Patents by Inventor Hiroko Ohkura

Hiroko Ohkura 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: 11780230
    Abstract: A wiper for wiping a nozzle surface of a liquid discharge head that discharges liquid from the nozzle is provided. The wiper comprises a plurality of layers including at least a first layer, and the first layer has a surface that contacts the nozzle surface. The surface that contacts the nozzle surface has a maximum height of waviness Wz of from 100 to 600 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takumi Atake, Yohta Sakon, Hiroko Ohkura
  • Publication number: 20230001696
    Abstract: A wiping method for wiping a nozzle surface of a liquid discharge head includes the step of relatively moving the liquid discharge head and a wiper impregnated with a cleaning fluid. The cleaning fluid contains a lactone compound in an amount of 5% by mass or more. The wiper includes a first layer configured to contact the nozzle surface and one or more layers other than the first layer. The first layer has a thickness of t1, the one or more layers other than the first layer have a total thickness of t2, and t1 is smaller than t2. A void ratio of the first layer is smaller than a void ratio of at least one of the one or more layers other than the first layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichiroh FUJII, Takumi ATAKE, Yohta SAKON, Akira IZUTANI, Hiroko OHKURA
  • Publication number: 20220009233
    Abstract: A wiper for wiping a nozzle surface of a liquid discharge head that discharges liquid from the nozzle is provided. The wiper comprises a plurality of layers including at least a first layer, and the first layer has a surface that contacts the nozzle surface. The surface that contacts the nozzle surface has a maximum height of waviness Wz of from 100 to 600 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Takumi ATAKE, Yohta SAKON, Hiroko OHKURA
  • Patent number: 11179940
    Abstract: A liquid discharging device includes a liquid discharging head including a nozzle and having a nozzle forming surface, the liquid discharging head configured to discharge a liquid through the nozzle, a wiping member configured to wipe the nozzle forming surface, the wiping member having a first layer configured to be brought into contact with the nozzle forming surface and at least one more layer, and a cleaning liquid that is applied to the nozzle forming surface, wherein the static surface tension of the cleaning liquid is greater than the static surface tension of the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Akiko Bannai, Takumi Atake, Yohta Sakon, Hiroko Ohkura
  • Patent number: 11130343
    Abstract: A wiping device includes a wiping member configured to wipe a nozzle forming surface of a liquid discharging head that discharges a liquid from a nozzle, the wiping member having a first layer configured to be brought into contact with the nozzle forming surface and at least one more layer, and a cleaning liquid that is applied to the nozzle forming surface, the cleaning liquid containing a compound represented by the following Chemical formula 1 and a glycol ether compound, where R1 represents an alkyl group having one to four carbon atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Akiko Bannai, Takumi Atake, Yohta Sakon, Hiroko Ohkura
  • Publication number: 20210016327
    Abstract: A wiping member to wipe a nozzle surface of a liquid discharging head includes a first layer configured to be brought into contact with the nozzle surface and one or more other layers, wherein the following relation is satisfied: t1<t2, where t1 represents the thickness of the first layer and t2 represents the thickness of the one or more other layers, wherein the porosity of the first layer is smaller than the porosity of at least one of the one or more other layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Takumi ATAKE, Akira IZUTANI, Yohta SAKON, Hiroko OHKURA, Yuusuke FUJITA
  • Patent number: 10889119
    Abstract: A wiping device includes a wiping member configured to wipe a nozzle forming surface of a liquid discharging head that discharges a liquid from a nozzle, the wiping member containing fabric; and a pressing member configured to press the wiping member to the liquid discharging head, wherein the wiping member satisfies the following relationship 1: 0.8<(Sb/Ss)<1.2, relationship 1, where, at 60 seconds after a coloring liquid containing a coloring material and distilled water is dripped onto a surface of the wiping member in contact with the nozzle forming surface and Ss represents a spreading area of the coloring material on the surface of the wiping member in contact with the nozzle forming surface and Sb represents a spreading area of the coloring material on a surface of the wiping member not in contact with the nozzle forming surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohta Sakon, Hiroko Ohkura, Takumi Atake, Akira Izutani
  • Patent number: 10759173
