Patents by Inventor Tomoya Ohmura

Tomoya Ohmura 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: 9031471
    Abstract: A development device having a development portion with a developer spout, to develop a latent image formed on an image carrier with developer including toner and carrier particles. The development unit also includes a circulation unit to convey developer collected from the development portion to the developer spout, a developer container, provided in the circulation unit, to contain the developer at a position upstream from the development portion in a developer circular direction, the developer container having a cylindrical upper portion and a funnel-shaped lower portion continuous with the cylindrical upper portion through a joint so that a level of the developer contained in the developer container at rest is positioned near the joint between the cylindrical upper portion and the funnel-shaped lower portion. An agitator is provided inside the developer container, to agitate and mix the collected developer and fresh toner supplied to the developer container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoya Ohmura, Yasuo Takuma, Junichi Matsumoto, Hiroshi Kikuchi, Natsumi Matsue
  • Publication number: 20140112687
    Abstract: A developing device to develop with two-component developer an electrostatic latent image includes a developer bearer to carry thereon developer supplied to the latent image bearer, a first conveyance channel disposed adjacent to the developer bearer, a second conveyance channel disposed adjacent to the first conveyance channel and farther from the developer bearer than the first conveyance channel, a first conveying member disposed in the first conveyance channel to agitate and transport developer supplied to the developer bearer, a second conveying member including a spiral blade winding around a shaft to transport developer in the second conveyance channel in a predetermined developer conveyance direction, and a collected-developer guide to guide a part of developer that leaves the developer bearer to the second conveyance channel beyond the first conveyance channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Inventors: Tomoya Ohmura, Akira Azami, Toshio Koike, Masaaki Yamada, Hiroaki Okamoto
  • Patent number: 8688012
    Abstract: In a disclosed developing device, a developing part includes a developer carrier for circulating a developer inside the developing part and for supplying the developer to an image carrier, a developer supply member for supplying the developer to the developer carrier, and a developer collection member for collecting the developer which is not used. A developer stirring part is arranged at a different position from a position of the developing part. A developer conveyance part carries the developer by an air conveyance in a developer conveyance path from the developer stirring part to the developing part. A developer detection part includes an opening which communicates between the developer supply member and the developer collection member, is arranged at a downstream side in a flow direction of the developer below and near the developer supply member, and detects whether the developer exists in a vicinity of the developer supply member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Matsumoto, Tomoya Ohmura, Yasuo Takuma, Hiroshi Kikuchi, Natsumi Matsue
  • Patent number: 8682187
    Abstract: A development device includes a development portion, to develop a latent image formed on a latent image carrier with developer, disposed close to the latent image carrier; a developer agitation container to agitate the developer, provided separately from the development portion; a transport system connecting the development portion and the developer agitation container, through which the developer is transported from the developer agitation container to the development portion by air; and a developer retainer to temporarily retain the developer, disposed downstream from the transport system, to which the developer remaining in the transport system escapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Takuma, Junichi Matsumoto, Tomoya Ohmura, Hiroshi Kikuchi, Natsumi Matsue
  • Patent number: 8666288
    Abstract: A developing device in the embodiment includes: a developer carrier that carries a two-component developer, moves the surface, and supplies the toner to a latent image on a surface of a latent image carrier; a first conveying member that conveys the developer in a first conveying path; a second conveying member that conveys the developer in a second conveying path; and a developer passing unit that conveys upward the developer which has reached at a conveying-direction posterior end of the second conveying path and passes the developer to the first conveying path. The developer passing unit includes a plurality of pushing members that push up the developer. The developer can pass through from upper surfaces of the pushing members to lower surfaces of the pushing members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Junichi Matsumoto, Tomoya Ohmura, Yasuo Takuma, Hiroshi Kikuchi, Natsumi Matsue
  • Patent number: 8639150
    Abstract: A development device includes a developing section to visualize a latent image formed on a latent image carrier with developer including toner and carrier. The development device has a developer supply opening and a developer collection opening, a circulation unit to transport the developer collected from the developer collection opening of the developing section to the developer supply opening of the developing section and including a developer container to store the developer collected from the developing section disposed upstream from the development section in a direction in which the developer is circulated, and a developer cooler to cool the developer contained in the developer container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventors: Tomoya Ohmura, Yasuo Takuma, Junichi Matsumoto, Hiroshi Kikuchi, Natsumi Katoh
  • Patent number: 8615186
