Patents by Inventor Takashi Kagami

Takashi Kagami 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: 8886097
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotary fuser member, a rotary pressure member, and a cleaning system. The rotary fuser member is subjected to heating. The rotary pressure member is disposed opposite the fuser member. The cleaning system includes a cleaning web, a feeding mechanism, a positioning mechanism, and a controller. The cleaning web is disposed adjacent to the pressure member to wipe the pressure member. The feeding mechanism is operatively connected to the cleaning web to feed a new, unused portion of the cleaning web toward the pressure member. The positioning mechanism is operatively connected to at least one of the cleaning web and the pressure member to position the cleaning web and the pressure member with respect to each other. The controller is operatively connected with the feeding mechanism and the positioning mechanism to control feeding and positioning of the cleaning web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Nagata, Keisuke Kubota, Takashi Kagami
  • Patent number: 8837999
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotary fuser member, a rotary pressure member, and a cleaning system. The rotary fuser member is subjected to heating. The rotary pressure member is disposed opposite the fuser member. The cleaning system includes a cleaning web, a feeding mechanism, a positioning mechanism, and a controller. The cleaning web is disposed adjacent to the pressure member to wipe the pressure member. The feeding mechanism is operatively connected to the cleaning web to feed a new, unused portion of the cleaning web toward the pressure member. The positioning mechanism is operatively connected to at least one of the cleaning web and the pressure member to position the cleaning web and the pressure member with respect to each other. The controller is operatively connected with the feeding mechanism and the positioning mechanism to control feeding and positioning of the cleaning web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Nagata, Keisuke Kubota, Takashi Kagami
  • Patent number: 8699904
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable first nip formation member, a rotatable second nip formation member, a first heater, a second heater, and a controller. The second nip formation member is provided under the first nip formation member to contact the first nip formation member to form a fixing nip portion between the first nip formation member and the second nip formation member. The first heater heats the first nip formation member. The second heater heats the second nip formation member. The controller supplies a portion of power to the second heater and the remainder of power to the first heater when a plurality of sheets having a sheet weight not greater than about 100 g/m2 passes through the fixing nip portion continuously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Masami Okamoto, Jun Okamoto, Kazuo Suno, Kenji Nozawa, Naoto Suzuki, Syoichi Kaneko, Yoshihiro Sonohara, Keisuke Kubota, Takashi Kagami, Hiroyuki Shimada
  • Patent number: 8666270
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an imaging unit, a fixing unit, a first thermometer, and a controller. The imaging unit forms a toner image on a recording medium conveyed along a media conveyance path. The fixing device is disposed downstream from the imaging unit along the media conveyance path to fix the toner image in place on the recording medium. The fixing device includes a fuser roller, a heat roller, an endless, fuser belt, and a pressure roller. The fuser roller has a cylindrical core of metal. The pressure roller presses against the fuser roller via the fuser belt to form a fixing nip therebetween. The first thermometer detects a first temperature at the cylindrical core of the fuser roller. The controller controls conveyance of the recording medium through the fixing nip according to the first temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keisuke Kubota, Toshiharu Hachisuka, Atsushi Nagata, Takashi Kagami
  • Patent number: 8509641
    Abstract: An electrophotographic printing device includes a fixing unit; and a temperature sensor. The fixing unit includes: a fixing member; a pressing member pressed against the fixing member; and a heater which heats at least the fixing member of the fixing member and the pressing member, the fixing unit fixing a toner image on a recording material to the recording material while carrying the recording material through a fixing nip formed between the fixing member and the pressing member. The temperature sensor is attached to a recording material supplying unit, and detects a temperature of a recording material stored in the recording material supplying unit, and a fixing temperature is controlled based on the detected temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Takashi Kagami
  • Publication number: 20130045031
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotary fuser member, a rotary pressure member, and a cleaning system. The rotary fuser member is subjected to heating. The rotary pressure member is disposed opposite the fuser member. The cleaning system includes a cleaning web, a feeding mechanism, a positioning mechanism, and a controller. The cleaning web is disposed adjacent to the pressure member to wipe the pressure member. The feeding mechanism is operatively connected to the cleaning web to feed a new, unused portion of the cleaning web toward the pressure member. The positioning mechanism is operatively connected to at least one of the cleaning web and the pressure member to position the cleaning web and the pressure member with respect to each other. The controller is operatively connected with the feeding mechanism and the positioning mechanism to control feeding and positioning of the cleaning web.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi NAGATA, Keisuke KUBOTA, Takashi KAGAMI
  • Patent number: 8346143
