Patents by Inventor Eizo KURITA

Eizo KURITA 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: 11897711
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a sheet tray on which one or more sheets are placed, a pickup roller by which a sheet is picked up from the sheet tray, and an elevating mechanism. The elevating mechanism includes a shaft rotated by a motor, and a cam attached to the shaft and rotated together with the shaft to raise and lower the sheet tray with respect to the pickup roller. The sheet conveying device further includes a load applying mechanism contacting the shaft to apply a load thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eizo Kurita, Naofumi Soga, Kenji Takashima, Toshiaki Oshiro
  • Publication number: 20240040051
    Abstract: Provided are an image forming apparatus and a wireless tag communication apparatus capable of wirelessly communicating with an external wireless tag. According to a first aspect of an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a conveyance path, an antenna, and a shielding member. On the conveyance path, a sheet is conveyed. The antenna can wirelessly communicate with a first wireless tag of the sheet on the conveyance path. The shielding member shields, at a shielding position, wireless communication between the antenna and a second wireless tag located on a side opposite to the conveyance path with the antenna interposed therebetween. The shielding member moves from the shielding position to an open position to enable wireless communication between the antenna and the second wireless tag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Eizo KURITA
  • Publication number: 20240040052
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a conveyor configured to convey a sheet along a conveyance path, a communication interface, and a controller. The wireless tag communication device is configured to wirelessly communicate with a wireless tag of the sheet. The controller is configured to read, by the communication interface, first data from the wireless tag of the sheet on the conveyance path. The controller is configured to compare the first data with second data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Eizo KURITA
  • Patent number: 11780695
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet accommodation unit, a feed roller to feed a sheet along a conveyance path, a first encoder to detect rotation of the feed roller, a conveying roller downstream of the feed roller, a second encoder to detect rotation of the conveying roller, and a motor to drive the feed roller and the conveying roller. A first clutch switches between connecting and disconnecting the paper feed roller to the motor. A second clutch switches between connecting and disconnecting the motor to the conveying roller. A first sensor detects the sheet at a first position. A second sensor detects the sheet at a second position. A control unit controls the motor based on output from the first encoder when the sheet is at the first position and output from the second encoder when the sheet is at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Eizo Kurita
  • Publication number: 20230150782
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet conveying device includes a tray, a pickup roller, a movement mechanism, a holder, a biasing unit, and a detecting mechanism. The movement mechanism moves the tray between a raised position and a lowered position. The raised position is a position where sheets come into contact with the pickup roller. The holder holds the pickup roller so that the pickup roller is displaceable when pushed up by the sheets. The biasing unit applies a biasing force to the holder pushing down the pickup roller. The detecting mechanism detects when the sheets push up the pickup roller. The detecting mechanism includes a detection unit and a sensor. The detection unit is switchable between a reference position and a detection position according to displacement of the holder accompanying the movement of the tray. The sensor detects when the detection unit reaches the detection position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Kenji TAKASHIMA, Eizo KURITA, Toshiaki OSHIRO
  • Publication number: 20230072520
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet accommodation unit, a feed roller to feed a sheet along a conveyance path, a first encoder to detect rotation of the feed roller, a conveying roller downstream of the feed roller, a second encoder to detect rotation of the conveying roller, and a motor to drive the feed roller and the conveying roller. A first clutch switches between connecting and disconnecting the paper feed roller to the motor. A second clutch switches between connecting and disconnecting the motor to the conveying roller. A first sensor detects the sheet at a first position. A second sensor detects the sheet at a second position. A control unit controls the motor based on output from the first encoder when the sheet is at the first position and output from the second encoder when the sheet is at the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventor: Eizo KURITA
  • Patent number: 11572241
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet conveying device includes a roller, a motor, a clutch, and a torque generator. The roller conveys a sheet. The motor is a driving source. The clutch connects or disconnects drive of the motor with respect to the roller. The torque generator applies a torque to the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Eizo Kurita
