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).

  • Publication number: 20020015602
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hideaki Mochimaru, Yasukuni Omata, Norimasa Sohmiya, Mitsuru Seto, Toshiaki Higaya, Masanori Matsuda
  • Patent number: 6340810
    Abstract: A device configured to be heated to a temperature sufficient to fuse an image forming substance to a sheet includes a hollow roller made of a conductive material and a coil arranged in a hollow portion of the hollow roller. The coil is configured to carry an electrical current that induces a current in the conductive material of the hollow roller such that the hollow roller becomes heated so as to fuse toner to a sheet. The coil is mounted on a member that is disposed in the hollow portion of the roller. The member includes various combinations of features that permit a reliable and safe operation of the induction heating apparatus such as recess and projections formed in the member to separate respective turns in the coil, a hollow center of the member that can be ventilated with a ventilation fan, and predefined gaps being maintained between the inside surface of the hollow roller and an outer surface of the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yokoyama, Toshiaki Higaya
  • Patent number: 6327456
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fixing device that excels in thermal conversion efficiency, compared with an induction-type fixing device. In this fixing device, a peripheral surface of a roller facing an induction coil has concavities and convexities with edges. Where the induction coil is inserted into a core bar, the concavities and convexities are formed inside the core bar. Where the induction coil is located outside the roller, the concavities and convexities are formed on the outer periphery of the core bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiaki Higaya
  • Publication number: 20010025840
    Abstract: A device configured to be heated to a temperature sufficient to fuse an image forming substance to a sheet includes a hollow roller made of a conductive material and a coil arranged in a hollow portion of the hollow roller. The coil is configured to carry an electrical current that induces a current in the conductive material of the hollow roller such that the hollow roller becomes heated so as to fuse toner to a sheet. The coil is mounted on a member that is disposed in the hollow portion of the roller. The member includes various combinations of features that permit a reliable and safe operation of the induction heating apparatus such as recess and projections formed in the member to separate respective turns in the coil, a hollow center of the member that can be ventilated with a ventilation fan, and predefined gaps being maintained between the inside surface of the hollow roller and an outer surface of the coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yokoyama, Toshiaki Higaya
  • Patent number: 6292648
    Abstract: A fixing device using induction heating for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a heat roller and a press roller for fixing a toner image on a recording medium while conveying the recording medium. A coil unit is located outside of the heat roller and upstream of a nip between the heat roller and the press roller in the direction of rotation of the heat roller for generating an induced magnetic flux. The coil unit concentratedly heats the heat roller and thereby efficiently feeds heat to the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Higaya, Tomotaka Takamura
  • Patent number: 6262404
    Abstract: An induction heating type fixing device for an electrophotographic printer, facsimile apparatus, copier or similar image forming apparatus and an induced current generating member therefore are disclosed. A coil is wound round a bobbin applied with an adhesion preventing material. After the coil has been adhered by nonconductive adhesive by impregnation, the coil and bobbin subassembly is inserted into a hollow cylinder body formed of a heat-resistant insulating material. After the coil has been adhered to the cylindrical body, the bobbin is pulled out to produce the induced current generating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Higaya, Tomotaka Takamura
  • Patent number: 6255632
    Abstract: A device configured to be heated to a temperature sufficient to fuse an image forming substance to a sheet includes a hollow roller made of a conductive material and a coil arranged in a hollow portion of the hollow roller. The coil is configured to carry an electrical current that induces a current in the conductive material of the hollow roller such that the hollow roller becomes heated so as to fuse toner to a sheet. The coil is mounted on a member that is disposed in the hollow portion of the roller. The member includes various combinations of features that permit a reliable and safe operation of the induction heating apparatus such as recess and projections formed in the member to separate respective turns in the coil, a hollow center of the member that can be ventilated with a ventilation fan, and predefined gaps being maintained between the inside surface of the hollow roller and an outer surface of the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yokoyama, Toshiaki Higaya
  • Patent number: 6169871
    Abstract: An induction heating fixing apparatus including a heating roller having an outer cylinder, a coil arranged inside the outer cylinder to generate an induction magnetic flux, and a first insulating cylinder member arranged between the outer cylinder and the coil. A second insulating cylinder member is provided coaxial arrangement with the first insulating cylinder member and includes a spiral rib in substantially tight contact with the first insulating cylinder member to remove heat from the inside of the heating roller during rotation of the second insulating cylinder member. The coil is wound on a tubular member having an outer circumferential surface provided with radial holes which communicate with the interior of the tubular member and thereby to outside of the heating roller also to remove heat from the heating roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiaki Higaya
  • Patent number: 5915147
    Abstract: The present invention is intended to solve a problem in that the response in the temperature detection in the rotor having the induction coil inside the durability in the rotor and a stain temperature detection means in the rotor is affected by the magnetic flux of an induction heating mechanism.The invention provides an image fixing device having an induction coil inside of a rotor 11 which is rotatably supported, the device having inside of the rotor 11 at least one oftemperature detection means 17 for detecting the temperature of the rotor 11 ortemperature over-rise preventing detection means 18 for detecting that the temperature of the rotor 11 has risen to a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuzou Kouno, Toshiaki Higaya, Hiroshi Yokoyama, Jyunji Nakai, Keizou Yasuda, Masahiko Sato, Masanao Ehara, Takayuki Seki