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable first nip formation member, a rotatable second nip formation member, and an oil applier. The second nip formation member is provided under the first nip formation member to contact the first nip formation member. The oil applier includes an oil pan, an oil receiver, and an oil filter. The oil pan is provided under the second nip formation member to contain oil in which the second nip formation member is dipped. The oil receiver holds the oil pan. The oil filter is provided between the oil pan and the oil receiver to filter oil overflowing the oil pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Okamoto, Jun Okamoto, Kazuo Suno, Kenji Nozawa, Naoto Suzuki, Yoshihiro Sonohara, Syoichi Kaneko, Keisuke Kubota, Takashi Kagami, Hiroyuki Shimada
  • Patent number: 8224220
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable fixing member, a pressing member, a motor, and an oil applier. The pressing member contacts the fixing member. The oil applier includes an application roller and an oil supply mechanism. The application roller applies oil to one of the fixing member and the pressing member. The oil supply mechanism supplies oil to the application roller. The motor is provided independent of other drivers, and supplies a driving force to the application roller to rotate the application roller at an arbitrary speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Masami Okamoto, Jun Okamoto, Kazuo Suno, Kenji Nozawa, Naoto Suzuki, Syoichi Kaneko, Yoshihiro Sonohara, Keisuke Kubota, Takashi Kagami, Hiroyuki Shimada
  • Patent number: 8112022
    Abstract: In a fixing device, a controller switches a pressing member between a pressure application state to contact the pressing member against a fixing member and a pressure release state to separate the pressing member from the fixing member. The controller starts rotation of the pressing member before the pressing member contacts the fixing member in the pressure application state, when the pressing member switches from the pressure release state to the pressure application state. An oil applier includes an oil pan and an oil regulating member. The oil pan is provided under the pressing member to contain oil in which the pressing member is dipped. The oil regulating member is provided downstream from the oil pan in a direction of rotation of the pressing member to contact the pressing member to regulate an amount of oil adhering to the pressing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Okamoto, Jun Okamoto, Kazuo Suno, Kenji Nozawa, Naoto Suzuki, Yoshihiro Sonohara, Syoichi Kaneko, Takashi Kagami, Keisuke Kubota, Hiroyuki Shimada
  • Publication number: 20110311249
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an imaging unit, a fixing unit, a first thermometer, and a controller. The imaging unit forms a toner image on a recording medium conveyed along a media conveyance path. The fixing device is disposed downstream from the imaging unit along the media conveyance path to fix the toner image in place on the recording medium. The fixing device includes a fuser roller, a heat roller, an endless, fuser belt, and a pressure roller. The fuser roller has a cylindrical core of metal. The pressure roller presses against the fuser roller via the fuser belt to form a fixing nip therebetween. The first thermometer detects a first temperature at the cylindrical core of the fuser roller. The controller controls conveyance of the recording medium through the fixing nip according to the first temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Keisuke Kubota, Toshiharu Hachisuka, Atsushi Nagata, Takashi Kagami
  • Patent number: 8027627
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressing member, and an oil applier. In the oil applier, an oil application member applies oil supplied from an oil supply mechanism to one of the fixing member and the pressing member. In the oil supply mechanism, an oil storage member is provided above and adjacent to one of an oil supply member and the oil application member to supply oil overflowing the oil storage member, when oil is put into the oil storage member through an oil inlet, to one of the oil supply member and the oil application member. The oil supply member provided adjacent to the oil storage member supplies oil sent from the oil storage member to the oil application member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Masami Okamoto, Jun Okamoto, Kazuo Suno, Kenji Nozawa, Yoshihiro Sonohara, Naoto Suzuki, Syoichi Kaneko, Keisuke Kubota, Takashi Kagami, Hiroyuki Shimada
  • Patent number: 8023850
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an oil input device and a fixing device including a fixing member, a pressing member, and an oil applier. In the oil applier, an oil application member applies oil supplied from an oil supply mechanism to one of the fixing member and the pressing member. In the oil supply mechanism, an oil supply member provided adjacent to an oil storage member supplies oil sent from the oil storage member to the oil application member. When the fixing device is reattached to the image forming apparatus after the fixing device is detached from the image forming apparatus, oil sent from the oil input device through an oil inlet overflows the oil storage member, and is supplied to one of the oil supply member and the oil application member provided adjacent to the oil storage member before an image forming operation starts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Masami Okamoto, Jun Okamoto, Kazuo Suno, Kenji Nozawa, Naoto Suzuki, Yoshihiro Sonohara, Syoichi Kaneko, Keisuke Kubota, Takashi Kagami, Hiroyuki Shimada
  • Publication number: 20110222891
    Abstract: An electrophotographic printing device includes a fixing unit; and a temperature sensor. The fixing unit includes: a fixing member; a pressing member pressed against the fixing member; and a heater which heats at least the fixing member of the fixing member and the pressing member, the fixing unit fixing a toner image on a recording material to the recording material while carrying the recording material through a fixing nip formed between the fixing member and the pressing member. The temperature sensor is attached to a recording material supplying unit, and detects a temperature of a recording material stored in the recording material supplying unit, and a fixing temperature is controlled based on the detected temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Takashi Kagami
  • Publication number: 20090274497
