Patents by Inventor Tomohiko Sasaki

Tomohiko Sasaki 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: 7620345
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed, that includes multiple imaging units, a loading unit formed on the top face of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and a discharging unit disposed at the operation side of the main body. The image forming apparatus further includes multiple developer containing members disposed in the main body for providing the corresponding imaging units with developer, the developer containing members being arranged in a direction extending from the operation side of the main body. The developer containing members are detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus, and can be handled in a space above the image forming apparatus, the space being limited to the width of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ishii, Yuusuke Noguchi, Kazuosa Kuma, Makoto Kikura, Yutaka Fukuchi, Kazuki Suzuki, Tomohiko Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20090201559
    Abstract: A rotatable scanner includes a scanner body and a document holder. The scanner body includes an exposure surface on which a document is placed. The document holder is provided above the scanner body to cover a document placed on the exposure surface of the scanner body, and includes a hinged side and a free side opposite the hinged side. A front upper edge of the scanner body is chamfered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Yamada, Tomohiko Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20080244721
    Abstract: Techniques for sharing data between users in a manner that maintains anonymity of the users. Tokens are generated and provided to users for sharing data. A token comprises information encoding an identifier and an encryption key. A user may use a token to upload data that is to be shared. The data to be shared is encrypted using the encryption key associated with the token and the encrypted data is stored such that it can be accessed using the identifier associated with the token. A user may then use a token to access the shared data. The identifier associated with the token being used to access the shared data is used to access the data and the encryption key associated with the token is used to decrypt the data. Data is shared anonymously without revealing the identity of the users using the tokens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: John W. Barrus, Tomohiko Sasaki, Jamey Graham, Sharon Kojima
  • Patent number: 7389064
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of containers, a container compartment, and a plurality of indicators. The plurality of containers contains developing agent, and may be arranged in parallel with each other in a first sequential order. The container compartment holds the plurality of containers at varied holding heights. The plurality of indicators indicates information of the developing agent in the plurality of containers, and may be arranged in parallel to each other in a second sequential order on the image forming apparatus. The first sequential order of the plurality of containers corresponds to the second sequential order of the plurality of indicators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomohiko Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20080101822
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of containers, a container compartment, and a plurality of indicators. The plurality of containers contains developing agent, and may be arranged in parallel with each other in a first sequential order. The container compartment holds the plurality of containers at varied holding heights. The plurality of indicators indicates information of the developing agent in the plurality of containers, and may be arranged in parallel to each other in a second sequential order on the image forming apparatus. The first sequential order of the plurality of containers corresponds to the second sequential order of the plurality of indicators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventor: Tomohiko SASAKI
  • Publication number: 20070234912
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed, that includes multiple imaging units, a loading unit formed on the top face of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and a discharging unit disposed at the operation side of the main body. The image forming apparatus further includes multiple developer containing members disposed in the main body for providing the corresponding imaging units with developer, the developer containing members being arranged in a direction extending from the operation side of the main body. The developer containing members are detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus, and can be handled in a space above the image forming apparatus, the space being limited to the width of the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventors: Hiroshi ISHII, Yuusuke Noguchi, Kazuosa Kuma, Makoto Kikura, Yutaka Fukuchi, Kazuki Suzuki, Tomohiko Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20060120763
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed, that includes multiple imaging units, a loading unit formed on the top face of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and a discharging unit disposed at the operation side of the main body. The image forming apparatus further includes multiple developer containing members disposed in the main body for providing the corresponding imaging units with developer, the developer containing members being arranged in a direction extending from the operation side of the main body. The developer containing members are detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus, and can be handled in a space above the image forming apparatus, the space being limited to the width of the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ishii, Yuusuke Noguchi, Kazuosa Kuma, Makoto Kikura, Yutaka Fukuchi, Kazuki Suzuki, Tomohiko Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20060110178
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of containers, a container compartment, and a plurality of indicators. The plurality of containers contains developing agent, and may be arranged in parallel with each other in a first sequential order. The container compartment holds the plurality of containers at varied holding heights. The plurality of indicators indicates information of the developing agent in the plurality of containers, and may be arranged in parallel to each other in a second sequential order on the image forming apparatus. The first sequential order of the plurality of containers corresponds to the second sequential order of the plurality of indicators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Inventor: Tomohiko Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20060110179
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism for forming an image, at least one developer container replaceably provided in the image forming apparatus for containing developer, a housing for housing the image forming mechanism and the at least one developer container, and an operation device provided on the housing. The housing includes at least one openable portion opened for replacement of the at least one developer container. The operation device includes an instruction display part for indicating a message prompting opening of the at least one openable portion, and at least one developer-end display part for indicating depletion or near-depletion of the developer contained in any one of the at least one developer container. The at least one developer-end display part and the instruction display part are placed adjacent to each other and are viewable from a front side of the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Inventor: Tomohiko Sasaki
  • Patent number: 7016629
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed, that includes multiple imaging units, a loading unit formed on the top face of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and a discharging unit disposed at the operation side of the main body. The image forming apparatus further includes multiple developer containing members disposed in the main body for providing the corresponding imaging units with developer, the developer containing members being arranged in a direction extending from the operation side of the main body. The developer containing members are detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus, and can be handled in a space above the image forming apparatus, the space being limited to the width of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ishii, Yuusuke Noguchi, Kazuosa Kuma, Makoto Kikura, Yutaka Fukuchi, Kazuki Suzuki, Tomohiko Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20040208676
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed, that includes multiple imaging units, a loading unit formed on the top face of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and a discharging unit disposed at the operation side of the main body. The image forming apparatus further includes multiple developer containing members disposed in the main body for providing the corresponding imaging units with developer, the developer containing members being arranged in a direction extending from the operation side of the main body. The developer containing members are detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus, and can be handled in a space above the image forming apparatus, the space being limited to the width of the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ishii, Yuusuke Noguchi, Kazuosa Kuma, Makoto Kikura, Yutaka Fukuchi, Kazuki Suzuki, Tomohiko Sasaki
  • Patent number: D533586
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoko Nakamura, Masahiro Kurita, Tomohiko Sasaki
  • Patent number: D558818
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Yonekawa, Tomohiko Sasaki, Masami Iida, Shigeru Horiguchi