Patents by Inventor Hideo Ichikawa
Hideo Ichikawa 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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Patent number: 6088561Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a container body for holding toner therein, at least one rotatable member including a rotation center shaft, for discharging the toner outside from the container body, disposed in the container body, the container body having an opening at one end thereof in the axial direction of rotation of the rotatable member, and a cap member for opening and closing the opening formed in the container body, which is capable of serving as a bearing member for the rotatable member thereon and is detachable through the opening in the direction of the axis of rotation of the rotatable member. This toner cartridge is available with toner loaded therein, and can be recycled when the toner is used up. A method of recycling this toner cartridge is provided. In addition, an image formation apparatus including this toner cartridge is proposed.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 1997Date of Patent: July 11, 2000Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yoshihide Kawamura, Hideo Ichikawa, Shigemi Kanda
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Patent number: 6075963Abstract: A developer replenishing device for replenishing a developing device with a developer, and a developer container for use therewith. The developer container, or toner bottle, has a mouth portion at one end thereof which is smaller in diameter than a hollow cylindrical main body. At the end of the bottle provided with the mouth, a shoulder has the inner periphery thereof partly raised to the edge of the mouth portion to form a raised portion for scooping up a toner. In addition, a part of the inner periphery of the circumferential wall of the bottle which is contiguous with the raised portion is also raised toward the axis of the bottle about which the bottle is rotatable, thereby forming another raised portion. When the bottle is mounted to a bottle holder, which is included in the replenishing device, substantially horizontally with the mouth portion oriented sideways, the bottle is rotated to raise the toner from the bottom of the main body to the mouth portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 1999Date of Patent: June 13, 2000Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hideo Ichikawa, Takeshi Saito, Sunao Ikeda, Nobuhiro Makita, Seiji Ozawa, Shigeru Yoshiki, Takaaki Yanagisawa
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Patent number: 6010324Abstract: A mold clamping unit comprises guide rollers for guiding fitting and releasing of a mold, a hydraulic clamp for holding the mold at a molding position, a guiding portion formed to project in a direction perpendicular to a mold open-close direction from a lower portion of platen and a locking mechanism provided to an upper portion opposing to the guiding portion for the platen, for locking the mold at a releasing position. Since exchange and maintenance operations of a stamper can be carried out under a condition where the mold is released to the releasing position over the guiding portion and locked by the locking mechanism, fitting/releasing of the mold to/from the platen can be facilitated and exchange and maintenance operations of the stamper can be made easy.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 1997Date of Patent: January 4, 2000Assignee: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takeo Oshiro, Masao Hirosawa, Hideo Ichikawa
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Patent number: 5918090Abstract: A developer replenishing device for replenishing a developing device with a developer, and a developer container for use therewith. The developer container, or toner bottle, has a mouth portion at one end thereof which is smaller in diameter than a hollow cylindrical main body. At the end of the bottle provided with the mouth, a shoulder has the inner periphery thereof partly raised to the edge of the mouth portion to form a raised portion for scooping up a toner. In addition, a part of the inner periphery of the circumferential wall of the bottle which is contiguous with the raised portion is also raised toward the axis of the bottle about which the bottle is rotatable, thereby forming another raised portion. When the bottle is mounted to a bottle holder, which is included in the replenishing device, substantially horizontally with the mouth portion oriented sideways, the bottle is rotated to raise the toner from the bottom of the main body to the mouth portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 1998Date of Patent: June 29, 1999Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hideo Ichikawa, Takeshi Saito, Sunao Ikeda, Nobuhiro Makita, Seiji Ozawa, Shigeru Yoshiki, Takaaki Yanagisawa
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Patent number: 5822663Abstract: A developer replenishing device for replenishing a developing device with a developer, and a developer container for use therewith. The developer container, or toner bottle, has a mouth portion at one end thereof which is smaller in diameter than a hollow cylindrical main body. At the end of the bottle provided with the mouth, a shoulder has the inner periphery thereof partly raised to the edge of the mouth portion to form a raised portion for scooping up a toner. In addition, a part of the inner periphery of the circumferential wall of the bottle which is contiguous with the raised portion is also raised toward the axis of the bottle about which the bottle is rotatable, thereby forming another raised portion. When the bottle is mounted to a bottle holder, which is included in the replenishing device, substantially horizontally with the mouth portion oriented sideways, the bottle is rotated to raise the toner from the bottom of the main body to the mouth portion.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 1996Date of Patent: October 13, 1998Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hideo Ichikawa, Takeshi Saito, Sunao Ikeda, Nobuhiro Makita, Seiji Ozawa, Shigeru Yoshiki, Takaaki Yanagisawa
