Patents by Inventor Motofumi Baba

Motofumi Baba 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: 8041278
    Abstract: A heating device includes: a magnetic field generating unit that generates a magnetic field; a heat-generating member that is disposed so as to face the magnetic field generating unit, and generates heat due to electromagnetic induction of the magnetic field, and having a heat-generating layer of a thickness that is thinner than a skin depth; and a temperature-sensitive member that is disposed so as to face a side of the heat-generating member opposite a side at which the magnetic field generating unit is located, a magnetic permeability of the temperature-sensitive member starting to decrease continuously from a magnetic permeability change start temperature that is in a temperature region that is greater than or equal to a set temperature and less than or equal to a heat-resistant temperature. A convex portion, that projects-out toward the heat-generating member from a surface that faces the heat-generating member, is provided at the temperature-sensitive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motofumi Baba, Takayuki Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 8019266
    Abstract: The invention provides a fixing device having at least: a first rotary body, having a heat generating layer from which heat is generated by action of a magnetic field: a second rotary body contacting the first rotary body; a magnetic field generating unit arranged to have a predetermined separation from the inner circumferential face of the first rotary body or to have a predetermined separation from the outer circumferential face of the first rotary body; and a heat generation controlling member arranged facing the magnetic field generating unit, with the first rotary body being between the heat generation controlling member and the magnetic field generating unit, the heat generation controlling member having at least a temperature-sensitive magnetic material having a Curie temperature and controlling generation of heat of the heat generating layer. The invention further provides an image forming device having at least the mixing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motofumi Baba, Yasuhiro Uehara
  • Publication number: 20110135355
    Abstract: A heating device includes: a heating member heating a recording medium by being heated through electromagnetic induction; a pressure member configured to come into contact with and separate from the heating member, and forming a nip portion between the pressure member and the heating member by pressing and coming into contact with the heating member; a first elastic member arranged inside the heating member, and elastically deformed at the nip portion by the pressure member; and any one of a second elastic member and a support member. The second elastic member is arranged between the first elastic member and the heating member while being fixed thereto, and has a larger elastic deformation ratio at the nip portion than the first elastic member. The support member supports the heating member and the first elastic member so as to form a gap therebetween, and rotates them with a rotational drive force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Motofumi BABA
  • Publication number: 20110135356
    Abstract: A heating device includes: a heating member including a heat generation layer that generates heat by electromagnetic induction, and heating a recording medium by electromagnetic induction heating of the heat generation layer; and a pressure member configured to be movable in a direction approaching or away from the heating member, and forming a nip portion with the heating member therebetween, through which the recording medium passes, the pressure member being configured to include: a nip forming portion that forms the nip portion with the heating member therebetween in a state where the pressure member is set at a position in contact with the heating member while pressing; and a driving force transmission portion that is in contact with the heating member in a state where the nip forming portion is set at a position separated from the heating member and transmits a rotational driving force to the heating member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motofumi Baba, Yasuhiro Uehara
  • Patent number: 7917073
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressure member that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the fixing belt, and at least one fixed sliding member on which the fixing belt slides. The fixed sliding member contacts the inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt. At least one of the fixing belt and the fixed sliding member includes a non-continuous diamond-like carbon layer on a sliding surface between the fixing belt and the fixed sliding member. The non-continuous diamond-like carbon layer is formed from a plurality of diamond-like carbon layer portions that are separated from one another by grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Miyata, Motofumi Baba
  • Publication number: 20100322682
    Abstract: An electromagnetic induction heating device includes a heat generation body, a heating rotary body, a magnetic filed generating unit and a magnetic path forming member. The heat generation body generates heat through electromagnetic induction. The heating rotary body receives the heat and rotates. The magnetic field generating unit is opposed to the heating rotary body and generates a magnetic field for causing the heat generation body to produce heat through the electromagnetic induction. The magnetic path forming member is opposed to the magnetic filed generating unit across the heating rotary body. The magnetic path forming member includes controlling portions and a continuous portion. The controlling portions control a magnitude of eddy current which is generated through the electromagnetic induction. The continuous portion allows heat transfer along a direction of an axis of the heating rotary body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventor: Motofumi Baba
