Patents by Inventor Junji Yamabe
Junji Yamabe 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).
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Patent number: 11874613Abstract: A powder container includes a nozzle receiving opening, a container body, a nozzle receiver including the nozzle receiving opening; a gear, and two scoops. Further, there is a shutter to open and close the nozzle receiving opening, a spring to bias the shutter, two protrusions which protrude away from the nozzle receiving opening. The scoops extend in the longitudinal direction along a first length, the protrusions extend in the longitudinal direction along a second length, and a position of the first length and a position of the second length at least partly overlap along the longitudinal direction. The powder dropped from the higher position enters the region by passing between the protrusions when the scoops are rotated about the rotational axis, and the protrusions are rotated, due to the rotation of the gear, around the region when the scoops are rotated about the rotational axis.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2022Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Hiroshi Hosokawa, Shunji Kato, Shinji Tamaki, Hiroshi Ikeguchi, Seiji Terazawa, Junji Yamabe, Kaori Mitsuishi, Toshihide Tomotaka, Tsunehiro Watanabe, Kenji Kikuchi
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Publication number: 20230375959Abstract: A powder container including a nozzle receiving opening at one side of the powder container in a longitudinal direction of the powder container, a scoop, at the one side, to scoop up the powder, when the scoop is rotated about a rotational axis, and a holder, at the one side, which is rotatable around the rotational axis relative to the scoop. The holder includes an electrical terminal, facing the longitudinal direction, and the holder and the electrical terminal not intersecting the rotational axis. The electrical terminal is oblique to the rotational axis relative to a vertical direction when the powder container is in a mounted orientation.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2023Publication date: November 23, 2023Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Shunji KATO, Shinji TAMAKI, Hiroshi IKEGUCHI, Seiji TERAZAWA, Junji YAMABE, Kaori MITSUISHI, Toshihide TOMOTAKA, Tsunehiro WATANABE, Kenji KIKUCHI
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Patent number: 11662672Abstract: A powder conveying device includes: a conveying nozzle, provided with a powder receiving opening; an open/close member to open/close the powder receiving opening; a flange provided to the open/close member; a biasing member to bias the open/close member; and a container setting section to which a part of a powder container is to be fit. The powder container includes: a conveyor to convey the powder from a second end of the powder container to a first end; a container opening protruding from the first end; a nozzle receiving opening into which the conveying nozzle is to be inserted; and a butting portion provided in the container opening, to butt against the flange. When the powder container is attached to the powder conveying device, the container opening is fitted to the container setting section, and the flange and the biasing member are housed in an inner space of the container opening.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2021Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Hiroshi Hosokawa, Shunji Kato, Shinji Tamaki, Hiroshi Ikeguchi, Seiji Terazawa, Junji Yamabe, Kaori Mitsuishi, Toshihide Tomotaka, Tsunehiro Watanabe, Kenji Kikuchi
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Patent number: 11543761Abstract: A nozzle insertion member is in a powder container that includes a nozzle insertion opening into which a conveying nozzle is inserted. The nozzle insertion member includes an opening/closing structure to move to an opening position to open the nozzle insertion opening by being pressed by the inserted conveying nozzle, and to a closing position to close the nozzle insertion opening when the conveying nozzle is separated from the nozzle insertion member, and a seal arranged at the nozzle insertion opening and including a through hole into which the conveying nozzle is insertable. The opening/closing structure includes a front cylindrical portion to contact with an inner surface of the through hole, and a slide area formed on another side relative to the front cylindrical portion. W1<W4 is satisfied, where W1 is an inner diameter of the through hole, and W4 is an outer diameter of the slide area.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2021Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Kenji Kikuchi, Shinji Tamaki, Shunji Katoh, Junji Yamabe
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Publication number: 20220244661Abstract: A powder conveying device includes: a conveying nozzle, provided with a powder receiving opening; an open/close member to open/close the powder receiving opening; a flange provided to the open/close member; a biasing member to bias the open/close member; and a container setting section to which a part of a powder container is to be fit. The powder container includes: a conveyor to convey the powder from a second end of the powder container to a first end; a container opening protruding from the first end; a nozzle receiving opening into which the conveying nozzle is to be inserted; and a butting portion provided in the container opening, to butt against the flange. When the powder container is attached to the powder conveying device, the container opening is fitted to the container setting section, and the flange and the biasing member are housed in an inner space of the container opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2022Publication date: August 4, 2022Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Shunji KATO, Shinji TAMAKI, Hiroshi IKEGUCHI, Seiji TERAZAWA, Junji YAMABE, Kaori MITSUISHI, Toshihide TOMOTAKA, Tsunehiro WATANABE, Kenji KIKUCHI
