Patents by Inventor Yoshikazu Yamazoe

Yoshikazu Yamazoe 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: 8165490
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit, a fixing unit, a discharging unit, and multiple guide members. The transfer unit transfers an image onto a transfer sheet. The fixing unit fixes the image to the transfer sheet by application of heat and conveys the fixed transfer sheet to a further downstream portion of the image forming apparatus. The discharging unit discharges the transfer sheet to an external portion of the image forming apparatus. The multiple guide members form a sheet conveyance path that has first and second paths including a hollow portion defined by the multiple guide members to enable an air current generated during image forming to pass therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Yamazoe
  • Patent number: 8095041
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a pair of fixing members opposing each other and a pressing lever that is rotatable around a shaft. The pressing lever can be moved either to a pressing position in which one of the fixing members is pressed against the other fixing member, or to a pressure releasing position in which the one of the fixing member is separated from the other fixing member. When the pressing lever moves between the pressing position and the pressure releasing position, a first control unit located near an end of the pressing lever controls displacement of the end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Shigeo Nanno, Yoshikazu Yamazoe, Osamu Saito, Takuya Etoh, Yutaka Naitoh
  • Patent number: 7890017
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a pair of first frames that support an axis of each of a fixing roller and a pressing roller and a pair of second frames arranged in parallel to an axial direction of the fixing roller to connect the first frames to each other. The second frames include cover portions that cover an upper peripheral surface and a lower peripheral surface of the rollers. A coupling member couples the cover portions to each other and has a bridge structure between the cover portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Yutaka Naitoh, Yoshikazu Yamazoe, Shigeo Nanno, Osamu Saito, Takuya Etoh
  • Patent number: 7881635
    Abstract: An intermediate transfer unit can be detached from a device main body through an opening that is covered by an openable and closable front cover. A sheet path is provided between the intermediate transfer unit and the front cover. A portion of a convey-guiding unit of the sheet path falls in the way when detaching the detachable intermediate transfer unit. The portion of the convey-guiding unit, which falls in the way when detaching the detachable intermediate transfer unit, is formed as a detachable convey-guiding member that is detachably attached to the device main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Yamazoe, Yutaka Naito, Yasunobu Ogata, Shin Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20100003048
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit, a fixing unit, a discharging unit, and multiple guide members. The transfer unit transfers an image onto a transfer sheet. The fixing unit fixes the image to the transfer sheet by application of heat and conveys the fixed transfer sheet to a further downstream portion of the image forming apparatus. The discharging unit discharges the transfer sheet to an external portion of the image forming apparatus. The multiple guide members form a sheet conveyance path that has first and second paths including a hollow portion defined by the multiple guide members to enable an air current generated during image forming to pass therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Yamazoe
  • Publication number: 20090074440
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a pair of fixing members opposing each other and a pressing lever that is rotatable around a shaft. The pressing lever can be moved either to a pressing position in which one of the fixing members is pressed against the other fixing member, or to a pressure releasing position in which the one of the fixing member is separated from the other fixing member. When the pressing lever moves between the pressing position and the pressure releasing position, a first control unit located near an end of the pressing lever controls displacement of the end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Shigeo NANNO, Yoshikazu YAMAZOE, Osamu SAITO, Takuya ETOH, Yutaka NAITOH
  • Publication number: 20090060572
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a pair of first frames that support an axis of each of a fixing roller and a pressing roller and a pair of second frames arranged in parallel to an axial direction of the fixing roller to connect the first frames to each other. The second frames include cover portions that cover an upper peripheral surface and a lower peripheral surface of the rollers. A coupling member couples the cover portions to each other and has a bridge structure between the cover portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Yutaka Naitoh, Yoshikazu Yamazoe, Shigeo Nanno, Osamu Saito, Takuya Etoh
  • Publication number: 20080193162
    Abstract: An intermediate transfer unit can be detached from a device main body through an opening that is covered by an openable and closable front cover. A sheet path is provided between the intermediate transfer unit and the front cover. A portion of a convey-guiding unit of the sheet path falls in the way when detaching the detachable intermediate transfer unit. The portion of the convey-guiding unit, which falls in the way when detaching the detachable intermediate transfer unit, is formed as a detachable convey-guiding member that is detachably attached to the device main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Yamazoe, Yutaka Naito, Yasunobu Ogata, Shin Yamamoto