Patents by Inventor Yuji Arai

Yuji Arai 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).

  • FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME
    Publication number: 20170277091
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a heat source; a fixing member looped into a generally cylindrical shape to rotate in a circumferential direction thereof and partially heated by the heat source and to heat a surface of a recording medium bearing an unfixed toner image to fix the unfixed toner image thereon in a fixing process; a rotary pressing member disposed facing the fixing member to form a nip therebetween, through which the recording medium is transported in a transport direction; and a rotation driver to rotate one of the fixing member and the pressing member. In a case in which the fixing member is halted for a reason other than the fixing process while power of the fixing device is on, electric power is not supplied to the heat source and the fixing member is rotated by a predetermined amount or more after the fixing member is halted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Takeshi UCHITANI, Masahiko SATOH, Kenji ISHII, Tadashi OGAWA, Teppei KAWATA, Arinobu YOSHIURA, Toshihiko SHIMOKAWA, Kensuke YAMAJI, Takamasa HASE, Shuutaroh YUASA, Masaaki YOSHIKAWA, Hiromasa TAKAGI, Takahiro IMADA, Hajime GOTOH, Akira SUZUKI, Takuya SESHITA, Hiroshi YOSHINAGA, Kazuya SAITO, Shinichi NAMEKATA, Takayuki SEKI, Yuji ARAI, Ryuuichi MIMBU, Yoshiki YAMAGUCHI, Shuntaroh TAMAKI, Yutaka IKEBUCHI
  • Image forming apparatus and image forming method
    Patent number: 9727011
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first heater disposed opposite and heating at least a center of a fixing belt in an axial direction thereof and a second heater disposed opposite and heating at least a lateral end of the fixing belt in the axial direction thereof. A power supply supplies power to the first heater and the second heater. A controller that controls the power supply includes a calculator to calculate an elapsed time elapsed after at least one of the first heater and the second heater starts heating the fixing belt. The controller controls the power supply to supply power to the first heater and the second heater such that a power density of the second heater is greater than a power density of the first heater when the elapsed time calculated by the calculator is smaller than a predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Ikebuchi, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Takayuki Seki, Yuji Arai, Ryuuichi Mimbu, Shuntaro Tamaki, Kazuya Saito, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Toshiharu Hachisuka
  • LOW ALLOY OIL-WELL STEEL PIPE
    Publication number: 20170219131
    Abstract: Provided is a low alloy oil-well steel pipe having a yield strength of 827 MPa or more, and an excellent SSC resistance. The low alloy oil-well steel pipe according to the present invention consisting of: in mass %, C: more than 0.35 to 0.65%; Si: 0.05 to 0.50%; Mn: 0.10 to 1.00%; Cr: 0.40 to 1.50%; Mo: 0.50 to 2.00%; V: 0.05 to 0.25%; Nb: 0.01 to 0.040%; sol.Al: 0.005 to 0.10%; N: 0.007% or less; Ti: 0 to 0.012%; Ca: 0 to 0.005%; and a balance being Fe and impurities, the impurities including: P: 0.020% or less; S: 0.002% or less; O: 0.006% or less; Ni: 0.10% or less; Cu: 0.03% or less; and B: 0.0005% or less, wherein in a microstructure, a number of cementite particles each of which has an equivalent circle diameter of 200 nm or more is 200 particles/100 ?m2 or more, and a yield strength is 827 MPa or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Keiichi KONDO, Yuji ARAI
  • Fixing device and image forming apparatus including same
    Patent number: 9715203
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a heat source; a fixing member looped into a generally cylindrical shape to rotate in a circumferential direction thereof and partially heated by the heat source and to heat a surface of a recording medium bearing an unfixed toner image to fix the unfixed toner image thereon in a fixing process; a rotary pressing member disposed facing the fixing member to form a nip therebetween, through which the recording medium is transported in a transport direction; and a rotation driver to rotate one of the fixing member and the pressing member. In a case in which the fixing member is halted for a reason other than the fixing process while power of the fixing device is on, electric power is not supplied to the heat source and the fixing member is rotated by a predetermined amount or more after the fixing member is halted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Uchitani, Masahiko Satoh, Kenji Ishii, Tadashi Ogawa, Teppei Kawata, Arinobu Yoshiura, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Kensuke Yamaji, Takamasa Hase, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Hiromasa Takagi, Takahiro Imada, Hajime Gotoh, Akira Suzuki, Takuya Seshita, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Kazuya Saito, Shinichi Namekata, Takayuki Seki, Yuji Arai, Ryuuichi Mimbu, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Shuntaroh Tamaki, Yutaka Ikebuchi
  • Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating fixing device
    Patent number: 9715197
