Patents by Inventor Yohhei Watanabe
Yohhei Watanabe 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: 11933486Abstract: A lighting device includes a linear light source extending in a first direction and configured to emit light in a second direction intersecting the first direction to an object; a rod lens apart from the linear light source in the second direction and extending in the first direction, the rod lens configured to transmit the light emitted from the linear light source; and a support portion supporting the rod lens and having: a first surface extending in a third direction intersecting the second direction; and a second surface extending in a fourth direction intersecting the second direction and the third direction. The rod lens is in contact with each of the first surface and the second surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2023Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hideyo Makino, Michihito Ohashi, Yohhei Watanabe, Kohei Shimbo
-
Publication number: 20230383924Abstract: A lighting device includes a linear light source extending in a first direction and configured to emit light in a second direction intersecting the first direction to an object; a rod lens apart from the linear light source in the second direction and extending in the first direction, the rod lens configured to transmit the light emitted from the linear light source; and a support portion supporting the rod lens and having: a first surface extending in a third direction intersecting the second direction; and a second surface extending in a fourth direction intersecting the second direction and the third direction. The rod lens is in contact with each of the first surface and the second surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2023Publication date: November 30, 2023Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hideyo Makino, Michihito Ohashi, Yohhei Watanabe, Kohei Shimbo
-
Patent number: 11256202Abstract: A snap ring is set to a set portion of a shaft of a rotator from a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the shaft. The snap ring includes a first arcuate portion and a second arcuate portion facing each other, being elastically deformable in directions away from each other, holding the set portion by elastic deformation restoring force. One ends of the first and second arcuate portions are away from each other to form an insertion portion to insert the set portion. When the snap ring is not used, the first arcuate portion has a same radius of curvature as the second arcuate portion and the set portion, and a center of curvature closer to the second arcuate portion than the first arcuate portion, and the second arcuate portion has a center of curvature closer to the first arcuate portion than the second arcuate portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2020Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Yohhei Watanabe, Naoto Suzuki, Yuta Azeyanagi, Nobuo Kuwabara, Kenji Honjoh, Teppei Kawata, Haruki Nagata, Michiharu Suzuki
-
Patent number: 11150580Abstract: A pressure device presses against a pressed member. The pressure device includes a support shaft and a presser that pivots about the support shaft and presses against the pressed member. A mover moves the support shaft in an axial direction of the support shaft to move the presser in the axial direction of the support shaft in a state in which the presser presses against the pressed member.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2020Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventor: Yohhei Watanabe
-
Patent number: 11099506Abstract: A sheet conveying device, which is included in a fixing device and an image forming apparatus, includes a sheet contacting body and a lateral relative position shifting body. The sheet contacting body is configured to contact a sheet to be conveyed. The lateral relative position shifting body is configured to shift a passing position of the sheet being conveyed toward the sheet contacting body, in a width direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction and a relative position to the sheet contacting body, each time the sheet is conveyed by a number of sheets based on a setting. The setting of the number of sheets varies based on information of the sheet.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2018Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Fumihiro Hirose, Naoto Suzuki, Yohhei Watanabe, Akiyasu Amita, Masateru Ujiie, Shinichi Namekata, Takashi Sakamaki, Teppei Kawata
-
Publication number: 20210200124Abstract: A snap ring is set to a set portion of a shaft of a rotator from a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the shaft. The snap ring includes a first arcuate portion and a second arcuate portion facing each other, being elastically deformable in directions away from each other, holding the set portion by elastic deformation restoring force. One ends of the first and second arcuate portions are away from each other to form an insertion portion to insert the set portion. When the snap ring is not used, the first arcuate portion has a same radius of curvature as the second arcuate portion and the set portion, and a center of curvature closer to the second arcuate portion than the first arcuate portion, and the second arcuate portion has a center of curvature closer to the first arcuate portion than the second arcuate portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2020Publication date: July 1, 2021Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yohhei WATANABE, Naoto SUZUKI, Yuta AZEYANAGI, Nobuo KUWABARA, Kenji HONJOH, Teppei KAWATA, Haruki NAGATA, Michiharu SUZUKI
-
