Patents by Inventor Eriko Maruyama

Eriko Maruyama 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: 8180261
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a developing unit for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier with a two-ingredient type developer, i.e., a toner and carrier mixture. A toner replenishing device replenishes toner stored in a toner storing portion to the developing unit. A carrier storing portion, storing a carrier therein, is constructed independently of the toner storing portion. The carrier is fed from the carrier storing portion to the developing unit by a toner conveying force available with the toner replenishing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Muramatsu, Nobuo Iwata, Nobutaka Takeuchi, Junichi Matsumoto, Takayuki Koike, Eriko Maruyama
  • Patent number: 7962071
    Abstract: A developing device which can stably supply a developer to a latent image carrier by preventing the scattered developer from being discharged and thereby preventing the developer from being discharged despite that the amount of developer within the developing device does not increase, and an image forming apparatus using the developing device. A block member serving as a scattered developer discharge prevention member is provided so as to block a path through which the developer scattered as a result of a conveyance operation of a supply screw serving as a developer conveying member moves toward a developer discharge port. Accordingly, the scattered developer is prevented from reaching the developer discharge port and being discharged therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyonori Tsuda, Koichi Kato, Yuki Oshikawa, Yasufumi Takahashi, Eriko Maruyama, Koichi Sakata, Hitoshi Ishibashi, Kentaroh Tomita, Mugijirou Uno, Keiko Matsumoto, Kohichi Utsunomiya
  • Patent number: 7809322
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, using a developer including toner particles and carrier particles, includes a developing unit, a cleaning unit, and a conveying unit. The developing unit contains the developer and develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrying member as a toner image with the toner particles. The cleaning unit contains the developer and mixes the developer with the toner particles collected from the image carrying member after transferring the toner image. The conveying unit conveys a mixture of the collected toner particles and the developer from the cleaning unit to the developing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobutaka Takeuchi, Nobuo Iwata, Satoshi Muramatsu, Junichi Matsumoto, Takayuki Koike, Eriko Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20090185832
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a developing unit for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier with a two-ingredient type developer, i.e., a toner and carrier mixture. A toner replenishing device replenishes toner stored in a toner storing portion to the developing unit. A carrier storing portion, storing a carrier therein, is constructed independently of the toner storing portion. The carrier is fed from the carrier storing portion to the developing unit by a toner conveying force available with the toner replenishing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Satoshi Muramatsu, Nobuo Iwata, Nobutaka Takeuchi, Junichi Matsumoto, Takayuki Koike, Eriko Maruyama
  • Patent number: 7512364
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a developing unit for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier with a two-ingredient type developer, i.e., a toner and carrier mixture. A toner replenishing device replenishes toner stored in a toner storing portion to the developing unit. A carrier storing portion, storing a carrier therein, is constructed independently of the toner storing portion. The carrier is fed from the carrier storing portion to the developing unit by a toner conveying force available with the toner replenishing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Muramatsu, Nobuo Iwata, Nobutaka Takeuchi, Junichi Matsumoto, Takayuki Koike, Eriko Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20090041520
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, using a developer including toner particles and carrier particles, includes a developing unit, a cleaning unit, and a conveying unit. The developing unit contains the developer and develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrying member as a toner image with the toner particles. The cleaning unit contains the developer and mixes the developer with the toner particles collected from the image carrying member after transferring the toner image. The conveying unit conveys a mixture of the collected toner particles and the developer from the cleaning unit to the developing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Nobutaka TAKEUCHI, Nobuo IWATA, Satoshi MURAMATSU, Junichi MATSUMOTO, Takayuki KOIKE, Eriko MARUYAMA
  • Patent number: 7444107
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, using a developer including toner particles and carrier particles, includes a developing unit, a cleaning unit, and a conveying unit. The developing unit contains the developer and develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrying member as a toner image with the toner particles. The cleaning unit contains the developer and mixes the developer with the toner particles collected from the image carrying member after transferring the toner image. The conveying unit conveys a mixture of the collected toner particles and the developer from the cleaning unit to the developing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobutaka Takeuchi, Nobuo Iwata, Satoshi Muramatsu, Junichi Matsumoto, Takayuki Koike, Eriko Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20080181670
