Patents by Inventor Akitomo Kuwabara
Akitomo Kuwabara 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).
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Publication number: 20240066891Abstract: A heating apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a liquid discharge apparatus. The heating apparatus includes a heating roller having a heat source inside, an end holder in which a portion of the heat source is disposed, the end holder holding an axial end of the heating roller rotatably, and an air supply device configured to supply air into the end holder in a direction intersecting with an axial direction of the heating roller. The heating apparatus includes a heating roller having a heat source inside, and an end holder in which a portion of the heat source is disposed, the end holder rotatably holding an axial end of the heating roller. In the heating apparatus, the end holder has an air inlet opening through which air is supplied into the end holder and an air outlet opening through which air is ejected outside from inside the end holder.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2023Publication date: February 29, 2024Inventors: Akitomo KUWABARA, Noriaki TAKENAGA, Hiroshi TAKAKI, Makoto KOBAYASHI, Kohji KUWANA, Junichi MORIBE, Takuto KIDO
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Patent number: 10442207Abstract: A liquid surface detector includes a tube through which a liquid passes; an electrode pin disposed on an inner wall of the tube; and a ground pin disposed on the inner wall of the tube. In the liquid surface detector, the electrode pin and the ground pin are disposed in different directions as viewed from an axial direction of the tube.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2017Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventor: Akitomo Kuwabara
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Patent number: 9889679Abstract: An application device includes a conveyer to convey a recording medium, an application roller to apply a treatment liquid to the recording medium, a pressure roller to sandwich the recording medium with the application roller to press the recording medium against the application roller, and a winding member to form a curved conveying path to have the recording medium curved along a conveying direction to wind the recording medium around the pressure roller. The pressure roller comes in contact with the application roller when applying the treatment liquid and separates from the application roller when not applying the treatment liquid. A predetermined positional relationship is maintained between the pressure roller and the winding member while the pressure roller moves close to the application roller to be in contact with the application roller, or the pressure roller moves away from the application roller to be separated from the application roller.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2016Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Akitomo Kuwabara, Kazuhiro Akatsu, Yutaka Nagasawa, Yuuji Ohmura, Hirotaka Kobayashi, Hirofumi Ohkushi
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Publication number: 20170333932Abstract: A liquid surface detector includes a tube through which a liquid passes; an electrode pin disposed on an inner wall of the tube; and a ground pin disposed on the inner wall of the tube. In the liquid surface detector, the electrode pin and the ground pin are disposed in different directions as viewed from an axial direction of the tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2017Publication date: November 23, 2017Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventor: Akitomo KUWABARA
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Publication number: 20170165981Abstract: An application device includes a conveyer to convey a recording medium, an application roller to apply a treatment liquid to the recording medium, a pressure roller to sandwich the recording medium with the application roller to press the recording medium against the application roller, and a winding member to form a curved conveying path to have the recording medium curved along a conveying direction to wind the recording medium around the pressure roller. The pressure roller comes in contact with the application roller when applying the treatment liquid and separates from the application roller when not applying the treatment liquid. A predetermined positional relationship is maintained between the pressure roller and the winding member while the pressure roller moves close to the application roller to be in contact with the application roller, or the pressure roller moves away from the application roller to be separated from the application roller.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2016Publication date: June 15, 2017Applicant: RICHO COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Akitomo Kuwabara, Kazuhiro Akatsu, Yutaka Nagasawa, Yuuji Ohmura, Hirotaka Kobayashi, Hirofumi Ohkushi
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Patent number: 9616682Abstract: There is provided a process liquid coating apparatus comprising: a recording medium conveyance unit configured to convey a recording medium; a coating roller configured to rotate in accordance with the conveyed recording medium to apply process liquid on a surface of the recording medium; a pressure roller configured to cause the coating roller to apply the process liquid on the surface of the recording medium by forming an abutment part for nipping and pressing the recording medium with the coating roller; and a winding member configured to form a bent conveyance path along which the recording medium is bent with respect to a conveyance direction so that the recording medium is wound around the surface of the pressure roller, wherein the winding member is disposed adjacent to the pressure roller.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2016Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhiro Akatsu, Yutaka Nagasawa, Akitomo Kuwabara, Yuuji Ohmura, Hirofumi Ohkushi, Hirotaka Kobayashi, Sho Sawahata
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Publication number: 20160263913Abstract: There is provided a process liquid coating apparatus comprising: a recording medium conveyance unit configured to convey a recording medium; a coating roller configured to rotate in accordance with the conveyed recording medium to apply process liquid on a surface of the recording medium; a pressure roller configured to cause the coating roller to apply the process liquid on the surface of the recording medium by forming an abutment part for nipping and pressing the recording medium with the coating roller; and a winding member configured to form a bent conveyance path along which the recording medium is bent with respect to a conveyance direction so that the recording medium is wound around the surface of the pressure roller, wherein the winding member is disposed adjacent to the pressure roller.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2016Publication date: September 15, 2016Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Kazuhiro AKATSU, Yutaka NAGASAWA, Akitomo KUWABARA, Yuuji OHMURA, Hirofumi OHKUSHI, Hirotaka KOBAYASHI, Sho SAWAHATA
