Patents by Inventor Hiroshi SAWASE

Hiroshi SAWASE 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: 11897254
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a first liquid that generates heat in an absorption wavelength region of an active energy ray, a first discharger configured to discharge the first liquid, a second liquid that starts polymerization in the absorption wavelength region of the active energy ray, a second discharger configured to discharge the second liquid, and an irradiator configured to irradiate the first liquid and the second liquid with the active energy ray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sawase, Kazuaki Kamihara, Kohki Asada, Ryusaku Hida, Yoshihiro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11890859
    Abstract: A sheet heater includes a first conveyance belt configured to convey a sheet on which a liquid has been discharged in a conveyance direction, a heating unit facing the first conveyance belt, the heating unit configured to heat the sheet conveyed by the first conveyance belt, and a second conveyance belt disposed upstream of the first conveyance belt in the conveyance direction, the second conveyance belt configured to convey the sheet to the first conveyance belt. A surface temperature of the second conveyance belt is lower than a surface temperature of the first conveyance belt when the first conveyance belt and the second conveyance belt convey the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kohki Asada, Kazuaki Kamihara, Masato Ogawa, Hiroshi Sawase, Yoshihiro Takahashi, Ryusaku Hida, Kenji Nozawa, Genichiroh Kawamichi
  • Patent number: 11640128
    Abstract: A sheet conveyor includes a conveyance belt configured to rotate to convey a sheet on which a liquid has been applied in a conveyance direction, and a guide configured to guide the sheet to the conveyance belt, a position of the guide being variable in the conveyance direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Shimojima, Kenji Nozawa, Genichiroh Kawamichi, Masato Ogawa, Kohki Asada, Kazuaki Kamihara, Hiroshi Sawase, Ryusaku Hida
  • Publication number: 20230108116
    Abstract: A heating device includes a conveyor configured to convey a sheet, the sheet having a first surface on which a liquid is applied and a second surface contacting the conveyor, a first heater facing the first surface opposite to the second surface of the sheet, the first heater configured to heat the sheet, and a second heater configured to heat the conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sawase, Kazuaki Kamihara, Ryusaku Hida, Masato Ogawa, Kohki Asada, Yoshihiro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11597217
    Abstract: A sheet conveyor includes an endless conveyance belt configured to rotate to convey a sheet, a belt heater configured to heat the conveyance belt; and circuitry configured to control the conveyance belt to rotate. The conveyance belt has a belt joint joining both ends of a sheet member to form the conveyance belt, and the circuitry controls the conveyance belt to rotate to receive the sheet in an area of the conveyance belt other than the belt joint of the conveyance belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Kamihara, Masato Ogawa, Kohki Asada, Hiroshi Sawase, Yoshihiro Takahashi, Ryusaku Hida
  • Patent number: 11559997
    Abstract: A heating device includes a conveyor configured to convey a sheet, the sheet having a first surface on which a liquid is applied and a second surface contacting the conveyor, a first heater facing the first surface opposite to the second surface of the sheet, the first heater configured to heat the sheet, and a second heater configured to heat the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sawase, Kazuaki Kamihara, Ryusaku Hida, Masato Ogawa, Kohki Asada, Yoshihiro Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20230011940
    Abstract: A heater includes an irradiator configured to irradiate a heating object including a liquid attachment region, onto which a liquid is applied, with an active energy ray, and circuitry configured to control an output of the active energy ray emitted from the irradiator to an edge portion in the liquid attachment region of the heating object to be larger than an output of the active energy ray emitted from the irradiator to a non-edge portion in the liquid attachment region excluding the edge portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: Ryusaku HIDA, Kazuaki KAMIHARA, Kohki ASADA, Kenji NOZAWA, Genichiroh KAWAMICHI, Hiroshi SAWASE, Yoshihiro TAKAHASHI, Shun SAITO
  • Publication number: 20220281241