    Abstract: A development device includes a development portion to develop a latent image; an agitation container to contain developer; a circulation system through which the developer is circulated between the development portion and the agitation container; a developer replenishing device to supply fresh developer to the agitation container; an agitator, provided inside the agitation container, to agitate and mix the developer collected from the development portion and the fresh developer from the developer replenishing device; and a developer escape chamber to discharge surplus developer in the agitation container, projecting from and continuous with the agitation container, the developer escape chamber defining a communication pathway in a side of the agitation container between the agitation container and the developer escape chamber through which the developer is moved between the agitation container and the developer escape chamber and having a discharge opening whose lower end is positioned higher than the commun
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kikuchi, Yasuo Takuma, Junichi Matsumoto, Tomoya Ohmura
  • Patent number: 8515316
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer supply part and a developer collecting part, wherein the developer supply part has a developer inlet port for introducing a developer supplied from a reservoir into the developer supply part and a developer extraction port provided on the side of the developer inlet port to remove a portion of the developer so as to define a quantity of the developer to be introduced in the developer supply part, and wherein the developer extraction port and the developer collecting part are connected to the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Matsumoto, Tomoya Ohmura, Natsumi Matsue, Yasuo Takuma, Hiroshi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 8385783
    Abstract: A development device includes a development portion to develop a latent image formed on a latent image carrying member with developer including toner and carrier particles, a circulation unit to convey the developer collected from the development portion to development portion, the circulation unit including a container to store the developer, disposed upstream from the development portion in a direction in which the developer is circulated, and a first agitator provided inside the container, to agitate and mix the collected developer and fresh toner supplied to the container, the first agitator formed by multiple linear members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tomoya Ohmura, Junichi Matsumoto, Natsumi Matsue
  • Patent number: 8295739
    Abstract: A development device includes a development mechanism, an agitation unit connected to the development mechanism, to agitate and mix together developer collected from the development mechanism and fresh toner, and a transport member to transport the agitated developer from the agitation unit to a development portion. The development mechanism includes a developer carrier to carry developer, multiple supply ports disposed at different positions in an axial direction of the developer carrier, through which the agitated developer is supplied to the development mechanism, a discharge port, a developer supply member to supply developer to the developer carrier while transporting the developer in the direction parallel to the axial direction of the developer carrier, and a developer collection member to collect the developer from the developer carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Natsumi Matsue, Junichi Matsumoto, Tomoya Ohmura
  • Patent number: 8280281
    Abstract: The development device includes a development member and a circulation member. The development member develops an electrostatic latent image formed on a latent image carrier with a developer including toner and a carrier to make the electrostatic latent image visible. The circulation member receives the developer discharged from the development member and conveys the developer back to the development member. The circulation member includes a container provided upstream from the development member in a conveyance direction of the developer to store the developer. The container includes an agitator provided inside the container and agitates and mixes the developer and fresh toner supplied to the container. The agitator includes a rotatable agitation member in which one or more holes are formed through which the developer passes to mix the fresh toner and the developer to be agitated in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tomoya Ohmura, Junichi Matsumoto, Nobuo Iwata, Natsumi Katoh
  • Publication number: 20120230733
    Abstract: A development device includes a development portion to develop a latent image; an agitation container to contain developer; a circulation system through which the developer is circulated between the development portion and the agitation container; a developer replenishing device to supply fresh developer to the agitation container; an agitator, provided inside the agitation container, to agitate and mix the developer collected from the development portion and the fresh developer from the developer replenishing device; and a developer escape chamber to discharge surplus developer in the agitation container, projecting from and continuous with the agitation container, the developer escape chamber defining a communication pathway in a side of the agitation container between the agitation container and the developer escape chamber through which the developer is moved between the agitation container and the developer escape chamber and having a discharge opening whose lower end is positioned higher than the commun
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Hiroshi KIKUCHI, Yasuo TAKUMA, Junichi MATSUMOTO, Tomoya OHMURA
  • Publication number: 20120114349
    Abstract: In a disclosed developing device, a developing part includes a developer carrier for circulating a developer inside the developing part and for supplying the developer to an image carrier, a developer supply member for supplying the developer to the developer carrier, and a developer collection member for collecting the developer which is not used. A developer stirring part is arranged at a different position from a position of the developing part. A developer conveyance part carries the developer by an air conveyance in a developer conveyance path from the developer stirring part to the developing part. A developer detection part includes an opening which communicates between the developer supply member and the developer collection member, is arranged at a downstream side in a flow direction of the developer below and near the developer supply member, and detects whether the developer exists in a vicinity of the developer supply member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Matsumoto, Tomoya Ohmura, Yasuo Takuma, Hiroshi Kikuchi, Natsumi Matsue
