Patents by Inventor Genichiroh Kawamichi

Genichiroh Kawamichi 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: 20240408899
    Abstract: A dryer includes: a conveyor belt having a shape of an endless loop to convey a sheet in a conveyance direction; a drying unit facing an absorption surface of the conveyor belt to dry the sheet on the absorption surface; and an absorber including multiple suction members inside the endless loop of the conveyor belt, the suction members arrayed in the conveyance direction to absorb the sheet onto the absorption surface of the conveyor belt, and at least one suction member of the multiple suction members to generate a suction force different from suction forces of other suction members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2024
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Inventors: Ryusaku HIDA, Kohki ASADA, Kazuaki KAMIHARA, Kenji NOZAWA, Genichiroh KAWAMICHI, Takayuki SEKI, Hiroki ISHIHARA, Takehiro NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20240351351
    Abstract: A heating device includes a heater and a cover to cover the heater. In the heating device, the cover includes a first cover disposed in a first direction of the heater and a second cover disposed in the first direction, and the second cover is adjacent to the first cover. In the heating device, the first cover and the second cover have a gap in between, and the gap has a length greater than an amount of thermal deformation of either one of the first cover or the second cover or a total amount of thermal deformation of the first cover and the second cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2024
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Applicant: Ricoh Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki SEKI, Kenji NOZAWA, Kohki ASADA, Genichiroh KAWAMICHI, Takehiro NAKAMURA, Hiroki ISHIHARA
  • Patent number: 11993085
    Abstract: A heater includes an irradiator configured to irradiate a heating object including a liquid attachment region, onto which a liquid is applied, with an active energy ray, and circuitry configured to control an output of the active energy ray emitted from the irradiator to an edge portion in the liquid attachment region of the heating object to be larger than an output of the active energy ray emitted from the irradiator to a non-edge portion in the liquid attachment region excluding the edge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ryusaku Hida, Kazuaki Kamihara, Kohki Asada, Kenji Nozawa, Genichiroh Kawamichi, Hiroshi Sawase, Yoshihiro Takahashi, Shun Saito
  • Publication number: 20240092595
    Abstract: A conveyance device includes a conveyance member, a guide, and a rotator. The conveyance member has a conveyance surface with a joint, the conveyance member to convey an object to be conveyed, with the object on the conveyance surface. The guide approaches the conveyance surface and guides the object from or to the conveyance member. The rotator contacts the conveyance surface. The guide displaces in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance surface, in conjunction with displacement of the rotator when the rotator contacts the joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Kohki ASADA, Kenji NOZAWA, Genichiroh KAWAMICHI, Takayuki SEKI, Kazuaki KAMIHARA, Ryusaku HIDA
  • Patent number: 11890859
    Abstract: A sheet heater includes a first conveyance belt configured to convey a sheet on which a liquid has been discharged in a conveyance direction, a heating unit facing the first conveyance belt, the heating unit configured to heat the sheet conveyed by the first conveyance belt, and a second conveyance belt disposed upstream of the first conveyance belt in the conveyance direction, the second conveyance belt configured to convey the sheet to the first conveyance belt. A surface temperature of the second conveyance belt is lower than a surface temperature of the first conveyance belt when the first conveyance belt and the second conveyance belt convey the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kohki Asada, Kazuaki Kamihara, Masato Ogawa, Hiroshi Sawase, Yoshihiro Takahashi, Ryusaku Hida, Kenji Nozawa, Genichiroh Kawamichi
  • Patent number: 11752782
    Abstract: A heating device includes a blower configured to blow air, the blower comprising a channel member defining a channel of the air, and a heater disposed outside the channel member. The channel member has end portions and a central portion in a longitudinal direction, each of the end portions having higher heat absorption property than the central portion, and said each of end portions of the channel member faces the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kohki Asada, Kenji Nozawa, Kazuaki Kamihara, Genichiroh Kawamichi, Ryusaku Hida
  • Patent number: 11691439
