Patents by Inventor Takeshi Uchitani
Takeshi Uchitani 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: 9069287Abstract: An information storage device installed in a removable device configured to be removably installed in an image forming apparatus body, includes: an information storage unit that stores information communicated between the image forming apparatus body and the removable device; a terminal that comes in contact with a body side terminal; and a substrate that holds the information storage unit and the terminal and includes a hole configured to be engaged with a protruding section installed in the image forming apparatus body. The terminal includes a plurality of terminals each including one of a plurality of metallic plates arranged in a transverse direction thereof. An earth terminal, which comes in contact with a body side earth terminal formed in the protruding section, is formed in the hole. The hole is disposed at a position sandwiched between two metallic plates among the plurality of metallic plates.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2014Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITEDInventors: Yasufumi Takahashi, Kunihiro Ohyama, Masayuki Yamane, Takeshi Uchitani, Tadashi Hayakawa, Takuji Takahashi, Shouji Okabe, Akira Shinshi, Yuichiro Ueda, Masaki Takahashi, Yuuki Satoh
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Patent number: 9063480Abstract: In an embodiment, provided is a fixing device that includes: a fixing belt rotatable and endless; a belt holding member holding the fixing belt at each end part in an axial direction; a heat source heating the fixing belt; a nip forming member provided inside the fixing belt; an opposing rotator forming a nip portion between the opposing rotator and the fixing belt via the fixing belt; and a separating member that extends near the nip portion and separates a recording medium from a surface of the fixing belt. A leading end of the separating member is provided with a receding portion and an approaching portion that is at a different position from a position of the receding portion different in the axial direction. The approaching portion is provided nearer to the nip portion than the receding portion is provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2012Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventors: Arinobu Yoshiura, Masahiko Satoh, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Kenji Ishii, Tadashi Ogawa, Takahiro Imada, Hiromasa Takagi, Kazuya Saito, Naoki Iwaya, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Kensuke Yamaji, Teppei Kawata, Takamasa Hase, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Takuya Seshita, Takeshi Uchitani, Hajime Gotoh, Akira Suzuki, Hiroshi Yoshinaga
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Patent number: 9063493Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless flexible belt, an elongated stationary pad, a rotary pressure member, and a low-friction sheet. The endless flexible belt is looped into a generally cylindrical configuration extending in an axial direction thereof for rotation in a rotational, circumferential direction thereof. The elongated stationary pad is stationarily disposed inside the loop of the belt. The rotary pressure member is disposed parallel to the belt. The rotary pressure member presses against the stationary pad via the belt to form a nip therebetween, through which a recording medium is conveyed in a conveyance direction. The low-friction sheet of lubricant-impregnated material covers the stationary pad to supply a lubricant between the stationary pad and the belt across the nip. The low-friction sheet has one or more flow channels defined therein.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2013Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Kensuke Yamaji, Masahiko Satoh, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Kenji Ishii, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Tadashi Ogawa, Takeshi Uchitani, Hiromasa Takagi, Takuya Seshita, Teppei Kawata, Arinobu Yoshiura, Takahiro Imada, Hajime Gotoh, Takamasa Hase, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Akira Suzuki
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Publication number: 20150168897Abstract: A fixing device includes at least one heater disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of an endless rotary body to heat the endless rotary body and a shield interposed between the endless rotary body and the at least one heater to shield the endless rotary body from heat radiated from the at least one heater. A first size recording medium passes over a first passage region of the endless rotary body and a second size recording medium passes over a second passage region of the endless rotary body. The shield includes a notch disposed opposite a lateral end of the second passage region of the endless rotary body in an axial direction thereof. The lateral end of the second passage region overlaps a non-passage region of the endless rotary body in the axial direction thereof where the first size recording medium does not pass.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2015Publication date: June 18, 2015Inventors: Tadashi OGAWA, Masahiko Satoh, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Kenji Ishii, Takeshi Uchitani, Hiromasa Takagi, Naoki Iwaya, Takuya Seshita, Takahiro Imada, Hajime Gotoh, Takamasa Hase, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Teppei Kawata, Arinobu Yoshiura, Kensuke Yamaji, Akira Suzuki
