Patents by Inventor Shohta KOBASHIGAWA
Shohta KOBASHIGAWA 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).
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Patent number: 9612556Abstract: A fixing device includes a heater to generate heat and a fixing rotator to rotate while contacting the heater. A pressure rotator presses against the heater via the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. The heater includes an insulative substrate and a resistive heat generation layer mounted on the substrate. The resistive heat generation layer is disposed upstream from a center of the fixing nip in a recording medium conveyance direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2016Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yasuhiko Ogino, Kenji Ishii, Takashi Seto, Ippei Fujimoto, Kazuhito Kishi, Kazunari Sawada, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Hiromasa Takagi, Takamasa Hase, Hiroshi Seo, Susumu Matsusaka, Shohta Kobashigawa
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Patent number: 9612555Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator and an opposed rotator pressed against the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween. A primary heater is disposed opposite the fixing rotator in a circumferential span of the fixing rotator other than the fixing nip in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator. A heat shield is interposed between the primary heater and the fixing rotator and disposed outboard from at least a decreased size recording medium conveyance span of the fixing rotator spanning in an axial direction of the fixing rotator where a recording medium having a decreased size in the axial direction of the fixing rotator is conveyed. The heat shield shields the fixing rotator from the primary heater. A secondary heater is mounted on the heat shield to heat the fixing rotator.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2016Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Kenji Ishii, Kazuhito Kishi, Takashi Seto, Takayuki Seki, Ippei Fujimoto, Kazunari Sawada, Susumu Matsusaka, Yasuhiko Ogino, Shohta Kobashigawa
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Publication number: 20170010570Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator and a heater disposed inside the fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator with radiant heat. A pressure rotator presses against the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator. A reflector is disposed opposite the heater to reflect the radiant heat radiated from the heater to the fixing rotator. The reflector includes a first parallel plane, a second parallel plane, and a third tilt plane. The second parallel plane is parallel to the first parallel plane and stepped with respect to the first parallel plane. The second parallel plane is disposed closer to the fixing nip and the heater than the first parallel plane. The third tilt plane bridges the first parallel plane and the second parallel plane and is disposed opposite the heater.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2016Publication date: January 12, 2017Inventors: Ippei FUJIMOTO, Kazuhito KISHI, Takashi SETO, Takayuki SEKI, Kazunari SAWADA, Kenji ISHll, Hiroshi YOSHINAGA, Hiromasa TAKAGI, Takamasa HASE, Yasuhiko OGINO, Shohta KOBASHIGAWA
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Publication number: 20160378027Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a nip formation pad disposed inside the fixing rotator. A pressure rotator presses against the nip formation pad via the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator. A heat generator is disposed inside the fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator. A reflector is interposed between the heat generator and the nip formation pad. The reflector includes a reflection face to reflect radiant heat radiated from the heat generator. The reflection face includes a reflection portion disposed opposite the heat generator at various angles. A support is provided separately from the nip formation pad and supports the reflector.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2016Publication date: December 29, 2016Inventors: Kazunari SAWADA, Kenji ISHll, Kazuhito KISHI, Takayuki SEKI, Hiroshi YOSHINAGA, Takashi SETO, Hiromasa TAKAGI, lppei FUJIMOTO, Takamasa HASE, Yasuhiko OGINO, Shohta KOBASHIGAWA
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Publication number: 20160334742Abstract: A fixing device includes a primary heater disposed opposite a fixing rotator to heat a circumferential span of the fixing rotator other than a fixing nip formed between the fixing rotator and a pressure rotator and a secondary heater disposed outboard from the primary heater in an axial direction of the fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator at the fixing nip. The primary heater and the secondary heater heat a bi-heating span of the fixing rotator in the axial direction thereof. The secondary heater heats a mono-heating span of the fixing rotator in the axial direction thereof and generates a decreased amount of heat to be conducted to the bi-heating span of the fixing rotator. The decreased amount of heat is smaller than an increased amount of heat to be conducted to the mono-heating span of the fixing rotator that is heated by the secondary heater only.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2016Publication date: November 17, 2016Inventors: Shohta KOBASHIGAWA, Kenji Ishii, Kazuhito Kishi, Takayuki Seki, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Takashi Seto, Hiromasa Takagi, Ippei Fujimoto, Hiroshi Seo, Takamasa Hase, Kazunari Sawada, Yasuhiko Ogino
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Publication number: 20160274511Abstract: A fixing device includes a heater to generate heat and a fixing rotator to rotate while contacting the heater. A pressure rotator presses against the heater via the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. The heater includes an insulative substrate and a resistive heat generation layer mounted on the substrate. The resistive heat generation layer is disposed upstream from a center of the fixing nip in a recording medium conveyance direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2016Publication date: September 22, 2016Inventors: Yasuhiko OGINO, Kenji ISHll, Takashi SETO, lppei FUJIMOTO, Kazuhito KISHI, Kazunari SAWADA, Hiroshi YOSHINAGA, Hiromasa TAKAGI, Takamasa HASE, Hiroshi SEO, Susumu MATSUSAKA, Shohta KOBASHIGAWA
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Publication number: 20160274510Abstract: A fixing device includes a primary heater, a secondary heater, and a tertiary heater to heat a primary heating span, a secondary heating span, and a tertiary heating span of a fixing rotator, respectively. A primary temperature detector and a secondary temperature detector detect a temperature of the fixing rotator. A tertiary temperature detector detects a temperature of a pressure rotator. A controller selectively performs a primary control mode to de-energize the tertiary heater and a secondary control mode to connect the secondary heater and the tertiary heater in series to energize the primary heater, the secondary heater, and the tertiary heater. The controller energizes the secondary heater and the tertiary heater in the secondary control mode based on the temperature of the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator detected by the secondary temperature detector and the tertiary temperature detector, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2016Publication date: September 22, 2016Inventors: Takamasa HASE, Susumu MATSUSAKA, Yasuhiko OGINO, Shohta KOBASHIGAWA, Kenji ISHII, Kazuhito KISHI, Takashi SETO, Hiroshi SEO, Ippei FUJIMOTO, Hiroshi YOSHINAGA, Hiromasa TAKAGI, Kazunari SAWADA
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Publication number: 20160274514Abstract: A fixing device includes a nip formation pad to press against a fixing rotator. A primary heater is disposed opposite the fixing rotator in a primary heating span spanning in an axial direction of the fixing rotator to heat the primary heating span of the fixing rotator from which heat is conducted to the nip formation pad with a primary conduction. A secondary heater is disposed opposite the fixing rotator in a secondary heating span that is outboard from the primary heating span in the axial direction of the fixing rotator. The secondary heater is interposed between a first nip formation portion and a second nip formation portion of the nip formation pad to heat the secondary heating span of the fixing rotator through the nip formation pad from which heat is conducted to the fixing rotator with a secondary conduction greater than the primary conduction.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2016Publication date: September 22, 2016Inventors: Kenji ISHII, Susumu MATSUSAKA, Yasuhiko OGINO, Shohta KOBASHIGAWA, Kazuhito KISHI, Takashi SETO, Ippei FUJIMOTO, Kazunari SAWADA, Hiroshi YOSHINAGA, Hiromasa TAKAGI, Takamasa HASE
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Publication number: 20160246228Abstract: A fixing device includes a first heater and a second heater to heat a fixing rotator. The first heater includes a first heat generator having a first heating span in a longitudinal direction of the first heater and a first support supporting the first heat generator. The second heater includes a second heat generator having a second heating span in a longitudinal direction of the second heater and a second support supporting the second heat generator. A screen screens one of the first heater and the second heater from another one of the first heater and the second heater. At least one of the first support and the second support is disposed in proximity to a lateral end of at least one of the first heat generator and the second heat generator in the longitudinal direction of the first heater and the second heater.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2016Publication date: August 25, 2016Inventors: Ippei FUJIMOTO, Kenji ISHll, Kazuhito KISHI, Kazunari SAWADA, Takashi SETO, Susumu MATSUSAKA, Yasuhiko OGINO, Shohta KOBASHIGAWA, Hiromasa TAKAGI, Takamasa HASE, Hiroshi YOSHINAGA
