Patents by Inventor Shigeo Nanno

Shigeo Nanno 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: 12147180
    Abstract: A heating device includes a pair of rotators, a heater, a temperature sensor, a conductor, a conductor support, and a component supporting the conductor. The pair of rotators is in contact with each other to form a nip through which a sheet passes. The heater heats at least one of the pair of rotators. The temperature sensor detects a temperature of the heater. The conductor has flexibility and is coupled to the temperature sensor. The conductor support supports the conductor such that a distance from the conductor to at least one position of the heater outside a predetermined region of the heater in a width direction of the sheet is larger than a distance from the conductor to a position of the heater inside the predetermined region in the width direction. The component has a first side facing the heater and a second side opposite the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuusuke Furuichi, Yukimichi Someya, Shigeo Nanno
  • Patent number: 12117749
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotator, a pressure rotator, a heater, and a conductor. The pressure rotator presses the rotator to form a fixing nip between the rotator and the pressure rotator. The heater is in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the rotator and heats the rotator. The conductor is grounded and has a contact portion in contact with a center region of the inner circumferential surface of the rotator in a longitudinal direction of the rotator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Shigeo Nanno
  • Publication number: 20240310776
    Abstract: A fixing device detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus includes a housing frame having an open front side in an insertion direction in which the fixing device is inserted into the image forming apparatus. The housing frame includes a support plate, as a back side of the housing frame in the insertion direction, and a pair of side plates extending in the insertion direction. The support plate includes an extension extending beyond one of the pair of side plates. The extension includes an engaged portion to be engaged with an engaging portion of the image forming apparatus when the fixing device is mounted on the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2024
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Inventors: Jun OKAMOTO, Yuusuke FURUICHI, Seiji SAITOH, Tamotsu IKEDA, Shigeo NANNO
  • Publication number: 20240295842
    Abstract: A frame device includes a body frame and a rotator that rotates in a rotation direction. A first support frame supports one lateral end of the rotator in a longitudinal direction of the rotator. The first support frame includes a first attachment portion that is attached to the body frame. A second support frame supports another lateral end of the rotator in the longitudinal direction of the rotator. The second support frame includes a second attachment portion that is attached to the body frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2024
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Inventors: Hitoshi FUJIWARA, Yutaka IKEBUCHI, Shigeo NANNO, Hiromasa TAKAGI, Yuusuke FURUICHI
  • Publication number: 20240295847
    Abstract: A heating device includes a first rotator and a second rotator that contacts the first rotator to form a nip between the first rotator and the second rotator. A heater heats at least one of the first rotator or the second rotator. A first support frame supports one lateral end of the first rotator and the second rotator in a longitudinal direction of the first rotator and the second rotator. A second support frame supports another lateral end of the first rotator and the second rotator in the longitudinal direction of the first rotator and the second rotator. An incompatible member is mounted on the first support frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2024
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Inventors: Shigeo NANNO, Yutaka IKEBUCHI, Hitoshi FUJIWARA, Hiromasa TAKAGI, Yuusuke FURUICHI
  • Publication number: 20240248426
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a belt that rotates in a rotation direction and a heater that heats the belt. A conductive member contacts an inner face of the belt and pivots. The conductive member includes one end portion in the rotation direction of the belt, a contact portion that contacts the belt, and an outboard portion that is disposed outboard from the contact portion in the rotation direction of the belt. A holding portion holds the one end portion of the conductive member. A pivot restrictor contacts the outboard portion of the conductive member. The pivot restrictor restricts pivoting of the conductive member about the one end portion of the conductive member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Inventors: Hiromasa TAKAGI, Hitoshi FUJIWARA, Shigeo NANNO, Yutaka IKEBUCHI, Yuusuke FURUICHI
  • Publication number: 20240241467
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a belt and a holder that holds a heater. A conductive member contacts an inner face of the belt and pivots. The conductive member includes one end portion in a rotation direction of the belt and an opposed portion that abuts on the one end portion. A support supports the holder and presses the conductive member against the holder. The holder includes a holding portion that holds the one end portion of the conductive member, a pivot restrictor that restricts pivoting of the conductive member about the one end portion, and a mount face from which the pivot restrictor projects in a projecting direction. The pivot restrictor projects farther than the opposed portion of the conductive member in the projecting direction of the pivot restrictor in a state in which the support does not press the conductive member against the holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2024
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Inventors: Yutaka IKEBUCHI, Shigeo NANNO, Hitoshi FUJIWARA, Yuusuke FURUICHI
  • Patent number: 11982960
    Abstract: A heating device includes a rotator, a conductor, a heater, a first facing member, and a second facing member. The conductor is in contact with an inner surface of the rotator. The first facing member has a first facing surface facing a first surface of the conductor. The second facing member has a second facing surface facing a second surface opposite the first surface of the conductor. The first facing member and the second facing member regulate inclination of the conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Shigeo Nanno
  • Patent number: 11971674
    Abstract: A heating device includes a rotator, a heater, a heater holder, and a first high thermal conduction member. The heater includes a base and a plurality of heat generators being arranged on the base and including neighboring heat generators. The heater has a gap area between the neighboring heat generators. The first high thermal conduction member has a higher thermal conductivity than the base and faces the gap area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeo Nanno, Yasunori Ishigaya, Takahiro Imada, Takumi Waida, Daisuke Hirano
  • Patent number: 11921448
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotator, a pressure member, a conductor, and a heater. The pressing member presses the rotator to form a nip between the rotator and the pressing member. The conductor is grounded and includes a contact portion having a limiting shape to limit a contact area in which the contact portion is in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the rotator. The heater is in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the rotator to heat the rotator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Shigeo Nanno
  • Publication number: 20230375966
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotator, a pressure rotator, a heater, and a conductor. The pressure rotator presses the rotator to form a fixing nip between the rotator and the pressure rotator. The heater is in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the rotator and heats the rotator. The conductor is grounded and has a contact portion in contact with a center region of the inner circumferential surface of the rotator in a longitudinal direction of the rotator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventor: Shigeo NANNO
  • Publication number: 20230367246
    Abstract: A heating device includes a pair of rotators, a heater, a temperature sensor, a conductor, a conductor support, and a component supporting the conductor. The pair of rotators is in contact with each other to form a nip through which a sheet passes. The heater heats at least one of the pair of rotators. The temperature sensor detects a temperature of the heater. The conductor has flexibility and is coupled to the temperature sensor. The conductor support supports the conductor such that a distance from the conductor to at least one position of the heater outside a predetermined region of the heater in a width direction of the sheet is larger than a distance from the conductor to a position of the heater inside the predetermined region in the width direction. The component has a first side facing the heater and a second side opposite the first side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuusuke FURUICHI, Yikimichi SOMEYA, Shigeo NANNO
  • Publication number: 20230297017
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Natsuki WATANABE, Hitoshi FUJIWARA, Shigeo NANNO, Yuusuke FURUICHI
  • Publication number: 20230236532
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotator, a pressure member, a conductor, and a heater. The pressing member presses the rotator to form a nip between the rotator and the pressing member. The conductor is grounded and includes a contact portion having a limiting shape to limit a contact area in which the contact portion is in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the rotator. The heater is in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the rotator to heat the rotator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventor: Shigeo NANNO
  • Patent number: 11687020
    Abstract: A heating device includes a heating rotator, a pressure rotator, a planar heater, and a holder. The pressure rotator is configured to press against the fixing rotator to form a nip through which the recording medium is conveyed. The planar heater includes a plurality of heat generators arranged side by side and at least one separation region between the plurality of heat generators. The holder holds the planar heater and contacts the planar heater in a pressure direction in which the pressure rotator presses the heating rotator. The holder includes at least one clearance structure configured to cause a contact area between the planar heater and a portion of the holder corresponding to the at least one separation region to be smaller than a contact area between the planar heater and a portion of the holder not corresponding to the at least one separation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Imada, Yasunori Ishigaya, Shigeo Nanno, Takumi Waida, Daisuke Hirano
  • Publication number: 20230168613
    Abstract: A heating device includes a rotator, a conductor, a heater, a first facing member, and a second facing member. The conductor is in contact with an inner surface of the rotator. The first facing member has a first facing surface facing a first surface of the conductor. The second facing member has a second facing surface facing a second surface opposite the first surface of the conductor. The first facing member and the second facing member regulate inclination of the conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventor: Shigeo NANNO
  • Publication number: 20220291615
    Abstract: A heating device includes a rotator, a heater, a heater holder, and a first high thermal conduction member. The heater includes a base and a plurality of heat generators being arranged on the base and including neighboring heat generators. The heater has a gap area between the neighboring heat generators. The first high thermal conduction member has a higher thermal conductivity than the base and faces the gap area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Shigeo NANNO, Yasunori ISHIGAYA, Takahiro IMADA, Takumi WAIDA, Daisuke HIRANO
  • Patent number: 11435683
    Abstract: A heating device includes a heating rotator, a pressing rotator, and a housing. The heating rotator extends in a longitudinal direction and is configured to heat a sheet. The pressing rotator extends in a longitudinal direction and is configured to press against the heating rotator to form a nip with the heating rotator. The housing houses the heating rotator and the pressing rotator. The housing includes a pair of openings and shutters. The pair of openings face both end portions of the heating rotator in the longitudinal direction of the heating rotator. The shutters are configured to rotate about an axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the heating rotator to open and close the pair of openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Shigeo Nanno
  • Publication number: 20220155712
    Abstract: A heating device includes a heating rotator, a pressure rotator, a planar heater, and a holder. The pressure rotator is configured to press against the fixing rotator to form a nip through which the recording medium is conveyed. The planar heater includes a plurality of heat generators arranged side by side and at least one separation region between the plurality of heat generators. The holder holds the planar heater and contacts the planar heater in a pressure direction in which the pressure rotator presses the heating rotator. The holder includes at least one clearance structure configured to cause a contact area between the planar heater and a portion of the holder corresponding to the at least one separation region to be smaller than a contact area between the planar heater and a portion of the holder not corresponding to the at least one separation region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro IMADA, Yasunori ISHIGAYA, Shigeo NANNO, Takumi WAIDA, Daisuke HIRANO
  • Publication number: 20220035287
    Abstract: A heating device includes a heating rotator, a pressing rotator, and a housing. The heating rotator extends in a longitudinal direction and is configured to heat a sheet. The pressing rotator extends in a longitudinal direction and is configured to press against the heating rotator to form a nip with the heating rotator. The housing houses the heating rotator and the pressing rotator. The housing includes a pair of openings and shutters. The pair of openings face both end portions of the heating rotator in the longitudinal direction of the heating rotator. The shutters are configured to rotate about an axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the heating rotator to open and close the pair of openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventor: Shigeo NANNO