Patents by Inventor Akira Kunieda

Akira Kunieda 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: 20240140132
    Abstract: An envelope processing apparatus for enclosing an enclosure in an envelope includes an envelope conveyance path, an enclosure supplier, an envelope supplier, a flap opener, and an envelope stacker. The envelope conveyance path extends in a substantially vertical direction to convey the envelope. The enclosure supplier supplies the enclosure to the envelope via the envelope conveyance path. The envelope supplier supplies the envelope to the envelope conveyance path, The flap opener opens a flap portion of the envelope between the envelope supplier and the envelope conveyance path. The envelope stacker stacks the envelope ejected from the envelope conveyance path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi SUZUKI, Michitaka SUZUKI, Yuusuke SHIBASAKI, Makoto HIDAKA, Akira KUNIEDA, Takahiro WATANABE, Takuya MORINAGA, Takahiro MATSUDA, Shingo YOSHIZAWA, Shinji ASAMI, Kazuyoshi MATSUO
  • Patent number: 11919325
    Abstract: An enclosing-sealing apparatus includes a flap opener that opens a flap of an envelope while the envelope is conveyed to an enclosing position. A first envelope detector is disposed upstream from the flap opener in an envelope conveyance direction and detects both ends of the envelope in the envelope conveyance direction. A second envelope detector is disposed downstream from the flap opener in the envelope conveyance direction and detects both ends of the envelope in the envelope conveyance direction in an open state in which the flap opens. A controller determines the open state of the flap based on a first detection result sent from the first envelope detector and a second detection result sent from the second envelope detector. The controller performs troubleshooting for enclosing the enclosure into the envelope if the controller determines that the open state of the flap is faulty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kunieda, Michitaka Suzuki, Shinji Asami, Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Yuusuke Shibasaki, Takahiro Matsuda, Makoto Hidaka, Kazuyoshi Matsuo, Shingo Yoshizawa, Takahiro Watanabe, Takuya Morinaga
  • Patent number: 11897279
    Abstract: An envelope processing apparatus for enclosing an enclosure into an envelope conveyed to an enclosing position includes a conveyance roller that conveys the envelope to the enclosing position. A first envelope length calculator calculates a first envelope length of the envelope in an envelope conveyance direction in which the envelope is conveyed in a close state in which a flap of the envelope closes. A flap opener opens the flap while the conveyance roller conveys the envelope. A second envelope length calculator calculates a second envelope length of the envelope in the envelope conveyance direction in an open state in which the flap opens. A controller calculates a flap length of the flap in the envelope conveyance direction based on the first envelope length and the second envelope length. The controller controls enclosing of the enclosure into the envelope based on the flap length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shingo Yoshizawa, Michitaka Suzuki, Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Yuusuke Shibasaki, Shinji Asami, Takahiro Matsuda, Kazuyoshi Matsuo, Makoto Hidaka, Akira Kunieda, Takahiro Watanabe, Takuya Morinaga
  • Publication number: 20230303352
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus including a sheet feeder, a sheet processing device, a sheet ejection device, a purge unit, a multifeed sensor, and circuitry. The sheet feeder feeds a sheet toward a sheet conveyance passage. The sheet processing device performs a predetermined operation on the sheet. The sheet ejection device stacks the sheet when the predetermined operation has been performed. The purge unit stacks the sheet when the predetermined operation has not been performed. The multifeed sensor detects whether sheets are multifed and a number of multifed sheets. The circuitry counts a number of sheets, determines that the sheets stacked in the purge unit is full when a number of counted sheets reaches a predetermined number of sheets, and conveys the multifed sheets toward the purge unit and adds the number of counted sheets according to the number of multifed sheets, in response to detection of the multifed sheets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryohsuke AKAISHI, Akira KUNIEDA, Yohsuke HARAGUCHI, Hirofumi HORITA, Satoshi KUNO, Koju KAWAKAMI, Yasunobu KIDOURA
  • Publication number: 20230264909
    Abstract: A sheet separation device that conveys a two-ply sheet in a state where the one side joined is located on an upstream side or a downstream side of the two-ply sheet in a conveyance direction, separates the two-ply sheet into the two sheets, and inserts an inner sheet from a non-joined side opposite the joined side in the sheet conveyance direction so that the inner sheet is sandwiched between the two sheets overlaid with each other includes a conveying roller pair including a pair of rollers and circuitry. The conveying roller pair conveys the two-ply sheet and holds a joined portion of in the two-ply sheet at which the two sheets are joined, at a nip portion of the conveying roller pair when the inner sheet is inserted into the two-ply sheet. The circuitry contacts the inner sheet against the joined portion of the two-ply sheet to perform skew correction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koju KAWAKAMI, Akira Kunieda, Yohsuke Haraguchi, Hirofumi Horita, Saloshi Kuno, Yasunobu Kidoura, Ryohsuke Akaishi
