Patents by Inventor Naoki Takai

Naoki Takai 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: 12072658
    Abstract: A sheet laminator includes a thermal fixing roller pair, a first heater, a second heater, multiple temperature detectors, and a driver. The thermal fixing roller pair includes a first thermal fixing roller and a second thermal fixing roller facing the first thermal fixing roller. The thermal fixing roller pair thermally fixes and conveys a two-ply sheet and a sheet medium nipped between two sheets of the two-ply sheet. The first heater heats the first thermal fixing roller. The second heater heats the second thermal fixing roller. The multiple temperature detectors are at different positions along an axial direction of the thermal fixing roller pair. The multiple temperature detectors detect a surface temperature of the thermal fixing roller pair. The driver drives the thermal fixing roller pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shota Yoshida, Keisuke Sugiyama, Yuichiro Kato, Kazuki Shimodate, Takaya Ochiai, Naoki Takai, Yosuke Saito
  • Publication number: 20240253341
    Abstract: A sheet processing system includes a sheet processing device and a lamination processing device. The sheet processing device includes a sheet separator that separates a two-ply sheet and inserts an inner sheet between the two-ply sheet to form a first enclosed two-ply sheet. The lamination processing device bonds the first enclosed two-ply sheet, and bonds a second enclosed two-ply sheet in which the inner sheet is inserted outside the sheet separator. The sheet processing system includes a relay conveyor that conveys the first enclosed two-ply sheet from the sheet separator to the lamination processing device attachable to a sheet feeder to directly feed the second enclosed two-ply sheet to the lamination processing device. The sheet processing device includes a cord holder to hold the power cord of the lamination processing device at a position where feeding and ejecting the two-ply sheet after bonding the two-ply sheet are not hindered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2024
    Publication date: August 1, 2024
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuki SHIMODATE, Naoki TAKAI, Yuichiro KATO, Sho ASANO, Ruki MIDORIKAWA, Yosuke SAITO
  • Publication number: 20240246329
    Abstract: A sheet separation device for separating two sheets of a two-ply sheet, in which the two sheets are overlapped and a part of the two sheets are joined, and inserting at least one sheet medium between the two sheets includes an upper surface, an ejection tray, and a conveyor. A lamination fixing device that laminates the two-ply sheet including the at least one sheet medium inserted between the two sheets is to be mounted on the upper surface. The ejection tray is disposed on the upper surface. The two-ply sheet laminated and ejected from an ejection port of the lamination fixing device is to be stacked on the ejection tray. The conveyor is coupled to the lamination fixing device to convey the two-ply sheet including the at least one sheet medium from the sheet separation device to the lamination fixing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki TAKAI, Ruki MIDORIKAWA, Kazuki SHIMODATE, Yuichiro KATO, Sho ASANO, Yosuke SAITO
  • Publication number: 20240239092
    Abstract: A lamination processing system includes a sheet separation device, a lamination fixing device, and a conveyor. The sheet separation device separates a two-ply sheet to insert a sheet medium between two sheets of the two-ply sheet to form an enclosed two-ply sheet. The lamination fixing device includes an inlet port and a heater. The conveyor conveys the enclosed two-ply sheet from the sheet separation device to the lamination fixing device in a conveyance direction. The conveyor includes a conveyance passage and a guide. The conveyance passage guides the enclosed two-ply sheet from the sheet separation device toward the lamination fixing device. The guide guides the enclosed two-ply sheet to the inlet port. The guide forms a space accommodatable a deflected part of the enclosed two-ply sheet formed by a difference in a conveyance speed of the enclosed two-ply sheet between the sheet separation device and the lamination fixing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2023
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yosuke SAITO, Yuichiro KATO, Sho ASANO, Ruki MIDORIKAWA, Naoki TAKAI, Kazuki SHIMODATE
  • Publication number: 20240190121
    Abstract: A laminating system sandwiches a sheet medium in a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlapped and partially joined together and applies heat and pressure to bond the two-ply sheet. The laminating system includes a sheet separating device, a laminate-fixing device, and a conveyor. The sheet separating device separates the two sheets of the two-ply sheet and sandwiches the sheet medium between the two sheets. The laminate-fixing device heats and presses the two-ply sheet sandwiching the sheet medium. The conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet sandwiching the sheet medium from the sheet separating device to the laminate-fixing device. The laminate-fixing device is disposed above the sheet separating device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2023
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ruki MIDORIKAWA, Kazuki SHIMODATE, Yuichiro KATO, Naoki TAKAI, Sho ASANO, Yosuke SAITO
  • Publication number: 20230408961
    Abstract: A sheet laminator includes a thermal fixing roller pair, a first heater, a second heater, multiple temperature detectors, and a driver. The thermal fixing roller pair includes a first thermal fixing roller and a second thermal fixing roller facing the first thermal fixing roller. The thermal fixing roller pair thermally fixes and conveys a two-ply sheet and a sheet medium nipped between two sheets of the two-ply sheet. The first heater heats the first thermal fixing roller. The second heater heats the second thermal fixing roller. The multiple temperature detectors are at different positions along an axial direction of the thermal fixing roller pair. The multiple temperature detectors detect a surface temperature of the thermal fixing roller pair. The driver drives the thermal fixing roller pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Shota YOSHIDA, Keisuke SUGIYAMA, Yuichiro KATO, Kazuki SHIMODATE, Takaya OCHIAI, Naoki TAKAI, Yosuke SAITO