Publication number: 20210041813Abstract: A pressure device presses against a pressed member. The pressure device includes a support shaft and a presser that pivots about the support shaft and presses against the pressed member. A mover moves the support shaft in an axial direction of the support shaft to move the presser in the axial direction of the support shaft in a state in which the presser presses against the pressed member.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2020Publication date: February 11, 2021Inventor: Yohhei WATANABE
-
Patent number: 10488796Abstract: A fixing device controller includes a plurality of voltage detectors to detect voltages of a plurality of power sources for supplying power to a plurality of heaters to heat a fixing member of a fixing device that fixes a toner image on a recording medium and a heater controller to execute duty control to turn on the plurality of heaters. The heater controller corrects a duty of at least one of the plurality of heaters based on the voltages detected by the plurality of voltage detectors and rated output values of the plurality of heaters.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2018Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Teppei Kawata, Shinichi Namekata, Akiyasu Amita, Masateru Ujiie, Yohhei Watanabe, Fumihiro Hirose, Takashi Sakamaki
-
Patent number: 10234798Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, a pressure rotator, and a pressure assembly that forms a fixing nip therebetween and includes a first adjuster and a second adjuster. The first adjuster includes a pressure cam, a first biasing device, a first pressure lever that holds the pressure rotator, and a second pressure lever that moves with the pressure cam and presses against the first pressure lever via the first biasing device. The first adjuster adjusts a load of the first biasing device to adjust a pressure force from the pressure rotator to the fixing rotator. The second adjuster includes an adjustment screw is driven into the second pressure lever, and a retainer that retains an adjusted state between the adjustment screw and the first pressure lever. The second adjuster adjusts a holding position of the first pressure lever to hold the pressure rotator.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2018Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yohhei Watanabe, Naoto Suzuki, Shinichi Namekata, Akiyasu Amita, Takashi Sakamaki, Teppei Kawata, Masateru Ujiie, Fumihiro Hirose
-
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
-
Publication number: 20190018351Abstract: A sheet conveying device, which is included in a fixing device and an image forming apparatus, includes a sheet contacting body and a lateral relative position shifting body. The sheet contacting body is configured to contact a sheet to be conveyed. The lateral relative position shifting body is configured to shift a passing position of the sheet being conveyed toward the sheet contacting body, in a width direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction and a relative position to the sheet contacting body, each time the sheet is conveyed by a number of sheets based on a setting. The setting of the number of sheets varies based on information of the sheet.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2018Publication date: January 17, 2019Inventors: Fumihiro HIROSE, Naoto SUZUKI, Yohhei WATANABE, Akiyasu AMITA, Masateru UJIIE, Shinichi NAMEKATA, Takashi SAKAMAKI, Teppei KAWATA
-
Publication number: 20190018348Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, a pressure rotator, and a pressure assembly that forms a fixing nip therebetween and includes a first adjuster and a second adjuster. The first adjuster includes a pressure cam, a first biasing device, a first pressure lever that holds the pressure rotator, and a second pressure lever that moves with the pressure cam and presses against the first pressure lever via the first biasing device. The first adjuster adjusts a load of the first biasing device to adjust a pressure force from the pressure rotator to the fixing rotator. The second adjuster includes an adjustment screw is driven into the second pressure lever, and a retainer that retains an adjusted state between the adjustment screw and the first pressure lever. The second adjuster adjusts a holding position of the first pressure lever to hold the pressure rotator.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2018Publication date: January 17, 2019Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yohhei Watanabe, Naoto Suzuki, Shinichi Namekata, Akiyasu Amita, Takashi Sakamaki, Teppei Kawata, Masateru Ujiie, Fumihiro Hirose
-
Publication number: 20190011864Abstract: A fixing device controller includes a plurality of voltage detectors to detect voltages of a plurality of power sources for supplying power to a plurality of heaters to heat a fixing member of a fixing device that fixes a toner image on a recording medium and a heater controller to execute duty control to turn on the plurality of heaters. The heater controller corrects a duty of at least one of the plurality of heaters based on the voltages detected by the plurality of voltage detectors and rated output values of the plurality of heaters.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2018Publication date: January 10, 2019Inventors: Teppei KAWATA, Shinichi Namekata, Akiyasu Amita, Masateru Ujiie, Yohhei Watanabe, Fumihiro Hirose, Takashi Sakamaki
-
Patent number: 10162294Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt, a drive rotator, a driven rotator, a rotation detector, and circuitry. The drive rotator contacts and rotates the endless belt. The driven rotator contacts an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt. The rotation detector detects a rotational speed of the driven rotator. The circuitry is operatively connected to the rotation detector to control a rotational speed of the drive rotator based on the rotational speed of the driven rotator detected by the rotational detector. The circuitry changes the rotational speed of the drive rotator when a recording medium bearing a toner image is not conveyed over the endless belt.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2017Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Shinichi Namekata, Naoto Suzuki, Yohhei Watanabe, Takashi Sakamaki, Teppei Kawata, Masateru Ujiie
