Patents by Inventor Makoto Obu
Makoto Obu 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: 7693466Abstract: A method of arranging a plurality of image forming sections, each of which includes a developing device and a cleaning device. The method includes arranging the plurality of image forming sections side by side along an inclined image carrier; and positioning the cleaning device above the developing device of other image forming sections in one of nearby ones of the plurality of image forming sections.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2008Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Katsuaki Miyawaki, Takeshi Iijima, Yusuke Takeda, Shuji Hirai, Sadayuki Iwai, Hideki Kosugi, Makoto Obu
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Publication number: 20080212998Abstract: A method of arranging a plurality of image forming sections, each of which includes a developing device and a cleaning device. The method includes arranging the plurality of image forming sections side by side along an inclined image carrier; and positioning the cleaning device above the developing device of other image forming sections in one of nearby ones of the plurality of image forming sections.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2008Publication date: September 4, 2008Inventors: Katsuaki MIYAWAKI, Takeshi IIJIMA, Yusuke TAKEDA, Shuji HIRAI, Sadayuki IWAI, Hideki KOSUGI, Makoto OBU
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Patent number: 7343126Abstract: A tandem image forming device for an image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of image forming means arranged side by side along an intermediate image transfer belt. The image forming means each include a developing device and a cleaning device arranged around an image carrier. One of nearby image forming means has its cleaning device positioned above the developing device of the other image forming means, e.g., an agitating section forming part of the image forming means. This configuration insures smooth circulation of a developer and therefore obviates an irregular developer distribution while reducing the overall size of the image forming device.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2007Date of Patent: March 11, 2008Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Katsuaki Miyawaki, Takeshi Iijima, Yusuke Takeda, Shuji Hirai, Sadayuki Iwai, Hideki Kosugi, Makoto Obu
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Publication number: 20070140728Abstract: A tandem image forming device for an image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of image forming means arranged side by side along an intermediate image transfer belt. The image forming means each include a developing device and a cleaning device arranged around an image carrier. One of nearby image forming means has its cleaning device positioned above the developing device of the other image forming means, e.g., an agitating section forming part of the image forming means. This configuration insures smooth circulation of a developer and therefore obviates an irregular developer distribution while reducing the overall size of the image forming device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2007Publication date: June 21, 2007Inventors: Katsuaki MIYAWAKI, Takeshi Iijima, Yusuke Takeda, Shuji Hirai, Sadayuki Iwai, Hideki Kosugi, Makoto Obu
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Patent number: 7203452Abstract: A tandem image forming device for an image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of image forming means arranged side by side along an intermediate image transfer belt. The image forming means each include a developing device and a cleaning device arranged around an image carrier. One of nearby image forming means has its cleaning device positioned above the developing device of the other image forming means, e.g., an agitating section forming part of the image forming means. This configuration insures smooth circulation of a developer and therefore obviates an irregular developer distribution while reducing the overall size of the image forming device.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2004Date of Patent: April 10, 2007Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Katsuaki Miyawaki, Takeshi Iijima, Yusuke Takeda, Shuji Hirai, Sadayuki Iwai, Hideki Kosugi, Makoto Obu
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Patent number: 7054585Abstract: An image forming apparatus suppresses several kinds of inconveniences caused by unnecessary contact of a belt-formed member with opposing members and drives the belt-formed member accurately even when the belt-formed member separated from a part of a plurality of opposing members. In an image forming apparatus having a belt-formed member supported by a plurality of supporting rollers and a plurality of opposing members located side by side in a line to oppose and contact the belt-formed member, a pivot mechanism is employed to temporarily separate the belt-formed member from a part of the opposing members for color image formation. The image forming apparatus also includes a tension roller dive mechanism to increase a relative distance between the tension roller and other supporting rollers to suppress a decrease in a tension of the belt-formed member during the above-described separation of the belt-formed member from the plurality of opposing members.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2005Date of Patent: May 30, 2006Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Tetsurou Sasamoto, Katsuaki Miyawaki, Makoto Obu, Minoru Suzuki, Yuichi Aoyama
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Publication number: 20050244197Abstract: An image forming apparatus suppresses several kinds of inconveniences caused by unnecessary contact of a belt-formed member with opposing members and drives the belt-formed member accurately even when the belt-formed member separated from a part of a plurality of opposing members. In an image forming apparatus having a belt-formed member supported by a plurality of supporting rollers and a plurality of opposing members located side by side in a line to oppose and contact the belt-formed member, a pivot mechanism is employed to temporarily separate the belt-formed member from a part of the opposing members for color image formation. The image forming apparatus also includes a tension roller dive mechanism to increase a relative distance between the tension roller and other supporting rollers to suppress a decrease in a tension of the belt-formed member during the above-described separation of the belt-formed member from the plurality of opposing members.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2005Publication date: November 3, 2005Inventors: Tetsurou Sasamoto, Katsuaki Miyawaki, Makoto Obu, Minoru Suzuki, Yuichi Aoyama
