IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,638,800
Granted Patent B2
US 12,638,800 · App. 18/667,313 · Granted May 26, 2026

Image forming system performing temperature control of sheet laminator based on operation modes of the image forming system

Inventors: Yasunobu Kidoura (Kanagawa, JP); Ryohsuke Akaishi (Kanagawa, JP); Satoshi Kuno (Tokyo, JP); Hirofumi Horita (Kanagawa, JP); Naohiro Yoshida (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
G03G15/6544G03G15/50G03G15/6582
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,638,800
App. No.
18/667,313
Granted
May 26, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus, a sheet laminator, a post-processing apparatus, and circuitry. The sheet laminator includes a heater. The sheet laminator applies heat and pressure on a two-ply sheet in which a sheet medium is inserted while conveying the two-ply sheet. The post-processing apparatus performs a task. The circuitry is to calculate a task time taken for the task performed by of the post-processing apparatus, and perform one of increasing a temperature of the heater of the sheet laminator while the post-processing apparatus performs the task or maintaining the temperature of the heater of the sheet laminator while the post-processing apparatus performs the task, based on the task time in a productivity mode.

Claims (59)

1 . An image forming system comprising:

an image forming apparatus;

a sheet laminator including a heater, the sheet laminator configured to apply heat and pressure on a two-ply sheet in which a sheet medium is inserted while conveying the two-ply sheet;

a post-processing apparatus configured to perform a task; and

circuitry configured to,

calculate a task time taken for the task performed by the post-processing apparatus; and

perform at least one of,

increasing a temperature of the heater of the sheet laminator while the post-processing apparatus performs the task; or

maintaining the temperature of the heater of the sheet laminator while the post-processing apparatus performs the task,

based on the task time in a productivity mode.

2 . The image forming system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the circuitry is further configured to wait for increasing the temperature of the heater of the sheet laminator until a completion of the task performed by the post-processing apparatus in an energy-saving mode.

3 . The image forming system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

increase the temperature of the heater of the sheet laminator in response to the task time of the post-processing apparatus being longer than a given determination time; and

maintain the temperature of the heater of the sheet laminator in response to the task time of the post-processing apparatus being equal to or smaller than the given determination time,

in the productivity mode.

4 . The image forming system according to claim 3 ,

wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

set the given determination time in advance, or

receive the given determination time from a control panel.

5 . The image forming system according to claim 3 ,

wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

increase the temperature of the heater of the sheet laminator,

in response to the task time of the post-processing apparatus being equal to or smaller than the given determination time; and

in response to the temperature of the heater of the sheet laminator being smaller than a set temperature; and

maintain the temperature of the heater of the sheet laminator,

in response to the task time of the post-processing apparatus being equal to or smaller than the given determination time; and

in response to the temperature of the heater of the sheet laminator being equal to or greater than the set temperature,

in the productivity mode.

6 . The image forming system according to claim 5 ,

wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

set a time to maintain the temperature of the heater, the time being set equal to or below an upper limit time; and

stop maintaining the temperature of the heater in response to the time reaching the upper limit time.

7 . The image forming system according to claim 1 ,

wherein, in response to the task time of the post-processing apparatus being longer than a given determination time,

the circuitry is configured to subtract a time taken for increasing the temperature of the heater of the sheet laminator from the task time of the post-processing apparatus to calculate a start time to increase the temperature of the heater of the sheet laminator,

in the productivity mode.

8 . An image forming system comprising:

an image forming apparatus;

a sheet laminator including a heater, the sheet laminator configured to apply heat and pressure on a two-ply sheet in which a sheet medium is inserted while conveying the two-ply sheet;

a post-processing apparatus configured to perform a task; and

circuitry configured to,

calculate a task time taken for the task performed by the post-processing apparatus; and

perform at least one of,

increasing a temperature of the heater of the sheet laminator while the post-processing apparatus performs the task; or

maintaining the temperature of the heater of the sheet laminator while the post-processing apparatus performs the task,

based on the task time in a productivity mode,

wherein, in the productivity mode, the circuitry is further configured to,

increase the temperature of the heater of the sheet laminator in response to the task time of the post-processing apparatus being longer than a given determination time,

maintain the temperature of the heater of the sheet laminator in response to the task time of the post-processing apparatus being equal to or smaller than the given determination time,

increase the temperature of the heater of the sheet laminator,

 in response to the task time of the post-processing apparatus being equal to or smaller than the given determination time, and

 in response to the temperature of the heater of the sheet laminator being smaller than a set temperature,

maintain the temperature of the heater of the sheet laminator,

 in response to the task time of the post-processing apparatus being equal to or smaller than the given determination time, and

 in response to the temperature of the heater of the sheet laminator being equal to or greater than the set temperature,

set a time to maintain the temperature of the heater, the time being set equal to or below an upper limit time, and

stop maintaining the temperature of the heater in response to the time reaching the upper limit time.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 21, 2024
From: KIDOURA, YASUNOBU; AKAISHI, RYOHSUKE; KUNO, SATOSHI; HORITA, HIROFUMI; YOSHIDA, NAOHIRO
To: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 067474/0527 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2023-086916 · May 26, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240393725A1 · Nov 28, 2024
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