Patents by Inventor Masafumi Takahira
Masafumi Takahira 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: 20120007307Abstract: A conveying device conveys a sheet of non-blank recording medium recorded with an image formed in an image forming unit, and includes a container that is detachable and contains a sheet of blank recording medium, a feeding unit that feeds the blank recording medium from the container, and a recirculating path that leads the non-blank recording medium to the feeding unit. The recirculating path is disposed lateral to the image forming unit. A part of the recirculating path is integrated into the container and forms a reversing path that leads to the feeding unit. At least one of surfaces of the reversing path can be exposed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2011Publication date: January 12, 2012Inventors: Shigeo NANNO, Hiroshi FUJIWARA, Yasuhide OHKUBO, Ippei KIMURA, Yoshihide OHTA, Tomoyoshi YAMAZAKI, Masafumi TAKAHIRA
-
Patent number: 8070159Abstract: In a color printer in which a drive force of a fixed gear that rotates not in both a forward direction and a reverse direction but in either one direction only is transmitted to a discharging unit, a swing gear is attached to a branch guide via a switching link and a transmission link as a link mechanism. When a solenoid mechanism starts driving, the transmission link rotates. In accordance with the rotation of the transmission link, the switching link rotates, so that a switching among a discharge conveying path, a duplex-printing conveying path, and a switchback conveying path by the branch guide and a switching of a rotating direction of a transmission gear can be simultaneously performed.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2011Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventors: Haruyuki Honda, Hiroshi Fujiwara, Yasuhide Ohkubo, Ippei Kimura, Toshikane Nishii, Shigeo Nanno, Mizuna Tanaka, Tomoyoshi Yamazaki, Masafumi Takahira
-
Patent number: 8045888Abstract: A conveying device conveys a sheet of non-blank recording medium recorded with an image formed in an image forming unit, and includes a container that is detachable and contains a sheet of blank recording medium, a feeding unit that feeds the blank recording medium from the container, and a recirculating path that leads the non-blank recording medium to the feeding unit. The recirculating path is disposed lateral to the image forming unit. A part of the recirculating path is integrated into the container and forms a reversing path that leads to the feeding unit. At least one of surfaces of the reversing path can be exposed.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2006Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Shigeo Nanno, Hiroshi Fujiwara, Yasuhide Ohkubo, Ippei Kimura, Yoshihide Ohta, Tomoyoshi Yamazaki, Masafumi Takahira
-
Publication number: 20110204556Abstract: A sheet discharge roller has a contact portion in contact with a feed roller and a noncontact portion not in contact with the feed roller. The sheet discharge roller includes a kick-out unit having a projected portion and a recess portion on one end of the noncontact portion in the circumferential direction. A reverse roller also has a contact portion in contact with the feed roller and a noncontact portion not in contact with the feed roller. The reverse roller includes a large-diameter portion on its one end in a direction opposite to a direction of the kick-out unit. The large-diameter portion has a diameter larger than a diameter of the contact portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2011Publication date: August 25, 2011Inventors: Masafumi Takahira, Hiroshi Fujiwara, Shigeo Nanno, Yasuhide Ohkubo, Ippei Kimura, Mizuna Tanaka, Toshikane Nishii, Haruyuki Honda, Tomoyoshi Yamazaki
-
Patent number: 7992860Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a first roller that draws a recording medium at a first position and feeds the recording medium; a friction pad that comes into contact with the first roller with a predetermined contact pressure at a second position that is close to and downstream of the first position in a conveying direction of the recording medium and nips the recording medium with the first roller to convey the recording medium in the conveying direction; and a second roller that comes into contact with the first roller at a third position that is close to and downstream of the second position in the conveying direction and nips the recording medium with the first roller.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2009Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Ippei Kimura, Yasuo Matsuyama, Hiroshi Fujiwara, Yasuhide Ohkubo, Toshikane Nishii, Mizuna Tanaka, Tomoyoshi Yamazaki, Haruyuki Honda, Masafumi Takahira
-
Publication number: 20110182614Abstract: An interlock system includes first and second racks movable in parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction between opening and closing positions in conjunction with opening and closing of the first cover, respectively. A housing is provided to slidably accommodate the first and second racks in the longitudinal direction. A pinion unit is provided and is sandwiched by the first and second racks. The first and second racks have meshing sections respectively meshing with the pinion unit at one side surfaces extending in the longitudinal direction facing each other. The pinion unit slides in the longitudinal direction by a prescribed length in conjunction with movement of at least one of the first and second racks. The interlock switch is turned on and off in accordance with a sliding length of the pinion unit in the longitudinal direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2011Publication date: July 28, 2011Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Sei Onuma, Nobuhiko Kita, Genta Hagiwara, Masafumi Takahira, Haruo Hashimoto
-