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Patent number: 6941102Abstract: An image forming apparatus suppresses several kinds of inconveniences caused by unnecessary contact of a belt-formed member with opposing members and drives the belt-formed member accurately even when the belt-formed member separated from a part of a plurality of opposing members. In an image forming apparatus having a belt-formed member supported by a plurality of supporting rollers and a plurality of opposing members located side by side in a line to oppose and contact the belt-formed member, a pivot mechanism is employed to temporarily separate the belt-formed member from a part of the opposing members for color image formation. The image forming apparatus also includes a tension roller dive mechanism to increase a relative distance between the tension roller and other supporting rollers to suppress a decrease in a tension of the belt-formed member during the above-described separation of the belt-formed member from the plurality of opposing members.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2004Date of Patent: September 6, 2005Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Tetsurou Sasamoto, Katsuaki Miyawaki, Makoto Obu, Minoru Suzuki, Yuichi Aoyama
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Publication number: 20040213605Abstract: An image forming apparatus suppresses several kinds of inconveniences caused by unnecessary contact of a belt-formed member with opposing members and drives the belt-formed member accurately even when the belt-formed member separated from a part of a plurality of opposing members. In an image forming apparatus having a belt-formed member supported by a plurality of supporting rollers and a plurality of opposing members located side by side in a line to oppose and contact the belt-formed member, a pivot mechanism is employed to temporarily separate the belt-formed member from a part of the opposing members for color image formation. The image forming apparatus also includes a tension roller dive mechanism to increase a relative distance between the tension roller and other supporting rollers to suppress a decrease in a tension of the belt-formed member during the above-described separation of the belt-formed member from the plurality of opposing members.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2004Publication date: October 28, 2004Inventors: Tetsurou Sasamoto, Katsuaki Miyawaki, Makoto Obu, Minoru Suzuki, Yuichi Aoyama
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Publication number: 20040179869Abstract: A tandem image forming device for an image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of image forming means arranged side by side along an intermediate image transfer belt. The image forming means each include a developing device and a cleaning device arranged around an image carrier. One of nearby image forming means has its cleaning device positioned above the developing device of the other image forming means, e.g., an agitating section forming part of the image forming means. This configuration insures smooth circulation of a developer and therefore obviates an irregular developer distribution while reducing the overall size of the image forming device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2004Publication date: September 16, 2004Inventors: Katsuaki Miyawaki, Takeshi Iijima, Yusuke Takeda, Shuji Hirai, Sadayuki Iwai, Hideki Kosugi, Makoto Obu
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Patent number: 6768891Abstract: An image forming apparatus suppresses several kinds of inconveniences caused by unnecessary contact of a belt-formed member with opposing members and drives the belt-formed member accurately even when the belt-formed member separated from a part of a plurality of opposing members. In an image forming apparatus having a belt-formed member supported by a plurality of supporting rollers and a plurality of opposing members located side by side in a line to oppose and contact the belt-formed member, a pivot mechanism is employed to temporarily separate the belt-formed member from a part of the opposing members for color image formation. The image forming apparatus also includes a tension roller dive mechanism to increase a relative distance between the tension roller and other supporting rollers to suppress a decrease in a tension of the belt-formed member during the above-described separation of the belt-formed member from the plurality of opposing members.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2003Date of Patent: July 27, 2004Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Tetsurou Sasamoto, Katsuaki Miyawaki, Makoto Obu, Minoru Suzuki, Yuichi Aoyama
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Patent number: 6757512Abstract: A tandem image forming device and method for an image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming sections arranged side by side along an intermediate image transfer belt. The image forming sections each include a developing device and a cleaning device arranged around an image carrier. One of nearby image forming sections has its cleaning device positioned above the developing device of the other image forming sections, e.g., an agitating section forming part of the image forming section. This configuration ensures smooth circulation of developer and therefore obviates an irregular developer distribution while reducing the overall size of the image forming device.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2001Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Katsuaki Miyawaki, Takeshi Iijima, Yusuke Takeda, Shuji Hirai, Sadayuki Iwai, Hideki Kosugi, Makoto Obu
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Publication number: 20030185602Abstract: An image forming apparatus suppresses several kinds of inconveniences caused by unnecessary contact of a belt-formed member with opposing members and drives the belt-formed member accurately even when the belt-formed member separated from a part of a plurality of opposing members. In an image forming apparatus having a belt-formed member supported by a plurality of supporting rollers and a plurality of opposing members located side by side in a line to oppose and contact the belt-formed member, a pivot mechanism is employed to temporarily separate the belt-formed member from a part of the opposing members for color image formation. The image forming apparatus also includes a tension roller dive mechanism to increase a relative distance between the tension roller and other supporting rollers to suppress a decrease in a tension of the belt-formed member during the above-described separation of the belt-formed member from the plurality of opposing members.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2003Publication date: October 2, 2003Inventors: Tetsurou Sasamoto, Katsuaki Miyawaki, Makoto Obu, Minoru Suzuki, Yuichi Aoyama
