Patents by Inventor Tomohiko Fujii
Tomohiko Fujii 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: 9817347Abstract: A fixing device includes a drive roller, a driven roller driven to rotate by the drive roller, and a braking force applicator. The driven roller presses against the drive roller to form an area of contact between the drive roller and the driven roller, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes. The braking force applicator applies a braking force to the driven roller to generate a shear force between the drive roller and the driven roller. The shear force acting between the drive roller and the driven roller when the drive roller and the driven roller rotate is in a range of from 15N to 25N.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2016Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Tomohiko Fujii, Masahiro Samei, Tamotsu Ikeda, Yoshihiro Fukuhata, Minoru Toyoda, Yoshiharu Takahashi, Daisuke Inoue
-
Patent number: 9791813Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt formed into a loop rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a pressure roller disposed opposite the fixing belt. The pressure roller includes a shaft fixedly positioned and a deformable elastic layer. A fixing pad is disposed inside the loop formed by the fixing belt and separably pressed against the pressure roller via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the pressure roller, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A biasing member biases the fixing pad and the fixing belt against the pressure roller. A stopper restricts motion of the fixing pad biased by the biasing member. The stopper contacts the fixing pad while the recording medium bearing the toner image is conveyed through the fixing nip.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2016Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukuhata, Yuusuke Furuichi, Tomohiko Fujii
-
Patent number: 9740147Abstract: A separator for separating a recording medium from a fixing rotator includes a separation body including a front end and a conveyance path side face. The front end is disposed in proximity to an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator. The conveyance path side face faces a conveyance path where the recording medium is conveyed. At least one rotary separation aid projects beyond the conveyance path side face of the separation body toward the conveyance path. The rotary separation aid is rotated by the recording medium as the recording medium comes into contact with the rotary separation aid.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2016Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hitoshi Fujiwara, Tomoya Adachi, Tomohiko Fujii, Masahiro Samei, Yutaka Naitoh, Yoshiharu Takahashi, Yasuharu Kawarasaki, Kenta Kashiwagi, Kohta Sakaya
-
Patent number: 9720361Abstract: A belt device includes an endless belt and a rotary driver contacting an outer circumferential surface of the belt to drive and rotate the belt. An opposed belt support is disposed opposite the rotary driver and in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the belt. A rotary belt support is disposed opposite the rotary driver via the opposed belt support and in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the belt. A belt support holder holds the opposed belt support and the rotary belt support to retain a predetermined interval between the opposed belt support and the rotary belt support. A biasing assembly presses against the belt support holder to move the opposed belt support and the rotary belt support collectively with respect to the rotary driver and bias the opposed belt support against the rotary driver.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yuusuke Furuichi, Yoshihiro Fukuhata, Tomohiko Fujii
-
Patent number: 9690242Abstract: A fixing device includes a first rotary body, a second rotary body to contact the first rotary body, and a plain bearing that supports the first rotary body or the second rotary body. One rotary body of the first rotary body and the second rotary body has an outer diameter increasing, while the other rotary body has an outer diameter decreasing, in a curved line from an axial center portion to axial end portions of the first rotary body and the second rotary body at least between the first rotary body and the second rotary body. A recording medium passes between the first rotary body and the second rotary body with a circumferential component of a shear force generated between the first rotary body and the second rotary body by use of the plain bearing being in a range of from 15N to 25N.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2016Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Masahiro Samei, Tomohiko Fujii, Yoshihiro Fukuhata, Tamotsu Ikeda, Minoru Toyoda, Yoshiharu Takahashi, Daisuke Inoue
-
Publication number: 20170108807Abstract: A belt device includes an endless belt and a rotary driver contacting an outer circumferential surface of the belt to drive and rotate the belt. An opposed belt support is disposed opposite the rotary driver and in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the belt. A rotary belt support is disposed opposite the rotary driver via the opposed belt support and in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the belt. A belt support holder holds the opposed belt support and the rotary belt support to retain a predetermined interval between the opposed belt support and the rotary belt support. A biasing assembly presses against the belt support holder to move the opposed belt support and the rotary belt support collectively with respect to the rotary driver and bias the opposed belt support against the rotary driver.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2016Publication date: April 20, 2017Inventors: YUUSUKE FURUICHI, YOSHIHIRO FUKUHATA, TOMOHIKO FUJII
-
Publication number: 20170097599Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt formed into a loop rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a pressure roller disposed opposite the fixing belt. The pressure roller includes a shaft fixedly positioned and a deformable elastic layer. A fixing pad is disposed inside the loop formed by the fixing belt and separably pressed against the pressure roller via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the pressure roller, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A biasing member biases the fixing pad and the fixing belt against the pressure roller. A stopper restricts motion of the fixing pad biased by the biasing member. The stopper contacts the fixing pad while the recording medium bearing the toner image is conveyed through the fixing nip.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2016Publication date: April 6, 2017Inventors: Yoshihiro FUKUHATA, Yuusuke FURUICHI, Tomohiko FUJII
