Patents by Inventor Gaku Hosono

Gaku Hosono 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: 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
  • Publication number: 20140099150
    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: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: 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
  • Publication number: 20140097288
    Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a spool and a pair of roll holders. The spool is configured to hold a roll of print medium having an adhesive surface with no release liner attached thereto, with the roll fitted around the spool. The pair of roll holders is configured to hold the spool at opposed ends of the spool, each including at least a first rotary member, a second rotary member, and a third rotary member that contact an outer circumferential surface of the spool at different locations along the outer circumferential surface of the spool to rotatably hold the spool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Norikazu YANASE, Kazuyoshi MATSUMOTO, Makoto KIKURA, Kazuyoshi KONDO, Yuuzoh OBATA, Yoshinori UCHINO, Gaku HOSONO
  • Publication number: 20140099149
    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: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Kikura, Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Kazuyoshi Kondo, Yuuzoh Obata, Norikazu Yanase, Yoshinori Uchino, Gaku Hosono
  • Publication number: 20140099148
    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: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuuzoh Obata, Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Norikazu Yanase, Kazuyoshi Kondo, Makoto Kikura, Gaku Hosono, Yoshinori Uchino
  • Publication number: 20140078232
    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: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi KONDO, Kazuyoshi MATSUMOTO, Makoto KIKURA, Yuuzoh OBATA, Norikazu YANASE, Yoshinori UCHINO, Gaku HOSONO, Tadayasu ENOMOTO
  • Publication number: 20140079461
    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: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuuzoh Obata, Makoto KIKURA, Kazuyoshi MATSUMOTO, Kazuyoshi KONDO, Gaku HOSONO, Yoshinori UCHINO, Norikazu YANASE, Daisuke NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20140029023
    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: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Norikazu Yanase, Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Makoto Kikura, Kazuyoshi Kondo, Yuuzoh Obata, Yoshinori Uchino, Gaku Hosono
  • Publication number: 20140028752
    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: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Kikura, Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Kazuyoshi Kondo, Yuuzoh Obata, Norikazu Yanase, Yoshinori Uchino, Gaku Hosono