Patents by Inventor Kenji Kikuchi

Kenji Kikuchi 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: 11347163
    Abstract: A powder conveying device includes: a conveying nozzle, provided with a powder receiving opening; an open/close member to open/close the powder receiving opening; a flange provided to the open/close member; a biasing member to bias the open/close member; and a container setting section to which a part of a powder container is to be fit. The powder container includes: a conveyor to convey the powder from a second end of the powder container to a first end; a container opening protruding from the first end; a nozzle receiving opening into which the conveying nozzle is to be inserted; and a butting portion provided in the container opening, to butt against the flange. When the powder container is attached to the powder conveying device, the container opening is fitted to the container setting section, and the flange and the biasing member are housed in an inner space of the container opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hosokawa, Shunji Kato, Shinji Tamaki, Hiroshi Ikeguchi, Seiji Terazawa, Junji Yamabe, Kaori Mitsuishi, Toshihide Tomotaka, Tsunehiro Watanabe, Kenji Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 11314185
    Abstract: A system with a container including a protrusion, and a receiver to receive the container. The receiver includes a slide block that is movable relative to a body of the receiver, the slide block including two surfaces, a first surface, initially contacted by the protrusion of the container during insertion of the container into the receiver, having a first slope to resist movement of the container towards the receiver, and a second surface, subsequently contacted by the protrusion of the container during the insertion of the container into the receiver, having a second slope to interact with the protrusion of the container to assist movement of the container towards the receiver. This construction provides the user with a changing insertion force to indicate proper mounting of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuo Takami, Noriyuki Kimura, Eisuke Hori, Hideki Kimura, Kenji Kikuchi, Yuji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11231661
    Abstract: A powder conveying device includes: a conveying nozzle, provided with a powder receiving opening; an open/close member to open/close the powder receiving opening; a flange provided to the open/close member; a biasing member to bias the open/close member; and a container setting section to which a part of a powder container is to be fit. The powder container includes: a conveyor to convey the powder from a second end of the powder container to a first end; a container opening protruding from the first end; a nozzle receiving opening into which the conveying nozzle is to be inserted; and a butting portion provided in the container opening, to butt against the flange. When the powder container is attached to the powder conveying device, the container opening is fitted to the container setting section, and the flange and the biasing member are housed in an inner space of the container opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hosokawa, Shunji Kato, Shinji Tamaki, Hiroshi Ikeguchi, Seiji Terazawa, Junji Yamabe, Kaori Mitsuishi, Toshihide Tomotaka, Tsunehiro Watanabe, Kenji Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20210405553
    Abstract: A powder conveying device includes: a conveying nozzle, provided with a powder receiving opening; an open/close member to open/close the powder receiving opening; a flange provided to the open/close member; a biasing member to bias the open/close member; and a container setting section to which a part of a powder container is to be fit. The powder container includes: a conveyor to convey the powder from a second end of the powder container to a first end; a container opening protruding from the first end; a nozzle receiving opening into which the conveying nozzle is to be inserted; and a butting portion provided in the container opening, to butt against the flange. When the powder container is attached to the powder conveying device, the container opening is fitted to the container setting section, and the flange and the biasing member are housed in an inner space of the container opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Shunji KATO, Shinji TAMAKI, Hiroshi IKEGUCHI, Seiji TERAZAWA, Junji YAMABE, Kaori MITSUISHI, Toshihide TOMOTAKA, Tsunehiro WATANABE, Kenji KIKUCHI
  • Patent number: 11209748
    Abstract: A powder conveying device includes: a conveying nozzle, provided with a powder receiving opening; an open/close member to open/close the powder receiving opening; a flange provided to the open/close member; a biasing member to bias the open/close member; and a container setting section to which a part of a powder container is to be fit. The powder container includes: a conveyor to convey the powder from a second end of the powder container to a first end; a container opening protruding from the first end; a nozzle receiving opening into which the conveying nozzle is to be inserted; and a butting portion provided in the container opening, to butt against the flange. When the powder container is attached to the powder conveying device, the container opening is fitted to the container setting section, and the flange and the biasing member are housed in an inner space of the container opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hosokawa, Shunji Kato, Shinji Tamaki, Hiroshi Ikeguchi, Seiji Terazawa, Junji Yamabe, Kaori Mitsuishi, Toshihide Tomotaka, Tsunehiro Watanabe, Kenji Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20210364947
