Patents by Inventor Tomoaki Suga

Tomoaki Suga 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: 12210305
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a belt unit and a detector unit including a detector that is disposed opposite a tension roller via a belt and a detector support that supports the detector. The detector support includes a first lateral end portion that is disposed at one lateral end of the detector support in an axial direction of the tension roller and is movably attached to an apparatus body. The detector support further includes a second lateral end portion that is disposed at another lateral end of the detector support in the axial direction of the tension roller and is attached to the apparatus body. The first lateral end portion includes an engaging groove that engages a shaft of the tension roller. The engaging groove has a mouth that is disposed at a downstream end of the engaging groove in a detaching direction of the belt unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoaki Suga
  • Patent number: 12181810
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor that bears an image and an intermediate transfer device that forms a primary transfer nip between the photoconductor and the intermediate transfer device. The intermediate transfer device primarily transfers the image from the photoconductor onto the intermediate transfer device at the primary transfer nip. A secondary transfer device forms a secondary transfer nip between the intermediate transfer device and the secondary transfer device. The secondary transfer device secondarily transfers the image from the intermediate transfer device onto a recording medium at the secondary transfer nip. At least one support shaft supports the intermediate transfer device. The at least one support shaft supports, on an identical axis, one lateral end and another lateral end of the secondary transfer device in a width direction of the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takagi, Tomoaki Suga, Takahiro Konishi
  • Publication number: 20240393709
    Abstract: A support unit includes: a first support to support and position one end of a first shaft of a pressure unit, including a pressure rotator to apply pressure to an object, in each of: an assembly direction in which the pressure unit is assembled to the support unit; and an orthogonal direction orthogonal to each of the assembly direction and an axial direction of the first shaft; a second support having a groove supporting another end of the first shaft; and a third support supporting a second shaft of the pressure rotator. The first support, the second support, and the third support the pressure unit rotatable around the first shaft. The groove of the second support has an arc shape having a center on an axial center of the second shaft; and an opening at an entrance of the groove in the assembly direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2024
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryotaro MIMA, Tomoaki SUGA
  • Publication number: 20240389218
    Abstract: A circuit board device includes a conductive component, a metal frame, a conductive member, and a pressing member. The conductive component is disposed on an electronic board in a first direction and has a board face. The metal frame has a frame face intersecting the board face of the electronic board. The conductive member is disposed over the conductive component in the first direction and electrically connected to each of the conductive component and the metal frame. The pressing member presses the conductive member against the conductive component in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryosuke KAWASAKI, Tomoaki SUGA
  • Patent number: 12092989
    Abstract: A unit accommodation apparatus includes a first unit and a second unit that are to be installed into and removed from an apparatus body through an opening in an installation-removal direction and are held by a unit holder. The unit holder includes a first positioner that is disposed opposite one lateral end of the first unit and the second unit and is detachably attached to the first unit and the second unit. A second positioner is disposed opposite another lateral end of the first unit and the second unit and holds the first unit and the second unit in a state in which the first unit and the second unit are detachably attached to the second positioner. The first positioner and the second positioner secure a relative position of the first unit relative to the second unit in a direction parallel to a hypothetical orthogonal plane perpendicular to the installation-removal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoaki Suga
  • Publication number: 20240272568
    Abstract: A transfer device includes a belt unit having a transfer belt looped around tension rollers including a transfer roller, a unit support housing including a first support portion to support one end of the belt unit rotatably in an axial direction, and a second support portion to support another end of the belt unit rotatably in the axial direction, the unit support housing supporting the belt unit through the first support portion and the second support portion around a moving direction of the transfer belt, a pair of biasing members, and a driver disposed to rotate to generate rotary driving force to be conveyed to a driven portion provided for one of the tension rollers, the rotary driving force of the driver acting in a direction different from a direction in which the posture of the belt unit is not restricted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2024
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki TAKAGI, Takahiro KONISHI, Tomoaki SUGA
  • Publication number: 20240085836