  • Publication number: 20230264461
    Abstract: A sheet processing device includes a sheet storage and a sheet displacer. The sheet storage includes a first storage portion that includes a first wall that is one side wall of the sheet storage and a second wall that is part of another side wall of the sheet storage and a second storage portion that includes a third wall continuous to the first wall and the second wall. The sheet displacer displaces a preceding sheet stored in the sheet storage and contacts an upper end of the preceding sheet to displace the preceding sheet such that the upper end of the preceding sheet moves toward the third wall. The second wall and the third wall are coupled via a bent portion that bends in a manner such that a storage space of the second storage portion is greater than a storage space of the first storage portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi KUNO, Akira KUNIEDA, Yohsuke HARAGUCHI, Hirofumi HORITA, Koju KAWAKAMI, Yasunobu KIDOURA, Ryohsuke AKAISHI
  • Publication number: 20230264491
    Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a sheet stacker, a sheet feed roller, a separation roller pair, and a lifter. Sheets are conveyed and stacked on the sheet stacker. The sheet feed roller feeds the sheets. The separation roller pair separates the sheets fed by the sheet feed roller one by one. The lifter lifts and lowers the sheet stacker depending on a stack amount of the sheets. The sheet stacker includes a first stacking face, a second stacking face, and a bent portion integrally connecting the stacking faces such that the stacking faces form a specified angle. The sheet stacker stacks the sheets such that a center of gravity of the sheets is positioned above the first stacking face and integrally displaces the stacking faces when the lifter operates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirofumi HORITA, Akira Kunieda, Yohsuke Haraguchi, Satoshi Kuno, Koju Kawakami, Yasuobu Kidoura, Ryohsuke Akaishi
  • Publication number: 20230256726
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus including a sheet feeder, a sheet processing device, a sheet ejection device, a purge unit, a multifeed sensor, a sheet sensor, and circuitry. The circuitry stops an operation of the sheet processing apparatus when the multifeed sensor has not detected multifeed of the sheet and the sheet sensor does not detect a trailing end of the sheet after a first set time from detection of a leading end of the sheet, stop the operation when the multifeed sensor has detected the multifeed and the sheet sensor does not detect the trailing end of the sheet after a second set time from the detection, and conveys the sheet toward the purge unit without stopping the operation when the multifeed sensor has detected the multifeed and the sheet sensor detects the trailing end of the sheet before the second set time elapses from the detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira KUNIEDA, Satoshi KUNO, Hirofumi HORITA, Koju KAWAKAMI, Yasunobu KIDOURA, Ryohsuke AKAISHI, Yohsuke HARAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 11718081
    Abstract: A sheet separation device includes a rotator, a nipping member to nip the two-ply sheet with the rotator, a first conveyor to convey the two-ply sheet in a first direction toward the rotator and a second direction reverse thereto, a winding member to wind the two-ply sheet around the rotator, a second conveyor to convey a sheet medium in the second direction, a separation claw to move in a width direction; a sheet guide to guide the separated two sheets to different passages; and control circuitry. The first conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet to the rotator with a bonded portion at an upstream end. The control circuitry inserts the separation claw into a space between the two sheets, adjusts a projection amount of the two-ply sheet from a nip of the first conveyor in the second direction, and inserts the sheet medium in two-ply sheet adjusted in the projection amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru Takahashi, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Tomomichi Hoshino, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Kazuyoshi Matsuo, Makoto Hidaka, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Takahiro Watanabe, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Publication number: 20230244164
    Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus and a sheet laminator. The image forming apparatus forms an image on a sheet being conveyed as an inner sheet. The sheet laminator performs a sheet laminating operation on a two-ply sheet in which the sheet conveyed from the image forming apparatus is inserted between two sheets of the two-ply sheet. The sheet laminator includes a heater and circuitry. The heater heats the two-ply sheet during the sheet laminating operation. The circuitry is to execute a control mode when a specific abnormal event occurs among a plurality of abnormal events that occurs in the image forming apparatus, where the control mode maintains heating by the heater of the sheet laminator for a predetermined time and interrupt the heating by the heater when an abnormal event other than the specific abnormal event occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunobu KIDOURA, Akira Kunieda, Yohsuke Haraguchi, Hirofumi Horita, Satoshi Kuno, Koju Kwakami, Ryohsuke Akaishi
