Patents by Inventor Takamasa Hase

Takamasa Hase 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).

  • Fixing device and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 8737861
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotation body heating and fixing an unfixed image onto a recording medium; a pressing rotation body pressing the recording medium to the fixing rotation body; and a temperature detection unit detecting a temperature of the pressing rotation body. Further, when a predetermined time period elapses since a warm-up operation has started before a temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature or when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is equal to or greater than the predetermined temperature before the predetermined time period elapses since a warm-up operation has started, the fixing device determines that the warm-up operation is finished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takamasa Hase, Masanao Ehara, Tadashi Ogawa, Takeshi Uchitani, Satoshi Ueno, Teppei Kawata, Kazuya Saito, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Kensuke Yamaji
  • Image forming apparatus capable of reducing jam in fixing unit
    Patent number: 8737859
    Abstract: An image forming device forms a toner image on a recording medium. The recording medium goes through a fixing nip N between a fixing member and a pressure member in a fixing unit where the toner image is fixed on the recording medium. A fixing temperature detector detects the temperature of the fixing member. A fixing temperature control unit controls a heater that heats the fixing member so that the detected temperature becomes a target temperature. A size control unit of white space sets a white space at a tip of the recording medium in a direction of the recording medium movement. When a paper counter counts more than a predetermined paper count, the size control unit increases the size of the white space. The fixing temperature control unit decreases the target fixing temperature when the white space goes through the fixing nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuutaroh Yuasa, Takeshi Uchitani, Takamasa Hase, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Takuya Seshita
  • IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20140133879
    Abstract: In the present invention, upon return from a standby mode or sleep mode, image data is acquired as warming-up time estimate information for estimating the warming-up time to increase the temperature of a fixing belt to a target fixing temperature and, if the acquired image data is the data on a black-and-white image, control is performed to delay the heating start timing of the fixing belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Takuya SESHITA, Masahiko SATOH, Masaaki YOSHIKAWA, Hiroshi YOSHINAGA, Naoki IWAYA, Hiromasa TAKAGI, Takahiro IMADA, Hajime GOTOH, Akira SUZUKI, Kenji ISHII, Tadashi OGAWA, Teppei KAWATA, Arinobu YOSHIURA, Toshihiko SHIMOKAWA, Kensuke YAMAJI, Takeshi UCHITANI, Takamasa HASE, Shuutaroh YUASA
  • Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same having a tube which penetrates through a heater and passes infrared rays to a temperature detector
    Patent number: 8718502
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation to radiate infrared rays; a pressing rotary body, rotatable in a direction counter to the direction of rotation of the fixing rotary body, pressed against the fixing rotary body to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed; a heater disposed opposite the fixing rotary body to heat the fixing rotary body; a temperature detector spaced apart from the fixing rotary body to detect a temperature of the fixing rotary body based on the infrared rays from the fixing rotary body and disposed below the fixing nip in a vertical direction; and a tube disposed between the fixing rotary body and the temperature detector, the tube through which the infrared rays from the fixing rotary body enter the temperature detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuutaroh Yuasa, Masanao Ehara, Tadashi Ogawa, Satoshi Ueno, Hiroshi Seo, Teppei Kawata, Shuntaroh Tamaki, Takamasa Hase, Kazuya Saito, Kensuke Yamaji
  • Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating the fixing device
    Patent number: 8706016
    Abstract: An elastic layer is provided on a surface of one of a metal core and a substrate. A fixing member and a pressure member press into each other and collectively create a nip therebetween. A toner image is conveyed and fixed when passing through the nip. A thickness of the elastic layer is different in at least two widthwise regions by the same amount from the other region. A pair of edges of a prescribed size of the transfer sheet pass through these two widthwise regions, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Imada, Masanao Ehara, Tadashi Ogawa, Satoshi Ueno, Hiroshi Seo, Takamasa Hase, Kenji Ishi
  • Image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 8682192
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device including a fixing member; a pressure member to press against the fixing member; and a halogen lamp to heat the fixing member, and a controller to control the halogen lamp. The controller controls an ON duty of the halogen lamp according to a control cycle, and sets the ON duty including two thresholds consisting of a first ON duty and a second ON duty that is larger than the first ON duty. The controller calculates an ON duty of the halogen lamp, judges whether the calculated ON duty is equal to or more than the first duty and less then the second duty, and changes the calculated ON duty when the calculated ON duty is equal to or more than the first duty and less then the second duty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Ikebuchi, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Kenji Ishii, Naoki Iwaya, Takahiro Imada, Tetsuo Tokuda, Takamasa Hase, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Ippei Fujimoto, Masaaki Yoshikawa
