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: 9356543
    Abstract: A power source control apparatus for a rotating electrical machine includes a TRC optimum voltage output portion (21) and a GEN optimum voltage output portion (22) that acquire a TRC optimum voltage and a GEN optimum voltage; a normal target voltage output portion (23) that sets a normal target voltage commonly applied to a traveling motor system and a power generating motor system using a DC/DC converter, based on a highest optimum voltage out of the TRC optimum voltage and the GEN optimum voltage; and a temperature protecting target voltage output portion (24) and a target voltage output portion (25) that limit the voltage commonly applied to the traveling motor system and the power generating motor system to a value lower than the normal target voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Kikuchi, Yoshihiro Ito
  • Patent number: 9348259
    Abstract: A toner housing container includes a container body housing a toner; a conveying portion conveying the toner from one end of the container body, in a longer direction of the container body, to its other end at which a container opening portion is provided; a pipe receiving port receiving a conveying pipe fixed to a toner conveying device; and an uplifting portion moving the toner toward a toner receiving port of conveying pipe. Such toner has a molecular weight distribution having a peak in a range of 103 to 104, and has C/R of from 0.03 to 0.55 between peak height C attributed to crystalline polyester resin and R attributed to non-crystalline resin when measured by FT-IR after stored at 45° C. for 12 hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Nagayama, Hisashi Nakajima, Yoshitaka Sekiguchi, Saori Yamada, Shinya Hanatani, Mariko Takii, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Shunji Katoh, Shinji Tamaki, Hiroshi Ikeguchi, Kenji Kikuchi, Michiharu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9329529
    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: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuo Takami, Noriyuki Kimura, Eisuke Hori, Hideki Kimura, Kenji Kikuchi, Yuji Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20160116860
    Abstract: A powder detector to detect an amount of powder in the powder container includes a vibration plate disposed in the powder container to vibrate, a contact member to vibrate the vibration plate; and a vibration detector to detect a vibration state of the vibration plate. The powder has flowability, and the vibration state of the vibration plate is affected by the powder in the powder container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Tetsuro HIROTA, Kenji Kikuchi, Hiroshi Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 9261817
    Abstract: A replenishing developer housing container includes: a container body housing a replenishing developer; a conveying portion; a pipe receiving port; and an uplifting portion. The replenishing developer contains a toner and a carrier. The container body includes a protruding portion protruding from a container body interior side of the container opening portion toward one end of the container body and a curving portion curving so as to conform to the protruding portion. The uplifting portion includes an uplifting wall surface extending from an internal wall surface of the container body toward the protruding portion. When the replenishing developer housing container is mounted on the replenishing developer conveying device, the protruding portion is present between the curving portion and the replenishing developer receiving port of a conveying pipe being inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Iwatsuki, Shigenori Yaguchi, Hiroshi Tohmatsu, Toyoaki Tano, Hiroyuki Kishida, Kenichi Mashiko, Koichi Sakata, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Shunji Katoh, Shinji Tamaki, Hiroshi Ikeguchi, Kenji Kikuchi, Michiharu Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20160004184
    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 15, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Kenji KIKUCHI, Shinji Tamaki, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Shunji Katoh, Michiharu Suzuki, Hideo Yoshizawa, Shingo Kuboki
  • Publication number: 20150362861
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer to carry developer to a developer range where the developer bearer faces a latent image bearer, a development casing forming a developer storing part storing the developer to supply to the surface of developer bearer, a developer through opening communicating a space in where the developer bearer is disposed and the developer storing part, a cover sheet covering the developer through opening at the developing casing, and when the cover sheet is removed, the developer pass through the developer through opening, a sheet collecting shaft to collect the cover sheet by rotating, and a transmitting mechanism to transmit a force for rotating to the sheet collecting shaft. The transmitting mechanism does not transmit the force to the collecting shaft after the cover sheet is collected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Yuki OSHIKAWA, Noriyuki Kimura, Kenji Kikuchi, Yoshihiro Fujiwara, Shuntaroh Tamaki
  • Publication number: 20150355578
    Abstract: A toner container and system for mounting and/or securing the toner container includes a toner container having a toner dispensing hole, a shutter, a protrusion. The shutter is movable relative to the toner dispensing hole, and is to selectively close the toner dispensing hole. The protrusion is connected to the shutter and movement of the protrusion causes the shutter to move relative to the toner dispensing hole to cover the toner dispensing hole. There is a receiver including a movable catch, the movable catch being in a first position when the toner container is initially inserted into the receiver, and the movable catch moving to a second position upon insertion of the toner container into the receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Kenji KIKUCHI, Eisuke HORI, Yuji SUZUKI, Hideki KIMURA, Nobuo TAKAMI, Noriyuki KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20150338775
    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: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Tsukuru KAI, Junichi MATSUMOTO, Makoto KOMATSU, Tadashi HAYAKAWA, Yuzuru OZAWA, Shinji TAMAKI, Kenji KIKUCHI
