Patents by Inventor Kohichi Utsunomiya
Kohichi Utsunomiya 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: 8923726Abstract: A development device includes a development casing, a developer bearer disposed facing a latent image bearer through an opening formed in the development casing, a magnetic field generator, a developer regulator disposed facing the developer bearer, a first seal member to cover a clearance between the latent image bearer and a rim of the development casing upstream from the opening, and a second seal member. The first seal member includes a first end portion fixed to the rim of the development casing and a second end portion in contact with the latent image bearer, and the second seal member includes a first end portion fixed to an inner face of the development casing farther from the latent image bearer than the first seal member, and a second end portion hanging to contact the developer carried on the developer bearer downstream from the developer regulator.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2012Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kiyonori Tsuda, Hideo Yoshizawa, Kohichi Utsunomiya, Takuzi Yoneda, Yutaka Takahashi, Emi Kita, Yuki Oshikawa
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Publication number: 20140294456Abstract: A fixing device includes a pressing rotary body to press against a fixing rotary body. A pivotable pressure lever rotatably mounts the pressing rotary body. A pressurization cam assembly pivots the pressure lever to press the pressing rotary body against the fixing rotary body and release pressure between the pressing rotary body and the fixing rotary body. A pivotable cleaning unit includes a cleaning web separably contacting the pressing rotary body to clean the pressing rotary body, a pressure adjuster contacting the cleaning web to separably press the cleaning web against the pressing rotary body, a take-up reel to reel up the cleaning web, and a supply reel to reel out the cleaning web. A cleaning unit cam assembly contacts the cleaning unit to pivot the cleaning unit to press against and separate from the pressing rotary body.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Satoshi UENO, Tetsuo TOKUDA, Naoto SUZUKI, Takashi SAKAMAKI, Kohichi UTSUNOMIYA, Fumihiro HIROSE, Motoyoshi YAMANO
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Publication number: 20140294461Abstract: A fixing device includes an exciting coil and a heat generator disposed opposite the exciting coil. The heat generator includes a heat generation layer disposed opposite the exciting coil to generate heat by a magnetic flux from the exciting coil and a temperature sensitive magnetic body disposed opposite the exciting coil via the heat generation layer to obtain and lose magnetism at a temperature defined by a Curie temperature by composition adjustment to selectively create a heating region and a non-heating region of the heat generation layer. A degausser is disposed opposite the heat generator and made of a non-magnetic material having an electrical resistivity smaller than that of the temperature sensitive magnetic body. A holder contacting and supporting the degausser is disposed inboard from a lateral edge of the degausser and outboard from a lateral end of the exciting coil in a longitudinal direction of the degausser.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Inventors: Tetsuo TOKUDA, Naoto SUZUKI, Kohichi UTSUNOMIYA
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Patent number: 8843019Abstract: A development device includes a development casing, a developer bearer disposed facing a latent image bearer through an opening in the development casing to carry developer, a magnetic field generator disposed inside the developer bearer, a developer regulator extending in an axial direction of the developer bearer to adjust an amount of developer carried on the developer bearer, and a first axial end seal provided in an axial end portion of the development device outside an image range, in contact with an upstream face of the developer regulator to reduce a size of a clearance between the developer regulator and the development casing.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2012Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hideo Yoshizawa, Kiyonori Tsuda, Takuzi Yoneda, Emi Kita, Yutaka Takahashi, Yuki Oshikawa, Kohichi Utsunomiya
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Patent number: 8843015Abstract: An imaging device provided with a latent image carrying body rotatably disposed to carry a latent image, a developing unit that develops the latent image carried on the carrying body by using a developer containing toner at least, and a duct disposed downstream of the developing unit and having a wall with an upstream suction port and a downstream suction port formed. An air flow path is formed by a surface of the latent image carrying body and a surface of the duct wall, between the upstream suction port and the downstream suction port. A gap of the air flow path is wider at the downstream side than at the upstream side with respect to the rotational direction of the latent image carrying body.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2012Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventors: Kohichi Utsunomiya, Kiyonori Tsuda, Hideo Yoshizawa, Takuzi Yoneda, Emi Kita, Yutaka Takahashi, Yuki Oshikawa
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Publication number: 20120269553Abstract: A development device includes a development casing, a developer bearer disposed facing a latent image bearer through an opening in the development casing to carry developer, a magnetic field generator disposed inside the developer bearer, a developer regulator extending in an axial direction of the developer bearer to adjust an amount of developer carried on the developer bearer, and a first axial end seal provided in an axial end portion of the development device outside an image range, in contact with an upstream face of the developer regulator to reduce a size of a clearance between the developer regulator and the development casing.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2012Publication date: October 25, 2012Inventors: Hideo Yoshizawa, Kiyonori Tsuda, Takuzi Yoneda, Emi Kita, Yutaka Takahashi, Yuki Oshikawa, Kohichi Utsunomiya