    Abstract: A wiping member that wipes a nozzle surface of a liquid discharging head, includes a first region having an average porosity P1, a second region disposed on the first region, having an average porosity P2 greater than P1, and a third region disposed on the second region having an average porosity P3 greater than P2, wherein the wiping member has a thickness t in the direction perpendicular to the surface that contacts the nozzle surface and each of the first region, the second region, and the third region has a thickness of t/3 in the direction, wherein P2/P1 is from 1.1 to 1.4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroko Ohkura, Yohta Sakon, Akira Izutani, Takumi Atake
  • Publication number: 20200207099
    Abstract: A wiping device includes a wiping member configured to wipe a nozzle forming surface of a liquid discharging head that discharges a liquid from a nozzle, the wiping member containing fabric; and a pressing member configured to press the wiping member to the liquid discharging head, wherein the wiping member satisfies the following relationship 1: 0.8<(Sb/Ss)<1.2, relationship 1, where, at 60 seconds after a coloring liquid containing a coloring material and distilled water is dripped onto a surface of the wiping member in contact with the nozzle forming surface and Ss represents a spreading area of the coloring material on the surface of the wiping member in contact with the nozzle forming surface and Sb represents a spreading area of the coloring material on a surface of the wiping member not in contact with the nozzle forming surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Yohta SAKON, Hiroko OHKURA, Takumi ATAKE, Akira IZUTANI
  • Publication number: 20200164652
    Abstract: A liquid discharging device includes a liquid discharging head including a nozzle and having a nozzle forming surface, the liquid discharging head configured to discharge a liquid through the nozzle, a wiping member configured to wipe the nozzle forming surface, the wiping member having a first layer configured to be brought into contact with the nozzle forming surface and at least one more layer, and a cleaning liquid that is applied to the nozzle forming surface, wherein the static surface tension of the cleaning liquid is greater than the static surface tension of the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Akiko BANNAI, Takumi ATAKE, Yohta SAKON, Hiroko OHKURA
  • Publication number: 20200164650
    Abstract: A wiping device includes a wiping member configured to wipe a nozzle forming surface of a liquid discharging head that discharges a liquid from a nozzle, the wiping member having a first layer configured to be brought into contact with the nozzle forming surface and at least one more layer, and a cleaning liquid that is applied to the nozzle forming surface, the cleaning liquid containing a compound represented by the following Chemical formula 1 and a glycol ether compound, where R1 represents an alkyl group having one to four carbon atoms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Akiko BANNAI, Takumi ATAKE, Yohta SAKON, Hiroko OHKURA
  • Publication number: 20190366721
    Abstract: A wiping member that wipes a nozzle surface of a liquid discharging head, includes a first region having an average porosity P1, a second region disposed on the first region, having an average porosity P2 greater than P1, and a third region disposed on the second region having an average porosity P3 greater than P2, wherein the wiping member has a thickness t in the direction perpendicular to the surface that contacts the nozzle surface and each of the first region, the second region, and the third region has a thickness of t/3 in the direction, wherein P2/P1 is from 1.1 to 1.4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Hiroko OHKURA, Yohta SAKON, Akira IZUTANI, Takumi ATAKE
  • Publication number: 20160327315
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a plurality of plate fins including a plurality of flow channels in which a heat medium flows; a plurality of corrugated fins, the plurality of plate fins and the plurality of corrugated fins being arranged alternately; and a reaction portion solidified by crystallization of reaction material slurry filling gaps between the plurality of plate fins and the plurality of the corrugated fins, the reaction material slurry including a reaction material that reversibly reacts with a reaction medium in an exothermic manner and in an endothermic manner to exchange heat with the heat medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro MASUZAWA, Yasutomo AMAN, Yohei SHIREN, Hiroko OHKURA, Tomiko TAKAHASHI, Yoshifumi OHBA, Kohji TSUKAHARA
  • Publication number: 20160290685
