Patents by Inventor Yoichi Ito

Yoichi Ito 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: 20150062363
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes a tilt detection unit that detects a tilt in the vertical direction, conversion data used for transforming plane coordinates into spherical coordinates, a correction unit that corrects the conversion data according to the tilt, a plurality of image capturing units, a coordinate transformation unit that transforms plane coordinates of a plurality of pixels included in images captured by the image capturing units into spherical coordinates according to the conversion data corrected by the correction unit, and a combining unit that combines the images including the pixels transformed into spherical coordinates by the coordinate transformation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Hirokazu Takenaka, Yoshiaki Irino, Tomonori Tanaka, Nozomi Imae, Hideaki Yamamoto, Kensuke Masuda, Yoichi Ito, Satoshi Sawaguchi, Daisuke Bessho, Hiroyuki Satoh, Makoto Shohara, Noriyuki Terao, Toru Harada
  • Publication number: 20150054897
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit, a conveyor, and a string-shaped regulation member. The image forming unit forms an image on a recording medium. The conveyor is disposed opposing the image forming unit to convey the recording medium along a conveyance passage. The string-shaped regulation member is disposed between the image forming unit and the conveyance passage to regulate a distance between the recording medium and the image forming unit within a certain range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Ito, Soyoung Park, Yoshinori Uchino, Mikio Ohashi, Tadayasu Enomoto
  • Publication number: 20150042647
    Abstract: An image-processing system includes a receiver which receives an input value defining an output range, a generator which generates a three-dimensional model having a target image attached to a three-dimensional conformation, a decision part which decides a position of a viewing point and a viewing angle in accordance with the input value, and a projector which projects the three-dimensional model from the viewing point, wherein the decision part changes a range of a target image inside a viewing field by changing the viewing angle preferentially when the input value is in a first range, and changes the range of the target image inside the viewing field by changing the viewing point preferentially when the input value is in a second range which is a wider-angle side than that of the first range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Makoto SHOHARA, Nozomi Imae, Toru Harada, Hideaki Yamamoto, Yasuo Ueda, Yoichi Ito, Satoshi Sawaguchi, Hirokazu Takenaka, Kensuke Masuda, Hiroyuki Satoh
  • Patent number: 8939558
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a liquid ejection head, a head tank, a liquid storage container, a liquid feed device, a supply valve, an exhaust passage, a float valve, an air release valve, and a suction device. The exhaust passage is disposed in the head tank and communicated with an ambient air. The float valve is disposed in the head tank to close the exhaust passage in response to an amount of liquid in the head tank. The air release valve opens and closes the exhaust passage of the head tank. When the suction device exhausts air from the exhaust passage with the air release valve open, the liquid feed device is driven to pressurize and feed the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomomi Katoh, Yoichi Ito, Hiroshi Noda, Jun Ichinowatari
  • Publication number: 20150015766
    Abstract: An optical system includes a first lens to focus incident light, a first prism including a reflection surface by which light having transmitted through the first lens is reflected, a second lens to focus incident light from a different direction from a direction of the incident light on the first lens, and a second prism including a reflection surface by which light having transmitted through the second lens is reflected, in which the reflection surface of the first prism and the reflection surface of the second prism oppose each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Hiroyuki SATOH, Noriyuki TERAO, Yoshiaki IRINO, Tomonori TANAKA, Nozomi IMAE, Toru HARADA, Hirokazu TAKENAKA, Hideaki YAMAMOTO, Kensuke MASUDA, Satoshi SAWAGUCHI, Daisuke BESSHO, Makoto SHOHARA, Yoichi ITO, Shusaku TAKASU
  • Publication number: 20140204413
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a recording head, a maintenance unit, a cover, and a controller. The recording head has a nozzle face and nozzles in the nozzle face to eject droplets of liquid. The maintenance unit has a cap to protect the nozzle face of the recording head. The cover opens an interior of the apparatus body to an outside of the apparatus body. The controller performs a normal control to cap the nozzle face of the recording head with the cap on opening of the cover and a special control to expose the nozzle face of the recording head to an area opened by the cover on receipt of an external instruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Soyoung Park, Mikio Ohashi, Yoichi Ito, Fumitaka Kikkawa
  • Patent number: 8770709
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head oriented upward so as to eject a recording liquid upward. The recording head includes an ejection face, an ejection port, and a waste-liquid port. The ejection port is disposed at the ejection face to eject the recording liquid. The waste-liquid port is disposed separately from the ejection port at the ejection face. The waste-liquid passage is connected to the waste-liquid port and has an opening connected to an outside of the recording head. A residual of the recording liquid on the ejection face is discharged to the outside of the recording head via the waste-liquid port and the waste-liquid passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuji Tanaka, Yoichi Ito
  • Patent number: 8770739
