Patents by Inventor Tsukuru Kai

Tsukuru Kai 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).

  • Publication number: 20170102642
    Abstract: Provided is a powder container having a new structure capable of stable discharge and transport of a powder contained in a container by enabling the powder to be reliably discharged to the outside of the package while preventing the powder from spilling and flying out of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: Junichi MATSUMOTO, Tsukuru KAI, Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Makoto KOMATSU, Tadashi HAWAKAWA, Yuzuru OZAWA
  • Patent number: 9547258
    Abstract: Provided is a powder container having a new structure capable of stable discharge and transport of a powder contained in a container by enabling the powder to be reliably discharged to the outside of the package while preventing the powder from spilling and flying out of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Matsumoto, Tsukuru Kai, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Makoto Komatsu, Tadashi Hayakawa, Yuzuru Ozawa
  • Patent number: 9482987
    Abstract: Provided is a powder container having a new structure capable of stable discharge and transport of a powder contained in a container by enabling the powder to be reliably discharged to the outside of the package while preventing the powder from spilling and flying out of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Matsumoto, Tsukuru Kai, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Makoto Komatsu, Tadashi Hayakawa, Yuzuru Ozawa
  • Patent number: 9405221
    Abstract: A powder container includes a rotatable powder chamber for containing powder used for forming images, having an opening on a first side in an axial direction of the powder container, a conveyor to transport powder contained in the powder chamber to the first side from a second side in the axial direction, a protrusion radially projecting from an outer circumferential surface of the powder chamber, disposed in a circumferential area of the powder chamber, and a facing member disposed facing the outer circumferential surface of the powder chamber. The protrusion contacts the facing member as the powder chamber rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Komatsu, Tsukuru Kai, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Junichi Matsumoto, Tadashi Hayakawa, Yuzuru Ozawa
  • Patent number: 9285763
    Abstract: A cap is configured to be attached to a developer container that discharges developer contained in the container body out of the container body through a discharge port defined in a portion of the container body. The cap includes a first attaching member and a second attaching member that are detachably assembled into one piece. When the first attaching member or the second attaching member receives a rotary force, the first attaching member and the second attaching member are separated from each other, and only the first attaching member is released from the container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Komatsu, Tsukuru Kai, Tadashi Hayakawa, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Daichi Yamaguchi, Junichi Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20160033901
    Abstract: Provided is a powder container having a new structure capable of stable discharge and transport of a powder contained in a container by enabling the powder to be reliably discharged to the outside of the package while preventing the powder from spilling and flying out of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Junichi MATSUMOTO, Tsukuru KAI, Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Makoto KOMATSU, Tadashi HAWAKAWA, Yuzuru OZAWA
  • Patent number: 9244379
    Abstract: A powder container includes a container body to accommodate powder for image forming therein, the container body including an outlet at a bottom thereof through which the powder is supplied to a powder supply device and being detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus, a rotary member, an agitator supported by the rotary member, and a powder receiver to guide a transport tube transporting the powder in the container body into the container body. The powder receiver includes a nozzle receiver opening, an opening-closing member to open and close the nozzle receiver, a container-side biasing member to bias the opening-closing member to close, a container opening-closing member supporter, a step and an end portion to contact first and second contact surfaces of the powder container receiver due to a restorative force of the container-side biasing member upon attachment of the powder container to the powder supply device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Matsumoto, Tsukuru Kai, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Yuzuru Ozawa, Tadashi Hayakawa, Makoto Komatsu
  • Publication number: 20150338775
    Abstract: The powder container includes a container body containing a powder for image formation, the powder being to be supplied to a powder replenishing device; a conveyor configured to convey the powder from one end in a longitudinal direction to the other end at which a cylindrical container opening is formed, the conveyor being provided inside the container body; a gear configured to rotate the conveyor with an external driving force; a container cover configured to cover the gear, the container cover having a gear exposing hole for partially exposing a gear tooth; and a nozzle receiver configured to guide the conveying nozzle inside of the container body, the nozzle receiver being provided on the container opening. The container cover includes a container engaged portion provided outer than the tooth of the gear in a radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Tsukuru KAI, Junichi MATSUMOTO, Makoto KOMATSU, Tadashi HAYAKAWA, Yuzuru OZAWA, Shinji TAMAKI, Kenji KIKUCHI
