Patents by Inventor Tomoji Ishikawa

Tomoji Ishikawa 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: 9529303
    Abstract: A toner container includes a cylindrical container body, having a first opening in a first end thereof and a notch in a circumferential surface thereof continuous with the first opening in the first end, a flange member to engage the first opening and the notch in the container body and having a toner outlet therein through which toner in the container body is discharged, a shutter member disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the container body, a conveyance member, rotatably installed inside the container body to convey the toner from a second end of the container body opposite the first end to the toner outlet in the flange member, and a recessed portion in the container body that projects inward into the interior of the toner container 5 mm or less from an inner surface of the container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaori Mitsuishi, Seiji Terazawa, Atsushi Inoue, Tomoji Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9436127
    Abstract: A toner container includes a cylindrical container body, having a first opening in a first end thereof and a notch in a circumferential surface thereof continuous with the first opening in the first end, a flange member to engage the first opening and the notch in the container body and having a toner outlet therein through which toner in the container body is discharged, a shutter member disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the container body, a conveyance member, rotatably installed inside the container body to convey the toner from a second end of the container body opposite the first end to the toner outlet in the flange member, and a recessed portion in the container body that projects inward into the interior of the toner container 5 mm or less from an inner surface of the container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaori Mitsuishi, Seiji Terazawa, Atsushi Inoue, Tomoji Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20160202632
    Abstract: A toner container includes a cylindrical container body, having a first opening in a first end thereof and a notch in a circumferential surface thereof continuous with the first opening in the first end, a flange member to engage the first opening and the notch in the container body and having a toner outlet therein through which toner in the container body is discharged, a shutter member disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the container body, a conveyance member, rotatably installed inside the container body to convey the toner from a second end of the container body opposite the first end to the toner outlet in the flange member, and a recessed portion in the container body that projects inward into the interior of the toner container 5 mm or less from an inner surface of the container body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Kaori MITSUISHI, Seiji TERAZAWA, Atsushi INOUE, Tomoji ISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 9213261
    Abstract: A toner container includes a cylindrical container body, having a first opening in a first end thereof and a notch in a circumferential surface thereof continuous with the first opening in the first end, a flange member to engage the first opening and the notch in the container body and having a toner outlet therein through which toner in the container body is discharged, a shutter member disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the container body, a conveyance member, rotatably installed inside the container body to convey the toner from a second end of the container body opposite the first end to the toner outlet in the flange member, and a recessed portion in the container body that projects inward into the interior of the toner container 5 mm or less from an inner surface of the container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaori Mitsuishi, Seiji Terazawa, Atsushi Inoue, Tomoji Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9170530
    Abstract: A powder container includes a cylindrical container body to contain a powder, having an opening in one end thereof, to convey the powder contained in the container body to the opening with rotation of the container body, and having a container-body projection provided on an outer circumferential surface of the container body; and a cylindrical holder, into which the end of the container body having the opening is inserted, to hold the container body rotatably, having a powder outlet through which the powder is discharged from the holder and a holder projection provided on an inner circumferential surface thereof. The container-body projection repetitively contacts and separates from the holder projection with rotation of the container body to vibrate the container body and the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuki Oshikawa, Yuuki Satoh, Takuya Seshita, Toshiki Hayashi, Masashi Nagayama, Hiroyuki Uenishi, Tomoji Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20150293474
    Abstract: A toner container includes a cylindrical container body, having a first opening in a first end thereof and a notch in a circumferential surface thereof continuous with the first opening in the first end, a flange member to engage the first opening and the notch in the container body and having a toner outlet therein through which toner in the container body is discharged, a shutter member disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the container body, a conveyance member, rotatably installed inside the container body to convey the toner from a second end of the container body opposite the first end to the toner outlet in the flange member, and a recessed portion in the container body that projects inward into the interior of the toner container 5 mm or less from an inner surface of the container body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Kaori MITSUISHI, Seiji TERAZAWA, Atsushi INOUE, Tomoji ISHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20130330106
