Patents by Inventor Kohta Aoyagi

Kohta Aoyagi 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).

  • Publication number: 20210297543
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a transparent member unit including a transparent member, an opposing member opposed to the transparent member, and a reading mechanism. The reading mechanism irradiates the opposing member and a medium being conveyed between the transparent member and the opposing member with light through the transparent member and receive reflected light from the opposing member and the medium. The reading mechanism includes a position adjuster to which the transparent member unit is secured and a guide to guide the transparent member unit in a direction intersecting a direction of conveyance of the medium to detachably attach the transparent member unit to the reading mechanism. The position adjuster changes a position at which the transparent member unit is secured with respect to the reading mechanism. The transparent member unit is secured to the position adjuster.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi NAKAYAMA, Susumu MIKAJIRI, Kimiharu YAMAZAKI, Tohru MATSUMOTO, Kohta AOYAGI, Hideyo MAKINO, Ryosuke EBINUMA
  • Patent number: 11126124
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a plurality of image reading units arranged at different positions in a width direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of a recording medium to read an image on the recording medium at image reading positions and a conveyance roller pair that conveys the recording medium to the plurality of image reading units. The conveyance roller pair includes a drive roller and a driven roller that contacts the drive roller and rotates following the drive roller. The plurality of image reading units includes an upstream and a downstream image reading units downstream from the upstream image reading unit in the conveyance direction. A reading interval between the image reading positions and a diameter of the drive roller satisfy the relation: X2=n1×?×D1a, where X2 represents the reading interval, n1 represents an integer, and D1a represents the diameter of the drive roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kimiharu Yamazaki, Hideyo Makino, Susumu Mikajiri, Satoshi Nakayama, Hiroki Yamamura, Kohta Aoyagi, Tohru Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20210168253
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a background member, an illumination unit opposed to the background member, and a reader. The illumination unit emits light to a recording medium having an image thereon. The reader receives a reflection from the recording medium to read the image. The background member has a facing surface that faces the recording medium. The facing surface includes a reference portion on a center portion in a width direction of the background member. The reference portion has a higher reflectance than an end portion of the facing surface in the width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakayama, Susumu Mikajiri, Hideyo Makino, Yoshinari Onuma, Kimiharu Yamazaki, Kohta Aoyagi
  • Publication number: 20210165355
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a plurality of image reading units arranged at different positions in a width direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of a recording medium to read an image on the recording medium at image reading positions and a conveyance roller pair that conveys the recording medium to the plurality of image reading units. The conveyance roller pair includes a drive roller and a driven roller that contacts the drive roller and rotates following the drive roller. The plurality of image reading units includes an upstream and a downstream image reading units downstream from the upstream image reading unit in the conveyance direction. A reading interval between the image reading positions and a diameter of the drive roller satisfy the relation: X2=n1×?×D1a, where X2 represents the reading interval, n1 represents an integer, and D1a represents the diameter of the drive roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kimiharu Yamazaki, Hideyo Makino, Susumu Mikajiri, Satoshi Nakayama, Hiroki Yamamura, Kohta Aoyagi, Tohru Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20210166096
    Abstract: A conveyance device includes a conveyance roller pair to convey a recording medium to an image reading position of an image reading unit. The conveyance roller pair includes a drive roller and a driven roller. The driven roller contacts the drive roller and rotates following the drive roller. The drive roller has a diameter satisfying a relation in which a detection mark on the recording medium is on a position away from a leading end of the recording medium by an integral multiple of a circumference of the drive roller in a conveyance direction of the recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kimiharu Yamazaki, Hideyo Makino, Susumu Mikajiri, Satoshi Nakayama, Kohta Aoyagi, Hiroki Yamamura
  • Patent number: 10931844
    Abstract: An image inspection apparatus includes a first outputter that outputs color information of an image to be formed on a recording medium determined according to the type of recording medium; a reader provided facing one side of the recording medium and configured to output an image signal obtained by reading the recording medium; a second outputter that outputs an edge position of the recording medium and/or the image formed on the recording medium detected based on the image signal; first background members configured to face and contact another side of the recording medium and having different heights; second background members configured to face and contact the another side of the recording medium and having different colors; and an arranger that brings one member, selected according to the recording medium type from among the first and second background members, into contact with the another side of the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohta Aoyagi, Susumu Mikajiri, Kimiharu Yamazaki, Satoshi Nakayama, Hideyo Makino, Yoshinari Onuma
  • Publication number: 20210016584
    Abstract: A conveyance apparatus includes a plurality of conveyors and an image reader. The plurality of conveyors conveys a recording material. The image reader reads a pattern image on the recording material being conveyed. The conveyance apparatus further includes circuitry to control the image reader. The circuitry controls the image reader to read the pattern image on the recording material in a period including a timing at which a trailing edge of the recording material being conveyed by at least two of the plurality of conveyors exits an upstream conveyor among the at least two of the plurality of conveyors in a direction of conveyance of the recording material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohta Aoyagi, Hideyo Makino, Susumu Mikajiri, Kimiharu Yamazaki, Yoshinari Onuma, Satoshi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 10895831
