Patents by Inventor Masae Sugawara

Masae Sugawara 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: 7884587
    Abstract: A charging unit charges a capacitor that is configured to be charged and discharged to drive a load. A switching unit switches on and off between the capacitor and the charging unit. A delay control unit delays an output of a switching control signal for controlling the switching unit until an output voltage of the charging unit exceeds a voltage of the capacitor, and outputs a delayed switching control signal. An output unit receives the delayed switching control signal from the delay control unit, and outputs the delayed switching control signal to the switching unit so that the charging unit charges the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Masae Sugawara, Yuta Nomura
  • Patent number: 7855471
    Abstract: A voltage converting unit converts a first voltage of an auxiliary power supply unit into a second voltage. A voltage determining unit determines whether the second voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold. A first switch, which is arranged between the voltage converting unit and a load, switches on and off a supply of an electric power of the second voltage to the load. When it is determined that the second voltage exceeds the predetermined threshold, a voltage-conversion control unit controls the voltage converting unit to stop converting the voltage, and then a switching control unit controls the first switch to supply the electric power of the second voltage to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masae Sugawara
  • Patent number: 7496312
    Abstract: An auxiliary power supply unit, which is attachable to and detachable from an apparatus, includes a charge unit configured to store electric charge, a terminal configured to establish electrical connection for discharge with the apparatus, and a discharge unit situated between the charge unit and the terminal to provide a discharge path that electrically connect the charge unit to the apparatus, the discharge path having an open/closed state thereof controlled during a period when an electric power is supplied from the apparatus, the discharge path being opened in response to a stoppage of supply of the electric power from the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Sato, Keiichi Sugai, Masae Sugawara, Masashi Oi
  • Publication number: 20090045792
    Abstract: A charging unit charges a capacitor that is configured to be charged and discharged to drive a load. A switching unit switches on and off between the capacitor and the charging unit. A delay control unit delays an output of a switching control signal for controlling the switching unit until an output voltage of the charging unit exceeds a voltage of the capacitor, and outputs a delayed switching control signal. An output unit receives the delayed switching control signal from the delay control unit, and outputs the delayed switching control signal to the switching unit so that the charging unit charges the capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventors: Masae Sugawara, Yuta Nomura
  • Publication number: 20080224540
    Abstract: A voltage converting unit converts a first voltage of an auxiliary power supply unit into a second voltage. A voltage determining unit determines whether the second voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold. A first switch, which is arranged between the voltage converting unit and a load, switches on and off a supply of an electric power of the second voltage to the load. When it is determined that the second voltage exceeds the predetermined threshold, a voltage-conversion control unit controls the voltage converting unit to stop converting the voltage, and then a switching control unit controls the first switch to supply the electric power of the second voltage to the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventor: Masae SUGAWARA
  • Patent number: 7135660
    Abstract: An induction heating type fixing device for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is disclosed. An inducting heating coil has a plurality of bobbins each having a particular diameter and assembled in a telescopic manner. A particular conductor is wound round each bobbin beforehand with leads being laid inside of the conductor. The bobbin may be implemented as a plurality of bobbin members removably connected together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiko Miyahara, Toshiaki Higaya, Masae Sugawara, Tomotaka Takamura
  • Patent number: 7122767
    Abstract: A fixing roller in an image forming apparatus (such as a copier) has a fixing heater that is supplied power from a capacitor. The fixing heater, the capacitor, a mechanical switch (such as a relay) and a semiconductor switch (such as a FET) are serially connected. As a cover of the apparatus is opened, an interlock switch is turned on and outputs an off-signal to a CPU, which turns off the semiconductor switch prior to turning off the mechanical switch, and thereby prevents a counter-electromotive voltage due to an inrush current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Naoki Sato, Keiichi Sugai, Masae Sugawara, Masashi Ooi
  • Publication number: 20060024079
    Abstract: An auxiliary power supply unit, which is attachable to and detachable from an apparatus, includes a charge unit configured to store electric charge, a terminal configured to establish electrical connection for discharge with the apparatus, and a discharge unit situated between the charge unit and the terminal to provide a discharge path that electrically connect the charge unit to the apparatus, the discharge path having an open/closed state thereof controlled during a period when an electric power is supplied from the apparatus, the discharge path being opened in response to a stoppage of supply of the electric power from the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Inventors: Naoki Sato, Keiichi Sugai, Masae Sugawara, Masashi Oi
  • Patent number: 6977362
    Abstract: An induction heating device includes a plurality of induction coils connected to a single high-frequency power source and each being able to be ON/OFF controlled by a switch. A current is selectively fed only to desired part of the induction coils or to all of the induction coils connected in parallel. The coils are driven by a current fed thereto at the same time in the same phase. The device may include inverters for controlling power to be fed coil by coil. The device is free from interference and irregular heating and can readily cope with a change in a heating range while controlling power coil by coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroto Ohishi, Masae Sugawara
  • Publication number: 20050242084
    Abstract: An induction heating type fixing device for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is disclosed. An inducting heating coil has a plurality of bobbins each having a particular diameter and assembled in a telescopic manner. A particular conductor is wound round each bobbin beforehand with leads being laid inside of the conductor. The bobbin may be implemented as a plurality of bobbin members removably connected together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Publication date: November 3, 2005