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a belt unit and a detector unit including a detector that is disposed opposite a tension roller via a belt and a detector support that supports the detector. The detector support includes a first lateral end portion that is disposed at one lateral end of the detector support in an axial direction of the tension roller and is movably attached to an apparatus body. The detector support further includes a second lateral end portion that is disposed at another lateral end of the detector support in the axial direction of the tension roller and is attached to the apparatus body. The first lateral end portion includes an engaging groove that engages a shaft of the tension roller. The engaging groove has a mouth that is disposed at a downstream end of the engaging groove in a detaching direction of the belt unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventor: Tomoaki SUGA
  • Publication number: 20240077830
    Abstract: A unit accommodation apparatus includes a first unit and a second unit that are to be installed into and removed from an apparatus body through an opening in an installation-removal direction and are held by a unit holder. The unit holder includes a first positioner that is disposed opposite one lateral end of the first unit and the second unit and is detachably attached to the first unit and the second unit. A second positioner is disposed opposite another lateral end of the first unit and the second unit and holds the first unit and the second unit in a state in which the first unit and the second unit are detachably attached to the second positioner. The first positioner and the second positioner secure a relative position of the first unit relative to the second unit in a direction parallel to a hypothetical orthogonal plane perpendicular to the installation-removal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventor: Tomoaki SUGA
  • Publication number: 20240053695
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor that bears an image and an intermediate transfer device that forms a primary transfer nip between the photoconductor and the intermediate transfer device. The intermediate transfer device primarily transfers the image from the photoconductor onto the intermediate transfer device at the primary transfer nip. A secondary transfer device forms a secondary transfer nip between the intermediate transfer device and the secondary transfer device. The secondary transfer device secondarily transfers the image from the intermediate transfer device onto a recording medium at the secondary transfer nip. At least one support shaft supports the intermediate transfer device. The at least one support shaft supports, on an identical axis, one lateral end and another lateral end of the secondary transfer device in a width direction of the recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Hiroaki TAKAGI, Tomoaki SUGA, Takahiro KONISHI
  • Publication number: 20230113719
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a reading device, and processing circuitry. The image forming device forms a first image on a first face of a recording medium and form a second image on a second face of the recording medium. The first face and the second face are on opposite sides of the recording medium. The reading device detects a shape of the recording medium. The processing circuitry corrects the second image to be formed on the second face of the recording medium with respect to the first image formed on the first face of the recording medium based on the shape of the recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoaki Suga
  • Patent number: 11381709
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a first scanner, a second scanner, and circuitry. The first scanner is configured to read a first side of a recording medium. The second scanner is configured to read a second side of the recording medium. The circuitry is configured to generate a first correction value to correct misalignment between the first side and the second side. The circuitry is configured to input a second correction value. The circuitry is configured to correct an image based on the first correction value and the second correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ishii, Kohtaroh Oda, Tetsuya Ofuchi, Tomoaki Suga, Yukifumi Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20210266423
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a first scanner, a second scanner, and circuitry. The first scanner is configured to read a first side of a recording medium. The second scanner is configured to read a second side of the recording medium. The circuitry is configured to generate a first correction value to correct misalignment between the first side and the second side. The circuitry is configured to input a second correction value. The circuitry is configured to correct an image based on the first correction value and the second correction value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: TATSUYA ISHII, KOHTAROH ODA, TETSUYA OFUCHI, TOMOAKI SUGA, YUKIFUMI KOBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 10871732
    Abstract: A deviation detection device to detect a deviation of a rotator includes a contact member disposed in contact with the rotator and configured to move, following a deviation of the rotator in a width direction of the rotator. The deviation detection device further includes a deviation detector configured to detect a direction of the deviation and a deviation amount of the rotator based on a displacement of the contact member, and a wear detector configured to detect a state in which an amount of wear of the contact member has reached a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Konishi, Tomoaki Suga
  • Patent number: 10788779
