Patents by Inventor Toshihiro Shimada

Toshihiro Shimada 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: 9353553
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image; a drawer unit configured to be pulled out from a body of the image forming apparatus; a first lock unit configured to receive power from a power supply and perform at least one of lock and unlock of the drawer unit with respect to the body; and a second lock unit configured to perform lock and unlock of the drawer unit with respect to the body by a mechanical operation performed by an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Yusuke Funayama, Joh Ebara, Hiroshi Ishii, Junichi Kawase, Kohta Takenaka, Tetsuji Nishikawa, Yoshihide Ohta, Kouta Hirakawa, Toshihiro Shimada, Tsuyoshi Endo
  • Publication number: 20160098005
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of latent image bearers, a latent image writer, a plurality of developing units, a primary transfer unit, a secondary transfer unit, an adjuster, a pattern image formation controller, a color deviation detector, a color deviation correction controller, and an image-formation-mode setting unit. The latent image writer writes latent images to the latent image bearers. The plurality of developing units develops the latent images of the latent image bearers and form toner images of different colors. The primary transfer unit transfers the toner images on the latent image bearers to an intermediate transferer. The secondary transfer unit transfers the toner images from the intermediate transferer to a sheet. The adjuster causes the intermediate transferer and the secondary transfer unit to be in a contact state or a separated state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Kazuhiro KOBAYASHI, Toshiyuki Uchida, Kaoru Yoshino, Toshihiro Shimada
  • Patent number: 9298155
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, an image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a sound absorbing device utilizing a Helmholtz resonator, and a hinged exterior cover operable to open and close relative to the apparatus body. The hinged exterior cover is a hinged cover configured to pivot about a pivot shaft arranged at a lower end portion of the hinged exterior cover. At least a part of the hinged exterior cover has a multiplex structure made by overlaying a plurality of plate-like members on one another. The sound absorbing device is formed by utilizing space between two plate-like members of the plurality of plate-like members making up the multiplex structure as a cavity of the Helmholtz resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroki Ishimitsu, Masahiro Ishida, Naoki Matsuda, Kohta Takenaka, Toshihiro Shimada, Wataru Hojo
  • Patent number: 9274503
    Abstract: A sound absorber includes a duct member constituting a resonance pathway, the duct member including a pathway portion communicating ends of the duct member; a base member including a concave portion; and a cover member including a neck in which to insert the duct member. The cover member covers the concave portion of the base member, and the cover member combined with the base member forms a resonance space having a volume V. The resonance pathway has dimensions of a length LH and a cross-sectional area SH and communicates the resonance space and an exterior of the sound absorber. The sound absorber has a resonance frequency fH determined by fH=(c/2?)·(SH/V·LH)1/2 and absorbs sound having the resonance frequency fH, where c represents sound velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Ishida, Toshihiro Shimada, Naoki Matsuda
  • Publication number: 20160033928
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, an image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a sound absorbing device utilizing a Helmholtz resonator, and a hinged exterior cover operable to open and close relative to the apparatus body. The hinged exterior cover is a hinged cover configured to pivot about a pivot shaft arranged at a lower end portion of the hinged exterior cover. At least a part of the hinged exterior cover has a multiplex structure made by overlaying a plurality of plate-like members on one another. The sound absorbing device is formed by utilizing space between two plate-like members of the plurality of plate-like members making up the multiplex structure as a cavity of the Helmholtz resonator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroki ISHIMITSU, Masahiro ISHIDA, Naoki MATSUDA, Kohta TAKENAKA, Toshihiro SHIMADA, Wataru HOJO
  • Publication number: 20150343816
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises: a shielding object that is arranged at least in a plurality of directions and shields noise; and a Helmholtz silencer that is arranged in a direction where the shielding object does not exist, the shielding object and the silencer being arranged with respect to a noise source causing noise such as a driving source that is arranged inside an apparatus body, wherein a neck portion of the Helmholtz silencer is directed to the noise source, a plurality of such Helmholtz silencers are provided to correspond to at least two kinds of frequencies, and installed number of the Helmholtz silencers corresponding to at least two kinds of the frequencies respectively, is made different depending on a distance from the noise source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Junichi KAWASE, Junichi MURANO, Shoji ASANUMA, Toshihiro SHIMADA, Kouta HIRAKAWA, Tsuyoshi ENDO, Hiroki ISHIMITSU, Masahiro ISHIDA, Naoki MATSUDA
  • Patent number: 9188946
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image forming section; a conveyance path to convey a recording medium to the image forming section; a drawer unit including the conveyance path and configured to be pulled out relative to the apparatus; an electrical cable to electrically connect the drawer unit and an interior of the apparatus even when the drawer unit is pulled out from the apparatus; and a cable holder (a first regulating member) to ensure that that the cable is securely prevented from protruding from the drawer unit. According to the present invention, the electric cable is prevented from running off from the drawer unit due to the folding of the cable caused by the regulating member, so that the electric cable is prevented from getting hung up on the parts disposed in the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuji Nishikawa, Yusuke Funayama, Hidehiko Maeda, Junichi Kawase, Hiroshi Ishii, Joh Ebara, Kohta Takenaka, Yoshihide Ohta, Kohta Hirakawa, Toshihiro Shimada, Yusuke Masu, Makoto Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9176462
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a drawer unit that includes therein a paper-feeding conveying path for conveying a recording medium conveyed from a paper feeding unit on which the recording media are stacked to an image forming unit and/or a discharge conveying path for conveying the recording medium on which an image has been formed to a discharging unit, and be drawn out from an apparatus main body; a lock unit that locks the drawer unit to the apparatus main body; a straddle detecting unit that detects whether the recording medium straddles a conveying path in the apparatus main body and a conveying path in the drawer unit; and a controller that controls the lock unit to lock the drawer unit to the apparatus main body when the straddle detecting unit detects the straddle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Yoshihide Ohta, Joh Ebara, Hiroshi Ishii, Junichi Kawase, Kohta Takenaka, Tetsuji Nishikawa, Kohta Hirakawa, Toshihiro Shimada, Yusuke Funayama, Tsuyoshi Endo, Yusuke Masu, Makoto Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9163429
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drawer unit configured to be drawn out from a body of the image forming apparatus. The drawer unit includes a carriage path for carrying a recording medium, a lock unit configured to lock the drawer unit in the body, a driving unit configured to drive the lock unit, the driving unit including at least a driving source, and a drawer unit cover configured to cover at least the drawer unit. The drawer unit cover is a part of an outer cover of the body arranged on a side in a drawing direction of the drawer unit. The drawer unit cover is attached to the drawer unit so that the drawer unit cover is removed from the drawer unit in a state where the drawer unit is attached to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Kohta Takenaka, Joh Ebara, Hiroshi Ishii, Junichi Kawase, Tetsuji Nishikawa, Yoshihide Ohta, Kohta Hirakawa, Toshihiro Shimada, Yusuke Funayama, Tsuyoshi Endo
  • Publication number: 20150243274
    Abstract: A sound absorbing device including a Helmholtz resonator also includes a projection part having a shape of protruding from an outer wall surface of a communicating part forming plate among the communicating part forming plate and a cavity forming member that are cavity part forming members forming a cavity part of the Helmholtz resonator, and surrounding an opening of a communicating part that causes the cavity part to communicate with the outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Kouta HIRAKAWA, Junichi MURANO, Shoji ASANUMA, Toshihiro SHIMADA, Tsuyoshi ENDO, Hiroki ISHIMITSU, Masahiro ISHIDA, Naoki MATSUDA
  • Patent number: 9042766
    Abstract: A cooling device including a heat pipe to cool a sheet, a radiator provided to an end of the heat pipe, and a duct accommodating the radiator and having a closably openable cover member. The cover member is openable to enable attachment and detachment of the heat pipe to and from the cooling device in a predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuta Ueda, Toshihiro Shimada
  • Publication number: 20150110517
    Abstract: A sound absorber includes a duct member constituting a resonance pathway, the duct member including a pathway portion communicating ends of the duct member; a base member including a concave portion; and a cover member including a neck in which to insert the duct member. The cover member covers the concave portion of the base member, and the cover member combined with the base member forms a resonance space having a volume V The resonance pathway has dimensions of a length LH and a cross-sectional area SH and communicates the resonance space and an exterior of the sound absorber. The sound absorber has a resonance frequency fH determined by fH=(c/2?)·(SH/V·LH)1/2 and absorbs sound having the resonance frequency fH, where c represents sound velocity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro ISHIDA, Toshihiro SHIMADA, Naoki MATSUDA
  • Publication number: 20140167587
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drawer unit configured to be drawn out from a body of the image forming apparatus. The drawer unit includes a carriage path for carrying a recording medium, a lock unit configured to lock the drawer unit in the body, a driving unit configured to drive the lock unit, the driving unit including at least a driving source, and a drawer unit cover configured to cover at least the drawer unit. The drawer unit cover is a part of an outer cover of the body arranged on a side in a drawing direction of the drawer unit. The drawer unit cover is attached to the drawer unit so that the drawer unit cover is removed from the drawer unit in a state where the drawer unit is attached to the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Kohta TAKENAKA, Joh EBARA, Hiroshi ISHII, Junichi KAWASE, Tetsuji NISHIKAWA, Yoshihide OHTA, Kohta HIRAKAWA, Toshihiro SHIMADA, Yusuke FUNAYAMA, Tsuyoshi ENDO
