Patents by Inventor Tetsuro Hirota

Tetsuro Hirota 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: 10317814
    Abstract: A powder supply device that includes a powder reservoir including a rotator having a rotation shaft, to store powder supplied from a powder container; and a powder amount detector. The powder amount detector includes a detected member disposed in the powder reservoir, a contact member attached to the rotation shaft, to contact the detected member to vibrate or move the detected member, a detector to detect vibration or a displacement of the detected member, and a detection result processor to detect the amount of the powder in the powder reservoir based on detection by the detector. The powder supply device further includes a controller to supply the powder from the powder container to the powder reservoir based on detection by the powder amount detector. The controller rotates the rotator in discharging the powder from the powder reservoir and supplying the powder from the powder container to the powder reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuo Takami, Tetsuro Hirota, Kenji Kikuchi, Koichi Yamazaki, Atsushi Nakamoto, Naohiro Kawashima, Tatsuya Kubo, Shinnosuke Koshizuka, Kazunori Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10228632
    Abstract: A powder detection device includes a detection mechanism including an oscillation unit and a vibrated member, a vibrating member, and a detection unit. The oscillation unit outputs a signal having a frequency according to a state of a magnetic flux passing a space facing the oscillation unit. The vibrated member affecting the magnetic flux and disposed inside a container to face the oscillation unit via the container is vibrated by the vibrating member in a direction of facing the oscillation unit. The detection unit acquires frequency information of the signal at predetermined periods, determines presence/absence of an error of the detection mechanism based on error information associating a type of the error with a state of the signal, detects vibration of the vibrated member based on a change in the frequency information, and detects a remaining amount of powder in the container based on the detected vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsufumi Yamamoto, Tetsuro Hirota, Kenji Kikuchi, Kazuho Satoh, Shingo Nishizaki, Ko Tokumaru
  • Patent number: 10114323
    Abstract: A sheet size detector to detect a sheet size of a recording medium includes a movable member to move in a sheet size detection direction to a position corresponding to the sheet size, a magnetic flux detector including a coil disposed on a board face parallel to the sheet size detection direction to generate a magnetic flux in a direction perpendicular to the board face, and a target to oppose the board face and including a material to affect the magnetic flux. The target is different in configuration in the sheet size detection direction to change the magnetic flux in the direction perpendicular to the board face as the movable member moves. The magnetic flux detector outputs a signal corresponding to changes in magnetic flux in the direction perpendicular to the board face, and the signal corresponds to the position of the movable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Hirota, Yu Wakabayashi, Shintaroh Yamada, Shun Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10099876
    Abstract: A sheet material thickness detection device includes a guide member, a non-rotating pressing member, a sensor, and a calculator. The guide member guides one side of a sheet material being conveyed. The pressing member presses the sheet material against the guide member in a manner displaceable in accordance with the thickness of the sheet material. The sensor is configured to magnetically or electrically detect a displaced amount of the pressing member that is displaced in accordance with the thickness of the sheet material. The calculator is configured to calculate the thickness of the sheet material based on an output signal of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Hirota, Shingo Nishizaki
  • Patent number: 10031016
    Abstract: A fluid detection apparatus to detect quantity of a fluid having flowability and stored in a casing includes an oscillator disposed outside the casing to output a frequency of an oscillation signal corresponding to a magnetic flux passing through a space near the oscillator, a vibrator made of material effecting the magnetic flux and disposed inside the casing, a vibration trigger disposed inside the casing to vibrate the vibrator, and circuitry to acquire frequency-related information related to the frequency of the oscillation signal output from the oscillator, detect the vibration of the vibrator based on a change of the frequency-related information, determine whether the vibration of the vibrator converges during a convergence-checking time period defined after the vibrator is vibrated by the vibration trigger, and detect the quantity of the fluid in the casing based on a convergence determination result of the vibration of the vibrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuho Satoh, Tomoki Shimohira, Tetsuhiko Mizuyama, Tetsuro Hirota
  • Patent number: 9817335