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a first liquid that generates heat in an absorption wavelength region of an active energy ray, a first discharger configured to discharge the first liquid, a second liquid that starts polymerization in the absorption wavelength region of the active energy ray, a second discharger configured to discharge the second liquid, and an irradiator configured to irradiate the first liquid and the second liquid with the active energy ray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Hiroshi SAWASE, Kazuaki KAMIHARA, Kohki ASADA, Ryusaku HIDA, Yoshihiro TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20220111663
    Abstract: A sheet conveyor includes an endless conveyance belt configured to rotate to convey a sheet, a belt heater configured to heat the conveyance belt; and circuitry configured to control the conveyance belt to rotate. The conveyance belt has a belt joint joining both ends of a sheet member to form the conveyance belt, and the circuitry controls the conveyance belt to rotate to receive the sheet in an area of the conveyance belt other than the belt joint of the conveyance belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Kamihara, Masato Ogawa, Kohki Asada, Hiroshi Sawase, Yoshihiro Takahashi, Ryusaku Hida
  • Patent number: 11292271
    Abstract: A heating device includes a heat irradiator configured to heat a sheet on which a liquid is applied and is conveyed in a conveyance direction, an ultraviolet irradiator on a downstream of the heat irradiator in the conveyance direction, the ultraviolet irradiator configured to heat a portion of the sheet, and a circuitry configured to control an output of the heat irradiator and an output of the ultraviolet irradiator based on a thickness of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Nakamura, Masato Ogawa, Kenji Nozawa, Kohki Asada, Hiroshi Sawase, Kazuaki Kamihara, Yoshihiro Takahashi, Ryusaku Hida
  • Patent number: 11285737
    Abstract: A heating device includes a conveyor configured to convey a sheet onto which a liquid is applied in a conveyance direction, an irradiator including a light emitter on an irradiation surface of the irradiator, the light emitter configured to emit light onto the sheet to heat the sheet with the light, a channel plate between the conveyor and the irradiation surface of the irradiator, an airflow generator configured to generate an airflow along the irradiation surface between the irradiation surface of the irradiator and the channel plate, and a suction device configured to suck and discharge the airflow in a direction from the irradiation surface of the irradiator toward the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kohki Asada, Kazuaki Kamihara, Masato Ogawa, Hiroshi Sawase, Yoshihiro Takahashi, Genichiroh Kawamichi, Kenji Nozawa, Ryusaku Hida
  • Publication number: 20220063300
    Abstract: A sheet heater includes a first conveyance belt configured to convey a sheet on which a liquid has been discharged in a conveyance direction, a heating unit facing the first conveyance belt, the heating unit configured to heat the sheet conveyed by the first conveyance belt, and a second conveyance belt disposed upstream of the first conveyance belt in the conveyance direction, the second conveyance belt configured to convey the sheet to the first conveyance belt. A surface temperature of the second conveyance belt is lower than a surface temperature of the first conveyance belt when the first conveyance belt and the second conveyance belt convey the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Kohki ASADA, Kazuaki KAMIHARA, Masato OGAWA, Hiroshi SAWASE, Yoshihiro TAKAHASHI, Ryusaku HIDA, Kenji NOZAWA, Genichiroh KAWAMICHI
  • Publication number: 20220066361
    Abstract: A sheet conveyor includes a conveyance belt configured to rotate to convey a sheet on which a liquid has been applied in a conveyance direction, and a guide configured to guide the sheet to the conveyance belt, a position of the guide being variable in the conveyance direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Shimojima, Kenji Nozawa, Genichiroh Kawamichi, Masato Ogawa, Kohki Asada, Kazuaki Kamihara, Hiroshi Sawase, Ryusaku Hida
  • Publication number: 20210370692
    Abstract: A heating device includes a conveyor configured to convey a sheet, the sheet having a first surface on which a liquid is applied and a second surface contacting the conveyor, a first heater facing the first surface opposite to the second surface of the sheet, the first heater configured to heat the sheet, and a second heater configured to heat the conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sawase, Kazuaki Kamihara, Ryusaku Hida, Masato Ogawa, Kohki Asada, Yoshihiro Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20210221149