Patent number: 7983596Abstract: A housing structure includes a first structure, which has body frames and a first shaft supported by the body frames, a second structure to be movably supported between an opened position and a closed position by the first shaft, and a positioning device to position the second structure in relation to the first structure in the closed position. The positioning device includes a first engagement portion provided on the first structure, a second engagement portion provided on the second structure and engaged with the first engagement portion in the closed position, a first biasing device to bias the second engagement portion toward the second structure, and a second biasing device to bias the second engagement portion toward the first structure. The positioning device positions the second structure in relation to the first structure by biasing forces of the first biasing device and the second biasing device.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2009Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventors: Genta Hagiwara, Katsumi Kumada, Nobuhiko Kita, Sei Onuma, Haruo Hashimoto, Masafumi Takahira, Kaoru Tada
-
Patent number: 7963520Abstract: A sheet cassette loads and houses therein a plurality of sheets. A separating unit separates the sheets loaded in the sheet cassette one by one. The separating unit is arranged in the sheet cassette in opposite to a feeding roller that conveys the sheets from the sheet cassette. A rib is formed on a rear surface of a bottom plate of the sheet cassette. The rib is pressed by a pressing member.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2008Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventors: Mizuna Tanaka, Hiroshi Fujiwara, Shigeo Nanno, Tomoyoshi Yamazaki, Yasuhide Ohkubo, Haruyuki Honda, Ippei Kimura, Masafumi Takahira, Toshikane Nishii
-
Patent number: 7954814Abstract: A sheet discharge roller has a contact portion in contact with a feed roller and a noncontact portion not in contact with the feed roller. The sheet discharge roller includes a kick-out unit having a projected portion and a recess portion on one end of the noncontact portion in the circumferential direction. A reverse roller also has a contact portion in contact with the feed roller and a noncontact portion not in contact with the feed roller. The reverse roller includes a large-diameter portion on its one end in a direction opposite to a direction of the kick-out unit. The large-diameter portion has a diameter larger than a diameter of the contact portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2008Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Masafumi Takahira, Hiroshi Fujiwara, Shigeo Nanno, Yasuhide Ohkubo, Ippei Kimura, Mizuna Tanaka, Toshikane Nishii, Haruyuki Honda, Tomoyoshi Yamazaki
-
Publication number: 20110127707Abstract: In a color printer in which a drive force of a fixed gear that rotates not in both a forward direction and a reverse direction but in either one direction only is transmitted to a discharging unit, a swing gear is attached to a branch guide via a switching link and a transmission link as a link mechanism. When a solenoid mechanism starts driving, the transmission link rotates. In accordance with the rotation of the transmission link, the switching link rotates, so that a switching among a discharge conveying path, a duplex-printing conveying path, and a switchback conveying path by the branch guide and a switching of a rotating direction of a transmission gear can be simultaneously performed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2011Publication date: June 2, 2011Inventors: Haruyuki Honda, Hiroshi Fujiwara, Yasuhide Ohkubo, Ippei Kimura, Toshikane Nishii, Shigeo Nanno, Mizuna Tanaka, Tomoyoshi Yamazaki, Masafumi Takahira
-
Patent number: 7918451Abstract: In a color printer in which a drive force of a fixed gear that rotates not in both a forward direction and a reverse direction but in either one direction only is transmitted to a discharging unit, a swing gear is attached to a branch guide via a switching link and a transmission link as a link mechanism. When a solenoid mechanism starts driving, the transmission link rotates. In accordance with the rotation of the transmission link, the switching link rotates, so that a switching among a discharge conveying path, a duplex-printing conveying path, and a switchback conveying path by the branch guide and a switching of a rotating direction of a transmission gear can be simultaneously performed.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2008Date of Patent: April 5, 2011Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventors: Haruyuki Honda, Hiroshi Fujiwara, Yasuhide Ohkubo, Ippei Kimura, Toshikane Nishii, Shigeo Nanno, Mizuna Tanaka, Tomoyoshi Yamazaki, Masafumi Takahira
-
Publication number: 20110064456Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a handle member that is held by an operator when an orientation of the image forming apparatus is changed from a predetermined use orientation to a different orientation; and a blocking unit that is caused to block a path between the inside and an opening of a toner container, without being powered, in association with an operator operation performed to the handle member upon changing the orientation of the image forming apparatus from the use orientation to the different orientation.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2010Publication date: March 17, 2011Inventors: Kaoru Tada, Nobuhiko Kita, Sei Onuma, Masafumi Takahira, Genta Hagiwara, Yuusuke Furuichi
-
Publication number: 20110058847Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer belt that conveys a transfer material, and a photosensitive body that catches the transfer material between the photosensitive body and the transfer belt and that transfers a toner image to the transfer material. The transfer belt is driven in conjunction with the opening action of the front cover, and the photosensitive body is separated from the transfer belt in conjunction with the opening action of the front cover.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2010Publication date: March 10, 2011Inventors: Yuusuke FURUICHI, Nobuhiko KITA, Sei ONUMA, Tatsuo FUKUSHIMA, Haruo HASHIMOTO, Genta HAGIWARA, Masafumi TAKAHIRA, Kaoru TADA
-
