Patents by Inventor Yoshihiro Fujiwara

Yoshihiro Fujiwara 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: 20240077813
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer rotatable in a rotation direction and forming a developing range, a holder, and an entrance seal. The holder has a facing face facing the developer bearer upstream from the developing range in the rotation direction, a support face defining a part of an outer face of the developing device, and a relay face extending from one end of the support face to one end of the relay face connected to the facing face to form an acute tip portion closer to the developing range than the one end. The entrance seal has a free end projecting from the one end as a cantilever, and a length of the entrance seal from a tip of the free end of the entrance seal to the one end is shorter than a length of the relay face from the acute tip portion to the one end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Kei SAITO, Yoshihiro FUJIWARA, Masaki TAKAHASHI, Yuuki TSUCHIYA
  • Patent number: 11835887
    Abstract: A developer accommodating device includes a rotator including a rotation shaft, a collar that rotates together with the rotation shaft, and a bearing rotatably supporting the rotation shaft via the collar. The rotation shaft includes a resin material, and collar including a metal material. The collar includes a collar main portion to be in sliding contact with the bearing, and a flange portion closer to a center of the rotator in an axial direction of the rotator than the collar main portion. The collar main portion has a first outer diameter, and the flange portion has a second outer diameter greater than the first outer diameter of the collar main portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuuki Tsuchiya, Yoshihiro Fujiwara, Tomohiro Kubota, Shuntaroh Tamaki, Ryusuke Mase
  • Publication number: 20230330582
    Abstract: A filter holding device includes an opening portion and a filter. The opening portion communicates an inside of the filter holding device with an outside of the filter holding device, and has a rim that extends in a communication direction from the inside of the filter holding device toward the outside of the filter holding device. The filter is disposed in the opening portion, and has a first side and a second side. The first side faces the inside of the filter holding device. The second side faces the outside of the filter holding device. The filter has a larger weight density per unit volume at the second side facing the outside of the filter holding device than at the first side facing the inside of the filter holding device in a state in which the filter is disposed in the opening portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Yuta YABUTA, Kazuki YOGOSAWA, Tatsuya KUBO, Takuya SUGANUMA, Hotaru HASHIKAWA, Yoshihiro FUJIWARA
  • Publication number: 20220397841
    Abstract: A developer accommodating device includes a rotator including a rotation shaft, a collar that rotates together with the rotation shaft, and a bearing rotatably supporting the rotation shaft via the collar. The rotation shaft includes a resin material, and collar including a metal material. The collar includes a collar main portion to be in sliding contact with the bearing, and a flange portion closer to a center of the rotator in an axial direction of the rotator than the collar main portion. The collar main portion has a first outer diameter, and the flange portion has a second outer diameter greater than the first outer diameter of the collar main portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Inventors: Yuuki TSUCHIYA, Yoshihiro FUJIWARA, Tomohiro KUBOTA, Shuntaroh TAMAKI, Ryusuke MASE
  • Patent number: 11275325
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a rotation shaft, a developing device, and a supply portion. The developing device includes a developing device main portion that rotates around the rotation shaft between a developing position and a retracted position and includes a developer, a developer bearer to face or be away from the image bearer depending on whether the developing device main portion is at the developing position or the retracted position, a replenishment portion having a replenishment port with an opposite surface formed by an arc drawn around the rotation shaft to replenish the developer, and a non-rotating portion. The supply portion has a supply port with an opposite surface formed by an arc drawn around the rotation shaft and facing the opposite surface of the replenishment port. The supply port communicates the replenishment port and supplies the developer to the developing device through the replenishment port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hotaru Hashikawa, Yoshihiro Fujiwara, Nobuo Takami, Ryusuke Mase, Kazuki Yogosawa, Tomohiro Kubota, Naohiro Kawashima, Yuuki Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 11256194
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer conveyer, a bearing, a flange, and a developer mover. The developer conveyer is rotatable and configured to convey a developer. The bearing rotatably supports a support shaft of the developer conveyer. The flange is disposed at an end portion of the developer conveyor to regulate a movement of the developer in an axial direction of the developer conveyer. The developer mover is disposed on a surface of the flange facing the bearing and configured to move the developer that enters between the flange and the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuuki Tsuchiya, Yoshihiro Fujiwara, Yuki Oshikawa, Ryusuke Mase, Naohiro Kawashima, Hotaru Hashikawa
  • Patent number: 11112731
    Abstract: A developer container includes a plurality of components combined together to form a space to store a developer. The plurality of components includes a first component and a second component. The developer container further includes a sealant to bond the first component and the second component, and a position regulator to regulate relative positions of the first component and the second component so as to maintain a distance between an adhesion portion of the first component and an adhesion portion of the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Naohiro Kawashima, Yoshihiro Fujiwara, Yuki Oshikawa, Yuuki Tsuchiya, Ryusuke Mase, Tsutomu Iwata
