Patents by Inventor Hideo Yoshizawa

Hideo Yoshizawa 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: 20240134301
    Abstract: A toner container (32) includes a rotatable container body (33). The container body includes an opening portion (33c) and a plurality of projections (33a). The opening portion is on a first end, which is opposite a second end, of the container body in a rotation axis direction. The plurality of projections are each protrude inward and have a slope inclined with respect to the rotation axis direction. The plurality of projections are disposed such that, out of two adjacent projections in the rotation axis direction, one projection closer to the first end of the container body in the rotation axis direction overlaps the other projection closer to the second end of the container body in the rotation axis direction, in an area of the one projection closer to the second end and an area of the other projection closer to the first end in the rotation axis direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Hideo YOSHIZAWA, Kei SAITO, Yuki OSHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 11803134
    Abstract: A powder container contains powder and is attached to an image forming apparatus including: a conveying nozzle to convey the powder; a powder receiving hole of the conveying nozzle to receive the powder from the powder container; an apparatus main-body gear to transmit a driving force to the powder container; and a container receiving section including the conveying nozzle and receiving the powder container. The powder container includes: an opening at one end of the powder container in a longitudinal direction; a nozzle receiver at the opening to receive the conveying nozzle; a conveyor to convey the powder; and a container gear to drive the conveyor by meshing with the apparatus main-body gear. The container gear is to mesh with the apparatus main-body gear at a position closer to the opening than the powder receiving hole in the longitudinal direction. The opening is to mate with the container receiving section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Kikuchi, Shinji Tamaki, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Shunji Katoh, Michiharu Suzuki, Hideo Yoshizawa, Shingo Kuboki
  • Patent number: 11754947
    Abstract: A toner container includes a container body, a gear, a held portion, an information storage device, a holding portion, and a connecting portion. The container body is rotatable around a rotation axis. The gear is disposed on a leading end of the toner container in the attaching direction of the toner container. The held portion is disposed such that the gear is exposed on the leading end in the attaching direction. The information storage device communicates with the body of the image forming apparatus. The holding portion is held by the held portion via the connecting portion. The information storage device, the holding portion, and the connecting portion are disposed at oblique positions excluding positions on a horizontal line and a vertical line. The connecting portion covers a part of the gear in a rotation direction and includes a rib-shaped portion that connects the held portion and the holding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hideo Yoshizawa, Kei Saito, Yuki Oshikawa
  • Publication number: 20220317595
    Abstract: A toner container includes a container body, a gear, a held portion, an information storage device, a holding portion, and a connecting portion. The container body is rotatable around a rotation axis. The gear is disposed on a leading end of the toner container in the attaching direction of the toner container. The held portion is disposed such that the gear is exposed on the leading end in the attaching direction. The information storage device communicates with the body of the image forming apparatus. The holding portion is held by the held portion via the connecting portion. The information storage device, the holding portion, and the connecting portion are disposed at oblique positions excluding positions on a horizontal line and a vertical line. The connecting portion covers a part of the gear in a rotation direction and includes a rib-shaped portion that connects the held portion and the holding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Hideo YOSHIZAWA, Kei SAITO, Yuki OSHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20220253001
    Abstract: A powder container contains powder and is attached to an image forming apparatus including: a conveying nozzle to convey the powder; a powder receiving hole of the conveying nozzle to receive the powder from the powder container; an apparatus main-body gear to transmit a driving force to the powder container; and a container receiving section including the conveying nozzle and receiving the powder container. The powder container includes: an opening at one end of the powder container in a longitudinal direction; a nozzle receiver at the opening to receive the conveying nozzle; a conveyor to convey the powder; and a container gear to drive the conveyor by meshing with the apparatus main-body gear. The container gear is to mesh with the apparatus main-body gear at a position closer to the opening than the powder receiving hole in the longitudinal direction. The opening is to mate with the container receiving section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji KIKUCHI, Shinji TAMAKI, Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Shunji KATOH, Michiharu SUZUKI, Hideo YOSHIZAWA, Shingo KUBOKI
  • Patent number: 11372347
    Abstract: A powder container contains powder and is attached to an image forming apparatus including: a conveying nozzle to convey the powder; a powder receiving hole of the conveying nozzle to receive the powder from the powder container; an apparatus main-body gear to transmit a driving force to the powder container; and a container receiving section including the conveying nozzle and receiving the powder container. The powder container includes: an opening at one end of the powder container in a longitudinal direction; a nozzle receiver at the opening to receive the conveying nozzle; a conveyor to convey the powder; and a container gear to drive the conveyor by meshing with the apparatus main-body gear. The container gear is to mesh with the apparatus main-body gear at a position closer to the opening than the powder receiving hole in the longitudinal direction. The opening is to mate with the container receiving section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Kikuchi, Shinji Tamaki, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Shunji Katoh, Michiharu Suzuki, Hideo Yoshizawa, Shingo Kuboki
  • Patent number: 11048189
