Patents by Inventor Motokazu Yasui

Motokazu Yasui 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: 7894744
    Abstract: The color image forming apparatus comprises a transfer belt device which feeds a transfer member such as a paper and a plurality of image forming units. The image forming units are disposed facing toward the transfer belt device. The transfer belt device, at least in a portion in which the image forming units have been disposed, is arranged such that it is inclined with respect to the ground. Each of the image forming unit forms a desired image and sequentially transfers the formed image on the transfer member fed by the transfer belt device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masumi Sato, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Hiroyasu Shijo, Motokazu Yasui
  • Patent number: 7734208
    Abstract: An image fixing apparatus controls temperature of a rotating member for fixing with compensation for delay by using a Smith predictor with a controlled object model to reduce temperature ripple effectively. In one example, the image fixing apparatus includes a pair of rotating members to form a nip portion, a heater to heat the rotating member, a temperature sensor to detect temperature of the rotating member, a calculator to calculate a heat value to attain a target temperature of the rotating member, a controller to control the heater based on a calculation result of the heat value with compensation for delay using a model according to the calculation result, and a selector to select a control in which an output of the compensation is input into the calculator or a control in which the output of the compensation is not input into the calculator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Seo, Tadashi Ogawa, Motokazu Yasui, Hiroshi Koide
  • Patent number: 7712989
    Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus performs a print operation by controlling an ink jet recording head to eject ink drops there from against front and back surfaces of a recording sheet at a print position. The apparatus includes a transporting mechanism for transporting a portion of the recording sheet to a location outside of the apparatus after a completion of the print operation on the front surface of the recording sheet and just before printing of the back surface of the recording sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Motokazu Yasui, Tsumori Sato, Masanori Horike, Masato Yokoyama, Masumi Sato
  • Patent number: 7693439
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a pair of rotating members, a heater, a detector, a calculator, a pulse width modulation circuit, and a controller. In at least one embodiment, the pair of rotating members is configured to fix a toner image on a recording medium. The heater is configured to heat at least one of the pair of rotating members to a process temperature when driven with an alternating current. The detector is configured to detect the process temperature. The calculator is configured to calculate an amount of heat to adjust the process temperature to a reference temperature. The pulse width modulation circuit is configured to generate a drive signal having a pulse width modulation cycle divided into first and second off times and an on time inserted therebetween. The controller is configured to control operation of the heater according to the drive signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Seo, Motokazu Yasui, Tadashi Ogawa, Hiroshi Koide
  • Patent number: 7606521
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus using a tandem-drum development, an indirect image-transfer method, and a vertical sheet supply path. An intermediate image-transfer member is angled relative to a horizontal line such that a rear side of the intermediate image-transfer member away from a recording sheet is lifted and a front side of the intermediate image-transfer member closer to the recording sheet is lowered. Further, image creating mechanisms of the tandem-drum development are aligned and arranged in parallel to a moving image transfer bed of the intermediate image-transfer member, such that one of the image creating mechanisms firstly forming an image faces the rear side of the moving image transfer bed and another one of the image creating mechanisms lastly forming an image faces the front side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuusuke Noguchi, Hiromichi Ema, Hiroshi Ishii, Yutaka Fukuchi, Kazuosa Kuma, Kazuki Suzuki, Makoto Kikura, Masumi Sato, Hiroyasu Shijo, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Motokazu Yasui
  • Publication number: 20080292347
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus and an image formation apparatus are disclosed. The fixing apparatus includes two or more heaters with temperature detecting function that generate heat with electric current and detect temperature; a heating unit that includes the heater with the temperature detecting function; a film, a surface of which slides on the heating unit; a thermal fixing unit that is heated by the heating unit through the film for fusing a toner image that is yet-to-be fixed on a recording paper at a predetermined fixing temperature; a pressurization roller for pressing the recording paper to the thermal fixing unit; and a temperature control unit for controlling the temperature of the heater to be a predetermined temperature based on the temperature of the heater detected by the heater with the temperature detecting function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Hiroshi KOIDE, Hitoshi Hattori, Motokazu Yasui, Takashi Fujita, Hirokazu Ikenoue
  • Patent number: 7457561
    Abstract: The color image forming apparatus comprises a transfer belt device which feeds a transfer member such as a paper and a plurality of image forming units. The image forming units are disposed facing towards the transfer belt device. The transfer belt device, at least in a portion in which the image forming units have been disposed, is arranged such that it is inclined with respect to the ground. Each of the image forming unit forms a desired image and sequentially transfers the formed image on the transfer member fed by the transfer belt device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masumi Sato, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Hiroyasu Shijo, Motokazu Yasui