  • Publication number: 20150331363
    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: July 23, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: NOBUO TAKAMI, Noriyuki KIMURA, Eisuke HORI, Hideki KIMURA, Kenji KIKUCHI, Yuji SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 9152084
    Abstract: A toner housing container includes: a container body housing a toner; a conveying portion; a pipe receiving port; and an uplifting portion. Flow rate index of the toner measured by powder rheometer and represented by “flow rate index=(total energy at a rotation speed of 10 mm/s)/(total energy at a rotation speed of 100 mm/s)” is in a range of “1.8?flow rate index?6.5”. Container body includes protruding portion protruding from container body interior side of container opening portion toward one end of container body. Uplifting portion includes: uplifting wall surface extending from container body internal wall surface toward protruding portion; and curving portion curving to conform to protruding portion. When the toner housing container is mounted on the toner conveying device, the protruding portion is present between the curving portion and the toner receiving port of the conveying pipe being inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Masana Shiba, Shingo Sakashita, Junichi Awamura, Tomoki Murayama, Chihiro Kikuchi, Masaya Fukuda, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Shunji Katoh, Shinji Tamaki, Hiroshi Ikeguchi, Kenji Kikuchi, Michiharu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9146499
    Abstract: A toner container and system for mounting and/or securing the toner container includes a toner container having a toner dispensing hole, a shutter, a protrusion. The shutter is movable relative to the toner dispensing hole, and is to selectively close the toner dispensing hole. The protrusion is connected to the shutter and movement of the protrusion causes the shutter to move relative to the toner dispensing hole to cover the toner dispensing hole. There is a receiver including a movable catch, the movable catch being in a first position when the toner container is initially inserted into the receiver, and the moveable catch moving to a second position upon insertion of the toner container into the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Kikuchi, Eisuke Hori, Yuji Suzuki, Hideki Kimura, Nobuo Takami, Noriyuki Kimura
  • Patent number: 9141031
    Abstract: A toner housing container includes: container body; conveying portion; pipe receiving port; and uplifting portion. Container body includes; protruding portion protruding from container body interior side of container opening portion to one end of container body; and shutter member moving between closing and opening positions to close and open container opening portion. Uplifting portion includes: uplifting wall surface extending from container body internal wall surface toward protruding portion; and curving portion curving to conform to protruding portion. Shutter member moves from closing to opening position upon push by conveying pipe. When toner housing container is mounted on toner conveying device, protruding portion is present between curving portion and toner receiving port of conveying pipe inserted and extends along shutter member moving region. Toner has bulk density of ?0.399 g/cm3 when toner housing container is shaken up-and-down 10 times at 25° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junji Yamabe, Seiji Terazawa, Shinji Tamaki, Kenji Kikuchi, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Shunji Katoh, Ryoichi Teranishi, Hiroshi Ikeguchi, Michiharu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9128415
    Abstract: A toner container for use with an image forming apparatus which includes a horizontally mounted toner body mounted within the image forming apparatus, a toner outlet to discharge toner in a downward direction, and a shutter to open and close the toner outlet which moves along a first and second rail. The second rail is disposed downstream of the first rail in the insertion direction of the toner body and parallel to the length of the toner body. The longitudinal length of the first rail is smaller than the longitudinal length of the second rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuo Takami, Noriyuki Kimura, Eisuke Hori, Hideki Kimura, Kenji Kikuchi, Yuji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9122202
    Abstract: A toner container includes a cylindrical container body, a cap having a toner outlet, and a shutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Eisuke Hori, Yuji Suzuki, Hideki Kimura, Kenji Kikuchi, Noriyuki Kimura, Nobuo Takami
  • Patent number: 9069288
    Abstract: Toner housing container includes: container body mountable on toner conveying device and housing toner supplied into toner conveying device; conveying portion provided in container body and conveying toner from longer direction one end of container body to other end at which container opening portion is provided; pipe receiving port provided at container opening portion and receiving conveying pipe fixed to toner conveying device; and uplifting portion to move toner conveyed by conveying portion toward toner receiving port of conveying pipe. Toner has loose apparent density of 0.28 g/cm3 to 0.53 g/cm3. Container body includes protruding portion protruding from container body interior side of container opening portion toward one end. Uplifting portion includes uplifting wall surface extending from internal wall surface of container body toward protruding portion, and curving portion curving to conform to protruding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kojima, Junichi Awamura, Tsuneyasu Nagatomo, Shingo Sakashita, Tomoki Murayama, Masaya Fukuda, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Shunji Katoh, Shinji Tamaki, Hiroshi Ikeguchi, Kenji Kikuchi, Michiharu Suzuki
  • Patent number: D734386
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Kikuchi, Shinji Tamaki
  • Patent number: D736850
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Kikuchi, Shinji Tamaki
  • Patent number: D740356
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Kikuchi, Shinji Tamaki
  • Patent number: D753216
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Kikuchi, Shinji Tamaki