Patents by Inventor Yasuo Katano

Yasuo Katano 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: 20110013957
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fixing liquid containing a softening agent that softens resin-containing fine particles by dissolving or swelling at least a part of the resin; a C12-C18 fatty acid; and a C12-C18 fatty acid salt. The fixing liquid is mixed with water serving as a dilution solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: Yasuo Katano, Tsuneo Kurotori, Tomoyasu Hirasawa, Tomoaki Sugawara, Takuma Nakamura, Yuko Arizumi
  • Publication number: 20110008081
    Abstract: A disclosed cleaning device for removing adhering matter from a surface of a member subject to cleaning includes a belt-shaped film member arranged in a stretched configuration capable of being wound or endlessly move in a direction opposite to a surface movement direction of the member subject to cleaning while being in contact with the surface of the member subject to cleaning, and a cleaning blade configured to abut on the surface of the member subject to cleaning via the belt-shaped film member at a position where the belt-shaped film member is brought into contact with the member subject to cleaning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: Yuichi AOYAMA, Yasuo Katano, Yukimichi Someya, Takuma Nakamura, Tetsurou Sasamoto, Shunichi Abe, Masafumi Yamada
  • Patent number: 7869754
    Abstract: A bubbly fluid producing method configured to produce a bubbly fluid containing a bubble with a desired bubble diameter, includes applying a shear to a bubbly fluid containing a bubble with a bubble diameter larger than a desired bubble diameter so as to produce a bubbly fluid containing a bubble with a desired bubble diameter. A bubbly fluid producing device configured to produce a bubbly fluid containing a bubble with a desired bubble diameter, includes a first member configured to apply a shear to a bubbly fluid containing a bubble with a bubble diameter larger than a desired bubble diameter so as to produce a bubbly fluid containing a bubble with a desired bubble diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Katano, Tsuneo Kurotori, Tomoyasu Hirasawa, Takuma Nakamura, Yuko Arizumi
  • Publication number: 20110002718
    Abstract: To provide a fixing solution for fixing fine resin particles to a recording medium, the fixing solution including: a diluent which contains water; a foaming agent which allows the fixing solution to be in the form of foam; and a solid plasticizer which is solid at normal temperature and soluble in the diluent, and which softens or swells at least part of the fine resin particles while dissolved in the diluent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuo Katano, Tsuneo Kurotori, Yuko Arizumi, Shigeo Takeuchi, Hidekazu Yaginuma, Fuminari Kaneko, Yukimichi Someya, Shigenobu Hirano, Hidenori Tomono
  • Publication number: 20100322481
    Abstract: Subject-distance information is acquired by a light-weight, small-size arrangement without a significant change in the structure of a conventional image processing apparatus. The apparatus acquires diffraction images obtained by sensing the image of a subject, using an image sensing unit, obtained via a diffraction grating and imaging optical system, detects a real image from luminance gradients of the diffraction images, calculates the distance between the detected real image and a virtual image corresponding to this real image in the diffraction images, and calculates the depth distance between the subject and the diffraction grating using the distance calculated by first calculating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuo Katano, Takayuki Iwamoto, Hiroyuki Ohsawa
  • Patent number: 7834909
    Abstract: When a message indicating that a hand that wears a glove (21) is laid out in accordance with a hand-shaped virtual object is detected, the position and orientation relationship between a magnetic receiver (203) and the hand-shaped virtual object is calculated using the position and orientation relationship between the magnetic receiver (203) and a magnetic receiver (202) and that of the hand-shaped virtual object and the magnetic receiver (202).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuo Katano, Masakazu Fujiki
  • Patent number: 7821527
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, which reduces toner spatter and produces a good quality image when forming a toner image using the direct recording method. An image forming part includes: a toner carrier for carrying toner; and toner controlling means, which is disposed between the toner carrier and recording paper on which the toner is made to adhere, and which has a plurality of toner passage holes, the toner controlling means having a control electrode for controlling the passage of toner on the toner carrier side surface in the area around the toner passage hole, and forming a toner image by causing the toner to fly to the recording paper, and the image forming apparatus having liquid applying/humidifying means for either applying a liquid to or humidifying the imaging surface of the recording paper prior to forming a toner image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Horike, Yasuo Katano, Masanori Saitoh, Nobuaki Kondoh, Shin Kayahara
