Patents by Inventor Yuuzoh Obata

Yuuzoh Obata 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: 10632762
    Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a body and a holder removably placed inside the body. The holder removably holds a heating object. A receiver removably holds the holder. A heater heats the heating object held by the holder held by the receiver. A mover moves one of the receiver and the heater vertically relative to another one of the receiver and the heater to a non-contact heating position where the heating object is isolated from the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuuzoh Obata, Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Ryoh Idehara, Tsuguyori Kemma
  • Patent number: 10562321
    Abstract: A heating apparatus includes an apparatus body, a receiver, a heating device, and a partition. The receiver holds a heating target so that the heating target is insertable into and removable from the apparatus body. The heating device is disposed above the receiver, to heat the heating target. The partition partitions an upper space above the heating device into a first space facing the heating device and a second space facing an upper surface portion of the apparatus body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tadayasu Enomoto, Yuuzoh Obata, Tsuguyori Kemma
  • Publication number: 20190111710
    Abstract: A heating apparatus includes an apparatus body, a receiver, a heating device, and a partition. The receiver holds a heating target so that the heating target is insertable into and removable from the apparatus body. The heating device is disposed above the receiver, to heat the heating target. The partition partitions an upper space above the heating device into a first space facing the heating device and a second space facing an upper surface portion of the apparatus body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Tadayasu Enomoto, Yuuzoh Obata, Tsuguyori Kemma
  • Publication number: 20180217536
    Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a body and a holder removably placed inside the body. The holder removably holds a heating object. A receiver removably holds the holder. A heater heats the heating object held by the holder held by the receiver. A mover moves one of the receiver and the heater vertically relative to another one of the receiver and the heater to a non-contact heating position where the heating object is isolated from the heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Yuuzoh Obata, Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Ryoh Idehara, Tsuguyori Kemma
  • Patent number: 9358817
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit and a conveyance unit. The image forming unit forms an image on a print medium. The conveyance unit has a belt member to convey the print medium in a state in which an end of the print medium in a width direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the print medium is placed outside an end of the belt member in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuuzoh Obata, Makoto Kikura, Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Kazuyoshi Kondo, Gaku Hosono, Yoshinori Uchino, Norikazu Yanase, Daisuke Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9315045
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a media roll, art image forming device, and a feeder. In the media roll, a printing medium having an adhesive face is wound in a roll shape. The image forming device forms an image on the printing medium. The feeder feeds the printing medium. The feeder includes a protection belt and a pair of rotary bodies. The protection belt presses against and protects the adhesive face of the printing medium. The pair of rotary bodies sandwich and press the printing medium and the protection belt between the pair of rotary bodies. An approach angle of the printing medium is within a range from 0° to 30° and is formed by the printing medium drawn from the media roll and approaching to between the pair of rotary bodies and an opposing face of the protection belt opposing the image forming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Kondo, Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Makoto Kikura, Yuuzoh Obata, Norikazu Yanase, Gaku Hosono, Satoru Yoshida, Masashi Ohnishi, Suguru Masunaga
  • Patent number: 9308756
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a sheet feeder to load a roll body including a recording medium wound around, an image forming unit to form an image on the recording medium, and a conveyance unit including a conveyance belt to convey the recording medium drawn out from the roll body so as to oppose the recording medium to the image forming unit. The sheet feeder and the conveyance unit are integrated as a sheet feed conveyance unit. The sheet feed conveyance unit is configured to load the roll body in at least the sheet feeder and be drawable from the apparatus body to a position at which the conveyance belt is visible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Makoto Kikura, Kazuyoshi Kondo, Yuuzoh Obata, Norikazu Yanase, Yoshinori Uchino, Gaku Hosono, Tohru Watanabe, Toshihisa Nakamura, Tadashi Okano, Naoki Saitoh
  • Patent number: 9233560
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device to form an image on a print medium by a reciprocation operation of a print head. There is a conveying device including a belt that holds the print medium, a fan that adsorbs air through suction holes in the belt, and a fan drive controller that drives the suction fan and adjusts power of adsorption of the suction fan. The fan drive controller performs control which makes the power of adsorption for the first reciprocation movement of the image forming device stronger than the power of adsorption for the second reciprocation movement of the image forming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Norikazu Yanase, Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Makoto Kikura, Kazuyoshi Kondoh, Yuuzoh Obata, Gaku Hosono
  • Patent number: 9186920