  • Patent number: 8175488
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus and method for developing a latent image on an image bearing member includes the image bearing member, an air flow generator, and an air intake device. The image bearing member is configured to bear the latent image on the surface thereof. The airflow generator is configured to generate airflow to transport a developer. The air intake device is configured to connect outside the image forming apparatus with the airflow generator to draw air from outside the image forming apparatus to supply the air to the airflow generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo Iwata, Junichi Matsumoto, Natsumi Katoh, Tomoya Ohmura
  • Publication number: 20120057890
    Abstract: A development device includes a development portion, to develop a latent image formed on a latent image carrier with developer, disposed close to the latent image carrier; a developer agitation container to agitate the developer, provided separately from the development portion; a transport system connecting the development portion and the developer agitation container, through which the developer is transported from the developer agitation container to the development portion by air; and a developer retainer to temporarily retain the developer, disposed downstream from the transport system, to which the developer remaining in the transport system escapes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Takuma, Junichi Matsumoto, Tomoya Ohmura, Hiroshi Kikuchi, Natsumi Matsue
  • Publication number: 20120051792
    Abstract: A developing device in the embodiment includes: a developer carrier that carries a two-component developer, moves the surface, and supplies the toner to a latent image on a surface of a latent image carrier; a first conveying member that conveys the developer in a first conveying path; a second conveying member that conveys the developer in a second conveying path; and a developer passing unit that conveys upward the developer which has reached at a conveying-direction posterior end of the second conveying path and passes the developer to the first conveying path. The developer passing unit includes a plurality of pushing members that push up the developer. The developer can pass through from upper surfaces of the pushing members to lower surfaces of the pushing members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Junichi Matsumoto, Tomoya Ohmura, Yasuo Takuma, Hiroshi Kikuchi, Natsumi Matsue
  • Publication number: 20120051791
    Abstract: A development device includes a development portion, having a developer spout, to develop a latent image formed on a latent image carrier with developer including toner and carrier particles; a circulation unit to convey developer collected from the development portion to the developer spout in the development portion; a developer container, provided in the circulation unit, to contain the developer at a position upstream from the development portion in a developer circular direction, the developer container having a cylindrical upper portion and a funnel-shaped lower portion continuous with the cylindrical upper portion through a joint so that a level of the developer contained in the developer container at rest is positioned near the joint between the cylindrical upper portion and the funnel-shaped lower portion; and an agitator, provided inside the developer container, to agitate and mix the collected developer and fresh toner supplied to the developer container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoya Ohmura, Yasuo Takuma, Junichi Matsumoto, Hiroshi Kikuchi, Natsumi Matsue
  • Patent number: 8112016
    Abstract: A development agent circulation unit includes a development unit, an agitation unit, and a rotary feeder. The development unit develops a latent image on an image carrier using a developing agent. The agitation unit agitates developing agent recovered from the development unit. The rotary feeder receives the developing agent from the agitation unit and discharges the developing agent in predetermined discrete amounts. The discharged developing agent is transported to the development unit using a gas stream. The rotary feeder includes a rotor and a stator having a clearance “t” between the rotor and the stator. The clearance “t” satisfies a relation “t<2D” where D denotes a developing agent particle diameter, and a toner particle diameter dt of a toner particle of the developing agent and a carrier particle diameter dc of a carrier particle of the developing agent satisfy a relation D=dc+2dt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Matsumoto, Nobuo Iwata, Natsumi Katoh, Tomoya Ohmura
  • Patent number: 8103197
    Abstract: A developing system includes a developing unit, a mixing container, a rotary feeder, an air pump, and an airflow regulator. The developing unit is configured to convert a latent image into visible form using a developer. The mixing container is separated from the developing unit and is configured to hold and mix part of the developer after use. The rotary feeder is configured to dispense the developer from the mixing container to a delivery path. The air pump is configured to supply compressed air to deliver the dispensed developer to the developing unit through the delivery path. The airflow regulator is located where the rotary feeder connects to the delivery path, and is configured to prevent the compressed air from flowing toward the rotary feeder from the delivery path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Junichi Matsumoto, Nobuo Iwata, Natsumi Katoh, Tomoya Ohmura
  • Patent number: 8073368
    Abstract: A development device includes a developer carrier, and a developer conveyance path. The developer carrier carries and conveys developer having a magnetic property. The developer carrier includes a plurality of magnetic poles provided inside the development carrier. The developer conveyance path is provided above the developer carrier and conveys the developer by a flow of air such that the developer is conveyed parallel to the developer carrier. The developer conveyance path is provided with a first developer outlet disposed above the developer carrier and open along a direction of conveyance of the developer to discharge the developer to the outside of the developer conveyance path to directly supply the developer to the developer carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventors: Nobuo Iwata, Junichi Matsumoto, Natsumi Katoh, Tomoya Ohmura