-
Publication number: 20170045850Abstract: A fixing device includes a drive roller, a driven roller driven to rotate by the drive roller, and a braking force applicator. The driven roller presses against the drive roller to form an area of contact between the drive roller and the driven roller, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes. The braking force applicator applies a braking force to the driven roller to generate a shear force between the drive roller and the driven roller. The shear force acting between the drive roller and the driven roller when the drive roller and the driven roller rotate is in a range of from 15N to 25N.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2016Publication date: February 16, 2017Inventors: Tomohiko FUJII, Masahiro Samei, Tamotsu Ikeda, Yoshihiro Fukuhata, Minoru Toyoda, Yoshiharu Takahashi, Daisuke Inoue
-
Patent number: 9568869Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt formed into a loop rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a pressure roller disposed opposite the fixing belt. The pressure roller includes a shaft fixedly positioned and a deformable elastic layer. A fixing pad is disposed inside the loop formed by the fixing belt and separably pressed against the pressure roller via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the pressure roller, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A biasing member biases the fixing pad and the fixing belt against the pressure roller. A stopper restricts motion of the fixing pad biased by the biasing member. The stopper contacts the fixing pad while the recording medium bearing the toner image is conveyed through the fixing nip.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2015Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukuhata, Yuusuke Furuichi, Tomohiko Fujii
-
Patent number: 9568865Abstract: A belt device includes an endless belt and a rotary driver contacting an outer circumferential surface of the belt to drive and rotate the belt. An opposed belt support is disposed opposite the rotary driver and in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the belt. A rotary belt support is disposed opposite the rotary driver via the opposed belt support and in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the belt. A belt support holder holds the opposed belt support and the rotary belt support to retain a predetermined interval between the opposed belt support and the rotary belt support. A biasing assembly presses against the belt support holder to move the opposed belt support and the rotary belt support collectively with respect to the rotary driver and bias the opposed belt support against the rotary driver.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2015Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yuusuke Furuichi, Yoshihiro Fukuhata, Tomohiko Fujii
-
Publication number: 20170003634Abstract: A fixing device includes a first rotary body, a second rotary body to contact the first rotary body, and a plain bearing that supports the first rotary body or the second rotary body. One rotary body of the first rotary body and the second rotary body has an outer diameter increasing, while the other rotary body has an outer diameter decreasing, in a curved line from an axial center portion to axial end portions of the first rotary body and the second rotary body at least between the first rotary body and the second rotary body. A recording medium passes between the first rotary body and the second rotary body with a circumferential component of a shear force generated between the first rotary body and the second rotary body by use of the plain bearing being in a range of from 15N to 25N.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2016Publication date: January 5, 2017Inventors: Masahiro SAMEI, Tomohiko FUJII, Yoshihiro FUKUHATA, Tamotsu IKEDA, Minoru TOYODA, Yoshiharu TAKAHASHI, Daisuke INOUE
-
Publication number: 20160378028Abstract: A separator for separating a recording medium from a fixing rotator includes a separation body including a front end and a conveyance path side face. The front end is disposed in proximity to an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator. The conveyance path side face faces a conveyance path where the recording medium is conveyed. At least one rotary separation aid projects beyond the conveyance path side face of the separation body toward the conveyance path. The rotary separation aid is rotated by the recording medium as the recording medium comes into contact with the rotary separation aid.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2016Publication date: December 29, 2016Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hitoshi Fujiwara, Tomoya Adachi, Tomohiko Fujii, Masahiro Samei, Yutaka Naitoh, Yoshiharu Takahashi, Yasuharu Kawarasaki, Kenta Kashiwagi, Kohta Sakaya
-
Patent number: 9429891Abstract: A fixing device includes a heat conductor disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of an endless belt to heat the endless belt. A nip formation pad is disposed opposite the inner circumferential surface of the endless belt and presses the endless belt against a pressing rotary body to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the pressing rotary body through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A support is disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the heat conductor and contacts an abutment face of the nip formation pad to support the nip formation pad against pressure from the pressing rotary body. A heat insulator is interposed between the heater and the nip formation pad and the support to shield the nip formation pad and the support from the heater.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2015Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Shigeo Nanno, Yutaka Naitoh, Minoru Toyoda, Tomohiko Fujii, Hitoshi Fujiwara
-
Patent number: 9395660Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device to form a cleaning toner image in a cleaning region on a cleaning sheet and a check toner image in a check region on the cleaning sheet. The image forming apparatus further includes a fixing device including a first rotator and a heater to heat the first rotator to a cleaning temperature that is lower than a fixing temperature to which the first rotator is heated in a print job and higher than a cold offset temperature at which toner adheres to the first rotator by cold offset. Each of the cleaning region and the check region has a length greater than a circumferential length of the first rotator. The cleaning region and the check region are disposed at a leading section and a trailing section of the cleaning sheet in a cleaning sheet conveyance direction, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2015Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Tomohiko Fujii, Masahiro Samei, Yoshiharu Takahashi, Daisuke Inoue, Yoshihiro Fukuhata, Minoru Toyoda
