Patents by Inventor Yasutaka Gotoh

Yasutaka Gotoh 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: 10866545
    Abstract: A fixing device includes: a fixer provided with a heater that sandwiches and heats paper transported with a toner image retained thereon, and a remover that removes toner from the heater; and a controller that executes first control with which the paper on which the toner image is retained is fed to the heater in a state where the temperature of the heater has been increased to a first temperature, and second control with which paper on which a toner image is not retained is fed to the heater in a state where the temperature of the heater has been increased to a second temperature that is higher than the first temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO.. LTD.
    Inventors: Narumi Nozawa, Yasutaka Gotoh
  • Publication number: 20200371458
    Abstract: A fixing device includes: a fixer provided with a heater that sandwiches and heats paper transported with a toner image retained thereon, and a remover that removes toner from the heater; and a controller that executes first control with which the paper on which the toner image is retained is fed to the heater in a state where the temperature of the heater has been increased to a first temperature, and second control with which paper on which a toner image is not retained is fed to the heater in a state where the temperature of the heater has been increased to a second temperature that is higher than the first temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Narumi NOZAWA, Yasutaka Gotoh
  • Patent number: 10775724
    Abstract: A fixing device includes: a first pressing unit that rotates; a second pressing unit that comes into press-contact with the first pressing unit to form a nip portion at which a toner image is fixed on a recording medium; a heating unit that heats at least one of the first and second pressing units; and a first cleaning unit that comes into contact with a surface of at least one of the first and second pressing units to perform cleaning, the fixing device being configured to perform a high-temperature rotating operation that includes rotating the first or second pressing unit and heating a surface of the first or second pressing unit coming into contact with the first cleaning unit to a temperature higher than a temperature during fixing; and then to perform a cleaning operation that includes causing a cleaning material to pass through the nip portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasushi Nagata, Yasutaka Gotoh
  • Patent number: 10241450
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating unit that rotates and that fixes a toner image on a recording medium, a pressing unit that rotates and that presses the heating unit, and a potential-difference application unit that applies a potential difference between the pressing unit and the heating unit so that a potential of the heating unit is higher than a potential of the pressing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sou Morizaki, Yasutaka Gotoh, Jouta Kobayashi, Kazuaki Iikura, Kazuyoshi Itoh, Yasushi Nagata, Takaaki Sato
  • Publication number: 20180356757
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a pressing member that is rotatably held and performs pressing in one direction, a contact member that is rotatably held facing the pressing member, the contact member forming a nip portion through which a recording medium passes between the contact member and the pressing member, the contact member coming into contact with the recording medium, first regulating portions that protrude from portions adjacent to the contact member toward the pressing member at positions upstream and downstream of the nip portion in a rotation direction of the contact member to regulate a shape of the contact member, and a second regulating portion that is located in the nip portion and protrudes from a portion adjacent to the contact member toward the pressing member to regulate the shape of the contact member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jouta KOBAYASHI, Yasutaka GOTOH, Sou MORIZAKI, Masakazu TAKAHASHI, Yasushi NAGATA, Motoharu NAKAO
  • Publication number: 20180267445
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating unit that rotates and that fixes a toner image on a recording medium, a pressing unit that rotates and that presses the heating unit, and a potential-difference application unit that applies a potential difference between the pressing unit and the heating unit so that a potential of the heating unit is higher than a potential of the pressing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sou MORIZAKI, Yasutaka GOTOH, Jouta KOBAYASHI, Kazuaki IIKURA, Kazuyoshi ITOH, Yasushi NAGATA, Takaaki SATO
  • Patent number: 9874840
    Abstract: There is provided a fixing device. An endless belt comes into contact with a developer image on a recording medium. A heat source is provided on an inner side of the belt and emits radiant heat. A heat transmitting member includes a contact portion which contacts with an inner circumferential surface of the belt, absorbs the radiant heat of the heat source, and transmits the heat to the belt. A deforming unit deforms when a temperature of the contact portion exceeds a predetermined setting temperature, and separates the belt and at least a part of the contact portion from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasutaka Gotoh, Sou Morizaki, Jouta Kobayashi, Kyogo Soshi, Hiroko Furukata
  • Patent number: 9864313