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Publication number: 20150160591Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotary endless fixing belt; a nip forming member disposed in an interior of the fixing belt; a rotary opposed member to contact the nip forming member via the fixing belt to form a nip together with the fixing belt; a heat source to directly heat the fixing belt at a portion other than the nip, including at lease one heat-generation part disposed outside lateral ends of a maximum area of the fixing belt where a recording medium passes through, wherein a recording medium carrying an unfixed image is conveyed to the nip and the fixing device fixes the unfixed image onto the recording medium; and a shielding member disposed between the fixing belt and the heat generation part of the heat source and configured to shield heat from the heat source at least at an area outside the maximum passing area of the recording medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2014Publication date: June 11, 2015Inventors: Takamasa HASE, Hiroshi YOSHINAGA, Takeshi UCHITANI, Yutaka IKEBUCHI, Takuya SESHITA, Shuutaroh YUASA
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Patent number: 9052658Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an unfixed image onto a recording medium includes a fixing belt, a nip forming member, an opposing rotary member, a heater, and a temperature detector. The fixing belt is formed into a loop to move endlessly and fix the unfixed image on the recording medium. The nip forming member is disposed inside the loop formed by the fixing belt. The opposing rotary member contacts the nip forming member via the fixing belt to form a nip portion therebetween while rotating. The heater heats the fixing belt at a place other than the nip portion. The temperature detector detects a temperature of the surface of the fixing belt. The temperature detector detects the temperature near a place of the fixing belt that easily deforms as the fixing belt is heated by the heater.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2013Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Uchitani, Masahiko Satoh, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Kenji Ishii, Tadashi Ogawa, Takahiro Imada, Hiromasa Takagi, Kazuya Saito, Naoki Iwaya, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Kensuke Yamaji, Teppei Kawata, Takamasa Hase, Takuya Seshita, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Arinobu Yoshiura, Hajime Gotoh, Akira Suzuki, Hiroshi Yoshinaga
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Patent number: 9042761Abstract: A fixing device capable of shifting to a sleep state includes a heat source; a rotatable fixing member that is partly heated by the heat source to heat an unfixed image carrying surface of a recording medium; a rotatable pressing member that is in pressure contact with the fixing member to form a nip portion between the pressing member and the fixing member; a rotation drive unit that directly or indirectly rotates the fixing member; a temperature detecting unit that detects a temperature of the fixing member; and a controller configured to prohibit the fixing device from shifting to the sleep state when the temperature of the fixing member in a region facing the heat source is equal to or more than a predetermined temperature T1 at a point when a predetermined time period t1 has elapsed from the stop of rotation drive of the rotation drive unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2013Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITEDInventors: Takeshi Uchitani, Masahiko Satoh, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Kenji Ishii, Tadashi Ogawa, Takahiro Imada, Hiromasa Takagi, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Arinobu Yoshiura, Teppei Kawata, Takamasa Hase, Hajime Gotoh, Takuya Seshita, Kazuya Saito, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Kensuke Yamaji, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Akira Suzuki, Shinichi Namekata, Ryota Yamashina, Yasunori Ishigaya
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Patent number: 9042799Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotary endless fixing belt; a nip forming member disposed in an interior of the fixing belt; a rotary opposed member to contact the nip forming member via the fixing belt to form a nip together with the fixing belt; a heat source to directly heat the fixing belt at a portion other than the nip, including at lease one heat-generation part disposed outside lateral ends of a maximum area of the fixing belt where a recording medium passes through, wherein a recording medium carrying an unfixed image is conveyed to the nip and the fixing device fixes the unfixed image onto the recording medium; and a shielding member disposed between the fixing belt and the heat generation part of the heat source and configured to shield heat from the heat source at least at an area outside the maximum passing area of the recording medium.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2013Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Takamasa Hase, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Takeshi Uchitani, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Takuya Seshita, Shuutaroh Yuasa
