Patents by Inventor Masaki Tsugawa
Masaki Tsugawa 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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Publication number: 20200272299Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an operation display device, a hardware key input device, a placement detector, and processing circuitry. The operation display device includes a touch panel. The hardware key input device is configured to be placed on the operation display device. The hardware key input device includes a key top having a high dielectric constant for pressing the touch panel. The placement detector is configured to detect placement of the hardware key input device on the operation display device. The processing circuitry is configured to cause a display on the touch panel to transition to a mode enabling a pressing operation using the hardware key input device when the placement detector detects the placement of the hardware key input device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2020Publication date: August 27, 2020Inventors: Masaaki Kawamura, Kazuhiro Ikeda, Norihisa Matsuda, Fumitoshi Nishina, Masaki Tsugawa, Kengo Tanaka, Tetsuya Hirata
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Patent number: 10746583Abstract: A water content measuring device measures water content of an object to be measured. The water content measuring device includes two plate members that are disposed facing each other, a current generating unit, a measuring unit, and an arithmetic processing unit. The current generating unit generates current supplied between the two plate members. The measuring unit measures electrostatic capacitance generated by the current supplied between the two plate members. The arithmetic processing unit is configured to convert the electrostatic capacitance measured by the measuring unit to water content. Two plate members each have a shape or are disposed such that at least two points on a leading edge of the object enter between the two plate members at different timings in a direction perpendicular to a passing direction in which the object passes through the two plate members.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2018Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Yohei Kushida, Keita Maejima, Hiroshi Okamura, Natsuko Ishizuka, Hayato Fujita, Masaki Tsugawa, Yuji Ikeda
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Patent number: 10571841Abstract: A thickness detector includes a rotator having different shape marks, disposed at different positions in a rotation direction; an opposing member disposed opposite the rotator; a detector to detect and output a displacement amount of the rotator or the opposing member in a sheet thickness direction; and a controller. The controller is configured to acquire first output values for one rotation from the detector, in a state without sheet; determine, based on a value output from the detector, whether one of the plurality of marks is detected in a state with the sheet held; acquire a predetermined number of second output values after one of the marks is detected; extract, from the first output values, values corresponding to the second output values, based on the value corresponding to the detected mark; and calculate a sheet thickness based on the second output values and the extracted first output values.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2017Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hayato Fujita, Keita Maejima, Hiroshi Okamura, Masaki Tsugawa, Yuji Ikeda, Yohei Kushida, Emiko Kawarasaki
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Patent number: 10488787Abstract: A remaining powder amount detection device includes: a powder moving portion configured to change a distribution of powder in an inner space of a powder container containing the powder; a drive unit configured to drive the powder moving portion; a change value detector configured to detect a change value indicating a positional change of the powder container; and a remaining powder amount detector configured to detect a remaining amount of the powder contained in the powder container, based on the change value. The drive unit is configured to drive the powder moving portion so as to move the powder to near the change value detector. The remaining powder amount detector is configured to detect the remaining amount based on the change value in a state where the powder is moved to near the change value detector.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2018Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Hiroshi Okamura, Masaki Tsugawa, Yuji Ikeda, Natsuko Ishizuka, Hayato Fujita, Yohei Kushida, Keita Maejima
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Publication number: 20180348664Abstract: A remaining powder amount detection device includes: a powder moving portion configured to change a distribution of powder in an inner space of a powder container containing the powder; a drive unit configured to drive the powder moving portion; a change value detector configured to detect a change value indicating a positional change of the powder container; and a remaining powder amount detector configured to detect a remaining amount of the powder contained in the powder container, based on the change value. The drive unit is configured to drive the powder moving portion so as to move the powder to near the change value detector. The remaining powder amount detector is configured to detect the remaining amount based on the change value in a state where the powder is moved to near the change value detector.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2018Publication date: December 6, 2018Inventors: Hiroshi OKAMURA, Masaki TSUGAWA, Yuji IKEDA, Natsuko ISHIZUKA, Hayato FUJITA, Yohei KUSHIDA, Keita MAEJIMA