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Patent number: 9233557Abstract: A treatment liquid coating apparatus includes a conveyance member to convey a recording medium; a coating roller, to apply treatment liquid on the recording medium, driven to rotate with the conveyance of the conveyance member; a pressure roller to press against the coating roller to hold the recording medium that is placed between the coating roller and the pressure roller; and a reciprocating mechanism to reciprocate the coating roller in a width direction of the recording medium during printing.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2015Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Masaru Hoshina, Yasushi Hashimoto, Sho Sawahata, Akitomo Kuwabara, Hironori Numata, Tetsuya Ohba, Jun Ogino, Kahei Nakamura
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Patent number: 9162485Abstract: A treatment liquid application device for use in an inkjet printer includes an application roller to apply a treatment liquid to a recording medium before an image is formed on the recording medium, a squeeze roller disposed below the application roller and to make a pressure-contact with the application roller, a treatment liquid supply unit to supply the treatment liquid to a nip part between the application roller and the squeeze roller, and a pressure roller disposed above the application roller and to cause the recording medium to make a pressure-contact with the application roller. When the application roller applies the treatment liquid to the recording medium, a position of the application roller is not restricted in approximate load directions of the squeeze roller and the pressure roller but is restricted in directions other than the approximate load directions.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2014Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Tetsuya Ohba, Akitomo Kuwabara, Hironori Numata, Masaru Hoshina, Kahei Nakamura
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Publication number: 20150210091Abstract: A treatment liquid coating apparatus includes a conveyance member to convey a recording medium; a coating roller, to apply treatment liquid on the recording medium, driven to rotate with the conveyance of the conveyance member; a pressure roller to press against the coating roller to hold the recording medium that is placed between the coating roller and the pressure roller; and a reciprocating mechanism to reciprocate the coating roller in a width direction of the recording medium during printing.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2015Publication date: July 30, 2015Inventors: Masaru HOSHINA, Yasushi HASHIMOTO, Sho SAWAHATA, Akitomo KUWABARA, Hironori NUMATA, Tetsuya OHBA, Jun OGINO, Kahei NAKAMURA
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Publication number: 20140253652Abstract: A treatment liquid application device for use in an inkjet printer includes an application roller to apply a treatment liquid to a recording medium before an image is formed on the recording medium, a squeeze roller disposed below the application roller and to make a pressure-contact with the application roller, a treatment liquid supply unit to supply the treatment liquid to a nip part between the application roller and the squeeze roller, and a pressure roller disposed above the application roller and to cause the recording medium to make a pressure-contact with the application roller. When the application roller applies the treatment liquid to the recording medium, a position of the application roller is not restricted in approximate load directions of the squeeze roller and the pressure roller but is restricted in directions other than the approximate load directions.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2014Publication date: September 11, 2014Inventors: Tetsuya Ohba, Akitomo Kuwabara, Hironori Numata, Masaru Hoshina, Kahei Nakamura
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Patent number: 7970307Abstract: A transfer apparatus capable of suitably measuring the amount of electric charges transferred from a transfer member to a transfer body and performing a transfer process without degrading the image quality by supplying an amount of electric charges suitable for any type of transfer body onto which an toner image is to be transferred. The transfer apparatus in an image forming apparatus employing an electrophotographic method includes the transfer member electrically charging the transfer body; a charging unit for electrically charging a surface of the transfer member; and voltage sensors for measuring the voltage at each of an upstream area and a downstream area on the transfer member with respect to a transfer nip section of the transfer member.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2008Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroyuki Mabuchi, Akitomo Kuwabara
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Patent number: 7953335Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a photoconductive drum or belt supporting a toner image, a transfer member transferring the toner image onto a recording medium, a transportation device transporting the recording medium to between the photoconductor and the transfer member, a charger charging a surface of the transfer member to the anti-polarity of the electric charge of the toner image, a rotation drive unit rotating the transfer member to the same direction of the recording medium transportation, a contacting/removing unit that contacts the transfer member to the image supported member for printing and removes the transfer member from the image supported member when not printing, and a drive force transferring/blocking unit that transfers the drive force from the rotation drive unit to the transfer member before print starting-up and blocking the drive force during printing.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2008Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Akitomo Kuwabara, Tsukasa Onose, Sho Sawahata, Yukio Otome, Akihiko Yamazaki, Hiroyuki Mabuchi