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a first belt that heats a developer image on a recording medium; a support member that is arranged inside the first belt and supports the first belt; a second belt that sandwiches the recording medium with the first belt; a pressing roller that is provided with the second belt having an inner peripheral surface wound thereon, is provided rotatably in a direction orthogonal to a recording-medium transport direction as an axial direction, presses the second and first belts toward the support member, and forms a first press region; and a forming member that is provided inside the second belt, at an upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the pressing roller, presses the second and first belts toward the support member, and forms a second press region having a larger width than that of the first press region in the transport direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyogo Soshi, Kiyoshi Iwai, Yasutaka Gotoh, Sou Morizaki, Jouta Kobayashi, Hiroko Furukata
  • Publication number: 20170261899
    Abstract: There is provided a fixing device. An endless belt comes into contact with a developer image on a recording medium. A heat source is provided on an inner side of the belt and emits radiant heat. A heat transmitting member includes a contact portion which contacts with an inner circumferential surface of the belt, absorbs the radiant heat of the heat source, and transmits the heat to the belt. A deforming unit deforms when a temperature of the contact portion exceeds a predetermined setting temperature, and separates the belt and at least a part of the contact portion from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasutaka GOTOH, Sou MORIZAKI, Jouta KOBAYASHI, Kyogo SOSHI, Hiroko FURUKATA
  • Publication number: 20170255145
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a first belt that heats a developer image on a recording medium; a support member that is arranged inside the first belt and supports the first belt; a second belt that sandwiches the recording medium with the first belt; a pressing roller that is provided with the second belt having an inner peripheral surface wound thereon, is provided rotatably in a direction orthogonal to a recording-medium transport direction as an axial direction, presses the second and first belts toward the support member, and forms a first press region; and a forming member that is provided inside the second belt, at an upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the pressing roller, presses the second and first belts toward the support member, and forms a second press region having a larger width than that of the first press region in the transport direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyogo SOSHI, Kiyoshi IWAI, Yasutaka GOTOH, Sou MORIZAKI, Jouta KOBAYASHI, Hiroko FURUKATA
  • Publication number: 20170255144
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating belt that is provided rotatably around an orthogonal direction orthogonal to a transport direction of a recording medium as an axial direction, and is configured to heat a developer on the recording medium; a support member that is provided inside the heating belt and supports the heating belt; and plural pressing rotational bodies that each are rotatable around the orthogonal direction as an axial direction, are arranged in the transport direction, and are configured to press the heating belt and the recording medium toward the support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jouta KOBAYASHI, Yasutaka GOTOH, Sou MORIZAKI, Kyogo SOSHI, Hiroko FURUKATA
  • Patent number: 9581947
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a heater and a presser. The heater includes an endless heating belt that rotates while heating a recording medium carrying an unfixed toner image. The presser presses against the recording medium in cooperation with the heater to fix the unfixed toner image onto the recording medium. The heater further includes a first plate body extending to form a contact region in contact with an inner surface of the belt, a heat source nipping the first plate body in cooperation with the belt in the contact region, and a second plate body disposed opposite the first plate body with the heat source interposed therebetween and extending at a distance from the heat source. The first plate body has relatively higher heat absorptivity than the second plate body. The second plate body has relatively higher heat reflectivity than the first plate body and is in contact therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Sakurai, Yasutaka Gotoh, Jota Kobayashi, Kyogo Soshi, Koji Okabe, Hiroko Furukata
  • Publication number: 20170023897
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a heater and a presser. The heater includes an endless heating belt that rotates while heating a recording medium carrying an unfixed toner image. The presser presses against the recording medium in cooperation with the heater to fix the unfixed toner image onto the recording medium. The heater further includes a first plate body extending to form a contact region in contact with an inner surface of the belt, a heat source nipping the first plate body in cooperation with the belt in the contact region, and a second plate body disposed opposite the first plate body with the heat source interposed therebetween and extending at a distance from the heat source. The first plate body has relatively higher heat absorptivity than the second plate body. The second plate body has relatively higher heat reflectivity than the first plate body and is in contact therewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke SAKURAI, Yasutaka GOTOH, Jota KOBAYASHI, Kyogo SOSHI, Koji OKABE, Hiroko FURUKATA
  • Patent number: 9454112
    Abstract: A temperature detection device includes a supporting body that includes end portions and a middle portion and that is elastically deformed by being pressed by an object to be detected, both of the end portions being supported at positions separated from the object to be detected, the supporting body having an initial shape such that the middle portion bulges in an arc shape to a position beyond the object to be detected when the supporting body does not receive an external force from the object to be detected; and a temperature detection element that is supported by a contact portion of the supporting body that contacts the object to be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasutaka Gotoh, Koji Okabe, Jouta Kobayashi, Kyogo Soshi, Yusuke Sakurai, Hiroko Furukata