    Abstract: A conveyance control device includes a fixing device including a first rotary body, a cooling device including a second rotary body, and control circuitry. The circuitry records a first drive amount for the second body when the first and second bodies are driven at a speed, a second drive amount for the second body when the second body is driven without the first body being driven, a third drive amount for the second body when the second body is driven to rotate faster than a rotating speed and the first body is driven, and a fourth drive amount for the second body when the second body is driven to rotate slower than the rotating speed and the first body is driven. The circuitry performs correction based on the drive amounts in such a manner that a drive amount of the second body becomes equivalent to the second drive amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kimiharu Yamazaki, Hideyo Makino, Susumu Mikajiri, Yoshinari Onuma, Satoshi Nakayama, Hiroki Yamamura, Kohta Aoyagi
  • Patent number: 10855865
    Abstract: A reading device including a reader, a position reference member, and circuitry. The position reference member has a reference pattern along a first direction of the position reference member. The circuitry is configured to detect the reference pattern of the position reference member; determine coordinates of at least two pixels in the second direction, based on the detected reference pattern; calculate a first correction value based on the coordinates determined for the at least two pixels of the reader in the second direction; detect an outer shape and a position of an image pattern on the conveyed object based on data read by the reader; obtain a difference between an image of the conveyed object, of which a shape has been corrected, and an image of the conveyed object, of which a shape has not been correction; and set a second correction value based on the obtained difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kimiharu Yamazaki, Kohta Aoyagi, Hideyo Makino, Satoshi Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20200301326
    Abstract: A conveyance control device includes a fixing device including a first rotary body, a cooling device including a second rotary body, and control circuitry. The circuitry records a first drive amount for the second body when the first and second bodies are driven at a speed, a second drive amount for the second body when the second body is driven without the first body being driven, a third drive amount for the second body when the second body is driven to rotate faster than a rotating speed and the first body is driven, and a fourth drive amount for the second body when the second body is driven to rotate slower than the rotating speed and the first body is driven. The circuitry performs correction based on the drive amounts in such a manner that a drive amount of the second body becomes equivalent to the second drive amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kimiharu Yamazaki, Hideyo Makino, Susumu Mikajiri, Yoshinari Onuma, Satoshi Nakayama, Hiroki Yamamura, Kohta Aoyagi
  • Patent number: 10781065
    Abstract: A detecting device, which is included in an image forming apparatus, includes a detector configured to optically detect at least one of a position of a sheet, a position of an image formed on the sheet, and the image formed on the sheet, and a rotary body disposed at a position opposed to the detector and having a shaft, the rotary body being rotatable about the shaft in a sheet conveying direction of the sheet. The sheet is conveyed to space between the detector and the rotary body. The rotary body has a reference plane on an outer circumferential surface, a line formed on the reference plane and extending in a width direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction. The detector detects the line on the reference plane while the rotary body is rotating when the sheet does not intervene between the detector and the rotary body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakayama, Hideyo Makino, Kohta Aoyagi
  • Publication number: 20200296243
    Abstract: An image inspection apparatus includes a first outputter that outputs color information of an image to be formed on a recording medium determined according to the type of recording medium; a reader provided facing one side of the recording medium and configured to output an image signal obtained by reading the recording medium; a second outputter that outputs an edge position of the recording medium and/or the image formed on the recording medium detected based on the image signal; first background members configured to face and contact another side of the recording medium and having different heights; second background members configured to face and contact the another side of the recording medium and having different colors; and an arranger that brings one member, selected according to the recording medium type from among the first and second background members, into contact with the another side of the recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohta AOYAGI, Susumu MIKAJIRI, Kimiharu YAMAZAKI, Satoshi NAKAYAMA, Hideyo MAKINO, Yoshinari ONUMA
  • Publication number: 20190202648
    Abstract: A detecting device, which is included in an image forming apparatus, includes a detector configured to optically detect at least one of a position of a sheet, a position of an image formed on the sheet, and the image formed on the sheet, and a rotary body disposed at a position opposed to the detector and having a shaft, the rotary body being rotatable about the shaft in a sheet conveying direction of the sheet. The sheet is conveyed to space between the detector and the rotary body. The rotary body has a reference plane on an outer circumferential surface, a line formed on the reference plane and extending in a width direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction. The detector detects the line on the reference plane while the rotary body is rotating when the sheet does not intervene between the detector and the rotary body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakayama, Hideyo Makino, Kohta Aoyagi
  • Publication number: 20190166271