  • Publication number: 20230408956
    Abstract: A thermal fixer includes a first thermal fixing roller and a second thermal fixing roller. The first thermal fixing roller includes a first heater. The second thermal fixing roller is pressed to the first thermal fixing roller. The second thermal fixing roller includes a second heater and has a diameter, a rigidity, and a surface releasability substantially identical to the first thermal fixing roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Yuichiro KATO, Kazuki SHIMODATE, Shota YOSHIDA, Takaya OCHIAI, Naoki TAKAI, Yosuke SAITO, Keisuke SUGIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20230398775
    Abstract: A sheet laminator includes a fuser pressure member, a heater, a drive device, and circuitry. The fuser pressure member thermally fixes a two-ply sheet and a sheet medium inserted between two sheets of the two-ply sheet. The heater heats the fuser pressure member. The driver rotates the fuser pressure member. In response to a pause of a rotation of the fuser pressure member, the circuitry turns off a power supply to the heater, and perform one of immediately stopping the fuser pressure member or rotating the fuser pressure member and stopping the fuser pressure member after the rotation of the fuser pressure member, based on a state of the fuser pressure member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Kazuki SHIMODATE, Keisuke SUGIYAMA, Yuichiro KATO, Shota YOSHIDA, Takaya OCHIAI, Naoki TAKAI, Yosuke SAITO
  • Publication number: 20230400806
    Abstract: A sheet laminator includes a fuser pressure member, a conveyor, and a guide. The fuser pressure member thermally fixes a two-ply sheet and a sheet medium inserted between two sheets of the two-ply sheet. The conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet toward the fuser pressure member in a sheet conveyance direction. The guide guides the two-ply sheet in a sheet conveyance passage between the conveyor and the fuser pressure member. At least one of the fuser pressure member or the conveyor is operable to guide the two-ply sheet outside the sheet conveyance passage in response to an occurrence of an abnormal stop of the sheet laminator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Naoki TAKAI, Keisuke SUGIYAMA, Yuichiro KATO, Kazuki SHIMODATE, Shota YOSHIDA, Takaya OCHIAI, Yosuke SAITO
  • Patent number: 10871734
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, an image bearer, and a rotator opposed to the image bearer. The rotator is removably installable in the apparatus body. The image forming apparatus further includes a guide configured to guide the rotator in a longitudinal axial direction of the rotator toward a regular position where the rotator is installed in the apparatus body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Naoki Takai
  • Patent number: 10845737
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a conveyance device configured to transport a conveyed object, a conveyance guide configured to guide the conveyed object to the conveyance device, a housing including a shaft support. The conveyance guide includes a rotation shaft that includes a non-circular shaft portion. The shaft support has a circular hole part and a guide slot. The circular hole part is configured to rotatably support the rotation shaft, and the rotation shaft is inserted into the shaft support through the guide slot while a flat surface of the non-circular shaft portion slides along a guide surface of the guide slot. The image forming apparatus further includes a restrictor configured to restrict movement of the rotation shaft inserted into the circular hole part of the shaft support in a direction opposite to a direction of insertion of the rotation shaft into the shaft support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki Takai
  • Publication number: 20200264540
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, an image bearer, and a rotator opposed to the image bearer. The rotator is removably installable in the apparatus body. The image forming apparatus further includes a guide configured to guide the rotator in a longitudinal axial direction of the rotator toward a regular position where the rotator is installed in the apparatus body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki TAKAI
  • Publication number: 20200133173
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a conveyance device configured to transport a conveyed object, a conveyance guide configured to guide the conveyed object to the conveyance device, a housing including a shaft support. The conveyance guide includes a rotation shaft that includes a non-circular shaft portion. The shaft support has a circular hole part and a guide slot. The circular hole part is configured to rotatably support the rotation shaft, and the rotation shaft is inserted into the shaft support through the guide slot while a flat surface of the non-circular shaft portion slides along a guide surface of the guide slot. The image forming apparatus further includes a restrictor configured to restrict movement of the rotation shaft inserted into the circular hole part of the shaft support in a direction opposite to a direction of insertion of the rotation shaft into the shaft support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki Takai
  • Patent number: 9857734
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image bearers, a plurality of developing devices, a plurality of first transfer devices disposed opposite the plurality of image bearers, a second transfer device, a cleaning device to remove toner remaining on the intermediate transferor after a secondary transfer process, and a processor to control the plurality of developing devices to perform a refresh process to discharge toner from the plurality of developing devices to the plurality of image bearers. Among toner of the colors, toner having a first circularity first reaches the cleaning device and toner having a second circularity higher than the first circularity subsequently reaches the cleaning device in the refresh process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Sakashita, Kenji Nakamura, Masanari Fujita, Yuuji Meguro, Takahiro Seki, Naoki Takai, Takuya Akiyama