-
Patent number: 10042294Abstract: A separation device includes a separator that separates a recording medium from a rotator and a plurality of recesses disposed on a conveyance path side face of the separator over which the recording medium is conveyed in a recess span in a recording medium conveyance direction and at least in a conveyance span where the recording medium is conveyed. The plurality of recesses includes a first recess extending in a first extension line that is oblique relative to the recording medium conveyance direction and a second recess being adjacent to the first recess in a direction perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction. The second recess extends in a second extension line that is oblique relative to the recording medium conveyance direction and overlaps the first extension line of the first recess in the direction perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction to define an overlap span.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2017Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Seiji Saitoh, Yohhei Watanabe, Fumihiro Hirose, Naoto Suzuki, Takashi Sakamaki
-
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
-
Publication number: 20170357198Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt, a drive rotator, a driven rotator, a rotation detector, and circuitry. The drive rotator contacts and rotates the endless belt. The driven rotator contacts an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt. The rotation detector detects a rotational speed of the driven rotator. The circuitry is operatively connected to the rotation detector to control a rotational speed of the drive rotator based on the rotational speed of the driven rotator detected by the rotational detector. The circuitry changes the rotational speed of the drive rotator when a recording medium bearing a toner image is not conveyed over the endless belt.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2017Publication date: December 14, 2017Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Shinichi Namekata, Naoto Suzuki, Yohhei Watanabe, Takashi Sakamaki, Teppei Kawata, Masateru Ujiie
-
Publication number: 20170235259Abstract: A separation device includes a separator that separates a recording medium from a rotator and a plurality of recesses disposed on a conveyance path side face of the separator over which the recording medium is conveyed in a recess span in a recording medium conveyance direction and at least in a conveyance span where the recording medium is conveyed. The plurality of recesses includes a first recess extending in a first extension line that is oblique relative to the recording medium conveyance direction and a second recess being adjacent to the first recess in a direction perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction. The second recess extends in a second extension line that is oblique relative to the recording medium conveyance direction and overlaps the first extension line of the first recess in the direction perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction to define an overlap span.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2017Publication date: August 17, 2017Inventors: Seiji SAITOH, Yohhei WATANABE, Fumihiro HIROSE, Naoto SUZUKI, Takashi SAKAMAKI
-
Patent number: 9568864Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, a pressing rotator, an oil applicator, a first adjuster, a surface modifier, a second adjuster, and a processor. The fixing rotator contacts a recording medium bearing a toner image. The pressing rotator forms a fixing nip with the fixing rotator. The oil applicator is pressed against at least one of applied members of the fixing rotator and pressing rotator. The first adjuster adjusts contact/separation of the oil applicator with respect to the applied member. The surface modifier contacts the fixing rotator to modify a surface thereof. The second adjuster adjusts contact/separation of the surface modifier with respect to the fixing rotator. The processor allows the surface modifier to modify the fixing rotator surface after the oil applicator contacts the applied member, and the oil applicator to separate from the applied member after the surface modifier is separated from the fixing rotator.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2016Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Naoto Suzuki, Yohhei Watanabe, Takashi Sakamaki, Masateru Ujiie
-
Patent number: 9535378Abstract: A fixing device includes a first rotator rotatable in a given direction of rotation and a second rotator contacting the first rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A heater is disposed opposite and heats at least one of the first rotator and the second rotator. An abutment separably contacts the first rotator to refresh an outer circumferential surface of the first rotator. A mover is connected to the abutment to move the abutment with respect to the first rotator. A degradation estimator is operatively connected to the mover to estimate a degradation level of the outer circumferential surface of the first rotator and control the mover to move the abutment with respect to the first rotator according to the degradation level of the first rotator.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2015Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Takashi Sakamaki, Yohhei Watanabe, Naoto Suzuki, Masateru Ujiie