  • Publication number: 20220380168
    Abstract: An enclosing apparatus for enclosing an enclosure into an envelope at an enclosing position includes a conveyance roller that conveys the envelope to the enclosing position and an envelope conveyance path through which the envelope is conveyed. An enclosing support is disposed in the envelope conveyance path and supports enclosing of the enclosure into the envelope. The enclosing support retracts a flap of the envelope from the envelope conveyance path while the conveyance roller conveys the envelope to the enclosing position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuusuke SHIBASAKI, Michitaka SUZUKI, Shinji ASAMI, Nobuyoshi SUZUKI, Takahiro MATSUDA, Makoto HIDAKA, Kazuyoshi MATSUO, Shingo YOSHIZAWA, Akira KUNIEDA, Takahiro WATANABE, Takuya MORINAGA, Atsushi SHINODA
  • Publication number: 20220379653
    Abstract: An enclosing-sealing apparatus includes a flap opener that opens a flap of an envelope while the envelope is conveyed to an enclosing position. A first envelope detector is disposed upstream from the flap opener in an envelope conveyance direction and detects both ends of the envelope in the envelope conveyance direction. A second envelope detector is disposed downstream from the flap opener in the envelope conveyance direction and detects both ends of the envelope in the envelope conveyance direction in an open state in which the flap opens. A controller determines the open state of the flap based on a first detection result sent from the first envelope detector and a second detection result sent from the second envelope detector. The controller performs troubleshooting for enclosing the enclosure into the envelope if the controller determines that the open state of the flap is faulty.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira KUNIEDA, Michitaka SUZUKI, Shinji ASAMI, Nobuyoshi SUZUKI, Yuusuke SHIBASAKI, Takahiro MATSUDA, Makoto HIDAKA, Kazuyoshi MATSUO, Shingo YOSHIZAWA, Takahiro WATANABE, Takuya MORINAGA
  • Publication number: 20220363088
    Abstract: An envelope processing apparatus for enclosing an enclosure into an envelope conveyed to an enclosing position includes a conveyance roller that conveys the envelope to the enclosing position. A first envelope length calculator calculates a first envelope length of the envelope in an envelope conveyance direction in which the envelope is conveyed in a close state in which a flap of the envelope closes. A flap opener opens the flap while the conveyance roller conveys the envelope. A second envelope length calculator calculates a second envelope length of the envelope in the envelope conveyance direction in an open state in which the flap opens. A controller calculates a flap length of the flap in the envelope conveyance direction based on the first envelope length and the second envelope length. The controller controls enclosing of the enclosure into the envelope based on the flap length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shingo YOSHIZAWA, Michitaka SUZUKI, Nobuyoshi SUZUKI, Yuusuke SHIBASAKI, Shinji ASAMI, Takahiro MATSUDA, Kazuyoshi MATSUO, Makoto HIDAKA, Akira KUNIEDA, Takahiro WATANABE, Takuya MORINAGA
  • Patent number: 11485602
    Abstract: An embodiment of this disclosure provides a folding apparatus configured to stack and fold a designated number of sheets at a time. The folding apparatus includes a conveyor configured to sequentially convey the designated number of sheets, a stacker configured to temporarily store a sheet conveyed by the conveyor to stack the designated number of sheets, a sheet folding device configured to fold the designated number of sheets at a time, and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to cause the sheet folding device to fold the stored sheet in response to an occurrence of a sheet jam upstream from the stacker in a direction of sheet conveyance, in processing the designated number of sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Hidaka, Takahiro Watanabe, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Kazuyoshi Matsuo, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi, Wataru Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20220153008
    Abstract: A sheet separation device includes a rotator, a nipping member to nip the two-ply sheet with the rotator, a first conveyor to convey the two-ply sheet in a first direction toward the rotator and a second direction reverse thereto, a winding member to wind the two-ply sheet around the rotator, a second conveyor to convey a sheet medium in the second direction, a separation claw to move in a width direction; a sheet guide to guide the separated two sheets to different passages; and control circuitry. The first conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet to the rotator with a bonded portion at an upstream end. The control circuitry inserts the separation claw into a space between the two sheets, adjusts a projection amount of the two-ply sheet from a nip of the first conveyor in the second direction, and inserts the sheet medium in two-ply sheet adjusted in the projection amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru TAKAHASHI, Tomohiro FURUHASHI, Michitaka SUZUKI, Tomomichi HOSHINO, Fumiharu YONEYAMA, Kazuyoshi MATSUO, Makoto HIDAKA, Koki SAKANO, Akira KUNIEDA, Takahiro WATANABE, Takuya MORINAGA, Yohsuke HARAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 11273629