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes, an image forming device, a transporting device, a first medium holding device, and a second medium holding device. The image forming device forms an image on a print medium unwound from a roll. The transporting device is configured to transport the unwound print medium on a transport path facing the image forming device. The first medium holding device is disposed upstream of the image forming device in a medium transporting direction, and configured to hold the print medium on the transport path and retract to an open position for opening the transport path. The second medium holding device is disposed downstream of the image forming device in the medium transporting direction, and configured to hold the print medium on the transport path and retract to an open position for opening the transport path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Kikura, Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Kazuyoshi Kondo, Yuuzoh Obata, Norikazu Yanase, Yoshinori Uchino, Gaku Hosono
  • Patent number: 9108433
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a conveyance unit, and an adhesive-surface guide unit. The adhesive-surface guide unit includes a second rotary body and an adhesive-surface guide member. The second rotary body is disposed at a position downstream from a first rotary body of a pair of rotary bodies of the conveyance unit in a conveyance direction. The adhesive-surface guide member is wound around the first and second rotary bodies to guide an adhesive surface of a print medium. The adhesive-surface guide unit is configured to press the adhesive-surface guide member against the adhesive surface, sandwich the print medium and the second rotary body between the pair of rotary bodies, move the print medium and the second rotary body together, and separate the adhesive-surface guide member from the adhesive surface at a side of the adhesive-surface guide unit at which the second rotary body is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Kondo, Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Makoto Kikura, Yuuzoh Obata, Norikazu Yanase, Yoshinori Uchino, Gaku Hosono, Tadayasu Enomoto
  • Patent number: 9110424
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a roll body including a print medium wound around, the medium having an adhesive face, an image forming unit to form an image on the adhesive face, a conveyance unit having a pair of a conveyance rotor and an opposed rotor to convey the medium with the medium interposed between the conveyance rotor and the opposed rotor and an adhesive face guide unit to guide the medium when the conveyance unit returns the medium in a return direction opposite a conveyance direction of the medium. The adhesive face guide unit has a downstream rotor disposed downstream from the opposed rotor in the return direction and an endless adhesive face guide member wound around the opposed rotor and the downstream rotor. The adhesive face guide member is configured to receive and guide the adhesive face of the medium returned, in a separable state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Kondo, Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Makoto Kikura, Yuuzoh Obata, Norikazu Yanase, Gaku Hosono, Yoshinori Uchino, Masateru Ujiie, Shu Kanno
  • Patent number: 8998371
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a conveyance unit, a correction unit, and an attitude controller. The image forming device forms an image on a printing medium. The conveyance unit is disposed opposing the image forming device to convey the printing medium. The correction unit corrects an attitude of a leading edge of the printing medium sent out from the conveyance unit. The attitude controller controls correction of the attitude of the leading edge of the punting medium performed by the correction unit. The attitude controller determines whether or not the correction of the attitude of the leading edge of the printing medium is to be performed, and causes the correction unit to perform the correction when the attitude controller determines that the correction is to be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Nakano, Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Shingo Masaoka, Yasukazu Kitamura, Namio Ogihara, Yoshimitsu Ogura, Makoto Kikura, Kazuyoshi Kondo, Yuuzoh Obata, Norikazu Yanase, Yoshinori Uchino, Gaku Hosono, Takao Otsuka, Seiya Ogawa, Yuuichiroh Tsujiguchi, Masashi Ohnishi
  • Publication number: 20150077494
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a conveyor, and a separation unit. The image forming device forms an image on a printing medium. The separation unit separates a printing medium from the belt. The separation unit includes a claw portion to contact the belt, and a first wing and a second wing disposed at both sides of the claw portion in a direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the printing medium. Each of the first wing and the second wing has a guide face to guide the printing medium. The guide face is a sloped face that slopes downward in a direction away from the claw portion with respect to the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the printing medium. Each of the first wing and the second wing has an upstream end that recedes toward a downstream side in the conveyance direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuuzoh Obata, Tohru Watanabe, Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Toshihisa Nakamura, Makoto Kikura, Kazuyoshi Kondo, Norikazu Yanase, Gaku Hosono
  • Publication number: 20150077459
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device to form an image on a print medium by a reciprocation operation of a print head. There is a conveying device including a belt that holds the print medium, a fan that adsorbs air through suction holes in the belt, and a fan drive controller that drives the suction fan and adjusts power of adsorption of the suction fan. The fan drive controller performs control which makes the power of adsorption for the first reciprocation movement of the image forming device stronger than the power of adsorption for the second reciprocation movement of the image forming device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Norikazu YANASE, Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Makoto Kikura, Kazuyoshi Kondoh, Yuuzoh Obata, Gaku Hosono
  • Patent number: 8967755
