Patents by Inventor Takuya Seshita
Takuya Seshita 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: 9341999Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing member, a heat source, a nip forming member, a pressing member, a recording medium conveyor, a first temperature detector to detect a temperature of a non-sheet-passing area of the fixing member through which a recording medium does not pass, a second temperature detector to detect a temperature of the recording medium, and a controller to adjust a time to drive the recording medium conveyer to control a time interval between successive recording media and a changing time to change the time interval, according to a temperature detected by the second temperature detector in response to a temperature rise in the non-sheet-passing area of the fixing member detected by the first temperature detector.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2015Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Takuya Seshita, Takeshi Yamamoto, Yasunori Ishigaya, Hajime Gotoh, Takahiro Imada, Akira Suzuki
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Patent number: 9342003Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable, endless first belt and a rotatable, endless second belt contacting an outer circumferential surface of the first belt. A first nip formation pad contacts an inner circumferential surface of the first belt to form a fixing nip between the first belt and the second belt, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A rotatable driver contacts an inner circumferential surface of the second belt to press against the first nip formation pad via the first belt and the second belt to frictionally drive and rotate the first belt and the second belt.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2015Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Akira Suzuki, Takuya Seshita, Takeshi Yamamoto, Takahiro Imada, Hajime Gotoh
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Publication number: 20160098003Abstract: A fixing device includes a heat source; a fixing member looped into a generally cylindrical shape to rotate in a circumferential direction thereof and partially heated by the heat source and to heat a surface of a recording medium bearing an unfixed toner image to fix the unfixed toner image thereon in a fixing process; a rotary pressing member disposed facing the fixing member to form a nip therebetween, through which the recording medium is transported in a transport direction; and a rotation driver to rotate one of the fixing member and the pressing member. In a case in which the fixing member is halted for a reason other than the fixing process while power of the fixing device is on, electric power is not supplied to the heat source and the fixing member is rotated by a predetermined amount or more after the fixing member is halted.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2015Publication date: April 7, 2016Inventors: Takeshi UCHITANI, Masahiko SATOH, Kenji ISHII, Tadashi OGAWA, Teppei KAWATA, Arinobu YOSHIURA, Toshihiko SHIMOKAWA, Kensuke YAMAJI, Takamasa HASE, Shuutaroh YUASA, Masaaki YOSHIKAWA, Hiromasa TAKAGI, Takahiro IMADA, Hajime GOTOH, Akira SUZUKI, Takuya SESHITA, Hiroshi YOSHINAGA, Kazuya SAITO, Shinichi NAMEKATA, Takayuki SEKI, Yuji ARAI, Ryuuichi MIMBU, Yoshiki YAMAGUCHI, Shuntaroh TAMAKI, Yutaka IKEBUCHI
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Patent number: 9291967Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 7, 2014Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: 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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Patent number: 9285724Abstract: 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: December 29, 2014Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Takamasa Hase, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Takeshi Uchitani, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Takuya Seshita, Shuutaroh Yuasa
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Publication number: 20160054691Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device. The fixing device includes a rotatable endless fixing member, a nip forming member arranged inside the fixing member, a pressing member in contact with the nip forming member via the fixing member, and a heating source configured to heat the fixing member. When an abnormality occurs in at least one of the fixing device and other devices included in the image forming apparatus, a rotation of the fixing member is stopped prior to stopping a rotation driving of a discharging unit and, after stopping, the fixing member is controlled to rotate.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2015Publication date: February 25, 2016Inventors: Takamasa HASE, Masahiko SATOH, Shinichi NAMEKATA, Kenji ISHll, Takeshi UCHITANI, Tadashi OGAWA, Teppei KAWATA, Arinobu YOSHIURA, Kazuya SAITO, Toshihiko SHIMOKAWA, Shuutaroh YUASA, Kensuke YAMAJI, Masaaki YOSHIKAWA, Hiroshi YOSHINAGA, Hiromasa TAKAGI, Naoki IWAYA, Takuya SESHITA, Takahiro IMADA, Hajime GOTOH, Akira SUZUKI
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Patent number: 9244411Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 28, 2013Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Takuya Seshita, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Takeshi Uchitani, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Takamasa Hase, Shuutaroh Yuasa
