Patents by Inventor Yasushi Nakazato
Yasushi Nakazato 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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Patent number: 10944810Abstract: A system includes a device and one or more information processing apparatuses. The device includes a device-information generator configured to generate device information on the device; and an analyzer determining unit configured to determine any one of the device and the one or more information processing apparatuses as an analyzer for the device information. The one determined as the analyzer includes an analysis unit configured to perform an analysis based on the device information; and a service determining unit configured to determine a service to the device based on a result of the analysis.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2016Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kenji Ueda, Takenori Oku, Hiroshi Nishida, Satoshi Hatanaka, Takeyoshi Sekine, Yasushi Nakazato, Fumihiro Nagano, Tetsutaro Oishi, Kazuho Satoh
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Patent number: 10228888Abstract: An information processing system includes one or more information processing apparatuses for determining lifetimes of components, to be replaced by preventive maintenance, of respective electric devices. The information processing system includes a leading variable specifying unit configured to specify, based on variables that represent use states of the electric devices and failure data of the electric devices which have been obtained from the electric devices, a plurality of leading variables relevant to the lifetimes of the components; a lifetime matrix creating unit configured to classify a plurality of values of each of the leading variables into sections to create a lifetime matrix in which the lifetimes of the components are set with respect to combinations of the sections each of which relates to a different leading variable; and a lifetime outputting unit configured to determine the lifetimes of the components with respect to the respective electric devices.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2016Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Takeyoshi Sekine, Takenori Oku, Hiroshi Nishida, Satoshi Hatanaka, Kenji Ueda, Yasushi Nakazato, Fumihiro Nagano, Yuuji Nagamatsu, Ryusuke Mase
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Publication number: 20180121139Abstract: An information processing system includes one or more information processing apparatuses for determining lifetimes of components, to be replaced by preventive maintenance, of respective electric devices. The information processing system includes a leading variable specifying unit configured to specify, based on variables that represent use states of the electric devices and failure data of the electric devices which have been obtained from the electric devices, a plurality of leading variables relevant to the lifetimes of the components; a lifetime matrix creating unit configured to classify a plurality of values of each of the leading variables into sections to create a lifetime matrix in which the lifetimes of the components are set with respect to combinations of the sections each of which relates to a different leading variable; and a lifetime outputting unit configured to determine the lifetimes of the components with respect to the respective electric devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2016Publication date: May 3, 2018Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Takeyoshi SEKINE, Takenori OKU, Hiroshi NISHIDA, Satoshi HATANAKA, Kenji UEDA, Yasushi NAKAZATO, Fumihiro NAGANO, Yuuji NAGAMATSU, Ryusuke MASE
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Publication number: 20160380847Abstract: A system includes a device and one or more information processing apparatuses. The device includes a device-information generator configured to generate device information on the device; and an analyzer determining unit configured to determine any one of the device and the one or more information processing apparatuses as an analyzer for the device information. The one determined as the analyzer includes an analysis unit configured to perform an analysis based on the device information; and a service determining unit configured to determine a service to the device based on a result of the analysis.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2016Publication date: December 29, 2016Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kenji UEDA, Takenori OKU, Hiroshi NISHIDA, Satoshi HATANAKA, Takeyoshi SEKINE, Yasushi NAKAZATO, Fumihiro NAGANO, Tetsutaro OISHI, Kazuho SATOH
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Patent number: 9229409Abstract: A cleaning blade failure prediction processor for an image forming apparatus includes a pixel count acquisition circuit to acquire pixel count data of a cleaning target of a cleaning blade. The cleaning target is divided into a plurality of areas in a main scanning direction of the cleaning target. The pixel count acquisition circuit acquires a pixel count for each of the plurality of areas of the cleaning target. The cleaning blade failure prediction processor also includes a first cumulative pixel count calculation circuit to calculate a cumulative pixel count for each of the plurality of areas of the cleaning target, a second cumulative pixel count calculation circuit to calculate a cumulative pixel count per distance traveled of the cleaning target, and a deformation identification circuit to determine whether or not the cleaning blade shows signs of deformation according to the cumulative pixel count per distance traveled.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2015Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Mikiko Imazeki, Yasushi Nakazato, Akira Takehisa, Osamu Satoh
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Patent number: 9141063Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a deterioration determining device to determine a deterioration degree of a latent image bearer based on a potential detected by a surface potential detector. The deterioration determining device calculates a relative value indicating the deterioration degree based on the aggregated number of pixels and a time value for each of virtually divided regions. The deterioration determining device determines a deterioration degree of a detecting target region of the virtually divided region based on a potential detected by the surface potential detector. The deterioration determining device further determines deterioration degrees of non-detecting target respective regions of the virtually divided regions based on the relative values of the non-detecting target respective regions, the relative value of the detecting target region, and the deterioration degree of the detecting target region.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2014Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Akira Takehisa, Yasushi Nakazato, Osamu Satoh, Mikiko Imazeki
