Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Noda

Hiroshi Noda 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: 20150165487
    Abstract: A cylinder head cleaning method capable of cleaning a cylinder head with an enhanced foreign matter removing rate. The method is used to clean a cylinder head (1) having therein a water jacket (15) including a narrow space portion (Z) having a narrow flow path and a large space (Y) having a flow path wider than the narrow space portion (Z), and the cylinder head (1) further having holes (12A-12R, 13, 14, 16A-16C) communicating with the water jacket (15). Cleaning nozzles (28A, 28C) are inserted into the water jacket (15) from the holes (16A, 16C) selected from the holes (12A-12R, 13, 14, 16A-16C), clearing liquid is ejected from the cleaning nozzles (28A, 28C) toward the narrow space portion (Z), and the cleaning liquid flowing from the narrow space portion (Z) to the large space (Y) is discharged to the outside of the cylinder head (1) from the hole (16B) communicating with the space (Y).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi NODA, Katsuhiro AMAIKE, Masato YOSHIDA, Takashi OOURA, Hiromi HARADA
  • Publication number: 20150158308
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body; a printhead to discharge droplets; a sub tank to hold a liquid to be supplied to the printhead for discharge as droplets; a movable carriage for scanning, including the printhead and the sub tank; a main tank to contain the liquid to be supplied to the sub tank; a liquid supply pump, disposed on the carriage, to supply the liquid from the main tank to the sub tank; a first liquid supply tube that connects the main tank to the liquid supply pump; and a second liquid supply tube that connects the liquid supply pump to the sub tank. A fluid resistance of the first liquid supply tube is greater than a fluid resistance of the second liquid supply tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takeyuki Kobayashi, Hiroshi Noda, Tomomi Katoh
  • Patent number: 9039137
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming part including a recording head to form an image on a recording medium, a conveyance mechanism disposed opposite the image forming part to convey the recording medium, and a cover closably openable relative to a body of the image forming apparatus and disposed opposite the conveyance mechanism with the image forming part interposed therebetween. The recording head is detachably attachable to the cover and is configured to move away from the conveyance mechanism when the cover is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta Moriwaki, Tomomi Katoh, Soyoung Park, Hiroshi Noda
  • Patent number: 8939558
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a liquid ejection head, a head tank, a liquid storage container, a liquid feed device, a supply valve, an exhaust passage, a float valve, an air release valve, and a suction device. The exhaust passage is disposed in the head tank and communicated with an ambient air. The float valve is disposed in the head tank to close the exhaust passage in response to an amount of liquid in the head tank. The air release valve opens and closes the exhaust passage of the head tank. When the suction device exhausts air from the exhaust passage with the air release valve open, the liquid feed device is driven to pressurize and feed the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomomi Katoh, Yoichi Ito, Hiroshi Noda, Jun Ichinowatari
  • Publication number: 20140265106
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an output unit, a pair of output rotary bodies, and a controller. A sheet having an image formed thereon is discharged to the output unit. When plural sheets are sequentially discharged to the output unit, the controller controls overlapping output operation to, with a trailing end portion of a preceding sheet of the plural sheets being held by the pair of output rotary bodies, feed a subsequent sheet of the sheets to between the pair of output rotary bodies to overlap a leading end portion of the subsequent sheet with the trailing end portion of the preceding sheet. With the leading end portion of the subsequent sheet overlapped with the trailing end portion of the preceding sheet, the controller controls the pair of output rotary bodies to rotate to discharge the preceding sheet to the output unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY. LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Saitoh, Tomomi KATOH, Hiroshi NODA, Yuta MORIWAKI
  • Patent number: 8836849
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a storage control unit configured to, in acquiring a first AF adjustment amount, control a memory to store the first AF adjustment amount and a focal length acquired by a focal length acquisition unit in association with each other, wherein the storage control unit is configured to, in acquiring a second AF adjustment amount, control the memory to store the second AF adjustment amount and the focal length acquired by the focal length acquisition unit in association with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Noda
  • Patent number: 8831417
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus having removably attached thereto a lens apparatus including a blur correction unit includes a selection unit configured to select a first mode in which a mechanical shutter is used to start exposure or a second mode in which an electronic shutter is used to start exposure; and a controller configured to output information indicating the start of exposure to the lens apparatus. The controller changes the information indicating the start of exposure depending on whether the first mode or the second mode is selected to control the lens apparatus to perform different blur correction operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Noda
