Patents by Inventor Masashi TACHI

Masashi TACHI 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).

  • Patent number: 11860560
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a first transfer device including a first mover, a second transfer device including a second mover, a transfer-pressure changer, a detector, and circuitry. The detector detects a toner image and outputs a detection value indicating an amount of toner of the toner image adhering to the second mover. The circuitry calculates a variable value for the amount of toner varying with a change in a transfer pressure, based on the detection value and a target value of the amount of toner of the toner image to be transferred and adhere to the second mover, reflects the calculated variable value in the detection value to correct the detection value, adjusts an image-forming condition based on the corrected detection value, and sets the image-forming condition of the toner image in the image forming device based on the corrected detection value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masashi Tachi
  • Publication number: 20230280687
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a first transfer device including a first mover, a second transfer device including a second mover, a transfer-pressure changer, a detector, and circuitry. The detector detects a toner image and outputs a detection value indicating an amount of toner of the toner image adhering to the second mover. The circuitry calculates a variable value for the amount of toner varying with a change in a transfer pressure, based on the detection value and a target value of the amount of toner of the toner image to be transferred and adhere to the second mover, reflects the calculated variable value in the detection value to correct the detection value, adjusts an image-forming condition based on the corrected detection value, and sets the image-forming condition of the toner image in the image forming device based on the corrected detection value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masashi Tachi
  • Patent number: 11402784
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a density deviation detector, and processing circuitry. The circuitry performs a density deviation adjustment mode to: cause the image forming device to form a first image pattern having a uniform image density in the width direction on a surface of an image bearer; cause the detector to detect a first image density deviation in the width direction in the first pattern; adjust the first deviation based on a detection result of the first pattern; cause the image forming device to form a second image pattern on a surface of the image bearer after adjustment of the first deviation; cause the detector to detect a second image density deviation in the width direction in the second pattern; and correct a light intensity sensitivity in adjusting the second deviation, based on a detection result of the second pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Tachi, Tomohide Takenaka, Masaki Sukesako, Keita Sone
  • Publication number: 20210318651
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a density deviation detector, and processing circuitry. The circuitry performs a density deviation adjustment mode to: cause the image forming device to form a first image pattern having a uniform image density in the width direction on a surface of an image bearer; cause the detector to detect a first image density deviation in the width direction in the first pattern; adjust the first deviation based on a detection result of the first pattern; cause the image forming device to form a second image pattern on a surface of the image bearer after adjustment of the first deviation; cause the detector to detect a second image density deviation in the width direction in the second pattern; and correct a light intensity sensitivity in adjusting the second deviation, based on a detection result of the second pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi TACHI, Tomohide TAKENAKA, Masaki SUKESAKO, Keita SONE
  • Patent number: 10599081
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image bearer to bear a latent image, a potential sensor having a vibrator driven by a drive frequency to detect a surface potential of the latent image bearer, a developer bearer to bear developer that develops the latent image on the latent image bearer, and a power supply to apply a superimposed voltage obtained by superimposing an alternating voltage on a direct current voltage on the developer bearer. The frequency of the alternating voltage is not a multiple of the drive frequency and is a value obtained by adding a predetermined value to a multiple of the driving frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Tachi, Takuma Higa, Masayoshi Nakayama, Masaki Sukesako, Tomohide Takenaka, Yuichi Aizawa, Kazuaki Kamihara, Keita Sone
  • Patent number: 10241462
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a latent image bearer to rotate and bear a latent image, a charging device to charge the a latent image bearer, a developing device to develop the latent image with developer including toner and use a developing voltage including an AC component, and a lubricant applicator to apply lubricant onto a surface of the latent image bearer. An amount of the lubricant applied by the lubricant applicator onto the latent image bearer per centimeter in an axial direction of the latent image bearer is equal to or greater than 0.845 mg for a running distance of 1.0 kilometer of the latent image bearer, and a difference between a largest value and a smallest value of the developing voltage is in a range of 200 V to 400 V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayoshi Nakayama, Takuma Higa, Masaki Sukesako, Masashi Tachi, Kazuaki Kamihara, Yuichi Aizawa, Tomohide Takenaka, Kohei Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20190064719
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image bearer to bear a latent image, a potential sensor having a vibrator driven by a drive frequency to detect a surface potential of the latent image bearer, a developer bearer to bear developer that develops the latent image on the latent image bearer, and a power supply to apply a superimposed voltage obtained by superimposing an alternating voltage on a direct current voltage on the developer bearer. The frequency of the alternating voltage is not a multiple of the drive frequency and is a value obtained by adding a predetermined value to a multiple of the driving frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Masashi TACHI, Takuma Higa, Masayoshi Nakayama, Masaki Sukesako, Tomohide Takenaka, Yuichi Aizawa, Kazuaki Kamihara, Keita Sone
  • Publication number: 20180143581
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a latent image bearer to rotate and bear a latent image, a charging device to charge the a latent image bearer, a developing device to develop the latent image with developer including toner and use a developing voltage including an AC component, and a lubricant applicator to apply lubricant onto a surface of the latent image bearer. An amount of the lubricant applied by the lubricant applicator onto the latent image bearer per centimeter in an axial direction of the latent image bearer is equal to or greater than 0.845 mg for a running distance of 1.0 kilometer of the latent image bearer, and a difference between a largest value and a smallest value of the developing voltage is in a range of 200 V to 400 V.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Masayoshi NAKAYAMA, Takuma HIGA, Masaki SUKESAKO, Masashi TACHI, Kazuaki KAMIHARA, Yuichi AIZAWA, Tomohide TAKENAKA, Kohei MATSUMOTO