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a print medium, a conveyance unit, art image forming unit, a cutter unit, a holding unit, a sensor, and a controller. The print medium has an adhesive face with no separation sheet. The cutter unit cuts the medium having an image formed into a print medium piece. The holding unit is configured to hold the piece in a state in which the piece is drawable from outside of the body. The holding unit has a surface separatable from an adhesive face of the piece to hold the adhesive face of the piece. The sensor detects presence or absence of the piece held by the holding unit. After the sensor detects that the piece is drawn out, the controller controls the conveyance unit to convey the medium to the holding unit and controls the holding unit to hold the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Kikura, Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Kazuyoshi Kondo, Yuuzoh Obata, Norikazu Yanase, Yoshinori Uchino, Gaku Hosono
  • Publication number: 20150054898
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a media roll, art image forming device, and a feeder. In the media roll, a printing medium having an adhesive face is wound in a roll shape. The image forming device forms an image on the printing medium. The feeder feeds the printing medium. The feeder includes a protection belt and a pair of rotary bodies. The protection belt presses against and protects the adhesive face of the printing medium. The pair of rotary bodies sandwich and press the printing medium and the protection belt between the pair of rotary bodies. An approach angle of the printing medium is within a range from 0° to 30° and is formed by the printing medium drawn from the media roll and approaching to between the pair of rotary bodies and an opposing face of the protection belt opposing the image forming device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Kondo, Kazuyoshi MATSUMOTO, Makoto KIKURA, Yuuzoh Obata, Norikazu Yanase, Gaku Hosono, Satoru Yoshida, Masashi Ohnishi, Suguru Masunaga
  • Patent number: 8956063
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a spool that holds a roll of print medium; an image forming device that forms an image on the medium; a transporting device including a transport rotary member that transports the medium to the image forming device, and a drive source that generates drive force; and a drive force transmission device which transmits the drive force to the spool when the transport rotary member rotates in a medium rewinding direction, and which includes a first gear train for rotating the spool in the same direction as the transport rotary member when the transport rotary member and the spool rotate in the same direction during the transport of the medium and a second gear train for rotating the spool in an opposite direction to the transport rotary member when the transport rotary member and the spool rotate in opposite directions during the medium transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuzoh Obata, Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Norikazu Yanase, Kazuyoshi Kondo, Makoto Kikura, Gaku Hosono, Yoshinori Uchino
  • Patent number: 8836993
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording unit, a conveyance unit, a protection member, and at least one rotor pair. The recording unit forms an image on a print medium having an adhesive face. The conveyance unit conveys the print medium. The protection member presses against the adhesive face of the print medium to protect the adhesive face. Each of the at least one rotor pair includes rotors to sandwich and press the print medium and the protection member therebetween. The conveyance unit is configured to rotate the at least one rotor pair to convey the print medium and the protection member together to an image forming position at which the recording unit is configured to form the image on the print medium. The protection member is configured to separate from the adhesive face before discharge of the print medium to an outside of the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Norikazu Yanase, Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Makoto Kikura, Kazuyoshi Kondo, Yuuzoh Obata, Yoshinori Uchino, Gaku Hosono
  • Publication number: 20140253623
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a conveyance unit, a correction unit, and an attitude controller. The image forming device forms an image on a printing medium. The conveyance unit is disposed opposing the image forming device to convey the printing medium. The correction unit corrects an attitude of a leading edge of the printing medium sent out from the conveyance unit. The attitude controller controls correction of the attitude of the leading edge of the punting medium performed by the correction unit. The attitude controller determines whether or not the correction of the attitude of the leading edge of the printing medium is to be performed, and causes the correction unit to perform the correction when the attitude controller determines that the correction is to be performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Nakano, Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Shingo Masaoka, Yasukazu Kitamura, Namio Ogihara, Yoshimitsu Ogura, Makoto Kikura, Kazuyoshi Kondo, Yuuzoh Obata, Norikazu Yanase, Yoshinori Uchino, Gaku Hosono, Takao Otsuka, Seiya Ogawa, Yuuichiroh Tsujiguchi, Masashi Ohnishi
  • Publication number: 20140105661
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a roll body including a print medium wound around, the medium having an adhesive face, an image forming unit to form an image on the adhesive face, a conveyance unit having a pair of a conveyance rotor and an opposed rotor to convey the medium with the medium interposed between the conveyance rotor and the opposed rotor and an adhesive face guide unit to guide the medium when the conveyance unit returns the medium in a return direction opposite a conveyance direction of the medium. The adhesive face guide unit has a downstream rotor disposed downstream from the opposed rotor in the return direction and an endless adhesive face guide member wound around the opposed rotor and the downstream rotor. The adhesive face guide member is configured to receive and guide the adhesive face of the medium returned, in a separable state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Kondo, Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Makoto Kikura, Yuuzoh Obata, Norikazu Yanase, Gaku Hosono, Yoshinori Uchino, Masateru Ujiie, Shu Kanno