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Publication number: 20120269544Abstract: A development device includes a development casing, a developer bearer disposed facing a latent image bearer through an opening formed in the development casing, a magnetic field generator, a developer regulator disposed facing the developer bearer, a first seal member to cover a clearance between the latent image bearer and a rim of the development casing upstream from the opening, and a second seal member. The first seal member includes a first end portion fixed to the rim of the development casing and a second end portion in contact with the latent image bearer, and the second seal member includes a first end portion fixed to an inner face of the development casing farther from the latent image bearer than the first seal member, and a second end portion hanging to contact the developer carried on the developer bearer downstream from the developer regulator.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2012Publication date: October 25, 2012Inventors: Kiyonori TSUDA, Hideo YOSHIZAWA, Kohichi UTSUNOMIYA, Takuzi YONEDA, Yutaka TAKAHASHI, Emi KITA, Yuki OSHIKAWA
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Patent number: 8295737Abstract: A developing device capable of preventing scattered developer from being discharged and of stably supplying a developer to a latent image carrier by preventing the developer from being discharged despite that the amount of developer within the developing device is not increased, and an image forming apparatus including the developing device. When the bulk of the developer existing in the vicinity of the downstream end in the conveyance direction of the supply conveyance path exceeds the height level of the developer discharge port, the developer that has reached the height level of the developer discharge port is discharged to the outside of the developing device by the developer discharge port and developer conveyance path serving as the developer discharge device.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2008Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kiyonori Tsuda, Junichi Terai, Keiko Matsumoto, Kentaroh Tomita, Kohichi Utsunomiya
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Publication number: 20120237249Abstract: An imaging device provided with a latent image carrying body rotatably disposed to carry a latent image, a developing unit that develops the latent image carried on the carrying body by using a developer containing toner at least, and a duct disposed downstream of the developing unit and having a wall with an upstream suction port and a downstream suction port formed. An air flow path is formed by a surface of the latent image carrying body and a surface of the duct wall, between the upstream suction port and the downstream suction port. A gap of the air flow path is wider at the downstream side than at the upstream side with respect to the rotational direction of the latent image carrying body.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2012Publication date: September 20, 2012Inventors: Kohichi UTSUNOMIYA, Kiyonori Tsuda, Hideo Yoshizawa, Takuzi Yoneda, Emi Kita, Yutaka Takahashi, Yuki Oshikawa
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Publication number: 20120230738Abstract: A driving force transmission mechanism includes a connection for integrally rotating a driving shaft on the driving source side and a driven shaft of a rotary member. The connection includes a tubular boss portion; and a fitting shaft portion fitted into the tubular boss portion. An inner shaft portion is provided in a projecting manner from bottom center of the tubular boss portion toward inside the tubular boss portion. An inner recessed portion into which the inner shaft portion fits is provided in center of a leading edge plane for fitting of the fitting shaft portion. Micro gaps are provided between an inner surface of the tubular boss portion and an outer surface of the fitting shaft portion and between an inner surface of the inner recessed portion and an outer surface of the inner shaft portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2012Publication date: September 13, 2012Inventors: Hideo YOSHIZAWA, Kiyonori Tsuda, Takuzi Yoneda, Yutaka Takahashi, Emi Kita, Yuki Oshikawa, Kohichi Utsunomiya
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Patent number: 8126373Abstract: A toner supply device includes a toner container, a transport-path forming member, an opening, a shutter member, and a first seal member. The opening is provided at a side wall of the transport-path forming member. The shutter member is movable between a closed position to close the transport path by being inserted in the opening and an open position. The first seal member fills a gap between an inner wall of the opening and the shutter member in a toner transport direction in which the toner is transported through the transport path. When the shutter member is inserted in the opening, the shutter member is elastically deformable in a deformation direction perpendicular to both the toner transport direction and a moving direction of the shutter member, and when the shutter member is not inserted in the opening, the shutter member is wider than the opening in the deformation direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2008Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Ricoh Company LimitedInventors: Kohichi Utsunomiya, Koichi Kato, Junichi Terai, Klyonori Tsuda, Emi Kita, Satoru Yoshida, Yuki Oshikawa
