Patents by Inventor Hirohito Murate

Hirohito Murate 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: 12036800
    Abstract: An inkjet printer for forming, on a base, an image layer and an adhesive layer on which foil is to be formed includes a first head, a second head, and processing circuitry. The first head discharges an ink for the image layer. The second head discharges inks for the adhesive layer including a first ink and a second ink. The second ink has a lower wet spreadability than a wet spreadability of the first ink. The processing circuitry controls the second head to form an image area included in the adhesive layer with the second ink in a case where a width of the image area is less than a threshold, and form the image area with the first ink in a case where the width of the image area is not less than the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirohito Murate
  • Publication number: 20230137201
    Abstract: An inkjet printer for forming, on a base, an image layer and an adhesive layer on which foil is to be formed includes a first head, a second head, and processing circuitry. The first head discharges an ink for the image layer. The second head discharges inks for the adhesive layer including a first ink and a second ink. The second ink has a lower wet spreadability than a wet spreadability of the first ink. The processing circuitry controls the second head to form an image area included in the adhesive layer with the second ink in a case where a width of the image area is less than a threshold, and form the image area with the first ink in a case where the width of the image area is not less than the threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirohito Murate
  • Patent number: 11104125
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a recording head, a drive waveform generating unit, a transmission path, a switching unit, and a switching control unit. The recording head is configured to discharge liquid. The drive waveform generating unit is configured to generate a head drive waveform signal supplied to the recording head. The transmission path includes a plurality of transmission lines forming pairs and is configured to transmit the head drive waveform signal generated by the drive waveform generating unit to the recording head. the switching unit is arranged between the drive waveform generating unit and the transmission path, and is configured to change directions of electric currents in the transmission lines. The switching control unit is configured to control the switching unit in accordance with a change in a load capacity of the recording head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Hirohito Murate
  • Patent number: 10843495
    Abstract: A power supply device includes a power supply line, control circuitry, and a first switch. The power supply line supplies voltage from a first power supply unit to a load. The control circuitry controls voltage supply from the first power supply unit. The first switch is connected between a second power supply unit and the control circuitry. The control circuitry causes the first power supply unit to start the voltage supply on condition that the first switch is in a closed state and a voltage of the power supply line is not greater than a first threshold voltage, and causes the first power supply unit to start the voltage supply on condition that the voltage of the power supply line is not greater than a second threshold voltage higher than the first threshold voltage when the first switch changes from an open state to the closed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Kobayashi, Hirohito Murate, Seiichi Ishiduka
  • Publication number: 20200298556
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a recording head, a drive waveform generating unit, a transmission path, a switching unit, and a switching control unit. The recording head is configured to discharge liquid. The drive waveform generating unit is configured to generate a head drive waveform signal supplied to the recording head. The transmission path includes a plurality of transmission lines forming pairs and is configured to transmit the head drive waveform signal generated by the drive waveform generating unit to the recording head. the switching unit is arranged between the drive waveform generating unit and the transmission path, and is configured to change directions of electric currents in the transmission lines. The switching control unit is configured to control the switching unit in accordance with a change in a load capacity of the recording head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirohito Murate
  • Patent number: 10769505
    Abstract: An optical sensor device includes a first light source, a second light source, a sensor, and control circuitry. The first light source has a plurality of peak wavelengths in a wavelength range of 400 nm to 780 nm. The second light source emits ultraviolet light. The control circuitry adjusts a light amount of the first light source based on an output of the sensor in a state the first light source is on and the second light source is off, adjusts a light amount of the second light source based on an output of the sensor in a state the second light source is on and the first light source is off, and acquires a correction value of data output by the sensor, based on an output of the sensor in a state each of the first and second light sources is on with the light amount adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Iwanami, Nobuyuki Satoh, Hirohito Murate
  • Publication number: 20200101775
    Abstract: A power supply device includes a power supply line, control circuitry, and a first switch. The power supply line supplies voltage from a first power supply unit to a load. The control circuitry controls voltage supply from the first power supply unit. The first switch is connected between a second power supply unit and the control circuitry. The control circuitry causes the first power supply unit to start the voltage supply on condition that the first switch is in a closed state and a voltage of the power supply line is not greater than a first threshold voltage, and causes the first power supply unit to start the voltage supply on condition that the voltage of the power supply line is not greater than a second threshold voltage higher than the first threshold voltage when the first switch changes from an open state to the closed state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Kobayashi, Hirohito Murate, Seiichi Ishiduka
  • Publication number: 20190294935