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, a heat source, a controller, a pressure rotator, and a nip formation pad. The controller controls the heat source such that a temperature of the fixing rotator is equal to a preset fixing temperature. The nip formation pad abuts the pressure rotator via the fixing rotator and forms a nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator. When a print time of a previous job is longer than a prescribed time A and a next job is started within a prescribed time B after an end of the previous job, the controller corrects the preset fixing temperature during a time from a start of the next job to an entry of a print sheet into the nip and during a time from the entry of the print sheet into the nip to a lapse of a prescribed time C after the entry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Seshita, Yuji Arai, Takahiro Imada, Hajime Gotoh, Akira Suzuki, Motoyoshi Yamano
  • Contactless method of supplying power
    Patent number: 9685824
    Abstract: Power supply stand output to the portable device is adjusted according to the power adjustment signals. Maximum power supply stand output is limited to a power output threshold value. The portable device compares the power received from the power supply stand to the required power. When the received power is lower than the required power, the portable device sends a power adjustment signal to the power supply stand, which is an increase-power-request signal. When the received power is greater than the required power, the portable device sends a decrease-power-request signal to the power supply stand. The power supply stand adjusts output and limits it to the power output threshold value. When continuous output of increase-power-request signals from the portable device is detected over a preset time period, a foreign object is determined to be on the power supply stand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Iijima, Masahiro Tomiki, Yuji Arai, Yosuke Tanida
  • DISPLAY UNIT
    Publication number: 20170163927
    Abstract: A display unit (1) includes a transparent plate (11) and a display body. The transparent plate has a first surface and a second surface that are opposite to each other, and is disposed to allow substantially an entire region of the first surface to be exposed. The transparent plate has a curved shape that is bent in an arc shape in a first direction. The display body is joined to side of the second surface of the transparent plate to follow the curved shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2015
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: YASUNOBU KAWASAKI, YUKI TAKANO, HISANORI TSUBOI, YUJI ARAI
  • Seamless steel pipe for line pipe
    Patent number: 9651175
    Abstract: There is provided a seamless steel pipe for line pipe, wherein a chemical composition consists, by mass percent, of C: 0.03-0.10%, Si: ?0.50%, Mn: 1.0-2.0%, P: ?0.050%, S: ?0.005%, Cr: 0.05-1.0%, Mo: 0.01-0.30%, Al: 0.001-0.10%, N: ?0.01%, Ni: 0.04-2.0%, Ca: 0.0005-0.0050%, Cu: 0-2.0%, Ti: 0-0.05%, Nb: 0-0.05%, V: 0-0.10%, the balance: Fe and impurities, and satisfies the conditions of Cu+Ni: ?0.10%, and Mo+V: ?0.30%, wherein in a scale formed on the surface of the steel pipe, metal particles consisting mainly of Ni or Cu having an average circle-equivalent diameter of 0.1-5 ?m exist, and a distance from a boundary between the base metal of the steel pipe and the scale to a region in which the metal particles do not exist is 20 ?m or longer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji Arai, Yukimasa Ueda, Kei Murata, Yasuyoshi Hidaka
  • Paper conveying device and image forming device
    Patent number: 9650219
    Abstract: A paper conveying device includes a conveying guide, a bearing, a conveying-guide facing surface, and a separation restrictor. The conveying guide includes a conveyance surface for conveying paper and a pivot shaft and is swingable about the pivot shaft. The bearing includes a support surface facing at least an upper semiperimeter of the pivot shaft. The conveying-guide facing surface is provided to face an end of the conveying guide when the conveying guide swings. The end is opposite to the conveyance surface. The separation restrictor is provided to the conveying guide to restrict separation of the pivot shaft from the bearing at least in a given swing range of the conveying guide by contacting the conveying-guide facing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Arinobu Yoshiura, Hideo Nagafuji, Yuji Arai, Kohichi Utsunomiya, Kiho Sai, Shohei Saito, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Motoyoshi Yamano
  • FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME
    Publication number: 20170131665
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator unit. The fixing rotator unit includes a fixing rotator formed into a loop; a holder to hold an end in a longitudinal direction of the fixing rotator; a pressure rotator disposed opposite the fixing rotator to press against the fixing rotator; a pressure pad disposed inside the loop to receive pressure from the pressure rotator via the fixing rotator to form an area of contact between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator; a stay to support the pressure pad against the pressure from the pressure rotator; and a positioner to secure the holder and to position the stay with one end of the stay projecting outwards from the positioner. The positioner has a limited moving distance in a thrust direction. The limited moving distance is shorter than a length of a part of the holder entering the loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Yuji ARAI, Hajime GOTOH, Takuya SESHITA, Takahiro IMADA
  • FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20170102652