    Abstract: A toner container includes a cylindrical container body having a head with an opening in the head, a cap into which the head of the container body is inserted, and a sheet member attached inside the cap. The cylindrical container body rotates around a rotation axis extending in a longitudinal direction of the container body to transport toner contained in the container body toward the opening. The cap has a toner outlet through which the toner discharged from the opening is discharged outside the toner container. The sheet member includes a first elastic-deformation portion that is elastically deformable and located near the toner outlet, and a second elastic-deformation portion that is elastically deformable and located in the container body and near the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Adachi, Koichi Yamazaki, Hideo Yoshizawa, Tatsuya Ohhira
  • Publication number: 20210088935
    Abstract: A powder container contains powder and is attached to an image forming apparatus including: a conveying nozzle to convey the powder; a powder receiving hole of the conveying nozzle to receive the powder from the powder container; an apparatus main-body gear to transmit a driving force to the powder container; and a container receiving section including the conveying nozzle and receiving the powder container. The powder container includes: an opening at one end of the powder container in a longitudinal direction; a nozzle receiver at the opening to receive the conveying nozzle; a conveyor to convey the powder; and a container gear to drive the conveyor by meshing with the apparatus main-body gear. The container gear is to mesh with the apparatus main-body gear at a position closer to the opening than the powder receiving hole in the longitudinal direction. The opening is to mate with the container receiving section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.,
    Inventors: Kenji KIKUCHI, Shinji TAMAKI, Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Shunji KATOH, Michiharu SUZUKI, Hideo YOSHIZAWA, Shingo KUBOKI
  • Patent number: 10935905
    Abstract: A powder container contains powder and is attached to an image forming apparatus including: a conveying nozzle to convey the powder; a powder receiving hole of the conveying nozzle to receive the powder from the powder container; an apparatus main-body gear to transmit a driving force to the powder container; and a container receiving section including the conveying nozzle and receiving the powder container. The powder container includes: an opening at one end of the powder container in a longitudinal direction; a nozzle receiver at the opening to receive the conveying nozzle; a conveyor to convey the powder; and a container gear to drive the conveyor by meshing with the apparatus main-body gear. The container gear is to mesh with the apparatus main-body gear at a position closer to the opening than the powder receiving hole in the longitudinal direction. The opening is to mate with the container receiving section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Kikuchi, Shinji Tamaki, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Shunji Katoh, Michiharu Suzuki, Hideo Yoshizawa, Shingo Kuboki
  • Patent number: 10895827
    Abstract: A developer conveyor includes a shaft; a first blade helically wound around the shaft in a first direction, a second blade disposed away from an end of the first blade with a gap in a longitudinal axial direction of the developer conveyor and helically wound around the shaft in a second direction opposite the first direction, and a third blade helically wound around the shaft in the first direction at least at a position where the gap is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ohhira, Koichi Yamazaki, Hideo Yoshizawa, Takahiro Adachi
  • Publication number: 20210003942
    Abstract: A powder container contains powder and is attached to an image forming apparatus including: a conveying nozzle to convey the powder; a powder receiving hole of the conveying nozzle to receive the powder from the powder container; an apparatus main-body gear to transmit a driving force to the powder container; and a container receiving section including the conveying nozzle and receiving the powder container. The powder container includes: an opening at one end of the powder container in a longitudinal direction; a nozzle receiver at the opening to receive the conveying nozzle; a conveyor to convey the powder; and a container gear to drive the conveyor by meshing with the apparatus main-body gear. The container gear is to mesh with the apparatus main-body gear at a position closer to the opening than the powder receiving hole in the longitudinal direction. The opening is to mate with the container receiving section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji KIKUCHI, Shinji TAMAKI, Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Shunji KATOH, Michiharu SUZUKI, Hideo YOSHIZAWA, Shingo KUBOKl
  • Patent number: 10809648
    Abstract: A powder container contains powder and is attached to an image forming apparatus including: a conveying nozzle to convey the powder; a powder receiving hole of the conveying nozzle to receive the powder from the powder container; an apparatus main-body gear to transmit a driving force to the powder container; and a container receiving section including the conveying nozzle and receiving the powder container. The powder container includes: an opening at one end of the powder container in a longitudinal direction; a nozzle receiver at the opening to receive the conveying nozzle; a conveyor to convey the powder; and a container gear to drive the conveyor by meshing with the apparatus main-body gear. The container gear is to mesh with the apparatus main-body gear at a position closer to the opening than the powder receiving hole in the longitudinal direction. The opening is to mate with the container receiving section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Kikuchi, Shinji Tamaki, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Shunji Katoh, Michiharu Suzuki, Hideo Yoshizawa, Shingo Kuboki
  • Publication number: 20200292963
    Abstract: A toner container includes a cylindrical container body having a head with an opening in the head, a cap into which the head of the container body is inserted, and a sheet member attached inside the cap. The cylindrical container body rotates around a rotation axis extending in a longitudinal direction of the container body to transport toner contained in the container body toward the opening. The cap has a toner outlet through which the toner discharged from the opening is discharged outside the toner container. The sheet member includes a first elastic-deformation portion that is elastically deformable and located near the toner outlet, and a second elastic-deformation portion that is elastically deformable and located in the container body and near the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Takahiro ADACHI, Koichi YAMAZAKI, Hideo YOSHIZAWA, Tatsuya OHHIRA
