Patents by Inventor Haruo Iimura

Haruo Iimura 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: 10088781
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer member configured to abut against an image carrier for carrying a toner image to form a transfer nip; and a power supply configured to output a bias voltage for transferring the toner image on the image carrier onto a recording medium nipped in the transfer nip. The bias voltage includes a first voltage for transferring the toner image from the image carrier onto the recording medium in a transfer direction and a second voltage having an opposite polarity of the first voltage, the first and the second voltages being alternately output. A time-averaged value of the bias voltage is set to a polarity in the transfer direction and is set in the transfer direction side with respect to a median between a maximum and a minimum of the bias voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Tanaka, Naomi Sugimoto, Haruo Iimura, Shinji Aoki, Yasuhiko Ogino, Kazuchika Saeki, Keigo Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20170146931
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer member configured to abut against an image carrier for carrying a toner image to form a transfer nip; and a power supply configured to output a bias voltage for transferring the toner image on the image carrier onto a recording medium nipped in the transfer nip. The bias voltage includes a first voltage for transferring the toner image from the image carrier onto the recording medium in a transfer direction and a second voltage having an opposite polarity of the first voltage, the first and the second voltages being alternately output. A time-averaged value of the bias voltage is set to a polarity in the transfer direction and is set in the transfer direction side with respect to a median between a maximum and a minimum of the bias voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Shinya TANAKA, Naomi Sugimoto, Haruo Iimura, Shinji Aoki, Yasuhiko Ogino, Kazuchika Saeki, Keigo Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9658579
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer to bear a toner image, a toner image forming device to form the toner image on the image bearer, a nip forming device to contact the image bearer to form a transfer nip between the image bearer and the nip forming device, a transfer bias output device to output a transfer bias including a DC component and an AC component to transfer the toner image from the image bearer onto a recording medium interposed in the transfer nip, and a controller operatively connected to the transfer bias output device to adjust a frequency f of the AC component of the transfer bias in accordance with an image area ratio A such that the frequency f is at its minimum with a predetermined image area ratio Amin %, where Amin % is greater than 0 but lower than an image area ratio of a solid image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Keigo Nakamura, Haruo Iimura, Shinji Aoki
  • Patent number: 9563153
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer member configured to abut against an image carrier for carrying a toner image to form a transfer nip; and a power supply configured to output a bias voltage for transferring the toner image on the image carrier onto a recording medium nipped in the transfer nip. The bias voltage includes a first voltage for transferring the toner image from the image carrier onto the recording medium in a transfer direction and a second voltage having an opposite polarity of the first voltage, the first and the second voltages being alternately output. A time-averaged value of the bias voltage is set to a polarity in the transfer direction and is set in the transfer direction side with respect to a median between a maximum and a minimum of the bias voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Tanaka, Naomi Sugimoto, Haruo Iimura, Shinji Aoki, Yasuhiko Ogino, Kazuchika Saeki, Keigo Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9335674
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, provided is a transfer device including: a nip forming member that abuts against a surface of an image carrier carrying a toner image; and a transfer voltage application unit that applies a transfer voltage including a DC component and an AC component. The transfer voltage is an alternating voltage in which a supply voltage having polarity in a transfer direction and a return voltage having polarity opposite. A time average value Vave of the transfer voltage is set to be at polarity in the transfer direction and is set to be closer to a peak value Vt of the supply voltage relative to a center value Voff between a maximum and minimum value. An absolute value of the peak value Vr of the return voltage is set to be larger than an absolute value of the time average value Vave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Naomi Sugimoto, Shinya Tanaka, Haruo Iimura, Shinji Aoki, Yasuhiko Ogino, Keigo Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9310722
    Abstract: [Problem to be solved] To provide an image forming apparatus for suppressing formations of white spots and achieving high quality images, while obtaining sufficient image densities in both of the recessed parts and the projected parts of a recording medium surface. [Solution] An image forming apparatus includes a transfer member 36 that abuts against a surface of an image carrier carrying a toner image and forms a transfer nip, and a power supply 39 that outputs a voltage (transfer bias) for causing the toner image on the image carrier to be transferred onto a recording medium P nipped in the transfer nip. The voltage is switched alternatingly between a transfer direction voltage for causing the toner image to be transferred from the image carrier onto the recording medium and a voltage having an opposite polarity of the transfer direction voltage when the toner image on the image carrier is to be transferred onto the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Shinya Tanaka, Naomi Sugimoto, Haruo Iimura, Shinji Aoki, Yasuhiko Ogino, Kazuchika Saeki, Keigo Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9285723