    Abstract: According to an embodiments, a fixing device includes: an endless fixing member; a heating unit that is provided inside an inner peripheral surface of the fixing member; and a nip forming unit that comes into press-contact with a rotationally driven pressing member with the fixing member interposed therebetween to form a nip. The nip forming unit has a shape in which a center of a contact surface protrudes toward the pressing member compared to both ends. The nip forming unit has a protruding amount at a center toward the pressing member compared to both ends of the nip forming unit in no-load state is set to be less than a bent amount of the nip forming unit when the nip forming unit comes into press-contact with the pressing member with the fixing member interposed therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro IMADA, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Kenji Ishii, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Yuji Arai, Naoki Iwaya, Tetsuo Tokuda, Hiromasa Takagi, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Ippei Fujimoto, Takuya Seshita, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Arinobu Yoshiura, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Hajime Gotoh
  • LOW-ALLOY STEEL PIPE FOR AN OIL WELL
    Publication number: 20170081746
    Abstract: A low-alloy steel pipe includes C: 0.15% to less than 0.30%, Si: 0.05 to 1.00%, Mn: 0.05 to 1.00%, P: at most 0.030%, S: at most 0.0050%, Al: 0.005 to 0.100%, 0: at most 0.005%, N: at most 0.007%, Cr: 0.10% to less than 1.00%, Mo: 1.0% to not more than 2.5%, V: 0.01 to 0.30%, Ti: 0.002 to 0.009%. Nb: 0 to 0.050%, B: 0 to 0.0050%, Ca: 0 to 0.0050%, Mo/Cr?2.0, and the balance being Fe and impurities. The pipe has a crystal grain size number of 7.0 or more, 50 or more particles of cementite based on equivalent circle diameter and area of the matrix, M2C-based alloy carbide in a number density of not less than 25/?m2, and a yield strength of 758 MPa or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Atsushi SOMA, Yuji ARAI
  • Fixing device with nip forming member having a high thermal-conductive layer with a low thermal conductive portion
    Patent number: 9599940
    Abstract: A fixing device includes: a fixing member that is rotatable and in an endless shape; a heat source that heats the fixing member; a nip forming member that is arranged inside the fixing member; and a pressurizing member that is pressurized to be in contact with the nip forming member through the fixing member, to form a fixing nip. The fixing device fixes an unfixed image on a recording medium by passing the recording medium that carries the unfixed image through the fixing nip. The nip forming member includes a base layer, and a high thermal-conductive layer that is arranged on a surface layer of the base layer on a fixing nip side, and that has higher thermal conductivity than the base layer, and in the high thermal-conductive layer, a low thermal-conductive portion is arranged near an end portion in an axial direction of the fixing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Motoyoshi Yamano, Kohichi Utsunomiya, Hiromasa Takagi, Kenji Ishii, Takayuki Seki, Keitaro Shoji, Hideo Nagafuji, Yuji Arai, Arinobu Yoshiura, Shohei Saito, Qifeng Cui, Yutaka Ikebuchi
  • SEAMLESS STEEL PIPE FOR LINE PIPE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME
    Publication number: 20170067129
    Abstract: A seamless steel pipe for line pipe has a chemical composition consisting, by mass percent, of C: 0.03-0.15%, Si: ?0.50%, Mn: 1.0-2.0%, P: ?0.050%, S: ?0.005%, Cr: 0.1-1.0%, Al: 0.001-0.10%, N: ?0.01%, Ni: 0.05-2.0%, B: 0.0003-0.0015%, Ca: 0.0002-0.0050%, Mo: 0.10-0.50%, Ti: 0.001-0.05%, Cu: 0-2.0%, Nb: 0-0.05%, V: 0-0.10%, the balance: Fe and impurities, and satisfying the conditions of 2Nb+4V+Mo?0.50, wherein a metal micro-structure of the steel pipe contains 50% or more of bainite, in an area fraction, a wall thickness of the steel pipe is 25 mm or larger, and in a scale formed on the surface of the steel pipe, metal particles consisting mainly of Ni or Cu having an average circle-equivalent diameter of 0.1-5 mm exist. A distance from a boundary between the base metal of the steel pipe and the scale to a region in which the metal particles do not exist is 20 mm or longer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Yuji Arai, Yukimasa Ueda
  • Fixing device and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 9557692
    Abstract: A fixing device may include an endless fixing member; a heating unit that is provided inside an inner peripheral surface of the fixing member; and a nip forming unit that comes into press-contact with a rotationally driven pressing member with the fixing member interposed therebetween to form a nip. The nip forming unit has a shape in which a center of a contact surface protrudes toward the pressing member compared to both ends. The nip forming unit has a protruding amount at a center toward the pressing member compared to both ends of the nip forming unit in no-load state is set to be less than a bent amount of the nip forming unit when the nip forming unit comes into press-contact with the pressing member with the fixing member interposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Takahiro Imada, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Kenji Ishii, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Yuji Arai, Naoki Iwaya, Tetsuo Tokuda, Hiromasa Takagi, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Ippei Fujimoto, Takuya Seshita, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Arinobu Yoshiura, Toshihiko Shimokawa, Hajime Gotoh