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Patent number: 8064807Abstract: A developer supply system includes a container, a memory, and a positioning mechanism. The container has a deformable bag formed of flexible material to accommodate developer therein. The memory is attached to a given planar surface of the deformable bag to store information for communication to the image forming apparatus. The positioning mechanism holds the container therein while maintaining the given planar surface in position relative to the image forming apparatus when the deformable bag collapses as it discharges developer. An image forming apparatus employing such a developer supply system is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2009Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Ricoh Company LimitedInventors: Maiko Koeda, Koichi Kato, Emi Kita, Keiko Matsumoto, Takuzi Yoneda, Yuki Oshikawa, Kohichi Utsunomiya
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Patent number: 7962071Abstract: A developing device which can stably supply a developer to a latent image carrier by preventing the scattered developer from being discharged and thereby preventing the developer from being discharged despite that the amount of developer within the developing device does not increase, and an image forming apparatus using the developing device. A block member serving as a scattered developer discharge prevention member is provided so as to block a path through which the developer scattered as a result of a conveyance operation of a supply screw serving as a developer conveying member moves toward a developer discharge port. Accordingly, the scattered developer is prevented from reaching the developer discharge port and being discharged therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2008Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kiyonori Tsuda, Koichi Kato, Yuki Oshikawa, Yasufumi Takahashi, Eriko Maruyama, Koichi Sakata, Hitoshi Ishibashi, Kentaroh Tomita, Mugijirou Uno, Keiko Matsumoto, Kohichi Utsunomiya
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Publication number: 20090263164Abstract: A developer supply system includes a container, a memory, and a positioning mechanism. The container has a deformable bag formed of flexible material to accommodate developer therein. The memory is attached to a given planar surface of the deformable bag to store information for communication to the image forming apparatus. The positioning mechanism holds the container therein while maintaining the given planar surface in position relative to the image forming apparatus when the deformable bag collapses as it discharges developer. An image forming apparatus employing such a developer supply system is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2009Publication date: October 22, 2009Inventors: Maiko Koeda, Koichi Kato, Emi Kita, Keiko Matsumoto, Takuzi Yoneda, Yuki Oshikawa, Kohichi Utsunomiya
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Publication number: 20090087214Abstract: A toner supply device includes a toner container, a transport-path forming member, an opening, a shutter member, and a first seal member. The opening is provided at a side wall of the transport-path forming member. The shutter member is movable between a closed position to close the transport path by being inserted in the opening and an open position. The first seal member fills a gap between an inner wall of the opening and the shutter member in a toner transport direction in which the toner is transported through the transport path. When the shutter member is inserted in the opening, the shutter member is elastically deformable in a deformation direction perpendicular to both the toner transport direction and a moving direction of the shutter member, and when the shutter member is not inserted in the opening, the shutter member is wider than the opening in the deformation direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2008Publication date: April 2, 2009Inventors: Kohichi Utsunomiya, Koichi Kato, Junichi Terai, Klyonori Tsuda, Emi Kita, Satoru Yoshida, Yuki Oshikawa
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Publication number: 20080187332Abstract: A developing device capable of preventing scattered developer from being discharged and of stably supplying a developer to a latent image carrier by preventing the developer from being discharged despite that the amount of developer within the developing device is not increased, and an image forming apparatus including the developing device. When the bulk of the developer existing in the vicinity of the downstream end in the conveyance direction of the supply conveyance path exceeds the height level of the developer discharge port, the developer that has reached the height level of the developer discharge port is discharged to the outside of the developing device by the developer discharge port and developer conveyance path serving as the developer discharge means.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2008Publication date: August 7, 2008Inventors: Kiyonori Tsuda, Junichi Terai, Keiko Matsumoto, Kentaroh Tomita, Kohichi Utsunomiya
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Publication number: 20080181670Abstract: A developing device which can stably supply a developer to a latent image carrier by preventing the scattered developer from being discharged and thereby preventing the developer from being discharged despite that the amount of developer within the developing device does not increase, and an image forming apparatus using the developing device. A block member serving as a scattered developer discharge prevention member is provided so as to block a path through which the developer scattered as a result of a conveyance operation of a supply screw serving as a developer conveying member moves toward a developer discharge port. Accordingly, the scattered developer is prevented from reaching the developer discharge port and being discharged therefrom.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2008Publication date: July 31, 2008Inventors: Kiyonori TSUDA, Koichi Kato, Yuki Oshikawa, Yasufumi Takahashi, Eriko Maruyama, Koichi Sakata, Hitoshi Ishibashi, Kentaroh Tomita, Mugijirou Uno, Keiko Matsumoto, Kohichi Utsunomiya