Patents by Inventor Kiwako Hiroi

Kiwako Hiroi 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: 10663894
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt and a pressure rotator that presses against a nip formation pad via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the pressure rotator and the fixing belt. A first holder holds a first lateral end of the fixing belt in an axial direction thereof. A second holder holds a second lateral end of the fixing belt in the axial direction thereof. The second holder, together with the first holder, defines a holder interval provided between the first holder and the second holder in the axial direction of the fixing belt. A lubricant supplying sheet impregnated with a lubricant is sandwiched between the nip formation pad and the fixing belt at the fixing nip. The lubricant supplying sheet has a sheet span in the axial direction of the fixing belt. The sheet span is within the holder interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Okamoto, Yoshio Hattori, Haruyuki Honda, Takumi Waida, Kiwako Hiroi, Yuusuke Furuichi, Tomoya Adachi
  • Patent number: 10317824
    Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt, a pressure rotator that contacts the endless belt, a nip formation pad in the endless belt to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the pressure rotator, a heater in the endless belt to heat the endless belt, a stay to support the nip formation pad, a contact-separation mechanism that presses the nip formation pad against the pressure rotator in a releasable manner, a holder movable between a nip formation position and a release position to support the stay, and an adjustment mechanism. The holder is provided with a slot to support the heater, and the adjustment mechanism makes a distance between the heater and the nip formation pad when the holder is at the nip formation position larger than a distance between the heater and the nip formation pad when the holder is at the release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiwako Hiroi, Kohichi Utsunomiya, Yuusuke Furuichi
  • Publication number: 20180356755
    Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt, a pressure rotator that contacts the endless belt, a nip formation pad in the endless belt to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the pressure rotator, a heater in the endless belt to heat the endless belt, a stay to support the nip formation pad, a contact-separation mechanism that presses the nip formation pad against the pressure rotator in a releasable manner, a holder movable between a nip formation position and a release position to support the stay, and an adjustment mechanism. The holder is provided with a slot to support the heater, and the adjustment mechanism makes a distance between the heater and the nip formation pad when the holder is at the nip formation position larger than a distance between the heater and the nip formation pad when the holder is at the release position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiwako HIROI, Kohichi UTSUNOMIYA, Yuusuke FURUICHI
  • Patent number: 10054885
    Abstract: A pressure and pressure relief device includes a rotator, a pressure body, a first pressure lever, and a biasing mechanism. The biasing mechanism includes a first elastic body, a second pressure lever, a cam, and a cam follower. A relations of L1>L3, L2>L4, and L3<L4 are satisfied. L1 represents a length between a first fulcrum of the first pressure lever and a point of load of the first pressure lever. L2 represents a length between the point of load of the first pressure lever and a hook portion of the first pressure lever. L3 represents a length between a pivot of the second pressure lever and a second fulcrum of the second pressure lever. L4 represents a length between the second fulcrum of the second pressure lever and a fastened portion of the second pressure lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Okamoto, Yoshio Hattori, Yuusuke Furuichi, Haruyuki Honda, Kiwako Hiroi, Kenichi Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20180203384
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt and a pressure rotator that presses against a nip formation pad via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the pressure rotator and the fixing belt. A first holder holds a first lateral end of the fixing belt in an axial direction thereof. A second holder holds a second lateral end of the fixing belt in the axial direction thereof. The second holder, together with the first holder, defines a holder interval provided between the first holder and the second holder in the axial direction of the fixing belt. A lubricant supplying sheet impregnated with a lubricant is sandwiched between the nip formation pad and the fixing belt at the fixing nip. The lubricant supplying sheet has a sheet span in the axial direction of the fixing belt. The sheet span is within the holder interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Jun OKAMOTO, Yoshio Hattori, Haruyuki Honda, Takumi Waida, Kiwako Hiroi, Yuusuke Furuichi, Tomoya Adachi
  • Publication number: 20170343942
    Abstract: A pressure and pressure relief device includes a rotator, a pressure body, a first pressure lever, and a biasing mechanism. The biasing mechanism includes a first elastic body, a second pressure lever, a cam, and a cam follower. A relations of L1>L3, L2>L4, and L3<L4 are satisfied. L1 represents a length between a first fulcrum of the first pressure lever and a point of load of the first pressure lever. L2 represents a length between the point of load of the first pressure lever and a hook portion of the first pressure lever. L3 represents a length between a pivot of the second pressure lever and a second fulcrum of the second pressure lever. L4 represents a length between the second fulcrum of the second pressure lever and a fastened portion of the second pressure lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Okamoto, Yoshio Hattori, Yuusuke Furuichi, Haruyuki Honda, Kiwako Hiroi, Kenichi Hasegawa