Patents by Inventor Tetsuo Tokuda
Tetsuo Tokuda 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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Publication number: 20240116274Abstract: An inorganic substrate/polymer film laminate with an attached protective film that allows for easy individual removal even when stored in a stacked state for a long period of time is provided. A first laminate is characterized by including an inorganic substrate, a polymer film layer and a first protective film, in that order, wherein the surface roughness Ra of the surface of the inorganic substrate opposite of the polymer film layer is 0.02-1.2 ?m.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2022Publication date: April 11, 2024Applicant: TOYOBO CO., LTD.Inventors: Kaya TOKUDA, Satoshi MAEDA, Tetsuo OKUYAMA, Naoki WATANABE
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Publication number: 20240075718Abstract: The invention provides a laminate having a protective film release auxiliary tape and comprising a rigid temporary support body (inorganic substrate) and a polymer film provided with a protective film. The laminate is configured such that the protective film can be peeled from the polymer film without separating the polymer film from the temporary support body. The laminate comprises an inorganic substrate, a heat-resistant polymer film, a protective film, and a protective film release auxiliary tape in this order. The adhesion strength F1 according to a 90 degree peeling method between the inorganic substrate and the heat-resistant polymer film, the adhesion strength F2 according to a 90 degree peeling method between the heat-resistant polymer film and the protective film, and the adhesion strength F3 according to a 90 degree peeling method between the protective film and the protective film release auxiliary tape satisfy the relationship F3>F1>F2.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2022Publication date: March 7, 2024Applicant: TOYOBO CO., LTD.Inventors: Kaya TOKUDA, Satoshi MAEDA, Tetsuo OKUYAMA, Harumi YONEMUSHI, Denichirou MIZUGUCHI
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Patent number: 11809107Abstract: A fixing device includes a heater, a fixing rotator, a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, a contact rotator, and circuitry. The fixing rotator has an outer circumferential surface having a first area and a second area. The first area contacts both a first sheet and a second sheet having a width narrower than the width of the first sheet. The second area contacts the first sheet but does not contact the second sheet. The first temperature sensor detects a first temperature of the first area. The second temperature sensor detects a second temperature of the second area. The contact rotator contacts both the first area and the second area and rotates at the one of at least two relative velocities with respect to the fixing rotator. The circuitry sets one of the at least two relative velocities based on the first temperature and the second temperature.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2022Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Tetsuo Tokuda, Akiyasu Amita, Fumihiro Hirose, Daisuke Arai
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Publication number: 20230136994Abstract: A fixing device includes a heater, a fixing rotator, a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, a contact rotator, and circuitry. The fixing rotator has an outer circumferential surface having a first area and a second area. The first area contacts both a first sheet and a second sheet having a width narrower than the width of the first sheet. The second area contacts the first sheet but does not contact the second sheet. The first temperature sensor detects a first temperature of the first area. The second temperature sensor detects a second temperature of the second area. The contact rotator contacts both the first area and the second area and rotates at the one of at least two relative velocities with respect to the fixing rotator. The circuitry sets one of the at least two relative velocities based on the first temperature and the second temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2022Publication date: May 4, 2023Inventors: Tetsuo TOKUDA, Akiyasu AMITA, Fumihiro HIROSE, Daisuke ARAI
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Patent number: 11550246Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device and circuitry. The fixing device includes a fixing rotator, an electromagnetic induction heater configured to heat the fixing rotator, and a magnetic flux control member. The circuitry is configured to control the electromagnetic induction heater to lead a temperature of the fixing rotator to a target temperature and change an upper limit of power supplied to the electromagnetic induction heater based on the target temperature.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2021Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Akiyasu Amita, Tetsuo Tokuda, Masateru Ujiie, Fumihiro Hirose, Daisuke Arai
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Publication number: 20220082968Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device and circuitry. The fixing device includes a fixing rotator, an electromagnetic induction heater configured to heat the fixing rotator, and a magnetic flux control member. The circuitry is configured to control the electromagnetic induction heater to lead a temperature of the fixing rotator to a target temperature and change an upper limit of power supplied to the electromagnetic induction heater based on the target temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2021Publication date: March 17, 2022Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Akiyasu AMITA, Tetsuo TOKUDA, Masateru UJIIE, Fumihiro HIROSE, Daisuke ARAI
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Patent number: 11150583Abstract: A belt device includes an endless belt, a plurality of support rotators configured to support the endless belt, and a support configured to support shaft portions of the plurality of support rotators. The support has an attaching and detaching path through which the shaft portions of the plurality of support rotators pass in a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of at least one of the plurality of support rotators when the shaft portions of the plurality of support rotators are detached from the support.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2020Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Fumihiro Hirose, Masateru Ujiie, Akiyasu Amita, Tetsuo Tokuda
