Patents by Inventor Hiroyasu Shijo

Hiroyasu Shijo 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: 7894744
    Abstract: The color image forming apparatus comprises a transfer belt device which feeds a transfer member such as a paper and a plurality of image forming units. The image forming units are disposed facing toward the transfer belt device. The transfer belt device, at least in a portion in which the image forming units have been disposed, is arranged such that it is inclined with respect to the ground. Each of the image forming unit forms a desired image and sequentially transfers the formed image on the transfer member fed by the transfer belt device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masumi Sato, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Hiroyasu Shijo, Motokazu Yasui
  • Patent number: 7787787
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes image carriers arranged side by side in a preselected direction, developing means each for forming a toner image on one of the image carriers, a drive mechanism for driving in the preselected direction a member to which toner images are to be sequentially transferred from the image carriers one above the other, and image transferring devices each for transferring a toner image from one of the image carriers to the above member. At east during an image forming process, a slip condition is substantially the same throughout all image transfer positions where the image carriers face the members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Yamanaka, Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Hiroyasu Shijo, Yuzoh Katsumata, Mineyo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7606521
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus using a tandem-drum development, an indirect image-transfer method, and a vertical sheet supply path. An intermediate image-transfer member is angled relative to a horizontal line such that a rear side of the intermediate image-transfer member away from a recording sheet is lifted and a front side of the intermediate image-transfer member closer to the recording sheet is lowered. Further, image creating mechanisms of the tandem-drum development are aligned and arranged in parallel to a moving image transfer bed of the intermediate image-transfer member, such that one of the image creating mechanisms firstly forming an image faces the rear side of the moving image transfer bed and another one of the image creating mechanisms lastly forming an image faces the front side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuusuke Noguchi, Hiromichi Ema, Hiroshi Ishii, Yutaka Fukuchi, Kazuosa Kuma, Kazuki Suzuki, Makoto Kikura, Masumi Sato, Hiroyasu Shijo, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Motokazu Yasui
  • Patent number: 7551867
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes image carriers arranged side by side in a preselected direction, developing means each for forming a toner image on one of the image carriers, a drive mechanism for driving in the preselected direction a member to which toner images are to be sequentially transferred from the image carriers one above the other, and image transferring devices each for transferring a toner image from one of the image carriers to the above member. At least during an image forming process, a slip condition is substantially the same throughout all image transfer positions where the image carriers face the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Yamanaka, Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Hiroyasu Shijo, Yuzo Katsumata, Mineyo Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20090154947
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes image carriers arranged side by side in a preselected direction, developing means each for forming a toner image on one of the image carriers, a drive mechanism for driving in the preselected direction a member to which toner images are to be sequentially transferred from the image carriers one above the other, and image transferring devices each for transferring a toner image from one of the image carriers to the above member. At east during an image forming process, a slip condition is substantially the same throughout all image transfer positions where the image carriers face the members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Tetsuo YAMANAKA, Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Hiroyasu Shijo, Yuzoh Katsumata, Mineyo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7457561
    Abstract: The color image forming apparatus comprises a transfer belt device which feeds a transfer member such as a paper and a plurality of image forming units. The image forming units are disposed facing towards the transfer belt device. The transfer belt device, at least in a portion in which the image forming units have been disposed, is arranged such that it is inclined with respect to the ground. Each of the image forming unit forms a desired image and sequentially transfers the formed image on the transfer member fed by the transfer belt device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masumi Sato, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Hiroyasu Shijo, Motokazu Yasui
  • Patent number: 7436417
    Abstract: The color image forming apparatus comprises a transfer belt device which feeds a transfer member such as a paper and a plurality of image forming units. The image forming units are disposed facing towards the transfer belt device. The transfer belt device, at least in a portion in which the image forming units have been disposed, is arranged such that it is inclined with respect to the ground. Each of the image forming unit forms a desired image and sequentially transfers the formed image on the transfer member fed by the transfer belt device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masumi Sato, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Hiroyasu Shijo, Motokazu Yasui
  • Publication number: 20080247795
