Patents by Inventor Tomohiro Egawa

Tomohiro Egawa 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: 20220385820
    Abstract: A wiring assembly includes a circuit board including a flat portion, at least one connection portion connected to the flat portion, a first wiring portion extending from an end portion on a first side of the at least one connection portion, a second wiring portion extending from an end portion on a second side of the at least one connection portion, and an external terminal connector electrically connected to the flat portion. The external terminal connector is electrically connected to the first wiring portion and the second wiring portion, and the first wiring portion, the second wiring portion, the external terminal connector, the at least one connection portion, and a portion between an end portion on the first side of the at least one connection portion and an end portion on the second side of the at least one connection portion in the flat portion are annular.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Kazuhiro SAZAI, Tomohiro EGAWA, Shinri ONO
  • Patent number: 11493780
    Abstract: An optical unit with a shake correction function has a shake correction function for correcting a shake of an optical module. The optical unit with a shake correction function includes: a movable body including the optical module; a fixed body disposed outward of the movable body in a radial direction with respect to an optical axis of the optical module; and a support part disposed between the movable body and the fixed body in the radial direction and structured to support the movable body such that the movable body is swingable relative to the fixed body. The movable body and the support part or the support part and the fixed body have, in a pair, a swing mechanism structured to allow the movable body to swing relative to the fixed body. The swing mechanism includes a protruded spherical portion and a recessed spherical portion that is larger in radius of curvature than the protruded spherical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Genki Tanaka, Tomohiro Egawa, Takayuki Iwase, Kazuhiro Sazai, Tsutomu Arai, Shinji Minamisawa, Takeshi Sue
  • Publication number: 20220317415
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a movable body, a support body, and a swing mechanism. The movable body includes an optical element that changes a traveling direction of light. The support body supports the movable body swingably about a swing axis. The swing mechanism swings the movable body about the swing axis. One of the movable body and the support body has a first convex portion. The first convex portion protrudes toward the other of the movable body and the support body. The other of the movable body and the support body comes into contact with the first convex portion. The first convex portion is arranged on the swing axis. An optical axis of the optical element and the swing axis are arranged to overlap each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Takayuki IWASE, Tomohiro EGAWA, Genki TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20220317414
    Abstract: An optical unit includes an optical element, a holder, a support portion, a swing mechanism, and an elastic portion. The optical element changes the traveling direction of light. The holder holds the optical element. The support portion supports the holder swingably about a swing axis. The swing mechanism swings the holder with respect to the support portion about the swing axis. The elastic portion connects the holder and the support portion. The support portion has a pair of side surface portions on both sides of the holder along the swing axis, and a connection portion connecting the side surface portions with the elastic portion between the holder and the side surface portions. The elastic portion has a convex or concave portion that comes into contact with a concave or convex portion of at least one of the holder and the support portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Takayuki IWASE, Tomohiro EGAWA
  • Publication number: 20220317469
    Abstract: An optical unit has an optical element reflecting light between intersecting first and second directions, and a holder. The holder includes a holder body extending in a third direction intersecting the first and second directions, and a pair of surface portions extending from the holder body in an intersection direction intersecting the third direction. The optical element is arranged between the surface portions. At least one surface portion has an inner surface facing the optical element, an end surface connected to an edge of the inner surface in an intersection direction, and a concave portion arranged astride the inner and end surfaces and recessed in the intersection direction from the end surface. The concave portion accommodates an adhesive member bonding the optical element with the holder. The length of the concave portion along the end surface is greater than the depth of the concave portion in the intersection direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Takayuki IWASE, Tomohiro EGAWA, Genki TANAKA
  • Patent number: 11427423
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device, which is included in an image forming apparatus, includes a plurality of position detectors, a leading end detector, and a position adjuster. The plurality of position detectors is configured to detect a position of a sheet. The leading end detector is configured to detect a leading end of the sheet. The position adjuster is configured to, based on a detection result obtained by the plurality of position detectors, rotate in a rotation direction of the sheet within a plane of conveyance of the sheet to change the position of the sheet the position adjuster grips the sheet under conveyance to cause the leading end detector to rotate with the position adjuster in the rotation direction of the sheet within the plane of conveyance of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Maeyama, Tomohiro Egawa, Motoharu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11345558