    Abstract: A heating device includes a heat irradiator configured to heat a sheet on which a liquid is applied and is conveyed in a conveyance direction, an ultraviolet irradiator on a downstream of the heat irradiator in the conveyance direction, the ultraviolet irradiator configured to heat a portion of the sheet, and a circuitry configured to control an output of the heat irradiator and an output of the ultraviolet irradiator based on a thickness of the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Daisuke NAKAMURA, Masato OGAWA, Kenji NOZAWA, Kohki ASADA, Hiroshi SAWASE, Kazuaki KAMIHARA, Yoshihiro TAKAHASHI, Ryusaku HIDA
  • Publication number: 20210197584
    Abstract: A heating device includes a conveyor configured to convey a sheet onto which a liquid is applied in a conveyance direction, an irradiator including a light emitter on an irradiation surface of the irradiator, the light emitter configured to emit light onto the sheet to heat the sheet with the light, a channel plate between the conveyor and the irradiation surface of the irradiator, an airflow generator configured to generate an airflow along the irradiation surface between the irradiation surface of the irradiator and the channel plate, and a suction device configured to suck and discharge the airflow in a direction from the irradiation surface of the irradiator toward the conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Kohki ASADA, Kazuaki KAMIHARA, Masato OGAWA, Hiroshi SAWASE, Yoshihiro TAKAHASHI, Genichiroh KAWAMICHI, Kenji NOZAWA, Ryusaku HIDA
  • Publication number: 20210031542
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an applicator and an irradiator. The applicator is configured to apply a liquid composition containing water or an organic solvent onto a recording medium. The irradiator is configured to irradiate the recording medium with light having a peak wavelength of 300 nm to 450 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Kazuaki KAMIHARA, Hiroshi Sawase, Masato Ogawa, Yoshihiro Takahashi, Kohki Asada, Kenji Nozawa
  • Patent number: 10259246
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a circulation channel in which liquid circulates, a liquid discharge head disposed on the circulation channel to discharge the liquid, a bypass channel to connect an upstream portion and a downstream portion of the liquid discharge head, a switch to switch the circulation channel between a first route in which the bypass channel is a part of the circulation channel and a second route in which the bypass channel is not a part of the circulation channel, a pressure generator to generate pressure to circulate the liquid in the circulation channel, a degassing device to degas the liquid in the circulation channel, and control circuitry to perform a degassing operation to degas the liquid by circulating the liquid in the circulation channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Sawase
  • Patent number: 10226939
    Abstract: A liquid circulation apparatus includes a circulation channel through which a liquid is circulated via a liquid discharge head including a supply port and a discharge port. The circulation channel includes a first manifold communicating with the supply port of the liquid discharge head, a second manifold communicating with the discharge port of the liquid discharge head, a supply channel connecting the first manifold and the supply port of the liquid discharge head, and a discharge channel connecting the second manifold and the discharge port of the liquid discharge head. A fluid resistance from the first manifold to the supply port of the liquid discharge head via the supply channel is smaller than a fluid resistance from the second manifold to the discharge port of the liquid discharge head via the discharge channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sawase, Takahiro Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20180272739
    Abstract: A liquid circulation apparatus includes a circulation channel through which a liquid is circulated via a liquid discharge head including a supply port and a discharge port. The circulation channel includes a first manifold communicating with the supply port of the liquid discharge head, a second manifold communicating with the discharge port of the liquid discharge head, a supply channel connecting the first manifold and the supply port of the liquid discharge head, and a discharge channel connecting the second manifold and the discharge port of the liquid discharge head. A fluid resistance from the first manifold to the supply port of the liquid discharge head via the supply channel is smaller than a fluid resistance from the second manifold to the discharge port of the liquid discharge head via the discharge channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sawase, Takahiro Yoshida