Patents by Inventor Tohru Nakano
Tohru Nakano 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: 7708459Abstract: A temperature varying low-temperature comparative calibration including a vacuum jacket, a comparative calibration block in the vacuum jacket which is formed of a material of a high heat conductivity and which is maintained at a fixed temperature by a refrigerator or a heater, a reference thermometer housing portion in the comparative calibration block in which a reference thermometer is mounted, and an insertion hole in the comparative calibration block through which a calibration target thermometer is inserted from outside the vacuum jacket via an introduction pipe. The introduction pipe is filled with heat exchange gas.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2007Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and TechnologyInventors: Tohru Nakano, Osamu Tamura, Hirohisa Sakurai
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Patent number: 7415236Abstract: A cleaning unit for removing toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier of an image-forming apparatus is disclosed. The cleaning unit includes a vibration member, a blade member, and a driving part. The vibration member extends in the direction of the width of the image carrier, and has at least one vibration application part attached thereto. The blade member is attached to at least the end region of the vibration member, extending in the direction of the width of the image carrier. The driving part drives at least one vibration application part at a driving frequency that is a resonance frequency. The vibration member provides vibration to the blade member and a force to press the blade member against the image carrier.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2004Date of Patent: August 19, 2008Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Tohru Nakano, Osamu Naruse, Masanori Horike, Masahiko Katoh, Masahiko Shakuto
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Publication number: 20070206653Abstract: A temperature varying low-temperature comparative calibration including a vacuum jacket, a comparative calibration block in the vacuum jacket which is formed of a material of a high heat conductivity and which is maintained at a fixed temperature by a refrigerator or a heater, a reference thermometer housing portion in the comparative calibration block in which a reference thermometer is mounted, and an insertion hole in the comparative calibration block through which a calibration target thermometer is inserted from outside the vacuum jacket via an introduction pipe. The introduction pipe is filled with heat exchange gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2007Publication date: September 6, 2007Applicant: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and TechnologyInventors: Tohru Nakano, Osamu Tamura, Hirohisa Sakurai
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Patent number: 7123872Abstract: A cleaning device includes a blade member having an end that touches an image carrier that caries a toner image made with toner, a vibratable member to which the blade member is fixed, and a vibrating unit that vibrates the vibratable member in such a manner that the end of the blade member does not curl.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2003Date of Patent: October 17, 2006Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Masahiko Shakuto, Tohru Nakano, Masanori Horike, Osamu Naruse, Masahiko Katoh
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Patent number: 7062212Abstract: A cleaning apparatus is disclosed that includes a blade chip having a rubber plate member and a reinforcing plate member that are joined together, a supporting plate supporting the blade chip, and a holder pressing the blade chip against the supporting plate.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2004Date of Patent: June 13, 2006Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Osamu Naruse, Tohru Nakano, Masanori Horike
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Patent number: 7039343Abstract: An image forming apparatus configured to use a highly viscous, dense developing liquid including a carrier liquid and toner. The apparatus includes a developing unit with a developer carrier and a coating member for coating the developing liquid on the developer carrier. The developer carrier conveys the liquid to a developing zone where it faces an image carrier to develop a latent image on the image carrier. In the developing zone, the toner is caused to move toward the image by electrophoresis to form a toner layer in which the toner is present in the carrier liquid and a carrier layer in which the toner is absent. When the developer carrier and image carrier are moved from each other, the toner moves toward the image such that the developing liquid separates at the boundary between the toner and carrier layers.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2005Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Tsutomu Sasaki, Mie Yoshino, Yusuke Takeda, Tsuneo Kurotori, Tohru Nakano, Noriyasu Takeuchi
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Patent number: 7003248Abstract: An excess toner removal area is made broader over the whole area with respect to a developer applied area that is broader than an image effective area. Thereby a liquid developer, that tends to spread slightly broader than the applied area after being applied to a photoreceptor drum, is removed by a sweep roller that can sweep excess toner present in an area broader than the original applied area and an excess toner remaining area is then prevented from being formed on the photoreceptor drum. Accordingly, the excess toner on the latent image carrier is removed as much as possible, and a transfer medium and peripheral members are prevented from being soiled due to residual excess toner.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2004Date of Patent: February 21, 2006Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Tsuneo Kurotori, Tsutomu Sasaki, Mie Yoshino, Noriyasu Takeuchi, Tohru Nakano, Yusuke Takeda