  • Patent number: 7835679
    Abstract: A heating device has a magnetic field generating unit generating a magnetic field, a heat generating layer, and a heating/rotating unit. The heat generating layer is disposed so as to oppose the magnetic field generating unit, and is at least electromagnetically induced by the magnetic field to generate heat. The heating/rotating unit includes a supporting layer which supports the heat generating layer, and has n (n?2) metal layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motofumi Baba, Hiroshi Tamemasa
  • Publication number: 20100247185
    Abstract: The fixing device includes: a fixing member including a conductive layer, and fixing toner on a recording medium by heat generation of the conductive layer by electromagnetic induction; a magnetic field generating member generating an alternate-current magnetic field intersecting with the conductive layer; and a magnetic path forming member that has an outer circumferential surface arranged to be in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the fixing member, that forms a magnetic path of the alternate-current magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generating member, and that includes: a magnetic layer having a changing range within a temperature range of about 20 degrees C., the changing range allowing a magnetic property of the magnetic layer to change between ferromagnetic and a paramagnetic properties in accordance with temperature; and an outer circumferential layer made of any one of or both chromium nitride as CrN and chromium nitride as Cr2N.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Motofumi Baba, Yasutaka Naito, Shigehiko Haseba
  • Publication number: 20100239339
    Abstract: A heating rotator that is used for heating a developer on a recording medium has a cylindrical body that is made of a metal and both end portions of the cylindrical body is rotatably supported. The cylindrical body has a thick-walled portion at both end portions that is thicker than a center portion in an axial direction of the cylindrical body, and a cross-sectional shape of the heating rotator changes from the end portions toward the center portion in a pressure area of an outer peripheral surface to which pressure is applied by a pressure rotator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motofumi BABA, Yasuhiro UEHARA, Hiroshi OIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20100215415
    Abstract: The fixing device includes: a fixing member having a conductive layer, and fixing toner onto a recording medium by heat generation of the conductive layer through electromagnetic induction; a magnetic field generating member generating an alternate-current magnetic field crossing the conductive layer; a magnetic path forming member arranged so as to face the magnetic field generating member through the fixing member, forming a magnetic path of the alternate-current magnetic field within a temperature range not greater than a permeability change start temperature where permeability starts to decrease, and causing the alternate-current magnetic field to go through the magnetic path forming member within a temperature range exceeding the permeability change start temperature; and a heat radiation member in contact with the magnetic path forming member to radiate heat generated in the magnetic path forming member toward a direction opposite to the fixing member with reference to the magnetic path forming member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Motofumi BABA
  • Publication number: 20100215414
    Abstract: The fixing device includes: a fixing member that includes a conductive layer capable of heating by electromagnetic induction; a magnetic field generating member that generates an alternate-current magnetic field intersecting with the conductive layer of the fixing member; plural magnetic path forming members that form a magnetic path of the alternate-current magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generating member; a support member that supports the magnetic field generating member; an elastic support member that is arranged between the magnetic field generating member and the plural magnetic path forming members so as to be in contact with the plural magnetic path forming members; and a pressing member that presses the plural magnetic path forming members toward the magnetic field generating member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Takayuki Uchiyama, Motoi NOYA, Masakatsu EDA, Kiyoshi IWAI, Shuji YOSHIKAWA, Nobuyoshi KOMATSU, Makoto OMATA, Tsuyoshi SUNOHARA, Kazuyoshi ITOH, Motofumi BABA, Shigehiko HASEBA, Eiichiro TOKUHIRO
  • Publication number: 20100215390
    Abstract: The fixing device includes: a fixing member including a conductive layer capable of self-heating by electromagnetic induction; a drive unit rotationally driving the fixing member; a magnetic field generating member generating an alternate-current magnetic field intersecting with the conductive layer; a fixation pressing member movable so as to come into pressure contact with an outer circumferential surface of the fixing member and to separate from the outer circumferential surface; and a temperature measurement unit that includes a temperature detector and a support portion, that measures temperature of the fixing member with the temperature detector which is pressed by the support portion to be brought into contact with an inner circumferential surface of the fixing member, and that holds a contact state between the temperature detector and the inner circumferential surface in every state where the fixing member is displaced in accordance with movement of the fixation pressing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Yuhei TOMITA, Eiichiro Tokuhiro, Shigehiko Haseba, Takayuki Uchiyama, Motofumi Baba, Nobuyoshi Komatsu, Yasutaka Naito
  • Patent number: 7778565