    Abstract: A sheet separation device includes a rotator, a nipping member to nip the two-ply sheet with the rotator, a first conveyor to convey the two-ply sheet in a first direction toward the rotator and a second direction reverse thereto, a winding member to wind the two-ply sheet around the rotator, a second conveyor to convey a sheet medium in the second direction, a separation claw to move in a width direction; a sheet guide to guide the separated two sheets to different passages; and control circuitry. The first conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet to the rotator with a bonded portion at an upstream end. The control circuitry inserts the separation claw into a space between the two sheets, adjusts a projection amount of the two-ply sheet from a nip of the first conveyor in the second direction, and inserts the sheet medium in two-ply sheet adjusted in the projection amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru Takahashi, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Tomomichi Hoshino, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Kazuyoshi Matsuo, Makoto Hidaka, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Takahiro Watanabe, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 11267671
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a roller pair configured to convey a sheet, a sheet bundle conveyer configured to convey a sheet bundle to the roller pair, and circuitry configured to cause the sheet bundle conveyer to contact leading edges of sheets of the sheet bundle to the roller pair and cause the roller pair to rotate in reverse to align the leading edges of the sheets of the sheet bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohsuke Haraguchi, Shinji Asami, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Tomomichi Hoshino, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Akira Kunieda, Takuya Morinaga, Makoto Hidaka, Koki Sakano
  • Patent number: 11161710
    Abstract: A sheet separation device to open a two-ply sheet includes a rotator; a nipping member disposed opposite the rotator and configured to nip the two-ply sheet with the rotator; a conveyor configured to convey the two-ply sheet between the rotator and the nipping member, and a winding member disposed adjacent to the rotator. The conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet with a bonded portion of the two-ply sheet being an upstream end or a downstream end of the two-ply sheet in a conveyance direction of the two-ply sheet. The winding member winds the two-ply sheet around the rotator, to create a difference in winding circumferential length between the two sheets and separate the two sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Furuhashi, Akihiro Iwasaki, Michitaka Suzuki, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Tomomichi Hoshino, Wataru Takahashi, Takuya Morinaga, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Yohsuke Haraguchi, Makoto Hidaka
  • Patent number: 11111098
    Abstract: A sheet folding system includes a plurality of sheet folding apparatuses configured to receive and perform a folding process on a sheet and circuitry configured to distribute sheets to the plurality of sheet folding apparatuses. Each of the plurality of sheet folding apparatuses includes a folding device configured to fold the sheet, a first conveyance passage configured to convey the sheet downstream in a sheet conveyance direction without passing through the folding device, a second conveyance passage configured to convey the sheet to the folding device, a third conveyance passage configured to convey the sheet from the folding device downstream in the sheet conveyance direction, and a junction between the first conveyance passage and the third conveyance passage. The circuitry controls sheet conveyance to prevent an interference, at the junction, between the sheet conveyed from the first conveyance passage and the sheet conveyed from the third conveyance passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michitaka Suzuki, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Tomomichi Hoshino, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Makoto Hidaka, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Takahiro Watanabe, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 11097920
    Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus includes a conveyance member to convey a sheet from an ejection member at a first speed lower than a conveyance speed by the ejection member or a second speed substantially same as or higher than the conveyance speed; a registration member; a pair of first and second rollers to rotate in forward and reverse directions; a plurality of folding rollers downstream from the second roller, to rotate in forward and reverse directions to fold the sheet; and circuitry to determine whether the sheet is equal to or smaller than a reference length from an exit position from the ejection member to a folding start position downstream from the pair of the first and second rollers. The circuitry performs first-speed folding when the sheet is equal to or smaller than the reference length and performs second-speed folding when the sheet is longer than the reference length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kunieda, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Wataru Takahashi, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Kazuyoshi Matsuo, Makoto Hidaka, Takahiro Watanabe, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi