Patents by Inventor Yasumitsu Kuga

Yasumitsu Kuga 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: 20020097316
    Abstract: A thermal image transfer recording method includes the steps of holding a thermal image transfer recording medium having a support and a thermal transfer layer formed thereon and an image receiving member between an edge thermal head for use in a line printer and a platen roller in such a fashion that the thermal transfer layer of the recording medium comes in contact with the image receiving member with the application of a tension to the thermal image transfer recording medium, and transferring an image from the thermal transfer layer of the recording medium to the image receiving member by the application of heat to the recording medium using the thermal head, the thermal image transfer recording medium having a dynamic elasticity modulus in a range of 1×106 to 1×1010 at 70° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 1997
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: KEIICHI SHIOKAWA, YOSHIAKI YAMADA, YASUMITSU KUGA
  • Patent number: 6129984
    Abstract: A thermal image transfer recording method includes the steps of holding a thermal image transfer recording medium including a support material and a thermal image transfer layer provided on the support material, and an image recording material between a line edge thermal head and a platen roller, with a contact pressure being applied therebetween; transferring the thermal image transfer recording layer imagewise from the thermal image transfer recording medium to the image recording material with imagewise application of heat by use of the line edge thermal head; and taking up the thermal image transfer recording medium after the image transfer, with the take-up tension applied to the thermal image transfer recording medium being set larger than both the shearing strength and peeling strength at 70.degree. C. of the thermal image transfer layer. A thermal image transfer recording medium including a thermal image transfer layer with a shearing strength of 200 g/cm or more at 25.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoji Ide, Tetsuji Kunitake, Mihoko Matsumoto, Yasumitsu Kuga
  • Patent number: 6117562
    Abstract: A thermal image transfer recording sodium includes a support and a thermal image transfer ink layer formed on the support. The thermal image transfer ink layer contains a coloring agent, a resin with a melting point of 120.degree. C. or more and an SP value of 10.5 to 12.5, and a melt viscosity lowering material for lowering the melt viscosity of the resin, with the compatibility of the resin and the malt viscosity lowering material, measured by a transparency measurement method, being 0.20 or less, or with the melt viscosity at 150.degree. C. of the thermal image transfer ink layer being in the range of 1.times.10.sup.2 to 5.times.10.sup.6 poise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junko Yamaguchi, Mitsuru Maeda, Tetsuji Kunitake, Kazuyoshi Inamura, Yasumitsu Kuga, Shigeru Miyajima, Tadafumi Tatewaki, Yoshiaki Yamada
  • Patent number: 5945220
    Abstract: A thermal image transfer recording method includes the steps of holding a thermal image transfer recording medium including a support material and a thermal image transfer layer provided on the support material, and an image recording material between a line edge thermal head and a platen roller, with a contact pressure being applied therebetween; transferring the thermal image transfer recording layer imagewise from the thermal image transfer recording medium to the image recording material with imagewise application of heat by use of the line edge thermal head; and taking up the-thermal image transfer recording medium after the image transfer, with the take-up tension applied to the thermal image transfer recording medium being set larger than both the shearing strength and peeling strength at 70.degree. C. of the thermal image transfer layer. A thermal image transfer recording medium including a thermal image transfer layer with a shearing strength of 200 g/cm or more at 25.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoji Ide, Tetsuji Kunitake, Mihoko Matsumoto, Yasumitsu Kuga
  • Patent number: 5800914
    Abstract: A thermal image transfer recording medium includes a heat resistant substrate; an intermediate layer with a voidage of 20% or less, which includes a granular thermofusible material and a thermoplastic resin, formed on the heat resistant substrate; and a thermal image transfer ink layer containing a coloring agent, formed on the intermediate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichi Shiokawa, Yasumitsu Kuga, Naoshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5777653
    Abstract: A thermal image transfer recording method includes the steps of holding a thermal image transfer recording medium including a support material and a thermal image transfer layer provided on the support material, and an image recording material between a line edge thermal head and a platen roller, with a contact pressure being applied therebetween; transferring the thermal image transfer recording layer imagewise from the thermal image transfer recording medium to the image recording material with imagewise application of heat by use of the line edge thermal head; and taking up the thermal image transfer recording medium after the image transfer, with the take-up tension applied to the thermal image transfer recording medium being set larger than both the shearing strength and peeling strength at 70.degree. C. of the thermal image transfer layer. A thermal image transfer recording medium including a thermal image transfer layer with a shearing strength of 200 g/cm or more at 25.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoji Ide, Tetsuji Kunitake, Mihoko Matsumoto, Yasumitsu Kuga
  • Patent number: 5716477
    Abstract: A thermal image transfer recording medium includes a support and a thermal image transfer ink layer formed on the support. The thermal image transfer ink layer contains a coloring agent, a resin with a melting point of 120.degree. C. or more and an SP value of 10.5 to 12.5, and a melt viscosity lowering material for lowering the melt viscosity of the resin, with the compatibility of the resin and the melt viscosity lowering material, measured by a transparency measurement method, being 0.20 or less, or with the melt viscosity at 150.degree. C. of the thermal image transfer ink layer being in the range of 1.times.10.sup.2 to 5.times.10.sup.6 poise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junko Yamaguchi, Mitsuru Maeda, Tetsuji Kunitake, Kazuyoshi Inamura, Yasumitsu Kuga, Shigeru Miyajima, Tadafumi Tatewaki, Yoshiaki Yamada