Patents by Inventor Takafumi Miyazaki
Takafumi Miyazaki 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: 9971269Abstract: A discharging method used in an image forming apparatus includes discharging, with an exposure device, an exposure range of the latent image bearer, and discharging, with a discharger, an area of the latent image bearer outside the exposure range and inside a developing range in a main scanning direction. The exposure range is inside the developing range in the main scanning direction. The discharging with the exposure device and the discharging with the discharger are performed when a rotation of the latent image bearer is stopped after a toner image is transferred from the latent image bearer.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2017Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Ryouhei Ohi, Takafumi Miyazaki, Yuuji Meguro, Yasuhiro Fujiwara
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Publication number: 20170336729Abstract: A discharging method used in an image forming apparatus includes discharging, with an exposure device, an exposure range of the latent image bearer, and discharging, with a discharger, an area of the latent image bearer outside the exposure range and inside a developing range in a main scanning direction. The exposure range is inside the developing range in the main scanning direction. The discharging with the exposure device and the discharging with the discharger are performed when a rotation of the latent image bearer is stopped after a toner image is transferred from the latent image bearer.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2017Publication date: November 23, 2017Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Ryouhei Ohi, Takafumi Miyazaki, Yuuji Meguro, Yasuhiro Fujiwara
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Patent number: 9500992Abstract: A developing device includes a housing to store a powder, a developing roller to hold the powder, a supplying roller to supply the powder to the developing roller, a regulator to regulate the powder held by the developing roller, a powder conveyer to convey the powder for image forming, a first powder storing chamber, and a second powder storing chamber. The powder conveyor includes a first conveying part that includes a rotating axis, and a conveying surface inclined with respect to the rotating axis along a direction of the rotating axis. The powder conveyor further includes a second conveying part that includes a conveying surface parallel to the rotating axis along the direction of the rotating axis, and the first conveying part and the second conveying part are disposed alternately along the direction of the rotating axis.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2015Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Tomofumi Yoshida, Takafumi Miyazaki, Rie Mitani, Yasuhide Ohkubo, Yuusuke Furuichi
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Patent number: 9229372Abstract: A developing device is provided. The developing device includes a developer carrier, a regulator, a first developer storing chamber, a plurality of conveyers disposed within the first developer storing chamber, a second developer storing chamber in communication with the first developer storing chamber, and a supply member disposed within the second developer storing chamber. The developer carrier carries developer on its surface and supplies developer to a latent image carrier carrying a latent image. The regulator regulates the thickness of developer on the surface of the developer carrier. The first developer storing chamber stores developer separated from the developer carrier by the regulator and is to be supplied with fresh developer. Each of the plurality of conveyers coveys developer in a different conveyance direction. The second developer storing chamber is to be supplied with developer from the first developer storing chamber. The supply member supplies developer to the developer carrier.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2014Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Tomofumi Yoshida, Takafumi Miyazaki, Yasuhide Ohkubo, Yuusuke Furuichi, Rie Mitani
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Patent number: 9201393Abstract: A toner container includes a substantially tetrahedral toner-containing portion having an openable edge to discharge toner contained in the toner-containing portion, and a reference fold along which the toner container is foldable after the openable edge is opened. The reference fold extends from the openable edge and is provided on medians of two triangular faces of the toner-containing portion adjoining each other along the openable edge.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2014Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yuusuke Furuichi, Rie Mitani, Takafumi Miyazaki, Hidekazu Shono, Osamu Saito, Ryuji Inoue, Tetsumaru Fujita, Kei Hasegawa, Yasuhide Ohkubo, Tomofumi Yoshida, Shintaro Yamada, Yoshihiro Fukuhata, Ryouhei Ohi
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Publication number: 20150286163Abstract: The powder conveyer includes a first conveying part and a second conveying part. The first conveying part includes a rotating axis, and a conveying surface inclined with respect to the rotating axis along a direction of the rotating axis. The second conveying part includes a conveying surface parallel to the rotating axis along the direction of the rotating axis. The first conveying part and the second conveying part are disposed alternately along the direction of the rotating axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2015Publication date: October 8, 2015Inventors: Tomofumi YOSHIDA, Takafumi MIYAZAKI, Rie MITANI, Yasuhide OHKUBO, Yuusuke FURUICHI
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Publication number: 20150132026Abstract: A developing device is provided. The developing device includes a developer carrier, a regulator, a first developer storing chamber, a plurality of conveyers disposed within the first developer storing chamber, a second developer storing chamber in communication with the first developer storing chamber, and a supply member disposed within the second developer storing chamber. The developer carrier carries developer on its surface and supplies developer to a latent image carrier carrying a latent image. The regulator regulates the thickness of developer on the surface of the developer carrier. The first developer storing chamber stores developer separated from the developer carrier by the regulator and is to be supplied with fresh developer. Each of the plurality of conveyers coveys developer in a different conveyance direction. The second developer storing chamber is to be supplied with developer from the first developer storing chamber. The supply member supplies developer to the developer carrier.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2014Publication date: May 14, 2015Inventors: Tomofumi YOSHIDA, Takafumi MIYAZAKI, Yasuhide OHKUBO, Yuusuke FURUICHI, Rie MITANI
