Patents by Inventor Atsushi Sanpe

Atsushi Sanpe 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: 6026255
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a blade for removing a developer left on a photoconductive drum. In addition, a low density pattern is formed on at least a part of the photoconductive drum based on a duration the photoconductive drum is driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Kizaki, Atsushi Sanpe
  • Patent number: 5915156
    Abstract: A contact time with an image carrier and a cleaning blade is added up, and a toner image pattern is formed according to such an added up value. Accordingly, the quantity of toner as a lubricant sticking based on a toner image pattern becomes a most suitable quantity. As the added up value increases when it is described concretely, an area of the toner image pattern is made small, and accordingly a quantity of adhesion of toner is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Kizaki, Atsushi Sanpe
  • Patent number: 5663788
    Abstract: An electrostatic image forming apparatus has high cleaning efficiency using the electrostatic fur brush method. A photosensitive body having a photoconductive characteristic is charged uniformly. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the charged photosensitive body by radiating light rays on the area to be developed. The latent image is developed by the dry-type developing method by use of toner charged with same polarity as that of the photosensitive body's surface. The obtained visible image is transferred electrostatically onto the transfer paper. A non-electrically-insulative fur brush 16 removes the remaining toner 20 from the surface of the photosensitive body 14 and an electric potential gradient generator 17 generates an electric potential gradient through the fur brush which transfers the remaining toner 20 to the fur brush 16 from the surface of the photosensitive body 14. The toner to be employed has a substantially uniform particle diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Sanpe
  • Patent number: 5638158
    Abstract: At least a photosensitive drum 2 and charge roller 9 are attached to a unit 8 so that the photosensitive drum 2 and charge roller 9 can be freely attached to and detached from an apparatus body 1 in unison with the unit case 8, and the charge roller 9 can be freely brought into and out of contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 2. The apparatus body 1 is provided with pressure cams 5a and 5b adapted to cause the charge roller 9 to be brought into and out of contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Sanpe, Hirohisa Otsuka, Kazuhisa Sudo
  • Patent number: 5614998
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, an exposing device electrostatically forms a latent image on an image carrier while a developing device develops the latent image with toner to thereby form a corresponding toner image. An image transferring device transfers the toner image to a sheet in contact with the image carrier. A pretransfer lamp discharges the image carrier before the transfer of the toner image to the sheet. A bias applying device applies a bias voltage at the time of the image transfer. A cleaning device removes the toner remaining on the image carrier after the image transfer. A toner conveying device conveys the toner removed by the cleaning device to the developing device. The bias applying device applies the bias voltage only when the sheet exists between the image carrier and the transferring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Sanpe
  • Patent number: 5386274
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus capable of collecting a toner remaining on a photoconductive element after image transfer. A developing device develops a latent image electrostatically formed on the surface of a photoconductive element. A paper and paper dust, paper fibers and other impurities produced from the paper before, after and during image transfer are caused to electrostatically adhere to a transfer belt included in a contact type transferring device. After the developed image has been transferred to the paper, a cleaning device associated with the photoconductive element removes a toner remaining thereon. The tone so collected by the cleaning device is conveyed to the developing device by a transporting device. Impurities deposited on the transfer belt are not conveyed to the developing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Sanpe, Naomi Misago
  • Patent number: 4969015
    Abstract: A cleaning device for an electrophotographic apparatus for removing toner particles which remain on a photoconductive element after image transfer. A cleaning blade is movable into contact with the photoconductive element for removing toner particles. A scraping member is held in contact with the cleaning blade by a predetermined pressure to scrape the toner particles off the cleaning blade. When the cleaning blade is moved toward the photoconductive element, an urging member or a resilient member urges the scraping member away from the cleaning blade. The cleaning blade is, therefore, prevented from exerting a load on the scraping member while the cleaning blade cleans the photoconductive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Sanpe