    Abstract: A developing device which can stably supply a developer to a latent image carrier by preventing the scattered developer from being discharged and thereby preventing the developer from being discharged despite that the amount of developer within the developing device does not increase, and an image forming apparatus using the developing device. A block member serving as a scattered developer discharge prevention member is provided so as to block a path through which the developer scattered as a result of a conveyance operation of a supply screw serving as a developer conveying member moves toward a developer discharge port. Accordingly, the scattered developer is prevented from reaching the developer discharge port and being discharged therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: Kiyonori TSUDA, Koichi Kato, Yuki Oshikawa, Yasufumi Takahashi, Eriko Maruyama, Koichi Sakata, Hitoshi Ishibashi, Kentaroh Tomita, Mugijirou Uno, Keiko Matsumoto, Kohichi Utsunomiya
  • Patent number: 7346286
    Abstract: A developer container includes a developer container configured to contain a developer including a toner and a carrier, a developer delivering mechanism configured to deliver the developer toward an image bearing member of an image forming apparatus, and a detecting mechanism configured to detect deterioration of the developer based on a predetermined characteristic of the developer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Matsumoto, Nobuo Iwata, Satoshi Muramatsu, Nobutaka Takeuchi, Takayuki Koike, Eriko Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20070009289
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a developing unit for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier with a two-ingredient type developer, i.e., a toner and carrier mixture. A toner replenishing device replenishes toner stored in a toner storing portion to the developing unit. A carrier storing portion, storing a carrier therein, is constructed independently of the toner storing portion. The carrier is fed from the carrier storing portion to the developing unit by a toner conveying force available with the toner replenishing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Inventors: Satoshi Muramatsu, Nobuo Iwata, Nobutaka Takeuchi, Junichi Matsumoto, Takayuki Koike, Eriko Maruyama
  • Patent number: 7127198
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a developing unit for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier with a two-ingredient type developer, i.e., a toner and carrier mixture. A toner replenishing device replenishes toner stored in a toner storing portion to the developing unit. A carrier storing portion, storing a carrier therein, is constructed independently of the toner storing portion. The carrier is fed from the carrier storing portion to the developing unit by a toner conveying force available with the toner replenishing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Muramatsu, Nobuo Iwata, Nobutaka Takeuchi, Junichi Matsumoto, Takayuki Koike, Eriko Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20060008281
    Abstract: A developer container includes a developer container configured to contain a developer including a toner and a carrier, a developer delivering mechanism configured to deliver the developer toward an image bearing member of an image forming apparatus, and a detecting mechanism configured to detect deterioration of the developer based on a predetermined characteristic of the developer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Inventors: Junichi Matsumoto, Nobuo Iwata, Satoshi Muramatsu, Nobutaka Takeuchi, Takayuki Koike, Eriko Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20050265759
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, using a developer including toner particles and carrier particles, includes a developing unit, a cleaning unit, and a conveying unit. The developing unit contains the developer and develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrying member as a toner image with the toner particles. The cleaning unit contains the developer and mixes the developer with the toner particles collected from the image carrying member after transferring the toner image. The conveying unit conveys a mixture of the collected toner particles and the developer from the cleaning unit to the developing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Publication date: December 1, 2005
    Inventors: Nobutaka Takeuchi, Nobuo Iwata, Satoshi Muramatsu, Junichi Matsumoto, Takayuki Koike, Eriko Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20050163537
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a developing unit for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier with a two-ingredient type developer, i.e., a toner and carrier mixture. A toner replenishing device replenishes toner stored in a toner storing portion to the developing unit. A carrier storing portion, storing a carrier therein, is constructed independently of the toner storing portion. The carrier is fed from the carrier storing portion to the developing unit by a toner conveying force available with the toner replenishing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Inventors: Satoshi Muramatsu, Nobuo Iwata, Nobutaka Takeuchi, Junichi Matsumoto, Takayuki Koike, Eriko Maruyama