  • Fixing device, image forming apparatus incorporating same, and method for fixing toner image on recording medium
    Patent number: 8676078
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a pressing rotary body pressed against a fixing rotary body to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed; a heater to heat the fixing rotary body, disposed opposite a circumferential surface of the fixing rotary body and upstream from the fixing nip a predetermined circumferential distance along the circumferential surface of the fixing rotary body in a direction of rotation of the fixing rotary body; a heater driver to turn on and off the heater; a timing calculator to calculate a reference time at which a trailing end portion of the recording medium in a conveyance direction of the recording medium reaches the fixing nip; and a heater driver controller to cause the heater driver to turn off the heater at a turn-off time earlier than the reference time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Saito, Tadashi Ogawa, Takeshi Uchitani, Satoshi Ueno, Teppei Kawata, Takamasa Hase, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Kensuke Yamaji
  • Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
    Patent number: 8655246
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member formed into a loop and rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation. A heating assembly faces a first region on an inner circumferential surface of the fixing member to heat the fixing member. The heating assembly is thermally deformed to contact and move the fixing member. A first fixing member support and a second fixing member support face a second region on the inner circumferential surface of the fixing member other than the first region. The first fixing member support and the second fixing member support contact and support the rotating fixing member moved by the thermally deformed heating assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Tokuda, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Kenji Ishii, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Naoki Iwaya, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Ippei Fujimoto, Takuya Seshita, Takahiro Imada, Takamasa Hase, Toshihiko Shimokawa
  • Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
    Patent number: 8655244
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a stationary at least partially tubular thermal member, a flexible fuser belt, a fuser pad, and a rotatable pressure member. The thermal member has a tubular portion thereof extending in an axial direction and defining a closed axial cross-section. A circumference of the thermal member is subjected to heating. The fuser belt is looped for rotation around the thermal member. An inner circumference of the fuser belt at least partially faces the thermal member. The fuser pad is held stationary inside the loop of the fuser belt. The pressure member extends opposite the thermal member in the axial direction with the fuser belt interposed between the fuser pad and the pressure member. The fuser pad is pressed against the pressure member through the fuser belt to form a fixing nip. The thermal member is spaced apart from the fuser pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Hasegawa, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Akira Shinshi, Kenji Ishii, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Naoki Iwaya, Tetsuo Tokuda, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Shuntaroh Tamaki, Takamasa Hase, Ippei Fujimoto, Takahiro Imada
  • FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME
    Publication number: 20140016972
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable, endless belt, a stationary heater, a stationary pad, a rotatable pressure member, and a heat conductive member. The rotatable, endless belt is looped into a generally cylindrical configuration. The stationary heater is disposed inside the loop of the belt to radiate heat to the belt. The stationary pad is disposed inside the loop of the belt. The rotatable pressure member is disposed parallel to the stationary pad with the belt interposed between the pressure member and the stationary pad. The pressure member presses against the stationary pad via the belt to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium passes. The heat conductive member is interposed between the belt and the heater to transfer heat radiated from the heater by conduction therethrough to the belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya SESHITA, Hiroshi YOSHINAGA, Takeshi UCHITANI, Yutaka IKEBUCHI, Takamasa HASE, Shuutaroh YUASA
  • Fixing device and image forming apparatus including same
    Patent number: 8630572
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a nip forming member disposed inside a fixing member and pressed against a pressing member via the fixing member to form a nip portion between the pressing member and the fixing member through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes. A heat generator disposed inside the fixing member heats the fixing member outside the nip portion and has variable heat distribution over a width of the fixing member. A first temperature detector disposed inside the fixing member contacts an end portion of the heat generator in the width direction of the fixing member, opposite a surface facing the fixing member, to detect a temperature of the heat generator. A second temperature detector disposed inside the fixing member contacts a center of an inner circumferential surface of the fixing member in the width direction, to detect the temperature of the fixing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ippei Fujimoto, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Tetsuo Tokuda, Takamasa Hase, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Kenji Ishii, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Naoki Iwaya, Takahiro Imada, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Kenichi Hasegawa, Akira Shinshi