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Patent number: 11397391Abstract: A powder conveying device includes: a conveying nozzle, provided with a powder receiving opening; an open/close member to open/close the powder receiving opening; a flange provided to the open/close member; a biasing member to bias the open/close member; and a container setting section to which a part of a powder container is to be fit. The powder container includes: a conveyor to convey the powder from a second end of the powder container to a first end; a container opening protruding from the first end; a nozzle receiving opening into which the conveying nozzle is to be inserted; and a butting portion provided in the container opening, to butt against the flange. When the powder container is attached to the powder conveying device, the container opening is fitted to the container setting section, and the flange and the biasing member are housed in an inner space of the container opening.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2020Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Hiroshi Hosokawa, Shunji Kato, Shinji Tamaki, Hiroshi Ikeguchi, Seiji Terazawa, Junji Yamabe, Kaori Mitsuishi, Toshihide Tomotaka, Tsunehiro Watanabe, Kenji Kikuchi
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Patent number: 11347163Abstract: A powder conveying device includes: a conveying nozzle, provided with a powder receiving opening; an open/close member to open/close the powder receiving opening; a flange provided to the open/close member; a biasing member to bias the open/close member; and a container setting section to which a part of a powder container is to be fit. The powder container includes: a conveyor to convey the powder from a second end of the powder container to a first end; a container opening protruding from the first end; a nozzle receiving opening into which the conveying nozzle is to be inserted; and a butting portion provided in the container opening, to butt against the flange. When the powder container is attached to the powder conveying device, the container opening is fitted to the container setting section, and the flange and the biasing member are housed in an inner space of the container opening.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2020Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Hiroshi Hosokawa, Shunji Kato, Shinji Tamaki, Hiroshi Ikeguchi, Seiji Terazawa, Junji Yamabe, Kaori Mitsuishi, Toshihide Tomotaka, Tsunehiro Watanabe, Kenji Kikuchi
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Patent number: 11231661Abstract: A powder conveying device includes: a conveying nozzle, provided with a powder receiving opening; an open/close member to open/close the powder receiving opening; a flange provided to the open/close member; a biasing member to bias the open/close member; and a container setting section to which a part of a powder container is to be fit. The powder container includes: a conveyor to convey the powder from a second end of the powder container to a first end; a container opening protruding from the first end; a nozzle receiving opening into which the conveying nozzle is to be inserted; and a butting portion provided in the container opening, to butt against the flange. When the powder container is attached to the powder conveying device, the container opening is fitted to the container setting section, and the flange and the biasing member are housed in an inner space of the container opening.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2021Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Hiroshi Hosokawa, Shunji Kato, Shinji Tamaki, Hiroshi Ikeguchi, Seiji Terazawa, Junji Yamabe, Kaori Mitsuishi, Toshihide Tomotaka, Tsunehiro Watanabe, Kenji Kikuchi
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Publication number: 20210405553Abstract: A powder conveying device includes: a conveying nozzle, provided with a powder receiving opening; an open/close member to open/close the powder receiving opening; a flange provided to the open/close member; a biasing member to bias the open/close member; and a container setting section to which a part of a powder container is to be fit. The powder container includes: a conveyor to convey the powder from a second end of the powder container to a first end; a container opening protruding from the first end; a nozzle receiving opening into which the conveying nozzle is to be inserted; and a butting portion provided in the container opening, to butt against the flange. When the powder container is attached to the powder conveying device, the container opening is fitted to the container setting section, and the flange and the biasing member are housed in an inner space of the container opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2021Publication date: December 30, 2021Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Shunji KATO, Shinji TAMAKI, Hiroshi IKEGUCHI, Seiji TERAZAWA, Junji YAMABE, Kaori MITSUISHI, Toshihide TOMOTAKA, Tsunehiro WATANABE, Kenji KIKUCHI
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Patent number: 11209748Abstract: A powder conveying device includes: a conveying nozzle, provided with a powder receiving opening; an open/close member to open/close the powder receiving opening; a flange provided to the open/close member; a biasing member to bias the open/close member; and a container setting section to which a part of a powder container is to be fit. The powder container includes: a conveyor to convey the powder from a second end of the powder container to a first end; a container opening protruding from the first end; a nozzle receiving opening into which the conveying nozzle is to be inserted; and a butting portion provided in the container opening, to butt against the flange. When the powder container is attached to the powder conveying device, the container opening is fitted to the container setting section, and the flange and the biasing member are housed in an inner space of the container opening.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2021Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Hiroshi Hosokawa, Shunji Kato, Shinji Tamaki, Hiroshi Ikeguchi, Seiji Terazawa, Junji Yamabe, Kaori Mitsuishi, Toshihide Tomotaka, Tsunehiro Watanabe, Kenji Kikuchi