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Publication number: 20210096488Abstract: A belt device includes an endless belt, a plurality of support rotators configured to support the endless belt, and a support configured to support shaft portions of the plurality of support rotators. The support has an attaching and detaching path through which the shaft portions of the plurality of support rotators pass in a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of at least one of the plurality of support rotators when the shaft portions of the plurality of support rotators are detached from the support.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2020Publication date: April 1, 2021Inventors: Fumihiro HIROSE, Masateru UJIIE, Akiyasu AMITA, Tetsuo TOKUDA
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Patent number: 10401766Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing rotator rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation, over which a recording medium is conveyed, and a heater to heat the fixing rotator. A temperature detector detects a temperature of the fixing rotator. A controller performs a primary productivity control to define a primary productivity rate of printing per unit time based on the temperature of the fixing rotator that is detected by the temperature detector. The controller calculates an amount of power suppliable to the heater and performs a secondary productivity control simultaneously with and separately from the primary productivity control. The secondary productivity control defines a secondary productivity rate of printing per unit time based on the amount of power suppliable to the heater. The controller selects one of the primary productivity rate and the secondary productivity rate whichever is lower as a productivity rate of the image forming apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2016Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Ryohhei Sugiyama, Hiroshi Ono, Hironori Yamaoka, Motoyoshi Yamano, Yoshikuni Sasaki, Tetsuo Tokuda
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Patent number: 10191423Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing belt stretched across a first roller and a second roller including an elastic layer. A pressure rotator presses against the second roller via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the pressure rotator and the fixing belt. A recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed through the fixing nip. A clearance detector detects a clearance between the first roller and the second roller. A mover moves the pressure rotator with respect to the second roller in a pressing direction in which the pressure rotator presses against the second roller via the fixing belt and a separation direction in which the pressure rotator separates from the second roller. A controller controls an amount of movement of the pressure rotator moved by the mover toward the second roller based on the clearance detected by the clearance detector.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2017Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Ryohhei Sugiyama, Hironori Yamaoka, Takashi Sakamaki, Tetsuo Tokuda, Akiyasu Amita, Shinichi Namekata, Yohhei Watanabe, Fumihiro Hirose, Teppei Kawata, Masateru Ujiie
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Patent number: 10001735Abstract: A fixing device may include an endless fixing member; a heater inside the fixing member; and a nip forming unit configured to form a nip through which a recording sheet is conveyed, the nip forming unit including a supporting member and a contact member supported by the supporting member, the supporting member including at least one contact surface and the contact member including a plurality of protrusions protruding towards the supporting member such that two or more of the plurality of protrusions are configured to contact one of the at least one contact surface of the supporting member, each of the plurality of protrusions having a height associated there with such that the height of the plurality of protrusions increases in a direction from ends of the contact member towards a center of the contact member.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2016Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignee: 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: 20180088502Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing belt stretched across a first roller and a second roller including an elastic layer. A pressure rotator presses against the second roller via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the pressure rotator and the fixing belt. A recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed through the fixing nip. A clearance detector detects a clearance between the first roller and the second roller. A mover moves the pressure rotator with respect to the second roller in a pressing direction in which the pressure rotator presses against the second roller via the fixing belt and a separation direction in which the pressure rotator separates from the second roller. A controller controls an amount of movement of the pressure rotator moved by the mover toward the second roller based on the clearance detected by the clearance detector.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2017Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventors: Ryohhei SUGIYAMA, Hironori YAMAOKA, Takashi SAKAMAKI, Tetsuo TOKUDA, Akiyasu AMITA, Shinichi NAMEKATA, Yohhei WATANABE, Fumihiro HIROSE, Teppei KAWATA, Masateru UJIIE