    Abstract: A powder amount detector includes a vibration plate secured to a powder container to contain powder and positioned at a predetermined position in a stationary state, a shaft to rotate inside the powder container, a contact member attached to the shaft, a vibration detector to detect vibration of the vibration plate, and a detection result processor to determine an amount of the powder in the powder container according to a detection result generated by the vibration detector. The contact member is to flip the vibration plate to cause the vibration plate to repeat elastic deformation and reversion to vibrate. The contact member is to exit an area opposed to the vibration plate after the contact member flips the vibration plate by the time the vibration plate returns to the predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naohiro Kawashima, Koichi Yamazaki, Nobuo Takami, Atsushi Nakamoto, Shinnosuke Koshizuka, Tatsuya Kubo, Kazunori Suzuki, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Tetsuro Hirota, Kenji Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20170174457
    Abstract: A sheet material thickness detection device includes a guide member, a non-rotating pressing member, a sensor, and a calculator. The guide member guides one side of a sheet material being conveyed. The pressing member presses the sheet material against the guide member in a manner displaceable in accordance with the thickness of the sheet material. The sensor is configured to magnetically or electrically detect a displaced amount of the pressing member that is displaced in accordance with the thickness of the sheet material. The calculator is configured to calculate the thickness of the sheet material based on an output signal of the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuro HIROTA, Shingo NISHIZAKI
  • Publication number: 20170168418
    Abstract: A powder supply device that includes a powder reservoir including a rotator having a rotation shaft, to store powder supplied from a powder container; and a powder amount detector. The powder amount detector includes a detected member disposed in the powder reservoir, a contact member attached to the rotation shaft, to contact the detected member to vibrate or move the detected member, a detector to detect vibration or a displacement of the detected member, and a detection result processor to detect the amount of the powder in the powder reservoir based on detection by the detector. The powder supply device further includes a controller to supply the powder from the powder container to the powder reservoir based on detection by the powder amount detector. The controller rotates the rotator in discharging the powder from the powder reservoir and supplying the powder from the powder container to the powder reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Nobuo TAKAMI, Tetsuro HIROTA, Kenji KIKUCHI, Koichi YAMAZAKI, Atsushi NAKAMOTO, Naohiro KAWASHIMA, Tatsuya KUBO, Shinnosuke KOSHIZUKA, Kazunori SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 9645538
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer disposed opposite an image bearer and configured to rotate and carry developer to a latent image on the image bearer, a developer container to contain the developer, a detector including a detecting portion to detect a density of toner in the developer in the developer container, a wire connected to the detector, and a wire holder to hold the wire and determine a position of the wire relative to the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Watanabe, Tetsuro Hirota
  • Publication number: 20170115597
    Abstract: A powder amount detector includes a vibration plate secured to a powder container to contain powder and positioned at a predetermined position in a stationary state, a shaft to rotate inside the powder container, a contact member attached to the shaft, a vibration detector to detect vibration of the vibration plate, and a detection result processor to determine an amount of the powder in the powder container according to a detection result generated by the vibration detector. The contact member is to flip the vibration plate to cause the vibration plate to repeat elastic deformation and reversion to vibrate. The contact member is to exit an area opposed to the vibration plate after the contact member flips the vibration plate by the time the vibration plate returns to the predetermined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: NAOHIRO KAWASHIMA, KOICHI YAMAZAKI, NOBUO TAKAMI, ATSUSHI NAKAMOTO, SHINNOSUKE KOSHIZUKA, TATSUYA KUBO, KAZUNORI SUZUKI, HIROSHI HOSOKAWA, TETSURO HIROTA, KENJI KIKUCHI
  • Publication number: 20170074713
    Abstract: A fluid detection apparatus to detect quantity of a fluid having flowability and stored in a casing includes an oscillator disposed outside the casing to output a frequency of an oscillation signal corresponding to a magnetic flux passing through a space near the oscillator, a vibrator made of material effecting the magnetic flux and disposed inside the casing, a vibration trigger disposed inside the casing to vibrate the vibrator, and circuitry to acquire frequency-related information related to the frequency of the oscillation signal output from the oscillator, detect the vibration of the vibrator based on a change of the frequency-related information, determine whether the vibration of the vibrator converges during a convergence-checking time period defined after the vibrator is vibrated by the vibration trigger, and detect the quantity of the fluid in the casing based on a convergence determination result of the vibration of the vibrator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: KAZUHO SATOH, TOMOKI SHIMOHIRA, TETSUHIKO MIZUYAMA, TETSURO HIROTA