  • Publication number: 20140173120
    Abstract: A method for establishing a communication between a plurality of computers and a data processing device through a network, the method including: reporting, when a change occurs in a communication state between the plurality of computers and the data processing device, the change in the communication state to another computer; recognizing, from among the plurality of computers, a computer which establishes a communication with the data processing device, based on a notice of the change in the communication state; and establishing, when a number of computers for which each of the plurality of computers recognizes to have established a communication with the data processing device is not greater than a predetermined prescribed number, a communication with the data processing device, with a request from the data processing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Hiroshi Noda
  • Patent number: 8727494
    Abstract: A droplet ejection device includes a droplet ejection head. The droplet ejection head includes droplet ejection nozzles, a common liquid chamber, an air vent nozzle, and a nozzle face. The ejection nozzles are arranged side by side in a vertical direction. Each ejection nozzle has a first channel to eject droplets. The vent nozzle has a second channel to vent air from the common chamber. The nozzle face is disposed in the vertical direction or a direction tilted downward relative to the vertical direction. The first channel is tilted downward so that a side proximal to the nozzle face is lower than another side proximal to the common chamber. The vent nozzle is disposed above a topmost one of the ejection nozzles. The second channel is tilted upward so that a side proximal to the nozzle face is higher than another side proximal to the common chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Noda
  • Patent number: 8672446
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a suction controller to seal a nozzle face of a recording head with a cap and drives a suction device to suck liquid from the head to perform sucking operation. The dummy ejection controller ejects, from the head, droplets not contributing to image formation to perform dummy ejection. The first tinier measures a first elapsed time after the dummy ejection. The second timer measures a second elapsed time after the sucking operation. A liquid discharge amount of the sucking operation is set to be greater than that of the dummy ejection. When the first elapsed time is equal to or greater than a first threshold time, the dummy ejection controller performs the dummy ejection. When the second elapsed time is equal to or greater than a second threshold time which is greater than the first threshold time, the suction controller performs the sucking operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Noda
  • Publication number: 20140063121
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming part including a recording head to form an image on a recording medium, a conveyance mechanism disposed opposite the image forming part to convey the recording medium, and a cover closably openable relative to a body of the image forming apparatus and disposed opposite the conveyance mechanism with the image forming part interposed therebetween. The recording head is detachably attachable to the cover and is configured to move away from the conveyance mechanism when the cover is opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta Moriwaki, Tomomi Katoh, Soyoung Park, Hiroshi Noda
  • Patent number: 8596551
    Abstract: A humidity control system includes three dehumidifiers. Each of the dehumidifiers alternately switches between first batch operation in which air whose moisture has been adsorbed in a first adsorption component is supplied to a room and air heated in a heat exchanger is exhausted to outside the room through a second adsorption component, and second batch operation in which air whose moisture has been adsorbed in the second adsorption component is supplied to the room and air heated in the heat exchanger is exhausted to outside the room through the first adsorption component. The system further includes: a controller allowing the switchings of the dehumidifiers to be performed at different timings; and a chamber collecting air to be supplied from the dehumidifiers to the room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Ueda, Yasunori Okamoto, Hiroshi Noda
  • Publication number: 20130291817
    Abstract: Provided is a cam follower apparatus that has excellent durability, assembly characteristics and freedom of design, and together with being able to reduce the size and weight, is able to reduce the manufacturing cost. Both end sections of a support shaft 3a are inserted into support holes 15b, 15c in support wall sections 12b, 12c, and the support shaft 3a is supported by the support wall sections 12b, 12c such that relative rotation is possible. An inner ring 16, having an outer diameter D16 that is greater then the inner diameter d15 of the support holes 15b, 15c, is fitted around the outer circumferential surface of the middle section in the axial direction of the support shaft 9a so as to be able to rotate together with the support shaft 9a.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Noda, Satoshi Hachisuka
  • Publication number: 20130187985
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a liquid ejection head, a head tank, a liquid storage container, a liquid feed device, a supply valve, an exhaust passage, a float valve, an air release valve, and a suction device. The exhaust passage is disposed in the head tank and communicated with an ambient air. The float valve is disposed in the head tank to close the exhaust passage in response to an amount of liquid in the head tank. The air release valve opens and closes the exhaust passage of the head tank. When the suction device exhausts air from the exhaust passage with the air release valve open, the liquid feed device is driven to pressurize and feed the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.,