    Abstract: The color image forming apparatus comprises a transfer belt device which feeds a transfer member such as a paper and a plurality of image forming units. The image forming units are disposed facing toward the transfer belt device. The transfer belt device, at least in a portion in which the image forming units have been disposed, is arranged such that it is inclined with respect to the ground. Each of the image forming unit forms a desired image and sequentially transfers the formed image on the transfer member fed by the transfer belt device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Masumi Sato, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Hiroyasu Shijo, Motokazu Yasui
  • Publication number: 20080240799
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus using a tandem-drum development, an indirect image-transfer method, and a vertical sheet supply path. An intermediate image-transfer member is angled relative to a horizontal line such that a rear side of the intermediate image-transfer member away from a recording sheet is lifted and a front side of the intermediate image-transfer member closer to the recording sheet is lowered. Further, image creating mechanisms of the tandem-drum development are aligned and arranged in parallel to a moving image transfer bed of the intermediate image-transfer member, such that one of the image creating mechanisms firstly forming an image faces the rear side of the moving image transfer bed and another one of the image creating mechanisms lastly forming an image faces the front side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Yuusuke Noguchi, Hiromichi Ema, Hiroshi Ishii, Yutaka Fukuchi, Kazuosa Kuma, Kazuki Suzuki, Makoto Kikura, Masumi M.S Sato, Hiroyasu Shijo, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Motokazu Yasui
  • Publication number: 20080187364
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes image carriers arranged side by side in a preselected direction, developing means each for forming a toner image on one of the image carriers, a drive mechanism for driving in the preselected direction a member to which toner images are to be sequentially transferred from the image carriers one above the other, and image transferring devices each for transferring a toner image from one of the image carriers to the above member. At least during an image forming process, a slip condition is substantially the same throughout all image transfer positions where the image carriers face the member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Tetsuo YAMANAKA, Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Hiroyasu Shijo, Yuzoh Katsumata, Mineyo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7406283
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus using a tandem-drum development, an indirect image-transfer method, and a vertical sheet supply path. An intermediate image-transfer member is angled relative to a horizontal line such that a rear side of the intermediate image-transfer member away from a recording sheet is lifted and a front side of the intermediate image-transfer member closer to the recording sheet is lowered. Further, image creating mechanisms of the tandem-drum development are aligned and arranged in parallel to a moving image transfer bed of the intermediate image-transfer member, such that one of the image creating mechanisms firstly forming an image faces the rear side of the moving image transfer bed and another one of the image creating mechanisms lastly forming an image faces the front side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuusuke Noguchi, Hiromichi Ema, Hiroshi Ishii, Yutaka Fukuchi, Kazuosa Kuma, Kazuki Suzuki, Makoto Kikura, Masumi Sato, Hiroyasu Shijo, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Motokazu Yasui
  • Patent number: 7386259
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes image carriers arranged side by side in a preselected direction, developing mechanisms configured to form a toner image on one of the image carriers, a drive mechanism for driving in the preselected direction a member to which toner images are to be sequentially transferred from the image carriers one above the other, and image transferring devices each for transferring a toner image from one of the image carriers to the above member. At least during an image forming process, a slip condition is substantially the same throughout all image transfer positions where the image carriers face the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Yamanaka, Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Hiroyasu Shijo, Yuzo Katsumata, Mineyo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7333749
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus using a tandem-drum development, an indirect image-transfer method, and a vertical sheet supply path. An intermediate image-transfer member is angled relative to a horizontal line such that a rear side of the intermediate image-transfer member away from a recording sheet is lifted and a front side of the intermediate image-transfer member closer to the recording sheet is lowered. Further, image creating mechanisms of the tandem-drum development are aligned and arranged in parallel to a moving image transfer bed of the intermediate image-transfer member, such that one of the image creating mechanisms firstly forming an image faces the rear side of the moving image transfer bed and another one of the image creating mechanisms lastly forming an image faces the front side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuusuke Noguchi, Hiromichi Ema, Hiroshi Ishii, Yutaka Fukuchi, Kazuosa Kuma, Kazuki Suzuki, Makoto Kikura, Masumi Sato, Hiroyasu Shijo, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Motokazu Yasui
  • Publication number: 20070242976
