The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 24, 2026
Filed:
May. 13, 2024
Ryohei Matsuda, Kanagawa, JP;
Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Kanagawa, JP;
Takashi Seto, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Chiba, JP;
Ryohhei Sugiyama, Kanagawa, JP;
Ryohei Matsuda, Kanagawa, JP;
Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Kanagawa, JP;
Takashi Seto, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Chiba, JP;
Ryohhei Sugiyama, Kanagawa, JP;
RICOH COMPANY, LTD., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a heating device, a motor, and circuitry. The heating device includes a belt, a heater, belt holders, a slide aid, lubricant, and a temperature sensor. The heater heats the belt. The belt holders hold both ends of the belt in a longitudinal direction of the belt. The inner circumferential surface of the belt slides on the slide aid. The lubricant is adhered to the belt. The temperature sensor detects a temperature of the belt. The motor rotates the belt in a forward direction to convey a recording medium and a reverse direction opposite to the forward direction. The circuitry is configured to control the motor to rotate the belt in the reverse direction in response to a detection of the temperature equal to or higher than 50° C. by the temperature sensor.