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Patent number: 5740507Abstract: A toner container densely packed with toner to be replenished into a developing unit included in an image forming apparatus, and a method of producing the same. The toner is packed in the container with a ratio of a packing density to a saturation bulk density greater than 1.0, a mean penetration greater than 5.0 mm inclusive, and a standard deviation of penetration not exceeding one-fifth of the mean penetration. The toner can be smoothly and continuously replenished into the developing unit so as to form a number of images matching the amount thereof.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 1996Date of Patent: April 14, 1998Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hideo Ichikawa, Sunao Ikeda, Nobuhiro Makita, Michiharu Narushima, Seiji Terazawa, Masakazu Nakada, Kazuhiko Umemura
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Patent number: 5727607Abstract: A powder feeding method includes the steps of injecting a gaseous medium into a powder material held in a hopper from a porous wall forming a funnel at a bottom part of said hopper, such that the injection of the gaseous medium is carried out intermittently.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 1996Date of Patent: March 17, 1998Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hideo Ichikawa, Sunao Ikeda, Michiharu Narushima, Nobuhiro Makita
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Patent number: 5711353Abstract: A powder filling method and a powder filling device for filling a powder such as toner, chemical, cosmetics or food material in a powder container efficiently at a high density includes the steps of inserting an air aspirating pipe in a powder filled in a powder container, aspirating air in the powder through the air aspirating pipe, and moving one end of the air aspirating pipe from a bottom portion to a top portion of the powder container, corresponding to an amount of the powder filled.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 1996Date of Patent: January 27, 1998Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hideo Ichikawa, Sunao Ikeda, Michiharu Narushima, Nobuhiro Makita
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Patent number: 5655195Abstract: In a developing device included in an image forming apparatus, a toner cartridge has a body and a replenishing member disposed in the body. The cartridge makes it needless to adhere or otherwise affix an elastic piece to the edge of the base of the replenishing member that slidably contacts the inner periphery of the body. The replenishing member is capable of scooping up toner while being held in sliding contact with the inner periphery of the body under a constant pressure.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 1995Date of Patent: August 5, 1997Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hideo Ichikawa, Seiji Terazawa, Sunao Ikeda
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Patent number: 5627631Abstract: A developer replenishing device for replenishing a developing device with a developer, and a developer container for use therewith. The developer container, or toner bottle, has a mouth portion at one end thereof which is smaller in diameter than a hollow cylindrical main body. At the end of the bottle provided with the mouth, a shoulder has the inner periphery thereof partly raised to the edge of the mouth portion to form a raised portion for scooping up a toner. In addition, a part of the inner periphery of the circumferential wall of the bottle which is contiguous with the raised portion is also raised toward the axis of the bottle about which the bottle is rotatable, thereby forming another raised portion. When the bottle is mounted to a bottle holder, which is included in the replenishing device, substantially horizontally with the mouth portion oriented sideways, the bottle is rotated to raise the toner from the bottom of the main body to the mouth portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 1996Date of Patent: May 6, 1997Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hideo Ichikawa, Takeshi Saito, Sunao Ikeda, Nobuhiro Makita, Seiji Ozawa, Shigeru Yoshiki, Takaaki Yanagisawa
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Patent number: 5500719Abstract: A developer replenishing device for replenishing a developing device with a developer, and a developer container for use therewith. The developer container, or toner bottle, has a mouth portion at one end thereof which is smaller in diameter than a hollow cylindrical main body. At the end of the bottle provided with the mouth, a shoulder has the inner periphery thereof partly raised to the edge of the mouth portion to form a raised portion for scooping up a toner. In addition, a part of the inner periphery of the circumferential wall of the bottle which is contiguous with the raised portion is also raised toward the axis of the bottle about which the bottle is rotatable, thereby forming another raised portion. When the bottle is mounted to a bottle holder, which is included in the replenishing device, substantially horizontally with the mouth portion oriented sideways, the bottle is rotated to raise the toner from the bottom of the main body to the mouth portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 1995Date of Patent: March 19, 1996Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hideo Ichikawa, Takeshi Saito, Sunao Ikeda, Nobuhiro Makita, Seiji Ozawa, Shigeru Yoshiki, Takaaki Yanagisawa
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Patent number: 5489976Abstract: A toner replenishing device for a developing device included in an image forming apparatus is disclosed. An engaging member, used to transfer a driving force from an external drive source to the shaft of an agitating member disposed in a toner container, is prevented from being damaged when, for example, the toner container is let fall by accident. The agitating member for agitating toner stored in the toner container is protected from damage when an excessive load acts on the shaft. The toner stored in the toner container is prevented from solidifying and exerting an excessive load on the shaft of the agitating member.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 1995Date of Patent: February 6, 1996Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Hideo Ichikawa