  • Patent number: 9280105
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a pressing member that is rotatably held and provides a pressure acting in one direction; a heating member that is rotatably held, faces the pressing member, and includes a substantially cylindrical member and a heating unit, the substantially cylindrical member receiving the pressure, the heating unit being provided inside the substantially cylindrical member, the heating member fixing a toner image on a sheet with the pressure and heat; a drive source that outputs a driving force with which the heating member is rotated; and a transmission member having a space that receives an end of the substantially cylindrical member with a gap interposed therebetween, the transmission member having an inner circumferential surface that comes into contact with the end of the substantially cylindrical member in the space when the substantially cylindrical member receives the pressure, the transmission member transmitting the driving force to the heating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Ryu, Yasutaka Gotoh, Koji Okabe, Yuki Kubota
  • Patent number: 8971777
    Abstract: A fixing device includes: a cylinder member that rotates in a circumferential direction thereof; a circulating member that circularly moves in a circumferential direction thereof and is pressed against the cylinder member; a heat source that heats a recording medium holding an unfixed toner image and nipped between the cylinder member and the circulating member; and a pressing member provided inside the circulating member, and including a nip forming portion that presses the circulating member against the cylinder member to form a nip region therebetween, and a thrusting portion that thrusts, upstream of the nip forming portion in a moving direction of the circulating member, and from inside the circulating member toward the cylinder member, the circulating member before being pressed against the cylinder member such that the thrust is greater in end portions of the circulating member than in a central portion of the circulating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Ryu, Yasutaka Gotoh, Yuki Kubota, Koji Okabe, Jouta Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8862040
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member that is rotatable and heated by a heater; an endless belt member that is rotatable while being in contact with the fixing member; and a pressing member that is disposed inside of the belt member. The pressing member presses the fixing member with the belt member therebetween so as to form a fixing nip between the fixing member and the belt member, the fixing nip allowing a recording medium to pass therethrough to fix a toner image onto the recording medium. In an output region of the fixing nip from which the recording medium is output from the fixing nip, a curvature of a cross-sectional shape of an end portion of the belt member in a width direction is larger than a curvature of a cross-sectional shape of a middle portion of the belt member in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Okabe, Yasutaka Gotoh, Yuki Kubota, Takayuki Ryu
  • Patent number: 8712302
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable heating member including a heat source and a pressure-applying member pressed against the heating member. The pressure-applying member includes a band-shaped member that extends in a width direction of a medium that passes through a fixing area, a support member opposed to the heating member with the band-shaped member disposed therebetween, and a pressing member including a base-end portion supported by the support member and a free-end portion that extends toward the fixing area. The pressing member has urging portions arranged with intervals therebetween in the width direction. The urging portions are elastically deformable in accordance with a thickness of the medium when the medium passes through the fixing area. The free-end portion urges the band-shaped member toward the heating member so that the band-shaped member is pressed against the heating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tahei Nakamura, Koji Okabe, Yuki Kubota, Yasutaka Gotoh, Hiroko Furukata
  • Patent number: 8644747
    Abstract: A heating device including a heating member that heats a recording medium; a pressure unit that applies pressure to the heating member; and a rotation member that is mounted to the heating member. The rotation member is rotated upon receiving an external force and the heating member is rotated along with a rotation of the rotation member by a frictional force between the heating member and the rotation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tahei Nakamura, Yuki Kubota, Yasutaka Gotoh
  • Publication number: 20130259544
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a pressing member that is rotatably held and provides a pressure acting in one direction; a heating member that is rotatably held, faces the pressing member, and includes a substantially cylindrical member and a heating unit, the substantially cylindrical member receiving the pressure, the heating unit being provided inside the substantially cylindrical member, the heating member fixing a toner image on a sheet with the pressure and heat; a drive source that outputs a driving force with which the heating member is rotated; and a transmission member having a space that receives an end of the substantially cylindrical member with a gap interposed therebetween, the transmission member having an inner circumferential surface that comes into contact with the end of the substantially cylindrical member in the space when the substantially cylindrical member receives the pressure, the transmission member transmitting the driving force to the heating member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki RYU, Yasutaka GOTOH, Koji OKABE, Yuki KUBOTA