  • Publication number: 20200264538
    Abstract: A developer conveyor includes a shaft; a first blade helically wound around the shaft in a first direction, a second blade disposed away from an end of the first blade with a gap in a longitudinal axial direction of the developer conveyor and helically wound around the shaft in a second direction opposite the first direction, and a third blade helically wound around the shaft in the first direction at least at a position where the gap is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Tatsuya OHHIRA, Koichi Yamazaki, Hideo Yoshizawa, Takahiro Adachi
  • Publication number: 20200183303
    Abstract: A powder container contains powder and is attached to an image forming apparatus including: a conveying nozzle to convey the powder; a powder receiving hole of the conveying nozzle to receive the powder from the powder container; an apparatus main-body gear to transmit a driving force to the powder container; and a container receiving section including the conveying nozzle and receiving the powder container. The powder container includes: an opening at one end of the powder container in a longitudinal direction; a nozzle receiver at the opening to receive the conveying nozzle; a conveyor to convey the powder; and a container gear to drive the conveyor by meshing with the apparatus main-body gear. The container gear is to mesh with the apparatus main-body gear at a position closer to the opening than the powder receiving hole in the longitudinal direction. The opening is to mate with the container receiving section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji KIKUCHI, Shinji TAMAKI, Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Shunji KATOH, Michiharu SUZUKI, Hideo YOSHIZAWA, Shingo KUBOKl
  • Patent number: 10564592
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a removable component configured to be removably installed in an installation position in the apparatus body, a cover configured to open and close when the removable component is removed from or installed in the installation position, a replacement removable component configured to be installable in and removable from the installation position in which the removable component is installed, and a holder configured to hold the replacement removable component at a different position from the installation position when the removable component is installed in the installation position and the cover opens. The replacement removable component held by the holder is configured to inhibit the cover from closing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD
    Inventors: Michiharu Suzuki, Jun Shiori, Hideo Yoshizawa, Toshio Koike, Teppei Kikuchi, Kazuhiro Aso, Keinosuke Kondoh
  • Patent number: 10534290
    Abstract: A powder container contains powder and is attached to an image forming apparatus including: a conveying nozzle to convey the powder; a powder receiving hole of the conveying nozzle to receive the powder from the powder container; an apparatus main-body gear to transmit a driving force to the powder container; and a container receiving section including the conveying nozzle and receiving the powder container. The powder container includes: an opening at one end of the powder container in a longitudinal direction; a nozzle receiver at the opening to receive the conveying nozzle; a conveyor to convey the powder; and a container gear to drive the conveyor by meshing with the apparatus main-body gear. The container gear is to mesh with the apparatus main-body gear at a position closer to the opening than the powder receiving hole in the longitudinal direction. The opening is to mate with the container receiving section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Kikuchi, Shinji Tamaki, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Shunji Katoh, Michiharu Suzuki, Hideo Yoshizawa, Shingo Kuboki
  • Patent number: 10520856
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer opposed to an image bearer, configured to bear developer and rotate in a direction of rotation of the developer bearer, and configured to develop a latent image on the image bearer and a casing opposed to the developer bearer at a position downstream from an opposed position, at which the developer bearer is opposed to the image bearer, in the direction of rotation of the developer bearer. A casing gap between the developer bearer and the casing continuously decreases or increases from a first end of the developing device to a second end of the developing device across a center of the developing device in a longitudinal direction of the developing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshio Koike, Jun Shiori, Hideo Yoshizawa, Keinosuke Kondoh, Teppei Kikuchi, Kazuhiro Aso, Michiharu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10409196
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transferor to rotate in a predetermined rotation direction, a plurality of image bearers disposed along the intermediate transferor to bear latent images, a plurality of developing devices to develop the latent images, a plurality of developer containers to contain developers, and a plurality of conveyance paths each corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of developing devices and a respective one of the plurality of developer containers to supply the developers to the plurality of developing devices respectively. An arrangement of the plurality of developing devices in the predetermined rotation direction is configured to be changed without changing an arrangement of the plurality of developer containers. A layout of the plurality of conveyance paths is configured to be changed without changing connections between a supply source and a supply destination of the plurality of conveyance paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshio Koike, Jun Shiori, Teppei Kikuchi, Michiharu Suzuki, Kazuhiro Aso, Keinosuke Kondoh, Tadashi Ogawa, Hideo Yoshizawa
  • Publication number: 20190227479
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a removable component configured to be removably installed in an installation position in the apparatus body, a cover configured to open and close when the removable component is removed from or installed in the installation position, a replacement removable component configured to be installable in and removable from the installation position in which the removable component is installed, and a holder configured to hold the replacement removable component at a different position from the installation position when the removable component is installed in the installation position and the cover opens. The replacement removable component held by the holder is configured to inhibit the cover from closing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Michiharu SUZUKI, Jun SHIORI, Hideo YOSHIZAWA, Toshio KOIKE, Teppei KIKUCHI, Kazuhiro ASO, Keinosuke KONDOH