    Abstract: A powder conveying device includes: a conveying nozzle, provided with a powder receiving opening; an open/close member to open/close the powder receiving opening; a flange provided to the open/close member; a biasing member to bias the open/close member; and a container setting section to which a part of a powder container is to be fit. The powder container includes: a conveyor to convey the powder from a second end of the powder container to a first end; a container opening protruding from the first end; a nozzle receiving opening into which the conveying nozzle is to be inserted; and a butting portion provided in the container opening, to butt against the flange. When the powder container is attached to the powder conveying device, the container opening is fitted to the container setting section, and the flange and the biasing member are housed in an inner space of the container opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Shunji KATO, Shinji TAMAKI, Hiroshi IKEGUCHI, Seiji TERAZAWA, Junji YAMABE, Kaori MITSUISHI, Toshihide TOMOTAKA, Tsunehiro WATANABE, Kenji KIKUCHI
  • Publication number: 20210349411
    Abstract: A powder conveying device includes: a conveying nozzle, provided with a powder receiving opening; an open/close member to open/close the powder receiving opening; a flange provided to the open/close member; a biasing member to bias the open/close member; and a container setting section to which a part of a powder container is to be fit. The powder container includes: a conveyor to convey the powder from a second end of the powder container to a first end; a container opening protruding from the first end; a nozzle receiving opening into which the conveying nozzle is to be inserted; and a butting portion provided in the container opening, to butt against the flange. When the powder container is attached to the powder conveying device, the container opening is fitted to the container setting section, and the flange and the biasing member are housed in an inner space of the container opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Shunji KATO, Shinji TAMAKI, Hiroshi IKEGUCHI, Seiji TERAZAWA, Junji YAMABE, Kaori MITSUISHI, Toshihide TOMOTAKA, Tsunehiro WATANABE, Kenji KIKUCHI
  • Patent number: 11079964
    Abstract: A memory system may include a semiconductor memory and a memory controller. The memory controller may include an adjustment circuit configured to receive a first signal having a first duty cycle, and intermittently output a second signal to an outside of the memory controller on the basis of a control signal, the second signal having a second duty cycle which is different from the first duty cycle. The memory controller may further include a selector circuit configured to receive the second signal, receive a third signal which is generated on the basis of the second signal, and output a selected one of the second signal and the third signal. The memory controller may further include a control circuit configured to generate the control signal on the basis of the selected one of the second signal and the third signal output from the selector circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jianan Wang, Kouichi Tashiro, Kenji Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20210200120
    Abstract: A system with a container including a protrusion, and a receiver to receive the container. The receiver includes a slide block that is movable relative to a body of the receiver, the slide block including two surfaces, a first surface, initially contacted by the protrusion of the container during insertion of the container into the receiver, having a first slope to resist movement of the container towards the receiver, and a second surface, subsequently contacted by the protrusion of the container during the insertion of the container into the receiver, having a second slope to interact with the protrusion of the container to assist movement of the container towards the receiver. This construction provides the user with a changing insertion force to indicate proper mounting of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo TAKAMI, Noriyuki KIMURA, Eisuke HORI, Hideki KIMURA, Kenji KIKUCHI, Yuji SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20210132524
    Abstract: A nozzle insertion member is in a powder container that includes a nozzle insertion opening into which a conveying nozzle is inserted. The nozzle insertion member includes an opening/closing structure to move to an opening position to open the nozzle insertion opening by being pressed by the inserted conveying nozzle, and to a closing position to close the nozzle insertion opening when the conveying nozzle is separated from the nozzle insertion member, and a seal arranged at the nozzle insertion opening and including a through hole into which the conveying nozzle is insertable. The opening/closing structure includes a front cylindrical portion to contact with an inner surface of the through hole, and a slide area formed on another side relative to the front cylindrical portion. W1<W4 is satisfied, where W1 is an inner diameter of the through hole, and W4 is an outer diameter of the slide area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji KIKUCHI, Shinji TAMAKI, Shunji KATOH, Junji YAMABE
  • Publication number: 20210116839