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Patent number: 6999701Abstract: A removal nip having a predetermined width is formed by a sweep roller pressurizing mechanism, which adjusts the length of a tension spring by rotating an adjustment screw, and adjusting the size of an energizing force of a sweep roller with respect to a photosensitive drum. A pressurizing mechanism similar to the sweep roller pressurizing mechanism is also provided in a developing roller, to adjust the energizing force of the developing roller, to thereby form a developing nip having a predetermined width.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2004Date of Patent: February 14, 2006Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Mie Yoshino, Tohru Nakano, Yusuke Takeda, Noriyasu Takeuchi, Tsutomu Sasaki, Tsuneo Kurotori
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Patent number: 6987944Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a charging device that charges a surface of the image bearer, a latent image forming device that forms a latent image on the image bearer, a developing device that develops the latent image on the image bearer with a spherical toner into a toner image, a transfer device that transfers the toner image to a transfer material, and a cleaning device that removes the spherical toner remaining on the image bearer after the toner image is transferred to the transfer material. The cleaning device including a cleaning roller that removes the spherical toner on the image bearer while rotating and contacting the image bearer and which has a greater coefficient of static friction than the surface of the image bearer. An electric field is formed between the cleaning member and the image bearer by applying a voltage to the cleaning member so that the spherical toner adhered onto the image bearer is electrostatically attracted to the cleaning member.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2002Date of Patent: January 17, 2006Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Masahiko Shakuto, Yasushi Nakazato, Osamu Naruse, Naomi Sugimoto, Takahiko Tokumasu, Kenji Sugiura, Tohru Nakano
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Publication number: 20050147423Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention uses a highly viscous, dense developing liquid consisting of a carrier liquid and toner dispersed therein. A developing unit includes a developer carrier and a coating member for coating the developing liquid on the developer carrier. The developer carrier conveys the liquid to a developing zone where it faces an image carrier to thereby develop a latent image formed on the image carrier with the liquid. In the developing zone, the toner in the liquid, which faces the image of the image carrier, is caused to move toward the image by electrophoresis to thereby form a toner layer in which the toner is present in the carrier liquid and a carrier layer in which the toner is absent in the same. When the developer carrier and image carrier moved away from the developing zone part from each other, the toner is caused to move toward the image over a degree at which the developing liquid can separate at the boundary between the toner layer and the carrier layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2005Publication date: July 7, 2005Inventors: Tsutomu Sasaki, Mie Yoshino, Yusuke Takeda, Tsuneo Kurotori, Tohru Nakano, Noriyasu Takeuchi
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Patent number: 6865359Abstract: An image forming apparatus using a highly viscous, dense developing liquid consisting of a carrier liquid and toner. A developing unit including a developer carrier and a coating member for coating the developing liquid on the developer carrier. The developer carrier conveys the liquid to a developing zone to develop a latent image formed on the image carrier with the liquid. In the developing zone, the toner in the liquid is moved toward the image by electrophoresis to form a toner layer in which the toner is present in the earner liquid and a carrier layer in which the toner is absent in the same. When the developer carrier and image carrier are moved away from the developing zone, the toner is moved toward the image over a degree at which the developing liquid can separate at the boundary between the toner layer and the carrier layer.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2004Date of Patent: March 8, 2005Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Tsutomu Sasaki, Mie Yoshino, Yusuke Takeda, Tsuneo Kurotori, Tohru Nakano, Noriyasu Takeuchi
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Publication number: 20050041997Abstract: An excess toner removal area is made broader over the whole area with respect to a developer applied area that is broader than an image effective area. Thereby a liquid developer, that tends to spread slightly broader than the applied area after being applied to a photoreceptor drum, is removed by a sweep roller that can sweep excess toner present in an area broader than the original applied area and an excess toner remaining area is then prevented from being formed on the photoreceptor drum. Accordingly, the excess toner on the latent image carrier is removed as much as possible, and a transfer medium and peripheral members are prevented from being soiled due to residual excess toner.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2004Publication date: February 24, 2005Inventors: Tsuneo Kurotori, Tsutomu Sasaki, Mie Yoshino, Noriyasu Takeuchi, Tohru Nakano, Yusuke Takeda
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Publication number: 20040265024Abstract: A cleaning apparatus is disclosed that includes a blade chip having a rubber plate member and a reinforcing plate member that are joined together, a supporting plate supporting the blade chip, and a holder pressing the blade chip against the supporting plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2004Publication date: December 30, 2004Inventors: Osamu Naruse, Tohru Nakano, Masanori Horike