    Abstract: An optical sensor device includes a first light source, a second light source, a sensor, and control circuitry. The first light source has a plurality of peak wavelengths in a wavelength range of 400 nm to 780 nm. The second light source emits ultraviolet light. The control circuitry adjusts a light amount of the first light source based on an output of the sensor in a state the first light source is on and the second light source is off, adjusts a light amount of the second light source based on an output of the sensor in a state the second light source is on and the first light source is off, and acquires a correction value of data output by the sensor, based on an output of the sensor in a state each of the first and second light sources is on with the light amount adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Iwanami, Nobuyuki Satoh, Hirohito Murate
  • Patent number: 9950513
    Abstract: A controller for a liquid discharging device generates a correction chart including a reference pattern and a correction part, using a liquid discharged from a liquid discharge head, the liquid discharge head having a plurality of nozzles that are arranged to form a nozzle array. The controller drives a predetermined number of the plurality of nozzles to form the reference pattern on the recording sheet along a direction of the nozzle array, the predetermined number being a number equal to or less than a total number of the plurality of nozzles of the nozzle array, and drives a number of the plurality of nozzles that is different than the predetermined number of nozzles driven in forming the reference pattern, to form the correction pattern on the recording sheet along the direction of the nozzle array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Mizutani, Takeo Shirato, Hiroki Takahashi, Katsuhiro Tobita, Ryuichi Hayashi, Yasuyuki Horie, Takatsugu Maeda, Hirohito Murate, Kohtaroh Ikegami, Kohsuke Inoue
  • Patent number: 9776401
    Abstract: A droplet ejection apparatus includes, a droplet ejection head, wherein the droplet ejection head includes a nozzle communicated with a pressure chamber, a first piezoelectric element configured to pressure liquid in the pressure chamber so as to cause a droplet to be ejected, and a second piezoelectric element capable of pressuring the liquid in the pressure chamber, a first drive waveform generation unit configured to generate a first drive waveform to be applied to the first piezoelectric element, a second drive waveform generation unit configured to generate a second drive waveform to be applied to the second piezoelectric element, and a control unit configured to apply the second drive waveform to the second piezoelectric element after the first piezoelectric element is driven due to the applied first drive waveform. Residual vibration of the liquid in the pressure chamber is suppressed by a vibration caused by the second piezoelectric element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirohito Murate
  • Publication number: 20170165962
    Abstract: A controller for a liquid discharging device generates a correction chart including a reference pattern and a correction part, using a liquid discharged from a liquid discharge head, the liquid discharge head having a plurality of nozzles that are arranged to form a nozzle array. The controller drives a predetermined number of the plurality of nozzles to form the reference pattern on the recording sheet along a direction of the nozzle array, the predetermined number being a number equal to or less than a total number of the plurality of nozzles of the nozzle array, and drives a number of the plurality of nozzles that is different than the predetermined number of nozzles driven in forming the reference pattern, to form the correction pattern on the recording sheet along the direction of the nozzle array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro MIZUTANI, Takeo SHIRATO, Hiroki TAKAHASHI, Katsuhiro TOBITA, Ryuichi HAYASHI, Yasuyuki HORIE, Takatsugu MAEDA, Hirohito MURATE, Kohtaroh IKEGAMI, Kohsuke INOUE
  • Publication number: 20160375684
    Abstract: A droplet ejection apparatus includes, a droplet ejection head, wherein the droplet ejection head includes a nozzle communicated with a pressure chamber, a first piezoelectric element configured to pressure liquid in the pressure chamber so as to cause a droplet to be ejected, and a second piezoelectric element capable of pressuring the liquid in the pressure chamber, a first drive waveform generation unit configured to generate a first drive waveform to be applied to the first piezoelectric element, a second drive waveform generation unit configured to generate a second drive waveform to be applied to the second piezoelectric element, and a control unit configured to apply the second drive waveform to the second piezoelectric element after the first piezoelectric element is driven due to the applied first drive waveform. Residual vibration of the liquid in the pressure chamber is suppressed by a vibration caused by the second piezoelectric element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirohito MURATE
  • Patent number: 9487000
    Abstract: A liquid droplet ejecting device includes multiple pressure chambers communicating with multiple nozzles, to contain liquid; a vibration plate, disposed extending along the pressure chambers; multiple piezoelectric elements disposed facing the multiple chambers respectively via the vibration plate; a drive waveform generator to generate a drive voltage for the piezoelectric elements; a residual vibration detector to detect a residual vibration waveform occurring within the pressure chamber after the piezoelectric elements are driven; and a controller to calculate a damping ratio of the residual vibration waveform detected by the residual vibration detector; and to determine whether abnormal ejection occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirohito Murate
  • Publication number: 20150367633
    Abstract: A liquid droplet ejecting device includes multiple pressure chambers communicating with multiple nozzles, to contain liquid; a vibration plate, disposed extending along the pressure chambers; multiple piezoelectric elements disposed facing the multiple chambers respectively via the vibration plate; a drive waveform generator to generate a drive voltage for the piezoelectric elements; a residual vibration detector to detect a residual vibration waveform occurring within the pressure chamber after the piezoelectric elements are driven; and a controller to calculate a damping ratio of the residual vibration waveform detected by the residual vibration detector; and to determine whether abnormal ejection occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirohito Murate