  • Patent number: 5832354
    Abstract: The present invention is intended to solve a problem in that the response in the temperature detection in the rotor having the induction coil inside the durability in the rotor and a stain temperature detection means in the rotor is affected by the magnetic flux of an induction heating mechanism.The invention provides an image fixing device having an induction coil inside of a rotor 11 which is rotatably supported, the device having inside of the rotor 11 at least one of temperature detection means 17 for detecting the temperature of the rotor 11 or temperature over-rise preventing detection means 18 for detecting that the temperature of the rotor 11 has risen to a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuzou Kouno, Toshiaki Higaya, Hiroshi Yokoyama, Jyunji Nakai, Keizou Yasuda, Masahiko Sato, Masanao Ehara, Takayuki Seki
  • Patent number: 5594540
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a fixing roller having a peeling-off layer at its peripheral surface, a rotating member for coming into contact with and for pressurizing the fixing roller, an applying member disposed on the fixing roller, and a cleaning member for cleaning the applying member. The applying member has a porous surface layer which is of the same quality as that of the peeling-off layer of the fixing roller, and is filled in oil. A transferring material with non-fixed toner image is nipped and delivered with the fixing roller and the rotating member, and non-fixed toner image on the transferring material is fixed with heat and pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Higaya, Yuzo Kouno, Yukiti Shindou
  • Patent number: 5426495
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, an image fixing device has a hollow cylindrical fixing roller implemented as a heat pipe, and a pressing roller held in pressing contact with the fixing roller. The fixing roller is made up of a fixing portion, and a paper nipping portion against which the pressing roller is constantly urged. The paper nipping portion has a greater wall thickness than the heating section. This kind of configuration promotes rapid heat conduction from a halogen heater to a working fluid filled in the heat pipe, while preventing the paper nipping portion of the fixing roller from being deformed by the pressing roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Sawamura, Toshiaki Higaya
  • Patent number: 5300996
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus for fixing an image on a record sheet comprises a fixing roller in which a heater is disposed, a pressing roller urged against the fixing roller, heat pipes extending in either one of the fixing and pressing rollers in a longitudinal direction thereof, and a temperature detection / control device for detecting to control a temperature of the fixing roller. In a typical embodiment, the heat pipes are disposed in the fixing roller to extend both through an imaging portion, through which a record sheet passes, and through a non-imaging portion, through which no record sheet passes and the temperature detection / control device has a temperature detection device for detecting a temperature of the fixing roller in contact with the non-imaging portion. The temperature detection / control device is provided with a temperature regulating device for interrupting electricity to the heater when the fixing roller exceeds a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yokoyama, Yutaka Fukuchi, Atsushi Arai, Masahiko Sato, Toshiaki Higaya, Jun Okamoto
  • Patent number: 4640608
    Abstract: The cleaning method for use in an electrophotographic copying apparatus of the type removing toner images remaining on the surface of a photoconductor by a cleaning blade which includes the steps of bringing the cleaning blade into pressure contact with the photoconductor at least prior to the movement of the photoconductor, and moving the cleaning blade away from the surface of the photoconductor after the movement of the photoconductor is stopped with completion of copying process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1987
    Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Higaya, Masaaki Ogura, Takato Yano, Kiyozo Hashizume, Toshiyuki Ogawa, Nachio Seko
  • Patent number: 4181425
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a photosensitive member comprising a cleaning roller formed of foamed resin which contacts the member and a pressure plate held in compressing abutment against the roller so as to extend in the direction of its forward rotation at the point of contact therebetween. Any residual powder on the photosensitive member is removed by the roller and retained in the pores formed in the roller surface. The powder retained in the pores is expelled by the resilience of the compressed surface of the roller as it is restored upon release from the pressure plate. The cleaning apparatus also comprises a system for recovering powder that is expelled from the roller surface, and a rotating helical coil disposed in a conveyance path for preventing solidification of the powder and for facilitating its conveyance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1980
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Higaya, Kenzo Ariyama
  • Patent number: RE36124
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus for fixing an image on a record sheet .?.comprises.!. .Iadd.includes .Iaddend.a fixing roller in which a heater is disposed, a pressing roller urged against the fixing roller, heat pipes extending in either one of the fixing and pressing rollers in a longitudinal direction thereof, and a temperature detection/control device for detecting .?.to control.!. .Iadd.and controlling .Iaddend.a temperature of the fixing roller. In a typical embodiment, the heat pipes are disposed in the fixing roller to extend both through .?.an imaging portion.!. .Iadd.a sheet passage area.Iaddend., through which a record sheet passes, and through a .?.non-imaging portion.!. .Iadd.sheet non-passage area.Iaddend., through which no record sheet passes and the temperature detection/control device has a temperature detection device for detecting a temperature of the fixing roller in contact with the .?.non-imaging portion.!. .Iadd.sheet non-passage area.Iaddend..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yokoyama, Yutaka Fukuchi, Atsushi Arai, Masahiko Sato, Toshiaki Higaya, Jun Okamoto