    Abstract: A toner container includes a cylindrical container body, having a first opening in a first end thereof and a notch in a circumferential surface thereof continuous with the first opening in the first end, a flange member to engage the first opening and the notch in the container body and having a toner outlet therein through which toner in the container body is discharged, a shutter member disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the container body, a conveyance member, rotatably installed inside the container body to convey the toner from a second end of the container body opposite the first end to the toner outlet in the flange member, and a recessed portion in the container body that projects inward into the interior of the toner container 5 mm or less from an inner surface of the container body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: Kaori MITSUISHI, Seiji TERAZAWA, Atsushi INOUE, Tomoji ISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 8532542
    Abstract: A toner container includes a cylindrical container body, having a first opening in a first end thereof and a notch in a circumferential surface thereof continuous with the first opening in the first end, a flange member to engage the first opening and the notch in the container body and having a toner outlet therein through which toner in the container body is discharged, a shutter member disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the container body, a conveyance member, rotatably installed inside the container body to convey the toner from a second end of the container body opposite the first end to the toner outlet in the flange member, and a recessed portion in the container body that projects inward into the interior of the toner container 5 mm or less from an inner surface of the container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Kaori Mitsuishi, Seiji Terazawa, Atsushi Inoue, Tomoji Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8311447
    Abstract: A toner container includes a cylindrical container body, having a first opening in a first end thereof and a notch in a circumferential surface thereof continuous with the first opening in the first end, a flange member to engage the first opening and the notch in the container body and having a toner outlet therein through which toner in the container body is discharged, a shutter member disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the container body, a conveyance member, rotatably installed inside the container body to convey the toner from a second end of the container body opposite the first end to the toner outlet in the flange member, and a recessed portion in the container body that projects inward into the interior of the toner container 5 mm or less from an inner surface of the container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Kaori Mitsuishi, Seiji Terazawa, Atsushi Inoue, Tomoji Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20110305485
    Abstract: A powder container includes a cylindrical container body to contain a powder, having an opening in one end thereof, to convey the powder contained in the container body to the opening with rotation of the container body, and having a container-body projection provided on an outer circumferential surface of the container body; and a cylindrical holder, into which the end of the container body having the opening is inserted, to hold the container body rotatably, having a powder outlet through which the powder is discharged from the holder and a holder projection provided on an inner circumferential surface thereof. The container-body projection repetitively contacts and separates from the holder projection with rotation of the container body to vibrate the container body and the holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventors: Yuki OSHIKAWA, Yuuki SATOH, Takuya SESHITA, Toshiki HAYASHI, Masashi NAGAYAMA, Hiroyuki UENISHI, Tomoji ISHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20110123216
    Abstract: A toner container includes a cylindrical container body, having a first opening in a first end thereof and a notch in a circumferential surface thereof continuous with the first opening in the first end, a flange member to engage the first opening and the notch in the container body and having a toner outlet therein through which toner in the container body is discharged, a shutter member disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the container body, a conveyance member, rotatably installed inside the container body to convey the toner from a second end of the container body opposite the first end to the toner outlet in the flange member, and a recessed portion in the container body that projects inward into the interior of the toner container 5 mm or less from an inner surface of the container body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Kaori MITSUISHI, Seiji TERAZAWA, Atsushi INOUE, Tomoji ISHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20110020039
    Abstract: A toner container includes a cylindrical container body, having a first opening in a first end thereof and a notch in a circumferential surface thereof continuous with the first opening in the first end, a flange member to engage the first opening and the notch in the container body and having a toner outlet therein through which toner in the container body is discharged, a shutter member disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the container body, a conveyance member, rotatably installed inside the container body to convey the toner from a second end of the container body opposite the first end to the toner outlet in the flange member, and a recessed portion in the container body that projects inward into the interior of the toner container 5 mm or less from an inner surface of the container body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Kaori MITSUISHI, Seiji Terazawa, Atsushi Inoue, Tomoji Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7486916