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includable in an image forming apparatus that uses a method of conveying a conveyance target medium and a method of forming an image, includes a position detector, a position adjuster, and circuitry. The position detector is configured to detect a position of a conveyance target medium. Based on a detection of the position of the conveyance target medium by the position detector, the position adjuster moves in at least one of a width direction of the conveyance target medium and a rotation direction of the conveyance target medium within a plane of conveyance of the conveyance target medium and repeatedly adjusts the position of the conveyance target medium while conveying the conveyance target medium. The circuitry changes a conveying speed of the conveyance target medium, according to a change of the position of the conveyance target medium after adjusted by the position adjuster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Egawa, Yuichiro Maeyama, Motoharu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11312589
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a sheet conveyor, a guide, a rotary conveyor, a gripper, and an adjuster. The sheet conveyor is configured to convey a sheet. The guide is configured to guide the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyor. The rotary conveyor is disposed downstream from the guide in a sheet conveyance direction. The gripper is mounted on the rotary conveyor, the gripper configured to grip a leading end of the sheet. The adjuster is configured to adjust a sheet entering range of the gripper to which the leading end of the sheet enters, along with conveyance of the sheet conveyor, in a direction intersecting a sheet surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Egawa
  • Publication number: 20220124212
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a corrector configured to correct a position of a sheet, and at least three detectors disposed in a sheet conveyance direction. Each of the at least three detectors is configured to detect a lateral end of the sheet according to a length of the sheet to be conveyed in the sheet conveyance direction. The corrector is configured to correct the position of the sheet based on detection results of each of the at least three detectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomohiro EGAWA
  • Publication number: 20220100053
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a movable body, a fixed body, and a first swing mechanism. The fixed body supports the movable body so as to be swingable in a first swing direction about a first swing axis. One of the movable body and the fixed body has a first magnet. The other of the movable body and the fixed body has a first magnetic body. The first magnetic body has a first magnetic body portion, a second magnetic body portion, and a third magnetic body portion. The first magnetic body portion passes through an axis perpendicular to each of the first swing axis and the optical axis of an optical element. The second magnetic body portion is disposed on one side in the first swing direction of the first magnetic body portion. The third magnetic body portion is disposed on the other side in the first swing direction of the first magnetic body portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Kazuhiro SAZAI, Tomohiro EGAWA, Keishi OTSUBO, Genki TANAKA, Takayuki IWASE
  • Publication number: 20220099994
    Abstract: An optical unit that corrects a shake of an optical module includes: a movable portion having a holder that holds the optical module; and a fixed portion that rotatably supports the movable portion. The movable portion is rotatable relative to the fixed portion in first-third rotation directions correspondingly centered on first-third axes which correspondingly extend in first-third directions. The first direction is parallel to an optical axis direction of the optical module in a state in which the movable portion is stationary. The first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are perpendicular to each other. The movable portion further includes a protrusion protruding toward the fixed portion from an end of the holder closer to the fixed portion in the optical axis direction. The fixed portion includes a support portion that rotatably supports the protrusion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Soichiro KIMURA, Kazuhiro SAZAI, Keishi OTSUBO, Tomohiro EGAWA, Genki TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20220082850
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a movable body, a support body, a swing mechanism, and a magnetic member. The movable body includes an optical element. The optical element reflects light, which travels to one side in a first direction, to one side in a second direction intersecting the first direction. The support body supports the movable body so as to be swingable about a swing axis. The swing mechanism swings the movable body about the swing axis. The magnetic member is arranged on the support body. The swing mechanism includes a magnet and a coil. The magnet is arranged at an end of the movable body in a direction intersecting the first direction. The coil opposes the magnet. The magnetic member is arranged on one side in the first direction with respect to the magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Takayuki IWASE, Tomohiro EGAWA
  • Publication number: 20220082902
    Abstract: An optical unit includes an optical element, a holder, a first support portion, a second support portion, a first swing mechanism, and a second swing mechanism. The holder holds the optical element. The first support portion supports the holder so as to be swingable about a first swing axis. The second support portion supports the first support portion so as to be swingable about the second swing axis. The second swing mechanism includes a second magnet and a second coil. The second magnet is arranged on the first support portion. The second coil is arranged on the second support portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Takayuki IWASE, Tomohiro EGAWA, Keishi OTSUBO
  • Publication number: 20220082851