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier to carry a toner image, a transfer member to form a transfer nip by contacting the image carrier surface, and a power supply to output a voltage to the recording material captured in the transfer nip so as to transfer the toner image formed on the image carrier surface. The voltage is switching alternately between a voltage in the transfer direction and a voltage opposite to the voltage in the transfer direction, and a time average value (Vave) of the voltage is set to have a polarity of the transfer direction, and is set to a value in the transfer voltage side, and a change mode to change a cycle of the voltage output from the power supply can be changed based on the toner deterioration information which determines the deterioration status of the toner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naomi Sugimoto, Shinya Tanaka, Haruo Iimura, Shinji Aoki, Yasuhiko Ogino, Keigo Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20150338792
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer to bear a toner image, a toner image forming device to form the toner image on the image bearer, a nip forming device to contact the image bearer to form a transfer nip between the image bearer and the nip forming device, a transfer bias output device to output a transfer bias including a DC component and an AC component to transfer the toner image from the image bearer onto a recording medium interposed in the transfer nip, and a controller operatively connected to the transfer bias output device to adjust a frequency f of the AC component of the transfer bias in accordance with an image area ratio A such that the frequency f is at its minimum with a predetermined image area ratio Amin %, where Amin % is greater than 0 but lower than an image area ratio of a solid image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Keigo NAKAMURA, Haruo IIMURA, Shinji AOKI
  • Publication number: 20150286168
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, provided is a transfer device including: a nip forming member that abuts against a surface of an image carrier carrying a toner image; and a transfer voltage application unit that applies a transfer voltage including a DC component and an AC component. The transfer voltage is an alternating voltage in which a supply voltage having polarity in a transfer direction and a return voltage having polarity opposite. A time average value Vave of the transfer voltage is set to be at polarity in the transfer direction and is set to be closer to a peak value Vt of the supply voltage relative to a center value Voff between a maximum and minimum value. An absolute value of the peak value Vr of the return voltage is set to be larger than an absolute value of the time average value Vave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Naomi SUGIMOTO, Shinya TANAKA, Haruo IIMURA, Shinji AOKI, Yasuhiko OGINO, Keigo NAKAMURA
  • Patent number: 9081335
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, provided is a transfer device including: a nip forming member that abuts against a surface of an image carrier carrying a toner image; and a transfer voltage application unit that applies a transfer voltage including a DC component and an AC component. The transfer voltage is an alternating voltage in which a supply voltage having polarity in a transfer direction and a return voltage having polarity opposite. A time average value Vave of the transfer voltage is set to be at polarity in the transfer direction and is set to be closer to a peak value Vt of the supply voltage relative to a center value Voff between a maximum and minimum value. An absolute value of the peak value Vr of the return voltage is set to be larger than an absolute value of the time average value Vave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Naomi Sugimoto, Shinya Tanaka, Haruo Iimura, Shinji Aoki, Yasuhiko Ogino, Keigo Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9020382
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a nip forming member and a transfer bias output device that outputs a transfer bias to form a transfer electric field in a transfer nip between the nip forming member and an intermediate transfer member. Upon transfer of a composite toner image including a particular toner image onto a recording medium in the transfer nip, the transfer bias output device outputs the transfer bias including a first superimposed bias in which a direct current (DC) component is superimposed on an alternating current (AC) component. Upon transfer of the composite toner image without the particular toner image onto the recording medium in the transfer nip, the transfer bias output device outputs one of the transfer bias including a second superimposed bias having a peak-to-peak value of the AC component smaller than that of the first superimposed bias and the transfer bias including only the DC component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Aoki, Haruo Iimura, Yasuhiko Ogino, Tadashi Kasai, Naomi Sugimoto, Shinya Tanaka, Keigo Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8923716
    Abstract: A transfer device includes an image carrier that carries a toner image; a nip forming member that forms a transfer nip between the nip forming member and the image carrier by contacting with a front surface of the image carrier; and a transfer bias applying unit that applies a transfer bias, thereby transferring the toner image carried on the image carrier to a recording material at a position of the transfer nip. The transfer bias applying unit applies the transfer bias in which an AC component and a DC component are superimposed and in which a peak-to-peak voltage of the AC component is larger than 6 times an absolute value of a voltage of the DC component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Keigo Nakamura, Haruo Iimura, Shinji Aoki, Yasuhiko Ogino
  • Patent number: 8909079
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer bias generator including a transfer bias supply that supplies a transfer bias to a transfer nip formed between an image carrier and a first rotary body, and a controller that detects a toner adhesion amount at a predetermined region of the image carrier located immediately upstream from the transfer nip and having a predetermined length in a moving direction of the image carrier. The transfer bias generator outputs at least an alternating current component under one of constant voltage control and constant current control and changes a target output value of the alternating current component according to the toner adhesion amount detected by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Aoki, Haruo Iimura, Yasuhiko Ogino, Keigo Nakamura, Masahide Nakaya, Tomokazu Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8818221
