Patents by Inventor Toshiaki Higaya
Toshiaki Higaya 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: 8112023Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier to carry a toner image and a fixing device to fix the toner image transferred from the image carrier onto a recording medium by applying at least heat to at least one of the toner image and the recording medium. Such a fixing device includes: a magnetic flux generator to generate a magnetic flux; and a heat generating member disposed at least partially in the magnetic flux. The heat generating member includes a heat generating layer to generate heat via eddy currents therein induced by the magnetic flux, magnitudes of the eddy currents varying according to positions thereof in a width direction of the heat generating layer. Included within the heat generating layer is a magnetic layer having a Curie point in a range, e.g., from about 100 degrees centigrade to about 300 degrees centigrade.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2010Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Seo, Akiko Ito, Tadashi Ogawa, Toshiaki Higaya
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Publication number: 20110091253Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier to carry a toner image and a fixing device to fix the toner image transferred from the image carrier onto a recording medium by applying at least heat to at least one of the toner image and the recording medium. Such a fixing device includes: a magnetic flux generator to generate a magnetic flux; and a heat generating member disposed at least partially in the magnetic flux. The heat generating member includes a heat generating layer to generate heat via eddy currents therein induced by the magnetic flux, magnitudes of the eddy currents varying according to positions thereof in a width direction of the heat generating layer. Included within the heat generating layer is a magnetic layer having a Curie point in a range, e.g., from about 100 degrees centigrade to about 300 degrees centigrade.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2010Publication date: April 21, 2011Inventors: Hiroshi Seo, Akiko Ito, Tadashi Ogawa, Toshiaki Higaya
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Patent number: 7885590Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier to carry a toner image and a fixing device to fix the toner image transferred from the image carrier onto a recording medium by applying at least heat to at least one of the toner image and the recording medium. Such a fixing device includes: a magnetic flux generator to generate a magnetic flux; and a heat generating member disposed at least partially in the magnetic flux. The heat generating member includes a heat generating layer to generate heat via eddy currents therein induced by the magnetic flux, magnitudes of the eddy currents varying according to positions thereof in a width direction of the heat generating layer. Included within the heat generating layer is a magnetic layer having a Curie point in a range, e.g., from about 100 degrees centigrade to about 300 degrees centigrade.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2007Date of Patent: February 8, 2011Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Seo, Akiko Ito, Tadashi Ogawa, Toshiaki Higaya
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Patent number: 7817952Abstract: A fixer configured to fix an image on an recording medium passing through a fixing nip includes a holder including an elastic layer, a fixing rotator including a heating layer, provided overlying the holder, and a pressurizer configured to pressurize the holder via the fixing rotator to form the fixing nip. A part of the pressurizer, which forms the fixing nip, has a length not less than a length of the heating layer in a width direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the recording medium.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2007Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Seo, Akiko Ito, Tadashi Ogawa, Toshiaki Higaya
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Patent number: 7512371Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit for fixing a toner image on a recording sheet. In the fixing unit, a magnetic flux generator generates magnetic flux to induce heat in a fixing roller. The recording sheet having the toner image is inserted between the fixing roller and a pressure roller pressingly contacting the fixing roller. The fixing roller applies heat to the recording sheet. The pressure roller applies pressure to the recording sheet. The heat and pressure fix the toner image on the recording sheet. The magnetic flux generator is disposed to face outer and inner circumferential surfaces of the fixing roller. The magnetic flux generator is formed in a U-like or loop-like shape, and the fixing roller is placed in a gap or a loop of the magnetic flux generator. The magnetic flux generator may include a single wire.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2005Date of Patent: March 31, 2009Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Toshiaki Higaya
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Publication number: 20070280754Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing sleeve, a cylindrical fixing roller, and a pressure roller. The fixing sleeve includes a heating layer that generates heat to fuse and fix toner. The fixing roller has a surface covered with the fixing sleeve. The pressure roller presses the fixing roller via the fixing sleeve to form a nip portion. The fixing sleeve is freely rotatable with respect to the fixing roller, and is slid for rotation.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2007Publication date: December 6, 2007Inventors: Tadashi Ogawa, Toshiaki Higaya, Hiroshi Seo, Akiko Ito