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Patent number: 5455662Abstract: A developer replenishing device for replenishing a developing device with a developer, and a developer container for use therewith. The developer container, or toner bottle, has a mouth portion at one end thereof which is smaller in diameter than a hollow cylindrical main body. At the end of the bottle provided with the mouth, a shoulder has the inner periphery thereof partly raised to the edge of the mouth portion to form a raised portion for scooping up a toner. In addition, a part of the inner periphery of the circumferential wall of the bottle which is contiguous with the raised portion is also raised toward the axis of the bottle about which the bottle is rotatable, thereby forming another raised portion. When the bottle is mounted to a bottle holder, which is included in the replenishing device, substantially horizontally with the mouth portion oriented sideways, the bottle is rotated to raise the toner from the bottom of the main body to the mouth portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 1993Date of Patent: October 3, 1995Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hideo Ichikawa, Takeshi Saito, Sunao Ikeda, Nobuhiro Makita, Seiji Ozawa, Shigeru Yoshiki, Takaaki Yanagisawa
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Patent number: 5384630Abstract: A sheet forwarding apparatus for supporting a sheet on a transfer drum in a electrophotographic copying machine, onto which a toner image on a photoreceptor drum is transferred, which apparatus includes a pressure roller for pressing the sheet onto the transfer drum while forwarding. An arm member supports the pressure roller and is pivotable around a shaft so as to cause the pressure roller to alternately contact and distance from the transfer drum. An oscillating unit is included for oscillating the arm member, and to apply a constant pressure to the sheet through the pressure roller when the pressure roller is in contact with the transfer drum.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 1993Date of Patent: January 24, 1995Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasuo Nakamura, Yoshio Kogure, Hideo Ichikawa, Takuji Miyazawa, Takahiko Ryuzaki
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Patent number: 5362041Abstract: A sheet registering unit for an image forming apparatus in which in the location upstream of the transfer stage, a preregistering roller device and a registering roller device are disposed while being separated with a predetermined distance from each other, and the leading edge of a sheet of paper is positioned with the aid of a loop of the sheet formed in a manner that the leading edge is thrust against the nip of the paired rollers of the registering roller device, and in this state the sheet is additionally pushed by the preregistering roller pair. In the sheet registering unit, the shafts supporting the roller members of the registering roller device or the roller members are supported by the combination of linear bearing members and springs, and by a pressure in the oblique direction caused in the sheet nipped by the registering roller device, the roller members of the registering roller device are shifted in the axial direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 1993Date of Patent: November 8, 1994Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takahiko Ryuzaki, Yoshio Kogure, Hideo Ichikawa, Yasuo Nakamura, Takuji Miyazawa
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Patent number: 5322198Abstract: A liquid supply system with a pump for discharging fixed amounts of liquid composed of a liquid supply vessel which holds a liquid therein; a cylinder device composed of a cylinder cover and a cylinder with a bottom portion having a piston hole, a first liquid suction hole with a liquid suction valve and a second liquid suction hole; a piston device which is slidably disposed within the cylinder, including a piston with a liquid suction inlet and a liquid inlet valve, and a valve-pressing member, a piston cover provided above the piston to form an inner space therebetween to hold the liquid therein, a piston shaft which, in a sealed state, passes through the piston hole formed in the bottom portion of the cylinder, and is integrally connected with the piston in such a manner as to slidably move the piston device along the inner side of the cylinder when pressed upward or downward, the piston shaft including herein a liquid discharge conduit which is connected to the inner space of the piston device and from wType: GrantFiled: June 25, 1993Date of Patent: June 21, 1994Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Hideo Ichikawa
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Patent number: D356813Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 1993Date of Patent: March 28, 1995Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hideo Ichikawa, Toshinobu Nishizaki
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Patent number: D365359Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 1994Date of Patent: December 19, 1995Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hideo Ichikawa, Hiroaki Sugiyama
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Patent number: D376614Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 1994Date of Patent: December 17, 1996Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hideo Ichikawa, Toshinobu Nishizaki
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Patent number: D389176Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 1994Date of Patent: January 13, 1998Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hideo Ichikawa, Toshinobu Nishizaki