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Patent number: 7542708Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a transfer assist mechanism is disclosed. The transfer assist mechanism includes a first blade holder having a first blade, second blade holders having corresponding second blades, and a first slide engaging member and a second slide engaging member which engage the first and second blade holders. When the first slide engaging member and the second slide engaging member are moved corresponding to the width of a continuous recording medium, the first blade holder and some of the second blade holders are selected corresponding to the width of the continuous recording medium, and the first blade and some of the second blades corresponding to the selected some of the second blade holders press the continuous recording medium.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2007Date of Patent: June 2, 2009Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Akitomo Kuwabara, Takeshi Terakado, Hidenori Iwanaga, Yuuki Kikushima, Arinobu Yoshiura
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Publication number: 20090010667Abstract: A transfer apparatus capable of suitably measuring the amount of electric charges transferred from a transfer member to a transfer body and performing a transfer process without degrading the image quality by supplying an amount of electric charges suitable for any type of transfer body onto which an toner image is to be transferred. The transfer apparatus in an image forming apparatus employing an electrophotographic method includes the transfer member electrically charging the transfer body; a charging unit for electrically charging a surface of the transfer member; and voltage sensors for measuring the voltage at each of an upstream area and a downstream area on the transfer member with respect to a transfer nip section of the transfer member.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2008Publication date: January 8, 2009Inventors: Hiroyuki MABUCHI, Akitomo KUWABARA
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Publication number: 20080226321Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a photoconductive drum or belt supporting a toner image, a transfer member transferring the toner image onto a recording medium, a transportation device transporting the recording medium to between the photoconductor and the transfer member, a charger charging a surface of the transfer member to the anti-polarity of the electric charge of the toner image, a rotation drive unit rotating the transfer member to the same direction of the recording medium transportation, a contacting /removing unit that contacts the transfer member to the image supported member for printing and removes the transfer member from the image supported member when not printing, and a drive force transferring/blocking unit that transfers the drive force from the rotation drive unit to the transfer member before print starting-up and blocking the drive force during printing.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2008Publication date: September 18, 2008Inventors: Akitomo Kuwabara, Tsukasa Onose, Sho Sawahata, Yukio Otome, Akihiko Yamazaki, Hiroyuki Mabuchi
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Publication number: 20080050157Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a transfer assist mechanism is disclosed. The transfer assist mechanism includes a first blade holder having a first blade, second blade holders having corresponding second blades, and a first slide engaging member and a second slide engaging member which engage the first and second blade holders. When the first slide engaging member and the second slide engaging member are moved corresponding to the width of a continuous recording medium, the first blade holder and some of the second blade holders are selected corresponding to the width of the continuous recording medium, and the first blade and some of the second blades corresponding to the selected some of the second blade holders press the continuous recording medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2007Publication date: February 28, 2008Inventors: Akitomo KUWABARA, Takeshi TERAKADO, Hidenori IWANAGA, Yuuki KIKUSHIMA, Arinobu YOSHIURA
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Publication number: 20070212130Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including: a photosensitive member; a toner image forming unit forming a toner image on a surface of the photosensitive member; a transfer unit transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive member to a recording medium; a first transport unit transporting the recording medium through between the photosensitive member and the transfer unit; a second transport unit transporting the recording medium which passes through between the photosensitive member and the transfer unit to a subsequent stage; a guide unit being disposed on an upstream and downstream sides of a transporting direction of the recording medium with respect to the transfer unit, the guide unit guiding the recording medium by being contact with or away from the surface of photosensitive member; a pressing unit pressing the recording medium against the photosensitive member; a first driving unit driving the guide unit so as to makeType: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2007Publication date: September 13, 2007Applicant: RICOH PRINTING SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventors: Akitomo Kuwabara, Takeshi Terakado, Hidenori Iwanaga, Akihiro Takayama
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Patent number: 6799507Abstract: A web printer has a buffer for adjusting the traveling position of the web under its slack status, a tension assigning unit for assigning fixed tension to the web delivered from the buffer, a device for detecting the traveling position of the web delivered from the tension assigning unit, a sew correction unit for adjusting the skew of the web according to the output from the detection device, and an image forming unit that forms images on the web.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2001Date of Patent: October 5, 2004Assignee: Hitachi Printing Solutions, Ltd.Inventors: Tetsuya Ohba, Akitomo Kuwabara
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Patent number: 6741830Abstract: When initially routing a continuous web along a path, the web walks across the width of the path, and uneven tension occurs causing the web to break in some cases when printing tension is applied thereto. Further, uneven web tension is produced on the right and left of the web by excessive walk control resulting from an excessive deviation of the web from the target position of a walk controller, with the result that the web is crumpled and broken. These problems are solved by maintaining a web tension that is lower than the printing tension until the web position converges on the target position of the walk controller after loading of the web, thereby reducing the amount of correction by the walk controller and the amount of web lost in the preparatory phase before printing, with the result that excellent image quality free from crumple or breakdown is ensured.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2002Date of Patent: May 25, 2004Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasushi Kinoshita, Kazutaka Sato, Shigeru Obata, Akitomo Kuwabara, Tetsuya Ooba