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Publication number: 20070242988Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier to carry a toner image and a fixing device to fix the toner image transferred from the image carrier onto a recording medium by applying at least heat to at least one of the toner image and the recording medium. Such a fixing device includes: a magnetic flux generator to generate a magnetic flux; and a heat generating member disposed at least partially in the magnetic flux. The heat generating member includes a heat generating layer to generate heat via eddy currents therein induced by the magnetic flux, magnitudes of the eddy currents varying according to positions thereof in a width direction of the heat generating layer. Included within the heat generating layer is a magnetic layer having a Curie point in a range, e.g., from about 100 degrees centigrade to about 300 degrees centigrade.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2007Publication date: October 18, 2007Inventors: Hiroshi Seo, Akiko Ito, Tadashi Ogawa, Toshiaki Higaya
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Publication number: 20070212089Abstract: A fixer configured to fix an image on an recording medium passing through a fixing nip includes a holder including an elastic layer, a fixing rotator including a heating layer, provided overlying the holder, and a pressurizer configured to pressurize the holder via the fixing rotator to form the fixing nip. A part of the pressurizer, which forms the fixing nip, has a length not less than a length of the heating layer in a width direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the recording medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2007Publication date: September 13, 2007Inventors: Hiroshi Seo, Akiko Ito, Tadashi Ogawa, Toshiaki Higaya
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Patent number: 7150954Abstract: An image forming method, comprising passing a toner image-bearing sheet through a nip defined between two rollers including a heater roller to fix the toner image on the sheet, wherein the toner image is formed from a toner comprising a binder resin, and a colorant, wherein the toner image before the passage through the nip has a toner volume V1 and a toner image area S1, wherein the toner image after the passage through the nip has a toner volume V2 and a toner image area S2, and wherein a volume change Vt and an area change St defined by the formulas shown below are 30% or less and 20% or less, respectively: Vt(%)=(V1?V2)/V1×100 St(%)=(S2?S1)/S1×100. Alternatively, the toner image before the passage through the nip has a surface roughness of 2.5 ?m or less.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2004Date of Patent: December 19, 2006Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Mitsuo Aoki, Kumi Hasegawa, Toshiaki Higaya, Yasushi Koichi, Yutaka Takahashi, Tadashi Kasai
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Patent number: 7135660Abstract: An induction heating type fixing device for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is disclosed. An inducting heating coil has a plurality of bobbins each having a particular diameter and assembled in a telescopic manner. A particular conductor is wound round each bobbin beforehand with leads being laid inside of the conductor. The bobbin may be implemented as a plurality of bobbin members removably connected together.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2005Date of Patent: November 14, 2006Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Akiko Miyahara, Toshiaki Higaya, Masae Sugawara, Tomotaka Takamura
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Publication number: 20060056889Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit for fixing a toner image on a recording sheet. In the fixing unit, a magnetic flux generator generates magnetic flux to induce heat in a fixing roller. The recording sheet having the toner image is inserted between the fixing roller and a pressure roller pressingly contacting the fixing roller. The fixing roller applies heat to the recording sheet. The pressure roller applies pressure to the recording sheet. The heat and pressure fix the toner image on the recording sheet. The magnetic flux generator is disposed to face outer and inner circumferential surfaces of the fixing roller. The magnetic flux generator is formed in a U-like or loop-like shape, and the fixing roller is placed in a gap or a loop of the magnetic flux generator. The magnetic flux generator may include a single wire.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2005Publication date: March 16, 2006Inventor: Toshiaki Higaya
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Publication number: 20050242084Abstract: An induction heating type fixing device for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is disclosed. An inducting heating coil has a plurality of bobbins each having a particular diameter and assembled in a telescopic manner. A particular conductor is wound round each bobbin beforehand with leads being laid inside of the conductor. The bobbin may be implemented as a plurality of bobbin members removably connected together.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2005Publication date: November 3, 2005Inventors: Akiko Miyahara, Toshiaki Higaya, Masae Sugawara, Tomotaka Takamura
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Patent number: 6946629Abstract: An induction heating type fixing device for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is disclosed. An inducting heating coil has a plurality of bobbins each having a particular diameter and assembled in a telescopic manner. A particular conductor is wound round each bobbin beforehand with leads being laid inside of the conductor. The bobbin may be implemented as a plurality of bobbin members removably connected together.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2004Date of Patent: September 20, 2005Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akiko Miyahara, Toshiaki Higaya, Masae Sugawara, Tomotaka Takamura
