Patents by Inventor Kayoko Tanaka

Kayoko Tanaka 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: 7672602
    Abstract: A developing unit supplies toner from a developing roller to an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier, and creates a visual image. A forced consumption unit causes, when a proportion of number of pixels used for forming the electrostatic latent image for a maximum image effective-width is equal to or less than a predetermined value, a forced consumption of toner by an amount corresponding to a difference between a toner amount corresponding to the number of pixels and a predetermined toner consumption amount. The forced consumption unit adds toner of an amount used in the forced consumption to an amount of toner to be supplied in a next imaging process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Osamu Ariizumi, Kazumi Kobayashi, Shinji Kobayashi, Fukutoshi Uchida, Takashi Enami, Ryohta Morimoto, Shin Hasegawa, Shinji Kato, Hitoshi Ishibashi, Kohta Fujimori, Nobutaka Takeuchi, Naoto Watanabe, Kayoko Tanaka, Yushi Hirayama
  • Patent number: 7668471
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a latent image bearing member; a developing device configured to develop a latent image on the image bearing member with a two-component developer; a development potential forming device configured to form a development potential; a toner replenishing device configured to supply the toner to the developing device; a toner concentration detecting device configured to detect and output the concentration of the toner in the developer; a toner concentration controlling device configured to compare the toner concentration output with a toner concentration target to control the toner concentration; an information detecting device configured to obtain information to determine the replacement amount of the toner in the developing device in a predetermined period of time; and a development potential correcting device configured to adjust the development potential on the basis of the information obtained by the information detecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventors: Nobutaka Takeuchi, Shin Hasegawa, Kohta Fujimori, Kayoko Tanaka, Yushi Hirayama
  • Patent number: 7640638
    Abstract: A fastening system for a wearing article comprising a pair of hook carrying side edge portions with a hook component and a pair of loop carrying side edge portions with a loop component adapted to be detachably engaged with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kenmochi, Akiyoshi Kinoshita, Natsuko Aoyagi, Kayoko Tanaka, Yusuke Kawakami
  • Publication number: 20090324267
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms a plurality of tone patterns of different colors, each of which containing a plurality of toner patches having different toner densities. Some of the toner patches in each of the tone patterns are formed with a predetermined fixed developing bias and the rest of the toner patches in each of the tone patterns are formed with developing biases set based on previous developing biases that have been obtained through a previous control process. The largest toner density of the toner patches in each of the tone patterns is determined based on a magnitude relation of previous index values obtained through the previous control process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Akira YOSHIDA, Shin Hasegawa, Hitoshi Ishibashi, Yoshiaki Miyashita, Kohta Fujimori, Nobutaka Takeuchi, Shuji Hirai, Kayoko Tanaka, Yushi Hirayama, Tetsuya Muto
  • Publication number: 20090279907
    Abstract: In a reuse method for reusing a reusable device and a sensor of a first image forming apparatus having a first process linear velocity in a second image forming apparatus having at least one second process linear velocity different from the first process linear velocity, the reusable device and the sensor are installed in the first image forming apparatus, and when the first image forming apparatus switches from the first process linear velocity to the second process linear velocity at an initial state before the reusable device is used, output of the sensor at the second process linear velocity is measured. When information on the output of the sensor at the second process linear velocity is stored, the reusable device and the sensor are removed from the first image forming apparatus and installed in the second image forming apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: Kayoko TANAKA, Shin HASEGAWA, Hitoshi ISHIBASHI, Shuji HIRAI, Kohta FUJIMORI, Nobutaka TAKEUCHI, Yushi HIRAYAMA, Akira YOSHIDA
  • Patent number: 7616909
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a toner image formed on a photosensitive drum is primarily transferred onto an intermediate transfer belt. The toner image on the intermediate transfer belt is secondarily transferred onto a transfer material by a secondary transfer roller in contact with the intermediate transfer belt. A relation A>B>C is satisfied, where A is a width of the intermediate transfer member, B is a width of the secondary transfer member, and C is a width of the transfer material. The intermediate transfer member includes a patch-pattern forming area that is not contacted by the secondary transfer member. The image forming apparatus includes a reflection-type photosensor that detects a patch pattern formed in the patch-pattern forming area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Kato, Shin Hasegawa, Hitoshi Ishibashi, Kohta Fujimori, Nobutaka Takeuchi, Osamu Ariizumi, Naoto Watanabe, Kayoko Tanaka, Yushi Hirayama, Kazumi Kobayashi, Shinji Kobayashi, Fukutoshi Uchida, Takashi Enami, Ryohta Morimoto
  • Publication number: 20090263150
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes multiple image forming units to form different single-color images with respective different color developers and a control system to selectively perform a multicolor image forming operation, a specific-color image forming operation, a multicolor image quality correction operation, and a specific-color image quality correction operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Kohta Fujimori, Shin Hasegawa, Nobutaka Takeuchi, Hitoshi Ishibashi, Kayoko Tanaka, Yushi Hirayama
  • Publication number: 20090202263