    Abstract: A reading device including a reader, a position reference member, and circuitry. The position reference member has a reference pattern along a first direction of the position reference member. The circuitry is configured to detect the reference pattern of the position reference member; determine coordinates of at least two pixels in the second direction, based on the detected reference pattern; calculate a first correction value based on the coordinates determined for the at least two pixels of the reader in the second direction; detect an outer shape and a position of an image pattern on the conveyed object based on data read by the reader; obtain a difference between an image of the conveyed object, of which a shape has been corrected, and an image of the conveyed object, of which a shape has not been correction; and set a second correction value based on the obtained difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kimiharu Yamazaki, Kohta Aoyagi, Hideyo Makino, Satoshi Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20190163112
    Abstract: A position detector includes a reading device, a position reference member having a mark opposite the reading device, and circuitry. The circuitry controls the reading device to detect the contour of the processing target and the position of the image pattern on the processing target and the position of the mark and corrects a processing position for the processing target to offset distortion of the reading device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Daisuke Nikaku, Masamoto Nakazawa, Ryohma Ikemoto, Osamu Inage, Tatsuya Ishii, Satoshi Iwanami, Hideyo Makino, Kimiharu Yamazaki, Kohta Aoyagi, Satoshi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 10286699
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging unit to obtain a captured image of a test pattern and a reference mark to locate the test pattern and at least one processor. The test pattern includes a pair of first marks and a second mark. The processor includes a position detector configured to detect the reference mark in the captured image and locate the pair of first marks and the second mark in the captured image, and a ratio calculator configured to calculate one of a first ratio between a distance between the pair of first marks in the captured image and a deviation of the second mark in the captured image, and a second ratio between the distance between the pair of first marks in the captured image and a distance from one of the pair of first marks to the second mark in the captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Kawarada, Nobuyuki Satoh, Suguru Yokozawa, Kohta Aoyagi, Kenta Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10252517
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device; an imaging device; and at least one processor including a pattern forming unit to cause a recording head to form a pair of first marks, with first and second nozzles disposed at a first distance from each other in a direction of conveyance of a recording medium, while the recording head moves in a first direction and cause the recording head to form a second mark while the recording head moves in a second direction, a position detector to detect positions of the first and second marks in a captured image, a ratio calculator to calculate a ratio between a distance between the first marks in the captured image and a deviation of the second mark in the captured image, and distance calculator to calculate a distance of the deviation based on the first distance and the ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kahei Nakamura, Masaya Kawarada, Kohta Aoyagi, Suguru Yokozawa, Nobuyuki Satoh
  • Patent number: 10207495
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a conveyor to convey a recording medium; an image forming device including a recording head to form a test pattern including a first mark and a pair of second marks; an imaging device; and a processor. The processor includes a pattern forming unit to cause the image forming device to form one of the first and second marks and form the other after the conveyor conveys the recording medium by a predetermined conveyance amount, a position detector to detect positions of the first and second marks in the captured image, a ratio calculator to calculate a ratio between a distance between the second marks and deviation of the first mark in the captured image, and a distance calculator to calculate an actual distance of the deviation based on a theoretical distance between the second marks and the ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohta Aoyagi, Suguru Yokozawa, Masaya Kawarada, Nobuyuki Satoh
  • Publication number: 20180147835
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device; an imaging device; and at least one processor including a pattern forming unit to cause a recording head to form a pair of first marks, with first and second nozzles disposed at a first distance from each other in a direction of conveyance of a recording medium, while the recording head moves in a first direction and cause the recording head to form a second mark while the recording head moves in a second direction, a position detector to detect positions of the first and second marks in a captured image, a ratio calculator to calculate a ratio between a distance between the first marks in the captured image and a deviation of the second mark in the captured image, and distance calculator to calculate a distance of the deviation based on the first distance and the ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kahei Nakamura, Masaya Kawarada, Kohta Aoyagi, Suguru Yokozawa, Nobuyuki Satoh
  • Publication number: 20180141329
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a conveyor to convey a recording medium; an image forming device including a recording head to form a test pattern including a first mark and a pair of second marks; an imaging device; and a processor. The processor includes a pattern forming unit to cause the image forming device to form one of the first and second marks and form the other after the conveyor conveys the recording medium by a predetermined conveyance amount, a position detector to detect positions of the first and second marks in the captured image, a ratio calculator to calculate a ratio between a distance between the second marks and deviation of the first mark in the captured image, and a distance calculator to calculate an actual distance of the deviation based on a theoretical distance between the second marks and the ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohta Aoyagi, Suguru Yokozawa, Masaya Kawarada, Nobuyuki Satoh