  • Fixing unit and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 8626018
    Abstract: A fixing unit includes a fixing member to fuse a toner image on a recording medium on the recording medium; a pressure member to press against the fixing member to define a first nip between the fixing member and the pressure member through which the recording medium is transported; a shifting unit to move the pressure member relative to the fixing member to increase or decrease a pressure of the first nip; a curling correction unit disposed downstream from the first nip in a transport direction of the recording medium that imparts a second curling direction to the recording medium; and a variable setting unit operatively connected to the curling correction unit to variably set an amount of the second curling direction to the recording medium by the curling correction unit depending on the first nip pressure increased or decreased by the shifting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Ogawa, Masanao Ehara, Satoshi Ueno, Hiroshi Seo, Takahiro Imada, Takamasa Hase
  • Fixing unit and image forming apparatus including same
    Patent number: 8615175
    Abstract: A fixing unit removably installable in an image forming apparatus includes an endless fixing member; a metal member disposed in proximity to an inner surface of the fixing member; a nip formation member supported by the metal member to slidably contact the fixing member or oppose the fixing member via a slide sheet; a heater to heat the metal member to heat the fixing member; a rotary pressing member to rotate the fixing member, disposed opposite the nip formation member via the fixing member to form a nip between the rotary pressing member and the fixing member; a rotation detector to detect a rotational state of the fixing member. Heating rotation of the fixing member is continuously performed until a predetermined rotational state of the fixing member is obtained, to spread lubricant substantially uniformly at least between the fixing member and the metal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Imada, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Kenji Ishii, Akira Shinshi, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Kenichi Hasegawa, Naoki Iwaya, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Tetsuo Tokuda, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Takamasa Hase, Ippei Fujimoto, Toshihiko Shimokawa
  • Heat conduction unit, fixing device, and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 8600276
    Abstract: A heat conduction unit includes a flexible endless belt, a heat conductor disposed in proximity to an inner circumferential face of the endless belt and having a cross-section substantially identical to a cross-section of the endless belt, a heat source that heats the heat conductor to heat the endless belt, a pressing roller disposed opposite the heat conductor to rotate the endless belt in accordance with rotation of the pressing roller, a nip formation member disposed opposite the pressing roller and within a loop formed by the endless belt to form a nip between the endless belt and the pressing roller, and a pushing member disposed within the loop to support the nip formation member. The heat conductor has at least two different cross-sectional shapes perpendicular to a long direction of the heat conductor at different positions in the long direction of the heat conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Kenji Ishii, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Tetsuo Tokuda, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Kenichi Hasegawa, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Akira Shinshi, Naoki Iwaya, Takamasa Hase, Takahiro Imada, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Ippei Fujimoto, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Shuntaroh Tamaki
  • Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
    Patent number: 8600277
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a tubular belt holder, a rotatable flexible fuser belt, a contact member, a pressure member, and a heater. The belt holder extends in an axial direction thereof. The fuser belt is looped around the belt holder extending in the axial direction. The contact member has a central axis thereof extending in the axial direction, accommodated in the belt holder. The pressure member has a central axis thereof extending in the axial direction, disposed opposite the belt holder with the fuser belt interposed between the contact member and the pressure member. The pressure member presses against the contact member through the fuser belt to form a fixing nip. The heater is disposed adjacent to the belt holder to heat a circumferential portion of the fuser belt. The belt holder includes a generally semi-cylindrical section to face the heated circumferential portion of the fuser belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Yoshikawa, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Kenji Ishii, Naoki Iwaya, Takahiro Imada, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Tetsuo Tokuda, Takamasa Hase, Takuya Seshita, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Ippei Fujimoto