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Patent number: 9817345Abstract: A fixing device includes a heater, a fixing rotator, a pressure rotator to press against the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator, through which a recording medium is conveyed, a moving device to move the pressure rotator in directions in which the pressure rotator comes into contact with and separates from the fixing rotator, a thermal expansion amount predictor to predict an amount of thermal expansion of the fixing rotator while the recording medium is conveyed, and a nip width adjuster to control a moving distance of the pressure rotator moved by the moving device toward the fixing rotator, depending on the amount of thermal expansion of the fixing rotator predicted by the thermal expansion amount predictor, so as to adjust a width of the fixing nip to maintain a substantially constant width of the fixing nip.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2016Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Motoyoshi Yamano, Tetsuo Tokuda, Yoshikuni Sasaki, Hiroshi Ono, Hironori Yamaoka, Ryohhei Sugiyama, Kohichi Utsunomiya, Arinobu Yoshiura, Hideo Nagafuji
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Patent number: 9715201Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a pressure rotator to press against the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A rotation load applicator is coupled to one of the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator to apply a rotation load to the one of the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator. The rotation load is in a range of from 0.1 Nm to 0.6 Nm.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2016Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Takamasa Hase, Takashi Fujita, Seiji Saitoh, Kenji Ishii, Akiyasu Amita, Kenichi Hasegawa, Takashi Seto, Tetsuo Tokuda, Hiroshi Seo, Hironori Yamaoka
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Patent number: 9696672Abstract: A drive transmission unit transmits driving force to a driven unit including a driven rotator coupled to the drive transmission unit via a unit coupler. The drive transmission unit includes a driving source, a drive transmission member to transmit driving force from the driving source to the driven rotator by engaging the driven rotator, and a basal plate with a turning shaft portion at one end thereof. The basal plate supports the driving source and the drive transmission member thereon. The drive transmission unit is turned around the turning shaft portion together with the driven unit in a direction substantially orthogonal to a direction of a driving reaction force applied to the drive transmission member when the driven rotator receives the driving force from the drive transmission member.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2016Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Hiroshi Ono, Tetsuo Tokuda, Yoshikuni Sasaki, Hironori Yamaoka, Ryohhei Sugiyama, Yamano Motoyoshi
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Publication number: 20170146933Abstract: A fixing device includes a heater, a fixing rotator, a pressure rotator to press against the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator, through which a recording medium is conveyed, a moving device to move the pressure rotator in directions in which the pressure rotator comes into contact with and separates from the fixing rotator, a thermal expansion amount predictor to predict an amount of thermal expansion of the fixing rotator while the recording medium is conveyed, and a nip width adjuster to control a moving distance of the pressure rotator moved by the moving device toward the fixing rotator, depending on the amount of thermal expansion of the fixing rotator predicted by the thermal expansion amount predictor, so as to adjust a width of the fixing nip to maintain a substantially constant width of the fixing nip.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2016Publication date: May 25, 2017Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Motoyoshi YAMANO, Tetsuo TOKUDA, Yoshikuni SASAKI, Hiroshi ONO, Hironori YAMAOKA, Ryohhei SUGIYAMA, Kohichi UTSUNOMIYA, Arinobu YOSHIURA, Hideo NAGAFUJI
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Publication number: 20170131666Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing rotator rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation, over which a recording medium is conveyed, and a heater to heat the fixing rotator. A temperature detector detects a temperature of the fixing rotator. A controller performs a primary productivity control to define a primary productivity rate of printing per unit time based on the temperature of the fixing rotator that is detected by the temperature detector. The controller calculates an amount of power suppliable to the heater and performs a secondary productivity control simultaneously with and separately from the primary productivity control. The secondary productivity control defines a secondary productivity rate of printing per unit time based on the amount of power suppliable to the heater. The controller selects one of the primary conductivity rate and the secondary productivity rate whichever is lower as a productivity rate of the image forming apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2016Publication date: May 11, 2017Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Ryohhei SUGIYAMA, Hiroshi ONO, Hironori YAMAOKA, Motoyoshi YAMANO, Yoshikuni SASAKI, Tetsuo TOKUDA
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Publication number: 20170102652Abstract: 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: December 20, 2016Publication date: April 13, 2017Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: 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: 9557692Abstract: A fixing device may include 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: September 11, 2015Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: 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: 20170003633Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a pressure rotator to press against the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A rotation load applicator is coupled to one of the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator to apply a rotation load to the one of the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator. The rotation load is in a range of from 0.1 Nm to 0.6 Nm.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2016Publication date: January 5, 2017Inventors: Takamasa HASE, Takashi Fujita, Seiji Saitoh, Kenji Ishii, Akiyasu Amita, Kenichi Hasegawa, Takashi Seto, Tetsuo Tokuda, Hiroshi Seo, Hironori Yamaoka