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Patent number: 9037008Abstract: A fixing device including a fixing member, an opposing member, a plurality of heat sources, and a voltage detector. The opposing member is disposed opposite the fixing member to contact the fixing member to form a nip portion at which an unfixed image on a recording medium is fixed. The plurality of heat sources heats the fixing member. The voltage detector detects an applied voltage of at least one of the plurality of heat sources. Upon detection of the applied voltage of the heat sources by the voltage detector, a voltage is applied to at least one of the heat sources.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2013Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Takamasa Hase, Masahiko Satoh, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Kenji Ishii, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Tadashi Ogawa, Takeshi Uchitani, Hiromasa Takagi, Naoki Iwaya, Teppei Kawata, Takuya Seshita, Arinobu Yoshiura, Takahiro Imada, Hajime Gotoh, Kazuya Saito, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Kensuke Yamaji, Akira Suzuki
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Patent number: 9031439Abstract: According to an embodiment, provided is a fixing device that includes: a rotatable fixing member that heats a recording medium on a side carrying an unfixed image; a rotatable pressing member that is pressed and is contacted with the fixing member to form a nip portion between the pressing member and the fixing member; a heat source heating the fixing member; a relay switch provided in an energizing path for the heat source; a temperature detection sensor detecting a temperature of the fixing member; and a control unit that controls energization of the heat source according to the temperature detected by the temperature detection sensor. The control unit keeps the relay switch in an off state if the temperature of the fixing member is equal to or more than a predetermined temperature when the fixing member has stopped rotation.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2013Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventors: Takamasa Hase, Kenji Ishii, Tadashi Ogawa, Teppei Kawata, Arinobu Yoshiura, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Kensuke Yamaji, Takeshi Uchitani, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Hiromasa Takagi, Naoki Iwaya, Takahiro Imada, Hajime Gotoh, Takuya Seshita, Ryota Yamashina, Yasunori Ishigaya
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Patent number: 9031485Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless flexible belt, a stationary pad, a rotary pressure member, and a lubrication mechanism. The endless flexible belt is looped into a generally cylindrical configuration extending in an axial direction thereof for rotation in a rotational, circumferential direction thereof. The stationary pad is stationarily disposed inside the loop of the belt. The rotary pressure member is disposed parallel to the belt. The rotary pressure member presses against the stationary pad via the belt to form a nip therebetween, through which a recording medium is conveyed in a conveyance direction. The lubrication mechanism supplies lubricant between the stationary pad and the belt, and includes a first sheet of lubricant-impregnated material and a second sheet of lubricant-impregnated material.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2013Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kenji Ishii, Masahiko Satoh, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Takeshi Uchitani, Tadashi Ogawa, Hiromasa Takagi, Naoki Iwaya, Takuya Seshita, Takahiro Imada, Hajime Gotoh, Takamasa Hase, Kazuya Saito, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Teppei Kawata, Arinobu Yoshiura, Akira Suzuki
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Patent number: 9026024Abstract: A fixing device includes at least one heater disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of an endless rotary body to heat the endless rotary body and a shield interposed between the endless rotary body and the at least one heater to shield the endless rotary body from heat radiated from the at least one heater. A first size recording medium passes over a first passage region of the endless rotary body and a second size recording medium passes over a second passage region of the endless rotary body. The shield includes a notch disposed opposite a lateral end of the second passage region of the endless rotary body in an axial direction thereof. The lateral end of the second passage region overlaps a non-passage region of the endless rotary body in the axial direction thereof where the first size recording medium does not pass.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2013Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Tadashi Ogawa, Masahiko Satoh, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Kenji Ishii, Takeshi Uchitani, Hiromasa Takagi, Naoki Iwaya, Takuya Seshita, Takahiro Imada, Hajime Gotoh, Takamasa Hase, Kazuya Saito, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Teppei Kawata, Arinobu Yoshiura, Kensuke Yamaji, Akira Suzuki
