heater and a second heater are disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator. A rotatable light shield moves to a shield position where the light shield is interposed between the second heater and the fixing rotator to shield the fixing rotator from the second heater. The second heater is disposed at a location where the light shield screens the second heater more readily than the first heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Saito, Ryuuichi Mimbu, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Haruyuki Honda, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Yasunori Ishigaya, Keitaro Shoji, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Yoshio Hattori
  • Fixing device including a reinforced heat shield and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 9348272
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a heater disposed opposite and heating the fixing rotary body. An opposed body contacts the fixing rotary body to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed. 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. A driver is connected to the heat shield to drive and move the heat shield between a shield position where the heat shield is interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater and a retracted position where the heat shield is retracted from the shield position. A reinforcement is mounted on a long edge of the heat shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuntaroh Tamaki, Takayuki Seki, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Yuji Arai, Ryuuichi Mimbu, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Kazuya Saito, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Shuutaroh Yuasa
  • Fe-Co-BASED ALLOY SPUTTERING TARGET MATERIAL, AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME
    Publication number: 20160141158
    Abstract: Provided is a Fe—Co-based alloy sputtering target material having a composition represented as an atomic ratio by the compositional formula: (Fea—Co100-a)100-b-c-d—Tab—Nbc-Md, wherein 0<a?80, 0?b?10, 0?c?15, 5?b+c?15, 2?d?20, 15?b+c+d?25, and M represents one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Mo, Cr and W, with the balance consisting of unavoidable impurities, wherein the sputtering target material has a bending fracture strain ?fB at 300° C. of 0.4% or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Jun FUKUOKA, Kazuya SAITO, Kouichi SAKAMAKI, Tomoyuki HATA
  • IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD
    Publication number: 20160124359
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing rotator and an opposed rotator pressed against the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A heater heats the fixing rotator. A temperature sensor contacts the opposed rotator to detect a temperature of the opposed rotator. A conveyor conveys the recording medium to the fixing nip. A driver drives the conveyor. A controller, operatively connected to the temperature sensor and the driver, controls the driver to drive the conveyor to convey the recording medium to the fixing nip based on the temperature of the opposed rotator detected by the temperature sensor. The controller causes the driver to be ready to drive the conveyor when a change in the detected temperature of the opposed rotator per unit time reaches a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Ikebuchi, Yoshio Hattori, Ryuuichi Mimbu, Yasunori Ishigaya, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Kazuya Saito, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Keitaro Shoji
  • Fixing device and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 9329542
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a pressure rotator pressed against an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator. A heater is disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator. A reflector is disposed opposite the heater to reflect light radiated from the heater onto the inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator. A support mounts the reflector. A heater holder is mounted on the support to hold the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Arai, Yoshio Hattori, Kazuya Saito, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Shuntaro Tamaki
  • FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20160116869
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a pressure rotator pressed against the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A plurality of heaters heats the fixing rotator. A sensor is disposed opposite the fixing rotator and includes a plurality of temperature detection elements to detect a temperature of the fixing rotator at a plurality of spots thereon arranged in an axial direction of the fixing rotator. A controller is operatively connected to the sensor and the plurality of heaters to control the plurality of heaters based on the temperature of the fixing rotator detected by the sensor and predict a width of the recording medium in the axial direction of the fixing rotator to be conveyed to the fixing nip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Kazuya SAITO, Ryuuichi MIMBU, Toshihiko SHIMOKAWA, Haruyuki HONDA, Yoshiki YAMAGUCHI, Yasunori ISHIGAYA, Yoshio HATTORI
  • Fixing device and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 9316964
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a first rotator and a second rotator pressed against the first rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A thermal insulation cover is disposed opposite the second rotator. A mover is connected to the second rotator to move the second rotator with respect to the first rotator. The mover is coupled with the thermal insulation cover to move the thermal insulation cover while retaining a predetermined interval between the thermal insulation cover and the second rotator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Yoshio Hattori, Ryuuichi Mimbu, Yasunori Ishigaya, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Kazuya Saito, Haruyuki Honda
  • Fixing device and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 9316968