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body; an openable and closable cover provided at the apparatus body; a conveyance unit to convey a recording medium upward and downward; a recording head to eject liquid droplets to the recording medium conveyed by the conveyance unit; and an opening authorization mechanism to authorize moving of the conveyance unit from a first open position to a second open position, the conveyance unit having a greater opening amount at the second open position than at the first open position, wherein the conveyance unit is disposed between the cover and the recording head, and configured to be openable to the first open position when the cover is in the open position, and openable to the second open position when the opening authorization mechanism authorizes the moving of the conveyance unit from the first open position to the second open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumitaka Kikkawa, Yoichi Ito, Mikio Ohashi, Soyoung Park
  • Publication number: 20140176542
    Abstract: An image-processing system includes a receiver which receives an input value defining an output range, a generator which generates a three-dimensional model having a target image attached to a three-dimensional conformation, a decision part which decides a position of a viewing point and a viewing angle in accordance with the input value, and a projector which projects the three-dimensional model from the viewing point, wherein the decision part changes a range of a target image inside a viewing field by changing the viewing angle preferentially when the input value is in a first range, and changes the range of the target image inside the viewing field by changing the viewing point preferentially when the input value is in a second range which is a wider-angle side than that of the first range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventors: Makoto Shohara, Nozomi Imae, Toru Harada, Hideaki Yamamoto, Yasuo Ueda, Yoichi Ito, Satoshi Sawaguchi, Hirokazu Takenaka, Kensuke Masuda, Hiroyuki Satoh
  • Patent number: 8757791
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming device to form an ink image on a recording sheet, a discharger to discharge the sheet bearing the ink image in a face-down manner, and a stacker to stack the discharged sheet thereon. The stacker includes a first surface to deform a rear end portion of the sheet, and a second surface which has a surface to press a front end portion of the sheet and is slanting so as to rise in the sheet discharging direction. The first and second surfaces are arranged such that the first surface or an extended surface thereof intersects at an angle with the second surface or an extended surface thereof to form an intersection line and such that when the front edge of the recording sheet reaches the second surface, the rear edge of the recording sheet has not yet been discharged by the discharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Tanaka, Yoichi Ito, Kuniyori Takano
  • Patent number: 8752953
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head, a conveyance belt, a charger, a reverse passage, and an auxiliary conveyance roller. The belt is looped around at least two rollers to adhere a recording medium thereto by electrostatic force and convey the medium. The belt defines a normal conveyance area in which the medium is conveyed in a first direction. The reverse passage delivers the medium turned around in an area downstream from the belt in the first direction and sends the medium back again to a portion of the belt upstream from the head in the first direction. The reverse passage includes an opposite conveyance area of the belt in which the medium is conveyed in a second direction opposite the first direction. The auxiliary conveyance roller is disposed at least one of an entry part and an exit part of the opposite conveyance area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Tanaka, Yoichi Ito, Kuniyori Takano, Hideaki Iijima
  • Publication number: 20140152852
    Abstract: A predetermined-area management system is configured to communicate with a communication terminal. The predetermined-area management system includes: a storage unit that stores image identification information for identifying image data and predetermined-area information for identifying a predetermined area in the image data in association with each other; a receiving unit that receives image identification information that is transmitted from the communication terminal; an extraction unit that searches the storage unit by using the image identification information received by the receiving unit so as to extract associated predetermined-area information; and a transmitting unit that transmits, to the communication terminal, the predetermined-area information extracted by the extraction unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventors: Yoichi ITO, Toshiyuki Terashita, Noriyuki Terao, Yoshiaki Irino, Tomonori Tanaka, Nozomi Imae, Toru Harada, Hirokazu Takenaka, Hideaki Yamamoto, Kensuke Masuda, Satoshi Sawaguchi, Daisuke Bessho, Hiroyuki Satoh, Makoto Shohara
  • Patent number: 8737879
    Abstract: An opening and closing mechanism includes a movable member removably mounted relative to a main body of an apparatus, an opening and closing member having a cover portion, protrusions, and pivot shafts, and shaft position adjusters to change positions of the pivot shafts while the cover portion pivots between a closed position and an open position. The opening and closing member is arranged so that, on an imaginary plane perpendicular to a central axis of each pivot shaft on which each pivot shaft and the movable member are projected, a projected portion of each pivot shaft is positioned to interfere with a projected portion of the movable member when the cover portion is placed at the closed position, and the cover portion is positioned so as not to interfere with a trajectory of movement of the movable member while the cover portion pivots toward the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Ito, Akiyoshi Tanaka, Kuniyori Takano, Yuuji Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8714682