    Abstract: A dryer includes a first airflow generator configured to generate a first airflow to be blown to a sheet conveyed in the blower, a second airflow generator configured to generate a second airflow to exhaust air in the blower outside the blower, and circuitry configured to control the first airflow generator and the second airflow generator to control a blowing amount of the first airflow and an exhaust amount of the second airflow according to a type of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kohki Asada, Kenji Nozawa, Genichiroh Kawamichi, Kazuaki Kamihara, Ryusaku Hida
  • Patent number: 11640128
    Abstract: A sheet conveyor includes a conveyance belt configured to rotate to convey a sheet on which a liquid has been applied in a conveyance direction, and a guide configured to guide the sheet to the conveyance belt, a position of the guide being variable in the conveyance direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Shimojima, Kenji Nozawa, Genichiroh Kawamichi, Masato Ogawa, Kohki Asada, Kazuaki Kamihara, Hiroshi Sawase, Ryusaku Hida
  • Patent number: 11590773
    Abstract: A sheet conveyor includes a conveyance belt configured to convey a sheet on a first surface of the conveyance belt in a conveyance direction, a suction device configured to suck the sheet onto the conveyance belt via the conveyance belt, and multiple supports between the conveyance belt and the suction device in a vertical direction, the multiple supports configured to support a second surface of the conveyance belt. A longitudinal direction of each of the multiple supports is parallel to a direction intersecting the conveyance direction, and the multiple supports are arrayed in the conveyance direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Genichiroh Kawamichi, Masato Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20230011940
    Abstract: A heater includes an irradiator configured to irradiate a heating object including a liquid attachment region, onto which a liquid is applied, with an active energy ray, and circuitry configured to control an output of the active energy ray emitted from the irradiator to an edge portion in the liquid attachment region of the heating object to be larger than an output of the active energy ray emitted from the irradiator to a non-edge portion in the liquid attachment region excluding the edge portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: Ryusaku HIDA, Kazuaki KAMIHARA, Kohki ASADA, Kenji NOZAWA, Genichiroh KAWAMICHI, Hiroshi SAWASE, Yoshihiro TAKAHASHI, Shun SAITO
  • Publication number: 20220402280
    Abstract: A heating device includes a blower configured to blow air, the blower comprising a channel member defining a channel of the air, and a heater disposed outside the channel member. The channel member has end portions and a central portion in a longitudinal direction, each of the end portions having higher heat absorption property than the central portion, and said each of end portions of the channel member faces the heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Kohki ASADA, Kenji NOZAWA, Kazuaki KAMIHARA, Genichiroh KAWAMICHI, Ryusaku HIDA
  • Publication number: 20220242142
    Abstract: A dryer includes a first airflow generator configured to generate a first airflow to be blown to a sheet conveyed in the blower, a second airflow generator configured to generate a second airflow to exhaust air in the blower outside the blower, and circuitry configured to control the first airflow generator and the second airflow generator to control a blowing amount of the first airflow and an exhaust amount of the second airflow according to a type of the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Kohki ASADA, Kenji NOZAWA, Genichiroh KAWAMICHI, Kazuaki KAMIHARA, Ryusaku HIDA
  • Patent number: 11360414
    Abstract: A sheet correcting device includes a plurality of curved surface members including curved surfaces, respectively, to deform a sheet along the curved surfaces, the plurality of curved surface members disposed along a conveyance direction of the sheet, a plurality of pressing members disposed facing the curved surfaces of the plurality of curved surface members, respectively, to press the sheet against the curved surfaces of the plurality of curved surface members, respectively, a sheet tensioner to apply tension to the sheet, and a heater to heat the sheet that is bent by the curved surfaces of the plurality of curved surface members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki Ishihara, Genichiroh Kawamichi, Satoshi Aizawa, Kohki Asada
  • Patent number: 11285737
    Abstract: A heating device includes a conveyor configured to convey a sheet onto which a liquid is applied in a conveyance direction, an irradiator including a light emitter on an irradiation surface of the irradiator, the light emitter configured to emit light onto the sheet to heat the sheet with the light, a channel plate between the conveyor and the irradiation surface of the irradiator, an airflow generator configured to generate an airflow along the irradiation surface between the irradiation surface of the irradiator and the channel plate, and a suction device configured to suck and discharge the airflow in a direction from the irradiation surface of the irradiator toward the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kohki Asada, Kazuaki Kamihara, Masato Ogawa, Hiroshi Sawase, Yoshihiro Takahashi, Genichiroh Kawamichi, Kenji Nozawa, Ryusaku Hida