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Publication number: 20180321074Abstract: A water content measuring device measures water content of an object to be measured. The water content measuring device includes two plate members that are disposed facing each other, a current generating unit, a measuring unit, and an arithmetic processing unit. The current generating unit generates current supplied between the two plate members. The measuring unit measures electrostatic capacitance generated by the current supplied between the two plate members. The arithmetic processing unit is configured to convert the electrostatic capacitance measured by the measuring unit to water content. Two plate members each have a shape or are disposed such that at least two points on a leading edge of the object enter between the two plate members at different timings in a direction perpendicular to a passing direction in which the object passes through the two plate members.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2018Publication date: November 8, 2018Inventors: Yohei KUSHIDA, Keita Maejima, Hiroshi Okamura, Natsuko Ishizuka, Hayato Fujita, Masaki Tsugawa, Yuji Ikeda
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Publication number: 20180239285Abstract: A thickness detector includes a rotator having different shape marks, disposed at different positions in a rotation direction; an opposing member disposed opposite the rotator; a detector to detect and output a displacement amount of the rotator or the opposing member in a sheet thickness direction; and a controller. The controller is configured to acquire first output values for one rotation from the detector, in a state without sheet; determine, based on a value output from the detector, whether one of the plurality of marks is detected in a state with the sheet held; acquire a predetermined number of second output values after one of the marks is detected; extract, from the first output values, values corresponding to the second output values, based on the value corresponding to the detected mark; and calculate a sheet thickness based on the second output values and the extracted first output values.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2017Publication date: August 23, 2018Applicant: Ricoh Company, LtdInventors: Hayato Fujita, Keita Maejima, Hiroshi Okamura, Masaki Tsugawa, Yuji Ikeda, Yohei Kushida, Emiko Kawarasaki
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Patent number: 8861993Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a control unit that controls each component, a first storage unit that is a non-volatile and rewritable storage unit mounted on the control unit, a toner containing unit that contains toner to be used for an image forming, a second storage unit that is a non-volatile and rewritable storage unit mounted on the toner containing unit, and a detecting unit that detects an amount of the toner remained in the toner containing unit. The control unit stores count information into the second storage unit, the count information is copied from the second storage unit to the first storage unit, when the detecting unit detects that the amount of the toner remained in the toner containing unit is not enough, and the count information is kept on being stored into the first storage unit, until the toner containing unit is replaced with a new one.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2012Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventors: Masaki Tsugawa, Masatoshi Inoue
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Publication number: 20120237238Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a control unit that controls each component, a first storage unit that is a non-volatile and rewritable storage unit mounted on the control unit, a toner containing unit that contains toner to be used for an image forming, a second storage unit that is a non-volatile and rewritable storage unit mounted on the toner containing unit, and a detecting unit that detects an amount of the toner remained in the toner containing unit. The control unit stores count information into the second storage unit, the count information is copied from the second storage unit to the first storage unit, when the detecting unit detects that the amount of the toner remained in the toner containing unit is not enough, and the count information is kept on being stored into the first storage unit, until the toner containing unit is replaced with a new one.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2012Publication date: September 20, 2012Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITEDInventors: Masaki Tsugawa, Masatoshi Inoue
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Patent number: 7734198Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotating member that is rotatable, a communication medium, and a receiving unit. The communication medium that is attached to an outer circumference of the rotating member stores therein information on the rotating member and relays the information on the rotating member via wireless communication. The receiving unit receives the information on the rotating member from the communication medium.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2007Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventors: Makoto Higashiyama, Kazumasa Koike, Shingo Nishizaki, Kazuyuki Sato, Toyokazu Aoki, Masaki Tsugawa
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Publication number: 20080044195Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotating member that is rotatable, a communication medium, and a receiving unit. The communication medium that is attached to an outer circumference of the rotating member stores therein information on the rotating member and relays the information on the rotating member via wireless communication. The receiving unit receives the information on the rotating member from the communication medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2007Publication date: February 21, 2008Inventors: Makoto Higashiyama, Kazumasa Koike, Shingo Nishizaki, Kazuyuki Sato, Toyokazu Aoki, Masaki Tsugawa