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Publication number: 20150253714Abstract: A cleaning blade failure prediction processor for an image forming apparatus includes a pixel count acquisition circuit to acquire pixel count data of a cleaning target of a cleaning blade. The cleaning target is divided into a plurality of areas in a main scanning direction of the cleaning target. The pixel count acquisition circuit acquires a pixel count for each of the plurality of areas of the cleaning target. The cleaning blade failure prediction processor also includes a first cumulative pixel count calculation circuit to calculate a cumulative pixel count for each of the plurality of areas of the cleaning target, a second cumulative pixel count calculation circuit to calculate a cumulative pixel count per distance traveled of the cleaning target, and a deformation identification circuit to determine whether or not the cleaning blade shows signs of deformation according to the cumulative pixel count per distance traveled.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2015Publication date: September 10, 2015Inventors: Mikiko Imazeki, Yasushi Nakazato, Akira Takehisa, Osamu Satoh
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Patent number: 9091990Abstract: A device failure predictor includes data acquisition unit to acquire internal data of a target device, a peak value calculator to calculate a plurality of peak values of the internal data for a prescribed period of time, and a failure sign identification unit to set individual criteria for the plurality of peak values and determine whether or not the target device shows signs of failure according to the plurality of peak values and the individual criteria.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2014Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Mikiko Imazeki, Yasushi Nakazato, Akira Takehisa, Osamu Satoh
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Publication number: 20150132017Abstract: A device failure predictor includes data acquisition unit to acquire internal data of a target device, a peak value calculator to calculate a plurality of peak values of the internal data for a prescribed period of time, and a failure sign identification unit to set individual criteria for the plurality of peak values and determine whether or not the target device shows signs of failure according to the plurality of peak values and the individual criteria.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2014Publication date: May 14, 2015Inventors: Mikiko IMAZEKI, Yasushi Nakazato, Akira Takehisa, Osamu Satoh
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Patent number: 8953957Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit including a latent image carrier, a charging device, a latent image writing device, and a development device; a cumulative value calculation device that calculates, for each of regions of a surface of the image carrier, a cumulative value of the area of a latent image formed in the region; a surface potential detector that detects the surface potential of the image carrier in one of the regions as a detection region; and a determination device that determines the deterioration degree of the detection region on the basis of the detected potential, and determines the deterioration degree of a region other than the detection region on the basis of the detected potential, the cumulative value for the detection region, and the cumulative value for the region other than the detection region.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2013Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Akira Takehisa, Yasushi Nakazato, Mikiko Imazeki, Osamu Satoh
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Patent number: 8948621Abstract: A management apparatus communicates, via a communication network, with image forming apparatuses, and includes an information reception device that receives, from each of the image forming apparatuses via the network, prediction-use information useful for predicting a latent image carrier surface contamination level due to discharge products generated during charging, a contamination level prediction device that, on the basis of the received prediction-use information, predicts the latent image carrier surface contamination level of the image forming apparatus corresponding to the prediction-use information, and an instruction transmission device that, if the predicted latent image carrier surface contamination level exceeds a predetermined allowable range, transmits an execution instruction to execute a contamination reduction operation of reducing the contamination of the surface of the latent image carrier due to the discharge products to the image forming apparatus corresponding to the latent image carrieType: GrantFiled: March 27, 2013Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Mikiko Imazeki, Yasushi Nakazato, Akira Takehisa, Jun Yamane
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Patent number: 8948620Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus, a physical property detector, a data storage device, and a latent image carrier replacement time detector. The image forming apparatus includes a replaceable latent image carrier, forms a latent image on a surface of the latent image carrier, develops the latent image into a visible image, and transfers the visible image onto a recording medium. The physical property detector detects predetermined physical properties of the image forming apparatus in a continuous manner or an intermittent manner. The data storage device stores, as a specific physical property, data on at least one of the detected physical properties, which changes before and after replacement of the latent image carrier. The latent image carrier replacement time detector detects, on the basis of changes over time of the stored specific physical property, a latent image carrier replacement time.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2013Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Mikiko Imazeki, Yasushi Nakazato, Akira Takehisa
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Publication number: 20140348520Abstract: An area calculating unit calculates an image area of a toner image formed on a sheet recording member. A behavior detecting unit detects behavior of the recording member fed out of a conveying nip formed by a pair of conveying members. A thickness obtaining unit obtains thickness information of the recording member. An index calculating unit calculates an index value indicating windability of the recording member with respect to the conveying members based on the image area, the behavior, and the thickness information.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2014Publication date: November 27, 2014Inventors: Osamu SATOH, Yasushi NAKAZATO, Kohji UE, Jun YAMANE