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Patent number: 9239553Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body and a heater disposed opposite the fixing rotary body. A heat shield is movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body and interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater. An overheating suppressor is interposed between the heater and the heat shield to shield the heat shield from the heater. The heat shield includes an intermediate portion spanning in the circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body and movable between a shield position where the intermediate portion is disposed opposite the heater directly and a retracted position where the intermediate portion is disposed opposite the heater via the overheating suppressor.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2015Date of Patent: January 19, 2016Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yuji Arai, Takayuki Seki, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Shuntaroh Tamaki, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Kazuya Saito, Kenji Ishii, Tadashi Ogawa, Teppei Kawata, Arinobu Yoshiura, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Kensuke Yamaji, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Hiromasa Takagi, Naoki Iwaya, Takahiro Imada, Hajime Gotoh, Akira Suzuki, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Ryuuichi Mimbu, Takuya Seshita, Takeshi Yamamoto, Shuutaroh Yuasa
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Patent number: 9239559Abstract: A fixing device includes a heat source; a fixing member looped into a generally cylindrical shape to rotate in a circumferential direction thereof and partially heated by the heat source and to heat a surface of a recording medium bearing an unfixed toner image to fix the unfixed toner image thereon in a fixing process; a rotary pressing member disposed facing the fixing member to form a nip therebetween, through which the recording medium is transported in a transport direction; and a rotation driver to rotate one of the fixing member and the pressing member. In a case in which the fixing member is halted for a reason other than the fixing process while power of the fixing device is on, electric power is not supplied to the heat source and the fixing member is rotated by a predetermined amount or more after the fixing member is halted.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2013Date of Patent: January 19, 2016Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Uchitani, Masahiko Satoh, Kenji Ishii, Tadashi Ogawa, Teppei Kawata, Arinobu Yoshiura, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Kensuke Yamaji, Takamasa Hase, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Hiromasa Takagi, Takahiro Imada, Hajime Gotoh, Akira Suzuki, Takuya Seshita, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Kazuya Saito, Shinichi Namekata, Takayuki Seki, Yuji Arai, Ryuuichi Mimbu, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Shuntaroh Tamaki, Yutaka Ikebuchi
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Patent number: 9235177Abstract: A fixing device comprises a rotatable fixing member to apply heat to a recording medium bearing an unfixed image thereon, a heat source to heat the fixing member, and a rotatable pressing member pressing against the fixing member forming a nip therebetween. A driving source rotates and drives the fixing member and the pressing member. An overheat safety device has a relay to open and close a power supply path connected to the heat source. A temperature detector is connected to both the relay and the control unit to detect temperature of the fixing member. The overheat safety device turns off the relay and cuts off power supply to the heat source when the fixing member is overheated. The fixing member is allowed to radiate heat and cool down when the temperature detected by the temperature detector is more than a prescribed level.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2012Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Takuya Seshita, Masahiko Satoh, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Kenji Ishii, Tadashi Ogawa, Takahiro Imada, Hiromasa Takagi, Kazuya Saito, Naoki Iwaya, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Kensuke Yamaji, Teppei Kawata, Takamasa Hase, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Takeshi Uchitani, Arinobu Yoshiura, Hajime Gotoh, Akira Suzuki, Ryota Yamashina, Yasunori Ishigaya
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Publication number: 20160004197Abstract: According to an embodiments, a fixing device includes: an endless fixing member; a heating unit that is provided inside an inner peripheral surface of the fixing member; and a nip forming unit that comes into press-contact with a rotationally driven pressing member with the fixing member interposed therebetween to form a nip. The nip forming unit has a shape in which a center of a contact surface protrudes toward the pressing member compared to both ends. The nip forming unit has a protruding amount at a center toward the pressing member compared to both ends of the nip forming unit in no-load state is set to be less than a bent amount of the nip forming unit when the nip forming unit comes into press-contact with the pressing member with the fixing member interposed therebetween.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2015Publication date: January 7, 2016Applicant: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventors: Takahiro IMADA, Masaaki YOSHIKAWA, Kenji ISHII, Hiroshi YOSHINAGA, Yuji ARAI, Naoki IWAYA, Tetsuo TOKUDA, Hiromasa TAKAGI, Yoshiki YAMAGUCHI, Ippei FUJIMOTO, Takuya SESHITA, Yutaka IKEBUCHI, Arinobu YOSHIURA, Toshihiko SHIMOKAWA, Hajime GOTOH
