Patents by Inventor Toshio Koike
Toshio Koike 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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Publication number: 20190339642Abstract: A powder container is for use with an image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus includes a driving protrusion that is rotatable and that protrudes toward an upstream side in an insertion direction in which the powder container is inserted. The powder container includes a container body to store powder, a cap attached to the container body, and a transmitted structure provided on the cap to contact the driving protrusion. The transmitted structure extends outward from an outer circumference of the powder container. The cap is rotatable relative to the container body in a predetermined angular range. The rotation of the cap relative to the container body is restricted so that the container body rotates along with the rotation of the cap when the rotation of the cap exceeds the predetermined angular range.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2019Publication date: November 7, 2019Inventors: Nobuo TAKAMI, Kiyonori TSUDA, Ryoichi TERANISHI, Junichi MATSUMOTO, Toshio KOIKE, Yutaka TAKAHASHI, Junji YAMABE, Akihiro KAWAKAMI, Keinosuke KONDOH, Atsushi INOUE
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Patent number: 10409196Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transferor to rotate in a predetermined rotation direction, a plurality of image bearers disposed along the intermediate transferor to bear latent images, a plurality of developing devices to develop the latent images, a plurality of developer containers to contain developers, and a plurality of conveyance paths each corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of developing devices and a respective one of the plurality of developer containers to supply the developers to the plurality of developing devices respectively. An arrangement of the plurality of developing devices in the predetermined rotation direction is configured to be changed without changing an arrangement of the plurality of developer containers. A layout of the plurality of conveyance paths is configured to be changed without changing connections between a supply source and a supply destination of the plurality of conveyance paths.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2018Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Toshio Koike, Jun Shiori, Teppei Kikuchi, Michiharu Suzuki, Kazuhiro Aso, Keinosuke Kondoh, Tadashi Ogawa, Hideo Yoshizawa
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Patent number: 10394186Abstract: A powder container is for use with an image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus includes a driving protrusion that is rotatable and that protrudes toward an upstream side in an insertion direction in which the powder container is inserted. The powder container includes a container body to store powder, a cap attached to the container body, and a transmitted structure provided on the cap to contact the driving protrusion. The transmitted structure extends outward from an outer circumference of the powder container. The cap is rotatable relative to the container body in a predetermined angular range. The rotation of the cap relative to the container body is restricted so that the container body rotates along with the rotation of the cap when the rotation of the cap exceeds the predetermined angular range.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2018Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Nobuo Takami, Kiyonori Tsuda, Ryoichi Teranishi, Junichi Matsumoto, Toshio Koike, Yutaka Takahashi, Junji Yamabe, Akihiro Kawakami, Keinosuke Kondoh, Atsushi Inoue
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Publication number: 20190227479Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a removable component configured to be removably installed in an installation position in the apparatus body, a cover configured to open and close when the removable component is removed from or installed in the installation position, a replacement removable component configured to be installable in and removable from the installation position in which the removable component is installed, and a holder configured to hold the replacement removable component at a different position from the installation position when the removable component is installed in the installation position and the cover opens. The replacement removable component held by the holder is configured to inhibit the cover from closing.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2019Publication date: July 25, 2019Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Michiharu SUZUKI, Jun SHIORI, Hideo YOSHIZAWA, Toshio KOIKE, Teppei KIKUCHI, Kazuhiro ASO, Keinosuke KONDOH
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Publication number: 20190219951Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer opposed to an image bearer, configured to bear developer and rotate in a direction of rotation of the developer bearer, and configured to develop a latent image on the image bearer and a casing opposed to the developer bearer at a position downstream from an opposed position, at which the developer bearer is opposed to the image bearer, in the direction of rotation of the developer bearer. A casing gap between the developer bearer and the casing continuously decreases or increases from a first end of the developing device to a second end of the developing device across a center of the developing device in a longitudinal direction of the developing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2018Publication date: July 18, 2019Inventors: Toshio KOIKE, Jun Shiori, Hideo Yoshizawa, Keinosuke Kondoh, Teppei Kikuchi, Kazuhiro Aso, Michiharu Suzuki