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus using a tandem-drum development, an indirect image-transfer method, and a vertical sheet supply path. An intermediate image-transfer member is angled relative to a horizontal line such that a rear side of the intermediate image-transfer member away from a recording sheet is lifted and a front side of the intermediate image-transfer member closer to the recording sheet is lowered. Further, image creating mechanisms of the tandem-drum development are aligned and arranged in parallel to a moving image transfer bed of the intermediate image-transfer member, such that one of the image creating mechanisms firstly forming an image faces the rear side of the moving image transfer bed and another one of the image creating mechanisms lastly forming an image faces the front side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Inventors: Yuusuke Noguchi, Hiromichi Ema, Hiroshi Ishii, Yutaka Fukuchi, Kazuosa Kuma, Kazuki Suzuki, Makoto Kikura, Masumi Sato, Hiroyasu Shijo, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Motokazu Yasui
  • Patent number: 7263309
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus using a tandem-drum development, an indirect image-transfer method, and a vertical sheet supply path. An intermediate image-transfer member is angled relative to a horizontal line such that a rear side of the intermediate image-transfer member away from a recording sheet is lifted and a front side of the intermediate image-transfer member closer to the recording sheet is lowered. Further, image creating mechanisms of the tandem-drum development are aligned and arranged in parallel to a moving image transfer bed of the intermediate image-transfer member, such that one of the image creating mechanisms firstly forming an image faces the rear side of the moving image transfer bed and another one of the image creating mechanisms lastly forming an image faces the front side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuusuke Noguchi, Hiromichi Ema, Hiroshi Ishii, Yutaka Fukuchi, Kazuosa Kuma, Kazuki Suzuki, Makoto Kikura, Masumi Sato, Hiroyasu Shijo, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Motokazu Yasui
  • Publication number: 20070177902
    Abstract: The color image forming apparatus comprises a transfer belt device which feeds a transfer member such as a paper and a plurality of image forming units. The image forming units are disposed facing towards the transfer belt device. The transfer belt device, at least in a portion in which the image forming units have been disposed, is arranged such that it is inclined with respect to the ground. Each of the image forming unit forms a desired image and sequentially transfers the formed image on the transfer member fed by the transfer belt device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Masumi Sato, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Hiroyasu Shijo, Motokazu Yasui
  • Publication number: 20070127946
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus using a tandem-drum development, an indirect image-transfer method, and a vertical sheet supply path. An intermediate image-transfer member is angled relative to a horizontal line such that a rear side of the intermediate image-transfer member away from a recording sheet is lifted and a front side of the intermediate image-transfer member closer to the recording sheet is lowered. Further, image creating mechanisms of the tandem-drum development are aligned and arranged in parallel to a moving image transfer bed of the intermediate image-transfer member, such that one of the image creating mechanisms firstly forming an image faces the rear side of the moving image transfer bed and another one of the image creating mechanisms lastly forming an image faces the front side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Inventors: Yuusuke Noguchi, Hiromichi Ema, Hiroshi Ishii, Yutaka Fukuchi, Kazuosa Kuma, Kazuki Suzuki, Makoto Kikura, Masumi Sato, Hiroyasu Shijo, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Motokazu Yasui
  • Patent number: 7212764
    Abstract: The color image forming apparatus comprises a transfer belt device which feeds a transfer member such as a paper and a plurality of image forming units. The image forming units are disposed facing towards the transfer belt device. The transfer belt device, at least in a portion in which the image forming units have been disposed, is arranged such that it is inclined with respect to the ground. Each of the image forming unit forms a desired image and sequentially transfers the formed image on the transfer member fed by the transfer belt device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masumi Sato, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Hiroyasu Shijo, Motokazu Yasui
  • Publication number: 20070036589
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes image carriers arranged side by side in a preselected direction, developing means each for forming a toner image on one of the image carriers, a drive mechanism for driving in the preselected direction a member to which toner images are to be sequentially transferred from the image carriers one above the other, and image transferring devices each for transferring a toner image from one of the image carriers to the above member. At least during an image forming process, a slip condition is substantially the same throughout all image transfer positions where the image carriers face the member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Publication date: February 15, 2007
    Inventors: Tetsuo Yamanaka, Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Hiroyasu Shijo, Yuzo Katsumata, Mineyo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7136600
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes image carriers arranged side by side in a preselected direction, developing means each for forming a toner image on one of the image carriers, a drive mechanism for driving in the preselected direction a member to which toner images are to be sequentially transferred from the image carriers one above the other, and image transferring devices each for transferring a toner image from one of the image carriers to the above member. At least during an image forming process, a slip condition is substantially the same throughout all image transfer positions where the image carriers face the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Yamanaka, Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Hiroyasu Shijo, Yuzo Katsumata, Mineyo Takahashi