    Abstract: A heat storage and release unit includes a reactant formed body for reacting with a reaction medium to store and release heat; a reaction vessel for accommodating the reactant formed body and exchanging heat with the reactant formed body; a reaction medium flow path structure, connected to the reaction vessel, for supplying the reaction medium to the reaction vessel or discharging the reaction medium from the reaction vessel. The reactant formed body includes a plate-like heat transfer plate that contacts the reaction vessel, heat transfer elements extending from a surface of the heat transfer plate at substantially right angles, and a reactant formed unit that encloses the heat transfer elements in such a way that the heat transfer elements are partially exposed from the reactant formed unit, and the reaction vessel can change form by a pressure difference between the outside and the inside of the reaction vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Yasutomo AMAN, Yohei SHIREN, Masahiro MASUZAWA, Hiroko OHKURA, Tomiko TAKAHASHI, Yoshifumi OHBA, Kohji TSUKAHARA, Kenichi HAYAKAWA
  • Patent number: 9453659
    Abstract: A reaction material formed body into which a reaction material reacting with a reaction medium to store or release heat is formed includes first and second opposite surfaces and multiple heat transfer enhancing members extending at least from the first surface to the second surface. At least two or more of the heat transfer enhancing members are oriented in a predetermined single direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasutomo Aman, Yohei Shiren, Masahiro Masuzawa, Hiroko Ohkura, Yoshifumi Ohba
  • Patent number: 9243179
    Abstract: A reaction material for a chemical heat pump includes type III anhydrous gypsum, a magnesium compound, and CaxMg1-xSO4. The reaction material for the chemical heat pump structurally changes between a compound including type III anhydrous gypsum, the magnesium compound, and CaxMg1-xSO4, and a compound including hemihydrate gypsum, a hydrate of the magnesium compound, and a hydrate of CaxMg1-xSO4 when subjected to heat storage process and heat release process. x is 0<x<1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yohei Shiren, Masahiro Masuzawa, Hiroko Ohkura, Yasutomo Aman, Yoshifumi Ohba
  • Publication number: 20140305142
    Abstract: A reaction material formed body into which a reaction material reacting with a reaction medium to store or release heat is formed includes first and second opposite surfaces and multiple heat transfer enhancing members extending at least from the first surface to the second surface. At least two or more of the heat transfer enhancing members are oriented in a predetermined single direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasutomo AMAN, Yohei SHIREN, Masahiro MASUZAWA, Hiroko OHKURA, Yoshifumi OHBA
  • Publication number: 20140231698
    Abstract: A reaction material for a chemical heat pump includes type III anhydrous gypsum, a magnesium compound, and CaxMg1-xSO4. The reaction material for the chemical heat pump structurally changes between a compound including type III anhydrous gypsum, the magnesium compound, and CaxMg1-xSO4, and a compound including hemihydrate gypsum, a hydrate of the magnesium compound, and a hydrate of CaxMg1-xSO4 when subjected to heat storage process and heat release process. x is 0<x<1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yohei Shiren, Masahiro Masuzawa, Hiroko Ohkura, Yasutomo Aman, Yoshifumi Ohba
  • Patent number: 8124315
    Abstract: An optical recording medium contains a recording layer being composed of a phase-change recording material where at least four elements, Ga, Sb, Sn and Ge are contained and the transfer linear velocity is 20 m/s to 30 m/s, and when the wavelength of a recording/reproducing light is within the range of 650 nm to 665 nm and the recording linear velocity is 20 m/s to 28 m/s, the refractive index Nc and the extinction coefficient Kc in a crystalline state and the refractive index Na and the extinction coefficient Ka in an amorphous state in the recording layer respectively satisfy the following numerical expressions: 2.0?Nc?3.0, 4.0?Kc?5.0, 4.0?Na?5.0, and 2.5?Ka?3.1, and information is recordable at the range of 20 m/s to 28 m/s of recording linear velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Sekiguchi, Kazunori Ito, Hiroshi Deguchi, Hiroko Ohkura, Masaki Kato, Mikiko Takada
  • Patent number: 8075974
    Abstract: An optical recording medium having first protective layer, recording layer, second protective layer, and reflective layer, wherein the recording layer contains a phase-change material represented by Formula (1?1), Formula (1-2), or Formula (1-3); the second protective layer contains one selected from zinc oxides, indium oxides, tin oxides, mixtures thereof, and materials Formula (2), and materials Formula (3). Formula (1?1): In?iSb?iX1?i(X1: Ge, Te, Zn, Mn, or mixture thereof, 0.10??1?0.25, 0.65??1?0.80, and 0.04??1?0.15) Formula (1-2): Ga?2Sb?2SnY2Ges2X2?2 (X2: Te, Zn, Mn, In, or mixture thereof, 0.04??2?0.09, 0.56?62?0.79, 0.05??2<0.30, 0.03??2?0.19, and 0??2?0.09) Formula (1-3): Mn?3Sb?3SnY3Ge?3X3?3 (X3: Te, In, Zn, Bi, or mixture thereof, 0.04??3?0.09, 0.56?63?0.79, 0.05??3?0.29, 0.03??3?0.23, and 0??3?0.09) Formula (2): ZnO—Al—Y [(100??4?64):?4:?4] (Y: Mn, Ge, Ti, or mixture thereof, 0.5??4?10.0, and 0?B4?25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Deguchi, Eiko Hibino, Hiroko Ohkura, Kazunori Ito, Hajime Yuzurihara, Hiroyuki Iwasa