    Inventors: Akiko Miyahara, Toshiaki Higaya, Masae Sugawara, Tomotaka Takamura
  • Patent number: 6946629
    Abstract: An induction heating type fixing device for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is disclosed. An inducting heating coil has a plurality of bobbins each having a particular diameter and assembled in a telescopic manner. A particular conductor is wound round each bobbin beforehand with leads being laid inside of the conductor. The bobbin may be implemented as a plurality of bobbin members removably connected together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiko Miyahara, Toshiaki Higaya, Masae Sugawara, Tomotaka Takamura
  • Publication number: 20050167420
    Abstract: A fixing roller in an image forming apparatus (such as a copier) has a fixing heater that is supplied power from a capacitor. The fixing heater, the capacitor, a mechanical switch (such as a relay) and a semiconductor switch (such as a FET) are serially connected. As a cover of the apparatus is opened, an interlock switch is turned on and outputs an off-signal to a CPU, which turns off the semiconductor switch prior to turning off the mechanical switch, and thereby prevents a counter-electromotive voltage due to an inrush current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Inventors: Naoki Sato, Keiichi Sugai, Masae Sugawara, Masashi Ooi
  • Publication number: 20040264218
    Abstract: An induction heating device includes a plurality of induction coils connected to a single high-frequency power source and each being able to be ON/OFF control led by a switch. A current is selectively fed only to desired part of the induction coils or to all of the induction coils connected in parallel. The coils are driven by a current fed thereto at the same time in the same phase. The device may include inverters for controlling power to be fed coil by coil. The device is free from interference and irregular heating and can readily cope with a change in a heating range while controlling power coil by coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Hiroto Ohishi, Masae Sugawara
  • Patent number: 6806448
    Abstract: An induction heating device includes a plurality of induction coils connected to a single high-frequency power source and each being able to be ON/OFF controlled by a switch. A current is selectively fed only to desired part of the induction coils or to all of the induction coils connected in parallel. The coils are driven by a current fed thereto at the same time in the same phase. The device may include inverters for controlling power to be fed coil by coil. The device is free from interference and irregular heating and can readily cope with a change in a heating range while controlling power coil by coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroto Ohishi, Masae Sugawara
  • Publication number: 20040188423
    Abstract: An induction heating type fixing device for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is disclosed. An inducting heating coil has a plurality of bobbins each having a particular diameter and assembled in a telescopic manner. A particular conductor is wound round each bobbin beforehand with leads being laid inside of the conductor. The bobbin may be implemented as a plurality of bobbin members removably connected together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Akiko Miyahara, Toshiaki Higaya, Masae Sugawara, Tomotaka Takamura
  • Patent number: 6753515
    Abstract: An induction heating type fixing device for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is disclosed. An inducting heating coil has a plurality of bobbins each having a particular diameter and assembled in a telescopic manner. A particular conductor is wound round each bobbin beforehand with leads being laid inside of the conductor. The bobbin may be implemented as a plurality of bobbin members removably connected together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiko Miyahara, Toshiaki Higaya, Masae Sugawara, Tomotaka Takamura
  • Publication number: 20030192882
    Abstract: An induction heating device includes a plurality of induction coils connected to a single high-frequency power source and each being able to be ON/OFF controlled by a switch. A current is selectively fed only to desired part of the induction coils or to all of the induction coils connected in parallel. The coils are driven by a current fed thereto at the same time in the same phase. The device may include inverters for controlling power to be fed coil by coil. The device is free from interference and irregular heating and can readily cope with a change in a heating range while controlling power coil by coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Hiroto Ohishi, Masae Sugawara
  • Patent number: 6630651
    Abstract: An induction heating device includes a plurality of induction coils connected to a single high-frequency power source and each being able to be ON/OFF controlled by a switch. A current is selectively fed only to desired part of the induction coils or to all of the induction coils connected in parallel. The coils are driven by a current fed thereto at the same time in the same phase. The device may include inverters for controlling power to be fed coil by coil. The device is free from interference and irregular heating and can readily cope with a change in a heating range while controlling power coil by coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroto Ohishi, Masae Sugawara
  • Publication number: 20020031381
    Abstract: An induction heating type fixing device for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is disclosed. An inducting heating coil has a plurality of bobbins each having a particular diameter and assembled in a telescopic manner. A particular conductor is wound round each bobbin beforehand with leads being laid inside of the conductor. The bobbin may be implemented as a plurality of bobbin members removably connected together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiko Miyahara, Toshiaki Higaya, Masae Sugawara, Tomotaka Takamura
  • Publication number: 20010015352
    Abstract: An induction heating device includes a plurality of induction coils connected to a single high-frequency power source and each being able to be ON/OFF controlled by a switch. A current is selectively fed only to desired part of the induction coils or to all of the induction coils connected in parallel. The coils are driven by a current fed thereto at the same time in the same phase. The device may include inverters for controlling power to be fed coil by coil. The device is free from interference and irregular heating and can readily cope with a change in a heating range while controlling power coil by coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Publication date: August 23, 2001
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroto Ohishi, Masae Sugawara