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a process cartridge, a toner storage, and a toner supplying unit. The process cartridge includes an image bearing member, a developer container, a developer bearing member, and a pair of side plates. The developer container includes a toner inlet mounted at a predetermined position on one of its top surface. The pair of side plates are arranged in parallel and separated by a predetermined distance which determines a predetermined longitudinal width of the process cartridge and configured to support the components in the process cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyonori Tsuda, Atsushi Sampe, Takeo Suda, Satoshi Hatori, Yuji Arai, Tomoji Ishikawa, Naoto Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20070081835
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a process cartridge, a toner storage, and a toner supplying unit. The process cartridge includes an image bearing member, a developer container, a developer bearing member, and a pair of side plates. The developer container includes a toner inlet mounted at a predetermined position on one of its top surface. The pair of side plates are arranged in parallel and separated by a predetermined distance which determines a predetermined longitudinal width of the process cartridge and configured to support the components in the process cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: Kiyonori TSUDA, Atsushi SAMPE, Takeo SUDA, Satoshi HATORI, Yuji ARAI, Tomoji ISHIKAWA, Naoto WATANABE
  • Patent number: 7162189
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a process cartridge, a toner storage, and a toner supplying unit. The process cartridge includes an image bearing member, a developer container, a developer bearing member, and a pair of side plates. The developer container includes a toner inlet mounted at a predetermined position on one of its top surface. The pair of side plates are arranged in parallel and separated by a predetermined distance which determines a predetermined longitudinal width of the process cartridge and configured to support the components in the process cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyonori Tsuda, Atsushi Sampe, Takeo Suda, Satoshi Hatori, Yuji Arai, Tomoji Ishikawa, Naoto Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7146122
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including at least two image forming units arranged side by side in an arrangement direction and each of the image forming units contains a photoconductor configured to bear a latent electrostatic image thereon and at least one process device configured to form a toner image on the photoconductor, and a unit case having a notch thereon to grasp the unit case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventors: Satoshi Hatori, Kiyonori Tsuda, Naoto Watanabe, Takeo Suda, Yuji Arai, Tomoji Ishikawa, Atsushi Sampe
  • Patent number: 7136610
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of image forming include a process cartridge detachably mounted therein. The process cartridge includes a photoconductive element and a housing storing the photoconductive element and including a guide portion guiding the process cartridge. The guide portion faces an inner wall of the image forming apparatus or another process cartridge adjoining thereto and guides the adjoining process cartridge. The guide portion slidably engages with a portion of the process adjoining cartridge. The guide portion varies in shape according to its position in the image forming apparatus. The guide portion may be separately formed from or integrated with the housing. A method and apparatus of an image forming includes an image transfer mechanism and a plurality of process cartridges arranged in parallel. Each of the process cartridges includes photoconductive elements and a housing, and forms an image for a single separated color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Arai, Atsushi Sampe, Kiyonori Tsuda, Takeo Suda, Satoshi Hatori, Tomoji Ishikawa, Naoto Watanabe, Hiroyuki Nagashima, Yoshiyuki Kimura, Nobuo Kuwabara, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Hideki Zemba, Wakako Murakami, Satoshi Narumi, Ryuta Takeichi, Masanori Kawasumi, Kazuhiko Umemura
  • Patent number: 7114928
    Abstract: A high pressure pump for decreasing an initial axial force of a clamping bolt and preventing distortion of a sealing surface and a cylinder form. The high pressure pump has an intermediate member including a cylinder body. The cylinder body has a pressurizing chamber communicated with a cylinder accommodating a plunger. Fluid in the pressurizing chamber is pressurized by reciprocating the plunger. The intermediate member is arranged between a cover and a flange and clamped by a clamping bolt. The clamping bolt has an exposed area at its axially central area where the entire periphery of the clamping bolt is exposed from the cover and the flange. One or both of the cover and the flange clamp the intermediate member with a flexing elastic force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Asayama, Tomoji Ishikawa, Naoki Kurata, Daichi Yamazaki, Masanori Sugiyama, Hiroshi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20060193655
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including at least two image forming units arranged side by side in an arrangement direction and each of the image forming units contains a photoconductor configured to bear a latent electrostatic image thereon and at least one process device configured to form a toner image on the photoconductor, and a unit case having a notch thereon to grasp the unit case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Publication date: August 31, 2006
    Inventors: Satoshi Hatori, Kiyonori Tsuda, Naoto Watanabe, Takeo Suda, Yuji Arai, Tomoji Ishikawa, Atsushi Sampe
  • Patent number: 7072602
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including at least two image forming units arranged side by side in an arrangement direction and each of the image forming units contains a photoconductor configured to bear a latent electrostatic image thereon and at least one process device configured to form a toner image on the photoconductor, and a unit case having a notch thereon to grasp the unit case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventors: Satoshi Hatori, Kiyonori Tsuda, Naoto Watanabe, Takeo Suda, Yuji Arai, Tomoji Ishikawa, Atsushi Sampe