    Abstract: A powder conveying device includes: a conveying nozzle, provided with a powder receiving opening; an open/close member to open/close the powder receiving opening; a flange provided to the open/close member; a biasing member to bias the open/close member; and a container setting section to which a part of a powder container is to be fit. The powder container includes: a conveyor to convey the powder from a second end of the powder container to a first end; a container opening protruding from the first end; a nozzle receiving opening into which the conveying nozzle is to be inserted; and a butting portion provided in the container opening, to butt against the flange. When the powder container is attached to the powder conveying device, the container opening is fitted to the container setting section, and the flange and the biasing member are housed in an inner space of the container opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Shunji KATO, Shinji TAMAKI, Hiroshi IKEGUCHI, Seiji TERAZAWA, Junji YAMABE, Kaori MITSUISHI, Toshihide TOMOTAKA, Tsunehiro WATANABE, Kenji KIKUCHI
  • Publication number: 20210116842
    Abstract: The powder container includes a container body containing a powder for image formation, the powder being to be supplied to a powder replenishing device; a conveyor configured to convey the powder from one end in a longitudinal direction to the other end at which a cylindrical container opening is formed, the conveyor being provided inside the container body; a gear configured to rotate the conveyor with an external driving force; a container cover configured to cover the gear, the container cover having a gear exposing hole for partially exposing a gear tooth; and a nozzle receiver configured to guide the conveying nozzle inside of the container body, the nozzle receiver being provided on the container opening. The container cover includes a container engaged portion provided outer than the tooth of the gear in a radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Tsukuru KAI, Junichi MATSUMOTO, Makoto KOMATSU, Tadashi HAYAKAWA, Yuzuru OZAWA, Shinji TAMAKI, Kenji KIKUCHI
  • Publication number: 20210116840
    Abstract: A powder conveying device includes: a conveying nozzle, provided with a powder receiving opening; an open/close member to open/close the powder receiving opening; a flange provided to the open/close member; a biasing member to bias the open/close member; and a container setting section to which a part of a powder container is to be fit. The powder container includes: a conveyor to convey the powder from a second end of the powder container to a first end; a container opening protruding from the first end; a nozzle receiving opening into which the conveying nozzle is to be inserted; and a butting portion provided in the container opening, to butt against the flange. When the powder container is attached to the powder conveying device, the container opening is fitted to the container setting section, and the flange and the biasing member are housed in an inner space of the container opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Shunji KATO, Shinji TAMAKI, Hiroshi IKEGUCHI, Seiji TERAZAWA, Junji YAMABE, Kaori MITSUISHI, Toshihide TOMOTAKA, Tsunehiro WATANABE, Kenji KIKUCHI
  • Patent number: 10976686
    Abstract: A system with a container including a protrusion, and a receiver to receive the container. The receiver includes a slide block that is movable relative to a body of the receiver, the slide block including two surfaces, a first surface, initially contacted by the protrusion of the container during insertion of the container into the receiver, having a first slope to resist movement of the container towards the receiver, and a second surface, subsequently contacted by the protrusion of the container during the insertion of the container into the receiver, having a second slope to interact with the protrusion of the container to assist movement of the container towards the receiver. This construction provides the user with a changing insertion force to indicate proper mounting of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuo Takami, Noriyuki Kimura, Eisuke Hori, Hideki Kimura, Kenji Kikuchi, Yuji Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20210088935
    Abstract: A powder container contains powder and is attached to an image forming apparatus including: a conveying nozzle to convey the powder; a powder receiving hole of the conveying nozzle to receive the powder from the powder container; an apparatus main-body gear to transmit a driving force to the powder container; and a container receiving section including the conveying nozzle and receiving the powder container. The powder container includes: an opening at one end of the powder container in a longitudinal direction; a nozzle receiver at the opening to receive the conveying nozzle; a conveyor to convey the powder; and a container gear to drive the conveyor by meshing with the apparatus main-body gear. The container gear is to mesh with the apparatus main-body gear at a position closer to the opening than the powder receiving hole in the longitudinal direction. The opening is to mate with the container receiving section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.,
    Inventors: Kenji KIKUCHI, Shinji TAMAKI, Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Shunji KATOH, Michiharu SUZUKI, Hideo YOSHIZAWA, Shingo KUBOKI
  • Patent number: 10948850