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Publication number: 20190212668Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes image bearers, developing devices, developer containers, and developer supply devices. The image bearers are arranged side by side along a movement direction of an intermediate transferor or a sheet. The developing devices, the developer containers, and the developer supply devices are configured to be rearrangeable for each color in the movement direction in a manner that one or each of a developing device, a developer container, and a developer supply device corresponding to each color of the different colors is detached from and attached to the image forming apparatus, separately from a rest of the developing device, the developer container, and the developer supply device. The image forming apparatus is configured to be available for use when colors of the developing device, the developer container, and the developer supply device correspond to each other after rearrangement.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2018Publication date: July 11, 2019Inventors: Toshio KOIKE, Teppei KIKUCHI, Michiharu SUZUKI, Keinosuke KONDOH, Jun SHIORI, Kazuhiro ASO
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Publication number: 20190204775Abstract: A powder container is for use with an image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus includes a driving protrusion that is rotatable and that protrudes toward an upstream side in an insertion direction in which the powder container is inserted. The powder container includes a container body to store powder, a cap attached to the container body, and a transmitted structure provided on the cap to contact the driving protrusion. The transmitted structure extends outward from an outer circumference of the powder container. The cap is rotatable relative to the container body in a predetermined angular range. The rotation of the cap relative to the container body is restricted so that the container body rotates along with the rotation of the cap when the rotation of the cap exceeds the predetermined angular range.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2018Publication date: July 4, 2019Inventors: Nobuo TAKAMI, Kiyonori TSUDA, Ryoichi TERANISHI, Junichi MATSUMOTO, Toshio KOIKE, Yutaka TAKAHASHI, Junji YAMABE, Akihiro KAWAKAMI, Keinosuke KONDOH, Atsushi INOUE
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Patent number: 10203650Abstract: A powder container is insertable in an image forming apparatus. The powder container includes a plurality of transmitted surfaces, at least one of the transmitted surfaces being configured to contact a first protrusion of the image forming, apparatus, the first protrusion being rotatable and protruding toward an upstream side in an insertion direction in which the powder container is inserted. The transmitted surfaces stand outward from an outer circumference of the powder container so that one of the transmitted surfaces is connected to another transmitted surface adjacent to the one of the transmitted surfaces by an inclined surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2018Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Nobuo Takami, Kiyonori Tsuda, Ryoichi Teranishi, Junichi Matsumoto, Toshio Koike, Yutaka Takahashi, Junji Yamabe, Akihiro Kawakami, Keinosuke Kondoh, Atsushi Inoue
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Patent number: 10203633Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transferor, a plurality of image bearers, a plurality of developing devices, a plurality of developer containers, a plurality of conveyance paths, and a plurality of sub-hoppers. At least one set of an image bearer, a developing device, and a sub-hopper is disposed at a height different from other sets. The arrangement of the plurality of developing devices and the plurality of sub-hoppers in the rotation direction of the intermediate transferor is changed while satisfying the following. The arrangement of the plurality of developer containers is not changed and the connections between the plurality of developing devices and the plurality of sub-hoppers are not change, while the layout of the plurality of tubes as the plurality of conveyance paths is changed so that the connections between the plurality of tubes and the plurality of sub-hoppers are not changed.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2018Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Michiharu Suzuki, Hideo Yoshizawa, Jun Shiori, Toshio Koike, Kazuhiro Aso, Teppei Kikuchi, Keinosuke Kondoh
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Patent number: 10197948Abstract: A developing device, including: a developer containing toner and carrier; and developer bearer configured to have surface thereof bear the developer and endlessly move, and to develop latent image over surface of latent image bearer by supplying toner in developer to latent image in developing region facing the latent image bearer, wherein carrier contains fine particles, value X in volume resistivity R (=10X) (?·cm) of carrier is 11.5-16.0, developer bearer includes: magnetic field generating unit including a plurality of magnetic poles; and developing sleeve having a cylindrical shape enclosing magnetic field generating unit, and configured to bear developer over outer circumferential surface of cylindrical shape by magnetic force of the magnetic field generating unit and perform surface moving by rotating relative to developing device body, and developing device includes developing sleeve voltage applying unit configured to apply AC component-containing voltage to developing sleeve.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2015Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hitoshi Iwatsuki, Koichi Sakata, Hiroshi Tohmatsu, Toyoaki Tano, Kenichi Mashiko, Mariko Takii, Hiroyuki Kishida, Yoshihiro Murasawa, Keinosuke Kondoh, Toshio Koike, Yutaka Takahashi
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Publication number: 20180335721Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transferor to rotate in a predetermined rotation direction, a plurality of image bearers disposed along the intermediate transferor to bear latent images, a plurality of developing devices to develop the latent images, a plurality of developer containers to contain developers, and a plurality of conveyance paths each corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of developing devices and a respective one of the plurality of developer containers to supply the developers to the plurality of developing devices respectively. An arrangement of the plurality of developing devices in the predetermined rotation direction is configured to be changed without changing an arrangement of the plurality of developer containers. A layout of the plurality of conveyance paths is configured to be changed without changing connections between a supply source and a supply destination of the plurality of conveyance paths.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2018Publication date: November 22, 2018Inventors: Toshio KOIKE, Jun SHIORI, Teppei KIKUCHI, Michiharu SUZUKI, Kazuhiro ASO, Keinosuke KONDOH, Tadashi OGAWA, Hideo YOSHIZAWA
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Publication number: 20180329358Abstract: A powder container is insertable in an image forming apparatus. The powder container includes a plurality of transmitted surfaces, at least one of the transmitted surfaces being configured to contact a first protrusion of the linage forming apparatus, the first protrusion being rotatable and protruding toward an upstream side in an insertion direction in which the powder container is inserted. The transmitted surfaces stand outward from an outer circumference of the powder container so that one of the transmitted surfaces is connected to another transmitted surface adjacent to the one of the transmitted surfaces by an inclined surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2018Publication date: November 15, 2018Inventors: Nobuo Takami, Kiyonori Tsuda, Ryoichi Teranishi, Junichi Matsumoto, Toshio Koike, Yutaka Takahashi, Junji Yamabe, Akihiro Kawakami, Keinosuke Kondoh, Atsushi Inoue
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Publication number: 20180321615Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transferor, a plurality of image bearers, a plurality of developing devices, a plurality of developer containers, a plurality of conveyance paths, and a plurality of sub-hoppers. At least one set of an image bearer, a developing device, and a sub-hopper is disposed at a height different from other sets. The arrangement of the plurality of developing devices and the plurality of sub-hoppers in the rotation direction of the intermediate transferor is changed while satisfying the following. The arrangement of the plurality of developer containers is not changed and the connections between the plurality of developing devices and the plurality of sub-hoppers are not change, while the layout of the plurality of tubes as the plurality of conveyance paths is changed so that the connections between the plurality of tubes and the plurality of sub-hoppers are not changed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2018Publication date: November 8, 2018Inventors: Michiharu SUZUKI, Hideo YOSHIZAWA, Jun SHIORI, Toshio KOIKE, Kazuhiro ASO, Teppei KIKUCHI, Keinosuke KONDOH
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Patent number: 10048644Abstract: A powder container is insertable in an image forming apparatus, and includes a main-body interlocking portion that is rotatable and protrudes toward an upstream side in an insertion direction in which the powder container is inserted, the image forming apparatus including an identifier protrusion that protrudes toward the upstream side in the insertion direction to identify a type of the powder container. The powder container includes a container interlocking portion configured to interlock with the main-body interlocking portion; and an interlocked portion configured to interlock with the identifier protrusion. The interlocked portion is provided in a front end of the powder container in the insertion direction. The container interlocking portion stands outward from an outer circumference of the powder container. The container interlocking portion and the interlocked portion are rotated integrally.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2015Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITEDInventors: Nobuo Takami, Kiyonori Tsuda, Ryoichi Teranishi, Junichi Matsumoto, Toshio Koike, Yutaka Takahashi, Junji Yamabe, Akihiro Kawakami, Keinosuke Kondoh, Atsushi Inoue
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Patent number: 9921541Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer to carry, by rotation, developer including toner and magnetic carrier to a developing range facing a latent image bearer; a casing including a developer container and an opening to expose a part of the developer bearer disposed in the casing; an opposing face of the casing including a conductive material and opposing to a surface of the developer bearer downstream from the developing range in a direction of rotation of the developer bearer; a developing bias source to apply a developing bias to the developer bearer; and an insulation layer disposed on the opposing face of the casing. The opposing face is disposed across, from the developer bearer, a casing gap sized to allow the developer borne on the developer bearer to contact the opposing face.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2015Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Yasunobu Shimizu, Akira Azami, Masaaki Yamada, Yoshiko Ogawa, Toshio Koike, Mutsuki Morinaga, Yutaka Takahashi, Keinosuke Kondoh, Kentaro Mikuniya, Yoshiharu Kishi