  • Patent number: 11086251
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device including at least one stirring rotator configured to stir a developer in the developing device, a driver configured to drive the at least one stirring rotator in forward and reverse rotation, a device detector configured to detect whether the developing device is set in the image forming apparatus, and control circuitry configured to execute a warm-up operation. In the warm-up operation, the driver drives the at least one stirring rotator alternately in the reverse rotation and the forward rotation in response to a detection of setting of the developing device in the image forming apparatus by the device detector and a detection of a predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ryusuke Mase, Yoshihiro Fujiwara, Yuki Oshikawa, Naohiro Kawashima, Yuuki Tsuchiya
  • Publication number: 20210080856
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a rotation shaft, a developing device, and a supply portion. The developing device includes a developing device main portion that rotates around the rotation shaft between a developing position and a retracted position and includes a developer, a developer bearer to face or be away from the image bearer depending on whether the developing device main portion is at the developing position or the retracted position, a replenishment portion having a replenishment port with an opposite surface formed by an arc drawn around the rotation shaft to replenish the developer, and a non-rotating portion. The supply portion has a supply port with an opposite surface formed by an arc drawn around the rotation shaft and facing the opposite surface of the replenishment port. The supply port communicates the replenishment port and supplies the developer to the developing device through the replenishment port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Hotaru HASHIKAWA, Yoshihiro FUJIWARA, Nobuo TAKAMI, Ryusuke MASE, Kazuki YOGOSAWA, Tomohiro KUBOTA, Naohiro KAWASHIMA, Yuuki TSUCHIYA
  • Publication number: 20210041806
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer conveyer, a bearing, a flange, and a developer mover. The developer conveyer is rotatable and configured to convey a developer. The bearing rotatably supports a support shaft of the developer conveyer. The flange is disposed at an end portion of the developer conveyor to regulate a movement of the developer in an axial direction of the developer conveyer. The developer mover is disposed on a surface of the flange facing the bearing and configured to move the developer that enters between the flange and the bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Yuuki TSUCHIYA, Yoshihiro FUJIWARA, Yuki OSHIKAWA, Ryusuke MASE, Naohiro KAWASHIMA, Hotaru HASHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 10705484
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developing roller, a cover to cover the developing roller from above the developing roller, a filter to cover a vent of the cover to filter air and collect toner passing through the vent, and a pressing member engaged with the cover in which the filter is installed. The cover includes a projecting support to support the filter. The pressing member holds the filter between the pressing member and the cover. The projecting support is projected from one end toward the other end of the vent in a transverse direction of the vent at a part of the cover in a longitudinal direction of the developing roller to block the vent, and cantilevered on the one end. A gap is provided between a tip of the projecting support and an inner edge of the cover on the other end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuki Oshikawa, Yoshihiro Fujiwara, Naohiro Kawashima, Ryusuke Mase, Yuuki Tsuchiya
  • Publication number: 20200174400
    Abstract: A developer container includes a plurality of components combined together to form a space to store a developer. The plurality of components includes a first component and a second component. The developer container further includes a sealant to bond the first component and the second component, and a position regulator to regulate relative positions of the first component and the second component so as to maintain a distance between an adhesion portion of the first component and an adhesion portion of the second component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Naohiro KAWASHIMA, Yoshihiro FUJIWARA, Yuki OSHIKAWA, Yuuki TSUCHIYA, Ryusuke MASE, Tsutomu IWATA
  • Publication number: 20200117119
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device including at least one stirring rotator configured to stir a developer in the developing device, a driver configured to drive the at least one stirring rotator in forward and reverse rotation, a device detector configured to detect whether the developing device is set in the image forming apparatus, and control circuitry configured to execute a warm-up operation. In the warm-up operation, the driver drives the at least one stirring rotator alternately in the reverse rotation and the forward rotation in response to a detection of setting of the developing device in the image forming apparatus by the device detector and a detection of a predetermined condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Ryusuke MASE, Yoshihiro FUJIWARA, Yuki OSHIKAWA, Naohiro KAWASHIMA, Yuuki TSUCHIYA
  • Publication number: 20200103824