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head, a conveyance belt, a reverse passage, and a charger. The belt is looped around at least two rollers to adhere a recording medium thereto by electrostatic force and convey the medium. The belt defines a normal conveyance area in which the medium is conveyed in a first direction with the medium facing the head. The reverse passage sends the medium back again to a portion of the belt upstream from the head in the first direction. The reverse passage includes an opposite conveyance area of the belt in which the medium is conveyed in a second direction and a bypass passage to guide the medium separated from the opposite conveyance area toward the normal conveyance area. The charger is disposed between the bypass passage and an outer surface of the belt to charge the outer surface of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Tanaka, Yoichi Ito, Kuniyori Takano, Hideaki Iijima
  • Publication number: 20140092153
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body; an openable and closable cover provided at the apparatus body; a conveyance unit to convey a recording medium upward and downward; a recording head to eject liquid droplets to the recording medium conveyed by the conveyance unit; and an opening authorization mechanism to authorize moving of the conveyance unit from a first open position to a second open position, the conveyance unit having a greater opening amount at the second open position than at the first open position, wherein the conveyance unit is disposed between the cover and the recording head, and configured to be openable to the first open position when the cover is in the open position, and openable to the second open position when the opening authorization mechanism authorizes the moving of the conveyance unit from the first open position to the second open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Fumitaka Kikkawa, Yoichi Ito, Mikio Ohashi, Soyoung Park
  • Patent number: 8687144
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid crystal display device, including: a liquid crystal panel including a display region for displaying an image; a linear illuminator disposed below the display region and extending linearly; and a diffusion plate disposed between the liquid crystal panel and the linear illuminator, in which the diffusion plate includes a thick portion which is formed to be thicker than another portion located below the display region, and the thick portion is formed opposing to the linear illuminator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Ito, Tomohiro Maeyama
  • Publication number: 20140078247
    Abstract: An image adjuster includes an area evaluator to calculate an area evaluation value for each color in each of divided areas of each of images captured by a plurality of imaging units, a brightness adjuster to calculate a brightness adjustment value for overlapping divided areas between photographic areas of the images on the basis of the area evaluation value for each color, and an adjustment value calculator to calculate a balance adjustment value for each of the overlapping divided areas from the area evaluation value for each color on the basis of the brightness adjustment value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Inventors: Makoto SHOHARA, Toru Harada, Hirokazu Takenaka, Yoichi Ito, Kensuke Masuda, Hiroyuki Satoh, Yoshiaki Irino, Tomonori Tanaka, Nozomi Imae, Hideaki Yamamoto, Satoshi Sawaguchi, Daisuke Bessho, Shusaku Takasu
  • Publication number: 20140078231
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit forming an image on a recording medium; and a feeding unit feeding the recording medium in first and second directions opposite to each other relative to the image forming unit. Further when the recording medium is supplied from a first or second side of the feeding unit, while the feeding unit feeds the recording medium in the first or second feeding direction, the image forming unit forms an image on the recording medium, and the feeding unit further feeds the recording medium to the second or first side, respectively, of the feeding unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoichi Ito, Mikio Ohashi, Fumitaka Kikkawa, Naoki Saitoh, Soyoung Park, Yoshinori Uchino
  • Publication number: 20140071226
    Abstract: An image capture system including two imaging systems of the same structure each having a wide-angle lens, which includes a front group, a reflection surface, and a rear group arranged in order from an object side, has a field angle larger than 180 degrees, and bends an optical axis of the front group toward the rear group by the reflection surface, and an imaging sensor, obtains an image in a solid angle of 4? radian by combining images imaged by the imaging systems. Each of the two wide-angle lenses includes the reflection surface between the front group and the rear group, the reflection surfaces are made to be common to the two imaging systems. This reduces an interval between lenses nearest to the object side in the front groups of the two wide-angle lenses, thereby reducing a distance between maximum field angles of the two wide-angle lenses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventors: Hiroyuki SATOH, Noriyuki Terao, Yoshiaki Irino, Tomonori Tanaka, Nozomi Imae, Toru Harada, Hirokazu Takenaka, Hideaki Yamamoto, Kensuke Masuda, Satoshi Sawaguchi, Daisuke Bessho, Makoto Shohara, Yoichi Ito, Shusaku Takasu
  • Publication number: 20140071227
    Abstract: An image processor includes a first converter to convert input images into images in a different coordinate system from that of the input images according to first conversion data based on a projection model, a position detector to detect a connecting position of the images converted by the converter, a corrector to correct the first conversion data on the basis of a result of the detection by the position detector, and a data generator to generate second conversion data for image synthesis from the conversion data corrected by the corrector on the basis of coordinate conversion, the second conversion data defining the conversion of the input images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventors: Hirokazu TAKENAKA, Noriyuki Terao, Yoshiaki Irino, Tomonori Tanaka, Nozomi Imae, Toru Harada, Hideaki Yamamoto, Kensuke Masuda, Yoichi Ito, Satoshi Sawaguchi, Daisuke Bessho, Hiroyuki Satoh, Makoto Shohara, Shusaku Takasu