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a control device that calculates a developing ability of the developing device based on a detection value detected by an optical detection device from the plural toner patches. The control device adjusts an image formation condition based on the calculated developing ability. A factor detection device is provided to detect a contributing factor that causes the developing ability to largely change after the last adjustment of the image formation condition. The control device controls image formation such that when the factor detection device does not detect the contribution factor and a developing ability calculated this time is different from that calculated last time (as to a part of the plural toner patches), the plural toner patches are formed based on a prescribed fixed image formation condition so that an attraction amount of toner attracting to the plural toner patches enter a prescribed range detectable for the optical detection device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventors: Akira YOSHIDA, Shin Hasegawa, Hitoshi Ishibashi, Yoshiaki Miyashita, Kohta Fujimori, Nobutaka Takeuchi, Kayoko Tanaka, Yushi Hirayama, Tetsuya Muto
  • Patent number: 7551862
    Abstract: A developing device including a developer bearing member configured to configured to bear thereon a developer including a toner and a magnetic carrier to develop an electrostatic image on an image bearing member with the developer; a developer container configured to contain and feed the developer to the developer bearing member; a toner concentration sensor configured to detect a concentration of the toner in the developer in the developer container and output a signal depending on the detected toner concentration; and a characteristic information storage device configured to store a characteristic of the toner concentration sensor, wherein the sensor information storage device is separated from the toner concentration sensor. A process unit including an image bearing member and the developing device. An image forming apparatus including an image bearing member, the developing device and a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventors: Kayoko Tanaka, Shin Hasegawa, Kohta Fujimori, Nobutaka Takeuchi, Yushi Hirayama
  • Patent number: 7551866
    Abstract: An image forming method and apparatus capable of implementing accurately and constantly an improved conversion of the amount of toner adhesion over the entire range of the amount of adhesion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoto Watanabe, Shin Hasegawa, Hideki Kamaji, Shinji Kato, Hitoshi Ishibashi, Kohta Fujimori, Kayoko Tanaka, Yuushi Hirayama, Takashi Enami, Shinji Kobayashi, Kazumi Kobayashi, Fukutoshi Uchida, Noboru Sawayama
  • Patent number: 7551864
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an image forming mechanism configured to perform an image formation by performing a first image forming operation to form a first image on the image bearing member and an image transferring operation to transfer the first image onto a recording member, and an image quality controlling mechanism configured to perform an image control by performing a second image forming operation to form a second image on the image bearing member and an image controlling operation to control an image quality according to the second image. The image quality controlling mechanism determines an operation condition of starting the image control according to first information of operations during the image formation and second information of operations during the image control, when the second image forming operation is performed during the first image forming operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohta Fujimori, Yuushi Hirayama, Shinji Kato, Nobutaka Takeuchi, Kayoko Tanaka, Kazumi Kobayashi, Shin Hasegawa, Takashi Enami, Kiichirou Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7548704
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes at least one image bearing member, an intermediate transfer member, a secondary transfer member, and at least one optical sensor. In the image forming apparatus, it is determined that output values of the respective amounts of toner detected by the at least one optical sensor are affected by an impact caused due to a separation of the secondary transfer member from the intermediate transfer member and the output values are ignored as image adjustment input information, when the secondary transfer member separates from the intermediate transfer member during any of writing, developing, and transferring the plurality of image adjustment patterns, if the output values fall outside a given range and an interval between the output values of adjacent image bearing members is substantially equal to a distance between the two adjacent image bearing members for the primary transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shin Hasegawa, Shinji Kato, Hitoshi Ishibashi, Kohta Fujimori, Naoto Watanabe, Osamu Ariizumi, Nobutaka Takeuchi, Kayoko Tanaka, Yushi Hirayama, Shinji Kobayashi, Takashi Enami, Kazumi Kobayashi, Fukutoshi Uchida, Ryohta Morimoto
  • Patent number: 7536121
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is configured that a developing unit develops a latent image with a toner, which is controlled by a toner-supply control unit based on a deference between a toner-density of the toner that is supplied to the developing unit and a reference-value. A reference-value determining unit determines the reference-value. A condition determining unit determines whether a predetermined condition is satisfied. The reference-value determining unit updates the reference-value with a different reference-value when the condition determining unit determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Kiichirou Shimizu, Shinji Kato, Shin Hasegawa, Kohta Fujimori, Nobutaka Takeuchi, Yushi Hirayama, Kayoko Tanaka, Takashi Enami, Kazumi Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20090110413
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus and an image density control method for controlling image density in the image forming apparatus, involving adjusting a toner concentration control reference value in accordance with an amount of the toner replaced in a developing device so as to adjust the image density to maintain a consistent developability and changing image forming intervals in accordance with an amount of the toner replaced in the developing device during continuous printing operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Nobutaka Takeuchi, Shin Hasegawa, Hitoshi Ishibashi, Shuji Hirai, Kohta Fujimori, Kayoko Tanaka, Yushi Hirayama, Akira Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7515844
