Patents by Inventor Norio Muraishi

Norio Muraishi 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: 10459368
    Abstract: A powder detector includes a driver to drive a motor, a stirrer to stir powder in a vessel, a vibration plate disposed in the vessel and vibrated by a flip of the stirrer rotated by the motor, and circuitry. The circuitry detects a vibration of the vibration plate, estimates an amount of powder based on a detection result of the vibration, and causes the driver to drive the motor from a starting point, so as to move the stirrer to a preset halt position. The starting point is a rotation angle of the motor on detection of the vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Sumihiro Inokuchi, Hiroshi Adachi, Masashi Hommi, Naohiro Funada, Norio Muraishi, Kengo Tanaka, Shingo Nishizaki, Masaki Karakawa
  • Publication number: 20190196360
    Abstract: A powder detector includes a driver to drive a motor, a stirrer to stir powder in a vessel, a vibration plate disposed in the vessel and vibrated by a flip of the stirrer rotated by the motor, and circuitry. The circuitry detects a vibration of the vibration plate, estimates an amount of powder based on a detection result of the vibration, and causes the driver to drive the motor from a starting point, so as to move the stirrer to a preset halt position. The starting point is a rotation angle of the motor on detection of the vibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Sumihiro INOKUCHI, Hiroshi ADACHI, Masashi HOMMI, Naohiro FUNADA, Norio MURAISHI, Kengo TANAKA, Shingo NISHIZAKI, Masaki KARAKAWA
  • Patent number: 10163045
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus to which a removable device can be set is provided. The removable device includes a first memory to store first status information indicating a status of the removable device, first identification information identifying the removable device, and second identification information identifying the electronic apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kengo Tanaka, Kazushi Takei, Norio Muraishi, Sumihiro Inokuchi, Masashi Hommi, Atsushi Kuramoto, Takuya Kemmochi, Yoichi Kitahara
  • Publication number: 20170270395
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus to which a removable device can be set is provided. The removable device includes a first memory to store first status information indicating a status of the removable device, first identification information identifying the removable device, and second identification information identifying the electronic apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kengo TANAKA, Kazushi TAKEI, Norio MURAISHI, Sumihiro INOKUCHI, Masashi HOMMI, Atsushi KURAMOTO, Takuya KEMMOCHI, Yoichi KITAHARA
  • Patent number: 8862908
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an information storage to store information indicating a state of the information processing apparatus; an information writing processor to write the information to the information storage; a main power source and an auxiliary power source to supply power to the information writing processor; and a discharge controller to control a discharge speed of the auxiliary power source. When a voltage output of the main power source becomes a reference voltage, the discharge controller switches a power source for the information writing processor from the main power source to the auxiliary power source, and then after completing information writing to the information storage by using the information writing processor and the auxiliary power source, the discharge controller controls the discharge speed of the auxiliary power source to decrease a voltage output of the auxiliary power source to a given voltage within a given time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sumihiro Inokuchi, Mitsufumi Yamamoto, Shugo Okamura, Toyokazu Aoki, Takumi Kawamura, Kouji Yamanobe, Norio Muraishi, Kazuyuki Sato
  • Patent number: 8760710
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming device including an engine unit that performs image processing; an engine control unit that controls the engine unit; and a controller that generates items of starting information. The controller transmits a first item of the starting information indicating a cause of the starting process, and transmits a second item of the starting information when a content of the second item of the starting information is fixed. A time period required for fixing the second item of the starting information depends on the cause of the starting process. The engine control unit obtains the second item of the starting information, based on the first item of the starting information and timing information obtained in advance that indicates a timing at which the second item of the starting information is expected to be fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Norio Muraishi
  • Patent number: 8577242
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fuser unit configured to make an image fused to a recording medium, a selecting unit configured to select a duplex scanning mode or a single-side scanning mode, a check unit configured to determine which one of the duplex scanning mode and the single-side scanning mode is selected, a duplex scanning unit configured to perform a scan when both sides of a document sheet are scanned upon the duplex scanning mode being selected, a setting unit configured to determine power supplied to the fuser unit upon determining, by the check unit, that the single-side scanning mode is selected, and a supply unit configured to supply the determined power to the fuser unit, wherein the determined power is equal to a sum of power consumed by the duplex scanning unit and power that is consumed by the fuser unit upon the duplex scanning mode being selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Norio Muraishi
  • Patent number: 8315534
    Abstract: Stored DC power is supplied to a load after a return to a normal-power mode or a power-up of an image forming device. An auxiliary power supply does not supply the stored DC power to the load, and a main power supply supplies AC and DC power to the load if it is determined that a predetermined processing is performed upon a starting of the image forming device. The auxiliary power supply supplies the stored DC power to the load, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed, and the main power supply does not supply the AC and DC power to the load if it is determined that the predetermined processing is not performed upon the starting of the image forming device. A decision whether the predetermined processing is performed is based on at least one of a number of sheets, an elapsed time, and an environmental temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Yano, Toshitaka Semma, Yoshihisa Kimura, Norio Muraishi, Naoki Sato, Kazuhito Kishi
  • Publication number: 20120236324
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming device including an engine unit that performs image processing; an engine control unit that controls the engine unit; and a controller that generates items of starting information. The controller transmits a first item of the starting information indicating a cause of the starting process, and transmits a second item of the starting information when a content of the second item of the starting information is fixed. A time period required for fixing the second item of the starting information depends on the cause of the starting process. The engine control unit obtains the second item of the starting information, based on the first item of the starting information and timing information obtained in advance that indicates a timing at which the second item of the starting information is expected to be fixed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Norio Muraishi
