Patents by Inventor Kenichirou Nagai

Kenichirou Nagai 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: 10042288
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, a process cartridge, and a developing unit includes a developer carrying member to carry developer, first and second rotary members arranged in parallel to each other and configured to rotate to agitate and convey the developer, and an enclosure having an inside space to contain the developer, the inside space being divided by a partition with communication openings formed therein at opposite ends thereof into a first chamber configured to maintain the developer above a first level and to hold the first rotary member therein which supplies the developer to the developer carrying member while agitating and conveying the developer, and a second chamber configured to communicate with the first chamber through the communication openings, to maintain the developer at a second level lower than the first level, and to hold the second rotary member therein which circulates the developer with the first chamber through the communication openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hosokawa, Kenichirou Nagai
  • Publication number: 20160306296
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, a process cartridge, and a developing unit includes a developer carrying member to carry developer, first and second rotary members arranged in parallel to each other and configured to rotate to agitate and convey the developer, and an enclosure having an inside space to contain the developer, the inside space being divided by a partition with communication openings formed therein at opposite ends thereof into a first chamber configured to maintain the developer above a first level and to hold the first rotary member therein which supplies the developer to the developer carrying member while agitating and conveying the developer, and a second chamber configured to communicate with the first chamber through the communication openings, to maintain the developer at a second level lower than the first level, and to hold the second rotary member therein which circulates the developer with the first chamber through the communication openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Kenichirou Nagai
  • Patent number: 9405226
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, a process cartridge, and a developing unit includes a developer carrying member to carry developer, first and second rotary members arranged in parallel to each other and configured to rotate to agitate and convey the developer, and an enclosure having an inside space to contain the developer, the inside space being divided by a partition with communication openings formed therein at opposite ends thereof into a first chamber configured to maintain the developer above a first level and to hold the first rotary member therein which supplies the developer to the developer carrying member while agitating and conveying the developer, and a second chamber configured to communicate with the first chamber through the communication openings, to maintain the developer at a second level lower than the first level, and to hold the second rotary member therein which circulates the developer with the first chamber through the communication openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hosokawa, Kenichirou Nagai
  • Publication number: 20160026116
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, a process cartridge, and a developing unit includes a developer carrying member to carry developer, first and second rotary members arranged in parallel to each other and configured to rotate to agitate and convey the developer, and an enclosure having an inside space to contain the developer, the inside space being divided by a partition with communication openings formed therein at opposite ends thereof into a first chamber configured to maintain the developer above a first level and to hold the first rotary member therein which supplies the developer to the developer carrying member while agitating and conveying the developer, and a second chamber configured to communicate with the first chamber through the communication openings, to maintain the developer at a second level lower than the first level, and to hold the second rotary member therein which circulates the developer with the first chamber through the communication openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Kenichirou Nagai
  • Patent number: 9182705
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, a process cartridge, and a developing unit includes a developer carrying member to carry developer, first and second rotary members arranged in parallel to each other and configured to rotate to agitate and convey the developer, and an enclosure having an inside space to contain the developer, the inside space being divided by a partition with communication openings formed therein at opposite ends thereof into a first chamber configured to maintain the developer above a first level and to hold the first rotary member therein which supplies the developer to the developer carrying member while agitating and conveying the developer, and a second chamber configured to communicate with the first chamber through the communication openings, to maintain the developer at a second level lower than the first level, and to hold the second rotary member therein which circulates the developer with the first chamber through the communication openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hosokawa, Kenichirou Nagai
  • Publication number: 20140314451
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, a process cartridge, and a developing unit includes a developer carrying member to carry developer, first and second rotary members arranged in parallel to each other and configured to rotate to agitate and convey the developer, and an enclosure having an inside space to contain the developer, the inside space being divided by a partition with communication openings formed therein at opposite ends thereof into a first chamber configured to maintain the developer above a first level and to hold the first rotary member therein which supplies the developer to the developer carrying member while agitating and conveying the developer, and a second chamber configured to communicate with the first chamber through the communication openings, to maintain the developer at a second level lower than the first level, and to hold the second rotary member therein which circulates the developer with the first chamber through the communication openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Kenichirou NAGAI
  • Patent number: 7650101
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, a process cartridge, and a developing unit includes a developer carrying member to carry developer, first and second rotary members arranged in parallel to each other and configured to rotate to agitate and convey the developer, and an enclosure having an inside space to contain the developer, the inside space being divided by a partition with communication openings formed therein at opposite ends thereof into a first chamber configured to maintain the developer above a first level and to hold the first rotary member therein which supplies the developer to the developer carrying member while agitating and conveying the developer, and a second chamber configured to communicate with the first chamber through the communication openings, to maintain the developer at a second level lower than the first level, and to hold the second rotary member therein which circulates the developer with the first chamber through the communication openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hosokawa, Kenichirou Nagai
  • Publication number: 20060115302
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, a process cartridge, and a developing unit includes a developer carrying member to carry developer, first and second rotary members arranged in parallel to each other and configured to rotate to agitate and convey the developer, and an enclosure having an inside space to contain the developer, the inside space being divided by a partition with communication openings formed therein at opposite ends thereof into a first chamber configured to maintain the developer above a first level and to hold the first rotary member therein which supplies the developer to the developer carrying member while agitating and conveying the developer, and a second chamber configured to communicate with the first chamber through the communication openings, to maintain the developer at a second level lower than the first level, and to hold the second rotary member therein which circulates the developer with the first chamber through the communication openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Publication date: June 1, 2006
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hosokawa, Kenichirou Nagai
  • Patent number: 6163666
    Abstract: A novel process cartridge for an image forming apparatus such as for example an electrophotographic copying machine, an image forming apparatus using the novel process cartridge, and a method of manufacturing the novel process cartridge. The cartridge includes a photoconductor unit in which a photoconductor drum is rotatably mounted and a developing unit in which a developing roller is rotatably mounted. A first pair of side plates are formed on the photoconductor unit and rotatably supports both end portions of the photoconductor drum. A second pair of side plates are formed on the developing unit and rotatably supports both end portions of the developing roller. A first pair of pin inserting holes are formed on the first pair of side plates of the photoconductor unit. A second pair of pin inserting holes are formed on the second pair of side plates of the developing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hosokawa, Tetsuo Yamanaka, Kenetsu Osanai, Kenichirou Nagai