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Patent number: 8983323Abstract: Provided is a color image forming apparatus that includes: image carriers that form toner image of black and other colors; an intermediate transfer body that makes contact with the image carriers; and transfer units that transfer the toner images on the image carriers to the intermediate transfer body. A line velocity difference is set between the image carriers and the intermediate transfer body. An accelerated cohesion degree of toner is equal to or larger than 54%. A linear velocity difference X1 between the image carrier for black and the intermediate transfer body satisfies a relation of 0<X1?1.2 mm/sec. A linear velocity difference X2 between the image carriers for the colors and the intermediate transfer body satisfies a relation of 2.1?X2?4.0 mm/sec.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2013Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventors: Takeshi Yamashita, Yuji Nagatomo, Naoki Nakatake, Yasuhiro Fujiwara, Takafumi Miyazaki, Yasuhide Matsuno, Takahiro Sanada, Rumi Miyazaki, Kyoko Abe, Tomoya Adachi, Yoshie Iwakura
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Publication number: 20150063865Abstract: A toner container includes a substantially tetrahedral toner-containing portion having an openable edge to discharge toner contained in the toner-containing portion, and a reference fold along which the toner container is foldable after the openable edge is opened. The reference fold extends from the openable edge and is provided on medians of two triangular faces of the toner-containing portion adjoining each other along the openable edge.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2014Publication date: March 5, 2015Inventors: Yuusuke FURUICHI, Rie MITANI, Takafumi MIYAZAKI, Hidekazu SHONO, Osamu SAITO, Ryuji INOUE, Tetsumaru FUJITA, Kei HASEGAWA, Yasuhide OHKUBO, Tomofumi YOSHIDA, Shintaro YAMADA, Yoshihiro FUKUHATA, Ryouhei OHI
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Patent number: 8971743Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a latent image bearing member, a charger, a latent image forming device, a developing device, and a transfer device is provided. The transfer device is adapted to transfer a toner image formed on the latent image bearing member onto an intermediate transfer member or a recording medium by action of a transfer elected field in a transfer position where the latent image bearing member faces the transfer device. When a non-charged portion of the latent image bearing member that has not been charged to a predetermined potential by the charger passes through the transfer position, a strength of the transfer electric field is lowered than that in transferring the toner image.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2013Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Takafumi Miyazaki, Naoki Nakatake, Yuji Nagatomo, Yasuhide Matsuno, Takahiro Sanada, Yasuhiro Fujiwara, Kyoko Abe, Takeshi Yamashita, Tomoya Adachi
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Patent number: 8805222Abstract: An image developing device includes a developer supporting body; a first conveyance path in which a first conveyance member is arranged; a second conveyance path in which a second conveyance member is arranged; and a partition member that partitions the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path and that has a first communication port and a second communication port. The first communication path and the second communication path communicates with each other through the first communication port and the second communication port. The image developing device includes a developer amount detection unit that includes an optical detection unit arranged in the second conveyance path and that optically detects an amount of the developer in the image forming device. The developer is caused to accumulate in the vicinity of the developer amount detection unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2012Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Naoki Nakatake, Tomohiro Kubota, Shoh Tsuritani, Yuji Nagatomo, Yasuhide Matsuno, Hiroaki Katoh, Tomoya Adachi, Rumi Miyazaki, Takafumi Miyazaki, Takeshi Yamashita, Kyoko Abe, Yasuhiro Fujiwara, Takahiro Sanada
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Patent number: 8712310Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a dual purpose tray that accommodates a document and a transfer sheet, a document transport mechanism to transport the document from the dual purpose tray to an image reading position, an image reading mechanism disposed beneath the document transport mechanism, an image forming mechanism disposed beneath the image reading mechanism, a transfer sheet transport mechanism to transport the transfer sheet from a bifurcation point through the image reading mechanism, a sheet feeding path that bifurcates into a first transport path through which the document is transported to the image reading position and a second transport path through which the transfer sheet is transported through the image reading mechanism to an image forming position by switching a switching member in accordance with one of a type of a recording medium set on the dual purpose tray and an operation mode of the image forming apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2009Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yoshiyuki Shimizu, Takafumi Miyazaki, Kozo Yamazaki, Hideyuki Masumoto, Tatsuya Miyadera
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Publication number: 20130266332Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a latent image bearing member, a charger, a latent image forming device, a developing device, and a transfer device is provided. The transfer device is adapted to transfer a toner image formed on the latent image bearing member onto an intermediate transfer member or a recording medium by action of a transfer elected field in a transfer position where the latent image bearing member faces the transfer device. When a non-charged portion of the latent image bearing member that has not been charged to a predetermined potential by the charger passes through the transfer position, a strength of the transfer electric field is lowered than that in transferring the toner image.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2013Publication date: October 10, 2013Inventors: Takafumi MIYAZAKI, Naoki NAKATAKE, Yuji NAGATOMO, Yasuhide MATSUNO, Takahiro SANADA, Yasuhiro FUJIWARA, Kyoko ABE, Takeshi YAMASHITA, Tomoya ADACHI