-
Publication number: 20160187822Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt formed into a loop rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a pressure roller disposed opposite the fixing belt. The pressure roller includes a shaft fixedly positioned and a deformable elastic layer. A fixing pad is disposed inside the loop formed by the fixing belt and separably pressed against the pressure roller via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the pressure roller, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A biasing member biases the fixing pad and the fixing belt against the pressure roller. A stopper restricts motion of the fixing pad biased by the biasing member. The stopper contacts the fixing pad while the recording medium bearing the toner image is conveyed through the fixing nip.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2015Publication date: June 30, 2016Inventors: Yoshihiro FUKUHATA, Yuusuke FURUICHI, Tomohiko FUJII
-
Patent number: 9342044Abstract: A fixing unit includes an endless belt accommodating a heat source inside a loop formed by the endless belt, a rotary pressing member rotating in contact with the endless belt in a pressure contact section, and a heat transfer member secured to a side plate within the loop of the endless belt to support and heat the endless belt with heat conducted from the heat source. The heat transfer member has an opening opposite the rotary pressing member. A securing member is disposed in the opening of the heat transfer member in pressure contact with the rotary pressing member via the endless belt. The heat transfer member and the securing member collectively include a pair of latching parts to firmly connect the heat transfer member and the securing member with each other when one of the latching parts is fitted to the other one of the latching parts.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2013Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Yutaka Naitoh, Tomohiko Fujii, Minoru Toyoda, Hitoshi Fujiwara, Tomoya Adachi, Yasuharu Kawarasaki, Tetsu Morino, Isamu Kubo, Yoshiharu Takahashi
-
Publication number: 20160098000Abstract: A belt device includes an endless belt and a rotary driver contacting an outer circumferential surface of the belt to drive and rotate the belt. An opposed belt support is disposed opposite the rotary driver and in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the belt. A rotary belt support is disposed opposite the rotary driver via the opposed belt support and in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the belt. A belt support holder holds the opposed belt support and the rotary belt support to retain a predetermined interval between the opposed belt support and the rotary belt support. A biasing assembly presses against the belt support holder to move the opposed belt support and the rotary belt support collectively with respect to the rotary driver and bias the opposed belt support against the rotary driver.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2015Publication date: April 7, 2016Inventors: Yuusuke FURUICHI, Yoshihiro FUKUHATA, Tomohiko FUJII
-
Publication number: 20160041511Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device to form a cleaning toner image in a cleaning region on a cleaning sheet and a check toner image in a check region on the cleaning sheet. The image forming apparatus further includes a fixing device including a first rotator and a heater to heat the first rotator to a cleaning temperature that is lower than a fixing temperature to which the first rotator is heated in a print job and higher than a cold offset temperature at which toner adheres to the first rotator by cold offset. Each of the cleaning region and the check region has a length greater than a circumferential length of the first rotator. The cleaning region and the check region are disposed at a leading section and a trailing section of the cleaning sheet in a cleaning sheet conveyance direction, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2015Publication date: February 11, 2016Inventors: Tomohiko FUJII, Masahiro Samei, Yoshiharu Takahashi, Daisuke Inoue, Yoshihiro Fukuhata, Minoru Toyoda
-
Patent number: 9182709Abstract: A fixing device fixes a toner image on a recording medium transported to a fixing nip by applying pressure and heat to the recording medium. The fixing device includes an endless belt formed into a loop with both ends bonded together, the belt accommodating a heat source inside thereof, a pressing roller rotating in contact with the endless belt forming the fixing nip between the endless belt and the pressing roller, and a fixed member provided inside a loop of the endless belt to press the endless belt against a pressing roller. A reinforcing member is bonded to the fixed member inside the loop of the endless belt to reinforce the fixed member. A reflector is provided to reflect light emitted from the heat source toward the inner circumferential surface of the endless belt. The reflector is held on the reinforcing member by either plastically or elastically deforming by itself.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2013Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yutaka Naitoh, Shigeo Nanno, Tomohiko Fujii, Minoru Toyoda, Hitoshi Fujiwara, Tomoya Adachi, Yasuharu Kawarasaki, Tetsu Morino
-
Patent number: 9164435Abstract: A fixing device includes a nip formation pad disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of an endless belt and a pressing rotary body pressed against the nip formation pad via the endless belt to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the pressing rotary body, through which a recording medium is conveyed. The pressing rotary body has a diameter increasing from a center to each lateral end in an axial direction thereof. The nip formation pad includes a projection disposed downstream from a rotation axis of the pressing rotary body in a recording medium conveyance direction. The projection projects toward the pressing rotary body in an amount increasing from each lateral end to a center in a longitudinal direction of the nip formation pad parallel to the axial direction of the pressing rotary body.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2013Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Tomoya Adachi, Atsushi Takehara, Tomohiko Fujii, Yutaka Naitoh, Minoru Toyoda, Hitoshi Fujiwara, Yasuharu Kawarasaki, Naoki Nakatake, Keiji Kunimi, Takahiro Sanada, Yasuhide Matsuno, Rumi Miyazaki, Kyoko Abe, Takeshi Yamashita, Yasuhiro Fujiwara