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Patent number: 6899986Abstract: An image forming method, comprising passing a toner image-bearing sheet through a nip defined between two rollers including a heater roller to fix the toner image on the sheet, wherein the toner image is formed from a toner comprising a binder resin, and a colorant, wherein the toner image before the passage through the nip has a toner volume V1 and a toner image area S1, wherein the toner image after the passage through the nip has a toner volume V2 and a toner image area S2, and wherein a volume change Vt and an area change St defined by the formulas shown below are 30% or less and 20% or less, respectively: Vt(%)=(V1?V2)/V1×100 St(%)=(S2?S2)/S1×100. Alternatively, the toner image before the passage through the nip has a surface roughness of 2.5 ?m or less.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2002Date of Patent: May 31, 2005Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Mitsuo Aoki, Kumi Hasegawa, Toshiaki Higaya, Yasushi Koichi, Yutaka Takahashi, Tadashi Kasai
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Publication number: 20050079430Abstract: An image forming method, comprising passing a toner image-bearing sheet through a nip defined between two rollers including a heater roller to fix the toner image on the sheet, wherein the toner image is formed from a toner comprising a binder resin, and a colorant, wherein the toner image before the passage through the nip has a toner volume V1 and a toner image area S1, wherein the toner image after the passage through the nip has a toner volume V2 and a toner image area S2, and wherein a volume change Vt and an area change St defined by the formulas shown below are 30% or less and 20% or less, respectively: Vt(%)=(V1?V2)/V1×100 St(%)=(S2?S1)/S1×100. Alternatively, the toner image before the passage through the nip has a surface roughness of 2.5 ?m or less.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2004Publication date: April 14, 2005Inventors: Mitsuo Aoki, Kumi Hasegawa, Toshiaki Higaya, Yasushi Koichi, Yutaka Takahashi, Tadashi Kasai
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Publication number: 20040188423Abstract: An induction heating type fixing device for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is disclosed. An inducting heating coil has a plurality of bobbins each having a particular diameter and assembled in a telescopic manner. A particular conductor is wound round each bobbin beforehand with leads being laid inside of the conductor. The bobbin may be implemented as a plurality of bobbin members removably connected together.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2004Publication date: September 30, 2004Inventors: Akiko Miyahara, Toshiaki Higaya, Masae Sugawara, Tomotaka Takamura
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Patent number: 6753515Abstract: An induction heating type fixing device for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is disclosed. An inducting heating coil has a plurality of bobbins each having a particular diameter and assembled in a telescopic manner. A particular conductor is wound round each bobbin beforehand with leads being laid inside of the conductor. The bobbin may be implemented as a plurality of bobbin members removably connected together.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2001Date of Patent: June 22, 2004Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akiko Miyahara, Toshiaki Higaya, Masae Sugawara, Tomotaka Takamura
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Publication number: 20030186155Abstract: An image forming method, comprising passing a toner image-bearing sheet through a nip defined between two rollers including a heater roller to fix the toner image on the sheet, wherein the toner image is formed from a toner comprising a binder resin, and a colorant, wherein the toner image before the passage through the nip has a toner volume V1 and a toner image area S1, wherein the toner image after the passage through the nip has a toner volume V2 and a toner image area S2, and wherein a volume change Vt and an area change St defined by the formulas shown below are 30% or less and 20% or less, respectively:Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2002Publication date: October 2, 2003Inventors: Mitsuo Aoki, Kumi Hasegawa, Toshiaki Higaya, Yasushi Koichi, Yutaka Takahashi, Tadashi Kasai
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Patent number: 6574448Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image bearing member, a second image bearing member, and a fixing device. A first visual image formed on the first image bearing member is transferred onto the second image bearing member to be transferred from the second image bearing member onto a first side of a recording medium, and a second visual image formed on the first bearing member is transferred from the first image bearing member onto a second side of the recording medium, so that the visual images are obtained on the first and second sides of the recording medium respectively. The visual images on the first and second sides of the recording medium are fixed by the fixing device in a state that the second image bearing member and the recording medium are overlapped with each other.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2001Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hideaki Mochimaru, Yasukuni Omata, Norimasa Sohmiya, Mitsuru Seto, Toshiaki Higaya, Masanori Matsuda
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Publication number: 20020031381Abstract: An induction heating type fixing device for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is disclosed. An inducting heating coil has a plurality of bobbins each having a particular diameter and assembled in a telescopic manner. A particular conductor is wound round each bobbin beforehand with leads being laid inside of the conductor. The bobbin may be implemented as a plurality of bobbin members removably connected together.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2001Publication date: March 14, 2002Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Akiko Miyahara, Toshiaki Higaya, Masae Sugawara, Tomotaka Takamura