Patents by Inventor Kazuo Koike

Kazuo Koike 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).

  • Publication number: 20160297293
    Abstract: An electric work vehicle includes a left motor 4L that drives a left drive wheel 12L and a right motor 4R that drives a right drive wheel 12R, a cooling liquid circulation flow path 7 connected to the left motor 4L and the right motor 4R, and a cooling liquid distribution mechanism 6 that, according to a travel state, adjusts a ratio between a cooling liquid flow amount that flows from a pump 72 disposed on the cooling liquid circulation flow path 7 to the left motor 4L, and a cooling liquid flow amount that flows from the pump 72 to the right motor 4R.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Hirokazu Ito, Kazuo Koike
  • Publication number: 20160288829
    Abstract: An electric work vehicle includes a casing structure connected to a vehicle frame and having a central casing, a left casing, and a right casing. The vehicle further includes a left rear wheel supported by the left casing, a right rear wheel supported by the right casing, a left motor housed in a left region of the central casing, a right motor housed in a right region of the central casing, a left transmission mechanism housed in the left casing for transmitting power from the left motor to the left rear wheel, and a right transmission mechanism housed in the right casing for transmitting power from the right motor to the right rear wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Hirokazu Ito, Kazuo Koike
  • Publication number: 20160293906
    Abstract: A battery pack (6) for an electric work vehicle includes a battery unit (6A), a casing (60) for tightly housing the battery unit (6A), a circulation fan (6B) mounted in an inner space of the casing (60), and an air guide (50) provided in the casing (60) to direct cooling air produced by the circulation fan (6B) to the battery unit (6A).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Hirokazu Ito, Kazuo Koike
  • Patent number: 9216764
    Abstract: A vehicle steerable by movement of the center of gravity has an auxiliary wheel. A left drive wheel is driven by a left rotary driver. A right drive wheel is driven by a right rotary driver. A gravity center position calculator calculates a position of the center of gravity of a driver on a steering step board based on a detection signal from a load detection module detecting a load distribution of the driver. A travel controller has a first control mode controlling rotary drive of the left and right rotary drivers to achieve straight forward travel or turning. The travel controller also has a second control mode controlling the rotary drive of the left and right rotary drivers to achieve straight forward travel, turning or straight backward travel based on the position of the center of gravity. A driver input operation device can be used to select either the first or the second control mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirokazu Ito, Kazuo Koike, Yoshitomo Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 9173346
    Abstract: The present invention provides a riding work vehicle that includes a vehicle body having a driver seat; a driving wheel unit supporting the vehicle body; a working electric motor that drives a work unit having a work device; an electric motor controller controlling an operation of the working electric motor in a steady mode or a power saving mode in which consumed power is smaller than the steady mode; and a work load evaluator that evaluates load of the working electric motor. In the riding work vehicle, the electric motor controller operates the working electric motor in the power saving mode in a case where the load of the working electric motor evaluated by the work load evaluator is low load lower than a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo Koike, Hirokazu Ito
  • Publication number: 20150289444
    Abstract: The present invention provides a riding work vehicle that includes a vehicle body having a driver seat; a driving wheel unit supporting the vehicle body; a working electric motor that drives a work unit having a work device; an electric motor controller controlling an operation of the working electric motor in a steady mode or a power saving mode in which consumed power is smaller than the steady mode; and a work load evaluator that evaluates load of the working electric motor. In the riding work vehicle, the electric motor controller operates the working electric motor in the power saving mode in a case where the load of the working electric motor evaluated by the work load evaluator is low load lower than a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo KOIKE, Hirokazu ITO
  • Publication number: 20150201556
    Abstract: A lawn mower includes: a mower unit having a plurality of blades for performing lawn mowing work, the plurality of blades being driven by rotational power; a blade motor configured to transmit rotational power to each of the plurality of blades, and be capable of optionally changing the rotation number of the rotational power transmitted to each of the plurality of blades; and a controller configured to detect respective speeds of the plurality of blades to the ground and perform energy-saving control of increasing and decreasing the rotation number of the rotational power transmitted to each of the plurality of blades in accordance with increase and reduction in the detected speed of each of the plurality of blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: Hirokazu ITO, Kazuo KOIKE, Yoshitomo FUJIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20150175190
    Abstract: A traveling vehicle includes: a traveling machine body supported by a pair of left and right driving wheels; a pair of left motor and the right motor configured to independently drive the driving wheels; a riding part disposed behind the traveling machine body and connected to the traveling machine body, and configured to enable riding of a worker; a handle connected to the traveling machine body so as to be swingable left and right with respect to the traveling machine body; a plurality of load sensors for detecting a forward and backward weight shift of the worker who riding on the riding part; a rotation angle sensor for detecting a leftward and rightward swinging operation amount of the handle; and a controller for controlling operation of the left and right motors based on detection values by the plurality of load sensors and the rotation angle sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Hirokazu ITO, Kazuo KOIKE, Yoshikazu TOGOSHI