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Patent number: 9025977Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of continuous image formation on multiple pages includes an image bearer to bear an image, a latent image forming unit to form a latent image on the image bearer, a developing device to develop the latent image with toner, a temperature sensor to detect temperature inside the developing device or adjacent to the developing device, a controller to impose a limit on a quantity of pages in continuous image formation and cancel the limit according to a detection result generated by the temperature sensor, and a report unit to report time data indicating when the limit is imposed.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2014Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroyuki Sugiyama, Jun Yura, Masaki Sukesako, Hironobu Takeshita, Takuya Suganuma, Takeshi Uchitani, Hiroki Ishii
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Publication number: 20150104230Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an unfixed image onto a recording medium includes a fixing belt, a nip forming member, an opposing rotary member, a heater, and a temperature detector. The fixing belt is formed into a loop to move endlessly and fix the unfixed image on the recording medium. The nip forming member is disposed inside the loop formed by the fixing belt. The opposing rotary member contacts the nip forming member via the fixing belt to form a nip portion therebetween while rotating. The heater heats the fixing belt at a place other than the nip portion. The temperature detector detects a temperature of the surface of the fixing belt. The temperature detector detects the temperature near a place of the fixing belt that easily deforms as the fixing belt is heated by the heater.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2014Publication date: April 16, 2015Inventors: Takeshi UCHITANI, Masahiko Satoh, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Kenji Ishii, Tadashi Ogawa, Takahiro Imada, Hiromasa Takagi, Kazuya Saito, Naoki Iwaya, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Kensuke Yamaji, Teppei Kawata, Takamasa Hase, Takuya Seshita, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Arinobu Yoshiura, Hajime Gotoh, Akira Suzuki, Hiroshi Yoshinaga
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Patent number: 9008558Abstract: A separator includes a front edge disposed opposite an outer circumferential surface of an endless belt. The front edge contacts and separates a recording medium from the endless belt. A separation plate mounts the front edge. A contact plate projects from the separation plate in an axial direction of the endless belt and contacts a belt holder that supports the endless belt. A bracket projects from the separation plate in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the contact plate projects from the separation plate. The bracket includes a notch that engages the belt holder. The contact plate contacting the belt holder and the notch of the bracket engaging the belt holder produce an interval between the front edge of the separator and the outer circumferential surface of the endless belt.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2012Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuya Saito, Masahiko Satoh, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Kenji Ishii, Tadashi Ogawa, Hiromasa Takagi, Takahiro Imada, Naoki Iwaya, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Kensuke Yamaji, Teppei Kawata, Takamasa Hase, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Takuya Seshita, Takeshi Uchitani, Arinobu Yoshiura, Hajime Gotoh, Akira Suzuki, Hiroshi Yoshinaga
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Publication number: 20150086244Abstract: A toner container and an image forming apparatus are disclosed. The toner container includes a guiding member formed at a part surrounding a toner outlet to be protruded from a circumferential surface of the toner container for guiding an opening or closing operation of a shutter member in a circumferential direction of the toner container. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus main body. The image forming apparatus main body includes a main body side shutter for opening or closing a toner supplying opening to be connected to the toner outlet. When the shutter member is opened, an end surface of the guiding member pushes the main body side shutter together with the opening operation of the shutter member, and the toner supplying opening is opened and is connected to the toner outlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2014Publication date: March 26, 2015Inventors: Ichiro KADOTA, Kunihiro OHYAMA, Masayuki YAMANE, Takeshi UCHITANI, Nobuyuki TAGUCHI, Satoru YOSHIDA, Takuya SESHITA