    Abstract: Described herein is a transfer device that transfers a visualized image formed on an image carrier onto a recording medium. The transfer device includes an image carrier that carries a toner image, a contacting member that contacts the image carrier via a recording medium and a power source that outputs a transfer bias to transfer the toner image from the image carrier onto the recording medium at a transfer nip formed between the image carrier and the contacting member. The transfer bias has a direct current component and an alternating current (AC) component superimposed on the direct current component. The transfer device also includes a controller that controls the power source such that the controller controls a level of the direct current component output from the power source by a constant current control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Ogino, Haruo Iimura, Shinji Aoki, Keigo Nakamura, Masahide Nakaya, Tomokazu Takeuchi, Shinya Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8781348
    Abstract: A transfer device includes a controller that controls a transfer bias supply to cause a transfer bias to increase, between an image carrier and a first rotary body disposed opposite the image carrier, a potential of the first rotary body toward an opposite polarity to a charge polarity of toner of a toner image on the image carrier to be higher than a potential of the image carrier, and to change, on the basis of identified recording medium type, a returning peak value which is one of a peak value of positive polarity and a peak value of negative polarity of the transfer bias and which generates an electric field that causes the toner having moved to the recording medium from the image carrier to return to the image carrier from the recording medium in a transfer nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Ogino, Haruo Iimura, Shinji Aoki, Keigo Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20140169817
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier to carry a toner image, a transfer member to form a transfer nip by contacting the image carrier surface, and a power supply to output a voltage to the recording material captured in the transfer nip so as to transfer the toner image formed on the image carrier surface. The voltage is switching alternately between a voltage in the transfer direction and a voltage opposite to the voltage in the transfer direction, and a time average value (Vave) of the voltage is set to have a polarity of the transfer direction, and is set to a value in the transfer voltage side, and a change mode to change a cycle of the voltage output from the power supply can be changed based on the toner deterioration information which determines the deterioration status of the toner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventors: Naomi SUGIMOTO, Shinya Tanaka, Haruo Iimura, Shinji Aoki, Yasuhiko Ogino, Keigo Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8750736
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member to carry a toner image, a nip forming member to form a transfer nip with the image carrying member, and a transfer bias outputting unit to output a transfer bias to transfer the toner image from the image carrying member to a recording medium. The transfer bias is composed of a direct current (DC) component and an alternating current (AC) component, and a least one of the DC component and the AC component is subjected to constant voltage control. When constant current control is conducted at a timing other than when the toner image is being transferred from the image carrying member to the recording medium, a detection bias voltage at the transfer nip is detected, and the voltage of at least one of the DC component and the AC component is controlled based on the detected detection bias voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keigo Nakamura, Haruo Iimura, Yasuhiko Ogino, Shinji Aoki
  • Patent number: 8712267
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier to carry a toner image, a transfer member to form a transfer nip by contacting the image carrier surface, and a power supply to output a voltage to the recording material captured in the transfer nip so as to transfer the toner image formed on the image carrier surface. The voltage is switching alternately between a voltage in the transfer direction and a voltage opposite to the voltage in the transfer direction, and a time average value (Vave) of the voltage is set to have a polarity of the transfer direction, and is set to a value in the transfer voltage side, and a change mode to change a cycle of the voltage output from the power supply can be changed based on the toner deterioration information which determines the deterioration status of the toner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naomi Sugimoto, Shinya Tanaka, Haruo Iimura, Shinji Aoki, Yasuhiko Ogino, Keigo Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20140010562
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer member configured to abut against an image carrier for carrying a toner image to form a transfer nip; and a power supply configured to output a bias voltage for transferring the toner image on the image carrier onto a recording medium nipped in the transfer nip. The bias voltage includes a first voltage for transferring the toner image from the image carrier onto the recording medium in a transfer direction and a second voltage having an opposite polarity of the first voltage, the first and the second voltages being alternately output. A time-averaged value of the bias voltage is set to a polarity in the transfer direction and is set in the transfer direction side with respect to a median between a maximum and a minimum of the bias voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: Shinya Tanaka, Naomi Sugimoto, Haruo Iimura, Shinji Aoki, Yasuhiko Ogino
  • Patent number: RE47726
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a nip forming member and a transfer bias output device that outputs a transfer bias to form a transfer electric field in a transfer nip between the nip forming member and an intermediate transfer member. Upon transfer of a composite toner image including a particular toner image onto a recording medium in the transfer nip, the transfer bias output device outputs the transfer bias including a first superimposed bias in which a direct current (DC) component is superimposed on an alternating current (AC) component. Upon transfer of the composite toner image without the particular toner image onto the recording medium in the transfer nip, the transfer bias output device outputs one of the transfer bias including a second superimposed bias having a peak-to-peak value of the AC component smaller than that of the first superimposed bias and the transfer bias including only the DC component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Aoki, Haruo Iimura, Yasuhiko Ogino, Tadashi Kasai, Naomi Sugimoto, Shinya Tanaka, Keigo Nakamura