Patents by Inventor Natsuko Kawase

Natsuko Kawase 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: 8446597
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a direct-transfer control unit that causes a direct-transfer medium and a first image forming unit that forms a single-color image to transfer the single-color image onto either the direct-transfer medium or a transfer sheet; an indirect-transfer control unit that causes an intermediate transfer medium and a second image forming unit that forms a multi-color image to transfer the multi-color image onto the intermediate transfer medium; a secondary-transfer control unit that transfers the single-color image onto the intermediate transfer medium; a sensor that detects an image on the intermediate transfer medium; and a positional-alignment control unit that calculates, using the sensor, an amount of misalignment of the image and corrects, using a position of an image formed by the first image forming unit as a reference position, positions of images to be formed by the second image forming unit based on the calculated amount of misalignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Takashi Enami, Takahiro Kamekura, Nobuyuki Kobayashi, Shigeyuki Ishii, Jun Kosako, Natsuko Kawase, Takahiro Miyakawa, Miyo Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 8437671
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming unit that directly transfers an image onto a transfer sheet; an intermediate transfer member onto which an image is transferred; a secondary image forming unit that transfers an image onto the intermediate transfer member; a secondary transfer unit that transfers the image on the intermediate transfer member onto the transfer sheet; a fixing unit that fixes an image on the transfer sheet at a fixation position; and a guide member that guides the transfer sheet to the fixation position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Takahiro Miyakawa, Shigeyuki Ishii, Jun Kosako, Takashi Enami, Nobuyuki Kobayashi, Natsuko Kawase, Takahiro Kamekura, Miyo Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 8369756
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a transfer-sheet conveying member that rotates to convey a transfer sheet; a first image forming unit that directly transfers a color image onto the transfer sheet; an intermediate transfer member that rotates while an image is transferred thereon; a second image forming unit that transfers images onto the intermediate transfer member; a secondary transfer unit that transfers the images on the intermediate transfer member onto the transfer sheet; a measuring unit that measures a surface velocity of the transfer-sheet conveying member and the intermediate transfer member; and a control unit that performs phase matching control by accelerating or decelerating the transfer-sheet conveying member or the intermediate transfer member so as to match a phase of fluctuation of the measured surface velocity of the transfer-sheet conveying member and a phase of fluctuation of the measured surface velocity of the intermediate transfer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Jun Kosako, Shigeyuki Ishii, Takashi Enami, Nobuyuki Kobayashi, Natsuko Kawase, Takahiro Kamekura, Takahiro Miyakawa, Miyo Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 8364063
    Abstract: There are provided an image forming apparatus, an image forming method for the image forming apparatus, and a program that can reduce misalignment among images in all colors. Rotation of at least one of a transfer-sheet conveying belt 8 and an intermediate transfer belt 6 is controlled so as to match the phases of fluctuation of the surface speed of the intermediate transfer belt 6 and fluctuation of the surface speed of the transfer-sheet conveying belt 8, whereby it is possible to keep the periodical speed fluctuations of both the intermediate transfer belt 6 and the transfer-sheet conveying belt 8 to the minimum and reduce misalignment among images in all colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Ishii, Takashi Enami, Nobuyuki Kobayashi, Jun Kosako, Natsuko Kawase, Takahiro Kamekura, Takahiro Miyakawa, Miyo Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 8335446
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an encoder that detects a first pulse signal relevant to a conveyance velocity of an intermediate transfer belt, an encoder that detects a second pulse signal relevant to a conveyance velocity of a transfer-paper conveying belt, a print control unit that performs feedback control by using a count value of the first pulse signal per unit time and a target conveyance velocity value common between the conveyance velocity of the intermediate transfer belt and that of the transfer-paper conveying belt so that the conveyance velocity of the intermediate transfer belt attains the target value and also performs feedback-control by using a count value of the second pulse signal per unit time and the target value so that the conveyance velocity of the transfer-paper conveying belt attains the target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kobayashi, Natsuko Kawase, Jun Kosako, Shigeyuki Ishii, Takahiro Kamekura, Takahiro Miyakawa, Takashi Enami, Miyo Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 8331836
    Abstract: A first alignment control unit causes a secondary transfer control unit to bring a transfer-sheet conveying belt and an intermediate transfer belt into contact with each other so as to transfer an alignment control pattern formed on the transfer-sheet conveying belt onto the intermediate transfer belt, whereby alignment for colors C and K is performed on the intermediate transfer belt, and furthermore a second alignment control unit causes the secondary transfer control unit to separate the transfer-sheet conveying belt and the intermediate transfer belt from each other so as to perform alignment for colors Y, M, and C, whereby alignment is performed for all the colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Takahiro Kamekura, Takashi Enami, Nobuyuki Kobayashi, Shigeyuki Ishii, Jun Kosako, Natsuko Kawase, Takahiro Miyakawa, Miyo Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 8311464
