Patents by Inventor Mitsuru Seto
Mitsuru Seto 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: 6574448Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image bearing member, a second image bearing member, and a fixing device. A first visual image formed on the first image bearing member is transferred onto the second image bearing member to be transferred from the second image bearing member onto a first side of a recording medium, and a second visual image formed on the first bearing member is transferred from the first image bearing member onto a second side of the recording medium, so that the visual images are obtained on the first and second sides of the recording medium respectively. The visual images on the first and second sides of the recording medium are fixed by the fixing device in a state that the second image bearing member and the recording medium are overlapped with each other.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2001Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hideaki Mochimaru, Yasukuni Omata, Norimasa Sohmiya, Mitsuru Seto, Toshiaki Higaya, Masanori Matsuda
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Publication number: 20020015602Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image bearing member, a second image bearing member, and a fixing device. A first visual image formed on the first image bearing member is transferred onto the second image bearing member to be transferred from the second image bearing member onto a first side of a recording medium, and a second visual image formed on the first bearing member is transferred from the first image bearing member onto a second side of the recording medium, so that the visual images are obtained on the first and second sides of the recording medium respectively. The visual images on the first and second sides of the recording medium are fixed by the fixing device in a state that the second image bearing member and the recording medium are overlapped with each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2001Publication date: February 7, 2002Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Hideaki Mochimaru, Yasukuni Omata, Norimasa Sohmiya, Mitsuru Seto, Toshiaki Higaya, Masanori Matsuda
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Patent number: 6219518Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the type sequentially transferring a plurality of toner images formed on an image carrier to an intermediate image transfer body one upon the other (primary transfer) and collectively transferring them from the intermediate image transfer body to a recording medium (secondary transfer) is disclosed. The intermediate image transfer body is implemented by a roller including a metallic core, a base layer formed on the core, and a surface layer formed on the base layer. The base layer and surface layer have a total resistance between 1.57×108 &OHgr; and 1.57×109 &OHgr; for a unit length (1/cm). The surface layer has a volume resistivity between 1×106 &OHgr; cm and 1×109 &OHgr; cm. The roller is free from defective image transfer ascribable to the varying environment.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 1999Date of Patent: April 17, 2001Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Naoki Sugiyama, Mitsuru Seto
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Image forming apparatus with an intermediate transfer element having a polarity controlling material
Patent number: 6122475Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, an intermediate transfer element to transfer a developed image, an electrode to apply a bias having preselected polarity to the intermediate transfer element and form an electric field. The intermediate transfer element has an adhering force acting on toner of the developed image that is greater than or equal to an adhering force acting between the toner and the image carrier, and when a frictional charging polarity of the toner which rubs against the intermediate transfer element is the same polarity as the bias applied to the intermediate transfer element from the electrode.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 1999Date of Patent: September 19, 2000Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Mitsuru Seto, Naoko Iwata, Naoki Sugiyama -
Patent number: 5905013Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the type transferring a toner image from an image carrier to an intermediate transfer body by primary transfer, and transferring it from the intermediate transfer body to a recording medium by secondary transfer is disclosed. Before the primary transfer, a charge of the same polarity as the charge of the toner image is deposited on the intermediate transfer body. The charge deposited on the transfer body reduces the scattering or blurring of the toner image apt to occur when toners of different colors are superposed, without deteriorating the paper-free feature of the apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 1997Date of Patent: May 18, 1999Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Mitsuru Seto
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Patent number: 5887218Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which a toner image formed on an image bearing member is first transferred onto an intermediate transfer element and then onto a transfer member. A potential of the image bearing member is detected and a transfer bias voltage applied to the intermediate transfer element is controlled according to the potential of the image bearing member. Undesired images such as transfer blurring due to discharge at the first transfer area, and a solid image scattering and so-called crow's claw mark due to increase of resistance of the transfer member under low absolute humidities are improved.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 1997Date of Patent: March 23, 1999Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideo Yuu, Mitsuru Seto, Takashi Bisaiji, Naoko Iwata
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Patent number: 5873018Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an intermediate transfer unit associated with a photoconductive medium. A first unit transfers a developed image on the photoconductive medium to the intermediate transfer unit such that an intermediate image on the intermediate transfer unit is formed. A second unit transfers the intermediate image from the intermediate transfer unit to a copy sheet such that a reproduced image on the copy sheet is formed. The intermediate transfer device of one aspect of the present invention comprises a surface layer of a mixture containing a friction reducing substance which reduces a coefficient of friction on the surface layer. The intermediate transfer device of another aspect of the present invention comprises a surface layer of a mixture containing a fluorocarbon polymer component and a secondary resin component which are compatible with each other, a visible developed color image being formed on the surface layer.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 1997Date of Patent: February 16, 1999Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Jun Aoto, Yasuo Hirano, Masahide Yamashita, Mitsuru Seto, Shigeru Fukuda