  • Patent number: 7436417
    Abstract: The color image forming apparatus comprises a transfer belt device which feeds a transfer member such as a paper and a plurality of image forming units. The image forming units are disposed facing towards the transfer belt device. The transfer belt device, at least in a portion in which the image forming units have been disposed, is arranged such that it is inclined with respect to the ground. Each of the image forming unit forms a desired image and sequentially transfers the formed image on the transfer member fed by the transfer belt device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masumi Sato, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Hiroyasu Shijo, Motokazu Yasui
  • Publication number: 20080247795
    Abstract: The color image forming apparatus comprises a transfer belt device which feeds a transfer member such as a paper and a plurality of image forming units. The image forming units are disposed facing toward the transfer belt device. The transfer belt device, at least in a portion in which the image forming units have been disposed, is arranged such that it is inclined with respect to the ground. Each of the image forming unit forms a desired image and sequentially transfers the formed image on the transfer member fed by the transfer belt device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Masumi Sato, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Hiroyasu Shijo, Motokazu Yasui
  • Publication number: 20080240799
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus using a tandem-drum development, an indirect image-transfer method, and a vertical sheet supply path. An intermediate image-transfer member is angled relative to a horizontal line such that a rear side of the intermediate image-transfer member away from a recording sheet is lifted and a front side of the intermediate image-transfer member closer to the recording sheet is lowered. Further, image creating mechanisms of the tandem-drum development are aligned and arranged in parallel to a moving image transfer bed of the intermediate image-transfer member, such that one of the image creating mechanisms firstly forming an image faces the rear side of the moving image transfer bed and another one of the image creating mechanisms lastly forming an image faces the front side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Yuusuke Noguchi, Hiromichi Ema, Hiroshi Ishii, Yutaka Fukuchi, Kazuosa Kuma, Kazuki Suzuki, Makoto Kikura, Masumi M.S Sato, Hiroyasu Shijo, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Motokazu Yasui
  • Patent number: 7427727
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus and an image formation apparatus are disclosed. The fixing apparatus includes two or more heaters with temperature detecting function that generate heat with electric current and detect temperature; a heating unit that includes the heater with the temperature detecting function; a film, a surface of which slides on the heating unit; a thermal fixing unit that is heated by the heating unit through the film for fusing a toner image that is yet-to-be fixed on a recording paper at a predetermined fixing temperature; a pressurization roller for pressing the recording paper to the thermal fixing unit; and a temperature control unit for controlling the temperature of the heater to be a predetermined temperature based on the temperature of the heater detected by the heater with the temperature detecting function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Koide, Hitoshi Hattori, Motokazu Yasui, Takashi Fujita, Hirokazu Ikenoue
  • Patent number: 7406283
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus using a tandem-drum development, an indirect image-transfer method, and a vertical sheet supply path. An intermediate image-transfer member is angled relative to a horizontal line such that a rear side of the intermediate image-transfer member away from a recording sheet is lifted and a front side of the intermediate image-transfer member closer to the recording sheet is lowered. Further, image creating mechanisms of the tandem-drum development are aligned and arranged in parallel to a moving image transfer bed of the intermediate image-transfer member, such that one of the image creating mechanisms firstly forming an image faces the rear side of the moving image transfer bed and another one of the image creating mechanisms lastly forming an image faces the front side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuusuke Noguchi, Hiromichi Ema, Hiroshi Ishii, Yutaka Fukuchi, Kazuosa Kuma, Kazuki Suzuki, Makoto Kikura, Masumi Sato, Hiroyasu Shijo, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Motokazu Yasui
  • Patent number: 7344326
    Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus performs a print operation by controlling an ink jet recording head to eject ink drops there from against front and back surfaces of a recording sheet at a print position. The apparatus includes a transporting mechanism for transporting a portion of the recording sheet to a location outside of the apparatus after a completion of the print operation on the front surface of the recording sheet and just before printing of the back surface of the recording sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Motokazu Yasui, Tsumori Sato, Masanori Horike, Masato Yokoyama, Masumi Sato
  • Publication number: 20080044196
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a pair of rotating members, a heater, a detector, a calculator, a pulse width modulation circuit, and a controller. In at least one embodiment, the pair of rotating members is configured to fix a toner image on a recording medium. The heater is configured to heat at least one of the pair of rotating members to a process temperature when driven with an alternating current. The detector is configured to detect the process temperature. The calculator is configured to calculate an amount of heat to adjust the process temperature to a reference temperature. The pulse width modulation circuit is configured to generate a drive signal having a pulse width modulation cycle divided into first and second off times and an on time inserted therebetween. The controller is configured to control operation of the heater according to the drive signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventors: Hiroshi Seo, Motokazu Yasui, Tadashi Ogawa, Hiroshi Koide