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Publication number: 20130236217Abstract: A development device to develop a latent image using developer having a degree of agglomeration of 54% or greater includes a developer bearer to carry developer thereon, and a developer supply member to contact the developer bearer to supply developer to a surface of the developer bearer. The developer supply member is disposed to satisfy at least one of two conditions: a biting amount of the developer supply member relative to the developer bearer is 0.7 mm or greater; and a contact pressure of the developer supply member against the developer bearer is 30 N/m or greater.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2013Publication date: September 12, 2013Inventors: Yuji NAGATOMO, Yasuhide Matsuno, Takahiro Sanada, Naoki Nakatake, Takafumi Miyazaki, Yasuhiro Fujiwara, Kyoko Abe, Rumi Miyazaki, Takeshi Yamashita, Tomoya Adachi
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Patent number: 8532547Abstract: A transfer belt unit satisfies the following conditions. An intermediate transfer belt has a thickness not less than 100 micrometers and not more than 200 micrometers, a tension not less than 80 N/m and not more than 180 N/m, and a tensile elastic modulus not less than 1000 megapascals and not more than 2000 megapascals. A secondary-transfer bias roller has an Asker C hardness not less than 35 degrees and not more than 50 degrees. Stretching rollers for stretching the intermediate transfer belt have an outer diameter not less than 6 millimeters.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2012Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Takafumi Miyazaki
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Publication number: 20130195487Abstract: Provided is a color image forming apparatus that includes: image carriers that form toner image of black and other colors; an intermediate transfer body that makes contact with the image carriers; and transfer units that transfer the toner images on the image carriers to the intermediate transfer body. A line velocity difference is set between the image carriers and the intermediate transfer body. An accelerated cohesion degree of toner is equal to or larger than 54%. A linear velocity difference X1 between the image carrier for black and the intermediate transfer body satisfies a relation of 0<X1?1.2 mm/sec. A linear velocity difference X2 between the image carriers for the colors and the intermediate transfer body satisfies a relation of 2.1?X2?4.0 mm/sec.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2013Publication date: August 1, 2013Inventors: Takeshi YAMASHITA, Yuji NAGATOMO, Naoki NAKATAKE, Yasuhiro FUJIWARA, Takafumi MIYAZAKI, Yasuhide MATSUNO, Takahiro SANADA, Rumi MIYAZAKI, Kyoko ABE, Tomoya ADACHI, Yoshie IWAKURA
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Publication number: 20130058670Abstract: An image developing device includes a developer supporting body; a first conveyance path in which a first conveyance member is arranged; a second conveyance path in which a second conveyance member is arranged; and a partition member that partitions the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path and that has a first communication port and a second communication port. The first communication path and the second communication path communicates with each other through the first communication port and the second communication port. The image developing device includes a developer amount detection unit that includes an optical detection unit arranged in the second conveyance path and that optically detects an amount of the developer in the image forming device. The developer is caused to accumulate in the vicinity of the developer amount detection unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2012Publication date: March 7, 2013Inventors: Naoki Nakatake, Tomohiro Kubota, Shoh Tsuritani, Yuji Nagatomo, Yasuhide Matsuno, Hiroaki Katoh, Tomoya Adachi, Rumi Miyazaki, Takafumi Miyazaki, Takeshi Yamashita, Kyoko Abe, Yasuhiro Fujiwara, Takahiro Sanada
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Publication number: 20120251197Abstract: A transfer belt unit satisfies the following conditions. An intermediate transfer belt has a thickness not less than 100 micrometers and not more than 200 micrometers, a tension not less than 80 N/m and not more than 180 N/m, and a tensile elastic modulus not less than 1000 megapascals and not more than 2000 megapascals. A secondary-transfer bias roller has an Asker C hardness not less than 35 degrees and not more than 50 degrees. Stretching rollers for stretching the intermediate transfer belt have an outer diameter not less than 6 millimeters.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2012Publication date: October 4, 2012Inventor: Takafumi MIYAZAKI
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Patent number: 8233823Abstract: A belt is supported by a plurality of rollers and is driven to move in a predetermined direction. A flange member is configured to make contact with a portion of an edge surface of the belt in its width direction. A pressing member presses on a surface of the belt in its thickness direction at a position near a contact portion of the belt with the flange member.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2008Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventors: Tomoya Adachi, Takafumi Miyazaki, Mitsutoshi Kichise, Takeshi Yamashita
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Patent number: 8233829Abstract: A transfer belt unit satisfies the following conditions. An intermediate transfer belt has a thickness not less than 100 micrometers and not more than 200 micrometers, a tension not less than 80 N/m and not more than 180 N/m, and a tensile elastic modulus not less than 1000 megapascals and not more than 2000 megapascals. A secondary-transfer bias roller has an Asker C hardness not less than 35 degrees and not more than 50 degrees. Stretching rollers for stretching the intermediate transfer belt have an outer diameter not less than 6 millimeters.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2007Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Takafumi Miyazaki