    Abstract: A heating device includes a magnetic field generating unit, and a heat generating body having a heat generating layer generating heat due to electromagnetic induction, and a temperature-sensitive layer. The heat generating layer is disposed opposing the magnetic field generating unit. The temperature-sensitive layer has a Curie temperature greater than or equal to a set temperature of the heat generating layer and less than or equal to a heat-resistant temperature of the heat generating layer, and is disposed at a side of heat generating layer opposite a side where the magnetic field generating unit is disposed such that heat from the heat generating layer is conducted. At temperatures lower than the Curie temperature, the temperature-sensitive layer causes the magnetic field to penetrate in from the heat generating layer, and at temperatures greater than or equal to the Curie temperature, causes magnetic flux of the magnetic field to pass therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motofumi Baba, Yasuhiro Uehara
  • Publication number: 20100171260
    Abstract: A peeling device is provided and includes: a rotating body that conveys a recording material; a peeling member capable of changing from a first state in which the peeling member is away from the rotating body to a second state in which the peeling member is closer to the rotating body than the peeling member in the first state is, the peeling member in the second state peeling off the recording material from the rotating body; and a gas spraying unit that sprays a gas to the peeling member to bring the peeling member from the first state to the second state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Inventor: Motofumi Baba
  • Patent number: 7725065
    Abstract: The invention provides a fixing device comprising a first rotary body having a thermosensitive magnetic metal layer, the thermosensitive magnetic metal layer including a thermosensitive magnetic metal material having a Curie point, a second rotary body contacting the first rotary body, and a magnetic field generating unit for generating a magnetic field, the unit being arranged to have a predetermined interval with respect to the inner circumferential face or the outer circumferential face of the first rotary body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motofumi Baba, Yasuhiro Uehara
  • Patent number: 7668496
    Abstract: There is provided a laminated body including a heat generation layer that includes crystalline particles of a non-magnetic metal; and a base layer that includes a magnetic shunt alloy. There are also provided an endless belt, a fixing device and an image forming apparatus using the laminated body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tamemasa, Motofumi Baba
  • Patent number: 7664451
    Abstract: A fixing device includes: a magnetic field generating component that generates a magnetic field; a fixing member including a heat generating layer that is electromagnetically induced by the magnetic field to generate heat; a support disposed at an inner side of the fixing member; a pressure rotating body that applies pressure to the fixing member in the direction of the support; and a pair of magnetic circuit forming members that are disposed with the fixing member and the magnetic field generating component being placed therebetween and can be used while having either elastic deformation or plastic deformation applied thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motofumi Baba, Yasuhiro Uehara
  • Patent number: 7647017
    Abstract: Fixing device includes a first cylindrical rotating member having an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface; a second rotating member which is brought into contact with the first rotating member; magnetic field generation units for generating a magnetic field, the magnetic field generation units being provided at a predetermined distance from the inner or outer peripheral surface of the first rotating member; and a heat generation member that generates heat by a magnetic field, the heat generation member being provided so as to be opposed to the magnetic field generation units across the first rotating member and to be in contact with the first rotating member, having a thickness larger than a skin depth, and containing a magnetic metal material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Uehara, Shigehiko Haseba, Motofumi Baba
  • Publication number: 20090290915
    Abstract: A heating rotating body includes: a rotating body that generates heat due to electromagnetic induction in a magnetic field and whose magnetic permeability starts to decrease continuously from a magnetic permeability change start temperature that is in a temperature region that is greater than or equal to a set temperature and less than or equal to a heat-resistant temperature, and an eddy current cutting-off structure that is formed on the rotating body and cuts-off a portion of eddy current generated by the electromagnetic induction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventor: Motofumi Baba
  • Publication number: 20090290916
    Abstract: A heating device includes: a magnetic field generating unit generating a magnetic field; a heat-generating member generating heat due to electromagnetic induction of the magnetic field, and having a heat-generating layer of a thickness that is thinner than a skin depth; a temperature-sensitive member including a temperature-sensitive magnetic member whose magnetic permeability starts to decrease continuously from a magnetic permeability change start temperature that is in a temperature region that is greater than or equal to a set temperature and less than or equal to a heat-resistant temperature; and an approaching/separating mechanism maintaining the temperature-sensitive member in a state of being separated from the heat-generating member until before a temperature of the temperature-sensitive member reaches the set temperature, and causing the temperature-sensitive member to contact the heat-generating member at and after the time when the temperature-sensitive member reaches the set temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventor: Motofumi Baba