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Publication number: 20160238975Abstract: A fixing device includes a first heater and a second heater disposed inside a fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator. The first heater generates an increased amount of heat and includes a first heat generator having a first heating span in a longitudinal direction of the first heater. The second heater generates a decreased amount of heat and includes a second heat generator having a second heating span in a longitudinal direction of the second heater. A partition is interposed between the first heater and the second heater to define a first compartment having an increased size and accommodating the first heater and a second compartment having a decreased size and accommodating the second heater.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2016Publication date: August 18, 2016Inventors: Takayuki SEKI, Susumu MATSUSAKA, Yasuhiko OGINO, Shohta KOBASHIGAWA, Kenji ISHll, Kazuhito KISHI, Takashi SETO, lppei FUJIMOTO, Kazunari SAWADA, Hiroshi YOSHINAGA
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Publication number: 20160231672Abstract: A fixing device includes a nip formation pad that presses against a pressure rotator via an endless belt to form a fixing nip between the belt and the pressure rotator, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A fixing heater is disposed opposite at least a center span of a conveyance span of the belt in an axial direction thereof where the recording medium is conveyed to heat the belt. A first lateral end heater and a second lateral end heater are mounted on the nip formation pad and disposed opposite a first lateral end span and a second lateral end span of an inner circumferential surface of the belt in the axial direction thereof, respectively, to heat the belt. The second lateral end heater is electrically connected in series to the first lateral end heater.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2016Publication date: August 11, 2016Inventors: TAKASHI SETO, KENJI ISHII, SUSUMU MATSUSAKA, YASUHIKO OGINO, SHOHTA KOBASHIGAWA, KAZUHITO KISHI, IPPEI FUJIMOTO, KAZUNARI SAWADA, HIROSHI YOSHINAGA, HIROMASA TAKAGI, TAKAMASA HASE, HIROSHI SEO
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Publication number: 20160223963Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator and an opposed rotator pressed against the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween. A primary heater is disposed opposite the fixing rotator in a circumferential span of the fixing rotator other than the fixing nip in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator. A heat shield is interposed between the primary heater and the fixing rotator and disposed outboard from at least a decreased size recording medium conveyance span of the fixing rotator spanning in an axial direction of the fixing rotator where a recording medium having a decreased size in the axial direction of the fixing rotator is conveyed. The heat shield shields the fixing rotator from the primary heater. A secondary heater is mounted on the heat shield to heat the fixing rotator.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2016Publication date: August 4, 2016Inventors: Hiroshi YOSHINAGA, Kenji Ishii, Kazuhito Kishi, Takashi Seto, Takayuki Seki, Ippei Fujimoto, Kazunari Sawada, Susumu Matsusaka, Yasuhiko Ogino, Shohta Kobashigawa
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Publication number: 20160187823Abstract: A nip formation assembly disposed opposite an opposed rotator via an endless belt includes a nip formation pad to press against the opposed rotator via the endless belt to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the opposed rotator, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A fixing heater is disposed opposite at least a center span of the endless belt in an axial direction thereof where the recording medium is conveyed. The fixing heater heats the endless belt. A lateral end heater is mounted on the nip formation pad and disposed opposite a lateral end span of an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt in the axial direction thereof. The lateral end heater heats the endless belt.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2015Publication date: June 30, 2016Inventors: Takashi SETO, Kenji ISHll, Kazuhito KISHI, lppei FUJIMOTO, Takayuki SEKI, Susumu MATSUSAKA, Yasuhiko OGINO, Shohta KOBASHIGAWA, Hiromasa TAKAGI