Patents by Inventor Kazuki Suzuki
Kazuki Suzuki 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).
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Patent number: 7620345Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed, that includes multiple imaging units, a loading unit formed on the top face of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and a discharging unit disposed at the operation side of the main body. The image forming apparatus further includes multiple developer containing members disposed in the main body for providing the corresponding imaging units with developer, the developer containing members being arranged in a direction extending from the operation side of the main body. The developer containing members are detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus, and can be handled in a space above the image forming apparatus, the space being limited to the width of the main body.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2007Date of Patent: November 17, 2009Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Ishii, Yuusuke Noguchi, Kazuosa Kuma, Makoto Kikura, Yutaka Fukuchi, Kazuki Suzuki, Tomohiko Sasaki
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Patent number: 7606521Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 5, 2008Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: 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
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Publication number: 20090175660Abstract: A developer container has a main part accommodating a developer therein and is detachably attached to a main part of an image forming apparatus. The developer container comprises an outlet provided at a side of the developer container to discharge the developer from the developer container. An input unit is provided adjacent to the outlet and has a small-diameter portion an inside diameter of which is smaller than a diameter of the container main part wherein, when the developer container is attached to the image forming apparatus, the input unit is engaged with a drive motor of the image forming apparatus to receive a rotating force of the drive motor. A developer guiding unit causes the developer inside the developer container to be moved to the outlet beyond the small-diameter portion of the input unit by rotation of the developer container.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2009Publication date: July 9, 2009Inventors: Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Kiyonori Tsuda, Satoshi Narumi, Ryuta Takeichi, Yuji Arai, Masanori Kawasumi, Kazuhiko Umemura, Hiroshi Ishii, Yutaka Fukuchi, Kazuki Suzuki, Yuusuke Noguchi, Kazuosa Kuma, Makoto Kikura
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Publication number: 20090122122Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a carriage configured to movably scan, and including a recording head configured to discharge ink droplets and a sub tank configured to supply ink to the recording head; a main tank configured to supply the ink to the sub tank via a tube; a negative pressure detector configured to detect a state of a negative pressure in the sub tank; a count unit configured to count a number of scans conducted by the carriage; and a control unit configured to cause the negative pressure detector to detect the state of the negative pressure in the sub tank to return the negative pressure in the sub tank to a normal state based on a detection result obtained by the negative pressure detector when the number of scans carried out by the carriage as counted by the count unit reaches a predetermined scan count.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2008Publication date: May 14, 2009Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTDInventors: Isamu KUBO, Yasuhiro Kawashima, Kazuki Suzuki, Masanori Tanaka
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Patent number: 7519317Abstract: A developer container has a main part accommodating a developer therein and is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus. The developer container comprises a rotation unit which is rotatable to the developer container main part and having an outlet to discharge developer from the developer container, a shutter provided on the rotation unit to open and close the outlet by rotation of the rotation unit, and an engagement unit provided on the periphery side portion of the rotation unit in order to prevent rotation of the rotation unit when attached to the image forming apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2007Date of Patent: April 14, 2009Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Hosokawa, Kiyonori Tsuda, Satoshi Narumi, Ryuta Takeichi, Yuji Arai, Masanori Kawasumi, Kazuhiko Umemura, Hiroshi Ishii, Yutaka Fukuchi, Kazuki Suzuki, Yuusuke Noguchi, Kazuosa Kuma, Makoto Kikura
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Patent number: 7480476Abstract: A toner bottle has a main body, an opening, a gear, and an intermediate area. The main body includes a guide used to guide the toner. The intermediate area is located between the main body and the opening. Both the main body and the intermediate area include a guide for guiding toner. An angle of the guide of the main body relative to the axis of rotation of the toner bottle is larger than an angle of the guide of the intermediate area.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2007Date of Patent: January 20, 2009Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Hosokawa, Kiyonori Tsuda, Satoshi Narumi, Ryuta Takeichi, Yuji Arai, Masanori Kawasumi, Kazuhiko Umemura, Hiroshi Ishii, Yutaka Fukuchi, Kazuki Suzuki, Yuusuke Noguchi, Kazuosa Kuma, Makoto Kikura