  • Publication number: 20220411212
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a paper feeding mechanism includes a tray, a first roller, a second roller, a third roller, and a guide member. The tray supports a sheet. The first roller picks up the sheet from the tray. The second roller conveys the sheet picked up by the first roller. The third roller forms a nip that sandwiches the sheet between the second roller and the third roller. Relative positions of the third roller and the first and second rollers are set such that a convey reference surface of the sheet that is in contact with the first roller and the second roller and a flat surface of the nip are disposed on substantially the same flat surface. The guide member is between the nip and the first roller and intersects the convey reference surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Toshiaki Oshiro, Naofumi Soga, Eizo Kurita, Kenji Takashima
  • Publication number: 20220332529
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a sheet tray on which one or more sheets are placed, a pickup roller by which a sheet is picked up from the sheet tray, and an elevating mechanism. The elevating mechanism includes a shaft rotated by a motor, and a cam attached to the shaft and rotated together with the shaft to raise and lower the sheet tray with respect to the pickup roller. The sheet conveying device further includes a load applying mechanism contacting the shaft to apply a load thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Eizo KURITA, Naofumi SOGA, Kenji TAKASHIMA, Toshiaki OSHIRO
  • Publication number: 20210362972
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet conveying device includes a roller, a motor, a clutch, and a torque generator. The roller conveys a sheet. The motor is a driving source. The clutch connects or disconnects drive of the motor with respect to the roller. The torque generator applies a torque to the roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventor: Eizo Kurita
  • Patent number: 10996610
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a paper re-feeding path, a switching member, a reversing roller, a paper discharge roller, a motor, and a revolution control mechanism. The switching member can be switched between a first position and a second position. The reversing roller can reverse a revolving direction thereof between a first revolving direction and a second revolving direction. The paper discharge roller revolves in a third revolving direction for conveying the sheet in a third conveying direction. The motor reverses the revolving direction of the reversing roller and switches the position of switching member by reversing the revolving direction thereof. The revolution control mechanism revolves the paper discharge roller in the third revolving direction with the revolution of the motor, regardless of the reversing of the revolving direction of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Eizo Kurita, Akira Nuita
  • Patent number: 10742827
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a scanner, a printer configured to print an image based on an image read by the scanner, a memory, and a processor. The processor is configured to control the printer to print an adjustment test pattern on a first sheet, and the scanner to scan the adjustment test pattern on the first sheet, determine a setting value for adjusting positioning of an image to be printed by the printer on a sheet of the first sheet size, such that an image center matches a sheet center in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction, and store the determined setting value in the memory. The processor is configured to modify the setting value stored in the memory based on sheet information related to a second sheet to be used for printing, the second sheet having a second sheet size different from the first sheet size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazumasa Yasui, Tomokazu Sakabe, Eizo Kurita, Kyosuke Terada
  • Publication number: 20200201234
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a paper re-feeding path, a switching member, a reversing roller, a paper discharge roller, a motor, and a revolution control mechanism. The switching member can be switched between a first position and a second position. The reversing roller can reverse a revolving direction thereof between a first revolving direction and a second revolving direction. The paper discharge roller revolves in a third revolving direction for conveying the sheet in a third conveying direction. The motor reverses the revolving direction of the reversing roller and switches the position of switching member by reversing the revolving direction thereof. The revolution control mechanism revolves the paper discharge roller in the third revolving direction with the revolution of the motor, regardless of the reversing of the revolving direction of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Eizo KURITA, Akira NUITA
  • Patent number: 10558135
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus of the embodiment includes a roller, a plurality of developing units, an image forming unit, a sensor, and a control unit. The rollers carry a sheet. The plurality of developing units include different types of developing materials. The image forming unit forms a plurality of images on a transfer belt by the developing materials of each of the plurality of developing units. The sensor reads the plurality of images formed on the transfer belt. The control unit controls the speed of the roller based on the positions of the plurality of images read by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Eizo Kurita