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable first nip formation member, a rotatable second nip formation member, and an oil applier. The second nip formation member is provided under the first nip formation member to contact the first nip formation member. The oil applier includes an oil pan, an oil receiver, and an oil filter. The oil pan is provided under the second nip formation member to contain oil in which the second nip formation member is dipped. The oil receiver holds the oil pan. The oil filter is provided between the oil pan and the oil receiver to filter oil overflowing the oil pan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Masami Okamoto, Jun Okamoto, Kazuo Suno, Kenji Nozawa, Naoto Suzuki, Yoshihiro Sonohara, Syoichi Kaneko, Keisuke Kubota, Takashi Kagami, Hiroyuki Shimada
  • Publication number: 20090274495
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable fixing member, a pressing member, a motor, and an oil applier. The pressing member contacts the fixing member. The oil applier includes an application roller and an oil supply mechanism. The application roller applies oil to one of the fixing member and the pressing member. The oil supply mechanism supplies oil to the application roller. The motor is provided independent of other drivers, and supplies a driving force to the application roller to rotate the application roller at an arbitrary speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Masami OKAMOTO, Jun Okamoto, Kazuo Suno, Kenji Nozawa, Naoto Suzuki, Syoichi Kaneko, Yoshihiro Sonohara, Keisuke Kubota, Takashi Kagami, Hiroyuki Shimada
  • Publication number: 20090274496
    Abstract: In a fixing device, a controller switches a pressing member between a pressure application state to contact the pressing member against a fixing member and a pressure release state to separate the pressing member from the fixing member. The controller starts rotation of the pressing member before the pressing member contacts the fixing member in the pressure application state, when the pressing member switches from the pressure release state to the pressure application state. An oil applier includes an oil pan and an oil regulating member. The oil pan is provided under the pressing member to contain oil in which the pressing member is dipped. The oil regulating member is provided downstream from the oil pan in a direction of rotation of the pressing member to contact the pressing member to regulate an amount of oil adhering to the pressing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Masami Okamoto, Jun Okamoto, Kazuo Suno, Kenji Nozawa, Naoto Suzuki, Yoshihiro Sonohara, Syoichi Kaneko, Takashi Kagami, Keisuke Kubota, Hiroyuki Shimada
  • Publication number: 20090274494
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an oil input device and a fixing device including a fixing member, a pressing member, and an oil applier. In the oil applier, an oil application member applies oil supplied from an oil supply mechanism to one of the fixing member and the pressing member. In the oil supply mechanism, an oil supply member provided adjacent to an oil storage member supplies oil sent from the oil storage member to the oil application member. When the fixing device is reattached to the image forming apparatus after the fixing device is detached from the image forming apparatus, oil sent from the oil input device through an oil inlet overflows the oil storage member, and is supplied to one of the oil supply member and the oil application member provided adjacent to the oil storage member before an image forming operation starts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Masami OKAMOTO, Jun OKAMOTO, Kazuo SUNO, Kenji NOZAWA, Naoto SUZUKI, Yoshihiro SONOHARA, Syoichi KANEKO, Keisuke KUBOTA, Takashi KAGAMI, Hiroyuki SHIMADA
  • Publication number: 20090274477
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable first nip formation member, a rotatable second nip formation member, a first heater, a second heater, and a controller. The second nip formation member is provided under the first nip formation member to contact the first nip formation member to form a fixing nip portion between the first nip formation member and the second nip formation member. The first heater heats the first nip formation member. The second heater heats the second nip formation member. The controller supplies a portion of power to the second heater and the remainder of power to the first heater when a plurality of sheets having a sheet weight not greater than about 100 g/m2 passes through the fixing nip portion continuously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Masami OKAMOTO, Jun Okamoto, Kazuo Suno, Kenji Nozawa, Naoto Suzuki, Syoichi Kaneko, Yoshihiro Sonohara, Keisuke Kubota, Takashi Kagami, Hiroyuki Shimada
  • Publication number: 20090274498
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressing member, and an oil applier. In the oil applier, an oil application member applies oil supplied from an oil supply mechanism to one of the fixing member and the pressing member. In the oil supply mechanism, an oil storage member is provided above and adjacent to one of an oil supply member and the oil application member to supply oil overflowing the oil storage member, when oil is put into the oil storage member through an oil inlet, to one of the oil supply member and the oil application member. The oil supply member provided adjacent to the oil storage member supplies oil sent from the oil storage member to the oil application member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Masami OKAMOTO, Jun Okamoto, Kazuo Suno, Kenji Nozawa, Yoshihiro Sonohara, Naoto Suzuki, Syoichi Kaneko, Keisuke Kubota, Takashi Kagami, Hiroyuki Shimada
  • Patent number: 6517189
    Abstract: A head is formed with a plurality of nozzles and a common ink chamber fluidly connected with the nozzles. A sub ink tank is provided above the head. Ink housed in a main ink tank is supplied into the sub ink tank through the common ink chamber when an image forming operation is not performed. At this time, air bubbles existing in the common ink chamber is brought into the sub ink tank along with the ink supplied from the main ink tank. The air bubbles collected into the sub ink tank in this manner are released into the ambient air through a valve provided to the sub ink tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshitaka Ogawa, Satoru Tobita, Takashi Kagami