  • Image forming apparatus incorporating a fixing device and contact member to reduce fixing member deformation
    Patent number: 8594549
    Abstract: In a fixing device, a pressing member rotates in a predetermined direction of rotation. A flexible fixing member is disposed opposite the pressing member to rotate in accordance with rotation of the pressing member. A nip formation member is provided inside a loop formed by the fixing member and pressed against the pressing member via the fixing member to form a nip between the fixing member and the pressing member through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes. A contact member pressingly contacts an outer circumferential surface of the rotating fixing member at both ends of the fixing member in an axial direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Shimokawa, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Akira Shinshi, Kenji Ishii, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Naoki Iwaya, Tetsuo Tokuda, Kenichi Hasegawa, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Shuntaroh Tamaki, Takahiro Imada, Ippei Fujimoto, Takamasa Hase, Yutaka Ikebuchi
  • Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
    Patent number: 8588638
    Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a toner image on a recording medium includes a pressing member provided outside a loop formed by a fixing member to press the fixing member against a nip formation member provided inside the loop formed by the fixing member. A heat generator support is provided inside the loop formed by the fixing member to support a heat generator that generates heat to be transmitted to the fixing member. A temperature detector is provided downstream from the heat generator and upstream from the nip formation member in a direction of rotation of the fixing member to detect a temperature of the fixing member. A controller is connected to the temperature detector and the heat generator to control heat generation of the heat generator based on the temperature of the fixing member detected by the temperature detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Iwaya, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Kenji Ishii, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Tetsuo Tokuda, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Ippei Fujimoto, Takuya Seshita, Takahiro Imada, Takamasa Hase, Toshihiko Shimokawa
  • Fixing device and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 8588628
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, an induction heating unit, a pressing member, and a damage detection unit. The fixing member heats a toner image on a recording medium to fix the toner image onto the recording medium. The induction heating unit heats the fixing member by electromagnetic induction. The pressing member presses the fixing member to form a fixing nip portion. The fixing member includes a heat insulating elastic layer and a sleeve layer. The sleeve layer is located outside the heat insulating elastic layer and is provided with an outer conductive layer that generates heat from a magnetic flux generated by the induction heating unit. The damage detection unit is connected to the outer, conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tadashi Ogawa, Masanao Ehara, Satoshi Ueno, Hiroshi Seo, Takamasa Hase, Shuutaroh Yuasa
  • Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
    Patent number: 8588668
    Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt-shaped fixing member formed into a loop and rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation, a pressing member contacting an outer circumferential surface of the fixing member, a heater support assembly provided inside the loop formed by the fixing member, and a laminated heater supported by the heater support assembly and provided inside the loop formed by the fixing member. The laminated heater includes an elastic sheet contacting an inner circumferential surface of the fixing member with pressure generated by elasticity of bending of the elastic sheet to heat the fixing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Ishii, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Naoki Iwaya, Takahiro Imada, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Tetsuo Tokuda, Takamasa Hase, Takuya Seshita, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Ippei Fujimoto
  • Fixing device having a reflector and image forming apparatus incorporating same
    Patent number: 8588670
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a metal thermal conductor provided inside a loop formed by a fixing rotary body to heat the fixing rotary body; a heater provided inside the metal thermal conductor to heat the metal thermal conductor; a pad support provided inside the metal thermal conductor; and a reflector provided between the heater and the pad support to reflect heat emitted by the heater thereto toward an inner circumferential surface of the metal thermal conductor. The reflector includes a center reflection portion provided at a center of the reflector in a longitudinal direction thereof and a plurality of end reflection portions provided at respective lateral ends of the reflector. A plurality of reflector moving assemblies is connected to the plurality of end reflection portions of the reflector, respectively, to tilt the plurality of end reflection portions toward the center reflection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Shimokawa, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Kenji Ishii, Naoki Iwaya, Tetsuo Tokuda, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Takamasa Hase, Takahiro Imada, Akira Shinshi, Kenichi Hasegawa, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Ippei Fujimoto