    Inventors: Tomomi Katoh, Yoichi Ito, Hiroshi Noda, Jun Ichinowatari
  • Publication number: 20130162718
    Abstract: A droplet ejection device includes a droplet ejection head. The droplet ejection head includes droplet ejection nozzles, a common liquid chamber, an air vent nozzle, and a nozzle face. The ejection nozzles are arranged side by side in a vertical direction. Each ejection nozzle has a first channel to eject droplets. The vent nozzle has a second channel to vent air from the common chamber. The nozzle face is disposed in the vertical direction or a direction tilted downward relative to the vertical direction. The first channel is tilted downward so that a side proximal to the nozzle face is lower than another side proximal to the common chamber. The vent nozzle is disposed above a topmost one of the ejection nozzles. The second channel is tilted upward so that a side proximal to the nozzle face is higher than another side proximal to the common chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Noda
  • Patent number: 8464042
    Abstract: A performance adjustment apparatus connected to an information processing apparatus includes a performance adjustment unit that controls operation processing performance of an operation processing apparatus of the information processing apparatus based on a specified performance adjustment value, a performance type list information management unit that manages performance type list information comprising a plurality of pairs of a performance type and a performance adjustment value, a performance type specification unit that specifies a performance type in the performance type list information managed by the performance type list information management unit and changes the performance type, a performance adjustment value setting unit that obtains a performance adjustment value corresponding to the performance type specified by the performance type specification unit from the performance type list information management unit, and sets the obtained performance adjustment value in the performance adjustment unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hiroshi Noda, Toshio Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20130038650
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a suction controller to seal a nozzle face of a recording head with a cap and drives a suction device to suck liquid from the head to perform sucking operation. The dummy ejection controller ejects, from the head, droplets not contributing to image formation to perform dummy ejection. The first tinier measures a first elapsed time after the dummy ejection. The second timer measures a second elapsed time after the sucking operation. A liquid discharge amount of the sucking operation is set to be greater than that of the dummy ejection. When the first elapsed time is equal to or greater than a first threshold time, the dummy ejection controller performs the dummy ejection. When the second elapsed time is equal to or greater than a second threshold time which is greater than the first threshold time, the suction controller performs the sucking operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi NODA
  • Patent number: 8342152
    Abstract: A flow controlling method for an auxiliary intake flow passage for use in a power unit which includes a starter clutch which is automatically engaged and disengaged in response to the engine speed. An intake air control valve (IACV) carries out changeover from water temperature dependent control (open loop control of adjusting the flow rate of the auxiliary intake flow passage in response to the warming up state of an engine) to target engine speed feedback control when the actual engine speed NE [rpm] drops to a clutch disengagement engine speed NEout (engine speed at which the centrifugal clutch is disengaged) (S3: Yes) and the opening ?1 [degree] of the throttle valve becomes smaller than a predetermined threshold value (throttle valve opening threshold value TH—?1 (S4: Yes).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasutaka Usukura, Hiroshi Noda, Kenichi Machida
  • Publication number: 20120243855
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus having removably attached thereto a lens apparatus including a blur correction unit includes a selection unit configured to select a first mode in which a mechanical shutter is used to start exposure or a second mode in which an electronic shutter is used to start exposure; and a controller configured to output information indicating the start of exposure to the lens apparatus. The controller changes the information indicating the start of exposure depending on whether the first mode or the second mode is selected to control the lens apparatus to perform different blur correction operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Noda
  • Publication number: 20120242862
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a storage control unit configured to, in acquiring a first AF adjustment amount, control a memory to store the first AF adjustment amount and a focal length acquired by a focal length acquisition unit in association with each other, wherein the storage control unit is configured to, in acquiring a second AF adjustment amount, control the memory to store the second AF adjustment amount and the focal length acquired by the focal length acquisition unit in association with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Noda