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Patent number: 6597884Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus of the present invention deposits charged toner on a latent image formed on a photoconductive drum or similar image carrier to thereby produce a corresponding toner image. The apparatus includes a toner flying device for electrostatically conveying the toner along the conveying surface of a conveyance board to one end of the conveyance board. The toner is caused to fly toward the image carrier from the end of the conveyance board.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2001Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yohichiroh Miyaguchi, Takeshi Takemoto, Hiroyuki Okamoto, Chikara Imai, Katsuo Sakai, Nobuaki Kondou, Tsukuru Kai, Makoto Obu
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Patent number: 6571071Abstract: An integration density acquiring unit for a consumption information management apparatus acquires integration density from an image signal sent from an image processing section, and an information converting unit calculates a quantity of consumed toner (consumption information) by multiplying the integration density by a specified coefficient to send the quantity to a cumulative consumption information calculating unit. The cumulative consumption information calculating unit temporarily stores the information for the quantity of toner consumption in a memory, and reads out the information from the memory at predetermined timing. Accordingly, it is possible to determine only the cost for developer used by a user or calculate the quantity of developer remaining within an image formation apparatus based on the cumulative consumption information for the unadjusted developer stored in the memory.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2001Date of Patent: May 27, 2003Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yuichiro Kanoshima, Kohji Ichimiya, Satoshi Igari, Mamoru Kiyota, Nekka Matsuura, Yasuyuki Shinkai, Makoto Obu
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Patent number: 6556802Abstract: An image forming apparatus suppresses several kinds of inconveniences caused by unnecessary contact of a belt-formed member with opposing members and drives the belt-formed member accurately even when the belt-formed member separated from a part of a plurality of opposing members. In an image forming apparatus having a belt-formed member supported by a plurality of supporting rollers and a plurality of opposing members located side by side in a line to oppose and contact the belt-formed member, a pivot mechanism is employed to temporarily separate the belt-formed member from a part of the opposing members for color image formation. The image forming apparatus also includes a tension roller dive mechanism to increase a relative distance between the tension roller and other supporting rollers to suppress a decrease in a tension of the belt-formed member during the above-described separation of the belt-formed member from the plurality of opposing members.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2001Date of Patent: April 29, 2003Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Tetsurou Sasamoto, Katsuaki Miyawaki, Makoto Obu, Minoru Suzuki, Yuichi Aoyama
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Patent number: 6545803Abstract: A virtual screen display apparatus includes a display arranged to generate display information and having an effective diagonal length DLC and an optical projecting element arranged to receive the display information from the display and to project and form an image, the optical projecting element having an effective F number which is defined by Fe=S1/PuD wherein S1 is a distance between the display and a principal point of the optical projecting element and PuD is a diameter of an exit pupil of the optical projecting element. A field optical element arranged to form an in-space image in a position of a virtual screen and to direct a divergent light flux from the virtual screen to a view region where the image is viewable to an observer.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2001Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Nobuo Sakuma, Makoto Obu, Akira Momose
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Patent number: 6501932Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a developing device that can deposit a developing liquid on a liquid carrier in a form of a thin layer, causing the thin layer to contact an image carrier of the image forming apparatus. A liquid carrier is in contact with the image carrier to carry the thin layer of the developing liquid to the image carrier. A thin layer contact member contacts the thin layer formed on the liquid carrier at a position upstream of where the liquid carrier and the image carrier contact each other in a direction in which the liquid carrier is movable, to apply a shearing force to the thin layer. Further, the thin layer contact member includes a rotary member with a movable surface that rotates, at a position where the rotary member faces the liquid carrier, in a rotating direction opposite to the rotation direction in which the liquid carrier is movable.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2002Date of Patent: December 31, 2002Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Makoto Obu, Noriyasu Takeuchi, Tsutomu Sasaki, Mie Yoshino
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Publication number: 20020076240Abstract: An image forming apparatus, a developing device and a program recording medium capable of reducing short image density, background contamination and short image sharpness ascribable to the use of a developing liquid whose viscosity characteristic is dependent on a shearing force. Before an applicator roller included in a developing device starts rotating for developing a latent image formed on a photoconductive drum, screws disposed in a liquid storing portion start rotating.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2002Publication date: June 20, 2002Inventors: Makoto Obu, Noriyasu Takeuchi, Tsutomu Sasaki, Mie Yoshino
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Patent number: 6405008Abstract: An image forming apparatus, a developing device and a program recording medium capable of reducing short image density, background contamination and short image sharpness ascribable to the use of a developing liquid whose viscosity characteristic is dependent on a shearing force. Before an applicator roller included in a developing device starts rotating for developing a latent image formed on a photoconductive drum, screws disposed in a liquid storing portion start rotating.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2000Date of Patent: June 11, 2002Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Makoto Obu, Noriyasu Takeuchi, Tsutomu Sasaki, Mie Yoshino