  • Publication number: 20110320831
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an information storage to store information indicating a state of the information processing apparatus; an information writing processor to write the information to the information storage; a main power source and an auxiliary power source to supply power to the information writing processor; and a discharge controller to control a discharge speed of the auxiliary power source. When a voltage output of the main power source becomes a reference voltage, the discharge controller switches a power source for the information writing processor from the main power source to the auxiliary power source, and then after completing information writing to the information storage by using the information writing processor and the auxiliary power source, the discharge controller controls the discharge speed of the auxiliary power source to decrease a voltage output of the auxiliary power source to a given voltage within a given time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Sumihiro INOKUCHI, Mitsufumi Yamamoto, Shugo Okamura, Toyokazu Aoki, Takumi Kawamura, Kouji Yamanobe, Norio Muraishi, Kazuyuki Sato
  • Publication number: 20110206404
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fuser unit configured to make an image fused to a recording medium, a selecting unit configured to select a duplex scanning mode or a single-side scanning mode, a check unit configured to determine which one of the duplex scanning mode and the single-side scanning mode is selected, a duplex scanning unit configured to perform a scan when both sides of a document sheet are scanned upon the duplex scanning mode being selected, a setting unit configured to determine power supplied to the fuser unit upon determining, by the check unit, that the single-side scanning mode is selected, and a supply unit configured to supply the determined power to the fuser unit, wherein the determined power is equal to a sum of power consumed by the duplex scanning unit and power that is consumed by the fuser unit upon the duplex scanning mode being selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventor: Norio MURAISHI
  • Patent number: 7840153
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having (1) a main power supply unit (PSU), which converts an AC power source into an AC power and a first DC power, provides the AC power to a fusing unit, and provides the first DC power to a plurality of DC-powered units in the image forming apparatus, (2) a supplemental power supply unit, which accumulates the AC power source and provides a second DC power to the plurality of DC-powered units for a predetermined period, and (3) a controller, which increases or decreases the AC power to be provided to the fusing unit and selects the DC power source from the main PSU and the supplemental PSU by detecting that the supplemental PSU can provide the DC power to the plurality of DC-powered units or not. When the supplemental power supply unit can provide DC power to the Plurality of DC-powered units, the controller increases the AC power from the main power supply unit to the fusing unit and shortens the recovery time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Toshitaka Semma, Yoshihisa Kimura, Tetsuya Yano, Norio Muraishi, Naoki Sato, Kazuhito Kishi
  • Patent number: 7624288
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus is disclosed. The image formation apparatus includes a manuscript reading unit for reading a manuscript, a main power supply for supplying electric power to an alternating-current load and a direct-current load, and an auxiliary power supply that is capable of storing electric power for supplying electric power to the direct-current load. Power supply to the direct-current load is switched between the main power supply and the auxiliary power supply when reading the manuscript is not being carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhito Kishi, Naoki Sato, Yoshihisa Kimura, Tetsuya Yano, Norio Muraishi, Toshitaka Semma
  • Patent number: 7546057
    Abstract: A capacitor power supply unit includes detectors for detecting an output voltage of a capacitor group, which includes a plurality of capacitors, and a charge controller that sets a long-time time limit if the output voltage is lower than a set value, and sets a short-time time limit if it is higher than the set value, starts counting the time when the reaching signal is generated, and stops charging performed by the chargers after the time limit elapses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Norio Muraishi
  • Publication number: 20070201894
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus is disclosed. The image formation apparatus includes a manuscript reading unit for reading a manuscript, a main power supply for supplying electric power to an alternating-current load and a direct-current load, and an auxiliary power supply that is capable of storing electric power for supplying electric power to the direct-current load. Power supply to the direct-current load is switched between the main power supply and the auxiliary power supply when reading the manuscript is not being carried out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Inventors: Kazuhito Kishi, Naoki Sato, Yoshihisa Kimura, Tetsuya Yano, Norio Muraishi, Toshitaka Semma
  • Publication number: 20070098433
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a power supply part which supplies AC power and DC power to a load of the image forming device. A capacitor stores DC power therein and discharges the stored DC power to the load. A control unit is adapted to control the power supply part and the capacitor so that the DC power stored in the capacitor is supplied to the load during a predetermined period after power-up of the image forming device or return from a low-power mode occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Inventors: Tetsuya Yano, Toshitaka Semma, Yoshihisa Kimura, Norio Muraishi, Naoki Sato, Kazuhito Kishi
  • Publication number: 20070071479
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having (1) a main power supply unit (PSU), which converts an AC power source into an AC power and a first DC power, provides the AC power to a fusing unit, and provides the first DC power to a plurality of DC-powered units in the image forming apparatus, (2) a supplemental power supply unit, which accumulates the AC power source and provides a second DC power to the plurality of DC-powered units for a predetermined period, and (3) a controller, which increases or decreases the AC power to be provided to the fusing unit and selects the DC power source from the main PSU and the supplemental PSU by detecting that the supplemental PSU can provide the DC power to the plurality of DC-powered units or not. When the supplemental power supply unit can provide DC power to the Plurality of DC-powered units, the controller increases the AC power from the main power supply unit to the fusing unit and shortens the recovery time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Inventors: Toshitaka Semma, Yoshihisa Kimura, Tetsuya Yano, Norio Muraishi, Naoki Sato, Kazuhito Kishi
  • Publication number: 20060269312
    Abstract: A capacitor power supply unit includes detectors for detecting an output voltage of a capacitor group, which includes a plurality of capacitors, and a charge controller that sets a long-time time limit if the output voltage is lower than a set value, and sets a short-time time limit if it is higher than the set value, starts counting the time when the reaching signal is generated, and stops charging performed by the chargers after the time limit elapses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Inventor: Norio Muraishi