  • Patent number: 9007608
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an exposure glass on which an original is to be placed; a scanner cover to openably cover the exposure glass from above, a tip of the scanner cover is lifted to open the exposure glass; a document scanner to read a two-dimensional objet of the original on the exposure glass and output read image data; a camera unit to capture an image of a three-dimensional object of the original on the exposure glass and output captured image data; photography lighting equipment including movable light source unit to illuminate the three-dimensional object put when the camera unit captures the image of the three-dimensional object; an image forming unit to convert the read image data and the captured image data to form a printed image on a recording medium; and a setting controller to control a reading process, a capturing process, and an image forming process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Taisuke Omi, Masaaki Kawamura, Kazuo Koike, Kenichi Yamada, Tasuku Kohara, Tsuyoshi Endoh, Hiroshi Takeda
  • Publication number: 20150083506
    Abstract: Vehicle according to the present invention includes a traveling vehicle body and left and right drive wheels. Left and right propulsion motors drive the left and right drive wheels. A battery supplies electric power to the left and right propulsion motors. The left and right drive wheels are positioned on two width-direction ends of the traveling vehicle body. The left and right propulsion motors are positioned on the traveling vehicle body so as to align with the left and right drive wheels in the width direction of the vehicle body. The battery is positioned in a battery installation space of the traveling vehicle body. The battery installation space is located in at least a space located below the left and right propulsion motors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo KOIKE, Hirokazu ITO, Takafumi KOMATSU
  • Publication number: 20150033693
    Abstract: A lawn mower includes a mower deck including a blade rotationally driven to cut grass and generate an air flow to feed the cut grass. A cutting chamber houses the blade. An ejection outlet is open to the cutting chamber and ejects the cut grass. A grass collection container collects the cut grass ejected from the ejection outlet. An air chamber is provided in a vicinity of the cutting chamber and receives the air flow generated by rotation of the blade through the grass collection container. A first passage connects the ejection outlet and the grass collection container. A second passage connects the grass collection container and the air chamber. The air flow supplied from the grass collection container to the air chamber through the second passage is supplied to the cutting chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirokazu ITO, Kazuo KOIKE
  • Publication number: 20150039171
    Abstract: A self-propelled vehicle includes a maneuvering unit, a drive unit including first and second drive sections, which are driven and controlled by drive wheel control commands, a drive wheel unit including left and right drive wheels driven by the first and second drive sections, respectively, at least one caster wheel which is controlled by a caster wheel control command, a bank detector for detecting a degree of bank of the vehicle and a control unit including a drive wheel control section for generating the drive wheel control commands. The control unit further includes a caster wheel control section which generates the caster wheel control command for controlling the steering angle of the caster wheel during a bank traversing travel, based on the bank degree so as to resolve a difference between a target travel and the actual travel which occurs during the bank traversing travel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Kazuo Koike, Hirokazu Ito, Yoshikazu Togoshi
  • Patent number: 8838311
    Abstract: A self-propelled vehicle includes a maneuvering unit, a drive unit including first and second drive sections, which are driven and controlled by drive wheel control commands, a drive wheel unit including left and right drive wheels driven by the first and second drive sections, respectively, at least one caster wheel which is controlled by a caster wheel control command, a bank detector for detecting a degree of bank of the vehicle and a control unit including a drive wheel control section for generating the drive wheel control commands. The control unit further includes a caster wheel control section which generates the caster wheel control command for controlling the steering angle of the caster wheel during a bank traversing travel, based on the bank degree so as to resolve a difference between a target travel and the actual travel which occurs during the bank traversing travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Koike, Hirokazu Ito, Yoshikazu Togoshi
  • Patent number: 8831502
    Abstract: The height of an image reading unit or an operating panel in an image forming apparatus is adjusted to facilitate their operation depending on the physical characteristics of a user, such as his height or use of a wheel chair. A second operating panel and a second automatic document feeder (ADF) are disposed on the side of the image forming apparatus, so that a user on a wheel chair can access them easily. The second ADF houses plural sheet trays that are configured to open or close together. When the sheet trays are closed, a first operating panel disposed at the top of the apparatus is activated while the second operating panel on the side is deactivated. When the sheet trays are open, the second operating panel is activated while the first operating panel is deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tasuku Kohara, Takashi Inoue, Kazuo Koike, Kenichi Yamada, Taisuke Omi, Tsuyoshi Endoh
  • Publication number: 20140196428