  • Publication number: 20150104218
    Abstract: A cap is configured to be attached to a developer container that discharges developer contained in the container body out of the container body through a discharge port defined in a portion of the container body. The cap includes a first attaching member and a second attaching member that are detachably assembled into one piece. When the first attaching member or the second attaching member receives a rotary force, the first attaching member and the second attaching member are separated from each other, and only the first attaching member is released from the container body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Makoto KOMATSU, Tsukuru KAI, Tadashi HAYAKAWA, Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Daichi YAMAGUCHI, Junichi MATSUMOTO
  • Patent number: 8971769
    Abstract: A development device can include a developer containing part containing developer, a carrier to carry developer that is supplied from the developer containing part to a development range, a partition dividing the developer containing part into a supply part and a circulation part beneath the supply part to collect developer from the carrier, a first transport member in the supply part of the developer containing part to supply developer from the supply part to the carrier, and a second transport member in the circulation part to transport developer in the circulation part in an axial direction of the carrier. The device can also include a removable seal member, which seals a supplied-developer and/or a collected-developer communicating area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Yasuo Miyoshi, Norio Kudo, Yoshihiro Fujiwara, Tsukuru Kai, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Hiroaki Okamoto
  • Patent number: 8965250
    Abstract: A cap is configured to be attached to a developer container that discharges developer contained in the container body out of the container body through a discharge port defined in a portion of the container body. The cap includes a first attaching member and a second attaching member that are detachably assembled into one piece. When the first attaching member or the second attaching member receives a rotary force, the first attaching member and the second attaching member are separated from each other, and only the first attaching member is released from the container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Makoto Komatsu, Tsukuru Kai, Tadashi Hayakawa, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Daichi Yamaguchi, Junichi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8934813
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a development device configured to form a visualized image with a developer, a powder supplier configured to supply the developer from a powder container to the development device and a housing in which the powder supplier and the development device are housed, a loading preparation position which allows the powder container to be placed from an outside of the housing and a loading position which enables the developer to be supplied to the development device from the powder container are set in the powder supplier, and the powder supplier includes a loading drive mechanism configured to move the powder container in a central axis line direction between the loading preparation position and the loading position while rotating the powder container about the central axis line of the powder container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hosokawa, Tsukuru Kai, Junichi Matsumoto, Makoto Komatsu, Tadashi Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 8886095
    Abstract: A powder container which is mounted on an image-forming apparatus body, and houses a powder includes a container body configured to carry the powder housed inside thereof from a first end side to a second end side by rotating, and discharge the powder outside from the second end side, a gear formed in an outer circumference of the container body, and a cover which is mounted on the gear to cover at least a tooth section of the gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Komatsu, Tsukuru Kai, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Junichi Matsumoto, Tadashi Hayakawa
  • Publication number: 20140233984
    Abstract: A development device can include a developer containing part containing developer, a carrier to carry developer that is supplied from the developer containing part to a development range, a partition dividing the developer containing part into a supply part and a circulation part beneath the supply part to collect developer from the carrier, a first transport member in the supply part of the developer containing part to supply developer from the supply part to the carrier, and a second transport member in the circulation part to transport developer in the circulation part in an axial direction of the carrier. The device can also include a removable seal member, which seals a supplied-developer and/or a collected-developer communicating area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventors: Yasuo MIYOSHI, Norio Kudo, Yoshihiro Fujiwara, Tsukuru Kai, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Hiroaki Okamoto
  • Patent number: 8750752
