Patents by Inventor Masaki Karakawa

Masaki Karakawa 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).

  • Powder detector, control method of same, and image forming apparatus incorporating same
    Patent number: 10459368
    Abstract: A powder detector includes a driver to drive a motor, a stirrer to stir powder in a vessel, a vibration plate disposed in the vessel and vibrated by a flip of the stirrer rotated by the motor, and circuitry. The circuitry detects a vibration of the vibration plate, estimates an amount of powder based on a detection result of the vibration, and causes the driver to drive the motor from a starting point, so as to move the stirrer to a preset halt position. The starting point is a rotation angle of the motor on detection of the vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Sumihiro Inokuchi, Hiroshi Adachi, Masashi Hommi, Naohiro Funada, Norio Muraishi, Kengo Tanaka, Shingo Nishizaki, Masaki Karakawa
  • POWDER DETECTOR, CONTROL METHOD OF SAME, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME
    Publication number: 20190196360
    Abstract: A powder detector includes a driver to drive a motor, a stirrer to stir powder in a vessel, a vibration plate disposed in the vessel and vibrated by a flip of the stirrer rotated by the motor, and circuitry. The circuitry detects a vibration of the vibration plate, estimates an amount of powder based on a detection result of the vibration, and causes the driver to drive the motor from a starting point, so as to move the stirrer to a preset halt position. The starting point is a rotation angle of the motor on detection of the vibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Sumihiro INOKUCHI, Hiroshi ADACHI, Masashi HOMMI, Naohiro FUNADA, Norio MURAISHI, Kengo TANAKA, Shingo NISHIZAKI, Masaki KARAKAWA
  • IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, METHOD OF CONTROLLING START, AND START CONTROL PROGRAM
    Publication number: 20120229856
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes: a memory unit that stores therein apparatus information on each function to be executed; and a control unit that reads the apparatus information stored in the memory unit to execute given control based on the apparatus information that is read; the image forming apparatus forming an image on a recording medium. The apparatus information is written sequentially and collectively for each function in the memory unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventor: Masaki Karakawa