  • Quenching method for steel pipe
    Patent number: 9546408
    Abstract: A method for quenching a steel pipe by water cooling from an outer surface thereof, where pipe end portions are not subjected to water cooling, and at least part of a main body other than the pipe end portions is subjected to water cooling. A region(s) that is not subjected to direct water cooling over an entire circumference thereof can be along an axial direction at least in part of the main body other than the pipe end portions. The start and stop of water cooling can be intermittent at least in part of the quenching. During the water cooling of the pipe outer surface, an intensified water cooling can be performed in a temperature range in which the pipe outer surface temperature is higher than Ms point. Thereafter, the cooling can be switched to moderate cooling so that the outer surface is cooled down to Ms point or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiro Sakamoto, Kazuo Okamura, Kenji Yamamoto, Tomohiko Omura, Yuji Arai
  • FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING FIXING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20170010569
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, a heat source, a controller, a pressure rotator, and a nip formation pad. The controller controls the heat source such that a temperature of the fixing rotator is equal to a preset fixing temperature. The nip formation pad abuts the pressure rotator via the fixing rotator and forms a nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator. When a print time of a previous job is longer than a prescribed time A and a next job is started within a prescribed time B after an end of the previous job, the controller corrects the preset fixing temperature during a time from a start of the next job to an entry of a print sheet into the nip and during a time from the entry of the print sheet into the nip to a lapse of a prescribed time C after the entry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Seshita, Yuji Arai, Takahiro Imada, Hajime Gotoh, Akira Suzuki, Motoyoshi Yamano
  • Fixing device and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 9535380
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, a first heat generator and a second heat generator that heat the fixing rotator, and a support disposed inside the fixing rotator. A reflector, interposed between the support and each of the first heat generator and the second heat generator, reflects light radiated from the first heat generator and the second heat generator toward the fixing rotator. The reflector includes a body mounted on the support and a shield portion projecting from the body toward the first heat generator and the second heat generator to shield the fixing rotator from the first heat generator and the second heat generator. An electric circuit is connected to the first heat generator and the second heat generator. A heat generation restrainer is provided in the electric circuit to restrict heat generation in the electric circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Shimokawa, Yutaka Ikebuchi, Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Takayuki Seki, Yuji Arai, Ryuuichi Mimbu, Shuntaro Tamaki, Kazuya Saito, Shuutaroh Yuasa, Masaaki Yoshikawa, Takuya Seshita, Hajime Gotoh, Takahiro Imada, Kensuke Yamaji, Akira Suzuki
  • SEAMLESS STEEL PIPE FOR LINE PIPE USED IN SOUR ENVIRONMENTS
    Publication number: 20160369381
    Abstract: A seamless steel pipe has a yield strength of 400 MPa or less and excellent HIC resistance. The seamless steel pipe includes: a chemical composition consisting, in mass %, of, C: 0.01 to 0.20%, Si: 0.05 to 0.50%, Mn: 0.3 to 2.0%, P: 0.02% or less, S: 0.01% or less, Cr: 0.02 to 0.2%, sol.Al: 0.001 to 0.100%, O: 0.0050% or less, N: 0.0100% or less, Ca: 0 to 0.0050%, Ti: 0 to 0.012%, and Nb: 0 to 0.012%, the balance being Fe and impurities; and a structure consisting, in area ratio, of 10 to 50% of ferrite and 0 to less than 5% of pearlite, the balance being tempered bainite and/or tempered martensite, and the number of inclusions each having a grain diameter of 50 mm or more is not more than 15 per 100 mm2, and the seamless steel pipe has a yield strength of 400 MPa or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Applicant: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiichi KONDO, Yuji ARAI, Kenji KOBAYASHI
  • Fixing device and image forming apparatus comprising a multilayered twill fabric slide sheet
    Patent number: 9519251
    Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a nip formation pad disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt. A slide sheet is sandwiched between the nip formation pad and the endless belt and is a twill fabric containing a lubricant. The slide sheet includes a first sheet contacting the nip formation pad and including a first gutter defined by a first twill line in a first direction angled relative to the direction of rotation of the endless belt and a second sheet layered on the first sheet and contacting the endless belt. The second sheet includes a second gutter defined by a second twill line in a second direction angled relative to the direction of rotation of the endless belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Imada, Yuji Arai, Takuya Seshita, Motoyoshi Yamano, Hajime Gotoh, Akira Suzuki