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a direct transfer control unit that controls a direct transfer unit and a first image forming unit so as to directly transfer an image onto a transfer sheet, an indirect transfer control unit that controls an intermediate transfer unit and a second image forming unit so as to transfer images onto the intermediate transfer unit, a secondary transfer control unit that controls contact/separation between the direct transfer unit and the intermediate transfer unit, a first alignment control unit that corrects an amount of misalignment among the images formed on the intermediate transfer unit, thereby performing a first alignment control process, and a second alignment control unit that corrects an amount of misalignment of an image directly transferred onto the transfer sheet with respect to the image on which the first alignment control process has been performed, thereby performing a second alignment control process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Natsuko Kawase, Nobuyuki Kobayashi, Shigeyuki Ishii, Jun Kosako, Takahiro Kamekura, Takahiro Miyakawa, Takashi Enami, Miyo Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 8052144
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus connectable to a first feed tray and a second feed tray includes an image forming unit, a feed path, and a detecting unit provided on the feed path to sense recording medium jam. An identifying unit identifies a feed path and a feed tray where recording medium jam has occurred as a jammed path and a jamming feed tray. A first determining unit determines whether the image forming apparatus is connected to the second feed tray. A second determining unit determines whether the second feed tray can feed a recording medium to the image forming unit. A feeding unit feeds a recording medium from the second feed tray to the image forming unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaru Kaneko, Masami Miyajima, Hiroshi Aizawa, Kohtaroh Yonenaga, Hiroaki Umezawa, Kiichirou Shimizu, Natsuko Kawase, Ryu Hasegawa, Takashi Enami
  • Publication number: 20110229219
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a direct transfer part moving color adjustment patterns of a single color formed on a photosensitive drum to a direct transfer member; a secondary transfer part that moves the color adjustment patterns of the single color moved to the direct transfer member to an intermediate transfer member; a primary transfer part that moves color adjustment patterns of plural colors formed on plural photopositive drums to the intermediate transfer member; a detection part that detects the color adjustment patterns of the single color moved to the intermediate transfer member and the color adjustment patterns of the plural colors moved to the intermediate transfer member; and a color adjustment part that carries out the color adjustment of the respective printing images based on information of the color adjustment patterns of the single color and the plural colors detected by the detection part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki KOBAYASHI, Shigeyuki Ishii, Jun Kosako, Miyo Taniguchi, Takahiro Miyakawa, Takashi Enami, Natsuko Kawase, Takahiro Kamekura
  • Patent number: 7941082
    Abstract: A print control unit causes a secondary-transfer control unit to move a secondary transfer unit apart from an intermediate transfer member, causes a direct-transfer control unit to cause a black image forming unit to form a black image and transfer the black image onto a transfer sheet being conveyed along a conveying path, and causes a positional-alignment control unit to perform positional alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Jun Kosako, Shigeyuki Ishii, Takashi Enami, Nobuyuki Kobayashi, Natsuko Kawase, Takahiro Kamekura, Takahiro Miyakawa, Miyo Taniguchi
  • Publication number: 20110085828
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a transfer-sheet conveying member that rotates to convey a transfer sheet; a first image forming unit that directly transfers a color image onto the transfer sheet; an intermediate transfer member that rotates while an image is transferred thereon; a second image forming unit that transfers images onto the intermediate transfer member; a secondary transfer unit that transfers the images on the intermediate transfer member onto the transfer sheet; a measuring unit that measures a surface velocity of the transfer-sheet conveying member and the intermediate transfer member; and a control unit that performs phase matching control by accelerating or decelerating the transfer-sheet conveying member or the intermediate transfer member so as to match a phase of fluctuation of the measured surface velocity of the transfer-sheet conveying member and a phase of fluctuation of the measured surface velocity of the intermediate transfer member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventors: Jun KOSAKO, Shigeyuki Ishii, Takashi Enami, Nobuyuki Kobayashi, Natsuko Kawase, Takahiro Kamekura, Takahiro Miyakawa, Miyo Taniguchi
  • Publication number: 20110013949
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a direct transfer control unit that controls a direct transfer unit and a first image forming unit so as to directly transfer an image onto a transfer sheet, an indirect transfer control unit that controls an intermediate transfer unit and a second image forming unit so as to transfer images onto the intermediate transfer unit, a secondary transfer control unit that controls contact/separation between the direct transfer unit and the intermediate transfer unit, a first alignment control unit that corrects an amount of misalignment among the images formed on the intermediate transfer unit, thereby performing a first alignment control process, and a second alignment control unit that corrects an amount of misalignment of an image directly transferred onto the transfer sheet with respect to the image on which the first alignment control process has been performed, thereby performing a second alignment control process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: Natsuko Kawase, Nobuyuki Kobayashi, Shigeyuki Ishii, Jun Kosako, Takahiro Kamekura, Takahiro Miyakawa, Takashi Enami, Miyo Taniguchi
  • Publication number: 20100322679
