Patents by Inventor Yuzo Kouno

Yuzo Kouno 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).

  • Patent number: 6801742
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of image carriers arranged along a first intermediate image transfer belt. Toner images of different colors formed on the image carriers are sequentially transferred to the first intermediate image transfer belt one above the other to complete a first image. The first image is transferred to a second image transfer belt and then transferred to one side of a sheet. At the same time, a second image completed on the first image transfer belt is directly transferred to the other side of the same sheet. First and second control means are respectively disposed in the loop of the first intermediate image transfer body and the loop of the second intermediate image transfer body. The apparatus of the present invention can form color images on both sides of the recording medium rapidly in accurate register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Mochimaru, Yasukuni Omata, Norimasa Sohmiya, Chiemi Kaneko, Yuzo Kouno
  • Patent number: 6775516
    Abstract: A curl eliminating device, which is constructed in a way that can cool the sheet and straighten the curl at the same time without having a large device and without increasing cost. The device has a transporting roller, arranged in a sheet transporting passage; and a plurality of backup rollers, arranged abreast along a circumference of the transporting roller. The backup rollers press-contacts the transporting roller during rotating. The curl eliminating device clamps and transports the sheet in a way that the sheet conforms with the shape of the circumference of the transporting roller. The backup rollers are separately arranged along the circumference of the transporting roller, and a separating distance is set to be changeable. The separating distance is set according to a curl amount of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuzo Kouno
  • Publication number: 20030044208
    Abstract: A curl eliminating device, which is constructed in a way that can cool the sheet and straighten the curl at the same time without having a large device and without increasing cost. The device has a transporting roller, arranged in a sheet transporting passage; and a plurality of backup rollers, arranged abreast along a circumference of the transporting roller. The backup rollers press-contacts the transporting roller during rotating. The curl eliminating device clamps and transports the sheet in a way that the sheet conforms with the shape of the circumference of the transporting roller. The backup rollers are separately arranged along the circumference of the transporting roller, and a separating distance is set to be changeable. The separating distance is set according to a curl amount of the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventor: Yuzo Kouno
  • Patent number: 5594540
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a fixing roller having a peeling-off layer at its peripheral surface, a rotating member for coming into contact with and for pressurizing the fixing roller, an applying member disposed on the fixing roller, and a cleaning member for cleaning the applying member. The applying member has a porous surface layer which is of the same quality as that of the peeling-off layer of the fixing roller, and is filled in oil. A transferring material with non-fixed toner image is nipped and delivered with the fixing roller and the rotating member, and non-fixed toner image on the transferring material is fixed with heat and pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Higaya, Yuzo Kouno, Yukiti Shindou