  • Patent number: 9817340
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer body, a plurality of image bearers, a plurality of developing devices, a plurality of primary transfer devices, a secondary transfer device, and a cleaner. The plurality of image bearers are disposed side by side along the intermediate transfer body. In a refreshing mode, the plurality of developing devices form toner images on the plurality of image bearers during a non-image-formation period and the cleaner cleans a surface of the intermediate transfer body. In the refreshing mode, a toner image formed on one image bearer of the plurality of image bearers, which differs from a most downstream image bearer of the plurality of image bearers in a direction of conveyance of the intermediate transfer body, reaches the cleaner first of the toner images formed on the plurality of image bearers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Seki, Masanari Fujita, Takeshi Sakashita, Takeshi Yamashita, Naoki Takai, Takuya Akiyama
  • Publication number: 20170139353
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image bearers, a plurality of developing devices, a plurality of first transfer devices disposed opposite the plurality of image bearers, a second transfer device, a cleaning device to remove toner remaining on the intermediate transferor after a secondary transfer process, and a processor to control the plurality of developing devices to perform a refresh process to discharge toner from the plurality of developing devices to the plurality of image bearers. Among toner of the colors, toner having a first circularity first reaches the cleaning device and toner having a second circularity higher than the first circularity subsequently reaches the cleaning device in the refresh process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Takeshi Sakashita, Kenji Nakamura, Masanari Fujita, Yuuji Meguro, Takahiro Seki, Naoki Takai, Takuya Akiyama
  • Publication number: 20170097589
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer body, a plurality of image bearers, a plurality of developing devices, a plurality of primary transfer devices, a secondary transfer device, and a cleaner. The plurality of image bearers is disposed side by side along the intermediate transfer body In a refreshing mode, the plurality of developing devices form toner images on the plurality of image bearers during a non-image-formation period and the cleaner cleans a surface of the intermediate transfer body. In the refreshing mode, a toner image formed on one image bearer of the plurality of image bearers, which differs from a most downstream image bearer of the plurality of image bearers in a direction of conveyance of the intermediate transfer body, reaches the cleaner first of the toner images formed on the plurality of image bearers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Takahiro SEKI, Masanari Fujita, Takeshi Sakashita, Takeshi Yamashita, Naoki Takai, Takuya Akiyama
  • Patent number: 9304474
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed, including a movable image bearer bearing an image thereon which is transferred to a recording medium when the image comes into contact with the recording medium; and a twining prevention member which is arranged in the vicinity of the image bearer on the side downstream of a portion of the contact between the recording medium and the image bearer in a moving direction of the image bearer to prevent the recording medium from twining around the image bearer, wherein the twining prevention member includes, in the portion of the contact with the recording medium, a high friction resistance portion which regulates movement of the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Sakashita, Masanari Fujita, Yuuji Meguro, Naoki Takai, Daisuke Hasebe
  • Publication number: 20150248099
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed, including a movable image bearer bearing an image thereon which is transferred to a recording medium when the image comes into contact with the recording medium; and a twining prevention member which is arranged in the vicinity of the image bearer on the side downstream of a portion of the contact between the recording medium and the image bearer in a moving direction of the image bearer to prevent the recording medium from twining around the image bearer, wherein the twining prevention member includes, in the portion of the contact with the recording medium, a high friction resistance portion which regulates movement of the recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventors: Takeshi SAKASHITA, Masanari FUJITA, Yuuji MEGURO, Naoki TAKAI, Daisuke HASEBE
  • Publication number: 20050076678
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing optical elements in which a precision-processed pressing mold is used and the molding surface thereof is transferred to a heat-softened preformed molding material to form an optically functional surface. In the method, post processing for centering and edging are conducted following precision pressing to determine the center axis of an optical element and/or to form on the periphery of the optical element a portion for mounting on some other component. The preformed molding material has a weight within a range of 110 to 155% of a weight of the optical element when the optical element has a biconvex or convex meniscus shape. The preformed material has a weight within range of 180 to 240% of a weight of the optical element when the optical element has a biconcave or concave meniscus shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Publication date: April 14, 2005
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sawada, Naoki Takai, Miyuki Sakurai, Shinichiro Hirota