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Publication number: 20090015632Abstract: A waste liquid container for storing a waste liquid discharged from an image forming apparatus is disclosed that includes a first container having a single waste liquid inlet into which the waste liquid enters and a second container communicating with the first container. The first and second containers are detachably attached to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2008Publication date: January 15, 2009Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTDInventors: Kazuki Suzuki, Shigeyuki Ito
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Publication number: 20080282839Abstract: A driving device includes a shaft member and a driven gear rotatably disposed to the shaft member that is formed to be fixed to a surface plate member inside the driving device. The shaft member is provided with a flow passage for air penetrating along a shaft line thereof. A cavity is formed in a bearing member of the driven gear to be spaced from the shaft member.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2008Publication date: November 20, 2008Inventors: Kazuki Suzuki, Yasuhiro Maehata
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Publication number: 20080286013Abstract: A developer container has a main part accommodating a developer therein and is detachably attached to a main part of an image forming apparatus. The developer container comprises an outlet provided at a side of the developer container to discharge the developer from the developer container. An input unit is provided adjacent to the outlet and has a small-diameter portion an inside diameter of which is smaller than a diameter of the container main part wherein, when the developer container is attached to the image forming apparatus, the input unit is engaged with a drive motor of the image forming apparatus to receive a rotating force of the drive motor. A developer guiding unit causes the developer inside the developer container to be moved to the outlet beyond the small-diameter portion of the input unit by rotation of the developer container.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2008Publication date: November 20, 2008Inventors: Hiroshi Hosokawa, Kiyonori Tsuda, Satoshi Narumi, Ryuta Takeichi, Yuji Arai, Masanori Kawasumi, Kazuhiko Umemura, Hiroshi Ishii, Yutaka Fukuchi, Kazuki Suzuki, Yuusuke Noguchi, Kazuosa Kuma, Makoto Kikura
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Patent number: 7447469Abstract: A toner container mounting member comprises mounted thereon a plurality of toner containers that perform supply of toner by being themselves rotated. The toner containers are laid in the same direction to be mounted/released from above; a plurality of guiding members that rotatably support the toner containers are integrally formed.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2005Date of Patent: November 4, 2008Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Misaki Uchiyama, Kazuosa Kuma, Kiyonori Tsuda, Hiroshi Ishii, Yuusuke Noguchi, Makoto Kikura, Yutaka Fukuchi, Kazuki Suzuki
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Publication number: 20080240799Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2008Publication date: October 2, 2008Inventors: Yuusuke Noguchi, Hiromichi Ema, Hiroshi Ishii, Yutaka Fukuchi, Kazuosa Kuma, Kazuki Suzuki, Makoto Kikura, Masumi M.S Sato, Hiroyasu Shijo, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Motokazu Yasui
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Patent number: 7406283Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 28, 2007Date of Patent: July 29, 2008Assignee: 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
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Patent number: 7400851Abstract: An image forming apparatus that has improved usability, while maintaining good positional relationship of units detachably installed inside the apparatus body. The image forming apparatus includes a plurality of rotatable image carriers, each incorporated in a respective image producing unit, and an intermediate transfer unit including an intermediate transfer body which is installed between a plurality of roller members and to which transfer toner images formed on each image carrier are transferred. The shaft of each image carrier and the shaft of each roller are disposed on a positioning plate, and each image carrier and the intermediate transfer body are fixed in normal positions by applying pressure independently to each shaft.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2005Date of Patent: July 15, 2008Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuosa Kuma, Yusuke Noguchi, Makoto Kikura, Hiroshi Ishii, Kazuki Suzuki, Yutaka Fukuchi
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Publication number: 20080124152Abstract: An image fixing device for use in an image forming apparatus. The fixing device includes a fixing member which fixes a toner image on a recording medium at a nip area, a pressurizing member which pressures the recording medium toward the fixing member at the nip area, a carbon lamp which emits infrared rays, and a reflecting member which reflects the infrared rays to the nip area.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2007Publication date: May 29, 2008Inventors: Tetsuji Nishikawa, Takayuki Niihara, Kazuki Suzuki, Kazunori Bannai, Makoto Kikura, Yasuhiro Maehata
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Publication number: 20080089713Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carriers, a drive mechanism, a plurality of drive force transmission gears, a phase difference detector, and a shift unit. The plurality of image carriers forms images of separate colors. The drive mechanism including a single drive unit for driving the plurality of image carriers simultaneously. The plurality of drive force transmission gears, provided for each of the image carriers, transmits a driving force from the drive unit to the image carriers. The phase difference detector detects a phase difference in drive speed among the image carriers. The shift unit, provided for each of the plurality of drive force transmission gears, meshes or unmeshes the drive force transmission gear to the drive mechanism. The shift unit is activated to correct any phase difference in drive speed of the image carriers based on a detection result detected with the phase difference detector.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2007Publication date: April 17, 2008Inventors: Masahiro Ishida, Kazuki Suzuki, Tetsuji Nishikawa, Yasuhiro Maehata, Takayuki Niihara, Makoto Kikura
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Publication number: 20080069635Abstract: A connector connects a rotatable body including an attachment hole and an engaging groove, and a shaft pressed into the attachment hole to integrally rotate. The connector includes at least one pin configured to fit in the engaging groove; and a screw having a head configured to be pressed against the rotatable body either directly or via another member. The at least one pin is fixed on the shaft and extends in a radial direction of the shaft to penetrate the shaft. The screw is screwed into a screw hole on an end face of the shaft and is tightened to press the at least one pin against a surface of the engaging groove.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2007Publication date: March 20, 2008Inventors: Yasuhiro Maehata, Kazuki Suzuki, Takayuki Niihara, Makoto Kikura, Tetsuji Nishikawa, Masahiro Ishida
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Patent number: 7333749Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 5, 2007Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: 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
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Patent number: 7321744Abstract: A developer container has a main part accommodating a developer therein and is detachably attached to a main part of an image forming apparatus. The developer container comprises an outlet provided at a side of the developer container to discharge the developer from the developer container. An input unit is provided adjacent to the outlet and has a small-diameter portion an inside diameter of which is smaller than a diameter of the container main part wherein, when the developer container is attached to the image forming apparatus, the input unit is engaged with a drive motor of the image forming apparatus to receive a rotating force of the drive motor. A developer guiding unit causes the developer inside the developer container to be moved to the outlet beyond the small-diameter portion of the input unit by rotation of the developer container.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2004Date of Patent: January 22, 2008Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Hosokawa, Kiyonori Tsuda, Satoshi Narumi, Ryuta Takeichi, Yuji Arai, Masanori Kawasumi, Kazuhiko Umemura, Hiroshi Ishii, Yutaka Fukuchi, Kazuki Suzuki, Yuusuke Noguchi, Kazuosa Kuma, Makoto Kikura
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Publication number: 20080003021Abstract: A developer container has a main part accommodating a developer therein and is detachably attached to a main part of an image forming apparatus. The developer container comprises an outlet provided at a side of the developer container to discharge the developer from the developer container. An input unit is provided adjacent to the outlet and has a small-diameter portion an inside diameter of which is smaller than a diameter of the container main part wherein, when the developer container is attached to the image forming apparatus, the input unit is engaged with a drive motor of the image forming apparatus to receive a rotating force of the drive motor. A developer guiding unit causes the developer inside the developer container to be moved to the outlet beyond the small-diameter portion of the input unit by rotation of the developer container.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2007Publication date: January 3, 2008Inventors: Hiroshi Hosokawa, Kiyonori Tsuda, Satoshi Narumi, Ryuta Takeichi, Yuji Arai, Masanori Kawasumi, Kazuhiko Umemura, Hiroshi Ishii, Yutaka Fukuchi, Kazuki Suzuki, Yuusuke Noguchi, Kazuosa Kuma, Makoto Kikura
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Patent number: 7313344Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body having an opening, and image bearing member or an intermediate transfer unit, and an arrangement. The image bearing member or the intermediate transfer unit is configured to have a toner image formed thereon or transferred thereto. The image bearing member or the intermediate transfer unit is configured to be attached to or detached from the main body via the opening. The arrangement includes a positioning member configured to position the image bearing member or the intermediate transfer unit, wherein the arrangement is configured to adjust a position of the image bearing member of the intermediate transfer unit at a position where the opening is closed.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2006Date of Patent: December 25, 2007Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventors: Kazuosa Kuma, Hiroshi Ishii, Yuusuke Noguchi, Makoto Kikura, Yutaka Fukuchi, Kazuki Suzuki