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Patent number: 6829460Abstract: An excess toner removal area is made broader over the whole area with respect to a developer applied area that is broader than an image effective area. Thereby a liquid developer, that tends to spread slightly broader than the applied area after being applied to a photoreceptor drum, is removed by a sweep roller that can sweep excess toner present in an area broader than the original applied area and an excess toner remaining area is then prevented from being formed on the photoreceptor drum. Accordingly, the excess toner on the latent image carrier is removed as much as possible, and a transfer medium and peripheral members are prevented from being soiled due to residual excess toner.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2003Date of Patent: December 7, 2004Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Tsuneo Kurotori, Tsutomu Sasaki, Mie Yoshino, Noriyasu Takeuchi, Tohru Nakano, Yusuke Takeda
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Publication number: 20040197122Abstract: A cleaning unit for removing toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier of an image-forming apparatus is disclosed. The cleaning unit includes a vibration member, a blade member, and a driving part. The vibration member extends in the direction of the width of the image carrier, and has at least one vibration application part attached thereto. The blade member is attached to at least the end region of the vibration member, extending in the direction of the width of the image carrier. The driving part drives at least one vibration application part at a driving frequency that is a resonance frequency. The vibration member provides vibration to the blade member and a force to press the blade member against the image carrier.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2004Publication date: October 7, 2004Inventors: Tohru Nakano, Osamu Naruse, Masanori Horike, Masahiko Katoh, Masahiko Shakuto
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Publication number: 20040197116Abstract: A removal nip having a predetermined width is formed by a sweep roller pressurizing mechanism, which adjusts the length of a tension spring by rotating an adjustment screw, and adjusting the size of an energizing force of a sweep roller with respect to a photosensitive drum. A pressurizing mechanism similar to the sweep roller pressurizing mechanism is also provided in a developing roller, to adjust the energizing force of the developing roller, to thereby form a developing nip having a predetermined width.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2004Publication date: October 7, 2004Inventors: Mie Yoshino, Tohru Nakano, Yusuke Takeda, Noriyasu Takeuchi, Tsutomu Sasaki, Tsuneo Kurotori
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Publication number: 20040190943Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention uses a highly viscous, dense developing liquid consisting of a carrier liquid and toner dispersed therein. A developing unit includes a developer carrier and a coating member for coating the developing liquid on the developer carrier. The developer carrier conveys the liquid to a developing zone where it faces an image carrier to thereby develop a latent image formed on the image carrier with the liquid. In the developing zone, the toner in the liquid, which faces the image of the image carrier, is caused to move toward the image by electrophoresis to thereby form a toner layer in which the toner is present in the carrier liquid and a carrier layer in which the toner is absent in the same. When the developer carrier and image carrier moved away from the developing zone part from each other, the toner is caused to move toward the image over a degree at which the developing liquid can separate at the boundary between the toner layer and the carrier layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2004Publication date: September 30, 2004Inventors: Tsutomu Sasaki, Mie Yoshino, Yusuke Takeda, Tsuneo Kurotori, Tohru Nakano, Noriyasu Takeuchi
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Publication number: 20040105702Abstract: An excess toner removal area is made broader over the whole area with respect to a developer applied area that is broader than an image effective area. Thereby a liquid developer, that tends to spread slightly broader than the applied area after being applied to a photoreceptor drum, is removed by a sweep roller that can sweep excess toner present in an area broader than the original applied area and an excess toner remaining area is then prevented from being formed on the photoreceptor drum. Accordingly, the excess toner on the latent image carrier is removed as much as possible, and a transfer medium and peripheral members are prevented from being soiled due to residual excess toner.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2003Publication date: June 3, 2004Inventors: Tsuneo Kurotori, Tsutomu Sasaki, Mie Yoshino, Noriyasu Takeuchi, Tohru Nakano, Yusuke Takeda
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Publication number: 20040105710Abstract: A cleaning device includes a blade member having an end that touches an image carrier that caries a toner image made with toner, a vibratable member to which the blade member is fixed, and a vibrating unit that vibrates the vibratable member in such a manner that the end of the blade member does not curl.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2003Publication date: June 3, 2004Inventors: Masahiko Shakuto, Tohru Nakano, Masanori Horike, Osamu Naruse, Masahiko Katoh
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Patent number: 6738592Abstract: An image forming apparatus configured to use a highly viscous, dense developing liquid consisting of a carrier liquid and toner. The apparatus includes a developing unit with a developer carrier and a coating member for coating the developing liquid on the developer carrier. The developer carrier conveys the liquid to a developing zone where it faces an image carrier to develop a latent image on the image carrier. In the developing zone, the toner is caused to move toward the image by electrophoresis to form a toner layer in which the toner is present in the carrier liquid and a carrier layer in which the toner is absent. When the developer carrier and image carrier are moved from each other, the toner moves toward the image such that the developing liquid separates at the boundary between the toner and carrier layers.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2002Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Tsutomu Sasaki, Mie Yoshino, Yusuke Takeda, Tsuneo Kurotori, Tohru Nakano, Noriyasu Takeuchi