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Publication number: 20140321865Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a deterioration determining device to determine a deterioration degree of a latent image bearer based on a potential detected by a surface potential detector. The deterioration determining device calculates a relative value indicating the deterioration degree based on the aggregated number of pixels and a time value for each of virtually divided regions. The deterioration determining device determines a deterioration degree of a detecting target region of the virtually divided region based on a potential detected by the surface potential detector. The deterioration determining device further determines deterioration degrees of non-detecting target respective regions of the virtually divided regions based on the relative values of the non-detecting target respective regions, the relative value of the detecting target region, and the deterioration degree of the detecting target region.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2014Publication date: October 30, 2014Inventors: Akira TAKEHISA, Yasushi NAKAZATO, Osamu SATOH, Mikiko IMAZEKI
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Patent number: 8843004Abstract: An area calculating unit calculates an image area of a toner image formed on a sheet recording member. A behavior detecting unit detects behavior of the recording member fed out of a conveying nip formed by a pair of conveying members. A thickness obtaining unit obtains thickness information of the recording member. An index calculating unit calculates an index value indicating windability of the recording member with respect to the conveying members based on the image area, the behavior, and the thickness information.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2012Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Osamu Satoh, Yasushi Nakazato, Kohji Ue, Jun Yamane
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Patent number: 8768186Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method of predicting failure of a fixing device of an image forming apparatus are provided. Based on a plurality of sheet transfer time values of the fixing device, a first characteristic value that is an average value of the plurality of sheet transfer time values, and at least one of a second characteristics value that indicates the variance of the plurality of sheet transfer time values and a third characteristics value that indicates the maximum value of the plurality of sheet transfer time values are calculated. Using a determination result generated based on the first characteristics value and the at least one of the second and third characteristics values, failure of the fixing device is predicted.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2010Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventors: Mikiko Imazeki, Yasushi Nakazato, Osamu Satoh, Masahide Yamashita, Jun Yamane, Kohji Ue
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Publication number: 20140016951Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit including a latent image carrier, a charging device, a latent image writing device, and a development device; a cumulative value calculation device that calculates, for each of regions of a surface of the image carrier, a cumulative value of the area of a latent image formed in the region; a surface potential detector that detects the surface potential of the image carrier in one of the regions as a detection region; and a determination device that determines the deterioration degree of the detection region on the basis of the detected potential, and determines the deterioration degree of a region other than the detection region on the basis of the detected potential, the cumulative value for the detection region, and the cumulative value for the region other than the detection region.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2013Publication date: January 16, 2014Inventors: Akira TAKEHISA, Yasushi NAKAZATO, Mikiko IMAZEKI, Osamu SATOH
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Publication number: 20130272723Abstract: A management apparatus communicates, via a communication network, with image forming apparatuses, and includes an information reception device that receives, from each of the image forming apparatuses via the network, prediction-use information useful for predicting a latent image carrier surface contamination level due to discharge products generated during charging, a contamination level prediction device that, on the basis of the received prediction-use information, predicts the latent image carrier surface contamination level of the image forming apparatus corresponding to the prediction-use information, and an instruction transmission device that, if the predicted latent image carrier surface contamination level exceeds a predetermined allowable range, transmits an execution instruction to execute a contamination reduction operation of reducing the contamination of the surface of the latent image carrier due to the discharge products to the image forming apparatus corresponding to the latent image carrieType: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2013Publication date: October 17, 2013Inventors: Mikiko IMAZEKI, Yasushi NAKAZATO, Akira TAKEHISA, Jun YAMANE
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Publication number: 20130251383Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus, a physical property detector, a data storage device, and a latent image carrier replacement time detector. The image forming apparatus includes a replaceable latent image carrier, forms a latent image on a surface of the latent image carrier, develops the latent image into a visible image, and transfers the visible image onto a recording medium. The physical property detector detects predetermined physical properties of the image forming apparatus in a continuous manner or an intermittent manner. The data storage device stores, as a specific physical property, data on at least one of the detected physical properties, which changes before and after replacement of the latent image carrier. The latent image carrier replacement time detector detects, on the basis of changes over time of the stored specific physical property, a latent image carrier replacement time.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2013Publication date: September 26, 2013Inventors: Mikiko IMAZEKI, Yasushi NAKAZATO, Akira TAKEHISA
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Patent number: 8531696Abstract: A management apparatus includes: a receiver that receives, via a network, status data based on control system data for stabilizing image forming from an image forming apparatus formed by image forming units; an inference unit that determines abnormality occurrence symptom, and calculates an index of the abnormality occurrence symptom, of the image forming units based on the received status data; a replacement part information acquisition unit that acquires information including a replacement date from a maintenance management system via the network when receiving a diagnosis request from a terminal of a maintenance person; a judgment table generator that calculates weight information of the symptom determination index value; a integrated diagnostic information generator for the image forming units based on the symptom determination index value and the weight information; and a integrated diagnostic information notification unit transmitting the integrated diagnostic value information to the terminal of the maType: GrantFiled: September 28, 2011Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventors: Masaichi Sawada, Yasushi Nakazato, Kohji Ue, Mikiko Imazeki, Osamu Satoh, Masahide Yamashita, Jun Yamane