    Abstract: Mower blade utilizes a blade portion formed on the blade main body and an air circulator portion formed on the blade main body and generating airflow via rotation centered around the vertically-oriented axis of the mower blade. The blade portion is arranged in a length-direction end portion of the blade main body and extends along a predetermined area in the length-direction. The air circulator portion is located opposite the blade portion in a width direction, has a rising upward portion, and extends along a predetermined area in the length-direction. A boundary portion is arranged between the blade main body and a rising upward portion of the air circulator portion has a portion inclined or angled with respect to the blade portion such that, beginning at the length-direction end portion, a distance between the boundary portion and the blade portion increases along the length-direction and moving toward the vertically-oriented axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Motosumi SHIOTSUKI, Akira MINOURA, Kazuo KOIKE, Hirokazu ITO
  • Patent number: 8780364
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a main body of the electronic apparatus; an operation unit including an operation block having a display unit, the operation block being detachable with respect to the main body of the electronic apparatus, and the operation block enabling at least a bidirectional wireless communication with the main body of the electronic apparatus; and a detection unit configured to detect relative positional information between the operation block and the main body of the electronic apparatus, when the operation block is detached from the main body of the electronic apparatus. The operation block being detached from the main body of the electronic apparatus is able to display information corresponding to the relative positional information on the display unit, in accordance with a condition of the main body of the electronic apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tasuku Kohara, Hiroshi Takeda, Kazuo Koike, Kenichi Yamada, Taisuke Omi, Tsuyoshi Endoh, Masaaki Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20140188338
    Abstract: A vehicle steerable by movement of the center of gravity has an auxiliary wheel. A left drive wheel is driven by a left rotary driver. A right drive wheel is driven by a right rotary driver. A gravity center position calculator calculates a position of the center of gravity of a driver on a steering step board based on a detection signal from a load detection module detecting a load distribution of the driver. A travel controller has a first control mode controlling rotary drive of the left and right rotary drivers to achieve straight forward travel or turning. The travel controller also has a second control mode controlling the rotary drive of the left and right rotary drivers to achieve straight forward travel, turning or straight backward travel based on the position of the center of gravity. A driver input operation device can be used to select either the first or the second control mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Hirokazu ITO, Kazuo KOIKE, Yoshitomo FUJIMOTO
  • Patent number: 8711133
    Abstract: Provided are a control panel or a display as well as an image processing apparatus and an electronic calculating apparatus using the electronic device or the display, the electronic device and the display each using a light transmissive solar cell for electric power generation so as to allow a solar cell part and a display part to be disposed to overlap an input part so that a larger electric power than the conventional cases can be generated without increasing the size of the whole operation panel and the whole display. An electronic device of the present invention includes: a display part capable of electrically and magnetically changing a display region and displaying of a display content displayed in the display region; a solar cell part that transmits light in a visible light region; and an input part that detects whether or not any part of the display region is manipulated, and that transmits light in a visible light region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Imai, Taisuke Omi, Yoshiaki Nishizaki, Kazuo Koike, Kenichi Yamada, Tasuku Kohara, Tsuyoshi Endoh, Hiroshi Takeda, Hiroki Tsuruoka
  • Patent number: 8668033
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a pair of electric motors independently running and driving right and left running wheels in a state of being able to create straight running state and turning running; a pair of right and left change speed operation tools independently manually operated and performing a change speed operation to the right and left running wheels; and a controller controlling operation. The controller controls the operation of the respective electric motors by setting target speeds with regard to the respective electric motors such that the speed difference in the target speeds is smaller than the speed difference corresponding to the difference in the operation positions of the respective change speed operation tools by a set amount in a case where the operation positions of the respective change speed operation tools are different between right and left.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Koike, Hirokazu Ito
  • Publication number: 20130314731
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an exposure glass on which an original is to be placed; a scanner cover to openably cover the exposure glass from above, a tip of the scanner cover is lifted to open the exposure glass; a document scanner to read a two-dimensional objet of the original on the exposure glass and output read image data; a camera unit to capture an image of a three-dimensional object of the original on the exposure glass and output captured image data; photography lighting equipment including movable light source unit to illuminate the three-dimensional object put when the camera unit captures the image of the three-dimensional object; an image forming unit to convert the read image data and the captured image data to form a printed image on a recording medium; and a setting controller to control a reading process, a capturing process, and an image forming process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Taisuke OMI, Masaaki KAWAMURA, Kazuo KOIKE, Kenichi YAMADA, Tasuku KOHARA, Tsuyoshi ENDOH, Hiroshi TAKEDA