    Abstract: The powder container includes a container body containing a powder for image formation, the powder being to be supplied to a powder replenishing device; a conveyor configured to convey the powder from one end in a longitudinal direction to the other end at which a cylindrical container opening is formed, the conveyor being provided inside the container body; a gear configured to rotate the conveyor with an external driving force; a container cover configured to cover the gear, the container cover having a gear exposing hole for partially exposing a gear tooth; and a nozzle receiver configured to guide the conveying nozzle inside of the container body, the nozzle receiver being provided on the container opening. The container cover includes a container engaged portion provided outer than the tooth of the gear in a radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hosokawa, Tsukuru Kai, Junichi Matsumoto, Makoto Komatsu, Tadashi Hayakawa, Yuzuru Ozawa, Shinji Tamaki, Kenji Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 10935905
    Abstract: A powder container contains powder and is attached to an image forming apparatus including: a conveying nozzle to convey the powder; a powder receiving hole of the conveying nozzle to receive the powder from the powder container; an apparatus main-body gear to transmit a driving force to the powder container; and a container receiving section including the conveying nozzle and receiving the powder container. The powder container includes: an opening at one end of the powder container in a longitudinal direction; a nozzle receiver at the opening to receive the conveying nozzle; a conveyor to convey the powder; and a container gear to drive the conveyor by meshing with the apparatus main-body gear. The container gear is to mesh with the apparatus main-body gear at a position closer to the opening than the powder receiving hole in the longitudinal direction. The opening is to mate with the container receiving section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Kikuchi, Shinji Tamaki, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Shunji Katoh, Michiharu Suzuki, Hideo Yoshizawa, Shingo Kuboki
  • Patent number: 10915039
    Abstract: A powder conveying device includes: a conveying nozzle, provided with a powder receiving opening; an open/close member to open/close the powder receiving opening; a flange provided to the open/close member; a biasing member to bias the open/close member; and a container setting section to which a part of a powder container is to be fit. The powder container includes: a conveyor to convey the powder from a second end of the powder container to a first end; a container opening protruding from the first end; a nozzle receiving opening into which the conveying nozzle is to be inserted; and a butting portion provided in the container opening, to butt against the flange. When the powder container is attached to the powder conveying device, the container opening is fitted to the container setting section, and the flange and the biasing member are housed in an inner space of the container opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hosokawa, Shunji Kato, Shinji Tamaki, Hiroshi Ikeguchi, Seiji Terazawa, Junji Yamabe, Kaori Mitsuishi, Toshihide Tomotaka, Tsunehiro Watanabe, Kenji Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 10908532
    Abstract: A nozzle insertion member is in a powder container that includes a nozzle insertion opening into which a conveying nozzle is inserted. The nozzle insertion member includes an opening/closing structure to move to an opening position to open the nozzle insertion opening by being pressed by the inserted conveying nozzle, and to a closing position to close the nozzle insertion opening when the conveying nozzle is separated from the nozzle insertion member, and a seal arranged at the nozzle insertion opening and including a through hole into which the conveying nozzle is insertable. The opening/closing structure includes a front cylindrical portion to contact with an inner surface of the through hole, and a slide area formed on another side relative to the front cylindrical portion. W1<W4 is satisfied, where W1 is an inner diameter of the through hole, and W4 is an outer diameter of the slide area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Kikuchi, Shinji Tamaki, Shunji Katoh, Junji Yamabe
  • Publication number: 20210003942
    Abstract: A powder container contains powder and is attached to an image forming apparatus including: a conveying nozzle to convey the powder; a powder receiving hole of the conveying nozzle to receive the powder from the powder container; an apparatus main-body gear to transmit a driving force to the powder container; and a container receiving section including the conveying nozzle and receiving the powder container. The powder container includes: an opening at one end of the powder container in a longitudinal direction; a nozzle receiver at the opening to receive the conveying nozzle; a conveyor to convey the powder; and a container gear to drive the conveyor by meshing with the apparatus main-body gear. The container gear is to mesh with the apparatus main-body gear at a position closer to the opening than the powder receiving hole in the longitudinal direction. The opening is to mate with the container receiving section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji KIKUCHI, Shinji TAMAKI, Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Shunji KATOH, Michiharu SUZUKI, Hideo YOSHIZAWA, Shingo KUBOKl