Patents by Inventor Yuichi Aoyama

Yuichi Aoyama 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: 20020064403
    Abstract: In a duplex image transferring device of the present invention, a first bicolor toner image formed by a developing liquid is transferred to one side of a sheet. This toner image on the sheet includes a carrier liquid layer containing a liquid carrier of an amount not great enough to serve as an electrophoresis medium for a toner layer deposited on the sheet, but sufficient to serve as a parting agent for the toner layer and an intermediate image transfer belt contacting the toner image. Subsequently, a bicolor toner image of the same polarity as the toner layer is transferred to the other side of the sheet. It is possible to transfer the toner images to both sides of the sheet without switching back the one-sided sheet, without using two kinds of toner each being chargeable to particular polarity or without charging one toner image to the opposite polarity with a corona charger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventors: Katsuo Sakai, Shunichi Abe, Yuichi Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20020044799
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus suppresses several kinds of inconveniences caused by unnecessary contact of a belt-formed member with opposing members and drives the belt-formed member accurately even when the belt-formed member separated from a part of a plurality of opposing members. In an image forming apparatus having a belt-formed member supported by a plurality of supporting rollers and a plurality of opposing members located side by side in a line to oppose and contact the belt-formed member, a pivot mechanism is employed to temporarily separate the belt-formed member from a part of the opposing members for color image formation. The image forming apparatus also includes a tension roller dive mechanism to increase a relative distance between the tension roller and other supporting rollers to suppress a decrease in a tension of the belt-formed member during the above-described separation of the belt-formed member from the plurality of opposing members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Inventors: Tetsurou Sasamoto, Katsuaki Miyawaki, Makoto Obu, Minoru Suzuki, Yuichi Aoyama
  • Patent number: 6324374
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus suppresses several kinds of inconveniences caused by unnecessary contact of a belt-formed member with opposing members and drives the belt-formed member accurately even when the belt-formed member separated from a part of a plurality of opposing members. In an image forming apparatus having a belt-formed member supported by a plurality of supporting rollers and a plurality of opposing members located side by side in a line to oppose and contact the belt-formed member, a pivot mechanism is employed to temporarily separate the belt-formed member from a part of the opposing members for color image formation. The image forming apparatus also includes a tension roller dive mechanism to increase a relative distance between the tension roller and other supporting rollers to suppress a decrease in a tension of the belt-formed member during the above-described separation of the belt-formed member from the plurality of opposing members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsurou Sasamoto, Katsuaki Miyawaki, Makoto Obu, Minoru Suzuki, Yuichi Aoyama
  • Patent number: 6108508
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a developing device includes a reservoir storing a viscous and dense developing liquid. A developing sleeve, an applicator roller, a circulation pump for circulating the liquid and a screw for agitating the liquid are disposed in the reservoir. The reservoir is open only at its portion where the developing sleeve contacts an image carrier. The liquid is agitated by the screw before flowing into the circulation pump and then applied to the applicator roller. As a result, the liquid is fed to the developing sleeve via the applicator roller with a uniform toner content. The apparatus is small size and stably forms high quality images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyasu Takeuchi, Masahiko Itaya, Yuichi Aoyama, Katsuaki Miyawaki, Makoto Obu, Mie Yoshino
  • Patent number: 5848329
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a plurality of image forming units or process units is disclosed. The process units may each be moved into and out of the body of the apparatus by hand. A plurality of support members for supporting the ends of the process units to be operated by hand extend substantially parallel to a linear path for conveying a recording medium, but outside of paths for moving the process units into and out of the apparatus body. A positioning mechanism positions the above end of the individual process unit relative to the support members. The positioning mechanism is implemented by holes formed in the support members, and pins studded on a positioning wall included in the individual process unit. The apparatus allows the process units to be positioned thereon accurately with a high mechanical strength, while allowing them to be mounted and dismounted with ease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Aoyama, Makoto Obu, Masaki Hiroi, Katsuaki Miyawaki, Nobuhiko Umezawa, Masami Hiramatsu
  • Patent number: 5374980
    Abstract: A color image forming apparatus forms an image having a plurality of colors. It includes a plurality of elongate photoconductive members of a number corresponding to the plurality of colors. The axes of the photoconductive members are arranged on a plane extending by no more than 45.degree. from the vertical direction. A plurality of developing units supply a liquid developer to each of the photoconductive members to develop latent images thereon. A movable transfer belt contacts the photoconductive members so that developed images may be transferred to the transfer belt. A plurality of cleaning portions are positioned for scraping liquid developer from the photoconductive members. The widths of the cleaning portions progressively increase from the highest to the lowest. An open topped casing is disposed below each of the photoconductive members for catching liquid toner dropping from the photoconductive members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuaki Kubo, Yuichi Aoyama, Nobuhiko Umezawa
  • Patent number: 5248847
    Abstract: A developing device incorporated in a copier for supplying a toner from a toner container to a reservoir to feed a toner-containing liquid developer to a developing unit. A developer feeding mechanism is disposed in the reservoir for feeding the toner-containing liquid developer to the developing unit. The liquid developer is circulated from and to the developing feeding mechanism along a circulation path. A discharging device for discharging the toner has an outlet which is open to the circulation path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuichi Aoyama
  • Patent number: 5156308
    Abstract: A device for supplying a liquid developer from a toner container to a tank and from the tank to a developing unit of which is operable with the liquid developer. The nozzle hole of the toner container is open into a circulation path along which the liquid developer is circulated. Hence, the nozzle hole is constantly dipped in the liquid developer without regard to the liquid level in the tank and, therefore, is free from the deposition of dried toner particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuichi Aoyama
  • Patent number: 4989048
    Abstract: A cleaning device for use in an electrophotographic copier, facsimile apparatus or similar image recorder for cleaning a photoconductive element to remove a toner which remains on the photoconductive element after image transfer. If the temperature of the photoconductive element is lower than 35 degrees centigrade, a cleaning blade is held in pressing contact with the photoconductive element after an image recording operation. If the temperature is 35 degrees centigrade or higher, the blade is released from the photoconductive element upon the lapse of a predetermined period of time after a copying operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Arai, Yuichi Aoyama
  • Patent number: 4670814
    Abstract: An improved high-tension capacitor is proposed which uses no insulation oil or gas. Not only the dielectric layers in the capacitor elements are impregnated with synthetic resin, but also the capacitor elements are insulated with synthetic resin by impregnating the insulation material around the capacitor elements with synthetic resin. The insulating layer around the capacitor elements is formed with a plurality of air ducts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Assignee: Risho Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Goro Matsui, Katsuyoshi Kiba, Kiyoshi Terasaka, Yuichi Aoyama