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Publication number: 20170248871Abstract: A developing device, including: a developer containing toner and carrier; and developer bearer configured to have surface thereof bear the developer and endlessly move, and to develop latent image over surface of latent image bearer by supplying toner in developer to latent image in developing region facing the latent image bearer, wherein carrier contains fine particles, value X in volume resistivity R (=10X) (?·cm) of carrier is 11.5-16.0, developer bearer includes: magnetic field generating unit including a plurality of magnetic poles; and developing sleeve having a cylindrical shape enclosing magnetic field generating unit, and configured to bear developer over outer circumferential surface of cylindrical shape by magnetic force of the magnetic field generating unit and perform surface moving by rotating relative to developing device body, and developing device includes developing sleeve voltage applying unit configured to apply AC component-containing voltage to developing sleeve.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2015Publication date: August 31, 2017Inventors: Hitoshi IWATSUKI, Koichi SAKATA, Hiroshi TOHMATSU, Toyoaki TANO, Kenichi MASHIKO, Mariko TAKII, Hiroyuki KISHIDA, Yoshihiro MURASAWA, Keinosuke KONDOH, Toshio KOIKE, Yutaka TAKAHASHI
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Publication number: 20170227922Abstract: A powder container is insertable in an image forming apparatus, and includes a main-body interlocking portion that is rotatable and protrudes toward an upstream side in an insertion direction in which the powder container is inserted, the image forming apparatus including an identifier protrusion that protrudes toward the upstream side in the insertion direction to identify a type of the powder container. The powder container includes a container interlocking portion configured to interlock with the main-body interlocking portion; and an interlocked portion configured to interlock with the identifier protrusion. The interlocked portion is provided in a front end of the powder container in the insertion direction. The container interlocking portion stands outward from an outer circumference of the powder container. The container interlocking portion and the interlocked portion are rotated integrally.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2015Publication date: August 10, 2017Inventors: Nobuo TAKAMI, Kiyonori TSUDA, Ryoichi TERANISHI, Junichi MATSUMOTO, Toshio KOIKE, Yutaka TAKAHASHI, Junji YAMABE, Akihiro KAWAKAMI, Keinosuke KONDOH, Atsushi INOUE
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Patent number: 9581936Abstract: A developing device includes: a developer bearer configured to bear developer thereon; a developer conveyance path for conveying developer to be fed to the developer bearer; a developer conveying member configured to convey the developer in the developer conveyance path; a developer discharge port disposed in the developer conveyance path to discharge developer from the developer conveyance path by overflow; and a contact member configured to be brought into contact with the developer conveyed toward the developer discharge port in the developer conveyance path, the developer conveyance path being configured to receive externally-supplied developer therein, the contact member being configured to repeat a sequence of movements including being elastically deformed by being brought into contact with the developer conveying member being driven and thereafter being elastically restored by being brought out of contact with the developer conveying member.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2016Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Teppei Kikuchi, Kentaro Mikuniya, Toshio Koike, Keinosuke Kondoh, Yutaka Takahashi, Hideki Kosugi
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Patent number: 9547257Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer conveyance device to transport developer, using a positive-displacement pump to alternately generate positive pressure and negative pressure by changing a volume of an internal space thereof, a destination developer container to which the developer conveyance device transports developer, a sensor provided to the destination developer container, to detect developer in the destination developer container, and a controller to control the positive-displacement pump according to a detection result generated by the sensor. The controller disabled detection of developer by the sensor in a non-detection period that starts from a stop of the positive-displacement pump.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2014Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Junichi Matsumoto, Kiyonori Tsuda, Nobuo Takami, Yutaka Takahashi, Kentaro Mikuniya, Keinosuke Kondoh, Akihiro Kawakami, Toshio Koike
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Publication number: 20160223946Abstract: A developing device includes: a developer bearer configured to bear developer thereon; a developer conveyance path for conveying developer to be fed to the developer bearer; a developer conveying member configured to convey the developer in the developer conveyance path; a developer discharge port disposed in the developer conveyance path to discharge developer from the developer conveyance path by overflow; and a contact member configured to be brought into contact with the developer conveyed toward the developer discharge port in the developer conveyance path, the developer conveyance path being configured to receive externally-supplied developer therein, the contact member being configured to repeat a sequence of movements including being elastically deformed by being brought into contact with the developer conveying member being driven and thereafter being elastically restored by being brought out of contact with the developer conveying member.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2016Publication date: August 4, 2016Inventors: Teppei KIKUCHI, Kentaro MIKUNIYA, Toshio KOIKE, Keinosuke KONDOH, Yutaka TAKAHASHI, Hideki KOSUGI