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an encoder that detects a first pulse signal relevant to a conveyance velocity of an intermediate transfer belt, an encoder that detects a second pulse signal relevant to a conveyance velocity of a transfer-paper conveying belt, a print control unit that performs feedback control by using a count value of the first pulse signal per unit time and a target conveyance velocity value common between the conveyance velocity of the intermediate transfer belt and that of the transfer-paper conveying belt so that the conveyance velocity of the intermediate transfer belt attains the target value and also performs feedback-control by using a count value of the second pulse signal per unit time and the target value so that the conveyance velocity of the transfer-paper conveying belt attains the target value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kobayashi, Natsuko Kawase, Jun Kosako, Shigeyuki Ishii, Takahiro Kamekura, Takahiro Miyakawa, Takashi Enami, Miyo Taniguchi
  • Publication number: 20100303514
    Abstract: There are provided an image forming apparatus, an image forming method for the image forming apparatus, and a program that can reduce misalignment among images in all colors. Rotation of at least one of a transfer-sheet conveying belt 8 and an intermediate transfer belt 6 is controlled so as to match the phases of fluctuation of the surface speed of the intermediate transfer belt 6 and fluctuation of the surface speed of the transfer-sheet conveying belt 8, whereby it is possible to keep the periodical speed fluctuations of both the intermediate transfer belt 6 and the transfer-sheet conveying belt 8 to the minimum and reduce misalignment among images in all colors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Shigeyuki ISHII, Takashi ENAMI, Nobuyuki KOBAYASHI, Jun KOSAKO, Natsuko KAWASE, Takahiro KAMEKURA, Takahiro MIYAKAWA, Miyo TANIGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20100303487
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming unit that directly transfers an image onto a transfer sheet; an intermediate transfer member onto which an image is transferred; a secondary image forming unit that transfers an image onto the intermediate transfer member; a secondary transfer unit that transfers the image on the intermediate transfer member onto the transfer sheet; a fixing unit that fixes an image on the transfer sheet at a fixation position; and a guide member that guides the transfer sheet to the fixation position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Takahiro MIYAKAWA, Shigeyuki Ishii, Jun Kosako, Takashi Enami, Nobuyuki Kobayashi, Natsuko Kawase, Takahiro Kamekura, Miyo Taniguchi
  • Publication number: 20100302569
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a direct-transfer control unit that causes a direct-transfer medium and a first image forming unit that forms a single-color image to transfer the single-color image onto either the direct-transfer medium or a transfer sheet; an indirect-transfer control unit that causes an intermediate transfer medium and a second image forming unit that forms a multi-color image to transfer the multi-color image onto the intermediate transfer medium; a secondary-transfer control unit that transfers the single-color image onto the intermediate transfer medium; a sensor that detects an image on the intermediate transfer medium; and a positional-alignment control unit that calculates, using the sensor, an amount of misalignment of the image and corrects, using a position of an image formed by the first image forming unit as a reference position, positions of images to be formed by the second image forming unit based on the calculated amount of misalignment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Takashi ENAMI, Takahiro KAMEKURA, Nobuyuki KOBAYASHI, Shigeyuki ISHII, Jun KOSAKO, Natsuko KAWASE, Takahiro MIYAKAWA, Miyo TANIGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20100303512
    Abstract: A first alignment control unit causes a secondary transfer control unit to bring a transfer-sheet conveying belt and an intermediate transfer belt into contact with each other so as to transfer an alignment control pattern formed on the transfer-sheet conveying belt onto the intermediate transfer belt, whereby alignment for colors C and K is performed on the intermediate transfer belt, and furthermore a second alignment control unit causes the secondary transfer control unit to separate the transfer-sheet conveying belt and the intermediate transfer belt from each other so as to perform alignment for colors Y, M, and C, whereby alignment is performed for all the colors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Takahiro KAMEKURA, Takashi ENAMI, Nobuyuki KOBAYASHI, Shigeyuki ISHII, Jun KOSAKO, Natsuko KAWASE, Takahiro MIYAKAWA, Miyo TANIGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20100239294
    Abstract: A print control unit causes a secondary-transfer control unit to move a secondary transfer unit apart from an intermediate transfer member, causes a direct-transfer control unit to cause a black image forming unit to form a black image and transfer the black image onto a transfer sheet being conveyed along a conveying path, and causes a positional-alignment control unit to perform positional alignment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventors: Jun KOSAKO, Shigeyuki ISHII, Takashi ENAMI, Nobuyuki KOBAYASHI, Natsuko KAWASE, Takahiro KAMEKURA, Takahiro MIYAKAWA, Miyo TANIGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20090073247
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus connectable to a first feed tray and a second feed tray includes an image forming unit, a feed path, and a detecting unit provided on the feed path to sense recording medium jam. An identifying unit identifies a feed path and a feed tray where recording medium jam has occurred as a jammed path and a jamming feed tray. A first determining unit determines whether the image forming apparatus is connected to the second feed tray. A second determining unit determines whether the second feed tray can feed a recording medium to the image forming unit. A feeding unit feeds a recording medium from the second feed tray to the image forming unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Masaru Kaneko, Masami Miyajima, Hiroshi Aizawa, Kohtaroh Yonenaga, Hiroaki Umezawa, Kiichirou Shimizu, Natsuko Kawase, Ryu Hasegawa, Takashi Enami