  • Publication number: 20160378039
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer disposed opposite an image bearer and configured to rotate and carry developer to a latent image on the image bearer, a developer container to contain the developer, a detector including a detecting portion to detect a density of toner in the developer in the developer container, a wire connected to the detector, and a wire holder to hold the wire and determine a position of the wire relative to the detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Masahiro WATANABE, Tetsuro HIROTA
  • Patent number: 9523664
    Abstract: A powder detector to detect an amount of powder in the powder container includes a vibration plate disposed in the powder container to vibrate, a contact member to vibrate the vibration plate; and a vibration detector to detect a vibration state of the vibration plate. The powder has flowability, and the vibration state of the vibration plate is affected by the powder in the powder container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Hirota, Kenji Kikuchi, Hiroshi Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 9523940
    Abstract: A powder detector to detect an amount of powder in the powder container includes a wall without a through hole, a vibration plate attached to an inner face of the wall, a contact member to vibrate the vibration plate, and a vibration detector to detect a vibration state of the vibration plate. The vibration detector is attached to an outer face of the wall to face the vibration plate via the wall. The powder has flowability, and the vibration state of the vibration plate is affected by the powder in the powder container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hosokawa, Tetsuro Hirota, Kenji Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20160349101
    Abstract: A powder detection device includes a detection mechanism including an oscillation unit and a vibrated member, a vibrating member, and a detection unit. The oscillation unit outputs a signal having a frequency according to a state of a magnetic flux passing a space facing the oscillation unit. The vibrated member affecting the magnetic flux and disposed inside a container to face the oscillation unit via the container is vibrated by the vibrating member in a direction of facing the oscillation unit. The detection unit acquires frequency information of the signal at predetermined periods, determines presence/absence of an error of the detection mechanism based on error information associating a type of the error with a state of the signal, detects vibration of the vibrated member based on a change in the frequency information, and detects a remaining amount of powder in the container based on the detected vibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsufumi Yamamoto, Tetsuro Hirota, Kenji Kikuchi, Kazuho Satoh, Shingo Nishizaki, Ko Tokumaru
  • Patent number: 9507291
    Abstract: A magnetic permeability detector includes an LC oscillator circuit including a coil and a capacitor; and a resistor connected in series with the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Hirota, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Shunji Katoh, Masayuki Yamane, Masahiro Watanabe, Shingo Nishizaki
  • Patent number: 9507290
    Abstract: A magnetic permeability detector includes an LC oscillator circuit including a coil and a capacitor; and a resistor connected in series with the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Hirota, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Shunji Katoh, Masayuki Yamane, Masahiro Watanabe, Shingo Nishizaki
  • Publication number: 20160170328
    Abstract: A powder detector to detect an amount of powder in the powder container includes a wall without a through hole, a vibration plate attached to an inner face of the wall, a contact member to vibrate the vibration plate, and a vibration detector to detect a vibration state of the vibration plate. The vibration detector is attached to an outer face of the wall to face the vibration plate via the wall. The powder has flowability, and the vibration state of the vibration plate is affected by the powder in the powder container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Tetsuro HIROTA, Kenji KIKUCHI
  • Publication number: 20160116860
    Abstract: A powder detector to detect an amount of powder in the powder container includes a vibration plate disposed in the powder container to vibrate, a contact member to vibrate the vibration plate; and a vibration detector to detect a vibration state of the vibration plate. The powder has flowability, and the vibration state of the vibration plate is affected by the powder in the powder container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Tetsuro HIROTA, Kenji Kikuchi, Hiroshi Hosokawa
  • Publication number: 20160041495
    Abstract: A magnetic permeability detector includes an LC oscillator circuit including a coil and a capacitor; and a resistor connected in series with the coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Tetsuro HIROTA, Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Shunji KATOH, Masayuki YAMANE, Masahiro WATANABE, Shingo NISHIZAKI