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Publication number: 20210364947Abstract: A powder conveying device includes: a conveying nozzle, provided with a powder receiving opening; an open/close member to open/close the powder receiving opening; a flange provided to the open/close member; a biasing member to bias the open/close member; and a container setting section to which a part of a powder container is to be fit. The powder container includes: a conveyor to convey the powder from a second end of the powder container to a first end; a container opening protruding from the first end; a nozzle receiving opening into which the conveying nozzle is to be inserted; and a butting portion provided in the container opening, to butt against the flange. When the powder container is attached to the powder conveying device, the container opening is fitted to the container setting section, and the flange and the biasing member are housed in an inner space of the container opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2021Publication date: November 25, 2021Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Shunji KATO, Shinji TAMAKI, Hiroshi IKEGUCHI, Seiji TERAZAWA, Junji YAMABE, Kaori MITSUISHI, Toshihide TOMOTAKA, Tsunehiro WATANABE, Kenji KIKUCHI
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Publication number: 20210349411Abstract: A powder conveying device includes: a conveying nozzle, provided with a powder receiving opening; an open/close member to open/close the powder receiving opening; a flange provided to the open/close member; a biasing member to bias the open/close member; and a container setting section to which a part of a powder container is to be fit. The powder container includes: a conveyor to convey the powder from a second end of the powder container to a first end; a container opening protruding from the first end; a nozzle receiving opening into which the conveying nozzle is to be inserted; and a butting portion provided in the container opening, to butt against the flange. When the powder container is attached to the powder conveying device, the container opening is fitted to the container setting section, and the flange and the biasing member are housed in an inner space of the container opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2021Publication date: November 11, 2021Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Shunji KATO, Shinji TAMAKI, Hiroshi IKEGUCHI, Seiji TERAZAWA, Junji YAMABE, Kaori MITSUISHI, Toshihide TOMOTAKA, Tsunehiro WATANABE, Kenji KIKUCHI
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Publication number: 20210132524Abstract: A nozzle insertion member is in a powder container that includes a nozzle insertion opening into which a conveying nozzle is inserted. The nozzle insertion member includes an opening/closing structure to move to an opening position to open the nozzle insertion opening by being pressed by the inserted conveying nozzle, and to a closing position to close the nozzle insertion opening when the conveying nozzle is separated from the nozzle insertion member, and a seal arranged at the nozzle insertion opening and including a through hole into which the conveying nozzle is insertable. The opening/closing structure includes a front cylindrical portion to contact with an inner surface of the through hole, and a slide area formed on another side relative to the front cylindrical portion. W1<W4 is satisfied, where W1 is an inner diameter of the through hole, and W4 is an outer diameter of the slide area.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2021Publication date: May 6, 2021Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kenji KIKUCHI, Shinji TAMAKI, Shunji KATOH, Junji YAMABE
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Publication number: 20210116839Abstract: A powder conveying device includes: a conveying nozzle, provided with a powder receiving opening; an open/close member to open/close the powder receiving opening; a flange provided to the open/close member; a biasing member to bias the open/close member; and a container setting section to which a part of a powder container is to be fit. The powder container includes: a conveyor to convey the powder from a second end of the powder container to a first end; a container opening protruding from the first end; a nozzle receiving opening into which the conveying nozzle is to be inserted; and a butting portion provided in the container opening, to butt against the flange. When the powder container is attached to the powder conveying device, the container opening is fitted to the container setting section, and the flange and the biasing member are housed in an inner space of the container opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2020Publication date: April 22, 2021Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Shunji KATO, Shinji TAMAKI, Hiroshi IKEGUCHI, Seiji TERAZAWA, Junji YAMABE, Kaori MITSUISHI, Toshihide TOMOTAKA, Tsunehiro WATANABE, Kenji KIKUCHI
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Publication number: 20210116840Abstract: A powder conveying device includes: a conveying nozzle, provided with a powder receiving opening; an open/close member to open/close the powder receiving opening; a flange provided to the open/close member; a biasing member to bias the open/close member; and a container setting section to which a part of a powder container is to be fit. The powder container includes: a conveyor to convey the powder from a second end of the powder container to a first end; a container opening protruding from the first end; a nozzle receiving opening into which the conveying nozzle is to be inserted; and a butting portion provided in the container opening, to butt against the flange. When the powder container is attached to the powder conveying device, the container opening is fitted to the container setting section, and the flange and the biasing member are housed in an inner space of the container opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2020Publication date: April 22, 2021Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Shunji KATO, Shinji TAMAKI, Hiroshi IKEGUCHI, Seiji TERAZAWA, Junji YAMABE, Kaori MITSUISHI, Toshihide TOMOTAKA, Tsunehiro WATANABE, Kenji KIKUCHI