  • Patent number: 7813689
    Abstract: A disclosed fixing device fixes unfixed toner onto a recording sheet with the use of toner fixing liquid including a softening agent for softening toner. The fixing device includes a sprayer configured to spray the toner fixing liquid as liquid droplets and a liquid droplet charging unit configured to apply an electric charge to the sprayed liquid droplets. The sprayer sprays the liquid droplets onto the unfixed toner placed on the recording sheet. The liquid droplet charging unit applies, to the sprayed liquid droplets, an electric charge of an electric charge polarity that is the same as that of the unfixed toner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuma Nakamura, Yasuo Katano, Tsuneo Kurotori, Tomoyasu Hirasawa, Takeshi Saitoh, Yuko Arizumi
  • Publication number: 20100245460
    Abstract: A disclosed image forming apparatus is capable of solving the problems of deterioration of a foam application function and driving systems caused by the dried and fixed foam remaining without being applied. The image forming apparatus includes a foam forming section forming foam, a reservoir section supplying foam formed by the foam forming section to an application roller, a discharge channel through which extra foam is collected from the reservoir section, and a heating unit for heating the extra foam to return the extra foam to a liquid form. The discharged liquid prepared by defoaming the foam discharged through the discharge channel is returned to a container containing the defoamed liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Shinji Imoto, Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Minori Ichimura, Manabu Izumikawa, Yasuhisa Kato, Yasuo Katano, Seiji Hoshino, Masaaki Tsuda
  • Publication number: 20100245420
    Abstract: A disclosed image forming apparatus comprises an image forming unit configured to form an image on a to-be-recorded medium, and a foam application unit configured to apply foam of at least one of a liquid and a gel to the to-be-recorded medium or an intermediate member. The intermediate member is configured to apply the foam to the to-be-recorded medium. The foam application unit includes a storage unit configured to store the foam and spread the foam in a width direction of the to-be-recorded medium or the intermediate member, an applicator configured to apply the foam to the to-be-recorded medium or the intermediate member, and a transport unit configured to transport the foam from the storage unit to the applicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Minori Ichimura, Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Shinji Imoto, Manabu Izumikawa, Yasuhisa Kato, Yasuo Katano
  • Patent number: 7794835
    Abstract: A fixing solution for fixing toner to a recording medium, includes aliphatic ester held by solvent in a soluble manner, and having solubility or swelling property with respect to resin included in the toner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Katano, Tsuneo Kurotori, Hiromichi Komai, Hidenori Tomono
  • Publication number: 20100218718
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a generating mechanism to generate foam from a liquid or gel which may take a foam state, a coating roller having a peripheral surface supplied with the foam to coat the foam on the peripheral surface onto a surface of a recording medium, and a transport passage to transport the foam from the generating mechanism to the coating roller by an accumulation force of the foam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Minori Ichimura, Yasuhisa Kato, Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Manabu Izumikawa, Yasuo Katano
  • Patent number: 7777762
    Abstract: There is provided an integrated information management system which mutually associates the information processing applications for processing the data derived from CAD data with others. In the integrated information management system, the virtual design data generated in a CAD system, the data used in a CAE system, the data used in a DMR system, and the data used in a mockup system are stored in correspondence with the respective conditions used in case of respectively displaying these data. Then, the image acquired by compositing the respective data is generated based on the respective conditions, and the generated image is displayed on an integrated display unit, whereby it is possible for a user to manage these data as the single data by dynamically changing over the data of the respective information processing applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuo Katano, Tsuyoshi Kuroki, Shuichi Yabu
  • Patent number: 7773932