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a heater disposed opposite and heating 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. A driver is connected to the heat shield to drive and move the heat shield within a circumferential moving span in the circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body. An abnormal temperature detector detects an abnormal temperature of the fixing rotary body that is not lower than a predetermined temperature. The abnormal temperature detector is disposed opposite a circumferential outboard span outboard from the circumferential moving span of the heat shield in the circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Saito, Takayuki Seki, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Yuji Arai, Ryuuichi Mimbu, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Shuntaroh Tamaki, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Shuutaroh Yuasa
  • Image forming method for forming toner image on recording medium
    Patent number: 9316971
    Abstract: A method for forming a toner image on a recording medium includes receiving a job, rotating a pressing rotary body in a predetermined direction of rotation, rotating a flexible endless belt disposed opposite the pressing rotary body to form a nip therebetween, turning on a belt heater disposed opposite to an inner circumferential surface of the flexible endless belt, conveying the recording medium bearing the toner image through the nip, turning off the belt heater for a predetermined first time period after the recording medium is discharged from the nip while the flexible endless belt and the pressing rotary body rotate, stopping the flexible endless belt and the pressing rotary body, turning on the belt heater when a predetermined second time period elapses after stopping the flexible endless belt and the pressing rotary body, and turning off the belt heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takamasa Hase, Tadashi Ogawa, Takeshi Uchitani, Satoshi Ueno, Teppei Kawata, Kazuya Saito, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Kensuke Yamaji
  • FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME
    Publication number: 20160098003
    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: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    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: 9291967
    Abstract: A fixing device that fixes an image on a recording medium includes a rotatable endless belt, deployed in a loop supported by rollers, a nip forming member provided inside the loop formed by the belt, a support member that supports the nip forming member, a counter rotation body disposed outside the loop formed by the belt and configured to form a nip with the belt by being in contact with the nip forming member through the belt, and a heat source configured to heat the belt directly by a radiant heat except at the nip. The support member includes a base portion that contacts the nip forming member and two arms extending from the base portion in a direction away from the nip forming member to partially surround a part of heat generating portion of the heat source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Iwaya, Masahiko Satoh, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Kenji Ishii, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Tadashi Ogawa, Takeshi Uchitani, Hiromasa Takagi, Takuya Seshita, Takahiro Imada, Takamasa Hase, Hajime Gotoh, Arinobu Yoshiura, Teppei Kawata, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Kazuya Saito, Kensuke Yamaji, Akira Suzuki
  • Image forming apparatus including a heat shield interposed between a heater and a fixing rotary body and image forming method
    Patent number: 9285728
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device including a fixing rotary body and a heater for heating the fixing rotary body. An opposed body contacts the fixing rotary body with releasable pressure therebetween to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed. A heat shield is interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body and movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater in a variable circumferential direct heating span of the fixing rotary body where the heater is disposed opposite the fixing rotary body directly. A controller halts the heat shield instantly when a fault occurs during a print job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Takayuki Seki, Yuji Arai, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Ryuuichi Mimbu, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Shuntaro Tamaki, Kazuya Saito, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Toshihiko Shimokawa
  • IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20160054691
    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: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Takamasa HASE, Masahiko SATOH, Shinichi NAMEKATA, Kenji ISHll, 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, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND FIXING METHOD
    Publication number: 20160033910
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a heater that heats a fixing rotator and includes a first heating portion and a second heating portion substantially aligned with the first heating portion in an axial direction of the fixing rotator. A multi-view thermopile array detects a temperature of an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator at a plurality of spots thereon. A heater controller controls the first heating portion and the second heating portion individually based on the temperature of the fixing rotator detected at the plurality of spots thereon. A recording medium conveyance controller determines whether or not to convey the recording medium to the fixing nip based on an increased temperature detected at at least one of the plurality of spots on the fixing rotator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Shimokawa, Ryuuichi Mimbu, Kazuya Saito, Haruyuki Honda, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Yasunori Ishigaya, Yoshio Hattori
  • 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