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Patent number: 8989643Abstract: The fixing device includes a nip formation assembly partially pressing against an opposed rotary body via an endless belt to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the opposed rotary body. The nip formation assembly includes a base pad defining the fixing nip and including a pressure portion, an extension portion, and a curved portion. The pressure portion presses against the opposed rotary body via the endless belt. The extension portion is contiguous to and disposed upstream from the pressure portion in a recording medium conveyance direction. The extension portion does not press against the opposed rotary body via the endless belt. The curved portion is disposed upstream from the extension portion in the recording medium conveyance direction and smoothly blends into the extension portion. The curved portion does not press against the opposed rotary body.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2012Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hajime Gotoh, Masahiko Satoh, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Kenji Ishii, Tadashi Ogawa, Takahiro Imada, Hiromasa Takagi, Kazuya Saito, Naoki Iwaya, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Kensuke Yamaji, Teppei Kawata, Takamasa Hase, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Takuya Seshita, Takeshi Uchitani, Arinobu Yoshiura, Akira Suzuki, Hiroshi Yoshinaga
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Publication number: 20150063884Abstract: A fixing device that fixes an image on a recording medium includes a rotatable endless belt, deployed in a loop supported by rollers, a nip forming member provided inside the loop formed by the belt, a support member that supports the nip forming member, a counter rotation body disposed outside the loop formed by the belt and configured to form a nip with the belt by being in contact with the nip forming member through the belt, and a heat source configured to heat the belt directly by a radiant heat except at the nip. The support member includes a base portion that contacts the nip forming member and two arms extending from the base portion in a direction away from the nip forming member to partially surround a part of heat generating portion of the heat source.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2014Publication date: March 5, 2015Inventors: Naoki IWAYA, Masahiko Satoh, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Kenji ISHII, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Tadashi Ogawa, Takeshi Uchitani, Hiromasa Takagi, Takuya Seshita, Takahiro Imada, Takamasa Hase, Hajime Gotoh, Arinobu Yoshiura, Teppei Kawata, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Kazuya Saito, Kensuke Yamaji, Akira Suzuki
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Fixing device, image forming apparatus incorporating same, and method for heating fixing rotary body
Patent number: 8971782Abstract: A fixing device includes an induction heater constructed of an exciting coil, a first pair of degaussing coils, and a second pair of degaussing coils. A controller turns off the exciting coil while the controller turns on one of the first pair of degaussing coils and the second pair of degaussing coils and at the same time turns off the other one of the first pair of degaussing coils and the second pair of degaussing coils, and then turns on the exciting coil for an extra time period corresponding to reserved power not supplied to the exciting coil while the exciting coil is turned off.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2011Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuya Saito, Masanao Ehara, Tadashi Ogawa, Takeshi Uchitani, Satoshi Ueno, Teppei Kawata, Takamasa Hase, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Kensuke Yamaji -
Patent number: 8971779Abstract: A fixing device includes a support supporting a nip formation assembly that presses against an opposed rotary body via an endless belt to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the opposed rotary body. The support includes a base contacting the nip formation assembly. An upstream projection projects from the base in a pressurization direction of the opposed rotary body at a position on the base corresponding to or upstream from an upstream edge of the fixing nip in a recording medium conveyance direction. A downstream projection projects from the base in the pressurization direction of the opposed rotary body at a position on the base corresponding to or downstream from a downstream edge of the fixing nip in the recording medium conveyance direction. The downstream projection is spaced apart from the upstream projection in the recording medium conveyance direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2012Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Masahiko Satoh, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Kenji Ishii, Tadashi Ogawa, Takahiro Imada, Hiromasa Takagi, Kazuya Saito, Naoki Iwaya, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Kensuke Yamaji, Teppei Kawata, Takamasa Hase, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Takuya Seshita, Takeshi Uchitani, Arinobu Yoshiura, Hajime Gotoh, Akira Suzuki