  • Publication number: 20200019103
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a scanner, a printer configured to print an image based on an image read by the scanner, a memory, and a processor. The memory stores a setting value for adjusting positioning of an image to be printed by the printer on a first sheet of a first sheet size, and sheet size information specifying the first sheet size corresponding to the setting value. The processor is configured to modify the setting value stored in the memory based on sheet information related to a second sheet to be used for printing, the second sheet having a second sheet size different from the first sheet size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Kazumasa YASUI, Tomokazu SAKABE, Eizo KURITA, Kyosuke TERADA
  • Publication number: 20200021705
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a scanner, a printer configured to print an image based on an image read by the scanner, a memory, and a processor. The processor is configured to control the printer to print an adjustment test pattern on a first sheet, and the scanner to scan the adjustment test pattern on the first sheet, determine a setting value for adjusting positioning of an image to be printed by the printer on a sheet of the first sheet size, such that an image center matches a sheet center in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction, and store the determined setting value in the memory. The processor is configured to modify the setting value stored in the memory based on sheet information related to a second sheet to be used for printing, the second sheet having a second sheet size different from the first sheet size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Kazumasa YASUI, Tomokazu SAKABE, Eizo KURITA, Kyosuke TERADA
  • Patent number: 10435263
    Abstract: A paper feeding device according to an embodiment includes a paper feeding cassette that holds a plurality of sheets and has a stacking surface with an angle A relative to horizontal that changes depending on a quantity of sheets stacked thereon. A pickup roller feeds the plurality of sheets from the paper feeding cassette. A separation roller separates the plurality of sheets from each other in a case where the plurality of sheets are fed from the paper feeding cassette in an overlapped state. A guide unit has a guide surface which is inclined upwards on a downstream side thereof in the transport direction of the plurality of sheets. A drive unit changed an angle B of the guide surface relative to horizontal. A control device controls the drive unit to change the angle B based on the angle A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Eizo Kurita
  • Publication number: 20190039844
    Abstract: A paper feeding device according to an embodiment includes a paper feeding cassette that holds a plurality of sheets and has a stacking surface with an angle A relative to horizontal that changes depending on a quantity of sheets stacked thereon. A pickup roller feeds the plurality of sheets from the paper feeding cassette. A separation roller separates the plurality of sheets from each other in a case where the plurality of sheets are fed from the paper feeding cassette in an overlapped state. A guide unit has a guide surface which is inclined upwards on a downstream side thereof in the transport direction of the plurality of sheets. A drive unit changed an angle B of the guide surface relative to horizontal. A control device controls the drive unit to change the angle B based on the angle A.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventor: Eizo KURITA
  • Publication number: 20180327205
    Abstract: A paper feeding device according to an embodiment includes a paper feeding cassette that holds a plurality of sheets and has a stacking surface with an angle A relative to horizontal that changes depending on a quantity of sheets stacked thereon. A pickup roller feeds the plurality of sheets from the paper feeding cassette. A separation roller separates the plurality of sheets from each other in a case where the plurality of sheets are fed from the paper feeding cassette in an overlapped state. A guide unit has a guide surface which is inclined upwards on a downstream side thereof in the transport direction of the plurality of sheets. A drive unit changed an angle B of the guide surface relative to horizontal. A control device controls the drive unit to change the angle B based on the angle A.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventor: Eizo KURITA
  • Patent number: 10124974
    Abstract: A paper feeding device according to an embodiment includes a paper feeding cassette that holds a plurality of sheets and has a stacking surface with an angle A relative to horizontal that changes depending on a quantity of sheets stacked thereon. A pickup roller feeds the plurality of sheets from the paper feeding cassette. A separation roller separates the plurality of sheets from each other in a case where the plurality of sheets are fed from the paper feeding cassette in an overlapped state. A guide unit has a guide surface which is inclined upwards on a downstream side thereof in the transport direction of the plurality of sheets. A drive unit changed an angle B of the guide surface relative to horizontal. A control device controls the drive unit to change the angle B based on the angle A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Eizo Kurita