    Abstract: A development device can include a developer containing part containing developer, a carrier to carry developer that is supplied from the developer containing part to a development range, a partition dividing the developer containing part into a supply part and a circulation part beneath the supply part to collect developer from the carrier, a first transport member in the supply part of the developer containing part to supply developer from the supply part to the carrier, and a second transport member in the circulation part to transport developer in the circulation part in an axial direction of the carrier. The device can also include a removable seal member, which seals a supplied-developer and/or a collected-developer communicating area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Yasuo Miyoshi, Norio Kudo, Yoshihiro Fujiwara, Tsukuru Kai, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Hiroaki Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20140016960
    Abstract: A development device includes a developer containing part containing two-component developer, a cylindrical developer carrier to carry by rotation the developer to a development range, a first developer transport member disposed in the developer containing part, to supply the developer to the developer carrier while transporting the developer in an axial direction of the developer carrier, and a magnetic field generator disposed inside the developer carrier, having three developer-carrying magnetic poles, consisting of a development pole to generate a first magnetic field in the development range, a pre-development pole to generate a second magnetic field to transport the developer supplied from the developer containing part to the development range, and a post-development pole to generate a third magnetic field disposed between the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field, to transport the developer to a release position where the developer is separated from the developer carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Yasuo MIYOSHI, Norio KUDO, Yoshihiro FUJIWARA, Tsukuru KAI, Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Hiroaki OKAMOTO
  • Patent number: 8626037
    Abstract: A powder container that includes a container body, a drive transmitting unit which engages with an image forming apparatus, and an opening at an end of the container body. There is a conveying unit that conveys powder in the container body to the opening, and an information storage unit on the outer peripheral surface of the container body. The outer peripheral surface of the container body near the opening on which the information storage unit is to be mounted includes resin and is formed by injection molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Daichi Yamaguchi, Makoto Komatsu, Tadashi Hayakawa, Tsukuru Kai, Hiroshi Hosokawa
  • Publication number: 20130330105
    Abstract: A powder container includes a rotatable powder chamber for containing powder used for forming images, having an opening on a first side in an axial direction of the powder container, a conveyor to transport powder contained in the powder chamber to the first side from a second side in the axial direction, a protrusion radially projecting from an outer circumferential surface of the powder chamber, disposed in a circumferential area of the powder chamber, and a facing member disposed facing the outer circumferential surface of the powder chamber. The protrusion contacts the facing member as the powder chamber rotates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: Makoto KOMATSU, Tsukuru KAI, Hiroshi HOSOKAWA, Junichi MATSUMOTO, Tadashi HAYAKAWA, Yuzuru OZAWA
  • Publication number: 20130322927
    Abstract: A powder container includes a container body to accommodate powder for image forming therein, the container body including an outlet at a bottom thereof through which the powder is supplied to a powder supply device and being detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus, a rotary member, an agitator supported by the rotary member, and a powder receiver to guide a transport tube transporting the powder in the container body into the container body. The powder receiver includes a nozzle receiver opening, an opening-closing member to open and close the nozzle receiver, a container-side biasing member to bias the opening-closing member to close, a container opening-closing member supporter, a step and an end portion to contact first and second contact surfaces of the powder container receiver due to a restorative force of the container-side biasing member upon attachment of the powder container to the powder supply device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Junichi MATSUMOTO, Tsukuru Kai, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Yuzuru Ozawa, Tadashi Hayakawa, Makoto Komatsu
  • Patent number: 8571449
    Abstract: A development device includes a developer containing part containing two-component developer, a cylindrical developer carrier to carry by rotation the developer to a development range, a first developer transport member disposed in the developer containing part, to supply the developer to the developer carrier while transporting the developer in an axial direction of the developer carrier, and a magnetic field generator disposed inside the developer carrier, having three developer-carrying magnetic poles, consisting of a development pole to generate a first magnetic field in the development range, a pre-development pole to generate a second magnetic field to transport the developer supplied from the developer containing part to the development range, and a post-development pole to generate a third magnetic field disposed between the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field, to transport the developer to a release position where the developer is separated from the developer carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Yasuo Miyoshi, Norio Kudo, Yoshihiro Fujiwara, Tsukuru Kai, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Hiroaki Okamoto