    Abstract: A belt deviation detection device detects lateral displacement of a rotary belt in a width direction of the belt. The belt deviation detection device includes a contact member in contact with the belt at a contact portion of the contact member, a biasing member configured to bias the contact member toward the belt to press the contact member against the belt, and a displacement detector configured to detect the displacement of the belt in the width direction of the belt. The contact member is configured to track the displacement of the belt in the width direction of the belt. The contact member is made of a metal material, and a hardening treatment is applied to at least the contact portion of the contact member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Suga, Takahiro Konishi
  • Publication number: 20200133172
    Abstract: A deviation detection device to detect a deviation of a rotator includes a contact member disposed in contact with the rotator and configured to move, following a deviation of the rotator in a width direction of the rotator. The deviation detection device further includes a deviation detector configured to detect a direction of the deviation and a deviation amount of the rotator based on a displacement of the contact member, and a wear detector configured to detect a state in which an amount of wear of the contact member has reached a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro KONISHI, Tomoaki SUGA
  • Publication number: 20200064765
    Abstract: A belt deviation detection device detects lateral displacement of a rotary belt in a width direction of the belt. The belt deviation detection device includes a contact member in contact with the belt at a contact portion of the contact member, a biasing member configured to bias the contact member toward the belt to press the contact member against the belt, and a displacement detector configured to detect the displacement of the belt in the width direction of the belt. The contact member is configured to track the displacement of the belt in the width direction of the belt. The contact member is made of a metal material, and a hardening treatment is applied to at least the contact portion of the contact member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Suga, Takahiro Konishi
  • Patent number: 10298792
    Abstract: An image forming device, which is included in an image forming apparatus, includes an image reader, a sheet conveyance passage, a transparent body, an opposing body, and multiple curved opposing portions. The image reader is configured to read an image formed on a target object. The sheet conveyance passage is a passage through which the target object is conveyed. The transparent body is disposed between the sheet conveyance passage and the image reader. The opposing body is disposed facing the transparent body on a side opposite the image reader. The multiple curved opposing portions have respective outwardly curving reference planes. The multiple curved opposing portions are sequentially switched and located at a predetermined image reading position at which the multiple curved opposing portions face the transparent body with a gap through which the target object passes the predetermined image reading position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakayama, Hideyo Makino, Tomoaki Suga, Yuusuke Kumagawa
  • Patent number: 10136010
    Abstract: A position measurement reference sheet for image position measurement on a recording medium includes a body having a front face to face an image reading face of a reading device, a recording medium detection window in the body to measure a position of an end of the recording medium, and an image detection window in the body to measure a position of an image on the recording medium. The position measurement reference sheet is interposed between the image reading face and the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yumiko Kishi, Makoto Hino, Satoshi Mohri, Yoshiaki Morita, Noritaka Masuda, Hideyo Makino, Tomoaki Suga, Takahiro Konishi, Satoshi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 10015361
    Abstract: An image measurement sheet for measuring an image formed on a recording medium includes a sheet having a plurality of medium scan windows used for detecting the recording medium, a plurality of image scan windows used for detecting the image formed on the recording medium, and an information scan window used for detecting imaging condition information recorded on the recording medium with the image, the plurality of medium scan windows to be corresponded to a portion of sides and a corner of the recording medium, the plurality of image scan windows to be corresponded to a portion of the image formed on the recording medium, and the information scan window to be corresponded to the imaging condition information recorded on the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Suga, Satoshi Mohri, Hideyo Makino, Yoshiaki Morita, Satoshi Nakayama, Takahiro Konishi
  • Publication number: 20180020108
    Abstract: An image forming device, which is included in an image forming apparatus, includes an image reader, a sheet conveyance passage, a transparent body, an opposing body, and multiple curved opposing portions. The image reader is configured to read an image formed on a target object. The sheet conveyance passage is a passage through which the target object is conveyed. The transparent body is disposed between the sheet conveyance passage and the image reader. The opposing body is disposed facing the transparent body on a side opposite the image reader. The multiple curved opposing portions have respective outwardly curving reference planes. The multiple curved opposing portions are sequentially switched and located at a predetermined image reading position at which the multiple curved opposing portions face the transparent body with a gap through which the target object passes the predetermined image reading position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi NAKAYAMA, Hideyo MAKINO, Tomoaki SUGA, Yuusuke KUMAGAWA