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developing roller, a cover to cover the developing roller from above the developing roller, a filter to cover a vent of the cover to filter air and collect toner passing through the vent, and a pressing member engaged with the cover in which the filter is installed. The cover includes a projecting support to support the filter. The pressing member holds the filter between the pressing member and the cover. The projecting support is projected from one end toward the other end of the vent in a transverse direction of the vent at a part of the cover in a longitudinal direction of the developing roller to block the vent, and cantilevered on the one end. A gap is provided between a tip of the projecting support and an inner edge of the cover on the other end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Yuki OSHIKAWA, Yoshihiro FUJIWARA, Naohiro KAWASHIMA, Ryusuke MASE, Yuuki TSUCHIYA
  • Patent number: 9897947
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by irradiation of the photoconductor with light, a charger, a developing device, a transfer device, a charge removal execution determiner, and a power supply controller. The charger receives a superimposed voltage of a DC voltage and an AC voltage to charge the photoconductor. The developing device develops the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor into a toner image. The transfer device transfers the developed toner image to a recording medium. The charge removal execution determiner issues a charge removal command when a flow of electric charge from the transfer device into the photoconductor has occurred in an image forming outputting operation. The power supply controller applies only the AC voltage to the charger for a predetermined period in a state in which the photoconductor is rotated, when the charge removal command is issued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuka Kanatani, Yuushi Hirayama, Kazufumi Kimura, Ryota Kidera, Masanori Moro, Yoshihiro Fujiwara, Hideyasu Seki
  • Patent number: 9772579
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer disposed facing a latent image bearer in a developing range to transport developer by rotation, a support to support the developer bearer and including a holder mount, a rod-shaped developer regulator disposed facing a surface of the developer bearer across a gap, and a holder secured to the holder mount of the support to hold the rod-shaped developer regulator. The rod-shaped developer regulator extends in an axial direction of the developer bearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuki Oshikawa, Akira Azami, Yoshiko Ogawa, Masaaki Yamada, Yoshihiro Fujiwara, Noriyuki Kimura, Yoshiharu Kishi, Yasunobu Shimizu, Junichi Matsumoto, Yoshiyuki Fukuda, Yuuji Ishikura, Kei Saito
  • Publication number: 20170108795
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer disposed facing a latent image hearer in a developing range to transport developer by rotation, a support to support the developer bearer and including a holder mount, a rod-shaped developer regulator disposed facing a surface of the developer bearer across a gap, and a holder secured to the holder mount of the support to hold the rod-shaped developer regulator. The rod-shaped developer regulator extends in an axial direction of the developer bearer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: Yuki OSHIKAWA, Akira Azami, Yoshiko Ogawa, Masaaki Yamada, Yoshihiro Fujiwara, Noriyuki Kimura, Yoshiharu Kishi, Yasunobu Shimizu, Junichi Matsumoto, Yoshiyuki Fukuda, Yuuji Ishikura, Kei Saito
  • Patent number: 9625851
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer disposed facing a latent image bearer in a developing range to transport developer by rotation, a support to support the developer bearer and including a holder mount, a rod-shaped developer regulator disposed facing a surface of the developer bearer across a gap, and a holder secured to the holder mount of the support to hold the rod-shaped developer regulator. The rod-shaped developer regulator extends in an axial direction of the developer bearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuki Oshikawa, Akira Azami, Yoshiko Ogawa, Masaaki Yamada, Yoshihiro Fujiwara, Noriyuki Kimura, Yoshiharu Kishi, Yasunobu Shimizu, Junichi Matsumoto, Yoshiyuki Fukuda, Yuuji Ishikura, Kei Saito
  • Publication number: 20170075264
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by irradiation of the photoconductor with light, a charger, a developing device, a transfer device, a charge removal execution determiner, and a power supply controller. The charger receives a superimposed voltage of a DC voltage and an AC voltage to charge the photoconductor. The developing device develops the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor into a toner image. The transfer device transfers the developed toner image to a recording medium. The charge removal execution determiner issues a charge removal command when a flow of electric charge from the transfer device into the photoconductor has occurred in an image forming outputting operation. The power supply controller applies only the AC voltage to the charger for a predetermined period in a state in which the photoconductor is rotated, when the charge removal command is issued.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Yuka KANATANI, Yuushi HIRAYAMA, Kazufumi KIMURA, Ryota KIDERA, Masanori MORO, Yoshihiro FUJIWARA, Hideyasu SEKI
  • Publication number: 20160238966
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer disposed facing a latent image bearer in a developing range to transport developer by rotation, a support to support the developer bearer and including a holder mount, a rod-shaped developer regulator disposed facing a surface of the developer bearer across a gap, and a holder secured to the holder mount of the support to hold the rod-shaped developer regulator. The rod-shaped developer regulator extends in an axial direction of the developer bearer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Yuki OSHIKAWA, Akira AZAMI, Yoshiko OGAWA, Masaaki YAMADA, Yoshihiro FUJIWARA, Noriyuki KIMURA, Yoshiharu KISHI, Yasunobu SHIMIZU, Junichi MATSUMOTO, Yoshiyuki FUKUDA, Yuuji ISHIKURA, Kei SAITO