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Publication number: 20150378290Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a nip formation assembly disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt. An opposed rotary body is pressed against the nip formation assembly via the endless belt to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the opposed rotary body through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A belt holder contacts and supports each lateral end of the endless belt in an axial direction thereof. The belt holder is isolated from the opposed rotary body with a first interval interposed therebetween in the axial direction of the endless belt.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2015Publication date: December 31, 2015Inventors: Teppei KAWATA, Masahiko Satoh, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Kenji Ishii, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Tadashi Ogawa, Takahiro Imada, Hiromasa Takagi, Kazuya Saito, Naoki Iwaya, Kensuke Yamaji, Takamasa Hase, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Takuya Seshita, Takeshi Uchitani, Arinobu Yoshiura, Hajime Gotoh, Akira Suzuki
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Publication number: 20150355585Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless fixing belt rotatable in a given direction of rotation and a first nip formation pad contacting an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt. A first driver sandwiches the fixing belt together with the first nip formation pad to rotate to drive and rotate the fixing belt. An opposed rotator is pressed against the first nip formation pad via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the opposed rotator, through which a recording medium is conveyed. The opposed rotator is rotated frictionally by the fixing belt at the fixing nip.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2015Publication date: December 10, 2015Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Akira SUZUKI, Takuya SESHITA, Takeshi YAMAMOTO, Takahiro IMADA, Hajime GOTOH
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Patent number: 9207596Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device. The fixing device includes a rotatable endless fixing member, a nip forming member arranged inside the fixing member, a pressing member in contact with the nip forming member via the fixing member, and a heating source configured to heat the fixing member. When an abnormality occurs in at least one of the fixing device and other devices included in the image forming apparatus, a rotation of the fixing member is stopped prior to stopping a rotation driving of a discharging unit and, after stopping, the fixing member is controlled to rotate.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2014Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITEDInventors: Takamasa Hase, Masahiko Satoh, Shinichi Namekata, Kenji Ishii, Takeshi Uchitani, Tadashi Ogawa, Teppei Kawata, Arinobu Yoshiura, Kazuya Saito, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Kensuke Yamaji, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Hiromasa Takagi, Naoki Iwaya, Takuya Seshita, Takahiro Imada, Hajime Gotoh, Akira Suzuki
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Patent number: 9176424Abstract: A toner container for use with an image forming apparatus. The toner container comprises a toner storage section, a toner outlet at a circumferential surface of the toner container, and a shutter at the circumferential surface of the toner container. The toner container further comprises an electronic element, disposed at the same end of the toner container as the toner outlet to communicate with the image forming apparatus. The toner outlet and the electronic element are disposed along a line which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the toner storing section. Further, there is a projection on the circumferential surface of the toner container.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2014Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Ichiro Kadota, Kunihiro Ohyama, Masayuki Yamane, Takeshi Uchitani, Nobuyuki Taguchi, Satoru Yoshida, Takuya Seshita
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Patent number: 9170530Abstract: A powder container includes a cylindrical container body to contain a powder, having an opening in one end thereof, to convey the powder contained in the container body to the opening with rotation of the container body, and having a container-body projection provided on an outer circumferential surface of the container body; and a cylindrical holder, into which the end of the container body having the opening is inserted, to hold the container body rotatably, having a powder outlet through which the powder is discharged from the holder and a holder projection provided on an inner circumferential surface thereof. The container-body projection repetitively contacts and separates from the holder projection with rotation of the container body to vibrate the container body and the holder.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2011Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yuki Oshikawa, Yuuki Satoh, Takuya Seshita, Toshiki Hayashi, Masashi Nagayama, Hiroyuki Uenishi, Tomoji Ishikawa