  • Publication number: 20220080749
    Abstract: A sheet conveyor includes a conveyance belt configured to convey a sheet on a first surface of the conveyance belt in a conveyance direction, a suction device configured to suck the sheet onto the conveyance belt via the conveyance belt, and multiple supports between the conveyance belt and the suction device in a vertical direction, the multiple supports configured to support a second surface of the conveyance belt. A longitudinal direction of each of the multiple supports is parallel to a direction intersecting the conveyance direction, and the multiple supports are arrayed in the conveyance direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Genichiroh Kawamichi, Masato Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20220066361
    Abstract: A sheet conveyor includes a conveyance belt configured to rotate to convey a sheet on which a liquid has been applied in a conveyance direction, and a guide configured to guide the sheet to the conveyance belt, a position of the guide being variable in the conveyance direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Shimojima, Kenji Nozawa, Genichiroh Kawamichi, Masato Ogawa, Kohki Asada, Kazuaki Kamihara, Hiroshi Sawase, Ryusaku Hida
  • Publication number: 20220063300
    Abstract: A sheet heater includes a first conveyance belt configured to convey a sheet on which a liquid has been discharged in a conveyance direction, a heating unit facing the first conveyance belt, the heating unit configured to heat the sheet conveyed by the first conveyance belt, and a second conveyance belt disposed upstream of the first conveyance belt in the conveyance direction, the second conveyance belt configured to convey the sheet to the first conveyance belt. A surface temperature of the second conveyance belt is lower than a surface temperature of the first conveyance belt when the first conveyance belt and the second conveyance belt convey the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Kohki ASADA, Kazuaki KAMIHARA, Masato OGAWA, Hiroshi SAWASE, Yoshihiro TAKAHASHI, Ryusaku HIDA, Kenji NOZAWA, Genichiroh KAWAMICHI
  • Publication number: 20210197584
    Abstract: A heating device includes a conveyor configured to convey a sheet onto which a liquid is applied in a conveyance direction, an irradiator including a light emitter on an irradiation surface of the irradiator, the light emitter configured to emit light onto the sheet to heat the sheet with the light, a channel plate between the conveyor and the irradiation surface of the irradiator, an airflow generator configured to generate an airflow along the irradiation surface between the irradiation surface of the irradiator and the channel plate, and a suction device configured to suck and discharge the airflow in a direction from the irradiation surface of the irradiator toward the conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Kohki ASADA, Kazuaki KAMIHARA, Masato OGAWA, Hiroshi SAWASE, Yoshihiro TAKAHASHI, Genichiroh KAWAMICHI, Kenji NOZAWA, Ryusaku HIDA
  • Patent number: 10800188
    Abstract: A sheet correcting device includes a belt pair to sandwich a sheet with an upper belt and a lower belt to convey the sheet in a sheet conveyance direction, a plurality of curved surface members disposed along the sheet conveyance direction, each of the plurality of curved surface members comprising a curved surface to contact the belt pair where the belt pair sandwiches the sheet, a plurality of pressing members facing the curved surface of each of the plurality of curved surface members, respectively, to press the belt pair against the curved surface of each of the plurality of curved surface members, and a heater to heat the sheet via at least one of the upper belt and the lower belt of the belt pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohki Asada, Genichiroh Kawamichi, Hiroki Ishihara, Satoshi Aizawa
  • Publication number: 20190202215
    Abstract: A sheet correcting device includes a belt pair to sandwich a sheet with an upper belt and a lower belt to convey the sheet in a sheet conveyance direction, a plurality of curved surface members disposed along the sheet conveyance direction, each of the plurality of curved surface members comprising a curved surface to contact the belt pair where the belt pair sandwiches the sheet, a plurality of pressing members facing the curved surface of each of the plurality of curved surface members, respectively, to press the belt pair against the curved surface of each of the plurality of curved surface members, and a heater to heat the sheet via at least one of the upper belt and the lower belt of the belt pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Kohki ASADA, Genichiroh KAWAMICHI, Hiroki ISHIHARA, Satoshi AIZAWA