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Patent number: 5774775Abstract: An image forming method wherein a toner image on an image carrier is transferred in a first transfer step to an intermediate image transfer element, the transferred toner image on said intermediate image transfer element being subsequently transferred in a second transfer step to a transfer medium. The intermediate image transfer element has a surface whose angle of contact with water is at least 70 degrees and whose position in the triboelectric series is on a positive side with respect to the position of said toner when the toner on the image carrier is negatively charged and on a negative side with respect to the position of the toner when the toner on the image carrier is positively charged.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 1996Date of Patent: June 30, 1998Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Jun Aoto, Yasuo Hirano, Masahide Yamashita, Mitsuru Seto, Shigeru Fukuda
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Patent number: 5761594Abstract: In an image forming apparatus of the type transferring a plurality of toner images of different colors sequentially formed on an image carrier sequentially to an endless intermediate transfer body one above the other by primary transfer, and then transferring the resulting composite color image to a transfer medium by secondary transfer, the intermediate transfer body is provided with surface energy, surface tension or adhering force which is greater than or equal to the corresponding value of the image carrier, but smaller than or equal to the corresponding value of the transfer medium.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 1995Date of Patent: June 2, 1998Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Mitsuru Seto, Shigeru Fukuda, Yasuo Hirano, Jun Aoto, Masahide Yamashita, Takashi Bisaiji, Makoto Ohsaki, Takeshi Shintani
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Patent number: 5655199Abstract: An intermediate transfer type image forming apparatus for sequentially performing primary and secondary image transfer with the intermediary of an intermediate transfer medium implemented as, e.g., a belt, and the intermediate transfer member are disclosed. The image transfer medium has a lower surface resistivity on its rear than on its front or image carrying surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 1996Date of Patent: August 5, 1997Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Masahide Yamashita, Yasuo Hirano, Jun Aoto, Mitsuru Seto, Shigeru Fukuda
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Patent number: 5572304Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of reducing the irregularity in the inside resistance of an intermediate image transfer belt thereof to insure uniform images, and reducing the change in the resistance of the belt due to aging to enhance image quality. The belt has a laminate structure including an upper or high resistance layer and a lower or support layer. The specific resistance of the belt is higher in the upper layer than in the lower layer. Optimally, the specific resistance of the upper layer ranges from 1.times.10.sup.10 .OMEGA.cm to 1.times.10.sup.16 .OMEGA.cm.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 1995Date of Patent: November 5, 1996Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Mitsuru Seto, Yasuo Hirano
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Patent number: 5342718Abstract: An electrophotographic photoconductor is composed of an electroconductive support, a photoconductive layer formed on the electroconductive support, and a protective layer formed on the photoconductive layer which is composed of a polyol curing-type urethane resin, and satisfies the condition of b/a.ltoreq.0.2, wherein a is the absorbance at 2920 cm.sup.- and b is the absorbance at 2260 cm.sup.-1 in an IR spectrum of the protective layer.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 1992Date of Patent: August 30, 1994Assignee: RICOH Company, Ltd.Inventors: Shinji Nousho, Mitsuru Seto, Junichiro Hashimoto, Takashi Rokutanzono
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Patent number: 5147751Abstract: An electrophotographic photoconductor comprises (a) an electroconductive support, (b) a photoconductive layer formed thereon comprising a selenium alloy, and (c) a protective layer which is formed on the photoconductive layer, contains a binder resin component and an anti-oxidizing agent. In an electrophotographic copying process and an electrophographic copying apparatus using this photoconductor, the protective layer is abraded at a predetermined rate during the copying process in such a fashion that the anti-oxidizing agent contained in the protective layer is always present at the surface of the protective layer, thereby protecting the photoconductor from ozone and ions which are generated during corona charging of the photoconductor.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 1991Date of Patent: September 15, 1992Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Narihito Kojima, Hiroshi Nagame, Mitsuru Seto, Takashi Rokutanzono, Shinji Nousho
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Patent number: 5059502Abstract: An electrophotographic photoconductor comprises an electroconductive substrate, an organic photoconductive layer formed on the electroconductive substrate, and a protective layer formed on the organic photoconductive layer, comprising carbon or a carbon-based material as its main component, in which the difference in the Vickers hardness between the organic photoconductive layer and the protective layer is 2500 Kg/mm.sup.2 or less, and the oxygen concentration at the interface or in the vicinity of the interface between the organic photoconductive layer and the protective layer is 1 atom % or less.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 1989Date of Patent: October 22, 1991Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd., Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Company Co., Ltd.Inventors: Narihito Kojima, Hiroshi Nagame, Mitsuru Seto, Shunpei Yamazaki, Shigenori Hayashi, Noriya Ishida, Naoki Hirose, Mari Sasaki, Junichi Takeyama