    Abstract: A fixation device configured to fix on a medium a resin fine particle that contains a resin, by providing a fixation fluid on the resin fine particle on the medium which fixation fluid contains a softening agent that softens the resin fine particle by dissolving or swelling at least one portion of the resin, water and a foaming agent that comprises a salt of aliphatic acid, wherein the fixation device comprises a foam-like fixation fluid producing part configured to produce a foam-like fixation fluid, a layer thickness controlling part configured to control a layer thickness of the produced foam-like fixation fluid, and a provision part configured to provide the layer-thickness-controlled foam-like fixation fluid on the resin fine particle on the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Katano, Tsuneo Kurotori, Tomoyasu Hirasawa, Takuma Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20100165016
    Abstract: A foamed liquid coating apparatus prevents curling or warping of a sheet caused by coating irregularities when coated with a preprocessing solution using a coating roller or a liquid discharge head. The foamed liquid coating apparatus includes a container holding a liquid that can be foamed. A first foamed liquid producing/transporting unit produces a foamed liquid having a foam size greater than a required foam size from the liquid supplied from the container. A second foamed liquid producing/transporting unit produces a foamed liquid having the required foam size from the foamed liquid produced by the first foamed liquid producing/transporting unit. The foamed liquid produced by the second foamed liquid producing/transporting unit is applied onto a first coating roller. The foamed liquid is further supplied from the first coating roller to a second coating roller that coats a sheet with the foamed liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Minori Ichimura, Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Manabu Izumikawa, Takeshi Takemoto, Yasuhisa Kato, Yasuo Katano
  • Patent number: 7728503
    Abstract: An electron emission element according to the present invention is compact, thin and low cost, and has a structure and constitution in which deterioration of the electron emission material itself is low. In the electron emission element, boron nitride material is used as the electron emission material, and a metal material or a semiconductor material is used as a substrate for forming the boron nitride material. In this way it is possible to obtain good quality boron nitride material on the substrate. Also, a voltage can be applied to the material to emit electrons, also electrons can be supplied. Moreover, by using Sp3-bonded boron nitride as the boron nitride material, and using Sp3-bonded 5H—BN material or Sp3-bonded 6H—BN material as the Sp3-bonded boron nitride, a field electron emission element can be achieved for which high efficiency electron emission characteristics unprecedented in conventional art can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiichi Ohta, Takuro Sekiya, Naomi Sugimoto, Yukimichi Someya, Shohji Tanaka, Yasuo Katano, Yoshihiko Iijima, Toshihiro Ishii
  • Patent number: 7713622
    Abstract: A fixing solution for fixing toner to a recording medium, includes aliphatic ester held by solvent in a soluble manner, and having solubility or swelling property with respect to resin included in the toner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Katano, Tsuneo Kurotori, Hiromichi Komai, Hidenori Tomono
  • Patent number: 7713673
    Abstract: A fixing liquid is provided which fixes a toner comprising a resin on a recording medium, in which a fluid particle comprising a component which dissolves or swells at least a portion of the resin comprised in the toner is dispersed in a dispersive medium, as a micro-emulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Katano, Tsuneo Kurotori, Tomoyasu Hirasawa, Hiromichi Komai, Takuma Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20100073697
    Abstract: An electric charging apparatus and an image forming apparatus using the electric charging apparatus, capable of stably discharging electrons and reducing deterioration in an electron discharging member, which includes an electric field forming device including two electrodes facing each other to form electric field therebetween including an electron discharging member provided at a portion of one of the electrodes, where the portion faces the other electrode, to discharge electrons into the electric field, and a voltage applying controller to control voltage applied to the electrodes, wherein the voltage applying controller selects two or more intensities of the electric field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Yukimichi Someya, Eiichi Ohta, Naomi Sugimoto, Takuro Sekiya, Yasuo Katano, Shohji Tanaka, Yoshihiko Iijima, Toshihiro Ishii
  • Publication number: 20100027888
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus configured to generate an MR image displayed on a display apparatus includes a segmentation unit configured to segment the generated MR image into a plurality of regions, a generation unit configured to generate a pattern image to be superimposed on one of the plurality of segmented regions or each of the plurality of segmented regions, a superimposition unit configured to superimpose the generated pattern image on one of the plurality of segmented regions or each of the plurality of segmented regions, and an output unit configured to output the MR image, including the pattern image superimposed thereon, to the display apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuo Katano, Masahiro Suzuki