  • Publication number: 20140169828
    Abstract: The present invention is concerning to an image forming apparatus comprising: a drawer unit that includes therein a paper-feeding conveying path for conveying a recording medium conveyed from a paper feeding unit on which the recording mediums are stacked to an image forming unit and/or a discharge conveying path for conveying the recording medium on which an image has been formed to a discharging unit, and be drawn out from an apparatus main body; a lock unit that locks the drawer unit to the apparatus main body; a straddle detecting unit that detects whether the recording medium straddles a conveying path in the apparatus main body and a conveying path in the drawer unit; and a controller that controls the lock unit to lock the drawer unit to the apparatus main body when the straddle detecting unit detects the straddle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Yoshihide OHTA, Joh EBARA, Hiroshi ISHII, Junichi KAWASE, Kohta TAKENAKA, Tetsuji NISHIKAWA, Kohta HIRAKAWA, Toshihiro SHIMADA, Yusuke FUNAYAMA, Tsuyoshi ENDO, Yusuke MASU, Makoto SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20140167580
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image; a drawer unit configured to be pulled out from a body of the image forming apparatus; a first lock unit configured to receive power from a power supply and perform at least one of lock and unlock of the drawer unit with respect to the body; and a second lock unit configured to perform lock and unlock of the drawer unit with respect to the body by a mechanical operation performed by an operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Yusuke FUNAYAMA, Joh EBARA, Hiroshi ISHII, Junichi KAWASE, Kohta TAKENAKA, Tetsuji NISHIKAWA, Yoshihide OHTA, Kouta HIRAKAWA, Toshihiro SHIMADA, Tsuyoshi ENDO
  • Publication number: 20140055016
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image forming section; a conveyance path to convey a recording medium to the image forming section; a drawer unit including the conveyance path and configured to be pulled out relative to the apparatus; an electrical cable to electrically connect the drawer unit and an interior of the apparatus even when the drawer unit is pulled out from the apparatus; and a cable holder (a first regulating member) to ensure that that the cable is securely prevented from protruding from the drawer unit. According to the present invention, the electric cable is prevented from running off from the drawer unit due to the folding of the cable caused by the regulating member, so that the electric cable is prevented from getting hung up on the parts disposed in the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuji NISHIKAWA, Yusuke FUNAYAMA, Hidehiko MAEDA, Junichi KAWASE, Hiroshi ISHII, Joh EBARA, Kohta TAKENAKA, Yoshihide OHTA, Kohta HIRAKAWA, Toshihiro SHIMADA, Yusuke MASU, Makoto SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 8626019
    Abstract: A power switch structure for an apparatus, including a recess provided in a side surface of the apparatus and having a distal sloped face facing a front side of the apparatus and a proximal sloped face surface, and a power switch, inclined with respect to the side surface of the apparatus, positioned on the distal sloped face surface to face the front side of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kanae Amemiya, Hiroshi Ishii, Toshihiro Shimada
  • Publication number: 20130251392
    Abstract: A cooling device including a heat pipe to cool a sheet, a radiator provided to an end of the heat pipe, and a duct accommodating the radiator and having a closably openable cover member. The cover member is openable to enable attachment and detachment of the heat pipe to and from the cooling device in a predetermined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuta UEDA, Toshihiro SHIMADA
  • Patent number: 8428480
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressing member, a temperature detector, and a heater. The pressing member contacts an outer circumferential surface of the fixing member to form a fixing nip between the fixing member and the pressing member through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes. The heater heats the fixing member to a predetermined temperature based on a detection result provided by the temperature detector. A circumferential distance A between the temperature detector and the heater along a circumference of the fixing member is defined by the following formula: A?v×(T1+T2) where v is a circumferential velocity of the fixing member rotating in a predetermined direction of rotation, T1 is a response time of the temperature detector, and T2 is a response time of the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohta Takenaka, Kazunori Bannai, Yu Wakabayashi, Toshihiro Shimada, Hidehiko Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20120294645
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming part to form an image on a recording medium, a sheet feeder to feed the recording medium to the image forming part, a drawer unit withdrawably installable in the image forming apparatus disposed within the image forming pat, and a front cover mounted on the drawer unit. The front cover is closably openable relative to the image forming apparatus with movement of the drawer unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Shimada, Hiroshi Ishii