Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Tetsuhiko Mizuyama

Tetsuro Hirota

Kazuho Satoh

Tomoki Shimohira

A fluid detection apparatus to detect quantity of a fluid having flowability and stored in a casing includes an oscillator disposed outside the casing to output a frequency of an oscillation signal corresponding to a magnetic flux passing through a space near the oscillator, a vibrator made of material effecting the magnetic flux and disposed inside the casing, a vibration trigger disposed inside the casing to vibrate the vibrator, and circuitry to acquire frequency-related information related to the frequency of the oscillation signal output from the oscillator, detect the vibration of the vibrator based on a change of the frequency-related information, determine whether the vibration of the vibrator converges during a convergence-checking time period defined after the vibrator is vibrated by the vibration trigger, and detect the quantity of the fluid in the casing based on a convergence determination result of the vibration of the vibrator.

Fluid detection apparatus to detect a quantity of fluid using a vibration

An image forming apparatus includes a primary transfer unit, a secondary transfer unit, a belt drive unit, and a swingable assembly. The primary transfer unit primary transfers an image from an image carrying member to an intermediate transfer belt. The secondary transfer unit secondary transfers the image, primary-transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt, from the intermediate transfer belt to a recording medium. The belt drive unit drives the intermediate transfer belt. The swingable assembly alternately abuts the secondary transfer unit to the intermediate transfer belt and separates the secondary transfer unit from the intermediate transfer belt. When the image forming apparatus is determined to be shifted to an extended stop mode, the belt drive unit moves the intermediate transfer belt for a given distance in a transport direction of the intermediate transfer belt and the swingable assembly separates the secondary transfer unit from the intermediate transfer belt.

Image forming apparatus, intermediate transfer belt drive control method, computer program, and recording medium

In an image forming apparatus, a timer unit measures a time interval between a current time and a time point when previous supply of toner to a developing unit ended and an adjusting unit adjusts an amount of toner to be supplied to the developing unit based on the time interval measured at the timer unit.

Growing community of inventors

Kanagawa, Japan

Tetsuhiko Mizuyama