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Patent number: 10915039Abstract: A powder conveying device includes: a conveying nozzle, provided with a powder receiving opening; an open/close member to open/close the powder receiving opening; a flange provided to the open/close member; a biasing member to bias the open/close member; and a container setting section to which a part of a powder container is to be fit. The powder container includes: a conveyor to convey the powder from a second end of the powder container to a first end; a container opening protruding from the first end; a nozzle receiving opening into which the conveying nozzle is to be inserted; and a butting portion provided in the container opening, to butt against the flange. When the powder container is attached to the powder conveying device, the container opening is fitted to the container setting section, and the flange and the biasing member are housed in an inner space of the container opening.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2019Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Hiroshi Hosokawa, Shunji Kato, Shinji Tamaki, Hiroshi Ikeguchi, Seiji Terazawa, Junji Yamabe, Kaori Mitsuishi, Toshihide Tomotaka, Tsunehiro Watanabe, Kenji Kikuchi
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Patent number: 10908532Abstract: A nozzle insertion member is in a powder container that includes a nozzle insertion opening into which a conveying nozzle is inserted. The nozzle insertion member includes an opening/closing structure to move to an opening position to open the nozzle insertion opening by being pressed by the inserted conveying nozzle, and to a closing position to close the nozzle insertion opening when the conveying nozzle is separated from the nozzle insertion member, and a seal arranged at the nozzle insertion opening and including a through hole into which the conveying nozzle is insertable. The opening/closing structure includes a front cylindrical portion to contact with an inner surface of the through hole, and a slide area formed on another side relative to the front cylindrical portion. W1<W4 is satisfied, where W1 is an inner diameter of the through hole, and W4 is an outer diameter of the slide area.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2020Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Kenji Kikuchi, Shinji Tamaki, Shunji Katoh, Junji Yamabe
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Patent number: 10852689Abstract: A powder container is for use with an image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus includes a driving protrusion that is rotatable and that protrudes toward an upstream side in an insertion direction in which the powder container is inserted. The powder container includes a container body to store powder, a cap attached to the container body, and a transmitted structure provided on the cap to contact the driving protrusion. The transmitted structure extends outward from an outer circumference of the powder container. The cap is rotatable relative to the container body in a predetermined angular range. The rotation of the cap relative to the container body is restricted so that the container body rotates along with the rotation of the cap when the rotation of the cap exceeds the predetermined angular range.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2020Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Nobuo Takami, Kiyonori Tsuda, Ryoichi Teranishi, Junichi Matsumoto, Toshio Koike, Yutaka Takahashi, Junji Yamabe, Akihiro Kawakami, Keinosuke Kondoh, Atsushi Inoue
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Publication number: 20200264537Abstract: A nozzle insertion member is in a powder container that includes a nozzle insertion opening into which a conveying nozzle is inserted. The nozzle insertion member includes an opening/closing structure to move to an opening position to open the nozzle insertion opening by being pressed by the inserted conveying nozzle, and to a closing position to close the nozzle insertion opening when the conveying nozzle is separated from the nozzle insertion member, and a seal arranged at the nozzle insertion opening and including a through hole into which the conveying nozzle is insertable. The opening/closing structure includes a front cylindrical portion to contact with an inner surface of the through hole, and a slide area formed on another side relative to the front cylindrical portion. W1<W4 is satisfied, where W1 is an inner diameter of the through hole, and W4 is an outer diameter of the slide area.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2020Publication date: August 20, 2020Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kenji KIKUCHI, Shinji TAMAKI, Shunji KATOH, Junji YAMABE
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Publication number: 20200233371Abstract: A powder container is for use with an image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus includes a driving protrusion that is rotatable and that protrudes toward an upstream side in an insertion direction in which the powder container is inserted. The powder container includes a container body to store powder, a cap attached to the container body, and a transmitted structure provided on the cap to contact the driving protrusion. The transmitted structure extends outward from an outer circumference of the powder container. The cap is rotatable relative to the container body in a predetermined angular range. The rotation of the cap relative to the container body is restricted so that the container body rotates along with the rotation of the cap when the rotation of the cap exceeds the predetermined angular range.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2020Publication date: July 23, 2020Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Nobuo TAKAMI, Kiyonori TSUDA, Ryoichi TERANISHI, Junichi MATSUMOTO, Toshio KOIKE, Yutaka TAKAHASHI, Junji YAMABE, Akihiro KAWAKAMI, Keinosuke KONDOH, Atsushi INOUE