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Patent number: 9164443Abstract: A fixing device includes a first heat generator and a second heat generator that heat a fixing rotator. A support is disposed inside the fixing rotator. A reflector is mounted on the support and interposed between the support and each of the first heat generator and the second heat generator to reflect light radiated from the first heat generator and the second heat generator toward the fixing rotator. The reflector includes a body mounted on the support and a shield portion projecting from the body toward the first heat generator and the second heat generator to shield the fixing rotator from the first heat generator and the second heat generator. The shield portion includes a wing disposed opposite a non-conveyance span of the fixing rotator in the axial direction thereof where a recording medium is not conveyed over the fixing rotator.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2014Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Toshihiko Shimokawa, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Takayuki Seki, Yuji Arai, Takeshi Yamamoto, Ryuuichi Mimbu, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Takuya Seshita, Shuntaro Tamaki, Hajime Gotoh, Takahiro Imada, Kazuya Saito, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Kensuke Yamaji, Akira Suzuki, Hiroshi Yoshinaga
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Patent number: 9158250Abstract: A fixing device includes: an endless fixing member; a heating unit that is provided inside an inner peripheral surface of the fixing member; and a nip forming unit that comes into press-contact with a rotationally driven pressing member with the fixing member interposed therebetween to form a nip. The nip forming unit has a shape in which a center of a contact surface protrudes toward the pressing member compared to both ends. The nip forming unit has a protruding amount at a center toward the pressing member compared to both ends of the nip forming unit in no-load state is set to be less than a bent amount of the nip forming unit when the nip forming unit comes into press-contact with the pressing member with the fixing member interposed therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2012Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventors: Takahiro Imada, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Kenji Ishii, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Yuji Arai, Naoki Iwaya, Tetsuo Tokuda, Hiromasa Takagi, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Ippei Fujimoto, Takuya Seshita, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Arinobu Yoshiura, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Hajime Gotoh
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Patent number: 9158248Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body and a heater disposed opposite and heating the fixing rotary body. A nip formation assembly presses against an opposed body via the fixing rotary body to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotary body and the opposed body, through which a recording medium is conveyed. A movable heat shield movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body is interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater in a variable axial span of the fixing rotary body. A stationary heat shield, interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater, is disposed outboard from a lateral edge of a heat generator of the heater in an axial direction of the fixing rotary body.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2014Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yuji Arai, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Takayuki Seki, Takeshi Yamamoto, Ryuuichi Mimbu, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Takuya Seshita, Shuntaro Tamaki, Hajime Gotoh, Takahiro Imada, Kazuya Saito, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Kensuke Yamaji, Akira Suzuki, Hiroshi Yoshinaga
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Patent number: 9152108Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a nip formation assembly disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt. An opposed rotary body is pressed against the nip formation assembly via the endless belt to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the opposed rotary body through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A belt holder contacts and supports each lateral end of the endless belt in an axial direction thereof. The belt holder is isolated from the opposed rotary body with a first interval interposed therebetween in the axial direction of the endless belt.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2014Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Teppei Kawata, Masahiko Satoh, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Kenji Ishii, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Tadashi Ogawa, Takahiro Imada, Hiromasa Takagi, Kazuya Saito, Naoki Iwaya, Kensuke Yamaji, Takamasa Hase, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Takuya Seshita, Takeshi Uchitani, Arinobu Yoshiura, Hajime Gotoh, Akira Suzuki