    Abstract: An image density control method for an image forming apparatus in which, in order to keep the development capability constant over time, the toner density in the developer is manipulated to an appropriate range by changing the toner density control reference value in accordance with the toner replacement amount in a fixed time period by ascertaining changes in the image coverage of the output images, and by changing the image forming conditions at predetermined execution intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kayoko Tanaka, Kohta Fujimori, Yuji Hirayama, Nobutaka Takeuchi, Shin Hasegawa, Shinji Kato, Takashi Enami, Kazumi Kobayashi, Kiichirou Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7493058
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a developing device that holds a two-component developer to develop an image, a detecting unit that outputs a reference output value and a second output value when the two-component developer is stirred and carried at a stirring/carrying speed corresponding to a second image forming mode, a stirring/carrying member that stirs and carries the two-component developer, and a controlling unit that controls the toner concentration based on the reference output value when forming an image in a first image forming mode, and controls the toner concentration, when forming an image in the second image forming mode, a corrected output value obtained by correcting an output value in the second image forming mode with a difference value between the reference output value and the second output value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobutaka Takeuchi, Shin Hasegawa, Kohta Fujimori, Kayoko Tanaka, Yushi Hirayama, Hitoshi Ishibashi, Osamu Ariizumi, Naoto Watanabe, Shinji Kato, Shinji Kobayashi, Kazumi Kobayashi, Takashi Enami, Fukutoshi Uchida, Ryohta Morimoto
  • Publication number: 20080253793
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form a plurality of toner images on an image carrier, an optical detector configured to detect reflection light from the toner image, and dedicated to detect infrared rays and near-infrared rays, and a controller configured to perform a predetermined control using a detection results of the optical detector. Gradation pattern that is comprised of a plurality of toner patches formed in the image forming unit with an image forming condition to have different adhesive amounts, and is formed of at least two colors, and detection values detected by the optical detector are used for the predetermined control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventors: Hitoshi ISHIBASHI, Shin Hasegawa, Kohta Fujimori, Nobutaka Takeuchi, Kayoko Tanaka, Yushi Hirayama, Kentaroh Tomita, Shuji Hirai
  • Publication number: 20080205923
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier configured to carry an electrostatic latent image, a developing device configured to develop the electrostatic latent image with a two-component developer including toner and magnetic carrier, a toner supplier configured to supply the toner to the developing device, a toner concentration detector configured to detect toner concentration in the two-component developer inside the developing device, and a controller. The controller is configured to detect first information to determine toner replacement amount in the developing device during a predetermined time period and second information to determine a charge characteristic of the toner in the developing device, change a toner concentration control reference value based on the first information and the second information, and control the toner concentration based on an output from the toner concentration detector and the toner concentration control reference value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Nobutaka TAKEUCHI, Shin Hasegawa, Hitoshi Ishibashi, Shuji Hirai, Kohta Fujimori, Kayoko Tanaka, Yushi Hirayama, Kentaroh Tomita, Akira Yoshida, Chiemi Hirano
  • Publication number: 20080145078
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed that includes an image density control unit that performs control operations based on an image density control condition that is adjustably set to control an output image to have a predetermined image density, an image density control condition modifying unit that calculates a modified image density control condition based on information on an amount of toner exchanged at a developing apparatus within a predetermined period and a parameter for image density control condition calculation and sets the modified image density control condition as the image density control condition to be used by the image density control unit, and a parameter modifying unit that modifies the parameter for image density control condition calculation used by the image density control condition modifying unit based on a toner pattern detection result obtained by detecting a toner pattern formed on a belt member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Kentaroh TOMITA, Nobutaka Takeuchi, Hitoshi Ishibashi, Shin Hasegawa, Shinji Kato, Kohta Fujimori, Kayoko Tanaka, Yushi Hirayama
  • Publication number: 20080124107
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus and an image density control method that are capable of suppressing the amount of toner consumed for a purpose other than image formation and responding to variation in the development ability of a development device due to environmental variation and the like such that a constant image density is obtained, the image density is maintained at a substantially fixed level by first target output value correcting means in accordance with a toner replacement amount and without consuming toner, and adjustment of the image density accompanying variation in the development ability due to environmental variation and the like is dealt with by second target output value correcting means in accordance with a toner pattern detection result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: Nobutaka TAKEUCHI, Hitoshi Ishibashi, Kohta Fujimori, Kayoko Tanaka, Yushi Hirayama, Naoto Watanabe