  • Patent number: 7333749
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus using a tandem-drum development, an indirect image-transfer method, and a vertical sheet supply path. An intermediate image-transfer member is angled relative to a horizontal line such that a rear side of the intermediate image-transfer member away from a recording sheet is lifted and a front side of the intermediate image-transfer member closer to the recording sheet is lowered. Further, image creating mechanisms of the tandem-drum development are aligned and arranged in parallel to a moving image transfer bed of the intermediate image-transfer member, such that one of the image creating mechanisms firstly forming an image faces the rear side of the moving image transfer bed and another one of the image creating mechanisms lastly forming an image faces the front side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuusuke Noguchi, Hiromichi Ema, Hiroshi Ishii, Yutaka Fukuchi, Kazuosa Kuma, Kazuki Suzuki, Makoto Kikura, Masumi Sato, Hiroyasu Shijo, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Motokazu Yasui
  • Publication number: 20070242976
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus using a tandem-drum development, an indirect image-transfer method, and a vertical sheet supply path. An intermediate image-transfer member is angled relative to a horizontal line such that a rear side of the intermediate image-transfer member away from a recording sheet is lifted and a front side of the intermediate image-transfer member closer to the recording sheet is lowered. Further, image creating mechanisms of the tandem-drum development are aligned and arranged in parallel to a moving image transfer bed of the intermediate image-transfer member, such that one of the image creating mechanisms firstly forming an image faces the rear side of the moving image transfer bed and another one of the image creating mechanisms lastly forming an image faces the front side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Inventors: Yuusuke Noguchi, Hiromichi Ema, Hiroshi Ishii, Yutaka Fukuchi, Kazuosa Kuma, Kazuki Suzuki, Makoto Kikura, Masumi Sato, Hiroyasu Shijo, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Motokazu Yasui
  • Patent number: 7263309
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus using a tandem-drum development, an indirect image-transfer method, and a vertical sheet supply path. An intermediate image-transfer member is angled relative to a horizontal line such that a rear side of the intermediate image-transfer member away from a recording sheet is lifted and a front side of the intermediate image-transfer member closer to the recording sheet is lowered. Further, image creating mechanisms of the tandem-drum development are aligned and arranged in parallel to a moving image transfer bed of the intermediate image-transfer member, such that one of the image creating mechanisms firstly forming an image faces the rear side of the moving image transfer bed and another one of the image creating mechanisms lastly forming an image faces the front side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuusuke Noguchi, Hiromichi Ema, Hiroshi Ishii, Yutaka Fukuchi, Kazuosa Kuma, Kazuki Suzuki, Makoto Kikura, Masumi Sato, Hiroyasu Shijo, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Motokazu Yasui
  • Publication number: 20070177902
    Abstract: The color image forming apparatus comprises a transfer belt device which feeds a transfer member such as a paper and a plurality of image forming units. The image forming units are disposed facing towards the transfer belt device. The transfer belt device, at least in a portion in which the image forming units have been disposed, is arranged such that it is inclined with respect to the ground. Each of the image forming unit forms a desired image and sequentially transfers the formed image on the transfer member fed by the transfer belt device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Masumi Sato, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Hiroyasu Shijo, Motokazu Yasui
  • Publication number: 20070127946
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus using a tandem-drum development, an indirect image-transfer method, and a vertical sheet supply path. An intermediate image-transfer member is angled relative to a horizontal line such that a rear side of the intermediate image-transfer member away from a recording sheet is lifted and a front side of the intermediate image-transfer member closer to the recording sheet is lowered. Further, image creating mechanisms of the tandem-drum development are aligned and arranged in parallel to a moving image transfer bed of the intermediate image-transfer member, such that one of the image creating mechanisms firstly forming an image faces the rear side of the moving image transfer bed and another one of the image creating mechanisms lastly forming an image faces the front side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Inventors: Yuusuke Noguchi, Hiromichi Ema, Hiroshi Ishii, Yutaka Fukuchi, Kazuosa Kuma, Kazuki Suzuki, Makoto Kikura, Masumi Sato, Hiroyasu Shijo, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Motokazu Yasui
  • Patent number: 7212764
    Abstract: The color image forming apparatus comprises a transfer belt device which feeds a transfer member such as a paper and a plurality of image forming units. The image forming units are disposed facing towards the transfer belt device. The transfer belt device, at least in a portion in which the image forming units have been disposed, is arranged such that it is inclined with respect to the ground. Each of the image forming unit forms a desired image and sequentially transfers the formed image on the transfer member fed by the transfer belt device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masumi Sato, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Hiroyasu Shijo, Motokazu Yasui