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a movable body, a support, and a swing mechanism. The movable body includes an optical element that changes a traveling direction of light. The support supports the movable body in a manner that the movable body is swingable about a swing axis. One of the movable body and the support has at least three protrusions. The other of the movable body and the support has an axial center recess. The at least three protrusions are disposed on the same circumference about the swing axis. The recess constitutes at least a part of a circle around the swing axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Takayuki IWASE, Tomohiro EGAWA, Keishi OTSUBO, Kazuhiro SAZAI, Genki TANAKA
  • Patent number: 11235597
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, in which a method of correcting a positional deviation of a sheet is performed, includes a detecting device to detect a position of the sheet, a pair of sheet conveying bodies to convey the sheet and correct the positional deviation of the sheet, an image forming device to form an image on the sheet, and circuitry to calculate a first positional deviation amount of the sheet based on a first detection result of the detecting device, cause the pair of sheet conveying bodies to correct the positional deviation of the sheet based on the first positional deviation amount, calculate a second positional deviation amount of the sheet based on a second detection result of the detecting device, and cause the image forming device to correct the positional deviation of an image forming position on the sheet based on the second positional deviation amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takaaki Kaneko, Motoharu Takahashi, Yuichiro Maeyama, Tomohiro Egawa
  • Publication number: 20210368078
    Abstract: An optical assembly includes an optical element including a reflection surface to reflect light in a first axis direction, a holder to hold the optical element, a case to support the holder, a first swing mechanism to swing the holder around a first swing axis, and a second swing mechanism to swing the holder around a second swing axis perpendicular to the first swing axis. The holder includes first and second protrusions. The case includes first and second recesses. Each of the recesses includes a first side surface located on one side in the axial direction of the second swing axis and a second side surface located on the other side with respect to the corresponding protrusion. At least one of the first and second side surfaces includes an inclined surface inclined with respect to the second swing axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Takayuki IWASE, Tomohiro EGAWA, Keishi OTSUBO, Kazuhiro SAZAI, Genki TANAKA
  • Patent number: 11148892
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a position detector configured to detect a position of a side end portion of a conveyance target medium, a position adjuster configured to move in at least one of a width direction of the conveyance target medium and a rotation direction of the conveyance target medium within a plane of sheet conveyance, while conveying the conveyance target medium, and adjust a position of the conveyance target medium, according to the position of the side end portion of the conveyance target medium detected by the position detector, a transfer rotary body disposed downstream from the position adjuster in a sheet conveying direction and having a receiver mounted on the rotary body to receive the conveyance target medium, and circuitry configured to change a rotation speed of the transfer rotary body according to the position of the conveyance target medium after adjusted by the position adjuster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Egawa, Yuichiro Maeyama, Motoharu Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20210294111
    Abstract: In an optical unit, a first swing mechanism swings a holder with reference to the y-axis direction, and a second swing mechanism swings the holder with reference to the z-axis direction. A case has a first recess that accommodates at least a part of a first protrusion of the holder and a second recess that accommodates at least a part of a second protrusion of the holder. The first recess has a first side surface located on one side in the y-axis direction of the first protrusion, a second side surface located on the other side in the y-axis direction of the first protrusion, and a bottom surface. The second recess has a first side surface located on one side in the y-axis direction of the second protrusion, a second side surface located on the other side in the y-axis direction of the second protrusion, and a bottom surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Tomohiro EGAWA, Keishi OTSUBO, Kazuhiro SAZAI, Genki TANAKA, Takayuki IWASE
  • Publication number: 20210251082
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a movable body including an optical module, a fixed body, a support mechanism, a flexible printed circuit board, and a positioning part. A bent part of the flexible printed circuit board has a first bent portion closest to a connection part between the connection part and the positioning part along an extension direction, and a second bent portion close to the connection part next to the first bent portion between the connection part and the positioning part along the extension direction. The second bent portion is located on a reference plane or on a side different from the side where the connection part is located with respect to the reference plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Shinri ONO, Tomohiro EGAWA, Genki TANAKA, Soichiro KIMURA, Tsungting HSIEH
  • Publication number: 20210251081
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a movable body including an optical module, a fixed body, a support mechanism, a flexible printed circuit board, and a fixing part. The fixing part is superposed on a bent part formed by bending the flexible printed circuit board. At least a part of the fixing part is fixed to the bent part of the flexible printed circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Soichiro KIMURA, Tomohiro EGAWA, Genki TANAKA, Shinri ONO, Tsungting HSIEH, Tsutomu ARAI, Shogo KASAHARA, Shinji HATANO