Patent number: 7878725Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a first unit to be attached inside the apparatus main body, a rotatable part attached to the apparatus main body and rotatable between an open position for opening the apparatus main body and a closed position for closing the apparatus main body, and a second unit removably attached to the rotatable part. When the rotatable part is rotated from the closed position to the open position, the first unit is allowed to be attached to or removed from the apparatus main body by being moved horizontally. By removing the second unit from the rotatable part, the first unit is attached to or removed from the apparatus main body without coming into contact with the second unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2007Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yasuhide Ohkubo, Hiroshi Fujiwara, Shigeo Nanno, Ippei Kimura, Yoshihide Ohta, Tomoyoshi Yamazaki, Masafumi Takahira, Haruyuki Honda
-
Patent number: 7869750Abstract: A reciprocating-motion converting mechanism includes a cam that rotates around a rotation center; a reciprocating member that is reciprocated due to rotation of the cam; and a pressing unit that presses the reciprocating member to the cam. A first load torque is generated by a load applied at a point of contact of the cam and the reciprocating motion member. A load applying unit applies a load to the cam to generate a second load torque having a phase substantially opposite to a phase of the first load torque.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2008Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventors: Toru Hanashima, Tomoyoshi Yamazaki, Yuuji Meguro, Masafumi Takahira, Tatsuo Fukushima, Kimihiro Tanaka
-
Publication number: 20100239307Abstract: In an interlock device for turning a switch on and off in accordance with closing and opening of a plurality of covers covering a body of an electronic apparatus, one striker protrudes from each of the covers. An engagement member is provided inside the body of the electronic apparatus to move in a predetermined direction to contact and separate from the switch to turn the switch on and off. All the strikers contact the engagement member to turn on the switch when all the covers are closed. At least one of the strikers separates from the engagement member to turn off the switch when the corresponding cover is opened.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2010Publication date: September 23, 2010Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Sei ONUMA, Nobuhiko Kita, Haruo Hashimoto, Masafumi Takahira, Kaoru Tada, Genta Hagiwara, Tatsuo Fukushima
-
Publication number: 20100201059Abstract: An open/close mechanism can be used for paper trays of an image forming apparatus. The open/close mechanism includes a plate member provided on a side of a housing of the image forming apparatus and configured to pivot upon an axis between an open position and a close position, and a box member that is arranged in the housing beneath the plate member and that can be drawn out of the housing from the side. The open/close mechanism includes also includes a restricting unit that is coupled to the plate member and that abuts against the box member when the box member is set in the housing and when the plate member is in the open position thereby restricting detachment of the box member from the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2010Publication date: August 12, 2010Inventors: Toshikane Nishii, Kazuhiro Wakamatsu, Yasuhide Ohkubo, Ippei Kimura, Mizuna Tanaka, Haruyuki Honda, Masafumi Takahira, Hiroshi Fujiwara
-
Patent number: 7731182Abstract: A sliding mechanism includes a sheet position limiting member having a sheet position limiting surface, the sheet position limiting member being configured to slide in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the sheet position limiting surface; and a guide member configured to guide the sliding of the sheet position limiting member.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2007Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Toshikane Nishii, Hiroshi Fujiwara, Shigeo Nanno, Tomoyoshi Yamazaki, Yasuhide Ohkubo, Ippei Kimura, Masafumi Takahira
-
Patent number: 7731170Abstract: An open/close mechanism can be used for paper trays of an image forming apparatus. The open/close mechanism includes a plate member provided on a side of a housing of the image forming apparatus and configured to pivot upon an axis between an open position and a close position, and a box member that is arranged in the housing beneath the plate member and that can be drawn out of the housing from the side. The open/close mechanism includes also includes a restricting unit that is coupled to the plate member and that abuts against the box member when the box member is set in the housing and when the plate member is in the open position thereby restricting detachment of the box member from the housing.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2007Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Toshikane Nishii, Kazuhiro Wakamatsu, Yasuhide Ohkubo, Ippei Kimura, Mizuna Tanaka, Haruyuki Honda, Masafumi Takahira, Hiroshi Fujiwara
-
Publication number: 20100067942Abstract: A housing structure includes a first structure, which has body frames and a first shaft supported by the body frames, a second structure to be movably supported between an opened position and a closed position by the first shaft, and a positioning device to position the second structure in relation to the first structure in the closed position. The positioning device includes a first engagement portion provided on the first structure, a second engagement portion provided on the second structure and engaged with the first engagement portion in the closed position, a first biasing device to bias the second engagement portion toward the second structure, and a second biasing device to bias the second engagement portion toward the first structure. The positioning device positions the second structure in relation to the first structure by biasing forces of the first biasing device and the second biasing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2009Publication date: March 18, 2010Inventors: Genta Hagiwara, Katsumi Kumada, Nobuhiko Kita, Sei Onuma, Haruo Hashimoto, Masafumi Takahira, Kaoru Tada